and many others 129. All these characters of Antichrist being thus aptly accommodated to the Pope how can we but say with Dr. Sclater in his Comment upon the 2d Epist to the Thessalon pag. 115. If a man may be so bold with the Pope as John Baptist was with our Saviour to ask Art thou he that should come or do we look for another The like answer should be returned Go and tell what you have heard and seen to wit Devils worship'd God contemn'd Religion prophaned Superstition hallowed Beastly lust practised Parricide not only committed but defended and much more horrid Hellishness those parùm probi homines hath done Is not this the man of sin without a Peer foretold of in the Word 130. The 10th branch of the Induction is He must be revealed in those last times this also suits to the Pope as the coat to the body for Antichrist hath several Periods he was a long time in the Embryo before he was born as he was a mystery of Iniquity so must he have a secret rising of his Dominion whereof some Foundations were laid in the Apostles times by Satan and his Instruments The itch of preheminency began the groundwork of this Romish Babel betimes 3 Epist John ver 9 10. Thus the time of his Conception held proportion with his Continuance in the world this Mystery was working long in the Pope before he was reveal'd to be Antichrist 131. If there must be 1260 years betwixt his Revelation and his Desolation or Destruction then there must be a proportionable time for the Conception of this Monster before his Birth and Revelation Pliny writes of the Elephant whom Job calls Behemoth the Hebr. Foemin plural as if he were many Beasts in one that he is two years in breeding in the womb before he be brought forth so this great Beast or Behemoth was breeding some hundreds of Years before his Revelation 132. It is unquestionably true that Antichrist had many Periods The Beast that John saw rise up out of the sea Rev. 13.1 and come out of the earth v. 11. ascended up by little and little and not all at once till at last his whole Body appeared above ground in a full view and above Water even to a full manifestation His first Period was Nascens his 2d Crescens his 3th Triumphans his 4th Decrescens and his 5th Period Expirans as Rome the city was not built in one day no more was the Romish Church or Antichrist And this Beast rose up by degrees being hid in a mystery before he was Unvailed 133. Crakanthorpe in his Vigilius Dormitans observes that Antichrist was Nascent when Rome usurp'd authority first over all the Churches 2ly he was Crescent when he maintained Adoring of Images and Praying to Saints 3ly Regnant when he exalted Himself above Kings and placed his Mitre above their Crowns 4ly Triumphant when he became Lord of the Catholick Faith 5ly Cadent we see him saith he in our Day by Luther Calvin Perkins c. who unmask'd him and he adds a 6th Period to wit Morient saying If we do not yet our Posterity shall see him die for God saith that his day is coming Ps 37.13 134. In his first Period he was conceived in the Apostles time yea then animated for the spirit of that Antichrist was then in the world 1 Joh. 4.3 and strove long to see light He was well nigh an 100 Y. in lifting up his head of Supremacy above the Earth Ambition and Superiority shewed it self in some of those Bishops of that See betimes though they were reputed generally good men yet had they from the following Centuries of the Apostles a tincture of Antichrist 135. Ecclesiastical History tells us how the purity of Doctrine was notoriously darkned and defiled with Humane Traditions from the time of Sylvester the 1st that was Bishop when Constantine the great was Emperour then began poyson to be sown more rank in the Church and so on to Sabinianus Yea and many endeavours were used by Innocent the first in Y. 404. And by Leo the first and by Pelagius the first and 2d to bring forth this monstrous brat of Supremacy long before Boniface the third got full strength to do that work by the Midwivery of the Parricide Phocas in the Y. 606. So then his first Period Nascent is from the Apostles time to Boniface the 3d in the 6th Century then was he Antichrist revealed indeed 136. His 2d Period Crescent is from this Boniface to Hildebrand in whose time Hell broke loose and that woman Wickedness perk'd her self higher and higher in the Ephah Zech. 5.7,8 From him to Luther may be accounted the 3d and 4th Period Regnant and Triumphant wherein the Pope reigned and triumph'd over all Princes and Nations even with both Swords The 5th Period Cadent must be from Luthers time after whom they confess Popery never prospered but languished daily And his 6th Age Morient is this our day wherein he grows sick of his Consumption which is a lingring death more and more the Gospel hath won ground of Popery and many Kingdoms are alienated from this Antichrist 137. The Romanists have a saying among them thar since their Pope was so publickly preach'd to be Antichrist their Religion never throve and this hath been done long not only by Wickliffe Luther and other great Reformers which are supposed to be those Angels preaching the everlasting Gospel c. Rev. 14.6,8,9 But by the Waldenses Arnulphus Parisiensis and many others Illyric Catalog Testium Veritatis The fulfilling of this 6th and last Period which is Morient we must patiently wait for The Vials of Gods wrath are begun already to be powred out upon him and shall at last bring his final Extirpation CHAP. VI. 138. BUt before I can touch the two last Paragraphs of the Induction there be some objections which the Romanists lay in our way which here must be remov'd as Amasas body that hindred the People from going End way 2 Sam. 20.12 They say first that Antichrist shall have no such period or proportion of time as is here specified for he is some single Person only because he is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denoteth some Individuum some singular Person 139. To this I answer 1. That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not always point at a single Person for Mark 2.