the wit of man when not sanctified and better imployed as to dare to pry into the most profound of Gods secrets and more particularly to search out and determine the peremptory time longer or shorter of Christs second coming the knowledge whereof God only wise hath reserved to himself alone Matth. 24. 36. for Paul supponeth there would be such curious enquiries both in that and in the following ages and therefore laboureth to divert the Godly from them while he saith of the times and seasons ye have no need that I write 4. The servants of Christ are wisely to divert the Lords people from all such curious enquiries as being a result of Satans policy thereby to withdraw them from the knowledge and study of necessary and revealed truths 1 Tim. 6. 4. and more especially they ought to divert from those enquiries which are about the peremptory time of Christs second coming seeing the knowledge thereof not only is impossible but also would prove unprofitable and hurtful as tending to make the world in all ages preceding that wherein he should come more secure and careless for so doth Paul here suppress all such curious enquiries while he saith But of the times and seasons ye need not that I write unto you Ver. 2. For your selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night He gives a reason to prove the impossibility of knowing when Christ shall come whereof v. 1. Because they themselves know perfectly and exactly as having it plainly revealed by Christ himself while here on earth Matth. 24. 42. that the day of the Lord that is the day of Christs second coming so called because he shall then come as Lord to judge the quick and the dead 2 Tim. 4. 1. they knew I say that this day cometh in the present time that is hasteneth to come Rev. 22. 20. and shall come as a thief in the night that is suddainly and unexpectedly whether by night or by day as the thief who gives not warning before he come to steal See the same similitude used to shew that Christ shall come unawares and unexpectedly Matth. 24. 43 44. Rev. 3. 3. 2 Pet. 3. 10. whence he leaves unto them to gather that it is not possible to know the time and season of his coming Doct. 1. However in points of truth not clearly revealed and those which are not of such absolute necessity to salvation the Lords people may live in suspence without determining themselves peremptorily either to the one hand or the other Act. 1. 7. yet it is their duty and will be in some measure aimed at by them to have the exact knowledge of necessary truths and of such as are most clearly revealed for this truth about the unexpectedness of Christs second coming was necessary and clearly revealed and therefore they knew it perfectly or exactly 2. So ready are we to forget even those truths which we perfectly know under a violent fit of some tentation and when we need to remember them most Heb. 12. 5. that the Lords Ministers must not think it wholly unnecessary but sometimes profitable to inculate of new upon the Lords people and put them in remembrance of those truths which they already know for though they knew perfectly that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night yet he doth here tell them of it and inculcates it v. 3. Doct. 3. It is but a groundless dream and anti-scriptural opinion maintained by some of the ancients and now by the Papists that the Antichrist mentioned in Scripture shall be an individual person who shall have his rise in the world precisely three years and an half before Christs second coming for if so then at that time the very month and day of Christs coming to Judgement should be exactly known the contrary whereof is here affirmed to wit that the day of the Lord cometh unexpectedly and as a thief in the night 4. So great should be our desire to profit in knowledge and sanctified practice and our skill and dexterity to improve all occurrences for that end should be such as to bring meat out of the eater and from the worst of sinful examples to learn somewhat tending either by way of resemblance or otherwayes to clear or confirm spiritual truths to the understanding and to enforce the practice of some spiritual duty upon the will and affections Luke 18. 1 c. for the Apostle takes occasion to clear this necessary truth and to inforce the duty of watchfulness following upon it v. 6. from the sinful practice of a thief who cometh unexpectedly in the night to his prey Ver. 3. For when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travail upon a woman with child and they shall not escape He doth here first both clear what was meant by the former similitude to wit the unexpectedness of Christs second coming and also prove that it shall be unexpected from the terrible effects thereof to wit sudden and unexpected destruction and that both of soul and body as the word is usually taken see 2 Thes. 1. 9. 1 Tim. 6. 