the Popes Dr. Barrow of the Popes Supremacy pag. 240 c. The third general Council of Ephesus was afraid lest under pretence of Sacerdotal Power the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Pride of Secular Dominion should be brought into the Church Parker ibid. p. 234. See Overal 's Convoc Book l. 3. 1-6 Ecclesiastical Authority which from the Power of binding and loosing inflicting of Censures distributing the Charity of the People and determining of Controversies in Civil Matters voluntarily referred to them according to the (d) 1 Cor. 6. Apostles Advice arrived at last from such small beginnings to the Antichristian Preheminence now visible in the Papacy 6. Excessive (e) Overal's Convocat Book B. 3. 1-6 Hieron in Vit. Malchi Postquam ad Christianos Principes Venit Ecclesia potentia quidem divitiis major sed virtutibus minor facta est I do not say that an Ecclesiastical Society may not lawfully for its support use Power Policy and Wealth in some measure to uphold or defend it self but that a Constitution needing such things is not Divine or that so far as it doth use them it is no more than humane Dr. Barrow of the Vnity of the Church pag. 33. 4◠Honours and Riches whereby the Minds of the Clergy were corrupted and drawn off from the care of Souls as (f) Epist 1. 5 7. Gregory the Great confesses ingenuously and the Church became too like a Worldly Kingdom especially when Kings and Emperours became over-lavish in their Liberality to purchase Pardons for their sins whereupon as the Learned Archbishop of Paris de (a) Heidegger Histor Papat chap. 3. Marca observes the Discipline of the Church was very much relaxed in recompence as it were for the large Endowments received from them 6. Early Forgeries of Books and Traditions confessed by Learned Romanists a too great Reverence for Antiquity and a Despair of knowing more than our Ancestors which our Learned (b) Antichrist Demonstrat pag. 15. Abbot makes to be one main cause of the Rise of Antichristianism 12. It is evident that The Papacy is The Antichrist because the several Properties and Characters given of him in Scripture do agree to the Papacy and to it alone For the full proof of which Proposition I refer the Reader to the (c) Abbot's Demonstrat Antichrist a book much valued by Joseph Scaliger who was not wont to be lavish of his commendations Downham of Antichrist Dr. Moor's Mystery of Iniquity Dr. Cressener's Demonst of the first Principles of the Protestant applicat of the Apocal. Jurieu's accomplishm of Prophecies Tom. 1. Chap. 24. Tom. 3. His Pastoral Letters But chiefly Dr. Beverley's command of God to his People to come out of Babylon where this great truth is most evidently demonstrated Books quoted in the Margent and shall only here give him a brief View of what may be most observable on this Head 1. The Doctrines and Practises laid to the Charge of Antichrist in Scripture the general Heads of which are reckoned up paragr 4. are plainly taught and practised in the Romish Church such as Idolatry Superstition Supremacy Persecution and the carrying on all this by Lying Wonders forbidding Marriage and abstaining from Meats and that after so subtle a manner under a disguise of Piety as that Good and Learned Men have been deceived by it Whence it plainly appears to be a Mystery of Iniquity and The Apostasy foretold and described in Scripture as Mr. (a) Apostasy of the latter Times Mede and Dr. (b) Mystery of Iniq. Moor have fully proved 2. The Seven-hill'd City the place of the Residence of Antichrist can agree to none but Rome the Seat of the Papacy for whose Residence in it the Emperours made way by removing from it by degrees as hath been observed on Chap. 13. 2. and the Name Number Image and Mark of the Beast the excessive Riches and gawdy Pomp of the Woman are sufficiently Visible and Notorious in the Romish Church as hath been also before observed on the 13th and 17th Chapters 3. The Insolent (c) See on Chapter 13. Boastings unmeasurable Ambition mad Zeal and Devilish Cunning the Tyrannical Vsurpati ons of the Papacy over Emperours and Civil Powers and the universal spreading of that Mystery of Iniquity do sufficiently shew that it was plainly described by the Little Horn and the King that should do after his Will in (d) Chap. 7. and 11. See Mr. Mede's Works p. 667 c. Graser Histor Antichr p. 149 c. Daniel and by the Beast and the Whore in the Revelations whom the World followed and wondred after 4. The Worldly (e) Rycaut's Preface to the Lives of the Popes Dr. Barrow of the Vnity of the Church p. 33. 