Lectures Upon the Epistles to the Thessalonians, Part 2 · Lecture 6
THE SIXT LECTVRE VPONUPON THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAVL TO THE THESSALONIANS.
2. THESSA. CHAP. 2. verſ. 5. 6. 7. 8.
5 Remember ye not, that vvhen I vvas as yet vvith you, I told you theſe things.
6 And novv ye knovv vvhat vvithholdeth; that he might be reueiled in his tyme.
7 For the mysterie of iniquitie doth already vvorke: onelyonly he vvhichwhich novv vvithholdeth▪ ſhall let till he be taken out of the vvay.
8 And then ſhall the vvicked man be reueiled, vvhom the Lord ſhall conſume vvith the spirit of his mouth, and ſhall aboliſh vvith the brightneſſe of his comming.
THE Apoſtle, Brethren, ye heard, proues againſt the falſe teachers that the comming of the Lord was not ſo neere hand as they thought and as they teached. He takes his argument from one thing that was to fal out in the world before Chriſts latter comming: Ere euer become (ſayes the Apoſtle) there ſhall be an vniuerſall defection from that faith of Ieſus Chriſt. This matter will conteine a long proceſſe of tyme, and therefore would the Apoſtle conclude, Chriſts comming is not ſo neere hand as they make the people beleeue. He expreſſes not the name of the Antichriſt, but for the name he hes a long deſcription and painting out of him This deſcription we entered in the laſt day, and he lets them ſee when he ſhall be, when he ſhall come. He pointes him out in his nature. Firſt in his very eſſence he ſhall be a man of nature lyke other men. Then he commes to his properties. What ſhall they be? Firſt, a man of ſinne, a wicked man as euer was or ſhall be in the world. The next propertie, He ſhall be the ſon of perdition a man long agoe ordeined to deſtruction. Then he commes to his actions (when he ſhall come and reueile him in the world) he ſhall oppone himſelfe againſt eueryevery thing that ſhall be called God or ſhall be worſhipped. That is, againſt eueryevery ſuperiour power and Majeſtie, whether earthly or Heauenly, againſt God himſelfe and his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt Another action. He ſhall not be content onelyonly to oppone himſelfe in malice, but in pryde he ſhall exalt himſelfe aboue all thinges that ſhall be called God and worſhipped, either in earth, or in Heauen. Then, he commes to two ſpeciall actions of his pryde; firſt, exalting himſelfe aboue God, he ſhall ſit in the Temple of God in the Church of God. (For ſo the Antichriſtian Church is termed, becauſe ſhee keepes ſome enſenzies of the Church of God, the Word and Sacraments) He ſhall ſit there as God on the conſciences of men and wemen, to thrall and controle them at his pleaſure. The other particulare action of his pryde, he ſhall ſhowe himſelfe as God, in the properties perteining to God, he ſhall take them all on him. This far we proceeded the laſt day in the deſcription of the Antichriſt, whom the Apoſtle prophecyes will come in the world ere Chriſt come againe, onelyonly this I aduertiſe you, as I did before. Take not this man whom ye call the Antichriſt to be a ſingle man, one perſon, take him to be a ſucceſſion of men, eueryevery one following another in one kingdome and tyranny. The kingdome of Antichriſt, all is termed vnderunder the name of a man. They are but one kingdome of all, one purpoſe of all, to exerciſe tyrannie on the Church of God heere on this earth.
Now, brethren, to the text. He leaues off this deſcription for a tyme vntill he come to the ninth verſe following, and there he returnes againe. Now in the meane-tyme he falles out in ſome ſpeaches and admonitions to them concerning the Antichriſt: and in the firſt verſe we hauehave red, he confirmes the thing he hes ſpoken of the Antichriſt, from the ſpeaches he had with them when he abode among them in Theſſalonica. Concerning the Antichriſt I wryte, would he ſay, no other thing to you now nor that which I told you when I was with you. That which I then ſpoke that ſame thing now I wryte vntounto you. Then in the next verſe he ſhowes to them that the Antichriſt and Antichriſtaniſme is come and begun already in the world, albeit his reueiling and his comming to his pryde is not yet▪ yet the Antichriſt is come Antichriſtaniſme and fals religion is begun. Then againe he telle, what withholdes him that he is not reueiled ſo ſoone and haſtily. There is an impediment caſten in which I told to you when I was with you: He inſiſtes on this impediment, and telles when this impediment ſhall be tame out of the way, then this wicked man of ſinne ſhall be reueiled. And laſt as he hes tolde of his comming out, and growing to an height in his pryde, ſo he propecyes of his decay and his deſtruction.
