Brief Exposition of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Part 2 · Chapter 2

Brief Exposition of 1 and 2 Thessalonians · Part 2 · Chapter 2

p. 324CHAP. II.

IN the first part of this Chapter, the Apostle doth exhort them to guard against a fabulous errour, which did spread among them concerning Christs second coming, as if it had been to fall out in that present age: which exhortation is, first, seriously and at large propounded, v. 1, 2. next, briefly repeated, v. 3.—

In the second part, he doth refute the forementioned errour, and foretelleth a general apostasie under the Antichrist. Which prophesie consists of six branches. In the first he foretelleth that the Antichrist shall be revealed, and bring this apostasie to an head, v—3— In the next, the Antichrist is described, 1. From his nature, 2. From two of his titles, v.—3. Thirdly, from two of his properties, his opposition to Christ, and arrogance, both in relation to lawful Magistrates, and to God himself, and Fourthly, from the greatness of his power, and the place where he shall exercise it, he shall sit in the Temple of God, v. 4. which doctrine he sheweth was no new invention of his own, v. 5. In the third branch of the Prophesie he sheweth that Antichrist was not yet revealed, because of a stop and impediment in the way of his rising, v. 6. which should keep him still at under until its removal, v. 7. after which he would discover himself, v. 8.— In the fourth branch he p. 325foretelleth Antichrists ruine, v—8. In the fifth he mentions the means and helps of his advancement, to wit, 1. Satans assistance, 2. A faculty of working lying Miracles, v. 9. and 3. Deceitful false doctrines, v. 10— In the sixth he sets forth his success and describeth his subjects, first, from their eternal state, they perish, 2. From the cause of their perishing, to wit, their rejecting of truth, v. 10. and their believing grossest untruths, the Lord having given them up to the power of errour, v. 11. Thirdly, from the judgement following upon both the former sins, v. 12.

In the third part he confirms and comforts them against the power and terrour of this apostasie; first, from the certainty of their perseverance and salvation grounded upon their election, v. 13. which he cleareth from their effectual calling, v. 14. next, by exhorting them to constancy in the doctrine received, v. 15. Lastly, by praying to God for them, that he would comfort and establish them, v. 16, 17.

Ver. 1. NOw we beseech you brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.

The Apostle being to establish these Thessalonians in the truths against a spreading errour concerning the time of Christ second coming (which is expressed v▪—2.) doth, first, in order to that end, beseech them lovingly and meekly as brethren. 2. He enforceth the exhortation, or rather the disswasive, with a kind of religious adjuration p. 326by Christs second coming (about which the present errour was) and by their gathering together unto him, to wit, at the last day, when all the elect shall be fully gathered from the four winds, Mat. 24. 31. and caught up to meet the Lord in the air, 1 Thes. 4. 17. So that he doth in effect obtest them, that as they would have comfort at Christs second coming, and partake of that glory, which the elect being gathered together shall receive from him then, 1 Thes. 4▪—17. so they would obey the present exhortation, and keep themselves at a distance from the following errour. Doct. 1. The spirit of errour is so far from being banished and put to silence by the Churches afflictions and weighty sufferings, that it sometimes takes occasion from those to rage the more among a people, who being wearied with the cross, have oft an open ear to receive whatsoever it is, whether truth or errour, which promiseth most of present ease, and of a speedy delivery from their present strait: for, though this Church was presently under a suffering lot, chap. 1. 4. yet this errour, which did maintain that Christ was presently to come and put an end to trouble at the last day of judgement, did spread fast among them, hence Paul doth seriously exhort them to guard against it. Now we beseech you, brethren. 2. The Ministers of Christ ought so to propound the sweet and ravishing consolations of the Gospel to an afflicted people, as they do not omit to press such duties on them as their afflicted state calleth for, or to tax them for yielding in the least to such tentations as Satan takes advantage from their affliction to assault them with; and that p. 327because untenderness of this kind doth hinder the most sweet and powerful consolations of the Gospel to work and take effect, Jer. 42. 10, 11. with 44. 15, &c. for, Paul, having comforted this afflicted Church, chap. 1. doth now exhort them to duty, and indirectly tax them for their being so soon taken with the present plausible errour. Now we beseech you brethren. 3. The Minister of Christ, as he ought to entertain love betwixt him and the people of his charge, and for that end to deal affectionately with them at all times: So chiefly when he hath to do with those who are either tainted, or in hazard to be tainted, with errour, especially so long as they are not incorrigible in their errour; and that because a spirit of pride doth usually accompany a spirit of errour, so that the person tainted with it can hardly endure to be contradicted, Gal. 4. 16. if he be not convinced that he who contradicts his errours, doth love his person, and dealeth affectionately with him: for, therefore, while Paul is about to meddle with their errour, he dealeth most affectionately with them. Now we beseech you brethren. But 4. The Lords Minister ought not (under pretence of tender and affectionate dealing with those who are tainted with errour) to speak against their errours coldryfly, as if it were a thing indifferent whether they returned to a right mind or not, but (as he would be faithful to God, Gal. 1. 10. and the souls of people, 2 Cor. 11. 3.) he must deal seriously with them, set their hazard before them, and earnestly obtest them, by that which is dearest to them, to quit their errour and embrace the contrary p. 328truth; for, thus doth Paul beseech and in a kind adjure them by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together unto him. 5. Errour about a truth, or any circumstance of it doth (in so far, at least) hinder or endanger the good and comfort, which might be otherwise reaped by it: for, while Paul obtests them, that, as they looked for comfort at Christs second coming, so they would beware of that errour which did antedate the time of it, it is implyed that their embracing of that errour would in some respect hinder, or at least hazard the comfort which they might have by the faith of that day. We beseech you, saith he, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 6. As Christ will certainly come to judge the world, and all believers shall be gathered to him, as Eagles do resort unto the Carcase, Matth. 24. 28. so we ought to entertain thoughts of that day with a kind of religious awe and reverence, to wit, so as we do not mock at it, 2 Pet. 3. 4. but that (certainly believing it will be) we order all our deportment as we may prepare and make ready for it, 2 Pet. 3. 11, 12. for, he adjures and obtests them by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him, now we use not to obtest but by such things which are most certain, and to which we owe a kind of religious respect and reverence. 7. Then is the day of Christs second coming desirable and precious to us, and thought upon as it ought by us, when, having made acquaintance and friendship with Christ our Judge, we have ground of confidence that he will not be p. 329terrible but friendly to us in that day, otherwise a man can never think upon it with love, desire and religious reverence, but will abhor the very thoughts of it; for, as this obtestation implyeth this day to have been desirable unto them and reverently thought upon by them, so Paul doth shew from what this did flow, even their interest in Christ the Judge as theirs, and the hope of their being gathered together among the rest of the elect unto him then, while he saith, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him; he calleth Christ our Lord, and the gathering, our gathering.