34. c. in 410. Pomp Temporal Dominion Court Guards Titles Style and Coronation of the Pope plainly shew that he is a Horn and a King according to Prophecy and the Rise of the Papacy upon the Fall of the Roman (a) See on Chap. 13. and 17. Emperours is a sufficient Proof that the Popes are that Man of Sin who was to be witheld until that Time and that they are the seventh Head and Eighth King 5. It is plain from History that the Converts from Heathenism and the Barbaroas Nations Paganized the Western Parts of Christendom and became the Chief Support of the Papacy And how agreeable is that to Prophecy which places the Entrance of the (b) See on Chap. 11. Chap. 13. Gentiles into the Court of the Temple before the Succession and Rise of the Beast thereby intimating that they were prepared before hand as Subjects for this King of Pride 6. How aptly are the Eastern and Western Divisions of the Empire called the Two Horns of the Beast And is it not accordingly notorious from History that the Grandeur (c) Rex Superbiae prope est quod dici nefas est Sacerdotum ei praeparatur exercitus Greg. M. lib. 4. ep 38. of the Papacy and the Idolatry of it was made way for by the Ambition and Corruptions of the Clergy of both those Divisions by the Constantinopolitan as well as Roman Bishops who were the (d) Gregor M. Epistolae Abbot demon Antichrist Constantinopolitanus Episcopus Antichristi Praecursor Forerunners of Antichrist and in whose Dominions also Image Worship was decreed by the Second Council of Nice whereupon they fell under the severe Effects of the Saracenick and Turkish Woes described Chap. 9. And hath not that Clergy ever (e) Medes Apostasy of the latter times part 2. since been the Chief Instruments of promoting and keeping up that deceivableness of Vnrighteousness as the Apostle calls it 2 Thes 2. And may they not therefore be well meant by the False Prophet in this Prophecy 7. How observable is it from (a) Mede's Works p. 463. 661. History that the Empire was divided when the Papacy rose and that upon those Divisions and that Three Horns or Powers viz. the Exarchate the
in my Kingdom and thereby putting an end to Prophecy whose main scope and design was with reference unto it See on Chap. 1 8.21 6 14 Blessed 22 in Christ's Kingdom Dan. 12.12 See on Chap. 14.13 are they that (a) The King's M S. reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is wash their garments do his Commandments i. e. are now found and appear to have kept them that they may have right by virtue of the Covenant of Grace and upon their appearing in the fine (a) The King's M S. reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is wash their garments white Linnen of Christ's Righteousness See on Chap. 19.7 8. to the Tree of Life i. e. to the incorruptibility of the new Jerusalem State verse 2. and many enter in through the Gates of the City i. e. be admitted into that State See on chap. 21.6 12 21. 15 For without this blessed State in the four corners of the new Earth see on chap. 20.8 are Dogs i. e. the Members of the Antichristian (b) A Dog is thought by the best interpreters to signify a Sodomite Deut. 23.18 Canes qui Supra cap. 21.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut Hebrei exponunt id quod est Deut. 23.18 Grot. in Locum Sodom chap. 11.8 and those who are without the Covenant Matt. 15.26 Profane Bruitish and Persecuting Apostates Matt. 7.6 2 Pet. 2.22 and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murtherers and Idolaters and whosoever liveth and maketh a Lie i. e. all wicked Persons but especially the Antichristian Party to which these Characters eminently agree see on Chap. 21.8 27. 16 I Jesus have sent my Angel from the beginning (c) Chap. 1.1 of this Prophecy all along to this present conclusion of it to testify unto you John and all my other Servants chap. 1.1 these things in the Churches i. e. in or concerning the seven Successions of my Church see the Notes on chap. 1.4 and on chap. second and third I am the root and the off-spring of David i. e. the Messias proceeding from David as from a root to whom the Kingdom (d) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was Promised see on chap. 5.5 and the bright and morning Star which only dawned in the Church Succession of Thyatira but now shews in full brightness at the succession of my Kingdom see the Notes on chap. 2.28 17 And the Shirit speaking to and in the several Successions of the Church chap. 2. and 3. and makeing intercession for the Saints Rom. 8.26 27. and the Bride i. e. the Saints chap 19.7 8.21 2 say come Lord Jesus come quickly in thy Kingdom And let him that heareth and obeyeth the words of this Prophecy say joyning as in consort come Lord Jesus And (a) These are Christ's Words and are a kind of Antiphon◠in ths Divine Anthem or Sacred Dialogue wherein Christ in Answer to the Saints says as it were if you so desire my coming I will not be backward in inviting you let him say I that is a thirst come let him that is a thirst for the comforts and refreshments of the new Jerusalem State see on chap. 21.6 come And whosoever will or has a sincere desire for these times of full refreshments let him take the Water of Life freely for the incorruptibility of this State is of my free grace and favour chap. 21 6.22 1. 