Mark this also above all things, that 1Antichrist is not an outward thing, that is to say, a man that should suddenly appear with wonders, as our fathers talked of him. No verily, for Antichrist is a spiritual thing. And is as much to say as against Christ, that is, one that preacheth false doctrine contrary to Christ. Antichrist was in the old Testament and fought with the Prophets, he was also in the time of Christ, & of the Apostles, as thou readest in the Epistles of John, and of Paul to the Corinthians, and Galatians, and other Epistles. Antichrist is now & shall (I doubt not) endure till the worlds end. But his nature is (when he is uttered and overcome with the word of God) to go out of the play for a season, and to disguise himself, and then to come in again with a new name, and new raiment. As thou seest 2how Christ rebuketh the Scribes, and the Pharisees, in the Gospel (which were very Antichrists) saying, Woe be to you Pharisees, for ye rob widows houses, ye pray long prayers under a colour, ye shut up the kingdom of heaven, & suffer them not y• would, to enter in, ye have taken away the key of 3knowledge, ye make men break Gods commandments with your traditions, ye beguile the people with hypocrisy and such like. Which things all our prelates do, but have yet gotten them new names, and other garments, and are otherwise disguised. There is difference in the names between a Pope, a Cardinal, a bishop, and so forth, and to say a Scribe, a Pharisee, a senior and so forth: but the thing is all one. Even so now when we have uttered him, he will change himself once more, and turn himself into an angel of light, 2. Cor. 11. Read the place I 4exhort thee, whatsoever thou art that readest this, and note it well. The Jews look 5for Christ, and he is come xv. hundred years ago, and they not ware: we also have looked for Antichrist, and he hath reigned as long, and we not ware: and that because either of us looked carnally for him, and not in the places where we ought to have sought. The Jews had found Christ verily, if they had sought him in the law and the Prophets, whether Christ sendeth them to seek: John 65.
Marke this also aboue all thinges, that 1Antechrist is not an outward thyng, that is to say, a man that should sodēly appeare with wonders, as our fathers talked of hym. No verely, for Antichrist is a spirituall thyng. And is as much to say as agaynst Christ, yt is, one that preacheth false doctrine contrarie to Christ. Antechrist was in the old Testamēt and fought with the Prophetes, he was also in the tyme of Christ, & of the Apostles, as thou readest in the Epistles of Iohn, and of Paule to the Corinthians, and Galathians, and other Epistles. Antechrist is now & shall (I doubt not) endure till the worldes ende. But his nature is (when he is vttered and ouercome with the worde of God) to go out of the playe for a season, and to disguise hymselfe, and then to come in agayne with a new name, and new rayment. As thou seest 2howe Christ rebuketh the Scribes, and the Pharises, in the Gospel (which were very Antechristes) saying, Wo be to you Pharises, for ye robbe widowes houses, ye praye long prayers vnder a colour, ye shut vp the kingdom of heauē, & suffer thē not y• would, to enter in, ye haue taken away the keye of 3knowledge, ye make men breake Gods commaundementes with your traditions, ye beguile the people with hipocrisie and such like. Which thynges all our prelates do, but haue yet gotten them new names, and other garmentes, and are otherwyse disguised. There is difference in the names betwene a Pope, a Cardinall, a bishop, and so forth, and to say a Scribe, a Pharisey, a seniour and so forth: but the thyng is all one. Euen so now when we haue vttered hym, he wyll change hymselfe once more, and turne hymselfe into an angell of lyght, 2. Cor. 11. Read the place I 4exhorte thee, whatsoeuer thou art that readest this, and note it well. The Iewes loke 5for Christ, and he is come xv. hundred yeares agoe, and they not ware: we also haue loked for Antechrist, and he hath raigned as long, and we not ware: and that because eyther of vs looked carnally for hym, and not in the places where we ought to haue sought. The Iewes had found Christ verily, if they had sought hym in the lawe and the Prophetes, whether Christ sendeth them to seke: Iohn
- 1Antichrist what it is.Antechrist what it is.
- 2Scribes & Pharisees were very Antichrists.Scribes & Phariseis were very Antechristes.
- 3The properties of Antichrist.The properties of Antechrist.
- 42. Cor. 11.
- 5Antichrist hath been among us a long time.Antechrist hath bene among vs a lōg tyme.
- 6John. […].Iohn. 〈…〉.
