The Person and Period of the Antichrist, Discourse · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
1. SUch is the tender love of our bleſſed Redeemer, to his dear Spouſe (the Church) that he hath foretold her of all future Calamities (that ſhould befall her in ſucceeding Generations) in the Revelation; wherein not onelyonly the fata imperij [the deſtinies of the Empire] are revealed, but alſo the fata eccleſiae [the concernments of the Church] and the former are diſcovered for the ſake of the latter: many great perſons and affairs of the world are indeed Recorded in Scripture, which had been (as many others are) paſſed over in ſilence, ſave only that they are [in ordine ad Eccleſiam] relating to his Church: but eſpecially Chriſt hath forewarnd his Church of that great Calamity by Antichriſtianiſm that ſhe might be forearmed againſt it.
2. The Church of God is always under ſome divine prophecy, under ſome part of thoſe unalterable decrees of Heaven, that were unſeald and reveal'd by Chriſt to John, and which have their orderly execution in a continued Series of Providence in the world: thus Chriſt told his ſervant, that the Churches firſt Calamity (after his white horſe, his Riding forth conquering and to Conquer in the Goſpel) ſhould be thoſe 10 perſecutions under Rome Heathen. Revel. 6 3. to the end, her Second (after the dethroning of the Dragon in thoſe Heatheniſh Emperors by Conſtantine the Great) ſhould be that flood of Arrianiſm that came out of the Dragons mouth, when Rome was Chriſtian. Revel. 12.9 13.15. This Hereſie was ſo peſtilential to the Church, that it compelled even Chriſtian Emperors to rage againſt Chriſtian Congregations; as if they had been tearing out their own bowels: then the Churches third Calamity ſhould be the double beaſt, Political and Eccleſiaſtical, which like Samſons Foxes are tied together by the Tales, and exerciſe the Cruelty of the Dragon under the 7th head againſt the Church making up the great Antichriſt; then became Rome Antichriſtian. Revel. 13.1. & 11.
3. There be ſundry Enigmatical Intimations of this Antichriſt in the Old Teſtament both in Perſons, Names and Titles, all which bear at leaſt a Reſemblance of him as, 1ſt. in perſon. Thus Daniel's Antiochus is made a Type of John's Antichriſt by the moſt judicious Interpreters. This Antiochus doth not only praefigure his Antitype in name (whoſe name ſignifies an Adverſary or Oppoſer) but alſo in diſpoſition and all manner of practice. 1ſt. in diſpoſition, Antiochus was crafty, of an impudent face, and ([ad omne malum inverecundus] notoriouſly ſhameleſs: ſo Antichriſt hath a whores forehead, out facing the day-light of the Goſpel, yea and the Sun of Righteouſneſs himſelf, daring him to the face.
4. As Antiochus reſembles this Antichriſt in diſpoſition, ſo 2dly. in practice; as, he war'd againſt Judas Macabaeus the Captain general of the people of God, to wit, the Jews; ſo this Antichriſt wages war againſt Chriſt the Captain General of the Church: as Antiochus exalted and magnified himſelf above every God, and ſpoke morvellous things againſt the God of gods. Dan. 11.36. So doth Antichriſt. 2 Theſſ. 2.4. As, he took away the dayly ſacrifice, polluted the Sanctuary, and ſet up the Abomination of Deſolation, ſo doth Antichriſt; as he bewitched many with fair Speeches, ſo Antichriſt deceives the world with his Intoxicating Cup of fornication. 2 Theſſ. 2.9. Laſtly as he proſper'd till the Indignation was paſt. Dan. 11.36. Even ſo muſt Antichriſt do.
5. Thus have we a repreſentation of Antichriſt in Daniel's proper name and perſon of Antiochus; ſo ſecondly in Zacharie's appellative name or Periphraſis [of a fooliſh Shepheard] by way of eminency, whom he foretells ſhould ariſe in the Church, as a puniſhment for rejecting Chriſt, who ſhould eat the fleſh of the fat, and become as ravenous as a cruel beaſt, tearing their limbs aſunder. Zach. 11.13.15.16. This Hieroglyphick doth not only ſignifie thoſe Theives and Robbers which were Shepherds over the Chriſt-killing Jews. Joh. 10.10. but alſo that Grand-idol-ſhepheard foreign over the outward Court-Chriſtians or Papagan Gentiles, againſt whom God denounces this wo, that his arm ſhall be dryed up, and his right eye ſhall be utterly darkened. v. 17. Cyprian makes the King of Babylon. Eſa. 14. and Gregory makes Leviathan. Job. 41. to be the types of Antichriſt.
6. The 3d intimation out of the old Teſtament concerning the Antichriſt, is in the title prefixed to the 9th Pſalm. [foreign] Gnal. Muth labben. upon the death of the Son▪ now who this Son ſhould be, is controverted. Some makes it Abſalon [Davids own ſon] this is improbable; others underſtand it of Goliah more probably, who was the ſon of perdition; whom David calls [O thou enemy.] v. 6. not onelyonly a ſon of perdition [actively] as he was a deſtroying ſon, having deſtroyed Cities: but likewiſe [paſſively.] made to be taken and deſtroyed, his deſtruction of others ſhould end in his own deſtruction, he ſhould ſink down into the Pit, v. 15. Thus Antichriſt is call'd a Son of perdition, 2 Theſ. 2.3. a Deſtroyer, Rev. 11. and one that ſhall ſink into the lake of Fire and Brimſtone, Rev. 17.8. and 19.20. when Chriſt ſhall overcome him, as David did Goliah.
