VII. 4. The same was also shown by the vision of four CHAP. great beasts, the last of which was dreadful and terrible, and prefigured an oppressive power that was to Dan. vii. devour the whole earth, and tread it down, and break it in pieces. chap. is. 5. To Daniel also was pointed out the cutting off of the Messiah-the taking away of the daily sacri- and fice the setting up of the abomination, which would make the truth desolate; and the period of time it would stand. And most of the prophets have spoken x of the same things, particularly Ezekiel. 6. Christ in his instructions to his disciples, is very pointed, in showing them, not only that his work of that day would be supplanted, but by whom, and in what manner it would be effected. See Eze. Mat. xxiv and and 7. He forewarns them of the coming of false christs, [i. e. anti-christs,] and false prophets, who would shew signs and wonders, and, if it were possi- Mark ble, deceive the very elect-that many (not a few) Luke x would come in his name, saying I am Christ, and would deceive many. 8. He also forewarns them that Jerusalem [literally and spiritually] would be compassed about with armies, and finally taken, and the abomination of desolation spoken of, set up in that very city which the saints had possessed, and from which they should flee as from the deepest sink of corruption. ii. 3. 9. And St. Paul, in his epistle to the Thessalonians, concerning the day of Christ's second coming, says, "That day shall not come, except there come first a 2 Thes. falling away."-And to Timothy, the apostle wrote 1 Tim.iv. of the Spirit's speaking expressly, that in the latter i. times some would depart, [or stand off] from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. 10. St. John also, in the latter days of his time, represents the true Church, in his book of Revelation, Rev. ii. as already swiftly on the decline, as may be seen by his solemn warnings to the seven churches of Asia. 11. He likewise describes the growing power of corruption and oppression, under the figure of two wild beasts, the first as coming up out of the sea, and the second out of the earth, which exercised all the Rev. xi. - power of the first, to show the continuance of the same beastly power in another form. CHAP. Rev.xvii. xx.20.30. 2 Pet. ii. 1, 10, 14. chap 3, 4. 1 John f. 12. And lastly, he represents this whole compound of monstrous wickedness, under the figure of a scarlet coloured beast, whose power was universal, carrying a Mother of Harlots, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication and lived deliciously. 13. It is clearly manifest from all that is recorded in Church History, that such an apostacy did take place, as entirely excluded the Spirit and power of Christ from what was called his Church, and that a false spirit and power prevailed in that church, for many ages, after the days of the apostles. 14. But it may be asked whether this church really descended from the Primitive Church of Christ, and had still a measure of the same spirit?-or whether it originated wholly from another source?—or whether God had a people in that church which he owned as the church of Christ, distinct from the main body of professors?-or whether there were a pure church preserved on the earth, vested with the apostolici power, altogether distinct from that corrupt body? These are questions which have furnished matter of great debate, and many researches; but could never be decided by all the powers of argument. 15. For the prophecies, being mostly sealed up See Acts under the figurative language of the inspired writers, were liable to any application which the ingenuity of the learned might contrive; they were therefore not intended to be understood, any faster than they were actually fulfilled, that the truth of things might be established by an appeal to matters of fact. As said the angel to the prophet Daniel, "Go thy way Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." 18 iv 3. 2 John 7. Jude 4,18 Dan Luke i. 35. 16. Therefore, as the time of the end is actually come in which those predictions have had their time and accomplishment, it will be proper and necessary to discover the true source and influence of that false power called Antichrist, by which the nations and kingdoms of the earth were deceived for ages, and brought into bondage the most wicked and oppressive, and by which the cause of true virtue was trodden under foot, and became unknown-that now, the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. THE I. HE word ANTICHRIST, was first used by the CHAP. apostles, and, doubtless, what gave occasion to it, took its rise in their day. This singular name is compounded of these two Greek words, avr and xg50s, which signify against Christ; so that the "Anti terin Antichrist, includes whatever is against Christ; Christos. but was originally intended to apply, more particularly, to such as under a pretence of acting in the name of Christ, acted with a spirit directly against the Spirit of Christ. and 2. Therefore this term, as used by the apostles, had no reference to the superstitious Jews, nor idolatrous Pagans, who made no profession of faith in Christ; but was generally confined to such as through a pretence of faith in Christ and obedience to the gos pel, claimed an interest in the affairs of the Church, and thereby took occasion to pervert and corrupt it. And as there were many of this description, who rose up in the days of the apostles, St. John express- 1 John ly says, Even now are there many Antichrists; where- 18. by we know that it is the last time. 3. As if he had said, There are already many in the world, who profess Christ, but do not possess him; who own him in words, but deny him in works; who talk about the spirit, but walk after the flesh, 1. 1 John iv. 3. CHAP and confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh : this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world. Whereby we know that it is the last time Satan shall ever take the advantage of a revelation from heaven, to corrupt and supplant the work of God, as these hypocrites are doing. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. Rom. x. 12. Gal. vi. 4. From this it is evident, that Antichrist was not a particular man, but a spirit, which assumed the name and authority of Christ, and made its way into many deceitful and false-hearted men, who pretended to be the followers of Christ, while their practice was pointedly against him and from the very nature of the work of Christ in that day, it seems that such impositions were unavoidable. 5. According to the commission of the apostles, the gospel was to be preached to every creature, and no distinction made between the Jew and the Greek, the learned and the unlearned; and as it was received, at least in word, by all characters; so none were prohibited from teaching to others, what they themselves had learned. 6. Hence many false teachers took occasion, to modify the doctrines of Christ according to their own carnal taste, or that of others, and to explain them in such a manner, as to avoid those persecutions, to which the honest and faithful were exposed. In particular, many of the Jews, whose rites and ceremonies had become honourable in the world, continued to practise those superstitious rites which had no further connexion with the faith or practice of the gospel. 7. Thus, by putting, as it were, a piece of new cloth upon the old garment, they claimed their relation to the Church, and at the same time retained the friendship of the world. Hence St. Paul observes, As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 8. Many also of the profligate Pagans, who were convicted of the truth of the gospel, and constrained to seek some measure of union to the followers of CHAP. Christ, early took the same deceitfui liberty of perverting the truth, and mixing it with their carnal reasonings, and even introducing, under the christian name, their licentious doctrines, and impious festivals, and com nitting such abominations as were not so much as named among other Gentiles. 9. Hence it is justly remarked by Osterwald, that, "in the days of the apostles, there were carnal men, Ch. Theo who, under the pretext of grace, and christian lib. P. 331. 'erty, introduced licentiousness, refused to suffer per'secutions, and who gave themselves over to carnal 'lusts. These were in a spirited manner opposed by James, Jude, Peter, in his second epistle, and John, in his epistles, and Revelation." 10. As Christ began to prepare the way for his kingdom, by teaching his followers to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts; so on the other hand, Ant christ began his work, by false teachers, and false doctrines. Such were the first means employed in corrupting and weakening the truth; and such have had a principal hand in establishing that kingdom, which is Christ's in name, but Antichrist's in its very nature. 11. It was not only foreseen and testified by Christ, that such deceitful workers would come; but the apostles, who were anointed from heaven as witnesses of the truth, testified that they had already appeared in their day which may be seen from the slightest examination of their writings. 15, 16. 12. The words of Jesus are plain: "Beware of Matt. vi false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.-Take heed that no man deceive you; for many shall cotne in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." χείν. 4, 5. 1-18. 13. The same thing was predicted by St. Peter, 2 Pet., saying, "There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.-Sporting them |