Antichrist Pointed and Painted Out in His True Colors, Chapter 1
ANTI-CHRIST Pointed & painted out in his true Colours. OR The Pope of Rome, proven to bee that Antichrist ▪ by the witnessing of Romanists themselves.
CHAP. I. The Introduction to this Treatiss, concerning Antichrist.
THE two greatest mistakings in the world; & of greatest concernment; are the first of the obstinate Iew; the other, of the misled Christian. The one concerning the true MESSIAH CHRIST: The other, concerning his opposit Antichrist, clear Prophecies of the Old Testament, so plainlie pointing out … the one; That it's a wonder, how the blynd Iew long ago should not have known CHRIST: And, no lesse playn praedictions, & places of the New Testament, to the lyf painting out the other: That it is no lesse wonder, that seduced Christians so long, should not know who is that Antichrist. But, the lyke cause of such mislaking by both; Is, while the incredulous Iew, looked for a worldlie temporall Monarch to come; Hee stood amongst the midst of them, who was the true SAVIOUR OF SOULES CHRIST, foretold by the Prophets: Even so while the seduced Christian looketh for an individuall Antihrist, as yet onlie to come, of such a conceated Tribe, Nation, and Continuance, (as their Impostor's teach them.) In the mean tyme lykewyse, hee sitteth amongst the midst of them, as in the Temple of God▪ who is the Destroyer of Souls Antichrist, foretold by the Apostles. So that the diversion of the eye from the right object; and not remarking what is present, to gaze ydlelie, after a misconceated future, hath bene Satans policie, to make the Saviour of mankynd, unknown to the incredulous Iew; and is now the same to make that ABADDON, and Destroyer of Souls, unknown in lyke manner to the misled Christian.
But, will wee trace the footsteps of a revealed Way, and the Words of that Evangelicall Prophecie; Forbidden to bee sealed up; but given to bee shown unto GODS Servants: And, whereof both sanctified Hearers …nd Readers,Rev. 22.10. are pronounced Blessed; wee shall clearlie see him to bee that Roman Antichrist: Pretending, notwithstanding, to bee Christs Vicar on earth: And, therefore, to bee horned, lyke the LAMB: But, if wee look to his mouth, or doctrine, wee shall fynd him to bee his main opposit; and, to speak lyke the Dragon.
Seing, then, that notwithstanding of the fals resemblance of the Lambs horns the blasphemous mouth of the Dragons Vicar, (rather than CHRISTS,) is so well known: And; that the retreat from mysticall Babylon, to holie IERUSALEM doth so clearlie sound. Seing, also, that, that whore and mother of whoredoms, is so clearlie discovered, is greatlie also deserted. And, at last, destroyed shall bee: And, as is sayd, REVEL. 16.12. The waters of the great River Euphrates, is so much dryed vp; vponupon which the Whore sitteth; which are Peoples, Rev. 17.15.and Multitudes, and Nations, and Tongues. Ierem. 51.33.And, that, (as the Prophet speaketh;) The tyme of Babell's Threshing is come: And yet a little while; and the tyme of her harvest shall come, when the LORD shall bring her down so, that her dust shall bee scraped from her: And, shee shall bee made lyke the top of a bare rock. My earnest wish, therefore, shall bee, That none bee so desperatelie mad, as to bee lyke Lots sonnes in law; Not to go out of Sodom, Rev. 11.8.(as shee is spirituallie called,) till by fyre and brimstone they bee consumed; nor, to abyde in Babell, after the call of evocation, to bee partakers of her sinnes, till they receave of her plagues. But, as the wyse men followed the starre, till they found out CHRIST; that they might adore HIM. So that they being spirituallie wyse, may, inlyke manner, follow the starre of GODS revealed Light: Whereby they may fynd out Antichrist: That so they may avoyd and abhorre him. By which (GOD willing,) they shall see both who hee is, and where hee is. Next, whence hee came, and when hee came. And, last, what are his marks, and whither hee goeth.