7. To omit Daniels 4th. Empire, (which was to be ſuch a deſtroying beaſt, as no name could ſufficiently expreſs it; for the 1ſt. he calls a Lyon, the 2d. a Bear, the 3d. a Leopard but the 4th. he names a Beaſt in General as if exceeding, as well as including the Savage nature of all the three former) Dan. 7.4,5,6,7,23. and other places of the Old-Teſt. that hold forth (at leaſt) obſcure Repreſentations of Antichriſt: let us now come to the New-Teſt. where the Vail is done away, and where he is without a parable, and plainly characteriz'd, he is by a Prophetick ſpirit ſo punctually, and with ſo many circumſtances deſcribed, as if pointed at by the finger, and as if that deſcription were an Hiſtory of things paſt, and not a Prophecy of things to come.
8. The New-Teſt. indeed tells us, there be many Antichriſts; as 1 John 2.18. (that were as petty-enemies to Chriſt, in compariſon to the grand Impoſtor) ſuch as Theudas, Act. 5.36. who under pretence of a Prophetick ſpirit, miſled many Jews; and Judas the Galalean, v. 37. who ſeduc'd the People into a Sedition, in which they periſhed: and Simon-Magus, Act. 8.9. who was ſo great a deceiver, that he was attended on as an Oracle, v. 10. and accounted of as a God: after thoſe, Barchozba or Benchochebah, (ſo famous in Jewiſh Stories) the Son of a Star, though but a blazing one, that ſoon conſumed it ſelf into aſhes.
9. All thoſe grand Hereticks that liv'd in the times of the Evangeliſt John, (ſuch as Ebion, Nicolaus, and Cerinthus,) and that black-Roll mention'd by Euſebius, and other Church-Hiſtory-writers, (ſuch as Cerdo, Marcion, Novatus, Arrius, and many others, Ejuſdem farinae) were all particular and inferior Antichriſts, who plaid at ſmall games againſt the Church, in reſpect of this great one, who was to tread down the outward Court of the Temple for ſo many Centuryes of years.
10. All thoſe falſe or pretended Chriſts, (that are ſpoken of in Scripture, as Matth. 24.11.24. Act. 20.29.30. 1 Tim. 4.1.) were but harbingers to him that is call'd (the Antichriſt) by way of Emphaſis, to Uſher him into the World. Thus as if Chriſts Ape, he hath his foreign or forerunners to attend him, as John-Bapt. was praecurſor to our Lord: briefly, all ſuch as deny Chriſts coming in the fleſh, are Antichriſts, 1 Joh. 4.3. ſuch as are for Judaisme and Jewiſh Ceremonies, following Moſes, as if there were no Meſſiah for the Churches Lawgiver; ſuch as ſet up a covenant of works, who in denying the Teſtament, deny alſo the death of the Teſtator; yea, all ſuch as oppoſe either the natures or offices of Chriſt, are (quodam—modo) Antichriſts.
11. But as there be many Devils, yet but one Beelzebub, one prince of Devils; ſo though there be many Antichriſts, yet but one grand-prince-Antichriſt, that bears Gods brand upon him in Scripture-Record: The Holy-Ghoſt hath ſtigmatized him, (as Ahaz was, this is that King Ahaz, 2 Chron. 28.22.) ſo this is the Scarlet-Whore, Rev. 17.3. this is the Teraefilius, the baſe-born-Beaſt that ſprings out of the Earth, Rev. 13.11. This is he (the man of Sin) which is an Hebreaisme, for one notoriouſly ſinful, the firſt-born amongſt the Sons of Belial: This is (that Son of perdition, 2 Theſ. 2.3.) brother to Judas, who betray'd his Lord, whom Chriſt calls by the ſame name, (the Son of perdition) Joh. 17.12. Thoſe are all foreign dicta, pointing at foreign that (like Saul) overtops all the other Antichriſts by the head and ſhoulders.
12. The name [Antichriſt] properly imports one having contrariety and oppoſition to Chriſt: Thus is he contrary to Chriſt in that Apoſtolical deſcription of him to the Church at Theſſalonica, as 1. in his pride, he is contrary to Chriſt in his Humility, who was lowly in heart, and came not to be Miniſtred unto, but to Miniſter, Matth. 20.28. but Antichriſt exalts himſelf above all that is called God, 2 Theſ. 2.4. This incarnate Devil (as the Fathers call him) like his elder Brother Lucifer, Eſa. 14.12.13. would advance his Throne above the Stars of God, whereas Chriſt is call'd foreign, he will be called foreign, as if he were not only above the Stars of God, but alſo above the Sun of Righteouſneſs himſelf, His Title is Holineſs it ſelf: he is contrary to Chriſt, 2ly. in His Holineſs, (as well as in his Humility) for he is called the wicked one, 2 Theſ. 2.8. [foreign] a Lawleſs one, who makes not the Laws of God his Rule, as the Holy Child Jeſus did; but can abrogate, or at leaſt diſpence with ſuch Divine commands, as holds not conſiſtent with his miſtery of iniquity: 3. He is contrary to Chriſt in his Truth, for Chriſt is Truth it ſelf, Joh. 14.6. but Antichriſts coming is after the working of Satan with lying wonders, and all deceivableneſs, 2 Theſ. 2.9.10. the Father of lies; as he was the firſt raiſer, ſo he is the chief ſupporter of Antichriſt in the World: Thus in thoſe and other reſpects, Antichriſt is a contradiction to Chriſt.