Ver. 2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

The Apostle in this verse doth, first, set forth, in general, that from which he doth disswade them, to wit, 1. That they would not be soon shaken or suffer themselves to be tossed to and fro like the waves of the Sea (as the word signifieth) by the winds of false doctrine in or from their mind, that is, from their received opinion and judgement concerning the truth in hand (as the word is rendred, 1 Cor. 2. 16. and 11. 10.) or from the right use of their wit and reason, the loss of which he doth hereby insinuate would be the sad fruit of embracing the present errour; and, 2. That they would not be troubled, or suffer themselves to be perplexed, vexed and affrighted with the dreadful p. 330representation of approaching judgement, by which, it is like, the promoters of this errour did uncessantly alarm and affright them, for the word is a metaphor taken from souldiers affrighted with a sudden and dreadful alarm. Next, he condescends upon a threefold deceit which the maintainers of this errour did make use of to seduce and unsettle them, which he exhorts them to vilipend as being of no weight: first, they pretended to the spirit, whereby (as it is contradistinguished to the other two) must be meant some immediate revelations which they did falsly give out themselves to have had from the spirit of God, Micah 2. 11. next, to some unwritten word which, as it seemeth, they did falsly alledge had been spoken by Paul or some other Apostle to that purpose, 3. To some Epistle written by Paul himself, and this, either the former written to this same Church which it seemeth they did wrest to countenance the present errour, as if he had taught 1 Thes. 4. 15. that Christ would come to judgement in that present age, or some other Epistle forged by them and fathered upon the Apostle, which hath not been unusual even then, as appears from his great care to subscribe every Epistle with his own hand for preventing such impostures, chap. 3. 17. Lastly, he expresseth the particular errour from embracing whereof he doth so affectionately and seriously disswade them, to wit, that the day of Christ, or of Christs second coming, was at hand. The word in the Original doth differ from that which is 1 Pet. 4. 7. and expresseth so much, as if the day of judgement had been instantly to fall out in that p. 331very age, which doubtless was the opinion vented by those seducers and refuted here by Paul. But the word used by Peter, expresseth only that it was drawing near, and in what sense he would be understood is explained by himself, 2 Pet. 3. 8, 9. to wit, in respect of God, with whom one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. However Peter doth not condescend upon any peremptory time, neither day, year, nor the present age, as those seducers did. Doct. 1. The spirit of errour is usually most prevalent and taking with people, when it is first hatched and publickly vented. The newness of the thing, the fair pretexts wherewith it is coloured, and peoples inadvertence to what it tendeth, make many without deliberation engage in it, and being once engaged to stand to it: and therefore if the first assault of errour were once withstood, and time and leisure taken to advise upon it, before we did indeliberately and suddenly close with it, there should not be so much hazard, at least of being carryed away with it; for, he beseecheth them that they be not soon shaken, not as if he did allow them to be shaken, provided it were not soon, but because if they did endure the first brunt, and were not soon shaken they would readily not be shaken at all. 2. As a sudden rash and unadvised engaging in the way of errour is usually accompanied with a spiritual phrensie and madness, and transporteth men beyond the bounds of right reason, both in the defence and propagation of their errour (however they may be abundantly rational in their other actings, 2 Cor. 9. 2. with 11. 20.) So an unsound and unsetled p. 332judgement in the point of truth, is usually accompanied with errour and disturbance, of the conscience, through fears and doubts. And it is the devilish method of Satans instruments, in seducing the Lords people, once to unsettle their minds, and preplex their consciences thus: that they may hereby make them more plyable to embrace their erroneous doctrine, if so it but seem to promise any ease of mind and peace; for, while he disswades them from errour, he forbids them to be soon shaken in mind, or troubled, the latter as a consequence of the former, and both of them intended by their seducers, as tending to make them more plyable to their design. 3. The fore-mentioned dreadful concomitants of errour, to wit, infatuation of mind, perplexedness of heart and affections, the rack and horrour of conscience, should scare the Lords people from medling with, and make them stand aloof from, any thing which tendeth towards it; for, the general part of the disswasive hath an implicit reason to inforce their standing aback from the particular errour, even because thereby they would be shaken in mind and troubled. 4. As there is not any errour vented the maintainers whereof will not have somewhat to say in its defence; So the taking force of all they say for that end consisteth not in the solidity and truth of what they affirm, but in multitude of words, variety of seeming reasons, a fair flourish of specious pretexts, and in impudent, bold and strong assertions, thereby holding up their reputation among their devoted followers, Act. 8. 9, 10. and ensnaring the simple who hardly can put a difference betwixt pretext and reality, confident assertions and p. 333solid proofs; Rom. 16—18. for, the maintainers of this errour did boldly alledge no fewer than three heads of most specious reasons, none whereof did prove the truth of their opinion, and therefore he forbids them to be shaken or troubled with any of them, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us. 5. Perverse and obstinate seducers do often prove in end blasphemous and very Atheists, in so far as (against the light of conscience) to dare to father their groundless untruths upon an immediate revelation from the God of truth; for, those seducers pretended to immediate revelations from the spirit to confirm their errour, wherein they could not but know themselves to be lyars. Neither by spirit, saith he. 6. As heretical spirits do usually prove most malapert and impudent in opposing themselves to most convincing evidences, if it were to outface an immediately inspired Apostle: So they are most untender of, and labour to trample upon the reputation of all who do oppose them, though they be deservedly eminent, for their graces, gifts and station; for, those seducers do not only oppose themselves to Paul an Apostle, but also, because of his opposition to them, labour to disgrace him, while they alledge he did contradict himself, and that they had a word spoken by him asserting that opinion for truth, which he did now condemn, which is implyed while he saith, be not troubled by word, as from us. 7. Heretical spirits and seducers do also often prove most irreligious, as choosing to shake the foundation of all religion, the authority of Scripture, by making one part thereof contradict another, p. 334rather than they should have nothing to say for their own credit, and to defend their errour: for, it is implyed that in this debate they opposed letter to letter, and Scripture to Scripture. Nor by letter as from us, saith he. 8. Satan's malice and man's impudence▪ did come to that height, as to endeavour the corrupting of Scripture by wresting some parts of it from its genuine sense and meaning, and by forging false Scriptures, and giving them out for true, even while the Apostles themselves were alive to contradict them. Which serveth to commend the watchful providence of God over Scripture, and his mercy towards us, in so far as all the attempts of Satan for that end have been hitherto frustrate, and the holy Scriptures transmitted pure and incorrupt from hand to hand through all generations to this present age: for, the letter here mentioned was either Pauls former Epistle wrested; or a new one forged▪ Nor by letter as from us. 9. It often falleth out that those errours do prove most pestilent, and of dangerous consequence, which have the greatest shew of piety, and carry with them the least fear of hazard from them at the firs view; for, this errour, that the day of Christ was instantly to fall out, might seem not only an harmless opinion, but also most useful for putting men to their duty in order to their preparation for that day; yet the Apostle, by this most serious disswasive from it, doth imply that it was an errour extreamly hazardous; and indeed so it was, for if this opinion had been once received, the truth of Christian Religion, and chiefly of this particular, should have p. 335been exposed to contempt and scorn in the following age, when the event would have fallen out otherwise than this opinion held forth, which doubtless was Satans great design in fostering it so much. As that the day of Christ is at hand, saith he. 10. So subtle is Satan, that he can, and sometimes doth, make one errour spring out of the ruines of another, yea and the latter errour to resolve in end in the re-establishing of the former, though in it self it be inconsistent with it; And so simple is man, that, under pretence of eschewing one extremity of errour, he rusheth forward to the other, by the seen absurdity whereof, and by Satans subtlety, he is at last constrained to embrace of new his old errour, which he had formerly forsaken: for, Paul having laboured in the former Epistle to settle them in the saith of the resurrection and of a day of Judgement, 1 Thes. 4. 14, &c. in opposition, doubtless, to some who did question those truths, as at Corinth, 1 Cor. 15. 12. some did take occasion hence to run to the other extremity and maintain that the day of Christ should come to pass in that very age, wherein Satans design doubtless was to drive them back again to their former errour, that there would be no such day at all, when the event should prove their second opinion to be false. As that the day of Christ is at hand.

p. 336Ver. 3. Let no man deceive you by any means:—

He doth here repeat the former disswasive from suffering themselves to be deceived, or (as the word signifieth) led aside from the way of truth in the present particular, by any man, though he were never so learned and holy, or by any mean, neither those three mentioned v. 2. nor by any other. Doct. 1. So prone are men by nature to embrace errour, when it is vented, as being the birth of corrupt natural light, Eccles. 7. 29. and tending of it self to gratifie some one or other of our unmortified lusts, 2 Tim. 4. 3. that there is need of reiterated disswasives from it, and of often inculcating the self same things by the Lords Ministers, which may tend to guard his people against the power of it: for, he doth here repeat the former disswasive, Let no man deceive you. 2. As Satan laboureth to engage men, of different ranks and dispositions, to be instrumental in carrying on the self same errour, and prompteth them with variety of wayes and means for throughing of their work, according to the various tempers of the Lords people whom he intendeth to ensnare, whereof some are more easily wrought upon by one instrument and mean, and some by another: So no consideration of the person tempting, though he were never so insinuative, discreet, holy and able, or in doctrine otherwayes Orthodox, and no consideration of the means whereby he tempts (though by pretexts most specious, reasons seemingly probable, authority of men almost unquestionable) hath in it sufficient p. 337ground of excuse unto any for suffering himself to be seduced from truth to errour; for, he implyeth that there would be several men, and several means, and will have them to stand out against them all, while he saith, Let no man deceive you by any means.

Ver. 3.—For that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.

