defenders. Bishop Newton applies the thirtyninth verse to the principal teachers and propagators of the worship of Mahuzzim,' the bishops and priests, and the religious orders. And have not they been reverenced, and almost adored, in former ages? Have not their authority and jurisdiction commanded the purses, and the consciences, of mankind?

CHAPTER X.

On the Man of Sin, described by St. Paul.

THE system of prophetic truth is continued under the gospel-dispensation. St. Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles,' eminently adorned with the attainments of human literature, was peculiarly favoured with the spirit of prophecy. To him were revealed the rise and character of a power distinguished by the appellation of the Man of Sin* It is a remark of Martin Luther, that St. Paul had read the book of Daniel, and that he useth also his words, where he saith, And he exalteth himself above all that is called god, or that is worshipped. And Mr. Bayle observes, that in the writings of this Apostle the corruptions of the Church of Rome are so wonderfully predicted, that he is not surprised to find several Italian authors censuring him as a person

*The word Anosacia is only used in this passage, and in Acts xxi. 21. where it denotes a defection, or revolt, from the Law of Moses.' It is not used by Josephus, when he describes the revolt of the Jews from the Romans.

+ Luther's Divine Discourses at his Table, p. 291-if, indeed, they be Luther's.

VOL. I.

T

of a petulant and hot brain carried away by the acrimony of an intemperate spirit, and declaring that many of his notions are heretical, and that it had been much better if he had never written.'

2 THESS. ii.

3. That day shall not come, except there come a falling away* first, and that Man of Sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4. who opposeth † and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so

* The divines of the University of Louvain translated the New Testament into French from the Latin Vulgate. This version, previously revised and approved by several Doctors of Divinity of the University of Paris, was published at Bourdeaux in 1685; and has since been frequently reprinted by permission of the superiors and magistrates, as very useful to all who were

declared capable of reading it!

the following may suffice:

As an instance of it's fidelity,

1 Tim. iv. 1. Or l'Esprit dit clairement, que les derniers temps quelques se separeront de la foy Romaine, s'adonnant aux esprits d'erreur, et aux doctrines enseignées par des diables. Hence the Reformation is stigmatised by Popish writers as an Apostasy,' and Luther is denominated an Apostate.' (See Bouhour's Life of Loyola, pp. 1, 2.) A copy of this Version is preserved in the Dean and Chapter Library, at Durham.

6

+ The Adversary,' the Opposer.' Though he may pretend to be the Vicar of Christ, and to act by his authority and for him, yet he is really his adversary, and acts in opposition and contradiction to him. (Brutum Fulmen, p. 155.)

that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

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

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

7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until

the way.

he be taken out of the 8. And then shall that Wicked (that Lawless One) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with

the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

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

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

11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.

* He sitteth enthroned in the temple of God. Thus the word signifies, Rev. xvii. 15., xviii. 7.; compare, also, Ps. ix. 4., xxix. 16., cx. 1.; Ezek. xxiii. 2.; and Zech. vi. 15. (Benson.) May not this expression allude to the Roman Pontiffs, who receive the holy sacrament in the posture of sitting, near the altar, while others receive it kneeling?

The Thessalonians had pleaded the authority of St. Paul, as favouring an opinion that the day of judgement was hastily approaching*. To correct this mistake, he assures them that many events are to precede the commencement of this aweful period: particularly that there will be a falling away, or apostasy, from the true religion of Christ; that a certain power will arise, which he calls the Man of Sin.' He exhorts them, therefore, not to be alarmed by any dismal apprehension, that the great and terrible day of the Lord was at hand.

And has not the Church of Rome fallen away from the simplicity of the true Christian faith? Is her worship, at this day, a worship in spirit and in truth? When this apostasy should begin gradually to acquire strength, then should appear the Man of Sin; not one individual, but a regular succession of men, whose uniformity of character should perpetuate the title.

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This apostate power, the Adversary' or Opposer,' exalteth himself above all that is called God; above every object of religious worship, and above the majesty of the Roman emperor (the highest of earthly gods) so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, that is, in the Church of Christ, in outward appearance at least assuming

* That by the coming of Christ' is sometimes meant his coming to judge the world at the last day, see 1 Cor. i. 7.