Now to returne to the wordes. Remember ye not (ſayes he) vvhen I vvas vvith you I told you theſe thinges. To aſſure them the more of the trueth of theſe thinges that he wrytes to them concerning the Antichriſt, hee calles them to remembrance of that which he ſpoke to them face to face concerning this ſame purpoſe, and in doing this the vtters ſome peece of anger. Remember ye not. He vſes ſome ſharpneſſe in wordes, becauſe they were ſo obliuious, as to forget a thing ſo needfull for their ſaluation. Now to take vp ſome leſſons ſhortlie on theſe wordes. Then Apoſtle then beganne verie ſoone to foretell the Theſſalonians of the comming of the Antichriſt and of that vniuerſall defection that was to fall out ſo long after that: (for this prophecie is eſpeciallie of that great Antichriſt who came not a long tyme after this.) The eſtate of the Church of Theſſalonica was flooriſhing at this tyme, he caſtes in a matter of diſcouragement heere. There ſhall be an vniuerſall defection.Defection of the Church euer to be feared. Well, brethren, it i… good euer to foreſee the euil that is to come on the Church of God on the earth, yea eue… when ſhe is moſt flooriſhing to feare a decay and that her ſtate will alter: For this is the nature of the viſible Church of God heere on the earth, ſhe is not ſo ſtabled nor ſetled, but ſhe is ſubject to alteration and trouble, to defection, to falling away from God, from Chriſt and the trueth, and that both particularlie and vniuerſallie, our ſetledneſſe is not in this world, there are none ſo well ſtabliſhed but they may fall, and therefore we ſhould be euer in a dread and feare of deſtruction and alteration. And it is the parte of the Paſtour aboue all other, euen in the flooriſhing of it, to be forwarning and foretelling of an alteration and defection to inſew: For he as a watch-man ſhould hauehave a ſharpe eye to foreſee, and he ſhould craue a foreſight of God to knovve thinges to inſew that he may giuegive aduertiſmentes to the people, and they may be prepared for all dangers to come.
Another leſſon. Ye ſee the Theſſalonians hes bene forgetfull of that which the Apoſtle tolde them when he was with them, and therfore that which he ſpoke then he wrytes now to them.Naturaly vvee are forgetfull of ſpiritual things. So obliuious we are eſpeciallie of thinges concerning our ſaluation, that we will receyue them in at the one eare, and let them goe out at the other; we heare to day we forget to morrowe. The ſeede is not ſo ſoone ſowne but the deuill as a rauenous foull is readie to pull it out of the very eares that it be to vsus nothing but a vaniſhing ſound: and therefore it is the Paſtors part euer to be calling to their remembrance the things that are heard. Ye ſee in a ſchoole, the maſter conſidering the weakneſſe of the memory of the youth is euer repeating the thing they hauehave heard: as needfull it is to the Paſtour to be euer repeating the thing he hes teached, for all are as infantes in thee ſchoole of Chriſt. 1. Cor. 13. 11. and it is the peoples part to be as diligent to heare ouer againe theſe things that pertaines to ſaluation, and to craue that the Lord wold bleſſe their memories there in that they may be the more able to gainſtand all aſſaultes of the deuill and his ſuppoſtes: how canſt thou gaineſtand if thou be not furniſhed with the armour of the word of God? Therefore the Lord grant me grace to forwarne you and ſanctify your memories to receyue and keepe the things that concernes your ſaluation: for it may be the day of tentation is neerer nor we beleue.