18 For I Christ verse 20. testify and declare (b) All this is frequently the import of the word Testifie in Scripture openly with the greatest earnestness zeal and holy Asseveration as with an Oath John 13.21 Rom. 1.9 Acts 18.5 unto every man of what (c) Nullo excepto pontifice vel concilio Paraeus in loc quality or dignity soever that heareth the words of the Prophecy of this Book that it is a Book of so great perfection and life that if any man shall (d)(d) Elegans est allusio in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grot. in Loc. add unto these things contained in this Book of Revelations and by consequence to any other part of Scripture by 22 Traditions and rash (e) Rashly to be the Authority of a false Interpretation of Scripture is to take God's Name in vain in a high degree Mr. Mede This is the last authoritative Prophecy that is likely to come from Heaven to be a rule of Faith to the Church and whosoever shall go about to infuse any other expectations into men than usually are agreeable to these Visions God shall bring on him the Judgments here denounced against his greatest Enemies and so in like manner whosoever shall derogate from the authority of this Prophecy or occasion mens not receiving the admonition of Christ here contained in every part thereof God shall cast him off c. Dr. Hammond's Paraphr or wilfully false Interpretations God shall add unto him besides the retributions of his ordinary Justice and Wrath the dreadful plagues that are written in this Book 22 Here is a change of Persons and John speaks whose words plainly refer to the admittance and entrance of the Saints into the new Jerusalem State and therefore must have respect to the times after the Pouring forth of the Vials when the Wicked were shut out of the City 19 And if any man shall take 23 away as the Antichristian Party hath even the Scriptures themselves from the words or authority of this of Prophecy God shall take away his part and the Book of Life i. e. he shall not be found written in the Book of Life among the Living in the New Jerusalem and out of the Holy City from which he shall be debarred and excommunicated and from the Things promises and blessings which are written in this Baok 23 As the Antichristian Party hath done 20 He which testifies these things i e. Christ who is Truth it self saith surely believe it for it is a certain and infallible Truth I come quickly i. e. all my comings are unexpected and by Surprize I begin very suddenly after the date of this Vision to bring it into effect I hasten all things to an end in the just and due time and am now just upon coming to put an end to this and all other Prophecies being not slack in performing them as some men count slackness 2 Pet. 3.9 Amen saith John the beloved Apostle and Servant of Christ in the Name and Person of Angels and Saints his fellow Servants even so be it come Lord Jesus in thy Kingdom come quickly 21 The 24 Justifying Sanctifying and efficaciously operative Grace Proceeding from the undeserved Love Favour and Assistances of our Lord God Jesus Christ our Saviour and anointed Prophet Priest and King be with you all Churches and Saints to whom this great Prophetical Epistle is Written Amen So be it and so it will certainly be 24 This whole Book of Prophecies being as it were one entire Epistle Monitory to the Church of God throughout all Ages of the World it is concluded as it was begun according to the custom of the Apostles with the usual Form of Valediction in their Epistles AMEN AMEN COME LORD JESUS COME QUICKLY FINIS
belongs to those who practice according to the pure and undefiled Rules of Christian Worship given in this Prophecy 4 John to the Seven 6 Eminent Churches in Asia the Less Grace i. e. the free and undeserved Love and Assistance of God be unto you and 7 Peace i. e. all manner of Prosperity especially Spiritual from 8 him or The which is and which was and which is to come i. e. the Eternal and Immutable God Exod. 3.14 who can therefore reveal and will certainly accomplish all which is here foretold and which belongs unto his Church from the beginning unto the end of Time and from the 9 Seven Spirits i. e. the Holy Ghost or Spirit Zach. 4.2 6. which are before his Throne i. e. is present and of Counsel with him who sits on the Throne working and communicating Graces and Gifts by its Operations according to his supreme Good Pleasure and Determination 6 The Seven Churches particularly mentioned in the 11th Verse were the most eminent and flourishing of those which were under the peculiar Care and Government of John upon which account they might be very well made choice of