The Person and Period of the Antichrist, Discourse · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
41. HItherto Negatively, what is not [The] Antichriſt, now I come to ſhew Poſitively, what is? If we hunt this beaſt home (quaſi cum Catulis fidelibus) this Fox that hath moſt ſpoil'd the Vineyard of Red-Wine, will be found to Kennel in Rome; The Ld. Chancellor Bacon told K. James (in a diſpute about Antichriſt) had he an Heu and Crye for it, he muſt apprehend the Pope by it. And as for his birth and Nativity, his Father was an Amorite, and his Mother an Hittite, what ever he profeſs to the contrary.
42. Antichriſt is taken either Generally for every one that is againſt Chriſt and thus all thoſe oppoſers of Chriſt forementioned are Antichriſts, in this Senſe; there were many Antichriſts in the Apoſtles time: or tis taken Specially, and that two ways. 1ſt. Either for ſome notable Empire that openly oppoſes it ſelf to the Kingdom of Chriſt; thus the Turkiſh Empire may be Antichriſt, or that doth it privily and cloſely: ſo 'tis the Popiſh Empire. 2ly. 'Tis taken foreign for the moſt principal part of that Empire, and ſo the head of the Popiſh Empire is truly call'd [The] Antichriſt.
43. That we may come more diſtinctly to the knowledge of this Antichriſt, Learned Chamier lays down a moſt ſure Rule. Quicunque omnes Capit Antichriſti Notas (quas Scriptura delineavit) eſt Antichriſtus: whoſoever hath all thoſe Characters (wherewith the Scripture deciphers Antichriſt by) is [the] Antichriſt: but it will appear by the Sequel, that the Pope of Rome hath all thoſe Characters upon him, by which the word of God deſcribes him, therefore it neceſſarily follows that the Pope of Rome is [the] Antichriſt.
44. And there is another infallible Axiom uſed by our Proteſtant Divines to the ſame purpoſe, Cui Competit Definitio, ei Competit Definitum; but the Definition (that the holy Scriptures afford us) of Antichriſt doth beſt accord with the Pope of Rome; therefore he is the thing defined, to wit, Antichriſt: that deſcription (the word of God gives of Antichriſt) doth not only ſhew what, but who he is (called) Antichriſtus ille magnus, the Great Antichriſt.
45. The holy Scriptures gives us this definition of Antichriſt. (1ſt.) he is an Apoſtate (or Runegado-Chriſtian) (2ly.) profeſſing friendſhip to Chriſt, but practiſing enmity againſt him, (3ly.) Stirred up by the efficacy of Satan. (4ly.) Uſurping a Monarchy in the Church, (5ly.) Excerciſing his Kingdom in the great City that Reigneth over the Kings of the Earth (6ly.) Behaving himſelf in the Church of God, as if he were God. (7ly.) Seducing the Nations with lying wonders. (8ly.) A man of Sin, a Son of perdition, a wicked one, an Idolater. (9ly.) Ambitious, Cruel, full of all uncleanneſs. (10ly.) To be revealed in thoſe laſt times, (11ly.) to be Conſumed by the breath of Chriſts mouth, and (12ly.) to be deſtroyed by the brightneſs of his Coming.
46. That he muſt be 1ſt. an Apoſtate, a faller away from the truth. 2 Theſſ. 2.3. demonſtrates [Refuga à domino ſuo] as Auſtin calls him, one that departeth from the faith and purity of Religion. 1 Tim. 4.1. 2ly. in pretence a Friend to Chriſt, but in truth an Enemy. He muſt be a Chriſtian (titulo-tenus) is ſhown us by his ſitting in the Temple of God. 2 Theſſ. 2.8. and by his having horns like a lamb, Rev. 13.11. This veil of the name of Chriſt, colours over all his wickedneſs and makes him a myſtery of iniquity. 2. Theſſ. 2.7.
47. Yet in reality Antichriſt muſt be an enemy to Chriſt (notwithſtanding all his pretences for him) 1. Joh. 4.3. though the Greek particle [foreign] ſignifies Subſtitution and Vicegerency; ſo Antichriſt is one for Chriſt, yet [foreign] as it implies oppoſition and Contrariety ſhows, he is one againſt Chriſt, though he look like a lamb, yet doth he ſpeak like the Dragon, Rev. 13.11. yea and Acts like the Dragon alſo, for the Dragon gives power to the beaſt. Rev. 13.4. and the beaſt makes war with the Saints. v. 7, yea and with the lamb too. Rev. 17.14. (though he ſeem to be like him and for him) the beaſt and all his ten horns do war againſt Chriſt. Rev. 19.19. he is call'd foreign. 2 Theſſ. 2.4. an Adverſary.
48. It appears 3ly. that Antichriſt is one ſtirred up by the efficacy of Satan, not only becauſe the Dragon gives power to the beaſt. Rev. 13.4. but alſo his coming is deſcribed to be, by the working of Satan. 2 Theſſ. 2.9. [foreign] Antichriſt muſt have the moſt eminent Activity of Satans skill, both to found and finiſh his Kingdom. Satan delivers the Key of the bottomleſs pit to him. Rev. 9.11. and makes him the great Steward of his houſe, inſomuch as Antichriſt hath a greater power (according to their belief) in Hell, then Joſeph had given him by Pharoh in Egypt, thus Antichriſts Doctrine is call'd the Doctrine of divells and his habitation, the habitation of divells. 1. Tim. 4.1. and Revel. 18.2.
49. Antichriſt muſt 4ly. Uſurp a Monarchy in the Church; not onelyonly a Spiritual, but alſo a Temporal Kingdom; for this beaſt is deſcrib'd with two horns, (to ſignifie his double power) Rev. 13.11. his Spiritual power Conſiſts in the Excerciſe of that Key of the bottomleſs pit, which Satan gives to the Star of the Antichriſtian Church (as above) whereby he binds and looſes, not Miniſterially in Chriſts name, but rather Magiſterially in his own name, uſurping an abſolute Authority of Decreeing and Condemning what he pleaſes, without the Authority of the Holy Scriptures.
50. He hath alſo a Temporal or Political Kingdom, for the Antichriſt, or ſecond beaſt excerciſes all the power of the firſt beaſt Rev. 13.12. that is, takes on him Civil Authority and uſing a Secular as well as an Eccleſiaſtical Sword: he muſt ſit in the ſame Seat, where the Imperial civil Courts hath been kept, and there ſet up his own Courts, that as a compleat Plenipotentiary he may hear all cauſes, Civil aſwel as Sacred. Rev. 13.2.
52. That he muſt (5ly.) exerciſe this his Monarchy and Kingdom, in the great City that Rules over the Nations appears from, Rev. 13.2. The Dragon gives to the beaſt not only his power, but alſo his Seat where his Throne had been; and the woman that Rides upon the beaſt, is call'd plainly the great City, which then had the Empire, and Reigned over the Kings of the Earth. Rev. 17.18. call'd the great whore Sitting upon many waters, to wit, many Nations of ſundry languages, Rev. 17.1,15. which ſhows not onelyonly the largeneſs of Antichriſts Territories, but alſo the Inſtability of his Kingdom, which hath no better a foundation than as built upon Unconſtant-waters.