But mark the forme how he cals it to remembrance: He does it with a rebuke and reproofe. Remember ye not. They who are forgetfull of thinges heauenly ſhould not goe away without reproofe, calling to remembrance ſhould be with rebuke. But marke againe the le…itie of the Apoſtle in rebuking. Remembe… ye not ſayes he? I told you before. Therefore all this rebuke ſhould be with lenity and louelove: ſharpneſſe ſhould euer be mingled with le…tie. This is the thing I euer find this Apoſtle doing.
Now to goe forward to the next verſe. Becauſe he ſaid before the Antichriſt was not as yet reueiled. The Theſſalonians might hauehave asked the Apoſtle. What withholdes? What ſtayes? What impediment is there? Why is he not reueiled? The Apoſtle anſwers ſhortly. Ye know what withholds, it is not needfull I tell you, I told you it elſe when I was with you, call it to remembrance, it is not needfull that I ſhould loſe tyme by oft repeating of it. Yet, brethren, albeit he knew it, and the Theſſalonians knewe it, becauſe he had told them of it before, yet we knowe it not for any thing he ſhowes heere. Therefore we muſt ſee what was the impediment that ſtayed the reuiling of the Antichriſt till his hight and pryde.The Romane Empyre, and publiſhing of the Goſpel are impedimētes staying the reueiling of the Antichriſt. What was it? Both the olde and late wryters agrees in this. It was the Romane Empyre that flooriſhed for the tyme. The euent and iſſue of thinges declared this to be true: For ſo long as the Romane Empyre ſtoode and the Emperour keept his owne ſeat at Rome (which now is vſurped by the Pope,) ſo long neither Mahomet in the Eaſt preuailed: (for, he was one of the deſtroyers of the Romane Empyre) neither the Pope in the Weſt got vp his head: for the Empyre ſuffered him not to come to his hight. But when once the Romane Empyre decayed, the Emperour changed his ſeat, left Rome and remained at Conſtantinople. Then vp gets the Mahomet his ſeate in the Eaſt, the Pope in the Weſt, and he ſits downe in the Emperours ſeate. This is one impediment. Latter writers joines to this another impediment, that ſtaied the reueiling of the beaſt and his comming to his hight, to wit, the decree of God, concerning the publiſhing of the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt in the world: Ere he ſhould come to his perfection, it behoued, that the Goſpel ſhould be preached throghout the world: Ere there be any falling there muſt be a ſtanding; ere there be any Apoſtaſie there muſt be a receiuing of the word: It behoued, that, before apoſtaſie the word ſhould be vniuerſally teached. Therefore the Romane Empyre decaying, the courſe of the Goſpell comming to an end, the Euangell being vniuerſally teached, the Antichriſt breakes in and takes vponupon him both the juriſdictiones, takes on him the earthly power, and then the juriſdiction ouer the ſoules of men, he killes the bodie with the temporall ſword he killes the ſoule with the poyſon of falle doctrine. His kingdome is euer ſlaying, either of the ſoules of men with falſe doctrine and poyſon of Hereſies, or elſe if men will not obey, he ſlayes their bodies with the ſword. Theſe are the impediments helde him back vnreueiled. Then learne heere, it is the Lord vvho ſtayes and holdes back euill from the world; and his maner…; he caſtes in impediments before the deuill and before wicked men ere they riſe: The deuill and his ſuppoſtes is comming out ruſhing on the people, the Lord caſts in impediments to them and then they muſt ſtand vntill theſe impedimentes be ſome way remoued: For, brethren, the power of the deuill and of darknes and wickednes is ſo great on the earth that the Church of God could not ſtand one day except the Lord did caſt in impediments in the way of the deuil and wickedmen to hold them off. And ſo all the glorie of the ſtanding of the Church in the earth, is to be aſcriued to that God that holdes off and ſhall hold off by his prouidence▪ …ill they will they, the deuill wicked men from their wicked interpryſes; and the Lord forbid the Antichriſt ſhould preuaile; for if he preuaile, aſſure thy ſelfe if thou ſtand ſteedfaſt: in the faith thy bloud ſhall pay for it: for of all Tygers in the earth he is the moſt bloud-thirſtie.
