Hē apostasīa, ho antichristos, or, A scriptural discourse of the apostasie and the Antichrist, by way of comment, upon the twelve first verses of 2 Thess. 2 under which are opened many of the dark prophecies of the Old Testament, which relate to the calling of the Jews, and the glorious things to be affected at the seventh trumpet through the world : together with a discourse of slaying the witnesses, and the immediate effects thereof : written for the consolation of the Catholike Church, especially the churches of England, Scotland, and Ireland / by E.H.

CHAP. 1.

THis Chapter is a part of the second Epistle of Paul, which he wrote to the Thessa∣lonians; I call it the second Epistle in re∣gard of its posteriority to the first: in the order of place it is in all the Greek Co∣pies the last or second Epistle; yet Lear∣ned Doctor Estius and Grotius do con∣ceive this second in the order of time to be the first, as being written by Paul first: their grounds for this I shall not meddle with, it not lying within my circle at this time to enquire when and where Paul writ this Epistle; yet I doubt not ere I leave this Subject but to make it manifest that this Epistle is Pauls second Epistle in time, as well as place, to the Thessalonians.

That Paul was the Author of this Epistle, is on all hands gran∣ted; the only thing then that we shall enquire after before we come to the Text, is, who this Paul was? Here it will not be impertinent to give a word or two; 1. Of his Birth: 2. His Breeding: 3. His Conversion: 4. His Name.

1. Paul was born at a 1.1 Tarsus, the Metropolitan City of Cilicia

Acts 21. 39. The son of a Pharisee, an Hebrew of the Hebrews, Philip. 3. 4. 5. A man that for Natural Birth-right-Priviledges,* 1.2 could have boasted with the proudest Iew; he was of the Tribe of Benjamin, out of which Tribe God gave the twelve Tribes their first King, after whose name he was called; these two Sauls fulfilled the dark side of that Prophecy, Gen. 49. 27. being mon∣strous* 1.3 Wolves against Christs Sheep and Shepherds.

2. Pauls Breeding o•…•… Education was under Gamaliel, Act. 22. 3. who was a man of great Authority and Learning amongst the Iewes, he was a member of the great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which sate at Ierusalem, and had the sole power of judging of a Prophet; he was a Doctor of the Law, of great repute among all the people, Act 5. 34. who by his eloquence and wisdom in one Dilemma, put to silence the High-Priest and all the Doctors, or rather (I may say) he made them, like Subjects, fall to his opinion. This Learned Doctor was Pauls Tutor. Now how to reconcile Act. 18. 3. with what I have writ, or rather, what the Holy Ghost disco∣vers in the forementioned Texts of Pauls Education, I do not know; for it is generally concluded from this Text, that Paul was a Tent-maker by Trade; now that Paul should be a Pha∣rifee and a Tent-maker, was as absurd amongst the Iewes, as it is amongst Orthodox Christians, to say a man is a Minister, and a also a Cobler or a Tinker, unless Paul were (as by his wild Zeal he should seem to be) a Tub-Pharisee: indeed, the Jewish Church was at that time exceedingly degenerated from its pri∣mitive Purity, and that very Sect declared so much; for a Phari∣see was but an hypocritical Sectarian Separatist: And Drusius tels us, that they •…•…an Division to seven: there was the Praise-seeking Pharisee, and the Self-justiciaty, and the Self-afflicting Pharisee, that wounded his head, and scratched his body with thorns; the Slavishly-fearful Pharisee, the virtuous Pharisee, the covetous Pha∣risee; and lastly, the down-look'd devoted Pharisee, who wore a thing like a Mortar on his head to hinder his looking upward. But I find another distinction more grave, but whether more Authen∣tick, I leave to the Jewish Antiquaries to determine; there are two sorts of Pharisees, namely, Porashim and Parushim, as the He∣brews term them, that is, Docentes and Separati, Teaching Phari∣se•…•…s, and Laik Pharisees: now this distinction is brought by An∣tiquaries purposely to salve that Text Luke 18. 12. where the Pharisees boast that they paid Tythe of Mynt and Cummin.

Now if they paid Tythes (saith the Disputant) how were they Church-men? To this it is answered, The Teaching Pharisees paid not Tythes, But received them, but the Laick Pharisees paid it. But this distinction is not satisfactory; for if none but Laicks paid Tythes, then we may as well conclude, that all the Levites were Laicks, because the Levits paid Tythes to the Priests. I humbly conceive the answer •…•…would be sound and true thus, That it does not follow, that of absolute necessity, the Pharisees that paid Tythes must be Laicks; for why might not they, being Church-men, pay Tythes to the Priests at the Temple, as well as the Levites who receive Tythes pay the Tythe of their Tythes to the Priests, Numb. 18. 28, 29. But the Priests were Levites, and the Levites called Priests, Ezek. 44. 15. Heb. 7. 5. But we need none of these distinctions or answers to solve this question a∣bout Paul, for we do affirm (from Act. 26. 4, 5.) that Paul be∣fore* 1.4 his Conversion was no Tent-maker; for Paul declares be∣fore King Agrippa, that all the Jewes knew, that from his youth he had lived after the strictest Sect of Iudaism a Pharisee: now no body believes that the strictest Sect of Pharisees were Trades men, much less Tent-makers.

