There is something comes between. God hath a Cloud, or somewhat like it, to put between us and the light.1 The Apostle (2 Thes. 2.6, 7.) treating of Antichrist, the man of sin, intimates, that he would have filled the world with the darkness of error and superstition very quickly, by a full discovery of himself, had not something with-held him, had not something come between him and his design for a time. What was that? 'Tis generally conceived,2 that which did with-hold or come between the man of sin, and his purpose of filling the world with the darkness of his wicked errors and abominable worship, was the power of the Roman Empire at that time; Antichrist could not put forth his power while that power stood in its strength. God could have with-held Antichrist immediately from putting forth of himself, but he saw it best to put a block in his way, the power of the Roman Empire, and until that was thrust out of the way, the man of sin could never show himself fully, in that unlimited exercise of his sinful power. Now, I say, as there was then a with-holder of Antichristian darkness, somewhat that came between and hindered its effectual working; so usually, I may say universally, somewhat comes between to check and stop the course of the Gospel-light, or of any other mercy. Sin is a Cloud of our making, and God in judgement makes that as a Cloud coming between us and our mercies. He did so of old to Israel, and he told them so by his Prophet (Jer. 5.25.) Your sins have with-holden good things from you. Sin with-holds good things, not formally, but meritoriously, that is, sin is the meriting or deserving cause of their withholding. This one Cloud of our sins, brings all the Clouds of trouble between us and our mercies; and the Lord hath always some Cloud or other of trouble at hand, in readiness to cover the light, that it shine not to us, when we trouble and grieve him by those foggy and filthy clouds of our sins. Thus far of that which is preparatory to rain, Clouds covering the light. It followeth, ⟨p. 424⟩Vers. 33. The noise thereof showeth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.3
There is something comes between. God hath a Cloud, or somewhat like it, to put between us and the light.1 The Apostle (2 Thes. 2.6, 7.) treating of Antichrist, the man of sin, intimates, that he would have filled the world with the darkness of errour and superstition very quickly, by a full discovery of himself, had not something with-held him, had not something come between him and his design for a time. What was that? 'Tis generally conceived,2 that which did with-hold or come between the man of sin, and his purpose of filling the world with the darkness of his wicked errours and abominable worship, was the power of the Roman Empire at that time; Antichrist could not put forth his power while that power stood in its strength. God could have with-held Antichrist immediately from putting forth of himself, but he saw it best to put a block in his way, the power of the Roman Empire, and until that was thrust out of the way, the man of sin could never shew himself fully, in that unlimited exercise of his sinful power. Now, I say, as there was then a with-holder of Antichristian darkness, somewhat that came between and hindred its effectual working; so usually, I may say universally, somewhat comes between to check and stop the course of the Gospel-light, or of any other mercy. Sin is a Cloud of our making, and God in judgement makes that as a Cloud coming between us and our mercies. He did so of old to Israel, and he told them so by his Prophet (Jer. 5.25.) Your sins have with-holden good things from you. Sin with-holds good things, not formally, but meretoriously, that is, sin is the meriting or deserving cause of their withholding. This one Cloud of our sins, brings all the Clouds of trouble between us and our mercies; and the Lord hath alwayes some Cloud or other of trouble at hand, in readiness to cover the light, that it shine not to us, when we trouble and grieve him by those foggy and filthy clouds of our sins. Thus far of that which is preparatory to rain, Clouds covering the light. It followeth, ⟨p. 424⟩Vers. 33. The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattel also concerning the vapour.3
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] vers. 6.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 vers. 6.
- 2[Greek or Hebrew], v. 7〈non-Latin alphabet〉, v. 7
- 3Hic versus difficillimus est si quu in toto Jobo, in quo quot sunt expositores tot fere sensus afferuntur. Merc. [Greek or Hebrew] Strepitus ejus quidam deducunt a [Greek or Hebrew] son•vit, clamavit, vo•iferatus est, alii a [Greek or Hebrew] amicus, socius.Hic versus difficillimus est si quu in toto Jobo, in quo quot sunt expositores tot fere sensus afferuntur. Merc. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Strepitus ejus quidam deducunt a 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 son•vit, clamavit, vo•iferatus est, alii a 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 amicus, socius.
