S. Ambrose saith, Abominatio Desolationis execrabilis Aduentus Antichristi est: The Abomination of Desolation is the cursed coming of Antichrist. ⟨p. 447⟩S. Hilary expounding these self same words of Christ, When ye shall see the Abomination of Desolation standing in the Holy place, saith thus, De Antichristi temporibus haec loquutus est: 1Christe spake these words of the time of Antichrist. Likewise saith Theodoretus, writing upon y• Prophet Daniel, Abominationem Desolationis ipsum vocat Antichristum. And besides others, the most Ancient, & most Catholic Fathers, likewise saith Eusebius Emissenus in a special Homily to this purpose. Now, M. Harding, whereas ye so certainly assure your self, y• these words of christ may in no wise be taken of y• confusion, & horror, y• shall be at y• end of y• world, besides all these Learned & Godly Fathers, I beseech you, consider the whole drift,2 & circumstance of the place, & the words, that Christ spake immediately before. The Apostles demanded him this question: What is the token of thy Coming (to Judgement) and of y• end of the world? To this question Christ answereth in this wise: Take heed, that no man deceive you. Many shall come in my name, and shall say, I am Christ: and shall deceive many. Ye shall hear of wars, and talks of wars: But be not ye troubled: Al these things must happen: yet this is not the end, &c. Many Pass Prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Iniquity shall increase: Charity shall wax cold. Who so continueth unto the end, he shall be saved. And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be Preached in all the world, for a witness unto all Nations, and then shall come the end. The next words, that follow, are these, Therefore when ye shall see the Abomination of Desolation, that was spoken of by Daniel, &c. Thus may ye see, M. Harding, by the very course, & te•oure of Christs answer, that, if the Judgement, be the Judgement: if the End, be the End: if the World, be y• World, then must these words needs have relation to the End of the world: what so ever any of your best Learned Divines, of whom ye have hitherto named none, have taught, or said to y• contrary.3 Whereas we say, Antichrist shall stand even within the Church, y•, ye say, we find not in S. Paul. Notwithstanding, our good will, ye say, ye understand:
S. Ambrose saithe, Abominatio Desolationis execrabilis Aduentus Antichristi est: The Abomination of Desolation is the cursed comminge of Antichriste. ⟨p. 447⟩S. Hilarie expounding these selfe same woordes of Christe, When ye shal see ye Abomination of Desolation standinge in the Holy place, saith thus, De Antichristi temporibus haec loquutus est: 1Christe spake these woordes of the time of Antichriste. Likewise saith Theodoretus, writinge vpon y• Prophete Daniel, Abominationem Desolationis ipsum vocat Antichristum. And bisides others, the moste Ancient, & most Catholique Fathers, likewise saithe Eusebius Emissenus in a special Homilie to this purpose. Now, M. Hardinge, whereas ye so certainely assure your selfe, y• these woordes of christe maie in no wise be taken of y• confusion, & horroure, y• shalbe at y• ende of y• worlde, bisides al these Learned & Godly Fathers, I beseche you, consider the whole drifte,2 & circumstance of the place, & the woordes, that Christe spake immediately before. The Apostles demaunded him this question: What is the token of thy Comminge (to Iudgement) and of y• ende of the worlde? To this question Christe answeareth in this wise: Take heede, yt noman deceiue you. Many shal comme in my name, and shal saie, I am Christe: and shal deceiue many. Yee shal heare of warres, and talkes of warres: But be not yee troubled: Al these thinges must happen: yet this is not the ende, &c. Many Passe Prophetes shal rise, and shal deceiue many. Iniquitie shal encrease: Charitie shal waxe colde. Who so continueth vnto the ende, he shalbe saued. And this Gospel of the Kingedome shalbe Preached in al the worlde, for a witnesse vnto al Nations, and then shal come the ende. The nexte woordes, that folowe, are these, Therefore when ye shal see the Abomination of Desolation, yt was spoken of by Daniel, &c. Thus maie yee sée, M. Harding, by the very course, & te•oure of Christes answeare, yt, if the Iudgemente, be the Iudgemente: if the Ende, be the Ende: if the VVorlde, be y• VVorlde, then must these woordes needes haue relation to the Ende of the vvorlde: what so euer any of your beste Learned Diuines, of whom ye haue hitherto named none, haue taught, or saide to y contrarie.
- 1Hilari. in Matthae. Canon. 25. Theodoret. in Daniel. Ca. 12. Eusebius Emissen.
- 2Matthae. 24.
- 3Antichrist standing in the Church of God.Antichriste standinge in the Churche of God.
