A51839:148
XVIII sermons on the second chapter of the 2d Epistle to the Thessalonians containing…
XVIII sermons on the second chapter of the 2d Epistle to the Thessalonians containing the description, rise, growth, and fall of Antichrist : with divers cautions and arguments to establish Christians against the apostasy of the Church of Rome : very necessary for these times / by that late reverend and learned divine, Thomas Manton ...XVIII sermons on the second chapter of the 2d Epistle to the Thessalonians containing the description, rise, growth, and fall of Antichrist : with divers cautions and arguments to establish Christians against the apostacy of the Church of Rome : very necessary for these times / by that late reverend and learned divine, Thomas Manton ...
London: printed by J.D. for J. Robinson, 1679
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.
2. The Apostasy mentioned in the Text, was not civil. The falling away of many ⟨p. 55⟩Kingdoms from the Roman Empire: But an Apostasy of the visible Church, from him who is Lord of the Church. I prove it partly from the persons to whom the Apostle wrote, who did not intermingle themselves with State affairs, or were not concerned in the Interests of the Roman Empire, further than that they lived within the bounds of it. And this Apostasy must be understood as they would conceive of Apostasy, with respect to the main cause wherein they were concerned and engaged: which was the profession of Christianity. Partly, From the use of the word, in the Christian Doctrine, falling away there, is certainly falling away from the Faith, and purity of the Gospel, Luc. 18.13. Which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And partly because to them it was expressly foretold, that [Greek or Hebrew], Some shall fall away, or depart from the Faith, 1 Tim. 4.1. Lastly, Because those who are most concerned to maintain the notion of the civil Apostasy, from the Roman Empire, are most notorious in this defection. It is true, the Roman Empire lost Asia, and the places adjacent, by the Invasion of Eastern Nations, but it was thrust out of Rome by the Rebellion of its Subjects, and chiefly by the influence of the Pope there, as Histories manifest: So that this interpretation will not help them a jot, but hurt them not a little. So that here is a defection ⟨p. 56⟩from our proper Lord, and a spiritual defection, not a civil.
2. The Apostasy mentioned in the Text, was not civil. The falling away of many ⟨p. 55⟩Kingdoms from the Roman Empire: But an Apostasy of the visible Church, from him who is Lord of the Church. I prove it partly from the persons to whom the Apostle wrote, who did not intermingle themselves with State affairs, or were not concerned in the Interests of the Roman Empire, further than that they lived within the bounds of it. And this Apostasy must be understood as they would conceive of Apostasy, with respect to the main cause wherein they were concerned and ingaged: which was the profession of Christianity. Partly, From the use of the word, in the Christian Doctrine, falling away there, is certainly falling away from the Faith, and purity of the Gospel,