9. which destruction shall come or as the word signifieth at unawares surprize the wicked for of those only he meaneth as v. 4. doth clear who at that time shall be arrived at such an height of carnal security as to say that is not only secretly promise unto themselves in their heart Psal. 14. 1. but also openly declare if not by their mouth yet by their deeds for men do speak also by these Tit. 1. 16. that they have no fear of approaching judgement and do look for nothing but continued peace and safety that is full immunity as his using two words to one sense doth imply from any trouble of that sort in their sinful course Next he gives some properties of this destruction first in a similitude of the pains and travel of a woman with child which besides the unexpectedness and suddenty of it as to the hour and moment of time wherein it shall come whereof already holds forth the horrible pain and torment of it the pains of a woman in child-birth being most sharp exquisite and for the time almost not supportable Secondly in plain and proper terms he shews it shall be inevitable They shall not escape In the Original the negation is doubled which according to the property of that language denyeth most strongly as if he had said there shall be no imaginary possiblity to get it shifted so that their destruction shall be 1. sudden 2. painful and 3. inevitable Doct. 1. As sin continued in begeteth carnal security and draweth the sinner at length to misbelieve and despise whatever the word of the Lord doth threaten against him for it Deut. 29. 19. So an height of security and atheistical contempt of divine threatnings is an infallible mark of a wicked godless and unrenewed heart for so much doth he teach while he
some believers alive and remaining until the coming of the Lord. 4. The Lord Christ who is now absent in his humane nature and bodily presence in Heaven from us Act. â— 21. shall again return and at the last day be present with us and this not only in his power and vertue as he is present with believers always Matth. 28. 20. but as God and man in both his natures His very humane nature shall be brought down from Heaven with him and every eye shall see him Rev. 1. 7. for the word rendred coming doth signifie a presence in his being and essence and not his power only unto the coming of the Lord. 5. The great advantage which our godly friends who dye in the Lord shall receive themselves by death should allay our excessive sorrow for their removal notwithstanding any loss which doth thereby redound unto us otherwise our grief is but selfish and carryeth in it but a small regard to their happiness for Paul in this and the following verse doth labour to allay their immoderate grief because their deceased friends received no prejudice but great advantage by their death we which are alive shall not prevent them which are asleep Ver. 16. For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the Trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first This verse doth first hold forth the glorious and terrible manner wherein Christ himself in his bodily presence see v. 15. doct 4. shall descend from Heaven to Judge the world He shall come with great Majesty as Kings do enter their Royal Cities with such solemnitie as great Judges do set themselves upon the Bench or with such terrour as Generals of Armies do joyn Battle with the Enemy for the several things attributed to his coming in this verse have in them allusions to all those But more particularly he shall come with a shout The most probable meaning is that he himself shall give the word of Command both to dead and quick to compear at his Bar which command of his shall be proclaimed by an Arch-Angel that is some one or other chief Angel whose proclamation shall be confirmed by sound of Trumpet or with some formidable martial-like voice as of a Trumpet called the last Trumpet 1 Cor. 15. 52. because none shall sound after it and the Trumpet of God here because it shall ratifie the command come forth from God and shall sound so loud as it will be heard far and near even by those who are in the graves Joh. 5. 28. and depths of the Seas Rev. 20. 13. for the excellency of a thing useth to be set forth by this epithete as the trees of God Psal. 104. 16. Next the order wherein the dead in Christ that is in the faith of Christ shall rise is set down positively they shall rise first that is before those who are alive shall partake of that glorious change mentioned 1 Cor. 15. 51. which shall be to them in place of the Resurrection Doct. 1. The will of God is the supream cause of every thing which falleth out wherein being once known we ought to acquiesce without farther enquiry for Paul giving a reason as it appears by the causal particle for why the living shall not prevent them which sleep he rests on Gods will voice and command enjoyning the dead to rise first for the Lord himself saith he shall descend c. 2. The Lord Christ in his bodily presence is now contained in Heaven and not upon earth for if he were already upon earth as the ubiquitaries and maintainers of Christs bodily presence in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper do affirm he could not be said properly to descend to it when he cometh to judgement but so saith the Apostle here The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven 3. Christs second coming at the last day to judge the quick and dead 2 Tim. 4. 