The Apostle in the second part of the Chapter, refuteth the forementioned errour from this, That such things behoved to fall out before the day of the Lord, as could not come to pass within the compass of that or many ages, whereof he mentions two, first a falling away or (as it is in the original) an apostasie, and defection, not from the Roman Empire, as some do expone it, but from Christ and the purity of the Gospel. And therefore, in opposition to this apostasie, they are exhorted to stand fast, not to the Roman Empire, but to the truth of the Gospel, v. 13. Besides, it is the same word and the same purpose which is held forth, 1 Tim. 4. 1. and the Antichrist by whom this apostasie was to be headed is called a false Prophet, Rev. 16. 13. and therefore it must be an apostasie from true doctrine, as the word doth alwayes signifie in the New Testament. Neither doth he mean a particular defection of some particular persons or Churches; for there were some such defections already, both of persons, 1 Tim. 1. 20. and Churches, Gal. 1. 6. but a general p. 338defection of the whole visible Church, some few only excepted, Rev. 13. 8. For therefore is the word falling away or apostasie set down indefinitely, and without any restriction. The second thing which was to fall our antecedently to that day, is, the revealing of the man of sin, the great head and patron of this apostasie, whom all accord to be that great Antichrist spoken of, 1 Joh. 2. 18. and 4. 3. and the beast mentioned Rev. 13. 11, &c. and the epithetes given him here declare so much, though he be not expresly named. Concerning whom the Apostle doth first foretel that he shall be revealed and made known, though not so, as that none should have any doubt concerning him; for then how were it possible that all the world should wonder after the beast, Rev. 13. 3. neither were such wisdom requisite to find him out and know him as is required, Rev. 13. 18. yet so, as they to whom the Lord hath given eyes to see shall evidently discern him; Which revealing and making of him known was to be effectuated, partly, by the preaching of the Gospel which should discover him, (see v. 8.) but, chiefly, by his coming to the height of his power, and his exercising of open tyranny over the Church of God. Next, that the Lords people might the better know him when he should discover himself, the spirit of God doth here describe him, first, from his nature, he shall be a man, and not a Devil, as some did falsly imagine. Now that he is called a man in the singular number, with the article prefixed in the Original, doth not inferr that he should be one single man, and individual person without succession, p. 339as the Papists imagine, to defend their Pope from being the Antichrist here described, but all in vain. For, 1. The same word with the article prefixed doth not alwayes point at one individual person, but sometimes must be extended to many men, or to any man indefinitely, as Joh. 2. 25. 2 Tim. 3. 17. Secondly, That the Antichrist cannot be only one individual person will be clear if we consider the many great things which Scripture foretelleth shall be effectuated by him, whereof there is one here, to wit, the carrying on of that woful work of an universal apostasie from Christ and truth through the whole Christian world, presently spoken of, unto an height and head, which surely behoved to be a work of more ages than one, otherwise the argument here used by Paul would have been but of small force to prove that the day of judgement should not fall out in the present age, because this falling away and apostasie behoved to be first; It would have been, I say, of no force if that apostasie could have been brought about in the space of one age. Besides, the spirit of Antichrist was already working, hidly and in a Mysterie, in Pauls time, (see upon v. 7.) and in Johns time 1 Joh. 4. 3. and was to continue until the time of Christs second coming, (see upon v. 8.) and consequently he cannot be one only individual person. But therefore, thirdly, By man, or, that man, here is meant a series and constant succession of men, of whom one was to succeed another in their grandeur, power and wickedness against Christ and his Church, as if they were all but one man acted by one and the same spirit, even as the word High p. 340Priest in the singular number is taken, Heb. 9. 7, 25. and as Daniel, chap. 7. under every one of the four beasts doth comprize a number of Kings succeeeding one another in the Babylonian, Persian, and Grecian Monarchies, yea, and as shall appear upon v. 7. the continued series and succession of Roman Emperours is spoken of, as of one man withholding the Antichrist from coming to the height of his power and greatness. Secondly, the Antichrist in this verse is described from two of his titles; first, he shall be a man of sin; It is an Hebraism, implying that he shall be a notorious sinner himself, Rev. 13. 5, 6. and an Author of sin to others, Rev. 13. 12, 14. Like Jeroboam who caused Israel to sin, 2 King. 11. 10. Next, a son of perdition, that is, one devoted to destruction, Rev. 17. 8. as Judas was who therefore hath the same title, Joh. 17. 12. and one who should destroy others, and that both spiritually in their souls, Rev. 17. 2. and corporally in their bodies, Rev. 17. 6. for which cause he is called Apollyon or a destroyer, Rev. 9. 11. Hence Learn, first, as love to ease and desire of freedom from trouble in the Lords people do make them antedate promised deliveries, and dream of a triumph before they have entred the battel: So the Lord in Scripture doth frequently s…t himself to dispossess his people of this lazy dangerous humour, by shewing that they must first prepare for a long lasting battel before they can expect a compleat victory and full triumph: for, while these Thessalonians did dream of nothing but of a present delivery from all their trouble by Christs second coming, the spirit of God doth p. 341here forewarn them to prepare for a long continuing battel with Antichrist and his followers: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, saith he. 2. Not only particular Churches and persons, but even the Catholick Church visible (the elect only being excepted, Matth. 24. 24.) may fall away from the purity of the Gospel to dangerous and soul-destroying errours; and therefore the Church of Rome can have no ground to plead for the contrary priviledge, seeing not only her future apostasie is more than intimate, Rom. 11. 20. but also it is here foretold that the Antichristian apostasie shall, as a deluge, overflow the whole visible Church, yea and Rev. 17. 9. that Antichrist shall erect his throne in the City of Rome it self; for, saith he, except there come a falling away first, to wit, a general apostasie, See the Exposition. 3. Not only are the saddest events which can befall the Church foreseen by God, and powerfully overruled by him, for his own glory, and the good of his elect, Rom. 8. 28. but he hath also in mercy fore-acquainted his Church with them, that when they come to pass, none should need to stumble at them; for, therefore it is that the Lord doth here forewarn his Church of this general apostasie: except there come a falling away first. 4. Even Satans Kingdom, and his many instruments under him, are most united in their woful work, and in uniform means, and wayes for carrying on their work of bearing down the Kingdom of Jesus Christ; And therefore that union boasted of so much by Papists can be no infallible mark that they are the true Church; for, though Antichristianism p. 342shall be a Kingdom made up of divers members, wherein shall be many successive heads in several ages (see the exposition) yet, because of their unity and uniformity in driving on one and the same design, they are all called by the name of one man: and that man of sin be revealed. 5. One step of apostasie from truth in the Church maketh way for an higher. It begins at l…ss…r truths, and from those it advanceth further; Satan doth so d…sign it, that he may gain his intent against truth by p…ce-meale, which he cannot attain by whole sale; And the Lord himself doth so order it, that he may punish begun apostasie by raining snares in his holy justice upon the guilty, whereby they cannot but backslide more. See v. 11. for, he foretelleth that there shall be first a falling away, and then the man of sin shall be revealed, or discover himself in his own colours, and be generally received, and so the apostasie should heighten. 6. The nature of man now fallen is a very sink of sin, and, being given over of God and tempted by Satan, is ready to fall in any sin, yea to many sins though never so gross and abominable: and therefore let him that stands take heed lest he fall: for, the Antichrist is a man of sin, a man by nature, and yet a sink of all sin, a son of perdition, an opposer of God and Christ, &c. 7. As where sin goeth before, perdition and destruction do follow after: So the more eminent men are in their personal transgressions, and the more active in driving on others to sin with them, they may expect the more inevitable and dreadful destruction from the Lord, as their reward; for, if Antichrist p. 343be a man of sin, a notorious sinner himself, an author of sin to others first, he shall be a son of perdition next. 8. Though they who are active in driving others on to sin shall smart most for it, as said is, yet those who are seduced and drawn over by them shall not escape; for, as he is the man of sin for his causing others to sin, so a son of perdition for bringing spiritual perdition upon them also.

