A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…

It may be wondered that the Spirit and inditer of the Scripture, should give ⟨p. 143⟩out that these were the very last days, when there have been so many changes since, the ten persecutions, the flourishing of the church under Constantine, and after it, a great mist of Ignorance, and since the light of the Gospel; how then did he call them the last times, since there have been so many changes since?

It may be wondred that the Spirit and inditer of the Scripture, should give ⟨p. 143⟩out that these were the very last dayes, when there have been so many changes since, the ten persecutions, the flourishing of the church under Constantine, and after it, a great mist of Ignorance, and since the light of the Gospel; how then did he call them the last times, since there have been so many changes since?

There is a double reason of this, in regard of the Apostles sense and scope that they aimed at, for they did not mean that the last judgment should presently come, for whereas some Christians began to grow slack in their callings, because they thought it would be in vain, the last judgement being so near, he seriously dissuades them from such sudden expectation of it, 2 Thes. 2.1, 2, 3. so that though he had said that day is at hand, yet he would not have them conceive, that it should presently come upon them, for first, there must be an Apostasy; therefore we see they were not deceived, or spake uncertainly.

There is a double reason of this, in regard of the Apostles sence and scope that they aimed at, for they did not mean that the last judgment should presently come, for whereas some Christians began to grow slack in their callings, because they thought it would be in vain, the last judgement being so near, he seriously diswades them from such suddain expectation of it,