The Truth and Certainty of the Protestant Faith, Section 17
SECT. XVII.
Qu. BUt how ſhould that plea be anſwered, which the Romiſh Church hath to prove their Religion, from its unity, univerſality, and an uninterrupted ſucceſſion? Anſ. It is I confeſſe ſtrange and aſtoniſhing; when ſo clear, 1. For her Unity, That beſides what known differences they are at amongſt themſelves, in many Doctrines, they are viſibly divided about the very foundation of their Faith, and Infallibility of their Church, whether it reſolve on the Pope alone, or on the Pope and a Council, or that late found-out Rule of Oral Tradition. 2. For an Univerſality, it is eaſie to know, how much more than the one half, where the Chriſtian Faith is embraced through the World, doth not at all own the See of Rome, And 3. For that Succeſſion of their Church, and uninterrupted line of Popes, they will not themſelves debate, how there have been …hree Popes at one time, yea by what horrid means ſome of them got up to that throne, as their greateſt Writers are forced to confeſſe. Qu. But is the Apoſtacy of that Church ſuch, as there is no ſafe union with it, nor hope of being ſaved in their Religion? Anſ. If Rome be that ſpiritual Babylon, Rev. 18: 4. as is there moſt evident, then is the command peremptorie, to come out of her, le…t being partakers of her ſins, th…y be partakers of her plagues: yea ſuch a threatning we may read, Rev. 14: 9, 10. as ſhould cauſe men to tremble, who are not under a ſtrange height of induration; and now ſince the breaking up of ſo great a light, and theſe clear diſcoveries of the truth, are the Waters become bloody, Revel. 16: 3. Qu. Yet can all this make out the charge of Antichriſtianiſm, or that the Pope is the Antichriſt, who is ſo expreſly foretold, 2 Theſ. 2: 3, 4? Anſ. To reſolve ſuch a thing, theſe are undeniably clear, 1. That the Holy Ghoſt, in the Scripture, hath been in a more than ordinary way, particular, in pointing Antichriſt out, by ſuch notorious marks and characters, that after ages might know him, if they will not ſhut their eyes; and that a moſt exact portraicture is there drawn of ſuch an adverſarie, what ſhould be his form and ſhape, with the manner of his appearance. 2. Except we deny our Senſes, it is certain, that we ſee with our eyes ſuch an one, as is there ſhewed forth; ſo as none ever knew the face of a Man, by his Picture drawn to the life in a frame, better then the Church this day may know Antichriſt, and that this is he, who ſo clearlie anſwers all theſe marks, which in the Scripture are given of him; even he, Whoſe coming ſhall be after the working of Satan, with all power, ſigns, and lying wonders, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abſtain from meats, which God hath appointed to be uſed with thanksgiving; who ſitteth in the Temple of God and exalteth himſelf above all that is called God, bewitcheth the Kings of the earth with his inchantments, and is drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Chriſt Ieſus; yea, whoſe Traffick, and Merchandice, is not onlie Gold and Silver, but The ſouls of men, Rev. 18: 13. And can we be in the dark, to know or diſcover who this Antichriſt is, whoſe Doctrine is ſtated in ſo direct an oppoſition to Jeſus Chriſt, and the great deſign of the Goſpel. 3. Antichriſt muſt be already come, and revealed, elſe according to the Scripture, that Prophecy can never have its accompliſhment, ſince even in the Apoſtles times, this Myſtery began to worke, and he who for a time did withhold his coming, the Heathen Empire of Rome, hath been long ſince taken out of the way; and as the Scripture points his firſt coming, and appearance in the firſt times of the Church; ſo his laſt cloſe, and final ruine to be near the ſecond coming of the Lord 4. It is thus undeniable, that this adverſarie can be no ſingle perſon, or of a ſhort continuance, but is a politick Bodie and Kingdom, centred, and united in one ſupream Head, and with a ſucceſſion for many ages. 5. It is clear, that theſe expreſſe Marks and Characters given by the Scripture, for the Churches knowing of Antichriſt, could anſwer to no Adverſarie elſe, which Jeſus Chriſt ever had under the New Teſtament, either Pagan or Mahumetan. Qu. Since Antichrists fall muſt be by the Word, as is clear, 2 Theſ. 2: 4. whom the Lord ſhall conſume by the breath of his mouth, can it be now applicable to the Romiſh Church, whilſt Popery is ſo ſpreading, even in thoſe Parts, where the Word is most powerfully preached? Anſ. This needs not be ſtrange, if we conſider, 1. That Antichriſts fall, according to the Scripture, muſt be by degrees, as his riſe was. 2. That where the truth is not received in love, 2 Theſ. 2: 18. it cannot long want judicial effects, to be given up to ſtrong deluſions. 3. It is eaſie to ſee, how ſuch as at this day have fallen off to Poperie, are not upon debate, or by arguments to their judgement engaged, but it is the viſible product of a licentious time, and from an unuſual growth of Atheiſm and Ignorance; yea thoſe only are found to change their Religion, who never in earneſt embraced any. 4. Yet can none deny thoſe great and extraordinarie effects, the preached word hath had to recover the Church from Antichriſtian darkneſſe, in theſe laſt ages, to which thoſe famous Plantations of the Goſpel, in Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, the Low countries, &c. are to this day a witneſſe, where the greateſt Atheiſts may ſee an immediate appearance of God, and ſomething above nature, with that convincing increaſe of light, as enforceth ſuch even to gnaw their tongue with pain, who do nor ceaſe to oppoſe the truth.