Ver. 4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God, sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

The Apostle doth describe the Antichrist, thirdly, from two of his properties; first, he opposeth himself, or (as it is in the original,) he is a prime opposite or adversary, to wit unto Christ; for therefore is he called Antichrist, 1 Joh. 2. 18. now every heretick is in so far at least an adversary and opposite to Christ, but he in a special manner: for his opposition was, 1. To be most potent, as having a fixed orderly Kingdom, whereof he is head, set up in opposition to Christ, 2. More universal, as setting himself to undermine every Christian truth almost, 3. He was to oppose Christ especially in those truths relating to Christs offices to which he was anointed as the name, Christ, and Antichrist, in the greek imply. Only know that what is spoken here of Antichrists opposition to Christ, and afterwards of his shewing himself that he is God, must not be understood as if he would profess so much in words, which the Papists affirm; p. 344for, as followeth immediately, he shall sit in the Temple of God, and Antichristianism is called a mysterie, v. 7. besides he shall be a false Prophet, Rev. 16. 13. and have the horns of the Lamb, Rev. 13. 11. and consequently, a famous hypocrite and dissembler, (as some of the Papists are forced to confess) yea and shall be adored by the world of professed Christians, Rev. 12. 13. which is not imaginable, if he were a professed enemy to Christ and an avowed Atheist. And therefore his opposition to Christ and God, here spoken of, is real and in deeds, but under a mask and pretence of friendship. The Antichrists second property is his intolerable pride and arrogance, first, in relation to men, and the chief of men, He should exceedingly and above measure exalt himself (as the word is rendred, 2 Cor. 12. 7.) and this, above all that is called God. I conceive he meaneth not the true God, for he is spoken of after, but earthly Magistrates who are called Gods, Psal. 82. 1. above whom he should exalt himself, by usurping power over them to enthrone and dethrone them at pleasure, Rev. 17. 12, 13. and this not only inferiour Magistrates and Kings over particular Kingdoms, but Emperours and mighty Monarchs over many realms, expressed here in these words, or that which is worshipped. The word in the Original doth signifie that which is holden in highest degree of reverence, whether religious or civil, and with a little variation was an usual stile given to the Roman Emperours, which did difference them most from other Magistrates, Act. 25. 21, 25. Next, his arrogance is set forth in relation to the p. 345true God, which is brought in as an higher step following upon the former, and joyntly herewith he gives a fourth branch of his description, from the greatness of his power, and the place where he shall exercise it. First, he shall sit, the Apostle doth not mean local or corporal sitting, but his supream and setled power, rule and government set forth oft by sitting, Psal. 9. 4. Ezek. 28. 2. Next, the place wherein he shall sit or rule, is, the temple of God, not the Temple at Jerusalem (as some Papists affirm, though others of them are forced to acknowledge the truth) for that Temple is ruined many years since, Matth. 24. 1, 2. the re-edifying whereof ever since (when several times attempted as Histories shew) hath been signally impeded from Heaven. And though it should be built again by Antichrist to be worshipped therein, yet it could not be called the Temple of God but rather of the Devil: and therefore hereby must be meant the Church of God, not so much the material house of stones and timber, where the Church doth meet, as the Christian Church of visible professours, in which the Antichrist shall set himself as head and chief, and which he shall tyrannically oppress. See the Temple of God taken in this sense, 1 Cor. 3. 16. 6. 16. And here, as I formerly said, the Apostle intermixeth the second branch of the Antichrists arrogance, to wit, in relation to God, whereby 1. He shall manage his rule and government in the Church as God, pretending to have no less than divine authority even the same with God and Christ, Rev. 13—11—he shall shew himself that he is God not professing so much in p. 346words (as is already proved) but, as the Greek word signifieth, shewing or attempting to shew by his actions that he is no less to be esteemed of than God, while he either attributes unto himself, or suffers others to ascribe unto him and discharge towards him, such things as belong only to God, as divine titles, worship and properties, Rev. 13. 4. Doct. 1. The spirit of God doth not judge of men so much by what they say, as by what they do, not by fair pretences, but by the reality of their practises, and willeth us to judge accordingly: for, though the Antichrist sit in the Temple of God, pretending he doth all things for Christ and at his command, yet because he doth really and in deeds oppose Christ, therefore he is called an opposite to him: who opposeth himself. 2. An opposi…e and adversary to God and Christ doth seldom prove a faithful friend to man, whosoever doth once break his trust to the former, he will not spare to trample upon the latter, if it may conduce for his interest and doth not exceed the reach of his power: for, upon the Antichrist his opposing himself to God and Christ, doth follow his arrogance to man, in exalting himself above the supream Civil Magistrate, even all that is called God or is worshipped. See the exposition. 3. A spirit of pride and arrogance is insatiable and indefatigable, and extreamly daring: It must be all and above all, otherwise it is nothing, and where it is attended with success, it attempteth things almost impossible, and remaineth indesatigable until the height aspired at be once attained: for, Antichrist in his arrogancy, though he be but a false p. 347Prophet, Rev. 16. 13. aspireth above Kings, yea Emperours, and ceaseth not until he work himself up above them all: he exalts himself above all that is called God, or is worshipped. 4. One degree of sin doth so much make way for a further, that those things which at the first men do stick at, will, through the continued custome of some lesser degrees of those same evils, be easily swallowed at last and without reluctance; for, Antichrists arrogance against man maketh way for his arrogance against God and hardneth him in it, as the Apostle insinuates, while he saith, so that he as God sitteth, making this his pride against God follow upon the former. 5. The Antichrist is not to be sought without the visible Church, neither among the Turks, as some do imagine, nor yet among the Jews, as the Papists do dream, that Antichrist shall be one individual person without succession, by Nation a Jew, of the Tribe of Dan, born of an Whore in Babylon, a profest enemy to the very name of Christian Religion, shall draw the Jews after him, build the Temple at Jerusalem, cause himself to be worshipped therein as the true and living God, and yet be a secret worshipper of the Devil, that he shall bring all Kingdoms under him, Reign precisely three years and an half, kill Enoch and Elias the fore-runners of Christ, and at last himself be killed by Christ or an Angel forty five dayes before the day of Judgement, which fable as it is maintained by them to defend their Pope from being Antichrist, so it appeareth abundantly to be but a fabulous invention by the whole current of this Prophesie, and especially by that which is here p. 348affirmed, He shall sit in the Temple of God, and therefore is to be found, not without, but, within the visible Church, even a Bishop claiming universal authority over the whole Church, accompanied with an army of Priests as one of their own Popes did maintain a little before the Antichrist did come to his height. He shall sit, saith Paul, in the Temple of God. See the Exposition.

Ver. 5. Remember ye not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

The Apostle closeth the former description by giving them a gentle and indirect reproof for their oblivion and ignorance of the truths presently delivered, as that which had unsettled them in the present truth concerning the time of Christs second coming, and hereby addeth a weight to what he had now written about the Antichrist, while he sheweth that it was not a doctrine newly invented, but that he had formerly told them fully of it, and instructed them in all its particular branches while he was with them at Thessalonica, Act. 17. 1, 2. and therefore they ought to have remembred it. Doct. 1. As the Church enjoyeth now and then some peaceable times, wherein the Gospel hath free passage without any considerable check or restraint either from errour or persecution: So it is the duty both of Pastors and people to improve so rich a mercy to the best advantage: and especially then the Lords servants should give frequent warnings of future evils, that the people of God may fore-arm themselves against an approaching p. 349storm; for, while the Church at Thessalonica enjoyed some little respite from trouble, Paul doth stir his time among them, and gives them warning that the Churches tryals under Antichrist was coming. When I was yet with you I told you these things. 2. As it is a blame-worthy fault, too frequently incident unto the Lords people, to forget what necessary truths have been taught unto them by their faithful Pastors, and especially those which tend to make them shake off security and ease, and prepare for eminent tryals: So forgetfulness of this kind doth encourage Satan to sow among them tares of errour, which otherwise he would have but little heart to venture on, as despairing his pains should meet with the desired success; for, Paul insinuates they had forgot, and reproves them indirectly for it, as that which had encouraged Satan to brangle them about the time of Christs coming, which they could not have imagined to come in the present age, if they had but remembred what he had taught them about the Antichrist. Remember ye not (saith he) I told you these things?

Ver. 6. And now ye know what withholdeth, that he might be revealed in his time.