1. shall be attended with so great state and Royal Majesty for the terrour of reprobates 2 Thes. 1. 7 8. and comfort and glory of the Elect 2 Thes. 1. 10. that all the terrour majesty and dreadful reverence which hath been ever seen upon earth are but poor empty shadows of it and come far short of the thing it self He shall come accompanied with a thousand times ten thousand of his glorious Angels Jude 14. by his mighty power shaking Heaven and earth Matth. 24. 29. and by the power of his Trumpet raising the dead out of their graves Matth. 24. 31. and presenting them all at his seat of Judgement Rev. 20. 12. for though it be safest to decline all such high-flown scholastick speculations and peremptory determinations about the nature of this shout voice and trumpet here spoken of as are usually tossed among the School-men yet this much may be safely affirmed that those expressions do shadow forth the dreadfulness terrour and majesty of Christs second coming by allusions to the most dreadful and majestick spectacles that ever were are or shall be seen upon earth He shall descend with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the Trumpet of God 4. As there is probable ground from Scripture to affirm that there are some orders and degrees of dignity among the blessed Angels some being superiour and some being inferiour So all of them even the chiefest not excepted are not thought too good neither by the Lord Christ nor yet themselves to be employed one way or other for the honour of Christ God-man Mediator in helping forward the salvation of believers for he mentioneth here an Arch-Angel or chief Angel distinct from Christ and sheweth that he with many thousands of others Jude 14. Matth. 24. 31. shall be employed at the last day about the work of gathering the elect out of their graves to meet with the Lord Christ He shall descend with the voice of the Arch-Angel saith he 5. It is the Lords ordinary way of dealing with his Children to recompence their disadvantages wherein they seem to be cast behind others with some one or other advantage or priviledge wherein they outstrip those who in other things did seem to have the advantage of them that so there may be an equality in his way even where it seemeth most unequal 2 Cor. 8. 14. for it might seem some prerogative unto those who will be found alive at Christs coming that they shall not taste of death 1 Cor. 15. 51. above the lot of others who must dye and their bodies be turned in ashes ere then But behold those others shall be recompensed in this their seeming disadvantage by being first glorified in their bodies before the then living shall be changed though it be most probable there shall be no considerable difference of time 1 Cor. 15. 52. The dead in Christ shall rise first saith he Ver. 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet
the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Here are a fourth and fifth head of the above mentioned doctrine concerning what shall befall the Godly after death being now raised which serve also for two further grounds of consolation The first of those is that then to wit after theâ— dead in Christ shall rise the godly then alive and remaining upon earth being first changed and their bodies in a moment of time made conformable unto Christs glorious body 1 Cor. 15. 51 52. Phil. 3. 21. they shall then together with those who have arisen be caught up and that in the twinkling of an eye as the word implyeth and other Scriptures express 1 Cor. 15. 52. and caught up in the clouds which shall serve as Chariots in which the Saints shall be carryed up into the air as is said of Elias 2 King 2. 11. and of Christ Act. 1. 9. and the end of their being caught up there is to meet the Lord upon his way descending from Heaven to judge the world and to serve unto him as his glorious train Jude 14. and for his assessors in the act of passing judgement 1 Cor. 6. 2. The second of those heads is the great glory which all believers of both sorts shall enjoy with Christ after that They shall be with him so to wit in that glorious manner both in soul and body and this for ever without any change unto all eternity Doct. 1. Whatever may be the circumstantial priviledges of some believers beyond others at and after Christs second coming yet none of them shall come short in any thing which is required to the essence and being of compleat and soul-satisfying happiness for having said The dead in Christ shall arise first v. 16. he sheweth here that both quick and dead together shall meet the Lord and be for ever with him 2. Though death doth make a sad separation among the Godly depriving some of the many sweet and rare advantages which they enjoyed by the society of others yet herein lyeth a choice cordial for comfort against all excessive sorrow arising thence that ere it be long there shall be a joyful and comfortable meeting not only one of them with another but all of them with Christ at his second coming for the Apostles scope is to comfort them against immoderate sorrow from that consideration Then we which are alive shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord saith he 3. There shall be a glorious change wrought at Christs second coming in the bodies of the elect from what they now are though not in their substance and proportion of members Job 19. 