Antichrist Pointed and Painted Out in His True Colors, Title page – Table of contents
ANTI-CHRIST Pointed and painted out in his true Colours. OR The Pope of Rome, proven to bee that Man of Sinne, and Sonne of Perdition, fore-prophesied in Scripture. By the clear witnessing of Roman Catholicks themselues; Who lived and died in the Communion of that Church. For converting or convincing of anie Papist that is not wilfullie obdured.
DEUT. 32.31.
Even our enemies themselves being Iudges.
By WILLIAM GUILD, Doctor of Divinitie, and Preacher of GODS WORD.
Printed in Aberdene, by Iames Brown, 1655.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND RELIGIOVS, ALEXANDER, LORD FORBES OF PETSLEGO.
Right Honorable, & Noble Lord,
IN the tyme of so great defection frō the Trueth to Popery, within this Kingdom; and especiallie in these northern parts of late. If ever there was a necessitie layd upon the Lords Servants, To giuegive Warning from the Watch-tower,Ezek. 33▪3▪ as Ezekiell) speaketh) and to blow the Trumpet,Iude 3. it is now: And, as the Apostle speaketh,Act. 20.29. Earnestlie to contend for that Faith which was once delivered to the Saincts: Seing (as the Apostle Paull, in his tyme, did fore-warn the Elders of Ephesus,) There are greevous Wolves, entred in amongst vsus; not sparing the flock, Thes. 2.3.as also of our own selves mē ar arisēn speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after thē. And more particularly seeing that man of sinne & son of perdition, of whō he speaketh, by his emissaries, with all subtilitie and sedulitie, is seeking to repare the breaches of that tottering Babell, which is near to her fall; by seeking with all deceaveablenesse of vnrighteousnesse, (as the Apostle speaketh,) in them that perish to seduce vnstable soules:Thes. 2.10. and such who have not receaved the love of the Trueth, that they might bee saved, that ther…fore through strong delusion they should believe a lie. Yet, notwithstanding, they shall not prevaile: For, howsoever,Rev. 13.11. that Beast spoken of in the Revelation, (whom all agree to bee that foretold Antichrist,) by his false resembling of the horns of the Lamb, and pretending to bee CHRISTS Vicar, hath before tymes deceaved the inhabitants of the earth: and made them drunk with the wine of Whoorish Fornicatiō, (as Hose speaketh,) The spirit of whoredoms, Hoseae 4.12.causing them to erre. Yet now his lying mouth speaking lyke the Dragon, is so well known to all GODS People that are come out of Babell, and follow the Lamb, that as the Apostle speaketh concerning the Gospell, if it was hid, it was to them onlie that perish: Even so it may bee sayd in lyke manner; If in so clear a light of the Gospell, this bee hid from anie blinded papist, that poperie is Antichristianisme, and the Pope that foretold Antichrist, it is onlie to these who wilfullie continuing in their errour; appearinglie GOD hath destinated to destruction: and agaynst whom that sad threatning is denounced, (Rev. 14.10.) that they shall drink of the wine of the wrath of GOD; which is powred out without mixture into the Cup of His indignation, &c.
Seeing, therefore, of al Contraversies between the Papists and Us, this is the chieffest; & of such consequence: That if we prove the Pope to bee Antichrist; Then all Poperie is overthrown, and all other Contraversies between them and us, easilie decyded. The Pope & his infallibilie, beeing the Diana of Ephesus, 1. Sam. 5.4.ther Atlas, and Idoll Dagon, this Pillar of whose house being pulled down, the whole Fabrick, or Superstructure thereof falleth, as it did in Sampsons tyme: For,Iudge 16.29. then it will follow, that all Papists are limmes of Antichrist; and all Popish doctrines are Antichristian errors, opposite to the Trueth of CHRIST, and the Gospell. Therefore, for convincing the obstinate Papist, and converting the tractable. As also for establishing the wavering; and confirming such as are rooted in the Trueth. I have taken pains, besyde clear Testimonies of Scripture, adduced heretofore, by manie worthie Servants of CHRIST, to prove the Point, in this short Treatise, by taking another course to my knowledge, not taken hitherto by anie. That is, to evidence by the witnessing of Roman catholicks themselves, who lived and died in the Communion of that Church. That the Pope is Antichrist, and that man of sinne, and sonne of perdition, fore-prophesied, by the Apostles, 2. Thessal▪ 2.3. And, that Beast spoken of by Iohn, Rev. 13.11. Whom the LORD shall consume with the Spirit of His Mouth; & abolish by the Brightnes of His Comming. That so, (as is sayd, Deut. 32.31.) Even our enemies being judges and as it was sayd to the wicked servant, Luke 19 22. Ex ore tuo, &c. Even so, out of the mouths of Romanists themselves, the Trueth hereby may bee established, and themselves convinced.
Which pains that I have taken in this point, I have dedicated, to Your LORDSHIP, besyde other Motives and Relation; Because of Your LORDSHIPS Known Religious Disposition & Love to the Trueth: The want wherof, is assigned by the Apostle, to bee the cause of that delusion of manie now adayes, and of their Apostasie from the Trueth: And which I may say is one of the greatest Evidences of GODS Love to You, and of the standing of Your Noble Familie; while as manie others ar lyke Ionahs gourd fading and falling; Because of the want of that Love to the Trueth, and contempt of the Gospell: That is lyke that worm which was at the root thereof. In which Love of GOD, & His Trueth, and in joyning a Gospel lyfe, with a Gospell light; as Your Lordship groweth in years; that the LORD may lykewyse (as the Prophet speaketh,) Bee lyke Dew to You; and make You to grow in Grace as the Lillie; And, Hosea 14 5.to spreade Your Roots in the stabilitie thereof, lyke the Trees of Lebanon; shall bee ever the heartie Wish and Prayer, of
Your Lordships humble Servant in CHRIST, WILLIAM GUILD.