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is man at large but man for the Sabbath and not any Individual Person and the same word is taken in this large sence Luke 4.4 Man lives not by bread alone and not in their contracted signification and likewise in 2 Tim. 2.17 in all which places the Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is annexed with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 2ly Deut. 18.15.18 a Prophet there is a Succession of Prophets so here a Succession of Persons of the same Function is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God raised up more Prophets then Moses to
beast excercises all the power of the first beast Rev. 13.12 that is takes on him Civil Authority and using a Secular as well as an Ecclesiastical Sword he must sit in the same Seat where the Imperial civil Courts hath been kept and there set up his own Courts that as a compleat Plenipotentiary he may hear all causes Civil aswel as Sacred Rev. 13.2 52. That he must 5ly exercise this his Monarchy and Kingdom in the great City that Rules over the Nations appears from Rev. 13.2 The Dragon gives to the beast not only his power but also his Seat where his Throne had been and the woman that Rides upon the beast is call'd plainly the great City which then had the Empire and Reigned over the Kings of the Earth Rev. 17.18 call'd the great whore Sitting upon many waters to wit many Nations of sundry languages Rev. 17.1,15 which shows not onely the largeness of Antichrists Territories but also the Instability of his Kingdom which hath no better a foundation than as built upon Unconstant-waters 52. That he must carry himself 6ly in the Church of God as if he were God is expresly declared in 2 Thess 2.4 Antichrist must exalt himself above all that is called God or worshipped 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either with Civil or Religious worship There are that are called Gods 1 Cor. 8.5 to wit Magistrates Psal 82.6 Those he exalts himself above in deposing Kings and disposing Kingdoms yea not only above those titular gods but also above the true God In ambitione plus-quà m Luciferianâ beyond Lucifer himself for he said only I will be like the most High Esa 14.14 But Antichrist will be above the most High not only in dispensing with but also in contradicting his Laws 53. Antichrist must 7ly Seduce with lying wonders this is proved from 2 Thess 2.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To astonish his beholders and to maintain his Reputation he should come with signs and wonders wrought by the power of Satan Those should be the means of his advancement he doth great wonders Rev. 13.13 calling fire down from heaven as if another Elijah the spirits of devils issuing out of the mouth of this Antichrist works wonders Cap. 16.14 54. Antichrist must have 8ly a threefold brand put upon him as appears from 2 Thess 2.3,8 1st a man of Sin 2ly a Son of perdition 3ly a wicked one all those Epithets to shew what a notoriously Sinfull lost lawless one he should be the 1st 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denotes him the eldest Son of all the children of Belial a Superlative Sinner the worst of men as Christ to whom he is contrary was the best the 2d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 describes him a man of destruction actively a destroying Son call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 9.11 So he is to the Church of God and for destruction passively to be cast into Hell Rev. 19.20 the 3d. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as above fig. 13. deciphers him one that neither fears God not reverences man as Luke 18.2 for the Laws of neither can keep him within compass 55. That he must be further Stigmatiz'd 9ly for being Idolatrous the first Adjunct is manifest from Rev. 17.2 not onely in his own person but like another Jeroboam making others to sin with his Intoxicating cup of Fornication thus is Idolatry termed by the Holy Ghost Ezek. 16.17 the 2d adjunct is Ambitious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one advancing himself above every Monarch on earth and more than equalling himself with the great God of heaven as above fig. 52. 2 Thess 2.4 his 3d. Title Cruel is Represented by the woman made drunk with the blood of the Saints Rev. 17.6 and by the name of a devouring beast so oft put upon him as before in fig. 7. his 4th Title Unclean is shadowed out by those names of Sodom and Egypt Rev. 11.8 and by those names of great whore and mother of fornication 56. 