Because the Apostle had shewn v. 3. that the Antichrist must be revealed antecedently to Christs second coming, he doth now, in the third branch of this prophesie, speak something of the time when he should be revealed, and of the lets and impediments, which for the time did hinder his discovery: And first, he sheweth he was not yet revealed, p. 350and therefore they were not to expect the day of Christs second coming so soon as they did, while he mentions something which did then withhold, or stay and hinder his revealing and publick appearing in the height of his power for a season, the Lords overruling providence so ordering that he might be revealed, not before, but, in his time, that is, the time prefixed by God for that thing. Now by this stop and obstacle in the way of Antichrists rising greatness must be meant some man, person or persons, as appears from v. 7. where he is spoken of as such, only he who now letteth; and the general current of Interpreters, both Popish and Protestant, and many ancient Fathers also, do agree that hereby is understood the supream authority and respect of the ancient Emperours in the Roman Empire, who by their eminent temporal power did hinder the arising of Antichrists spiritual power over the Christian world, and upon whose ruines the Antichrist was to arise, and to possess their Throne and seat in the City scituate upon seven hills, Rev. 17. 9. even Rome that great City which did then Reign over the Kings of the Earth, Rev. 17. 18. and though the Apostle had expressed so much to them while he was with them (for therefore he saith they knew what did withhold) yet he doth not judge it convenient to express it by letter, lest thereby he had provoked the Emperours of Rome against the Christians, when they should hear that a professed Christian would overthrow the present government of the Empire, and rise upon their ruine. Doct. 1. The wise Lord in his eternal decree hath not only condescended, p. 351among other things, upon the sad calamities and sharp tryals which he hath thought fit to exercise his people by, but also upon the meanest circumstance of all their troubles, even the very point of time, most seasonable for Gods glory and his peoples good, wherein they shall break …orth, is weighed in the scales of his eternal wisdom, and accordingly fixed upon by him; for, here Paul speaks of a due time prefixed by God, wherein the Antichrist was to be revealed for the Churches tryal, that he might be revealed in his time. The word signifieth a fit and seasonable nick of time. 2. Such is the malice of Satan and of devilish instruments against the Church of Christ, that they gladly would, and accordingly do endeavour to antedate the time of the Churches tryal prefixed by God, and to hasten forward the height of her calamity with such celerity, as that the Lords people should be overwhelmed with it, before they be forewarned of it, or get any time to make ready for it; for, Antichrist would have revealed himself sooner than his due time, if somewhat had not withheld. And now ye know what withholdeth, saith he. 3. It pleaseth the Lord, in mercy unto his people, to sift the violent course of devils and men, to carry their counsels headlong, so that their hands cannot fulfil their woful enterprize of bringing the Churches trouble unto an height, before the time appointed by God, as most fitting for it, do fully come: And this he doth by casting in such lets and impediments as prove insuperable either by devils or men; for, while Antichrist doth haste to be revealed, p. 352God casts in a lett to withhold of purpose, that he might not be revealed before his due time. 4. Such absolute soveraign power hath God to encline the wills of men whithersoever he pleaseth, Prov. 21. 1. that he often maketh even them who are enemies to him to bring about his counsel for good to his Church and people, beyond their own intention and purpose; for, God did so order that the Roman Emperours, even while Heathens, did withhold the Antichrist from coming to the height of his power and Tyranny over the Church, until his due time. 5. Some points of truth, the publishing whereof are not of such necessity as to countervaile the dammage, may safely be concealed in prudence, when the untimeous publishing of them in all probability will hasten persecution, and mar either the internal or external peace of the Church. Such serpentine wisdom doth well consist with the Doves simplicity and Christian zeal, Matth. 10. 16. for, Paul doth not here express that the Roman Empire by name should withhold, until it were taken out of the way, lest he had thereby hastened persecution. And now ye know what withholdeth, saith he.

Ver. 7. For the mysterie of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the way.

He doth here, first, give a reason for what he presently spoke, that the Roman Empire did impede, not the being, but, the revealing and discovery p. 353of the Antichrist and Antichristianism, because they already had entred the Church, though not avow…dly, yet secretly. Antichristian Dominion and Doctrine were even then working and advancing by little and little towards an height, in so far as justification by works, Gal. 2 16. the worshipping of Angels, Col. 2. 18. abstinence from certain kinds of meats, Col. 2. 21. and from marriage, and such like Antichristian Doctrines, were then Preached, and desire of rule and preheminence among Churchmen over their brethren, and the flock of Christ had then possessed the aspiring spirits of some, 3 Joh. 9. Which Antichristian doctrines and tyranny he calls a mysterie, or, a thing hid and secret, chiefly with respect to the Apostles time, and the time following until Antichrist should be revealed, because Antichristianism then, together with those other Heresies which made way for it, did secretly and under a shew of devotion and piety (Col. 2. 23.) advance and promove from evil to worse, 2 Tim. 3. 13. until they might end in the almost total overthrow of Christian Religion at the last. Besides that Antichristian doctrine and tyranny were still to remain a Mysterie, even after that Antichrist should come to his height, so that a man, without eye-salve from God, shall hardly discern it, because of the fair pretences of love to Christ, to truth and to piety under which he was to lurk; for therefore is he called a false Prophet, Rev. 16. 13. and said to have two horns like a Lamb, Rev. 13. 11. pretending to do all in Christ the Lambs name, and to make use of his horns and power as his substitute and Vicar. And p. 354it is called a mysterie of iniquity, as in opposition to the doctrine of Christ, called a mysterie of Godliness, 1 Tim. 3. 16. so because Antichrists doctrine and way (however most fair and specious in pretext, yet) in reality and deed should be nothing else but errour, untruth, impiety against God, Rev. 13. 5. and unrighteousness against man, Rev. 13. 17. for the word rendred, iniquity, doth express the general nature of sin, and as it were all sin whatsoever, 1 Joh. 3. v. 4. Next, he sheweth how long the authority of the Roman Emperours succeeding one another (called here he who letteth) should prove a stop in the way of Antichrists growing greatness, even until he be taken out of the way, that is, until their power be so broken, as that they should not be able any longer to withstand this arising spiritual dominion, and especially until they should leave Rome, the seat of the Empire, fully void and free, wherein the Antichrist was to erect his Throne, Rev. 17. 9. Doct. 1. So great an enemy is Satan to mans salvation, that no sooner did Christ erect a Kingdom in the world for saving sinners, but as soon, at least within a little, the devil did counter-work, by endeavouring to erect an Antichristian Kingdom, thereby to render the Kingdom of Christ, so far as in him lay, wholly useless: and therefore antiquity, so much boasted of by Papists, is no undoubted mark of the true Church, for Antichristianism is but by few years of latter standing that the Kingdom of Christ under the Gospel; for, the mysterie of iniquity doth already work, saith he. 2. So subtle an enemy also is Satan, and so full of foresight, as that he hath p. 355many designs on foot at once, for effectuating his woful and malicious purpose, that so when one falleth by, and becometh useless, another may hold and carry on his work, so as the field be never fully empty: for, though the Roman Emp…re at this time was fully employed for carrying on the design of Satan in bearing down the Kingdom of Christ, yet foreseeing, or at least fearing, that it would be taken out of the way, he begins in time to provide himself of the Antichristian state, to carry on this woful work in their room, the mysterie of iniquity doth already work. 3. So subtle an enemy also is Satan, as that, when his power and interest is not so great, as that he may safely work above ground, and carry on his work avowedly in open view of all, he contents himself to remain undiscovered, and rather to advance with a slow pace and undiscernably, than by too much precipitancy to discover his design untimeously, and consequently to expose it to crushing; for, while the Roman Empire was in strength and vigour, and so would have crushed that design of setting up an Antichristian state in Rome, he wrought in a mysterie, The mysterie of iniquity doth already work. 4. Satan and his instruments, especially heretical spirits, are not alwayes idle, when they do not kyth, but usually are most active in carrying on their woful work as they find access, when they appear least; for, when Antichristianism durst not kyth above board, yet it did work, the mysterie of iniquity doth already work. 5. The evil of errour, especially of Antichristian errours, and the height at which they aimed, neither doth, nor did kyth p. 356at first; and therefore it is no wonder, though men, otherwise gracious in the primitive times, who were kept busie in maintaining truth against other avowed errours of those times, did unawares, and through inadvercence, contribute somewhat to countenance the rising of that Episcopal seat in some steps of its usurped dominion over the Church of Christ, which, though improved moderately and for the terrour of hereticks at first, yet, in the Ages following, after the removal of these reverend and gracious fathers, it did end in avowed Antichristian tyranny; for, Antichristianism did for a long time work in a mysterie. 6. Greatest Empires and worldly Monarchies which caused their terrour in the Land of the living (Ezek. 32. 23, 24.) have their own fatal period, determined and foreknown by God longer than which they cannot stand. The Lord giving hereby anevident demonstration of his justice, while he visibly avengeth all those wrongs and insolencies, which they by their power and terrour have acted towards others, especially his Church, and putting a difference betwixt all earthly powers, and the spiritual Kingdom of Jesus Christ under the Gospel, which shall never be destroyed, nor left unto other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all those Kingdoms, and it shall be for ever, Dan. 2. 44. for, he saith even the Roman Empire shall be taken out of the way. 7. When the time prefixed by God, for bringing about a work either of judgement or mercy, is fully come, all impediments and hinderances, even the greatest, though flourishing Kingdoms and mighty Empires which formerly did lett it, are p. 357easily and with little ado removed: for, it is here foretold th…t when the due time of discovering the Antichrist should come, he who then did lett, to wit, the Roman Empire, would be taken out of the way.

