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. VII.

THat they all might be damned, who believed not the truth, but had* 1.1 pleasure in unrighteousnesse.

This Verse windes up Pauls prophecie of the Antichrist and his followers.

It hath two parts in it. The first shewes us the last of Antichrist and his subjects, viz. their finall damnation. The last part is an exegefis of the two foregoing verses.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that they might be damned. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is here used for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the word properly signifies to judge; but in the worser sense it is often in the New Testament put for to condemn, as Luke 19. 22. Out of thy mouth, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I condemne thee; and* 1.2 so generally Expositors understand it, that their judging here shall be, cum judicio damnationis, with the judgement of damna∣tion▪ Here we have the dreadfull Catastrophe of Antichrist, but especially his companions, his men of name: and something more me thinks I see as matter of comfort in the Text, viz. the time when he shall be thus with his followers damned, or cast into hell, as Revel. 19. 20. expresseth it. Compare it with 2 Tim. 3. 8, 9. and it informes us, that they shall proceed no further then to oppose the Witnesses, as Iannes and Iambres did Moses & Aaron,

when they have resisted the truth, i e. the Witnesses maintaining the truth in opposition to the lie Antichrist; when they have cor∣rupted their own and others mindes with heresies and blasphe∣mises, and when they have shewed themselves reprobates concern∣ing the faith, then they shall proceed no further: they shall then receive the wages of their work, damnation. These that Paul pro∣phesies of to Timothy, are the same that here he prophesies of to the Thessalonians, for they are all professors of Religion, all in one livery, practising the same devillish things, and being alike corrupted and depraved. We finde Antichrist and his followers in Revel. 11. and Chap. 13. proceeding no farther then the slaying of the Witnesses, and triumphantly insulting over them, and their authority for three dayes and an halfe; and then on a sudden un∣expectedly a cloud is seen, and a loud voice is heard, the Witnes∣ses rise, the 7000 names of men are slain by a great Schisme, Com∣motion, or Earth-quake, which finisheth the second wo; and then followes presently the third wo, or seventh trumpet, and then the Dragon, the beast, and the false Prophet are cast into hell: and Hallelujahs and praises throughout, the Church are thundered, and no more of Antichrist appears for ever.

So that I will say to the true Church, as Christ in Matth. 24. When ye see these things begin to come to passe, know that the time of Antichrists damnation is nigh at hand, even at the door.

[Who believed not the truth] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Holy Ghost seems to point at some peculiar eminent truth, which these hypocrites and Apostates did reject and would not believe; for 'tis not to be imagined that they rejected all truth, and turned Infidels and Heathens, for then they must necessarily cast off the profession of Christianity, which they that follow Antichrist do not do; and therefore I conceive it is some eminent truth, which God permits to be opposed, purposely to trie the knowledge, faith, love, since∣rity, Christianity and courage of his people, and to discover▪ the rottennesse, hypocrisie, and back-sliding of formal professours; this God usually doth in every age: some eminent truths or o∣ther he permits to be opposed, and calls out eminent professours to witnesse unto blood on their behalfe. There's never an Article in the Creed, but at one time or other hath been thus victorious∣ly in blood defended; all being delivered to us sealed with our holy Ancestors blood; Thereby teaching us our duty in a time when truth's opposed. God permits certain truths in severall ages

to be opposed in Queen Maries dayes: the doctrine of the Sa∣craments was opposed, and the true way of externall worship; and then God first sealed his truths with his Martyrs blood; and then delivered them to us, their posterity. Now in the time of Antichrists appearing the great truth, which shall be called in question, to the trial of the Saints, and the discovery of hypocrites and formall professors who shall reject this, is the two great Offices originally Christs, derivatively those whom he anoints, or designes thereunto, (viz.) to the Kingly Office, and to the Sacerdotall or Ministeriall Office. (Blessed is that Nation that enjoyes them both together.) These two Offices Antichrist shall (as we have already shewed) oppose and depose: and this makes him formally Antichrist. Now to this Antichrists followers (even against their former protestations and open professions) shall con∣sent, and in the ruining of the Offices shall concurre; and thus they shall rebell against the truth, and become the followers of Antichrist. This onely is signified, Revel. 13. by giving the mark to the beast, and receiving the mark of the beast; that is, enga∣ging against the anointed Offices to be a subject to the govern∣ment of Antichrist in direct opposition to it.

[Truth] is here put in opposition to [lie] in the foregoing verse, which is there to be understood of the Antichrist; they could put confidence and trust in the lie, the Antichrist, the usurper; but in the truth, the Ordinances established by God they could repose no trust, but rejected them: therefore (Iude the 11.) these followers of Antichrist are said to perish in the gain-saying of Core, who rejected the two great anointed Offices of Magistracie and Ministery, Moses and Aaron: and in 2 Tim. 3. 8. There the truth that these Rebels resist, is specified, 'tis that of Magistracy and Ministery; such a resistance as Iannes and Iambres made a∣gainst Moses and Aaron, in vilifying them, their commission and authority.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Verse 12.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Scholia. Ità Beza. Aquinas.