26 27. yet in their qualities and particularly as in other things see Phil. 3. 20. doct 11. so in this whereas our bodies are now earthy lumpish and heavy tending downwards they shall then be in a kind spiritual 1 Cor. 15. 44. active and nimble so that they shall be easily and without all hurt caught up on a sudden or made to mount up as birds to meet the Lord Christ in the aire as is here affirmed 4. However the Godly while here upon earth do frequently through errour of judgement Act. 15. 37 38. love to self-interest Phil. 2. 2. with 4. and prevalency of some one corruption or other 1 Cor. 3. 3. run contrary courses rent asunder and strive to counter-work one another yet when they meet with Christ at his second coming all such alienation and distance shall be removed They shall then be perfectly one as the father and Christ are one Joh. 17. 21 22. Their different judgements exasperated passions their contrary designs shall no more be to divide them or keep them asunder for then saith Paul We shall all be caught up together to meet the Lord. 5. Though it will be doubtless no small comfort unto the Godly at Christs second coming to have a comfortable meeting of their old acquaintance with whom they prayed and wept and suffered and of all the eminent antient believers that ever were Matth. 8. 11. and to have perfect union in judgement in heart in affection in one and the same song of praise with all those Revel 14. 1 2 3. yet the height of their happiness shall not consist in this but in their blessed meeting with and enjoying the presence of the Lord Christ whose glorious face and fellowship will beautifie all that famous general assembly of the first born and make them lovely 1 Joh. 3. 2. and without whom even the fellowship of glorified Saints or Heaven it self could not be satisfactory for he makes their happiness to consist not so much in this that they are caught up together as that they are caugh up to meet the Lord and so shall ever be with him 6. As there is an unspeakable fulness of satisfaction in the enjoyment of Christs presence so that enjoyment of it which the Saints shall have in Heaven is a far other thing than any thing of that kind we can attain to here Our presence with him and nearness to him now is but only in our spirits and with his Godhead 2 Cor. 5. 6 7. It is but mediate and through the glass of Ordinances 1 Cor. 13. 12. It 's but frequently used Psal. 30. 7. and no ways full 1 Cor. 13. 12. but then shall it be both in soul and body Job 19. 26 27. both with his divine and humane nature 1 Cor. 13. 12. it shall be immediate 1 Cor. 13. 12. constant Matth. 25. 46. and so full that they who enjoy the meanest degree will find no lack Psal. 17. 15. for while he saith they shall be ever with the Lord so he implyeth we will be with him in another manner than we are now 7. Though even the best while here on earth are so inconstant fickle and changeable that the long continuance of any one thing proveth wearisome yea and hardly can they bear much of the Lords presence for any space of time together and not abuse it to pride security or carnal lightness Psal. 30. 6 7. yet so great a change shall be wrought in glorified Saints that the long continuance of Christs blessed presence without any interruption shall neither breed satiety and loathing nor yet be abused by them but the longer they do enjoy it the more they shall be ravished with it and delighted in it without all fainting or remitting of their happiness unto all eternity for he saith we shall be ever with the Lord. Ver. 18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words He doth here apply the forementioned doctrine by expressing one main use which he would have them to improve it for which is that not only each of them should thence draw matter of comfort unto themselves but also administrate comfort by these words that is the preceding doctrine unto others especially to such as were under affliction and grief for the death of near and Godly friends Doct. 1. As there is no religious truth