Ver. 8. And then shall that wicked one be revealed,—

The Apostle doth now shew the time when the Antichrist should be revealed, or discover himself by exercising his open and avowed tyrannies over the Church of Christ; to wit, t…en, when he who did le…t should be taken out of the way, that is, as was before exponed, when the power of the Roman Empire should be weakned and rendred wholly unable to resist the growing greatness of the Antichrist. Neither is it necessary to condescend here upon a peremptory point of time, but as the one through a long tract of time should decrease, so the other should increase; and he calleth the Antichrist here, That wicked one, or (as it is in the Original) that lawless one, who should hold himself to be bound by no Law, neither Gods Law, or mans Law, but above all Law, so as he may dispense with Law, and interpret Law according to his pleasure. Doct. 1. That the great Antichrist here foretold is already come, and hath discovered himself by exercising his open and avowed tyranny, is clear from this, that the very point of time prefixed by God for his publick appearing, is, the taking of that out of the way which formerly did lett him, to wit, p. 358the Roman Empire. Now sure it is, that though the name of an Emperour and Empire doth still remain, yet his Imperial Power and authority is fully removed in Asia, in Africk, yea in Rome it self the ancient seat of the Empire, where he hath now no command at all, but left it fully void for Antichrist to erect his Throne; neither hath he any thing left him in Europe proper to him as Roman Emperour, except the bare title and some ceremonies and complements, with a little power and authority in Germany, but far below that which the Roman Emperours of old enjoyed, and even this little he cannot have but at the Popes pleasure, who must approve the Emperours election, otherwise it is null. Now it was not the name or shadow, but the power, majesty and authority of the Empire, and especially the Emperours interest in Rome the ancient Imperial seat, which did withhold the Antichrists rising greatness. And therefore that being removed, the only thing which impeded his revealing is taken away, and consequently, Antichrist must be revealed already, and not yet to come as Papists affirm: for, saith he, and then (to wit when he who now letteth shall be taken out of the way v.—7.) shall that wicked one be revealed.

p. 359Ver.—8. Whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

Lest the Lords people had been above measure terrified by what remains of this dreadful prophesie, concerning Antichrists wonderful power and success, therefore the Apostle, before he proceed further, doth, in this fourth branch of the Prophesie, for the comfort of the Godly, foretel Antichrists destruction; whereof he mentioneth three degrees: first, the Lord Christ, who is the principal author of this destruction, shall consume him, not in a moment, but, as the word signifieth, by little and little, piece and piece, weaken his respect and power in the Church of God: and this with the spirit, or breath, of his mouth, or, the powerful preaching of the Gospel by his sent Ministers, Rev. 14. 6, 7. who are as Christs mouth, through whom he breatheth out the word of his everlasting Gospel. (See the Preaching of the Gospel called the rod of his mouth and breath of his lips, Isa. 11. 4.) Secondly, he shall destroy him, that is, as the word signifieth, utterly abolish, enervate and make void, to wit, his power and respect, and that with the brightness of his second coming; for, the word rendred, brightness, is usually joyned with his coming to judgement; see Titus 2. 13. only because the last blow to be given to the Antichrists person seemeth to precede the last day, Rev. 19. 20. therefore we must look on this last step of his destruction, as containing divers particular p. 360strokes in it, as first a stroke upon Rome the seat of the beast, Rev. 18. 2. next, upon the person of the beast, or Antichrist himself, Rev. 19. 20. after which it is like the Antichristian Kingdom will want an head. Thirdly, upon all the relicts of Antichristianism, and all who shall after that adhere to their errours and superstitions, of which sort it is probable there will be some even until the last day. And accordingly it is safest to conceive of Christs second coming with some latitude, so as it may mean not only the very last day, but also the foregoing signs and evidences of its approaching, of which those glorious dispensations of his power in overturning the beast himself and his seat shall not be the least. Doct. 1. So tender is God of his believing people, that, though he see it sometimes necessary to acquaint them with such things as will put them to grief, yet, he postponeth no time in hasting to them with a timeous and seasonable comfort, when he seeth their hazard of fainting through excessive fear and discouragement calleth for it: for, he breaks in upon the midst of this dreadful prophesie with the comfortable tydings of Antichrists future destruction, whom the Lord shall consume, saith he. 2. Our Lords most glorious conquests and victories, in which most of himself is seen, are those which are obtained not so much by outward force, by might or by power, Zech. 4. 6. as by the plain and powerful preaching of his mighty word, which being the rod of his strength, Psal. 110. 2. he doth thereby brui…e his enemies, and break them asunder; while he discovereth to open view their doings, errours and deceits wherein p. 361their great strength doth lye, Heb. 4. 12. while he subdueth some of their followers unto himself, Act. 9. 1, &c. and doth vex and gall others as seeing their power and reputation daily weakned by such a contemptible mean, Rev. 16. 10, 11. which nevertheless they cannot hinder: for, our Lord shall consume Antichrist by the spirit of his mouth. 3. Whatever power or efficacy the word Preached hath for bringing about the forementioned effects, it proceedeth not from any power or vertue in the word it self, Heb. 4. 2. or in them who do dispense it, 1 Cor. 3. 6, 7. but from the powerful influence of the Lord Christ, through whom alone the Word preached is mighty to overthrow all strong holds and cast down vain imaginations, 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5. for, he sheweth it is the Lord Christ who shall consume Antichrist by the spirit of his mouth. 4. The Antichrist spoken of in Scripture, cannot be he which Papists present us with, to wit, one individual person, by Nation a Jew, &c. who shall be killed at an instant, either immediately by Christ himself, or by an Angel at his direction; for, the Antichrist shall not be destroyed at once but by little and little, and first cast as it were into a bed of languishing, his total overthrow being to follow after, whom the Lord shall consume and destroy. See the exposition. 5. Though the Lord might destroy his strongest enemies at an instant, Isa. 37. 36. and when he begins also make an end, 1 Sam. 3. 12. yet his usual way is to advance toward their total ruine by certain degrees and steps; that somewhat of his glory may be seen in every step, Psal. 59. 11. that such of them as are p. 362appointed for mercy may, in the mean time, be drawn to repentance, Rom. 2. 4. and others rendred inexcusable, Rom. 2. 5. and that his people may be kept in exercise betwixt hopes and fears, thanksgiving for what is already done, Psal. 56. 12, 13. earnest prayer and dependence upon God for compleating of what doth yet remain; Psal. 56. 13. for, it is here foretold that this shall be his way with the Antichrist, whom the Lord shall consume by little and little, as the word signifies. 6. As there are but small grounds of hope from Scripture that the word preached shall convert the Antichrist, or work a reformation among his devoted followers, it shall consume him, but not convert him; So where the word preached in life and power doth not prevail to the conversion of those who hear it now, it is an undoubted fore-runner of eternal destruction to be inflicted upon them by Christ the Lord, when he shall come in glory to judge the world hereafter; for, because the spirit of Christs mouth doth only consume and not convert the Antichrist, Therefore shall Christ destroy him with the brightness of his coming. 7. As the seeds of Antichristianism were early sown in the Church (see v. 7. doct. 1.) so they are to continue long, even until Christs second coming to judge the world; and therefore the Church is not to dream of having any time fully free from trouble of all sorts until then, neither is that perpetuity and long continuance of doctrine publickly professed through many succeeding ages, whereof the Papists boast, an infallible mark of a true Church; for somewhat of Antichrist and Antichristianism will be in p. 363the world so long as it last. Whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

Ver. 9. Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders.