10ly Antichrist is one to be revealed in those last times appears plainly from 2 Thess 2.7,8 he must be in the world along time before he be Revealed while he remains a mystery of iniquity or iniquity in a mystery he is under a vail The depths of Satan Rev. 2.24 Unknown Unrevealed This mystery was working out of sight in persons as Diotrephes and in Doctrines as touch not tast not c. forbidding Meats and Marriages betimes but his Revealing is an Antecedent of Christs coming 2 Thess 2.3 57. The 11th clause in the Definition of Antichrist is he must be consumed with the Spirit of Christs mouth 2 Thess 2.8 The manner 1st it must be gradual not all at once but a lingring death this the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a wasting a little and little till he be Annihilated and 2ly the means of his consuming the spirit or breath of Christs mouth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to wit by the preaching of the Gospel whereby the Spirit of Christ works powerfully yet gradually in the hearts of men to bring them off from supporting Antichrists Kingdom This is call'd by the Prophet the Rod of his mouth and the breath of his lips Esa 11.4 and the Sword of his mouth Rev. 2.16 1 Kin. 19.17 58. The 12th Clause is Antichrist is one that must be destroyed with the brightness of Christs coming 2 Thess 2.8 wherein 1st the manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall be brought to nought and utterly abolished though he Seat himself among the Stars yet from thence the Lord will bring him down Obad. v. 4. even into utter destruction 2ly The means 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may not be taken strictly for that precise point of time wherein Christ shall come personally to judge the world See infrá 227 Paragraph as Estiâ—… observes on the place but largely for the Spiritual manifestation of Christs presence in his Church before which this Antichrist shall melt away as dew before the Sun even to an utter extirpation 59. Thus in those 12 clauses I have shewn the Scriptural marks and definition of Antichrist which are beyond Controversie and Undeniable these are the claws of the beast Ex ungue leonem A Lion is known by his paw my Assumption now is that this difinition doth quadrare cum Papâ suits with the Pope hoc restat ad probandum I Argue thus Hypothetically If the Pope have those marks and this definition of Antichrist then he is the thing defined but the Antecedent is true ergo the Consequent or Categorically thus whoever hath those marks and this definition is the Antichrist but the Pope has them ergo this is to be proved by an Induction CHAP. IV. 60. THe 1st part of the Induction The first thing to be now demonstrated for clearing my assumption is that the Pope and his Church hath apostatized from the Faith which is evidenced thus the Church of Rome with her Pastors in the primitive Apostolical times was a beloved Spouse of Christ as that famous Epistle of the
Profession and bring it into credit even among the Worshippers of the Beast That whereas the Papists speak evil of the Protestants as of evil doers they may not only be ashamed of falsely accusing their good Conversation in Christ as 1 Pet. 3.16 but also be constrained to say that God is in them of a truth as 1 Cor. 14.25 and those are the Seed the Lord hath blessed as Isai 61.9 Just as light expells darkness so doth Evangelical Conversation the mist of Popery 203. The 2d thing is Unanimous Praying how doth all the Saints of God in all the Nations of the World with one consent pray against Babylon and by the help of Gods Spirit gets many a kind pull at her as Sampson did at the pillars of Dagons Temple Judg. 16.29,30 How doth praying Souls every where with one lip as it were bow themselves with all their might to pull down this Antichristian Dagon 204. As David danced before the Lord with all his might 2 Sam. 6.14 so the Servants of the Lord prays before the Lord with all their might to make this Dagon fall before the Ark of God Solomon saith whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might Eccles 9.10 Now the Saints finding this great wâ—… of Demolishing the Kingdom of Antichriâ—… not more a work for their Hands then for thâ—… Hearts therefore they do it with all thâ—… might 205. All the Servants of Christ should bâ— Habakkuk's that is Wrestlers they should come forth as Princes before the Lord in this Work as Job 31.37 coming near to God with Princely minds all the seed of Jacob shall he like their father Jacob wrestling till they have power with God and have prevailed Hos 12.4 3. not letting God go without this blessing Gen. 32.26 Prayer commands God concerning the work of his hands Esa 45.11 All such as love Christ and hate Antichrist should be as the Sun when he goes forth in his might Jud. 5.31 for dispelling the Fog of Popery 206. How should all the Godly strive together in their Prayers to God even to an agony Rom. 15.30 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to pull this Tower of Babel down whose top hath well-nigh reach'd to Heaven These are the thundrings and lightnings that fill'd the Temple and brings the hailstones and earthquake on the Mother of Harlots Rev. 11. last 207. The 3d thing is Typography or publick Printing a rare Engine for Communicating the knowledge of the Truth to the pulling down the strong holds of Antichrist The Art of Printing was bestow'd as a special Gift by a gracious God on the last Age of the World that Knowledge might fill the Earth as the Waters cover the Sea that is that there might be a full sea of Knowledge Isa 11.9 for the