Now the wordes following telles wherefore theſe in pediments are caſten in. That he ſhould be reveiled in his ovvne tyme, As he would ſay, his tyme is not yet come, that article of tyme God hes appointed and decreed from all eternitie he ſhould be reueiled in, is not yet come Brethren, this is true, and al the Scripture makes it manifeſt. The Lord from all eternitie hes appointed tymes, opportunities, houres, moments, when euerything ſhould be done that falles out in this world, eueryevery action hes the owne moment preſcriued to it, be it good, or bad. The Lord hes written the houre of it in his booke when it ſhould be done. Now ye ſee by experience, the deuill euer ſeekes to preuent the tyme, yea, the beſt of vsus all when the Lord hes appointed a time to our deliuerance, or to doe anything, cannot byde that tyme, but are euer freatting and fuming. Therefore, the Lord caſtes in ſtayes both to the deuill and to men on earth. When they are running forwarde, he will caſt in a ſtay, and thou muſt ſtand there, and thou muſt ſtand vntil that ſame tyme and article come that he hes appointed, and it ſhall not ly in the power of the deuill and of all the earth to preuent that tyme.
Now to come to the next verſe. There are two things concerning the Antichriſt. The firſt, his comming in the world. The ſecond his reueiling after his comming. There is a difference betweene theſe two: His comming to the height and his reuelation. As concerning his comming to his height, it might hauehave bene asked by the Theſſalonians, Is he come yet? we vnderſtand by thy ſpeaking, he is not reueiled yet, but is he come yet? He anſweres, Euen novv the misterie of iniquitie is in doing: ſhortlie the meaning is. The Antichriſt, the Antichriſtianiſme, falſe religion, Heretical doctrine, is come alreadie, albeit it be not reueiled and come to the hight. He calles Antichriſtaniſme iniquitie: for, of all iniquitie, falſe doctrine is the greateſt iniquity, and of all ſinners on the earth a falſe teacher and deceiuer of the people of God is the greateſt ſinner. Therefore he is called the man of ſinne, a man addicted to ſinne, as a ſlaue to his maſter. Further he calles it the misterie of iniquitie. It is called a miſterie, becauſe it came not to the light at the firſt, but, lay vp hid in a miſterie. It was not knowne not detected in the owne cullour nor came not to an height that men might know it. Then, marke, ye ſee, the Antichriſt and Antichriſtianiſme, that is, falſe religion beganne verie ſoone, Euen novv there are many Antichrists, ſayes Iohn 1. Epiſt. 4. chap 3. verſ. It beganne in Pauls and the Apoſtles dayes. It was conſerued, as it were, in the mothers bellie in thoſe dayes, but, it lay long and many yeeres hid vp in a miſterie, and it lay long time lurking in Rome and in the Church thereof, and then, at laſt broke vp there the great Antichriſt. It lay ſo hid vp, not comming to the perfection, to the yeere of the Lord ſix hundreth and three yeeres, and then, it was broght to a great maturitie and perfection, by Phocas the Emperour and Pope Bonifacius the third. It layth the mothers wombe getting forme and grouth, ere it came to the reuelation, ſo, the Antichriſt is an olde childe. Mark it, there are many miſteries in the world, and among all the reſt, there is a miſtery of ſin: as there is a miſtery of godlineſſe. 1. Tim. 3. chap. 16. verſe, ſo, there is a miſtery of vngodlineſſe, and ſin lyes very long hid, ere it break out and appeare in the owne cullor in any perſon. Alas, thy ſin will ly long hid, as it were, clocked vnderunder a clock in thee, ere it come to an height, (for, ſin is a deceyuing thing) but, at laſt, it will bud out in ſpyte of thy teeth. And to ſpeake of this ſinne of falſe doctrine in particulare. It lay hid many yeeres ere men knew of it. No queſtion, in the dayes of the olde fathers Chryſ…ſtome Augustine, and the reſt of them, many corruptions broke in, which they ſaw not, becauſe they lay hid vp in a miſterie ſo, that, they could not ſee them, vntill it hes pleaſed the Lord now to reueile them Wonder not, that the doctors reproued not this Hereſie and that Hereſie; no, ſin lyes hid vp wonderfully. The greateſt ſin will ly hid vp vnderunder the greateſt holineſſe.