grant he claimed not the title of universal Bishop nor power of both swords and supream authority over general counsels until some centuries of years were past Even as the Antichrist of whom it is here foretold he had not then revealed himself by exercising open tyranny over the Church of Christ And that man of sin be revealed saith he 3. The Pope is a man though not an individual person without succession yet de jure alwayes but one at one and the same time and a continued series and succession of men in one and the same Chair driving forward one and the same design even in that sense wherein I proved in the Exposition that the Antichrist is here called a man in the singular number 4. The Pope is a man of sin first in his own person It is almost incredible what monsters of men for horrible crimes of murder adultery simony sorcery incest sodomy even Popish Historians do relate many of their own Popes to have been 2. In causing others to sin in so far as he not only perswadeth and forceth men to Idolatry and superstition under the name of commanded worship as Jeroboam did but also for money dispenseth in some cases with murder fornication incest and selleth pardons for any sin unto those who have sufficient money wherewith to buy them This is not denyed by themselves even as the Antichrist who is here called the man of sin Fifthly The Pope is the Son of perdition First one who is destinate to destruction himself as the Godless life and monstrous sins of many Popes have declared them to be whatever the Lord may do in mercy to some and those but very few particular Popes whose lives have not been so grosly vicious as the rest if so he have given them repentance for their abominable errours 2. One who destroyeth others both in their souls by damnable doctrines idolatries and superstitions and in their bodies in so far as his cruel persecutions upon men and women for conscience have for length of time multitudes of those who have suffered by him and the cruel manner of his persecuting by exquisite tortures bloody massacres surpassed far all other persecutions that ever were Even as the Antichrist who is here called in those same respects the son of perdition Secondly whatever is affirmed of the Antichrist v. 4. is verified in the Pope For first under pretence and colour of friendship he is an eminent opposite and adversary to Christ as in many other things so chiefly in his threefold office 1. In his Kingly office while he destroyeth his subjects dispenseth with his Laws maketh them of none effect by his traditions enacteth Laws of his own to bind the conscience of equal authority with yea and some of them point-blank opposite unto the laws of Christ as in his forbidding marriage to Church-men discharging the use of the Cup at the Lords Supper 2. In his Priestly office while he maketh himself an high Priest under the new Testament denyeth the fulness of Christs satisfaction and intercession alledging that they must be supplyed by the merits and intercession of the Virgin Mary Saints and Angels and teaching people to give them Religious worship for that end 3. In his prophetical office while he teacheth that the Scriptures are imperfect and as a false Prophet doth teach contrary to what was taught by Christ in the doctrine of merit purgatory indulgences work of supererogation c. so that he opposeth Christ in all his offices and this for a greater length of time with more universal success and more formidable force than ever any heretick did before him even as the Antichrist who is here said to oppose himself Secondly The Pope exalts himself above all Kings and Emperours while he teacheth he hath absolute power to dispose of Kingdoms and Empires to whom he will at least in order to the Churches good and actually hath dethroned Kings and other Magistrates absolving their Subjects from their oath of allegiance doth make the Emperour to hold his stirrup when he is to ride and will have him to count it a favour to have access to kiss his feet yea and sometimes hath trampled upon the Emperours neck being humbly prostrate before him to beg his favour and reconciliation with him all which are avowed and granted Even as the Antichrist of whom it is here said he exalteth himself above all that is called God or is worshipped See the Exposition Thirdly The Pope in managing his rule and government over the Church of God pretendeth to no less than divine authority even the same with God and Christ whose great Vice-gerent and Vicar-general on earth he giveth out himself to be Besides it is expresly affirmed by Popish writers that the Pope sitting in and teaching from his Chair cannot err and his determinations are of equal certainty with the doctrine of Christ himself Even as the Antichrist of whom it is here said that he shall carry himself as God Fourthly The Pope doth sit and exercise an absolute fixed and illimited power of Government over a society of men which once were Gods spiritual Temple and Church and do yet bear that name and are so in effect if we speak of that small remnant which in all ages the Lord made to keep their garments clean from soul-ruining Antichristian errours or if we speak of the whole bulk and body of them not absolutely but as being compared with Turks Jews and Heathens