by the Holy Spirit amongst many others which were then probably planted in Asia Minor now called Natolia Some Travellers particularly the Ingenious Mr. Spoon have remarked several Circumstances of their present Condition answerable to the Judgments denounced against them in the following Epistles which may render it something probable that they were immediately directed unto them although the Arguments brought by Dr. Moor and others seem to me to carry with them a full Conviction of what Grotius confesses that the seven Asiatick Churches are but a Pattern and Example of the sevenfold state and quality successive temper and condition of the Universal Church from the beginning to the end of it of which perhaps for it is not a thing unusual in Scripture there may be some intimation in their Names as Grotius has observed which might probably have been made out more clearly if we had a more particular account of the ancient History and circumstances of those Churches however that they are Mystical and not barely Literal Epistles I shall endeavour to prove by observations drawn from the Text it self in my following Annotations and shall not rest upon extrinsecal and more remote Arguments being sufficiently convinced of the frequent weakness of Reasoning upon such Topicks in these matters But upon an impartial consideration of all circumstances I cannot but be of opinion That these seven Asiatick Churches represent the seven Periods and Successions of the Vniversal Church which in correspondence to the Creation a Type of God's Transactions with his Church is according to the known Tradition of the Jews after six thousand years of Labour and Imperfection to enjoy a seventh of Peace Holiness and Perfection from whence the Pythagoreans whose Philosophy came from the East took their Doctrine of the perfection of this Number which is in Scripture and particularly in this Prophecy often made use of in what relates to Christ and his Kingdom and is a perfect number not upon an Arithmetical account for the Number Six is the first perfect Arithmetical one but upon a Mystical in memory of God's having finished and perfected his Works on the Seventb day and of the Sabbatical Rest of the Church in the Seventh Thousand Year of the World after Six remarkable Periods of it from Christ's Resurrection of which more hereafter on Chap. 20. 5. Howsoever thus much is certain That what is contained in these Epistles ought to be duly considered by all Churches that so they may avoid the Faults therein reprehended and the Punishments threatned in them For what is therein written is written for our instruction upon whom the ends of the World are come 7 Peace especially Spiritual being the greatest of blessings is put in Scripture to denote all manner of Prosperity 8 The That is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jehovah who is Being it self for these Words are an Explication of that Sacred Name See the Interpreters on Exod. 3.14 9 It is the Opinion of Mr. Mede Disc 10. and of Dr. Hammond on the place That by the Seven Spirits are to be understood Seven Angels But besides that as Grotius notes on the place Spirits are distinguished from Angels in the Fifth Chapter and that Chap. 4. 5. they are called the Seven Spirits of God which is a Title not given to Angels in Scripture it is not easily accountable why Angels should be placed in the same rank with the Persons of the Trinity and that before the Son and that Grace should be Prayed and Wished for from them when all good Gifts are said by the Apostle James Chap. 1. 17. to come from above from the Father of Lights and there being no form of a Salutation or Blessing in Scripture in the name of a meer Angel for the Angel Gen. 48.15.6 is Christ and not a created Angel such an Interpretation of these Words would give a greater Encouragement to Creature-Worship than can be imagined to have been given in this Prophecy which is so severe against all Idolatry and in which this very Apostle was twice reprehended for offering to give Worship to an Angel And therefore there being no necessity of interpreting the words in this Sense it is certainly the safest and the truest way in my Opinion to understand them concerning the Holy Spirit represented here by Seven Spirits in respect of his Various but Perfect Operations and Gifts denoted by Seven the Number of Perfection as we have already noted and shall declare more fully hereafter to the Vniversal Church in the Sevenfold successive State of it Whereupon Zach. 4. the Seven Lamps at the 2d Verse are at the 6th Verse said to be by God's Spirit That is from the Plenitude of the Holy Spirit which in those Seven Lamps diffused its Mighty and Perfect Operations But although Angels are not to be placed before Christ yet the Order of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity is not always observed in Scripture not in that very Apostolick Benediction 2 Cor. 13. where the Grace of Christ is placed first and in this Form of Benediction the Holy Ghost is put before Christ because more was to be spoken concerning him afterwards who was therefore more conveniently to be reserved unto the last place 5 And from 10 Jesus Christ who is the Faithful Witness of his Fathers Will and a Prophet worthy to be believed and the first begotten of or first born from the Dead by his being first raised which is a new Birth or a Regeneration Acts 13.33 and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth i. e. the chief Ruler and Disposer of the Kingdoms of Men especially the four Monarchies which shall be broken to Peices and consumed by his Kingdom Dan. 2 44.4 17. unto him that Loved us unto the Death John 15.13 and washed us from our sins in or by his own Blood shed for them 10 Note here the great
Apostatizing Hierarchy attained its Bestian Power and that therefore the Months of the Gentiles who are the Members of the Apostatizing Church before it had an Antichristian King began before the Months of the Beast upon whose Rise they fall into his Months and are continued down with them although only the Mouths of the Antichristian King came then into Publick Account as after the Erecting of a Monarchy or after an Interregnum those only of the Supreme Prince do And because these Times were given to the Beast and Times are always reckoned from the Supreme Princes Reign therefore the Gentiles Months are to be reckoned only as suppletory to the Beast's Months by a kind of Intercalation of Thirty Eight Years which by the All-wise disposal of Providence is the Exact Mathematical proportion betwixt the Time of the Sun and Moon to teach us by the very Astronomical difference here observed that these were Pagan or Gentile Times the Heathens (a) Cary's Chronological Account of Time Part 1. B. 1. Chap. 4. Spencer ubi infra generally observing the Lunar Year and making it give place to the Solar although this were more Ancient Easie Equal and certain than the other Because that their Night-Revellings were wont to be celebrated upon the Rising of the Moon and their Idolatrous Festivities depended upon the Aspects and superstitious Observations of that Planet Whereupon God indulged the (b) Spencer de Hebraeor Legib. pag. 715-744 Jews the Observation of New Moons and instituted Festivities of his own which depended upon their Phases and Appearances to take them off from following the Pagan ones which yet they by degrees imitated And therefore I cannot but look upon the high Contest in the Church about the Day of the Paschal Solemnity in the behalf of which an imposing and a domineering Temper first appeared and the regulating and setling of it according to the Motion of the Moon to contain some Indications in it of an Apostasy then working in the Church to which the superstitious Observation of Holy Days much contributed whereas there was no Day at first observed as Necessary but the Lord's Day Vallesius (c) Valles in Euseb pag. 279. Pearson Lect. in Acta Apostol pag. 39 40. himself confessing that although the Primitive Christians met on other Days that yet it was Voluntarily and that it was not the Custom to do so every where and that all were not wont to frequent those Assemblies where it was And I cannot also but observe further That this Paschal Cycle of the Moon after many Corrections was settled upon a New Hypothesis in the very Year (a) Petav. Doctr. Temp. 2.57 437 by Cyril of Alexandria that proud and assuming Prelate who as that prudent Historian (b) Histor 7.7 11 13. Socrates notes was the first Bishop that exercised Civil Power and Coercive Authority and advanced Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction at Alexandria beyond its due bounds For such Providential Congruities if I may so call them fatally as it were conspiring to signalize this Year will with other Concurrent Arguments tend much to facilitate our belief that it is the very Epocha of the Antichristian Times the Cycle of the Moon being then regulated to shew that her Months were just beginning and Usurpation upon Civil Rights Tyranny and Persecution beginning then at (c) Socrat. 7.11 Rome as well as at Alexandria whereby the Mystery of Iniquity was gradually advanced into a Beastian Kingdom by Leo the Great and his Successors and by Cyril at Alexandria whose Bishops were the Conservators of the Moon 's Paschal Cycle about which so many (d) Beverig in Canon pag. 19. 