A51839:208
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. And showing himself that he is God, that is meant, not of what he professeth in words, but what he doth in deed. It is not said, that he saith he is God, but [Greek or Hebrew], he showeth himself, or sets forth himself as God: the reason of the thing showeth it. 1. Antichrist gets power by seduction, or the deceivableness of unrighteousness, therefore does not openly call himself the true and only God. He is represented as a false Prophet, that speaketh lies in Hypocrisy. If one would openly and plainly profess himself ⟨p. 95⟩to be God, he might be a frantic Usurper, but could not be a cunning Seducer, and few would be so stupid and senseless as to be led by him. 2. Antichrist whoever he be, is to be a Christian by profession, and to have a high and great charge among the visible Professors of Christianity. He is a secret Adversary, that groweth upon the Apostasy, or degeneration of the Christian State. Now such pretend observance, and obedience to Christ, and therefore he would not openly declare himself to be God; and he sitteth in the Temple and Church of God as before. And it is a mystery; All which imply crafty conveyance, and that he doth not openly assume the Godhead, but slyly and secretly; which doth not mend the matter; for the insinuating, devouring, unsuspected Enemy, is the most perilous and pernicious: as Joab to Amasa, and Judas to Christ. 3. Antichrist is plainly a man; now for a man to disannul all Religion and set up himself directly as God, is improbable. Nero, Nebuchadnezzar, Simon Magus would be adored as Gods, they did not deny other Gods, nor a greater God above them. Therefore it is the arrogance of works is intended: If Antichrist will show himself as God, certainly he will sweeten his Blasphemy with some Hypocrisy, as that he is the Vicar and Vicegerent of God. 4. His showing himself as God, is either accepting, or doing such things, which if they ⟨p. 96⟩did rightly belong to him, they would show that he is God. Two persons I find in Scripture charged for usurping divine honours: The one Herod Agrippa, who was smitten by an Angel for not giving God the glory when the people cried, the voice of God and not of man, Acts 12.22. his fault was, accepting what was ascribed by others. The other is the Prince of Tyre,