in so far as they still retain some relicts of a Church as the written word Sacraments Ordination c. though miserably corrupted by false glosses a number of Superstitious Idolatrous and Antichristian additions In which respects the Church and See of Rome may be called the Temple and Church of God wherein the Pope doth sit and rule even as it is here foretold of Antichrist that he should sit in the Temple of God Fifthly The Pope attempts to shew that he is in nothing less to be esteemed of than God by taking and suffering to be ascribed unto himself 1. Divine titles as our Lord God the Pope universal Pastor chief High-Priest Head of the Catholick Church 2. Divine worship as Prostration to him Adoration of him upon opinion of some transcendent sanctity in him and that he hath fulness of power to forgive sins bestow Heaven and damn to Hell 3. Divine properties as that he cannot err is the Judge of all men and himself can be judged by no man hath power as Christs Vicar to dispence with all Law can forgive not only sins past but for a lease of years yet to come even as the Antichrist of whom it is here foretold he should shew himself that he is God Thirdly Whatever is affirmed of the Antichrist v. 6 7. is verified also in the Pope for first It was the Popes power the growth whereof in Rome and Christendome was hindred by the Roman Empire and which advanced by little and little towards its full height as the credit
far as 1. Some of them are but meer Juglings and found to be such as when they affirm their Images to have spoken issued drops of blood and sweat that poor souls have come creeping and crying out of Purgatory bemoaning their case which have either been effectuated immediately by Satan or by subtle conveyance and sleight of hand which hath sometimes been discovered and the spirit taken whipt and laid in the stocks for his imposture 2. Some of them have been truly done but not true Miracles as not exceeding the power of all natural causes as when they affirm that some diseases have been cured by the touch of their superstitious Relicts now how easie is it for Satan to take off and cure a disease which through Gods permission he hath laid on especially seeing many such like seemingly miraculous cures have been effectuated by devilish art among the Heathens And 3. All of them are made use of to confirm their erroneous doctrines 〈◊〉 superstitious practices as their worshipping of Relicts prayer for the dead invocation of Saints Purgatory c. and consequently all of them but false and seeming Miracles even as it is here foretold of Antichrist that his coming should be with signs and lying wonders Fourthly The Popish doctrine wherein it differs from the doctrine of the Reformed Churches is nothing but an heap of untruths driving the maintainers of it to impiety against God in Idolatry superstition breach of vows and perjuries and to unrighteousness against man in unnaturality disobedience to Parents and lawful superiours under religious pretexts in preferring Fornication and Uncleanness to the bed undefiled in Marriage in justifying Jesuitical equivocations and speaking yea and swearing untruths and such like which hath been abundantly made out by the Reformed Divines in their writings to that purpose even as the doctrine of the Antichrist is here called unrighteousness or a doctrine of untruths tending to unrighteousness and sin of all sorts Fifthly The Pope doth not avow or profess himself an enemy to truth and Christian Religion but rather the prime pillar of it even Christs Vicar on earth the servant of the servants of Christ by which and such like specious pretexts he hath undermined truth and established errour in its place even as it is here foretold of the Antichrist that he should not openly avow his doctrine to be contrary to Gospel truth but labour by deceitful tricks and fair pretexts to make the world believe his doctrine to be truth even by all deâ—â—â—veableness of unrighteousness Sixthly Innumerable almost are those subtle devices and deceiving juglings which are made use of under Papacy to perswade the world to embrace their erroneous and unrighteous doctrine such as strong and false alledgances of their unity among themselves under one head of the antiquity of their doctrine the consent of Fathers to it the universality of it which is no more in effect but that all the world did once wonder after the Beast Rev. 13. 