Likewise Act. 22. 3. proves Paul was never bound to that Trade of Tent-making, for he was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel: now all men know that Gamaliel was no Laick Phari∣see, he was no Tent-maker, but a Doctor of the Law, who taught Paul not Tent-making, but as the Text tells us, the perfect manner of the Law of the Fathers. Tertullian and Hierom affirm* 1.5 that he was incomparably wise in the knowledge of the Scrip∣tures.

Moreover Pauls Learning, Eloquence and practices, tell us, that he never learnt before his Conversion, nor ever practised the Trade of Tent-making; he had a far worse Trade, which hee followed too hard, to be of that; in stead of making Tents for men, he pulled down and destroyed the Tabernacles of God, the bodies of the Sainrs. Such was his humane Lear∣ning, that (saith Chrysostome) it was a great question amongst the Heathens, Whether he were not more Learned then Plato?

3. Next let us view Pauls Conversion.

This Paul, that Lion that devoured the Saints, that brier that scratched and wounded all that came neer him, or hee could

come neer; that son of the Divel, that imprisoned the Saints, dragging them from Prison to the place of execution; that* 1.6 Rock that could stand and see them murdered without relenting: behold this Lion that devoured Gods Sacrifices, now lying down amongst them, and eating straw (food formerly against his pallate) with them: This Wolfe is now found feeding, not upon, but meekly with the Lambs: This Brier of the Wilder∣ness that formerly drew bloud, is now become a fruitful Vine in the garden of God, and yeilds not only pleasant fruit, but like the Apple-tree in the Forrest, yeilds pleasant shade unto the Church scorched with afflictions, For the Church had rest round about: This Rock in the Desert of Zin (as I may call him) is now become a pleasant River to multitudes of thirsty souls: This Paul that was the Son of the Divel in the morning, and ready mounted on his message, and more then three parts of his jour∣ney towards the place where he was to execute his Warrants, is made the Son of God at noon: This Mount Etna▪ we find re∣moved into the midst of the Sea, and all his fiery flames put out. This Cedar of Libanus is not only shaken, but falls at this sudden Thunder of God: This Iordan, that was swiftly running into the dead sea, is driven back at his re∣buke.

Adam was not more strangely disfigured by his fall, then this man gloriously transformed by his fall: His fall was his promotion, his blindness a giving sight. Paul met with a better Tutor now then Gamaliel; Gamaliel only (and scarce that) taught him Law; but this new Master teacheth him Gospel: he learnt more in one hour now, then ever he learnt in all his life before; he now learned the true knowledge of the Lord of life; and no marvel (though he were miracu∣lously taught) for he was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, taught by the Lord of life. It is most probable that this was the time that he was rapt into the third Heaven; I mean, the time of his three dayes ex∣tasie at Damascus.

Here Christ not only made him a Saint, but created him an Apostle: The other Apostles had the favor to see Christ after his Resurrection, but he had the honor to see him and hear him speak 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ineffable words, which were not law∣ful for man to utter, after his Ascension; which few, besides Iohn in Patmos, could ever boast of.

After he was thus baptized with fire in heaven by Christ, and with water on earth by Ananias; you may behold this Chri∣stian Champion, (the true Hercules) passing* 1.7 through his twelve fold Labours with mighty successe: insomuch that never any man before or after him can be compared to him. The Trophies of his Conquests still remaine in Eu∣rope, Asia, and other parts of the world: The weapons of his warfare were spiritual, there∣fore* 1.8 the more noble; and the enemies with which he grapled and encountred, were not carnal, but spiritual; he had to deal▪ with prin∣cipalities,* 1.9 and powers, and spiritual wickednesses in high places, therefore his Conquests are the more glorious. See how hee conquered that roaring Lion Sergius Paulus proconsul of Pa∣phus, and made him lie fawning at his foot: See him again crushing the head of that See pent Elymas Barjesus. How many wilde Boars did he came, which wasted and destroyed the Church? It would be too tedious to relate either the Conquests that he got, or the Scarrs of honour that he bore for Christ. He that thinks he can hy∣perbolize in his Encomiums of Paul, wee'l take up that Pro∣verb on Pauls behalf (as once on Hercules's against Iuno) a∣gainst him. P•…•…strà Paulum.

