A34689:1825
A34689:1825
A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first Epistle general of John by ... John Cotton ...A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first Epistle generall of John by ... John Cotton ...
London: printed by M.S. for Thomas Parkhurst, 1658
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For otherwise St. Johns discourse would be somewhat impertinent, to what end doth he say, Ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, and that Antichrists are come already? And again, he doth argue from the last times to Antichrist, and from Antichrist to the last times, reciprocally, which reason were not of strength, unless it were grounded upon this point.
For otherwise St. Johns discourse would be somewhat impertinent, to what end doth he say, Ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, and that Antichrists are come already? And again, he doth argue from the last times to Antichrist, and from Antichrist to the last times, reciprocally, which reason were not of strength, unlesse it were grounded upon this point.
For proof, see 1 Joh. 4.3. 1 Tim. 4.1, 2.
Obj. Doth not the Apostle say, that Antichrist shall not come until there be a general Apostasy, and until that which with-holds him be taken away? 2 Thes. 2.3. what is that [Greek or Hebrew] which hindered him?
Obj. Doth not the Apostle say, that Antichrist shall not come untill there be a general Apostacy, and untill that which with-holds him be taken away? 2 Thes. 2.3. what is that 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 which hindred him?
A. That [Greek or Hebrew] was not the Roman Empire, for that was not taken fully away many hundred years after, and it is still not wholly taken away, but stands upon its two Legs, the Emperor of Turkey and Germany, but the things which with-held him was indeed the Emperor himself, when the Emperor Constantine, removed from Rome to Constantinople, then the [Greek or Hebrew] was taken away, the lustre of the Emperor, that Monarch of the World, and that Antichrist could not stand together, but so soon as the Emperor was departed from Rome, Antichrist began to be revealed, when as all the Bishops of the Christian World did meet together at the Council of Nice, the Bishop of Rome (requested by Letter) came not, pretending indeed the weakness of his body, and Old Age, but Bellarmin plainly tells us the reason: It was not meet, saith he, the Head should follow the Members, the Members were rather to follow the Head, and if the Emperor were present, it was likely he would take his place above the Pope, which was not meet, the Pope being the Spiritual Head, therefore because of this, and some other inconveniences, the Pope in his discretion thought it meet to absent himself. At this time Antichrist began to be revealed to the full, for though after that time some godly men were in that Seat, as Gregory the Great, and some others, yet the question is not of the Person, but of the place.
A. That 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 was not the Roman Empire, for that was not taken fully away many hundred years after, and it is still not wholly taken away, but stands upon its two Leggs, the Emperor of Turkey and Germany, but the things which with-held him was indeed the Emperor himself, when the Emperor Constantine, removed from Rome to Constantinople, then the 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 was taken away, the lustre of the Emperor, that Monarch of the World, and that Antichrist could not stand together, but so soon as the Emperor was departed from Rome, Antichrist began to be revealed, when as all the Bishops of the Christian World did meet together at the Council of Nice, the Bishop of Rome (requested by Letter) came not, pretending indeed the weaknesse of his body, and Old Age, but Bellarmin plainly tells us the reason: It was not meet, saith he, the Head should follow the Members, the Members were rather to follow the Head, and if the Emperor were present, it was likely he would take his place above the Pope, which was not meet, the Pope being the Spiritual Head, therefore because of this, and some other inconveniences, the Pope in his discretion thought it meet to absent himself. At this time Antichrist began to be revealed to the full, for though after that time some godly men were in that Seat, as Gregory the Great, and some others, yet the question is not of the Person, but of the place.
Obj. But the Apostle saith, that Let must be first taken away which with-held Antichrist; and St. John saith here, that many Antichrists were come already, how can these two stand together?
A. Though the Antichrist was not then revealed, yet the Mystery of Iniquity did then work in many men, when St. John wrote this Epistle; and Saint Paul his second Epistle to the Thessalonians, for then men began to observe the Traditions of men, and the Laws of the Church must be as well kept as Gods Laws, against whom St. John wrote in his second Epistle, vers. 5, 6, 7. besides, some then exalted themselves above their Brethren, as you may see in his third Epistle, and so did put out their Brethren; this was the Spirit which made way for the Bishop of Rome, exalting himself above other Bishops, as the Emperor was above Kings and Princes: this Mystery by degrees increased, now as the King may be said to come when he is yet in his Chamber, but some Parliament men go before, and the King follows soon after; so it is here, because Antichrist was not to come nakedly, but with Pomp, therefore way was made, and the Apostle wrote against the spirit of Antichrist then working, though Antichrist himself was not so fully revealed till afterwards, and so it is plain that which was spoken of Antichrist is in some part fulfilled.