Then in the end of the verſe, he returnes againe to the impediment, and he ſpeaks two thinges of it. Firſt, how long it ſhal luſt, and then, what ſhal follow from once it ſhal be …aine away, to wi…, that man of ſin ſhall be reueiled. Now to the words, ye layes, He that vvithholds ſhall let, till he be taken out of the vvay: that is to ſay, the Romane Emperor, for, he ſpeaks of the ſucceſſion of Emperours, as of one man, becauſe there was one kingdome to wit, the Romane Empyre, as before he ſpoke of the Antichriſt. He ſhall withhold that head of the Romane beaſt from uſing, vntounto the time he be taken away. Then, what time ſhall he be taken out of the way? Euen, at that article, the Lord hes appointed▪ then the Lord ſuffred him to be taken out of the way▪ Who took him one out of the way? Mahomet with his … the … and Turks in the Eaſt wer the firſt ſubuerted the Romane Empyre, and then; Boniface and his ſucceſſours ouerthrewit in the Weſt. Mark this▪ When as the point of time preſcriued by the Lord to things to be done commes, then all impediments, that hold back that thing; if it were the Empyre of all the world ſhall be put out of the way▪ and ſhall hauehave no ſtanding, but will vaniſh away. By the contrare, before that point of time come, I ſhal mak one ſtray ſtay a man, one word ſhal hold him, the leaſt thing in the world ſhall hinder him were he raging neuer ſo faſt. To let you ſee, that al goes by the effectuall working and diſpenſation of God that workes all. I…ſtandis not in this man, or, that man, albeit he were an Emperour, or, Monareli, but onelyonly in God, who hes appointed a tyme to eueryevery thing that all glory may be giuen him. That men ſay not, I did this or that: No, it is the Lord, that from time to time hes wrought it. Ye will ſee ſome times a marueilous hardneſſe to win thinges that ye thinke be eaſie to be done, and againe an eaſineſſe to come to thinges which ye thinke hard. All tends to this that we may know, all is decreed by the ſecreet and effectuall prouidence of God.
In the beginning of the next verſe, we hauehave the effect, that ſhall fall out, vponupon this prophecie, when once he that withholds the … out of the way that is the Romane Emperour, which is termed heere as a man, by reaſon of a kingdome, many Caeſars, but, yet, one kingdome. The…, ſayes he, that vvicked man ſhall be reueiled, that great Antichriſt ſhall be reueiled. (As for the ſmall Antichriſts, that were forerunners of the great, he ſpeakes not of them, then this great Antichriſt ſhall ſhow himſelf in power, to the world, he is called a lawleſſe man, and who cannot be ſubject to a law. Who is that? He that craues an abſolute power. And who craues an abſolute power, if not that beaſt of Rome? Who breakes and makes lawes as he pleaſes, Gods law, mens law? Read the hiſtory of him. So ye hauehave heere the reueiling of him, his comming to his greatneſſe. To make this plaine. When was it, that the great Antichriſt came? for, this prophecie is of him, and this reueiling is to be vnderſtood of him. When came he to this perfection? When was he firſt reueiled? I ſhew you before, in the dayes of the Apoſtles the Antichriſt beganne and lurked, vntounto the ſix hundreth and three yeere of our Lord, and a great part of that time lurked in Rome he was not yet in greatneſſe: well then, his greatneſſe beganne in the ſix hundreth and three yeere of God, as the Hiſtories notes. And vponupon what decaſion?Grovving & reueiling of the antichriſt. One Photas an adulterer, a parricide and wicked man alwayes, when he had ſlaine his maſter … Emperour, and ſo had become odious to the people, to … to him the fauour of the people he would ſhowe himſelfe beneficial to the Church, he pronounces Bonifacius the third and his ſucceſſors after him (there is the Antichriſt) to be Popes, to be ſupre…me and … Biſhops of the whole earth, which ſtyles … his predeceſſor ſo much abhorred. Then in the ſix hundreth and