A51839:353
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.
4. That which is ascribed to Satan, is bloody Cruelty, or seeking the destruction of Christs most faithful Servants; for he is called a murderer from the beginning, John 8.44. and Cain is said to be of that wicked one, because he slew his Brother; and wherefore slew he him? because his own works were evil, and his Brothers righteous, 1 John 3.12. Enmity to the power of Godliness came from Satan, and wherever it is encouraged, and notoriously ⟨p. 162⟩practised, they are a party of men governed and influenced by Satan. Now where shall we find this Character, but in Antichrists Confederacy? In the Prophecy of him, Rev. 13.15. he caused as many as would no• worship the Image of the Beast to be kil•ed; and again, Rev. 17.5. The Woman, whose name was Mystery, was drunk with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus: and it hath been eminently fulfilled in the blood shed in Germany, France, and England, and other Nations; and all this to extinguish the light of, and suppress the Reformation. The World is no stranger to their bloody Persecutions Oh, how many seeming Christians hath Satan employed in these works of Cruelty? When once he had seduced the Church to so many Errors, and corrupted the Doctrine and worship of Christ, he presently maketh the erroneous party his Instruments of as cruel and bloody Persecutions as were ever commenced by Infidels and Mahometans; witness their murders upon so many thousands of the Waldenses and Albigenses, whom they not only spoiled, but slaughtered with all manner of hellish Cruelty. Some of their own Bishops complained they could not find Lime and Stone to build Prisons for them, nor defray the charges of their food. The World was even amazed at their unheard of Cruelties, smoking and burning thousands of Men, Women, ⟨p. 163⟩men, and Children, in Caves, others at St•kes, and many ways butchered them; proclaiming Croisados, and preaching up the merit of Paradise to such bloody Cut-throats, as had a mind to root them out, driving multitudes to perish in snowy Mountains. What Desolations they wrought in Bohemia, what horrible Massacres in France, what Fires they kindled in England, and of late, what Cruelties they exercised in Ireland, Piedmont, &c.