expulsion of all Popish Ignorance which they say is the Mother of their Devotion but indeed of Destruction Hos 4.6 I am sure 't is no mother in Israel 208. There is a witty Interpretation of that passage of Dan. 8.2,4 Many shall run to and fro and Knowledge shall be increased that the passage of Commerce 'twixt one Nation and another by the Art of Navigation being opened it brought along with it a great increase of Knowledge Many run or pass by that Art from one Land to another and so abundantly improve their Intellectuals thereby It may as congruously be applyed to this Art of Printing as to that of Navigation 209 For hereby many Books run from one Nation to another and so exceedingly increases Knowledge as many Persons do by Navigation they may both equally be alluded to Daniels Text as well the one as the other both being instrumental Conveyances of all kind of Knowledge divine and humane though neither of them be the genuine Sense of the place 210. Alsted saith that this Art of Printing was first published at Moguntiae Mentz and from thence carried to Argentine Strasburg and other parts of Europe to the great improvement of Learning Other Authors say it was first known to John Gottenburgh at Argentine where John Mentelius Printed the first good Authors for the information of a blind ignorant World and experience Justifies this assertion that Typography as well as Navigation hath been great advancers of knowledge 211. Incredibilem Usum Generi humano haâ—… ars Typographica in Omnes partes prebuit saith Pareus Medul Histor Eccles Pag. 311. It hath been of very great advantage to all parts of the Earth Printing is like a Wing on which knowledge flies through all the Habitable World and is at this day a famous Instrument of Gods holy Spirit to publish his Sacred and Infallible Truth though Satan do use it also to spread his damnable Errors The best things that are used are found also to be abused yet lose they not their due worth thereby 212. Sympson in his Church History speaks home to this point saying when Popedom was come to its height then God graciously bestowed this Art of Printing on Mankind for the Unvailing and Unmasking of this Mystery of Iniquity to the World This was a marvellous providence of God in the 14th Century for ever since Antichrist hath begun to decline and in the 15th Century to languish more and more 213. The 4th and last thing for the bringing down of Antichrist is powerful Preaching and this is held out in the very expression of this 11th clause of the Induction to wit his Consumption or wasting away by the breath of Christs mouth 2 Thess 2.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirit or breath which is the administration of Christs Word by the help of his Spirit This Ordinance of Preaching hath been a most effectual battering Ram against the lofty Walls of Babylon 214. We may say of this as David said of Goliahs Sword none like it 1 Sam. 21.9 oh that the Lord would give it to all places and People not only Satan but also his Eldest Son Antichrist would fall like lightning thereby Luke 10 17.18 Though Printing as we have seen hath its peculiar Excellency yet in this respect Preaching is above it as it is attended always cum vivâ voce for Milk in a warm Breast is more effectual nourishment than Milk in a cold suckling Box so a Sermon Preach'd batters Babylon more than one Printed 215. The Rod of Christs mouth and the breath of his lips the Prophet tells us shall slay this Wicked one Esa 11.4 Thus hath God raised up his Boannerges or Sons of Thunder Marc. 3.17 the Syriack word comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sons and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Thunder Thus Nazianzen honours Basil the great with this Epitaph 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sermo tuus tonitru vitaque fulgur erat He Thunder'd with his Doctrine and Lightned with his Life he had Urim and Thummim indeed 216. Those Three Angels who were the Three first powerful Preachers for separation from Antichrist Waldus Wickliffe Luther were Sons of Thunder especially the last of them what a filius
call'd Prophets v. 10. because they not only taught People to worship God according to his Rule so the Church in the Wilderness all along nourish'd with the sincere Milk of the Word Rev. 12.6,14 but also foretold the fall of Antichrist out of the Word 398. 2ly Their Number two which is the lowest number for one is but the Root of numbers to shew the paucity of them that witness to the Truth under Antichrists Reign and that is intimated in Rev. 11.1,2,3 where the inner Court is only reserved for the Holy People that keepeth the Truth when the outward Court a large spacious place is given up to Antichrist for the Witnesses should be as few as the Priests and Levites that worshipped in the Inner Court in comparison of Antichristian Idolaters that worshipped in the Outward Luk. 12.32 Rev. 1.6 Priests to God 399. And yet they should not be so few as to be below a full Confirmation of the Truth for two witnesses are sufficient to confirm any truth Deut. 17.6 Mat. 18.16 2 Cor. 13.1 God orders it so by his over-ruling Providence that his truth shall not be starved no not in the worst of times by want of Witnesses or a sufficient Confirmation or this number two is an Allusion to those 3 famous Pairs the first to Moses and Aaron the Churches Prophets in Egypt and the