The Apostle, in the first branch of this Prophesie, returns to speak more fully of Antichrists coming, whereby is meant not only his first advancement and raising to his power, but the tract of his government in defending, ruling and enlarging of his Kingdom, which is described from his auxiliary forces, helps, or means, by the assistance whereof he should procure to himself a general respect and esteem in the Christian world; and those are three, whereof two are in this verse, first, the working, or, as the word signifieth, the utmost efficacy and most powerful operation of Satan, who should employ the height of his great power, piercing knowledge, malicious wit, indefatigable diligence, and marvellous activity for supporting and enlarging of Antichrists Kingdom. The second help is all power and signs, &c. or power of signs, by an usual flowre of speech expressing one thing by two words, and the meaning is that Satan should assist him, and his officers under him, with a power and fa…ulty of working signs and wonders for confirmation of his tyranny and false doctrine, Rev. 13. 13, 14. and first he calls this power all power, not as if either Satan or Antichrist were omnipotent, or had power to do what they please, Job. 1. 12. Act. 4. 28. but it's p. 364all created power, or the utmost of what created skill and understanding can reach. 2. He calls them lying wonders, or, as it is in the Original, wonders of lies or falshood, which agreeth both to signs and wonders, as indeed they are usually taken for one and the same thing in different respects, Rom. 15. 19. Mark. 13. 22. and they are false and lying, because some of them were to be but counterfeit and feigned, meer juglings, deceiving the outward senses, and others of them, (though truly done and breeding marvel and astonishment in beholders, who know not the manner and way how they are done, yet) should not be true miracles as being only effects of some secret natural causes, for only God can produce true Miracles, or works exceeding the reach of all naturall causes, Psal. 72. 18. 77. 13. Rom. 4. 17. And lastly, all of them should be wrought by Satan, and his instruments to confirm false and lying doctrines, and therefore are justly called lying wonders. Doct. 1. Though Satans power is not illimited, Job 2. 6. neither can he infallibly determine the wills of men to follow his suggestions, Job. 1. 12. with 22. yet as he hath no small power upon this sublunary world (see upon Eph. 2. v. 2. doct. 8.) yea and great influence upon mens actions by presenting them with such tentations as are most agreeable unto their temper, 2 Sam. 11. 2. and importuning them uncessantly with inward suggestions and representations unto their fancy of▪ such things as may most conduce for his purpose; Prov. 4. 16. So such is his enmity to Christs Kingdom, and malice to mans salvation, that he exerciseth the p. 365utmost of all his power can reach to bear down the one and impede the other: and therefore it is no wonder to see some of those who are engaged under him in that woful work, somewhat elevated above the sphear of ordinary activity, skill, and diligence; for, he shews that Satans working or utmost activity, shall be employed against Christ for promoting Antichrists Kingdom. Whose coming is after the working of Satan. 2. It is a piece of necessary wisdom in the Lords people, in forecasting tryals, not to extenuate what hazard is in them, but to look upon them as they are cloathed with all their terrifying circumstances, whereby they may prepare for the uttermost before it come; Job 3. 25, 26. for, the spirit of God seeeth it necessary to present this tryal under Antichrist to the Church in its full terrour. Whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power, &c. 3. Satan doth set himself, in furthering the condemnation of sinners, to imitate Christ in many of those things which are done by him in bringing about the salvation of the elect; as Christ erects a Kingdom in the world whereof himself is head, Psal. 2. 6. So Satan hath his Kingdom in opposition to Christs, whereof Antichrist is the visible head, Rev. 13. 11, 12. As Christ doth impart the influences of his spirit unto his servants, whereby they work effectually in those who are saved, Col. 1. 29. So Satan to the utmost of his power doth act his instruments, whereby through Gods permission they work effectually in those who perish, Rev. 18. 13, 14. As Christ did confirm his doctrine by miracles, p. 366and exercise his power in his servants in working miracles mediately by them for that end, Heb. 2. 3, 4. So doth Satan confirm his erroneous doctrine in Antichrists Kingdom, by working signs and wonders, and sometimes lendeth his power to Antichrist and his Vassals to work the like: for, he shews that Satan doth help Antichrist to and in his Kingdom by his effectual working, and by a power of signs and wonders. 4. However Satan set himself to imitate Christ thus, for blinding the eyes of men, and making them believe that his Kingdom, Ministers, and Doctrines and Miracles do differ nothing from Christs, yet he comes not so far up to his copy but the Lords people, who have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil, may find a difference betwixt what is Satans and what is Christs; for his wonders are, and will be found to be but lying wonders.

Ver. 10. And with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness, in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

In this Verse he, first, expresseth the third mean and help which Antichrist was to make use of for heightning his respect and credit in the Christian world, all deceiveableness of unrighteousness, where by unrighteousness, it seemeth, must be mainly meant his unrighteous false doctrine, because v. 12. it is opposed to truth, as also 1 Cor. 13. 6. and it is so called, because it should tend p. 367to make the receivers of it injurious to God, unjust to men, and cruel to themselves. And by deceiveableness is meant all manner of deceits, tricks, strong and cunning perswasions, which he should make use of to make the world believe his unrighteous errours to be pure and innocent truths, such as sophistical disputations, Col. 2. 8. pretexts to piety and devotion, Matth. 23. 14. baits of riches, pleasures and preferments, 2 Pet. 2. 18, 19. boasts and threatnings, Rev. 13. 17. and such like. Next, he enters the sixth branch of this prophesie wherein he speaketh to the Antichrists great success by the former means and helps; and for the comfort of the Godly he astricts this success unto a certain kind of men, who should be his subjects and sworn vassals. And those he describeth, first, from their everlasting state, they shall perish eternally, to wit, they, who should joyn with him in all his errours, even those who strike most at the foundation, and persist in them obstinately and finally without repentance, Rev. 13. 18. and 18. 4. which holds especially in them who would adhere to him after that the Lord should discover his damnable doctrines and tyranny by the light of the Gospel, Rev. 14. 6, 7, 8, 9, &c. Next, from the cause of their destruction, to wit, when all of them should have an offer of saving truth, some in one measure, some in another, yet through want of love to it they would not receive it, that is, they would reject it, for more is intended than is expressed by this word; whence he hints at the conclusion which he intends to prove, to wit, that they could not be saved, but behoved to perish, while he sheweth that receiving of the p. 368truth in love is a necessary antecedent of salvation. Doct. 1. It is the nature and way of such as are ring-leaders of errours, to find out and prosecute all possible means and wayes, which may in any measure tend to make their tenets plausible, and pass for truths; that what is wanting to their errours in the point of divine authority, and sanctified reason, may be supplyed, by their pretences to piety, antiquity, by their gratifying of mens lusts, sophistical disputations, passionate perswasions, and all such other devices, which serve to blind the eyes even of the wise, that they cannot so well discern betwixt the truth and falshood of what they hear; for, it is here foretold that Antichrist should come with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness, or all manner of deceits to perswade the receiving of his unrighteous doctrine. 2. Ring-leaders of errour are usually men of little conscience, in so far as they stand not much upon the nature and kind of the means they use, whether they be right or wrong, if so they can serve their present design: for, Antichrist doth use all deceiveableness of unrighteousness. 3. So tender is God of his peoples comfort, that, for the most part, those Scriptures which terrifie most are so contrived as to carry with them an antidote of comfort against hopeless discouragement in their bosom: for, this terrifying Scripture which speaks of Antichrists future success, hath in it a comfort, to wit, that his power and success is limited only to reprobates, even them that perish. 4. Though even the Godly elect may be seduced to errour for a time, Phil. 3. 15. yet they cannot arrive at such an height of malicious blindness, as p. 369against all means of their reclaiming to remain obstinate in the bulk and most fundamental of Antichristian errours, and to persist in their obstinacy unto death: for, it is here foretold he should so prevail only in those who perish. 5. When foulest and most dangerous errours are carryed on with fair pretexts, subtle insinuations, pithy perswasions, they will not want a multitude of blind followers: for, Antichristian untruths being carryed on by all deceiveableness, are received generally by those who perish. 6. Though the Lord hath no regard to the future sin of reprobates, as the cause of their reprobation, Rom. 9. 11, 12. yet he actually condemneth none of those, no not the Antichrists most active followers, whose sin is not the cause of their condemnation; and therefore none shall have reason to complain that they do perish unjustly and without a cause: for, the cause why they perish is here expressed, because they received not the love of the truth. 7. Among all the sins of a people professing Christ, which deserve condemnation, and for which reprobates shall actually be condemned, the contempt of the Gospel is the first and chief; It is a sin against the remedy of sin, and which provoketh the Lord in his holy justice to give up the person guilty to the power and slavery of several other sins; so that uncleannesses, murders, perjuries, &c. are but streams flowing from this woful fountain; for, he mentioneth none of their other sins as the cause of their destruction but this alone, because they received not the love of the truth, saith he. 8. If even the least report of Gospel truths and of Christ be not received and made welcome, p. 370it is a sin sufficient to provoke the Lord to plague the person guilty in such a manner as he shall never recover, but undoubtedly perish; and therefore how much more when Christ and the Gospel is fully and plainly taught, and yet the gracious offers of mercy therein contained are abused and slighted? for, it is but a small and passing report of truth and Christ, which many of Antichrists followers do hear, being compared with what we now enjoy, and yet they perish because they received not the truth in love. 9. It is not sufficient to receive the truth, because the politick Laws of the Land enjoyn so much, or upon any other account, but from love to it; otherwise Satan, Antichrist, or some suitable tentation from any other art, will easily prevail to make him who hath so received it slip from it; for, they perish, and are given over to Antichrists delusions as appears from v. 11. because they received not the love of the truth. 10. There is no middle betwixt Heaven and Hell, salvation and condemnation: If a man attain not the former, he cannot by any means escape the latter, and if he do not walk in the way to Heaven, he doth ipso facto, and without any further, poste swiftly forward to hell and condemnation; for, he proves they could not but perish and be condemned, because they refused to walk in the way wherein they might be saved, even because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved.