Indeed, he was mortall as other men, but went to his grave with more honour then other Conquerors after all their Victo∣ries do; he died in the field, and yet the weapons with which he conquered are immortall, which he hath left to succeeding Ages. And we finde in his fourteen Epistles, which (like the Tower of David, builded for an Armory) have hanging in them a thousand bucklers, all the shields of mighty men. There is no weapon that the Church, or any member of the Church wants at any time, in any case, against any Enemy but he may be ready furnished in Paul's Armory against him: His Epistles are another Paradise full of fruit and flowers.

Thus out of Paul the man-eater came out meat for man. This barren wildernesse became a spiritual Canaan to the Christian Church, flowing with spiritual milk and honey.

Q. Why do you call him Paul, when his name is Saul?

A. I call him as he calls himself in all his Epistles, except that to the Hebrews. But since it fals in my way to discourse of his name, and the changing of his name; I shall not baulk it, but briefly touch of it, and passe immediately from the Author, to the Subject; from the name to the thing.

Some think Paul had two names given him, as an honor to him: if so, then the question will be, who bestowed that Title of honor upon him; who gave him that name of Paul? Truely the answer will be uncouth, yet very true; not his God∣fathers nor God-mothers (I mean the Church or Company pre∣sent) at his Baptism; nor the Minister that baptized him; For they all after his baptism called him Saul, Brother Saul. Indeed, the correlate title [Brother] was Paul's greatest title of Ho∣nour; for however the world contemns it, it is not onely a ti∣tle of great honour, but of exceeding great and unconceivable profit to be a true brother of the Church militant; for they have undoubted Title to an everlasting Crown and Kingdome, which Usurpers cannot dispossess them of.

Now if the Church gave not Saul the name of Paul in ho∣nour to him; certainly the enemies of the Church would not doe it: then it must be concluded as most probable, that Saul gave himself the name of Paul: and so that opinion will fall to the ground; for 'tis not to be imagined that he would give him∣self a Title of honour: Self-created Titles are false and ridicu∣lous, and rather defame the person as a proud Usurper, then speak him a person of merit, to whom truly belongeth honour.

But if we seriously view this new name of Paul, we shall finde the person owning the name to be probably the Author of it, and the name in no wise to be a Title of honour, but of true Christian debasement.

Erasmus takes the name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to be a Greek name, which comes of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifies ceasing, because as soon as he ceased from persecution, he changed his name. Others think, that Paulus is a Latine name, and signifies as much as paucus, mean and little; he so esteeming himself, when his conscience had an eye opened to reflect upon his former actions. Others say, Paulus signifies as much as pusillus, that is, vise or base; for so Paul esteemed himself after his Conversion; and the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 seems to import as much. Others again think, that he had his name from his person, which they say was little:

He was a little man, and therefore was called Paul, which signi∣fies little, both in Greek and Latine, it being an ancient custome both amongst the Greeks and Latines, from such accidents to give names, as Caesar was so called à caes•…•…is oculis, from his gray eyes; and Plato so called from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, broad, because he had broad shoulders.

I humbly conceive that Saul took this name of Paul to him∣self after God had converted him: He took it as a garment of Pennance upon him, he thought the other name of Saul too good for so vile a person, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Shaul, in Hebrew signifies Petitus, i. one wished for, or much desired: though Saint Am∣brose thinks Saulus comes of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because he was a great disturber of the peace of the Church: but I rather incline to the Hebrew Interpreter, Saul being not a Greek name: and (with submission to the Learned) I conceive Paul did change his name from one Hebrew name to another, not from a Hebrew to a Greek or Latine name, for the difference between Saul and Paul in the Hebrew is only in the first letter; take away the He∣brew letter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and add the letter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ and the name Shaul be∣comes Paul, and then his Hebrew name probably comes from [Pau] which signifies Hissing, as much as to say, I am so far from being a man to be desired in the world, that I deserve to be hissed out of the world, and to be made the scorn and derision of all the men in the world. It was an ancient custom among the He∣brews, when they would express their passions, to change their name, and so make it sutable to their sad condition; so Nahomi in Ruth changeth her name to Marah. True repentance works a self-abhorrencie, and raiseth a holy indignation in the soul a∣gainst it self for sin. Paul little thought he had persecuted the God of that Law which he was so zealous for, when he went to bring Christians from Damascus to Ierusalem on purpose to pu∣nish them: 'Twas a dreadful speech in Sauls ears, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? I believe this voice caused as great an heart-quake in Saul, as the hand on the wall wrought an hand∣quake on the Babylonish King. What! that Paul the great Zea∣lot for God, should now by the voice of God be questioned for persecuting God! This was a little day of Judgment with Paul, happy man that it was not Doomes-day with him; that God that struck him to the earth, might justly have struck him down to Hell; certainly this gracious dealing of Christ with Paul,