188. Vsser Anti◠Britannic pag. 487. Councils had been held and so many rash Decrees had been made for the anathematizing of all who dissented from them as Hereticks and that in a trifling Controversie grounded upon two contrary Traditions one of which was submitted unto at last for the sake of Peace rather than of Truth neither Party being able to tell exactly which was in the Right So dangerous a thing is it to give too great Credit to Traditions not recorded in Scripture and to be wise beyond what is commanded in it 5. The 2300 Evenings and Mornings given Daniel 8 14. will also tend very much to the ascertaining of this Epocha For if these 2300 Days are so many Years reaching from the first Year of Cyrus A. M. 3459. to A. M. 5759. which will be the Vulgar Year of our Lord 1772 Then if we take Daniel's Seventy Five Years which are immediately added by him as has been shewn on Chap. 10. numb 13. Paragr 6. to the 1260 Days as the End of all Time from the Year of our Lord 1772 we shall come going backwards in a Regressive Order to the Year 1697. for the End of the Forty Two Months and 1260 Days which being also deducted from that Year we shall arrive to the Year 437. for the beginning of the afore mentioned Days and Months Bus because this is a matter of great moment I shall endeavour to state and settle it by these following Observations Obs 1. It hath pleased God to afford us a Scripture-Account of Time to be our sure Guide amidst the difficulties and intricate Mazes of Chronology and that sometimes in common Numbers and sometimes in Prophetical and Mystical ones amongst which there is a very remarkable one in Dan. 8.13 14. Where a Line of Time is given consisting of 2300 Days called Evening-morning in the Original Hebrew in the Singular Number perhaps to shew that it was a continued Line of Time consisting of many several 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Days of Years answerable to the many particular Events to be transacted in them which yet for Memories sake were contracted into One Aera which might be called as it is at the 26th Verse The Evening-Morning Vision and that with relation to the long Night of Idolatry and Antichristianism called collectively Evening which was to precede the glorious Morning of Christ's Kingdom at the Entrance of the seventh Thousand Year the Type of which the seventh day is not distributed into Evening and Morning as the other six days are to shew that it is to be all Light without any Antichristian Works of Darkness So that this Phrase Evening-Morning shews That this was a Line of Time reaching through the Evening of Three Idolatrous Monarchies to the Morning of Christ's Kingdom Obs 2. In this Place of Daniel a Question is put by an Angel to Christ the Wonderful Numberer who is the Word or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for so the (a) Poli Synops in locum Words are to be understood unto how long or unto when the Vision should last or endure as the LXX have rightly supplied the Words understanding them concerning the things represented in the whole foregoing Vision and not only of those specified in this Verse which are but a part of them and are particularly mentioned because they were things of the
it being remarkable that Antichrist Christ's Counterfeit and Opposite has also a Coming Times and a Kingdom assigned him in Scripture in Opposition to the Coming Times and Kingdom of Christ 8. The manner of the Destruction of this Man of Sin is described by the Apostle 2 Thes 2.8 in Terms so agreeable to those made use of in Dan. 7. and the (b) Chap. 17 8 11. 19. 21. Revelations with reference to the Little Horn the Beast and the False Prophet that it cannot well be denyed but that they are the same 9. The Apostle also further expresly declares that this Man of Sin which was not to be revealed or appear openly until the taking away of the Roman Empire was yet in his Conception in the Womb at the (a) Supposed most commonly to be written about A. D. 57 or 58. See above pag. 302. Time of his writing the second Epistle to the Thessalonians aptly expressed by (b) 2 Thes 2.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it hath received its beginninng or is in preparation to enter and disclose it self to the World Hammond on the place and on Gal. 5.6 the then actual workings of the Mystery of Iniquity called so because of its Contrariety and Opposition to the Mystery of Godliness which it undermined by secret and mysterious Operations and Workings of Satan in Lying Wonders and strong Delusions by Hypocritical Pretences of promoting Christianity by departing from the Simplicity of the Gospel and Apostolical Traditions and taking pleasure in Unrighteousness for Interest 's sake as the Apostle plainly asserts 2 Thes 2.7 9 10 11 12 15. 1 Tim. 4.2 3. 2 Pet. 2.3 3. 