3. Besides that their doctrine and worship is so framed as to comply with mens corrupt Lusts and to fit every humour If men be lazy idlers they place them in Monasteries if ambitious or covetous there are places of preferment and profit to catch them if voluptuous and licentious they may for a little money have pardons and dispensations if quiet and cannot endure the worlds trouble there is a solitary life in some Hermitage prepared for them If a man dislike his wife let him enter Religious Orders and he is delivered from her If of a pragmatick stirring disposition there are employments of compassing Sea and Land to gain a proselyte waiting for him There are flatteries and taking allurements for men of spirit who will not be boasted and boasts and threats of curses and excommunications for men of a more folding temper In a word whatever a mans humour can fancy there is somewhat in Popery to satisfie it and make men believe of themselves that they are singularly devout when they do but feed their carnal humours Even as it is here foretold of the Antichrist that he should come not with some but all deceiveableness of unrighteousness Seventhly Though the power of the Pope for many ages was most dreadful and absolute through all Europe yet it was not unlimited there being alwayes some in every age as Papists themselves do sometimes confess and History maketh clear who never yielded to take on his yoke but one way or other testified against his Tyrannical Usurpation and damnable soul-destroying doctrine even as it is here foretold that some should be exempted from the Antichrists defection for he was only to prevail in those who perish Eighthly The members of the Popish Church had in all ages the truth of the Gospel tendred to them at the first beginning of the Popes apostasie and open tyranny more clearly in following ages more darkly what by somewhat they heard of Christs Nativity Passion Resurrection c. expounded to them according to the custome at their great Festivals and what by the testimony or report of that testimony which dying Martyrs or other Confessours gave to truth whereof there were some almost in every age and yet they did not receive or believe the truth especially those truths relating to the authority sufficiency and perfection of Scripture to the fulness of Christs satisfaction and merit and the compleat discharging of all his offices the justification of sinners by the righteousness of Christ imputed to them and received by faith alone and such other truths controverted betwixt them and us yea neither believe they any truth because of the authority of God revealing it in Scripture but because of the Popes Authority which only makes Scripture to be Scripture and worthy of credit unto them and therefore cannot be said to believe any truth at all seeing their faith is only humane grounded upon the authority of man even as it is here foretold of Antichrists followers that they received not the truth in love when it was offerâ—d to them and that they believed not the truth Ninthly Hugely gross errours and superstitious fooleries are maintained by the Pope and his followers for necessary truths and acceptable pieces of Divine Worship as may be seen in their Apish toyes foolish gestures used at Mass in their doctrine of Transubstantiation and indulgences and such is their incorrigible obstinacy in these against clear evidence of Scripture yea and of common sense and reason that it cannot be conceived rational men would be so infatuated and stupid except they were judicially plagued of God by giving them over to the power and prevalency of errour and delusion even as it is here affirmed of Antichrists followers that God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lye Tenthly As Popish doctrine wherein it differeth from us is but a bundle of lies which is abundantly proved by the Reformed Divines So this doctrine of lies is believed by the generality of the Popish Church
thence for pressing this duty upon themselves for ye your selves know how ye ought to follow us 2. As all who know their duty do not walk according to it but too too many do live in the practice of those evils for which their heart their light and conscience doth condemn them So sins done against knowledge have in them a singular weight and aggravation beyond sins of ignorance They make the sinner more inexcusable Rom. 2. 1. and his punishment the greater Luk 12. 47. for he aggravateth their sin from this that they knew they should have followed his example and yet did it not for your selves know how ye ought to follow us saith he 3. It aggravateth also our neglect of duty not a little that we not only know our duty but also have a cloud of witnesses and shining examples going before us in the way of our duty whereby all pretence of impossibility to perform our duty is removed seeing men subject to the like infirmities have already practised it for he aggravateth their sin from this that he and his associates had given them an example in the contrary we behaved not our selves disorderly among you 4. It concerneth much the Lords servants who are sent to press the practice of duty upon others so to walk as their life and carriage may hold out a copy of that obedience which they require from the Lords people Hereby their doctrine hath the greater weight Matth. 5. 15 16. and otherwise they are a reproach to the Gospel 1 Sam. 2. 17. and they themselves at least do reap no profiâ— by it 1 Cor. 9. 