considering what a bloudy enemy Paul had been against him, so overcame him that he ever after loathed himself; therefore he calls himself, The least of the Apostles, not worthy to be called an Apostle, a man born out of due time, a wretched man, or a man carrying 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his heart; these expressions agree with his mean name which he chose for himself; and possibly after his conver∣sion, with this new name he might take the new Trade of Tent∣making up, especially in Arabia where Tents were used, and where after his Conversion he continued three yeers to preach the Lord Jesus: nor was this imployment unbefitting Paul,* 1.10 who desired now to be as conformable to his Master in all things as might be; for if his Master the great Carpenter (with re∣verence be it mentioned) of the mighty Fabrick of the Universe, did not disdain to be, when he was on earth in the flesh a Carpen∣tar, much less ought Paul to disdain to be a Tent-maker.

Thus I have briefly touched of Pauls Name, his Conversion, Education and Birth, that the Reader may be justly informed of the Author of this Subject I am now entering upon; and the ra∣ther I have writ all this, because I find some from Act. 18. 3. un∣dervaluing Paul before his Conversion too much, and o∣thers elevating him much above himself, from Act. 13. 1. where (misreading the Text) they would make him a man of Princely Education, pretending him to be some great Officer in this time of Perscution, whereas I scarce believe he was above a Solicitor General; I am confident, and I believe most men believe, that he could not be so high as an Atturney General in the height of his Persecution: and therefore let no man favour himself in so gross and disorderly a mistake, as to put a Lord Presidents Gown up∣on a Pursuiants back: for though Paul before his Conversion had a heart as full of venome and malice against the Saints, as the highest of them, yet his power extended no farther then to bring them to the High-Court, he could not pass sentence upon them; he could only accuse them, and rail upon them, and de∣sire them to execute the Saints, that was all.

But we have no more to do with him as an enemy, but as a friend, and the greatest friend of all the Apostles to us Gentiles, for whom he was designed. This Paul did, as it vvere, passe the great Gulph betvvixt Dives and Lazarus, and wa•…•… (almost according to Dives's vvish) taken from amongst the D•…•…mned, and sent from them to us Gentiles, the Sons of the Divel, and

so▪ the brethren of Dives, to forevvarn us that vve repent and be∣lieve, least vve also come into that place of torment: This is the drift of all his Epistles, and of all his Labours and perils; and this is the main end of his Writing and Preaching to the Thessalonians.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Tarsus jus mu∣nicipale à Ro∣manis consecuta est: ita ut Tar∣senses censeren∣tur cives Ro∣mani, & civi∣um Romanorum Privilegiis frucrentur: Ius hoc adepti sunt Tarsenses à Julio Caesare, & ab Augusto, eò quò•…•… utriusque partes, in bellis civilibus str•…•…nuè adjuvissent. Hinc Tarsus Iuliopolis di∣cta. Dio Cassius lib. 47.
• * 1.2

  Paulus fuit no∣bili Iudaorum prosapi•…•… orius. Hier. de Script. Eccles. cap. 15.
• * 1.3

  Mysticè imple∣tum est in Pau∣lo vaticinium Iacobi, Gen. 49.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. Diligentissi∣mam, religiofis∣simam.
• * 1.5

  Tertul. contra Marcion. lib. 5. Ideo dicitur Paulus vas ele∣ctionis, qu•…•…ale∣gis & S. Scrip∣turarum erat armartum. Hie∣ron. ad Pauli∣num. Chrysost. Hom. 3 1 Cor.
• * 1.6

  Quàm mirum fuit in Paulo, Deum hominem turbin•…•…bus cō cu▪ piscentiae in ba∣rathrum ruen∣tem praecipitem sistere? Ejus amores & aestus inhibere, immò in contrarium reflectere? Ad Christum, quem pessimè oderat, trahere, Christo unire & vince∣r•…•…? Corn. Lap.
• * 1.7

  Verè dicere possumus Christum cum Paulo titulos & munia sua divi∣cisse: Christus enim orbis est Re∣demptor & Doctor; Paulus verò Praeco est & Doctor orbis omniú∣que gentium. à Lapide.
• * 1.8

  Ampliùs dico: Paulus Doctor fuit Petri, Doctor Apostolorum, im∣mò Doctor Angelorum.
• * 1.9

  It was the truest Article in Tur∣tullus his Charge, though the ba∣sest expression, That hee found Paul to be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the prime of the Heresie of the Naza∣rites, meaning the Gospel.
• * 1.10

  Gal. 1. 18.