p. 371Ver. 11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lye.

He doth here further describe the v…ssals of Antichrists Kingdom, thirdly, from an higher degree of their sin. They would not only reject truth, but also believe a lye, that is, give a firm assent, without any contrary doubt, to grossest untruths and errours, as to the very truths of God. Which their sin is set forth from a necessary antecedent of it, the Lord his sending them strong delusion, for this cause, to wit, for their not receiving the love of the truth spoken of v. 10. where by strong delusion or (as the word doth signifie) efficacy of errour and seduction, is not meant errour it self, but the prevalency and pith of errour, so that when tentations to errour should be propounded by Satan and his emissaries, they would undoubtedly prevail; and this efficacy of errour is attributed to Gods sending, not as if the Lord did incite or perswade men to believe errours, for he forbids and condemns them, 2 Pet. 3. 17. but because he not only giveth loose reins unto Satan to use his power of seduction against them, 1 King. 22. 22. but also raineth snares upon them, and actively bringeth about many things in his providence, which being in themselves good, are yet stumbled on by them in their corruption, so, as they are thereby furthered to close with the tentation, Job 21. 7, &c. with 14. withholds his grace whereby they might resist tentations, 2 Chron. 32. 31. yea, and actually in his judgement withdraws, p. 372and after a sort extinguisheth that strength and light which he had formerly given, and they abused, Matth. 25.—29. so that they cannot but succumb when they are tempted. Doct. 1. It is not inconsistent with the Lords holiness, but most agreeable to his unspotted justice, to punish sin with sin, by giving the sinner up, in the way mentioned in the exposition, to the slavery and tyranny of that sin wherein he so much delights; for, he saith, for this cause, to wit, for their former sin, God shall send them strong delusion. 2. As one degree of sin maketh way for an higher; So there cannot be a more terrible judgement inflicted upon any for former sin, than that he be given up of God to the power of it in time to come; a judgement so much the more dreadful, as the party smitten by it is not sensible of it; Exod. 7. 22, 23. for, this is the terrible judgement here denounced, for this … cause God shall send them strong delusion. 3. That an errour, when it is vented, becometh mightily prevalent, in making many to close with it and embrace it, proceedeth not from the power of Satans tentations only, who hath not of himself an irresistible influence upon the minds of men, Job 1. 12. with 22. but also and mainly from mens own corruption and blindness, and the Lords judicial up-giving of them to it formerly mentioned, which holdeth by parity of reason in Satans tentations to any other sin; for, the efficacy of errour is here spoken of as a judgement sent by God, God shall send them strong delusion. 4. Where Gospel truths are not received in love and made use of as they ought, absurd and monstrous p. 373errours will be ere long received, and believed for truths; for, because they received not the love of the truth, they are given up of God to believe a lye. 5. When the Lord, in his holy justice, giveth loose reins unto Satan to tempt a sinner, and withdraweth from him his restraining grace, there is no sin so irrational or absurd to which the man so plagued of God will not run, if it were even to receive most gross absurdities for divine truths, and to believe them with a kind of firm assent beyond all doubt or suspicion; for, their believing lyes is here foretold as the consequence of Gods sending them strong delusion, even that they should believe a lye.

Ver. 12. That they all might be damned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

He describeth the Antichrists followers, fourthly, from that judgement which followeth upon their sin, and is intended to be brought about by God as the end of his sending them strong delusion; for, the context, shewing the result of this purpose from the former, implyeth so much; and the judgement is, they shall all be damned, to wit, all guilty, in the way mentioned upon v. 10. of the former sins; which, for further clearing of Gods justice, he doth here again repeat, 1. That which is spoken of v. 10. their not believing the truth, after they had heard it; to wit, the truth of the Gospel, (see the Gospel so called, and for what reasons upon Eph. 1. 13. doct. 4.) Next, that which is expressed p. 374v. 11. here called their taking pleasure in unrighteousness, that is, false and unrighteous doctrine (see upon v. 10.) to which they did not only give their assent and approbation, but also did find much inward satisfaction, and had an inexpressible delight and pleasure in it (as the word signifieth) and in all the woful consequences of unrighteousness both to God and man, to which it tended; and therefore they should be without excuse, and dying impenitent, be damned without remedy. Doct. 1. Though some sins and errours be a necessary result of Gods judicial giving up a man to the power of tentation and delusion, as said is; yet they cease not to be sin, obliging the guilty party to undergo eternal wrath, no less than any other sin; and that because their former sins have justly procured that they should be so given up of God: and though God in his justice doth punish sin with sin; yet the sinner doth alwayes delight in sin, as being the matter of his voluntary choice; for, he shews they shall be damned for believing a lye, though the Lord being provoked, as said is, by their former sins, had sent them strong delusion, and that because they took pleasure in unrighteousness. That they all might be damned, saith he. 2. It is a manifest untruth that every man shall be saved in his own Religion, and that it is no hazard for a man to be of any Religion, if so he follow his conscience, believing what he thinks to be truth, and walk according to the principles of that Religion which he professeth and believeth to be of God; for, here it is foretold that the devout followers of Antichristian lies, though they did believe p. 375them to be truths, yet, should be damned. That they all might be damned. 3. Multitudes of sinners concurring in one and the same guilt doth neither lessen the guilt nor make God either, through fear abate, or from pitty moderate the deserved punishment; for, here it is foretold that they shall all be damned. 4. That a man do savingly believe the Gospel, it is not sufficient that he assent to the truth of it in his judgement, but he must also embrace and receive the good things offered by it in his will and affections, and that from love to it; for, that which he called the receiving of truth in love, v. 10. he calleth believing the truth here. Who believed not the truth. 5. As no men, no not the worst of men, become extreamly evil at first, but by certain steps ascend toward that height of sin at which they do at last arrive; So when a man doth not only commit sin, but takes pleasure in it, maketh his boast of it, it speaks him at the very height of sin, and near a dreadful downfal in the pit of condemnation; if Gods mercy by giving speedy repentance prevent it not; for, several steps are here implyed, their not receiving truth, their believing untruth, and the height of all, and nearest cause of their being damned, is, their taking pleasure in unrighteousness. 6. A man deluded with errour may for a time find much seeming peace of conscience, quietness of spirit, soul-satisfaction and delight flowing from those erroneous doctrines which he believeth for truth: and the more of this kind a man doth find in the way of errour, he is the more deluded, and p. 376his guilt the greater; for, their taking pleasure in unrighteousness, or in unrighteous doctrine, is spoken of as the utmost effect of that strong delusion sent them, v. 11. and the highest step of their sin.