Wilderness 2ly to Elijah and Elisha Prophets to Israel under the Idolatry of Baal when the Church was not visible and only 7000. left that was hid in Corners 3ly to Zerubbabel and Joshua Prophets in Babylon and in Rebuilding the Temple 400. That there is such an Allusion in this Number to those 3 famous Couples it is probable because in the following description the turning of waters into blood and smiting the earth with Plagues often v. 5. hath relation to the first of them Moses and Aaron and shutting up heaven and destroying Men by fire v. 5 6. to Elijah and Elisha and the Olive-trees and Candlesticks to Joshua and Zerubbabel v. 4. Zech. 4.3,11,14 The 3d thing in the description of their Condition 't was sad and mournfull Sackcloth is the covering that is worn in bad times Amos 8.9,10 2 Kin. 6.30 they mourn in Sackcloth while Antichrist triumphs in his Silken Copes and costly Garments and all because Idolatry hath spread it self so fast and so far and because of the troubles of the true Church 401. 4ly Their Actions which they perform'd with that power which the Lord gave them were eminent Exploits and that of two sorts one against Antichrist and the other for the Church 1st against Antichrist they have power to do very great things which carrying such a fair correspondency with the 4 first Vials in Rev. 16. hath made a late learned Critick take those exploits of the Witnesses to be the powring forth of the 4 first Vials as 1. Plagues on the Earth v. 6. ch 11. as in the first Vial Rev. 16.2 2ly Water into blood v. 6. as in the 2d Vial ch 16.3 and in the 3d Vial v. 4. and 3ly A tormenting of Men with fire as in the 4th Vial chap. 11.15 with chap. 16.8 402. Which Interpretation though very ingenious yet seems it to me a little doubtfull not only because 1st the Order of the Vials is inverted by it as the plagues on the earth the first of the Vials is the last in this description of the exploits of the Witnesses and tormenting by fire the first of those Exploits is the last of the 4. Vials But 2ly it seems somewhere too narrow in leaving out that eminent action of shutting Heaven up from rain which none of the 4 first Vials correspond with And 3ly somewhere too wide in making one of those exploits to comprehend two distinct Vials to wit the 2d and 3d. to say nothing of the time of fixing them 403. The service 2ly which they do for the Church is 1st a power of Prophecying whereby they both instructed the Church in the knowledge of the Truth and comforted her by predicting the ruine of Rome which notwithstanding all her rage against the Church could not yet deprive her of the help of those Witnesses for God gave them power to Prophesie all Antichrists Reign 2ly to supply the Church with Oil sufficiently that is with Grace enough for this hard time of Persecution that they might not be like the foolish Virgins whose lamps went out for want of Oil. 404. The two Olive-trees and the two Candlesticks some reads The two Olive-trees with the two Candlesticks with for and justifying that Reading from that in 1 Sam. 14.18 where and is read with the Children of Israel because Candlesticks in Rev. 1. 20. is meant Churches and though the Churches were 7. then in Johns time yet Antichrist reduced them to two and yet those two should be supply'd with grace to hold out all the wills of God Acts 13.22 those two Sons of Oil the Witnesses are not branches but Trees to nourish their Graces in that evil day and to pour in Oil into their Lamps continually which was Aarons work Exod. 27.20 405. The fifth particular in the description of the Witnesses is their slaughter and death wherein consider 1st the time when 2ly the place where and 3ly the manner how 1. Of the time when the Holy Ghost tells us when they shall have finished their Testimony Rev. 11.7 when their Prophecying-work is done for if God had given them power to Prophesie longer as v. 3. they should have continued in their Prophecying work longer Maugre the malice of all their enemies God permits them to be slain because their Prophecying-work was done thus their Lord and Master could not be slain till his hour was come John 8.20 and in that hour of darkness he was put to death Luk. 22.53 406. Mr. Mede reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when they shall be about to finish their Testimony because the Greek Verb is not of the Praeter-perfect but of the Future Aorist Tense which is incertae significationis of an uncertain time making the time of this Slaughter to be when part of the Holy City or Christian World repent of their Idolatry casts off the yoke of Antichrist and reforms the Temple within themselves the Witnesses getting heart by all this begins to put off the Sackcloth and to lay aside their Mourning Prophecy which they have done ever since the Reformation then comes the Beast as it were ascending afresh into the Throne enraged with the success of their Mourning Prophecy he overcomes and kills them 407. Mr. Brightmans opinion was that the slaughter of the Witnesses were past and fulfilled in the Smalcaldian War in that great Overthrow of the Protestant Party by Charles the fift Anno 1547. and in condemning the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament which he makes the Witnesses about that time in the Councel of Trent which is now above an hundred and twenty Years ago other later Writers apply this Slaughter to those ruined Churches