10 It is evident from Scripture that Satan had great success in the early Times of Christianity in perverting and seduceing Men from the Purity Truth and Simplicity of the Gospel as appears from the Complaints of the Apostles and from the many Heresies and Antichrists then in being from whence the Apostle John concludes 1 Ep. 2.18 that it was then the last Time and that the Grand and Notorious Antichrist the Head of the Apostasy should take his Original from those many Heretical Autichrists which were then in being and that as hath been before observed in the latter Times of those last Times which seems plainly to be the sense of those words of the Apostle To which progress of the Mystery of Iniquity many things then contributed as hath been before observed on Chap. 2. 4. brought about by the Justice and Providence of God for the punishment of those who would willfully perish and would not receive the Love of the Truth that they might be saved 2 Thes 2 10.16 To which Particulars may be added the early Ambition of some who stretched themselves beyond their own Measure Line or Rule that is beyond the particular Districts to which the Apostles had confined the Exercise of their Power which was otherwise unlimited of whom the Apostle Paul complains 2. Cor. 10.12.18 who also seems to intimate (a) 1 Cor. 15 9-11 2 Cor. 11.5 Gal. 2 1-12 as if the People thought that James Peter and John had an Authority over him because of their Gifts Age and Conversation with Christ to which Opinion also the Apostles themselves might occasionally and by accident contribute who strove for Superiority whilst their Lord was with them and were not afterwards infallible save in what they did by the immediate assistance of the Holy Ghost as appears from what the Apostle Paul blames in the Conversation of Peter Gal. 2. So early so secret so plausible and so powerful might the Temptations and Occasions be to the introducing of the great Apostasy God (b) Nec periclitor dicere ipsas quoque Scripturas sic esse ex Dei voluntate dispositas ut Haereticis materias subministrarent cum legam Oportere Haereses esse quae sine Scripturis esse non poslunt Tertull. de Prescript cap. 39. in his Just Judgments sending strong Delusions and permitting all deceiveableness of Vnrighteousness to work upon them who willfully delude themselves and take pleasure in Vnrighteousness 2 Thes 2. 11. It is evident from History that the Workings of this Mystery of Iniquity were more visible in the following Ages to which many things contributed As 1. The (a) Euseb Hist. 4.22 Chamier de Antichr 16.8 where he largely shews how Antichristianism was promoted by Heresies Heresies which soon prevailed and corrupted the Church upon the Death of the Apostles 2. The Greek (b) Col. 2. It is confessed by Learned Romanists that several Pagan Customs were introduced especially in Constantine's Time to win the Gentiles Baron ad an 312. art 94. ad an 324. art 79. Gregor M. lib. 9. ep 71. Polyd. Virgil. Proaem ed 5. ultimos libros de rerum inventor Philosophy and Customs brought into the Church by the converted Heathens and many Jewish Customs and Notions taken from the (c) Confessed frequently by Grotius in his Notes on the New Testament and by Mr. Dodwell particularly Append. ad Praelect pag. 660-671 Essens whereby the (d) Ammian Marcellin lib. 2. sub fin Testes Verit. Spanhem summa Histor Eccles sparsim Gregor M. lib. 7. Epistolorum fatetur se in rebus Liturgicis ab Apostolorum consuetudine discessiste Simplicity of the Gospel was by degrees corrupted which was at first simple and plain in its Doctrine and Worship as Protestant Authors generally shew and as appears from several Popish Authors particularly Platina in the Lives of the Popes who shews in each Life what Customs each Pope introduced 3. An early (e) This is notorious and confest frequently by Dr. Ham. in his Defence of Episcopacy modelling of the Church according to the Form of the Civil Government in the Empire which was one chief occasion of the many Quarrels amongst the Bishops about their Sees and of their aspiring to a Worldly Dignity suitable to the places of their Residence from whence came Patriarchs into the Church which are confessed to be an Vsurpation by Bishop (f) Parker of the Govern of the Ch. pag. 289. Du Pin. de Antiq. Eccles Disc Parker and the Learned Sorbonist du Pin and other Ecclesiastical Subordinations confessed by Learned Dr. (a) Of the Pope's Supremacy pag. 191 in 4◠Barrow to be only Humane and Prudential Constitutions 4. The Strifes (b) Cypr. de Lapsis pag 123 124. Origen T. 1. pag. 71. 113. 142. 246. 441-444 ex edit Huet Euseb Eccles Hist 8. 1 2 13. Socrat. 7.11 sparsim Sozom. 7.7 28 29. Sulpit. Sever. sub fin Grot. in Matth. 20.28 Ambition and the too general Degeneracy of the Manners of the Clergy much complained of by Ancient Authors although God was pleased all along to raise up Great and Good Men who were Ornaments to the Church and witnessed against and opposed the overflowing Corruptions in Doctrine and Manners 5. The Encrease of (c) See Pufendorf 's history of the Popedom Rycaut 's Preface to the Lives of