ſeauen yeere in a Sinod all counſell holden … Rome vnderunder the ſame Bo…facius the third, this priuiledge to be vniuerſal Biſhops of the world is ratified to the Biſhoppes of Rome. A little after this (ſee how this growes) in a counſell holden in Africa vnderunder the Emperour Conſtantine the nephevv of Heraclius. Theodorus the Biſhoppe of Rome gettes this ſtyle and theſe tytles ſent to him, Domino, Apoſtolico culmini ſublimato, ſancto patrum patri, Theodoro Papae, & ſummo omnium praeſulum princip… Synodus Africana. That is, vntounto the Lord lifted vp on high to the Apoſtolicall ſeate, the holy father of fathers, the moſt high Prince of all Prelats Theodore the Pope, writes the Synode of Africa. And yet he is not come to his height, till in the 666. yeere of the Lord, which number in the reuelation of Iohny▪ 18. is called the number of a man, that is, an explicable number, eaſie to be counted with men. In this yeere he commes to the height of his perfection, as that prophecy of Iohn tels and experience teaches. Who makes him vp and perfites him? Euen, he who ſhould hauehave holden him downe, the Emperour of Conſtantinople Conſtantinus, Prorogatius Barbarus, Vitilianus being Biſhop of Rome for the time, he makes vp the beaſt: He ſets him vp on the top of his honour. Then, brethren, the Roman Biſhoppe, who was before but a legate to the Roman Emperour, he is ſet downe in his ſoueranitie, ſubject to no mortall man vnderunder the Heauen. Then commes in al abominations, all corruptions, all vices, and among all the reſt, in commes the Maſſe, and it is determined, that it ſhould be celebrate in the Latine tongue in all the world. The Antichriſt in this 666. yeere commes to the height of height, he cannot come higher.
Now, brethren, to end this matter. Heare a little of his downe going againe. As the Apoſtle heere prophecyed of his climming vp to the height of the ladder, ſo, to comforte the Church of God in all ages, he prophecyes of his deſtruction. Whom ſayes he, the Lord ſhall conſume vvith the breath of his mouth, and ſhall aboliſh vvith the brightneſſe of his comming. There are two parts here of his decaying. The firſt part is his conſuming; the next part is his aboliſhing. His conſuming is with a ſlownes; for, as he came not incontinent to his height, ſo, he decayes not incontinent, long ere he decay, he conſumes away, as a body conſuming, and then, …e endes at a ſudden. Who conſumes him? Who aboliſhes him? Who, but the Lord Ieſus Chriſt? He it is who ſhal conſume the Antichriſt.Ma…er of cōſuming of the antichriſt. To ſpeake of his conſuming. Where-with melts he him away? with the breath of his mouth, that is, by the preaching of the Goſpell, and that by the poore Miniſters, who are deſpiſed in the world: He makes his Miniſters breath and blow on the beaſt, and this breath of the Miniſters conſumes the beaſt. When began this conſuming of him? Euen ſoone after he came to his height. Ye heard of one Iohn W. ckle…ff in anno 1383. he blew on the beaſt. Iohn Huſſe, Ierome de Praga in Bohemia, albeit he was burnt and the beaſt got the maſtrie of him, yet he conſumed the beaſt. Ye heard of Luther in Germanie, his name ſhall not be buried. Melanthon, Zuinglius, Oe…olampadius, men of worthie memorie; and then good Iohn Caluin in France, Viretus, Farellus. they blew in their tyme on the beaſt. What ſhall I ſay? To be ſhort, ſo many faithfull men as the Lord raiſes vp in the miniſtry they are as many ſlayers of the beaſt with their breaths. Now learne one thing. When the Antichriſt is come to his height, who goes too to beate the beaſt downe from his height? Is it the Emperour? is it this king or that king? No, no word of them. Is it any power in this world? No, it is the Lord Ieſus. He will hauehave the honour of the wreack of the Antichriſt. And therfore, as it were, in his owne perſon he will enter in combat with the beaſt. Now what armour vſes he? Commes he on with this wordly armour, gunnes