XVIII sermons on the second chapter of the 2d Epistle to the Thessalonians containing…

That Antichrist was not then revealed, because there was an impediment hindering his Revelation, and now ye know what withholdeth, that he might be revealed in his time, that is, what keeps him back for the present, until the time that God had prefixed. ⟨p. 111⟩The Apostle doth not expressly mention what this [Greek or Hebrew], or impeachment was, either because he thought it enough to appeal to their memory and knowledge; now ye know what withholdeth: there was no need of repeating that, which was formerly mentioned, they sufficiently knew: or partly, because he would not give the heathen an occasion of raising a persecution against the Christians, if they should come to understand, that one professing himself a Christian, should erect a Throne for himself at Rome, and that the Empire should be taken away to make way for him. The Romans were very jealous, [Greek or Hebrew], because they talked of these innocent notions, the Kingdom of Christ, and the Kingdom of Heaven, they were apt to accense them laesae Majestatis, as if they would with open force and violence attack, or assault the Empire: therefore the Apostle had spoken that, which he thought not fit to write in an Empire: or lastly, he leaveth it in this obscurity, because all Prophecies were but darkly uttered, that their accomplishment be not hindered; since it is the will of God, that such events shall fall out in the World, and out of Indulgences to his people, he is pleased to foretell this: It is not meet, that the Prediction should either be too clear, or too dark; if too clear, the event would not follow, nor Gods Government of the World be carried in ⟨p. 112⟩such a way, as might suit with the liberty of mankind; if too dark, the comfort and caution of Gods people would not be sufficiently provided for.

That Antichrist was not then revealed, because there was an impediment hindering his Revelation, and now ye know what withholdeth, that he might be revealed in his time, that is, what keeps him back for the present, until the time that God had prefixed. ⟨p. 111⟩The Apostle doth not expresly mention what this 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, or impeachment was, either because he thought it enough to appeal to their memory and knowledge; now ye know what withholdeth: there was no need of repeating that, which was formerly mentioned, they sufficiently knew: or partly, because he would not give the heathen an occasion of raising a persecution against the Christians, if they should come to understand, that one professing himself a Christian, should erect a Throne for himself at Rome, and that the Empire should be taken away to make way for him. The Romans were very jealous, , because they talkt of these innocent notions, the Kingdom of Christ, and the Kingdom of Heaven, they were apt to accense them laesae Majestatis, as if they would with open force and violence attack, or assault the Empire: therefore the Apostle had spoken that, which he thought not fit to write in an Empire: or lastly, he leaveth it in this obscurity, because all Prophecies were but darkly uttered, that their accomplishment be not hindered; since it is the will of God, that such events shall fall out in the World, and out of Indulgences to his people, he is pleased to foretel this: It is not meet, that the Prediction should either be too clear, or too dark; if too clear, the event would not follow, nor Gods Government of the World be carried in