TO THE READER.
Christian & courteous Reader,
MArvell not, that after so manie Worthies in CHRISTS Church, who have so largelie written of this Subject; That I should need anie more to put Pen to Paper in this particular. For, that which hath moved mee, is not onlie that these spoken of, have written partlie in Latin not vnderstood by all, & obvious to few. And, others that have written in English, have so copiouslie inlarged themselves by discourse therein; and are lykewyse rare here and in the hands of few. But, lykewyse my speciall Motive hath bene the dayly increase of Poperie almost, and the spreading it selfe everiewhere: Partlie, through these vnhappie differences in CHRISTS Church of late, within the three Kingdoms: And, partlie, through the sedulitie of the masked Iesuites and Seminarie Priests, who numerouslie now swarm everywher, upon the presumptiō of inpunitie, and lyke the Pharesees of old, do make Proselytes to themselves, in all parts. Which with griefe (I am sure) should zealouslie affect everie sound Professor. But, chieflie, Pastors, and such as have bene called to the holie Ministerie, to give Warning from the Watch Tower: And, contend for the Faith once delyvered to the Saints: Against such disguysed wolves; comming in sheeps cloathing, to devour CHRISTS Flock. And, in particular, to discover that Antichrist: And, let GODS People see who hee is: And▪ that these are his Emissaries, who seek so to seduce them. For, whose detection lykewyse, I have taken a course to my knowledge) not formerlie taken by anie: Both in respect of brevitie, and more easie perusall. As, lykewyse, for proving the Point, and everie particular thereof, by vndenyble Testimonies; Writs, and Witnessing, of Romanists thēselves. Whereby is evidenced to anie not Prejudged, or Wilfullie Obdured, and Obstinate; that the Pope is that grand, Antichrist foreprophesied in Scripture: And, dare give a Defyance to anie Priest or Papist, to instance anie other who-so-ever▪ to whom the whole Prophecies; and Properties▪ set down in Scripture, and in this subsequent Treatise; being collectivelie, and joyntlie taken; & assented by the Romanists themselves, doeth clearlie agree. Except onlie to the Pope. By which this being proven that hee is that Antichrist; It consequentlie followeth, That Popish doctrine, is Antichristianisme. And▪ that these who embrace the same, are Followers of Antichrist, and Drinks of that golden Cup, that is in the hand of that mysticall Whoore, full of Abhominations & Filthinesse of her Fornication: And, except they repent, and come out of Babell, as they are partakers of her sinnes: So they shall bee partakets of her plagues. And, one day, as is threatned, REVEL. 14.10. They shall drink of the wine of the Wrath of GOD; Which is powred out without mixture, into the Cup of His Indignation. Which I pray GOD, That everie one that is a Christian, may avoyd, and eschew.
A TABLE, Of the Contents of this Book.
CHAP. 1. THe Introduction to this Treatise, concerning Antichrist.
2. That Antichrist is not one individual person, but a continued succession of manie.
3. What manner of person Antichrist is; and how hee is described by Paull, 2. Thessalon. 2.3. & proved to bee the Pope.
4. How Antichrist is descrybed by Iohn, Revel. 9.
5. How Antichrist is descrybed by Iohn, Revel. 13.11.
6. How Antichrist is descrybed by Iohn, Revel. 17.11.12. &c. And, by all these places, proving the Pope to bee that Antichrist.
7. Where Antichrist is to bee found; or his place in generall, 2. Thess. 2.4.
8. Antichrists Seat, or his Place, in particular, proved to bee Rome, Revel. 17.9.
9. Of the tyme when Antichrist should come, and bee revealed, 2. Thess. 2.7.8.
10. Of the marks, wherby to know Antichrist. And, 1. Of his exorbitant and matchlesse pryde: In exalting himselfe, above all that is called god, 2. Thess▪ 2.4.
11. Of Antichrists sitting in the Temple of god, as God: Showing him selfe, that: hee is god, 2. Thess. 2.4. And, of his names of Blaspemie. Revel. 17.3.
12. Of the Popes not onlie equalling himselfe with God▪ But also exalting himselfe above God. Which is the hight of Antichristian pryde, and matchlesse impietie.
13. Of Antichrists, or the Popes Idolatrie, and Spirituall whoredome, Rev. 17.6.
14. Of Antichrists, or the Popes Bloodie Crueltie, Revel. 17.6.
15. Of Antichrists, or the Popes Spirituall Merchandize, or Simonie, Rev. 18.13.
16. Of Antichrists, or the Popes Lawlesse and most wicked lyfe, 2. Thess. 2.3.
17. Of Antichrists, or the Popes and his Clergie, their feigned miracles, and lying wonders▪ 2. Thess▪ 2.9.
18. Of the finall destruction of Antichrist; and ruine of that Papall Sea, Revel. 18.2. and 2. Thess. 2.8.