and gainzies, I aske of thee? No, no thing is ſpoken of them, but a breathing and blowing is told of▪ Ieſus Chriſt blovves on the beaſt and conſumes him vvith the breath of his mouth. The word of the Goſpell is the armour he vſes: that ſame armour the beaſt abuſes to hold vp his kingdome vvithall, the Lord takes out of his …and and ſlayes him vvith. What inſtruments vſes he to this turne? He takes not Angelles from the Heauen to breath on him. No, but ſillie ſimple bodies, ſome out of the beaſts owne bodie, ſome otherwaies raiſed vp to blow on the beaſt. Marke all theſe circumſtances. They all let you ſee▪ that▪ in beatting dovvne of the beaſt onelyonly Ieſus Chriſt ought to hauehave the glorie of the victorie. Whether ye looke to him who ſtrikes the battell, the armour, or, them, who are ſouldiers in the battell, all lettes you ſee, the glorie ſhould be giuen to Chriſt alone. What is more vyle, nor the vvord of the croſſe and this vyle miniſtrie, and yet he vvill hauehave him vvreaked and conſumed with the word and miniſtrie. He chuſes not great and mightie things, not kings and Emperours to this worke (wonder not, nor be not moued, that ye ſee ſo many kings ſtand by the beaſt, to ſee the Emperour, the kings of France and Spaine ſtand for him) but the Lord will vſe baſe meanes to deſtroy the beaſt, that the glorie may be giuen to him allone.
Now to come to the other pointe, his aboliſhing. He is aboliſhed at the laſt. When ſhall this be? When Christ ſhall come againe. How ſhall it be? The face and preſence of Ieſus ſhall deuoure him. As ſoone as the Lord ſhall come downe, as ſoone ſhall he vaniſh and be burnt vp, as caffe with the fire. The word of the Goſpell conſumes him and burnes him, but, not quyte vp. But, the face of Ieſus in that day ſhall burne him quite vp, and then, that prophecie of Iohn Reuel. chap. 20. verſe 10. ſhall be accompliſhed: He ſhall be caſten in a lack of fire and brimſtone which ſhall neuer hauehave an end. Then, brethren, beware of this word; for, if it worke not to lyfe, but be a ſauour of death to death; if it doe thee no good in this lyfe, be aſſured, that moſt glorious face of the Lord in the world to come ſhall deſtroye thee. Therefore, looke, that, the word be an inſtrument to thy conſolation, and the power of God to thy ſaluation. Looke how the word is effectuall to thee, in this life: for, ſo ſhall the preſence of Ieſus be to thee in the life to come, either to thy ſaluation, or, damnation. The face of the Lord ſhal conſume thee if the word hes wroght no renewing of thee in this life. It is ſaid in the chapter preceeding verſe 9. They which did not obey the Goſpell ſhall be puniſhed vvith euerlasting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord, and from the gloree of his povver: one blenke of that face ſhall conſume in an inſtant, all the reprobate. Craue then, that, the word may be powerfull, that ye may eſcape this fire of that preſence of Ieſus in his comming. Then, heere, ye may perceiue, that, the kingdome of the Antichriſt is not altogether aboliſhed, it takes a long tyme, ere it be taken away. Wonder not, that, he hes ſuch a power in this earth: for, certainly, this prophecie telles vsus, that, there ſhall be ſome face of the Antichriſtes kingdome, vntill Chriſt come. Looke not, that, Papiſtry end, ere Chriſt come, look not that eueryevery reformed Church ſhall be quite of them, but, they ſhall be as thornes in their ſides till Chriſt come, and let no man ouer ſoone triumph, but let eueryevery one make him for the battell. There are none of the profeſſours of Chriſts trueth but they ſhould prepare them for battell. Therefore, let eueryevery one ſeeke this armour, that being enarmed with that ſpirituall armour, ſo far as God will giuegive the grace, echone may breath on the beaſt to his conſumption, that, ſo, God may be glorified and then ſhalt thou triumph for euer with him. To whom be praiſe and glore for euer.
AMEN.