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

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.

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.

Doct. Such is the condition of these last times, that they cannot be long without an Antichrist.

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.

Q. What is the condition of the last times, that is so prepared for an Antichrist?

A. This mutual reference proceeds;

1 From the state of the times in the Apostles times, there was an itching ear after new Doctrine, inwardly loathing the truth, and affecting any new Doctrine they can hear, 2 Thes. 2.10. 11, 12. 2 Tim. 4.3, 4. so that the radical cause of the arising of Antichrist, is the itching humour of men after new Doctrine, therefore God would send such as should deceive, and if you survey the whole Body of Popery, it consists either of curious speculations of the School-men, whereby they deceive Scholars, and the Secular Priests fill the common people with idle Fables, and so deceive the whole people.

1 From the state of the times in the Apostles times, there was an itching ear after new Doctrine, inwardly loathing the truth, and affecting any new Doctrin they can hear, 2 Thes. 2.10. 11, 12. 2 Tim. 4.3, 4. so that the radical cause of the arising of Antichrist, is the itching humour of men after new Doctrin, therefore God would send such as should deceive, and if you survey the whole Body of Popery, it consists either of curious speculations of the School-men, whereby they deceive Scholars, and the Secular Priests fill the common people with idle Fables, and so deceive the whole people.

2 From the abundance of knowledge that shall be revealed in the last times, as Isa. 11.1. to 9. now where there is much knowledge, and emptiness of Grace, and Faith, there is a world of pride in such, 1 Cor. 8.11. 2 Tim. 3.1. to 8. for want of faith with their knowledge, the time was fit to receive new Doctrines, 1 Tim 4.1, 2. men of knowledge, but no conscience, and then no marvel if men entertain Errors, 1 Tim. 1.19. Hold faith and a good Conscience, which some having put away, have erred from the faith; whilst some have neglected to keep their Conscience clean, their judgment is unsound; a corrupt Conscience, a corrupt Judgement.

2 From the abundance of knowledge that shall be revealed in the last times, as Isa. 11.1. to 9. now where there is much knowledge, and emptinesse of Grace, and Faith, there is a world of pride in such, 1 Cor. 8.11. 2 Tim. 3.1. to 8. for want of faith with their knowledge, the time was fit to receive new Doctrins, 1 Tim 4.1, 2. men of knowledge, but no conscience, and then no marvel if men entertain Errors, 1 Tim. 1.19. Hold faith and a good Conscience, which some having put away, have erred from the faith; whilst some have neglected to keep their Conscience clean, their judgment is unsound; a corrupt Conscience, a corrupt Judgement.

3 From the disposition of men; and aptness then to catch the greatest cold, when their spirits have been most warmed and heated; no man so apt to take ⟨p. 148⟩cold, as they who are very warm and hot; so in the days of the Apostles, they did not only fill them with Knowledge, but warmed the Church with Zeal, and Heat: zeal towards their Ministers, zeal in their liberality, they loved not their own lives in respect of Christ, now their spirits being so warm, they are more subject to get cold and distemper; every Christian in particular finds it so; when he hath been most enlarged at the Word, or Prayer, ere long he will be more straitened, there being a secret pride in the experience of Gods favour, and to rest in our selves, thinking that we have sufficient grace in our selves, when we see our need of Christ, we depend only on him, but when we are full, we depend on our selves, and so by sitting loose from Christ we get a great cold; we are cold in Prayer, Word, Sacrament; thus it is with the Church, when God sheds his Spirit abundantly in the Church, they grow secure, and depend upon themselves, thus we see, Josh. 1.9, 10, 11. so that one would have thought that that generation would have been more zealous, yet none so Idolatrous till God quickened them by their enemies: so in the Apostles times, the Church was very forward and zealous, a few Generations after, their spirits were carried away with errors.

3 From the disposition of men; and aptnesse then to catch the greatest cold, when their spirits have been most warmed and heated; no man so apt to take ⟨p. 148⟩cold, as they who are very warm and hot; so in the days of the Apostles, they did not only fill them with Knowledge, but warmed the Church with Zeal, and Heat: zeal towards their Ministers, zeal in their liberality, they loved not their own lives in respect of Christ, now their spirits being so warm, they are more subjesh to get cold and distemper; every Christian in particular finds it so; when he hath been most enlarged at the Word, or Prayer, ere long he will be more straitned, there being a secret pride in the experience of Gods favour, and to rest in our selves, thinking that we have sufficient grace in our selves, when we see our need of Christ, we depend only on him, but when we are full, we depend on our selves, and so by sitting loose from Christ we get a great cold; we are cold in Prayer, Word, Sacrament; thus it is with the Church, when God sheds his Spirit abundantly in the Church, they grow secure, and depend upon themselves, thus we see,