23. for Paul practised himself what he pressed upon others We behaved not our selves disorderly among you Ver. 8. Neither did we eat any mans bread for nought but wrought with labour and travel night and day that we might not be chargeable to any of you He applyeth what he spoke of his own example in general to the particular wherein they were guilty by shewing he did not eat bread or take his ordinary food in meat and drink as Gen. 3. 19. from any man for nought or without money and price payed for it Where he speaks according to the common opinion of earthly minded men who think whatever maintenance is given to Ministers for their Ministerial labours is bestowed upon them for nought though it be not so Mat. 10. 10. Now the Apostle sheweth that even in their sense he took nothing for nought but that he might be able to sustain himself besides his publick preaching which was his proper employment 1 Cor. 1. 17. he wrought in tent-making Act. 18. 3. even to weariness and after he was wearied as the words labour and travel do imply and that both night and day See upon 1 Thes. 2. 9. and he mentioneth a twofold end proposed to himself why he did so work The first is in this verse That he might not be chargeable or burthensome to any of them He meaneth not as if the maintenance of a Minister should be accounted a burthen by the flock but that some miserable wretches among them would have thought it so Besides it is not improbable that a great part though not all Act. 17. 4. of those who had first received the Gospel in that City were of the poorer sort whom he had no will indeed to burthen Besides what is marked upon a parallel place 1 Thes. 2. 9. doct 3 4 5. concerning 1. A necessity lying upon men of dimitting themselves to the meanest of employments before they want a mean of livelyhood 2. The lawfulness of a Ministers using some handy labour in some cases 3. The groundlesness of the Popish tenet about works of supererrogation observe further hence 1. Circumstances of time place company and such like may make an action become exceeding sinful and abstinence from it a necessary duty at some times the practice whereof is in it self indifferent lawful yea and in some cases necessary for all things being considered it was a necessary duty for Paul not to take bread of those Thessalâ—nians without price though the thing in it self be not simply unlawful Otherwise hospitality and giving of meat for nought could not be commanded Titus 1. 8. nor those ancient love-feasts among Christian friends could be commended as we find they are Jude 12. Neither did we eat any mans bread for nought 2. The Lord doth sometimes call his servants to spend and be spent among a people from whom they do receive or can expect but litâ—le of worldly encouragement that thereby they may have an occasion to make their sincerity in the work of the Lord appear both to their own heart and â—he consciences of others who may evidently see their Ministers are not seeking theirs but them 2 Cor. 12. 14. for Paul did not receive so much encouragement worldly as bread to eat among those Thessalonians Neither did we eat any mans bread for nought 3. It pleases the Lord in deepest wisdom sometimes to measure out a very hard lot in things worldly to his dearest servants and to give but little of earth to those who glorifie him most upon earth and upon whom he intends to bestow a more than ordinary measure of glory in Heaven that none may know by those things whether he be worthy of love or hatred Eccles. 9. 1. for even Paul that elect vessel of the Lord is made to work for a livelyhood with labour and travel night and day 4. Though Ministers are not tyed to follow this example of Pauls here recorded in all particulars because of the great inequality betwixt him and them by reason of his super-eminent gifts and his extraordinay assistance which made it less necessary for him to spend so much of his time in reading and preparation for publick duties as ordinary Ministers must do Besides that some reasons peculiar to this Church and to that of Corinth did oblige him so to walk towards them though he did not find himself so obliged towards others who had not the like reasons However I say that therefore other ordinary Ministers are not tyed to follow his example in all particulars yet they are so far to follow it as to endeavour that the Gospel which they Preach may be as little burthensome and chargeable to people as in them lyeth for this was the thing Paul aimed at that we might not be chargeable unto any of you saith he 5. It is a duty incumbent unto the Lords people to maintain their Ministers in a way creditable to the Gospel even when through reason of poverty their so doing would prove burthensome unto them for he saith not that they ought not to have sustained him because of their poverty only he would not eat their bread for nought that he might not be burthensome unto them and v. 9. he asserts his own power and right to have exacted maintenance from them and consequently they were bound to give it Ver. 9. Not because we have not power but to