A. Though the Antichrist was not then revealed, yet the Mystery of Iniquity did then work in many men, when St. John wrote this Epistle; and Saint Paul his second Epistle to the Thessalonians, for then men began to observe the Traditions of men, and the Laws of the Church must be as well kept as Gods Laws, against whom St. John wrote in his second Epistle, vers. 5, 6, 7. besides, some then exalted themselves above their Brethren, as you may see in his third Epistle, and so did put out their Brethren; this was the Spirit which made way for the Bishop of Rome, exalting himself above other Bishops, as the Emperor was above Kings and Princes: this Mystery by degrees encreased, now as the King may be said to come when he is yet in his Chamber, but some Parliament men go before, and the King follows soon after; so it is here, because Antichrist was not to come nakedly, but with Pomp, therefore way was made, and the Apostle wrote against the spirit of Antichrist then working, though Antichrist himself was not so fully revealed till afterwards, and so it is plain that which was spoken of Antichrist is in some part fullfilled.
Use 1 Confutes a conceit of the Church of Rome, that cannot yet discern Antichrist, but say, Antichrist is some singular person.
Ʋse 1 Confutes a conceit of the Church of Rome, that cannot yet discern Antichrist, but say, Antichrist is some singular person.
But we say, Antichrist is a state that hath many fore-runners, and followers, and the Pope himself is one of them.
Obj. But the Article • signifies a certain singular person?
A. Sometimes it doth so, yet not always, for sometimes it signifies a State, as we say, [Greek or Hebrew] the King made this Law; here we understand the Kings afore, or present, or them that shall come after, Mat. 13.3. [Greek or Hebrew] The Sower went forth, here it is not spoken of one singular Minister, Paul or Peter, but of every Minister of the Gospel.
A. Somtimes it doth so, yet not always, for sometimes it signifies a State, as we say, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 the King made this Law; here we understand the Kings afore, or present, or them that shall come after, Mat. 13.3. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 The Sower went forth, here it is not spoken of one singular Minister, Paul or Peter, but of every Minister of the Gospel.
Obj. 2 Thes. 2.8.
A. True, he shall continue till the coming of Christ, and shall be abolished by the spirit of his mouth, and therefore it cannot be said of one singular person, no man liveth such an Age as is from the Council of Nice to the coming of Christ.
Use 2 Learn hence the near fellowship that is betwixt Antichrist himself, and all that make way for him, as all Heretics do, Simon Magus, Menander, Ebion, Pelagius, Arius, &c. they all wrought the coming in of Antichrist, and though himself hath condemned many of those Errors, yet he so corrupteth the lives of men, that Charity waxeth cold, and false Doctrines are received: some of those Errors this Antichrist still holds, when the King himself comes, the people will give more room than for the Noble-men that went before; so when Antichrist comes himself, the people most of all yield to him, though formerly they had received many Errors; and therefore it must teach us, not to keep any error or superstition, for there is a strong Combination betwixt Antichrist and Heresies, that we cannot separate one from another; though we use many strokes at a Tree before it falls, yet every blow makes way for the fall of it; so every error makes way for Antichrist, and corrupts the true Religion, and godliness is not seen: when the Church was infected with many Errors, even then Antichrist arose, the way was ready for him to corrupt all.
Ʋse 2 Learn hence the near fellowship that is betwixt Antichrist himself, and all that make way for him, as all Hereticks do, Simon Magus, Menander, Ebion, Pelagius, Arius, &c. they all wrought the coming in of Antichrist, and though himself hath condemned many of those Errors, yet he so corrupteth the lives of men, that Charity waxeth cold, and false Doctrins are received: some of those Errors this Antichrist still holds, when the King himself comes, the people will give more room than for the Noble-men that went before; so when Antichrist comes himself, the people most of all yeild to him, though formerly they had received many Errors; and therefore it must teach us, not to keep any error or superstition, for there is a strong Combination betwixt Antichrist and Heresies, that wee cannot seperate one from another; though we use many stroaks at a Tree before it falls, yet every blow makes way for the fall of it; so every error makes way for Antichrist, and corrupts the true Religion, and godlinesse is not seen: when the Church was infected with many Errors, even then Antichrist arose, the way was ready for him to corrupt all.
For the Apostle argues reciprocally from the last times to Antichrist, and from Antichrist to the last times, Antichrist is come, therefore it is the last time, and it is the last time, therefore there must be Antichrists, 1 Joh. 4.3. 2 Joh. 7. for his relation to the last times, 1 Tim. 4.1. in these latter times, the Spirit speaks expressly.
For the Apostle argues reciprocally from the last times to Antichrist, and from Antichrist to the last times, Antichrist is come, therefore it is the last time, and it is the last time, therefore there must be Antichrists, 1 Joh. 4.3. 2 Joh. 7. for his relation to the last times, 1 Tim. 4.1. in these latter times, the Spirit speaks expresly.