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. VIII.

BUt had pleasure (or delighted) in the iniquity.] This is a Rhetori∣call Antithesis to the words immediately preceding them▪

[〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but] is an adversative particle, and put here oppositive∣ly; as much as to say, they distrusted and fled from the truth, but

they would throw themselves into the armes of unrighteousnes: they rebelled against Gods instituted Ordinances, but willingly with all their heart submitted to an usurper, the injustice, that is, (saith Goranus) the Antichrist, who before is called the man of the sin, and the lawlesse one; and here in the abstract, unrigh∣teousnesse. Because both his rising, reigning, and manner of be∣ing is unrighteous. He works unrighteousnesse, and receives the wages of unrighteousnesse with these his followers, who are* 1.1 all justly damned for the same. 'Tis the highest aggravation of sin and provocative of wrath to take delight in sin.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is by the learned distinguished from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; this com∣prehending the sins against God in the first Table; that compre∣hending all sins against our neighbour in the second Table of the law of God: so that [taking pleasure in iniquity] may be inter∣preted, delighting in rebellion, murther, supplanting, robbery, treason, slandering, oppression, adultery, false witnesse-bearing and covetousnesse. These are sins of the second Table: sometimes, as here in the Text, we finde the word opposed to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, so 1 Cor. 13. 6. there the Apostle (using a method much cried down by the hypocrites and apostates of these times, viz. that of discovering true grace by signes) having discoursed of the excellency of love, gives the signes of true love, which these hypocrites who are the followers of Antichrist, of whom w•…•…treat, have not: and observe how this signe of true love meets with them [rejoyceth not in iniquity, but rejoyceth in the truth] this is true charity and love. But now the followers of Antichrist who are high-flowen profes∣sors, and prate much of love and charity, and tendernesse, and bowels, and cry out against bitternesse and rigid spirits; do not∣withstanding▪ walk the Antipodes to this Text. If we compare this in the Corinthians with this we are now upon in the Thessaloni∣ans: in the one you have the true reall Saint rejoycing, not in ini∣quity, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, there is the same word, he rejoy∣ceth not in iniquity: but now the hypocrites, who are the follow∣ers of Antichrist▪ you finde them here in the Text, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, taking pleasure in iniquity; and what's the reason? it hath been given already in v. 10. because they loved not the truth they did professe. And this is also the reason why they imbrace a lie, because they want true love: for true love rejoyceth in the truth, but hypocrisie rejoyceth in a lie. So that as the word is opposed to the truth, it gives us to understand thus much, that

Antichrists followers are a company of hereticks, that oppose both first and second Table-truths: they kisse truth, as Ioab did his bro∣ther General, onely with an intent to stab it, and destroy it: as Christ (I•…•…h. 7. 18.) is truth, and no unrighteousnesse is in him, and as all his followers love truth, and hate all unrighteousnesse: so in Antichrist there is all unrighteousnesse to be found, and no truth; and all his followers are such as reject truth, and love unrighteous∣nesse. This is not onely the comparison that many of the Ancients make, but the Scripture it selfe makes it, as we have seen.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is a word of large extent. But here I humbly conceive 'tis restrained to the thing in hand, and that is, (as we said before) to the Antichrist, who is in the same prophecie called the man of the sin, and the son of the perdition, and the exalter and opposer of the Ordinances of God, Magistracy and Ministery, and so the opposer of the truth; and then the lawlesse one▪ in opposition to truth established by law, Gods law, and mans law, and natures law. These are titles setting forth the effects of his power against those that oppose him: after this followes from v 9. to v. 12. the manner of exercising of his power over his followers; those that subject unto him. His power is in signes and lying wonders, and all manner of unrighteousnesse; the effects of this his power is* 1.2 the seduction of those that follow him; from which the Holy Ghost gives him two other titles, or rather, marks of infamy, [the lie] and [the unrighteousnesse] the grand usurper, and the great transgressour of the second Table; the changer, i. e. the breaker of the Saints laws and times. In the exposition of words, we must look to the scope of the matter or prophecie in hand: and what in that place the word or phrase imports, not what it may▪ signifie in another place upon a different subject. In this place, not I, but others take it to be meant of the Antichrist; whose followers, as they are said to reject the truth, i e. the truth which Antichrist opposed, and threw down viz. the Ordinances of God, the* 1.3 mediate pillars of truth, the two Witnesses: so they are said▪ to sit down with great content, and propension of minde under the government of the Antichrist. They are not forced to it as some∣are; but they are Volunteers; they cry him up, applaud him, ap∣prove of him with full consent, and delight in him; and so much 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 imports, it is not amisse translated.

[Take pleasure in the unrighteousnesse.] The followers of the Am∣tichrist, they love him with the love of complacency; 'tis a kinde

of death to them to be disswaded, there they are resolved to love, there to live, there to die, and there to be damned, which the Holy Ghost tells us is their certain doom, notwithstanding all their flourishes and feigned shewes of sanctity.

As it is impossible to pluck a reall Saint from Christ, because he is elected; so 'tis impossible to pluck one of these mook-Saints from Antichrist, because they are destinated to be damned; the foregoing signes of whose damnation is their rejection of the the truth, cleaving to the lie, and taking pleasure in the unrighte∣ousnesse.

All therefore that I have to say to the Churches in generall, and to every particular Saint from what I have said, is, tollete, legete, take up the Bible and read; take up Moses and read him; take up the rest of the Prophets, and read them; take up Christs pro∣phecies of the Antichrist, and Pauls, and Peters, and Iudes, and Iohns, and see what they say. What readest thou? what finde ye there? finde ye not that the ends of the world are come upon ye? finde ye not this day those Scriptures fulfilling in your eyes? Learn from them to know the times and the seasons, that so the great and terrible day of the Lord, which is neer upon all the Gentiles, may not come upon you unawares: be sober, and watch unto prayer; gird up the loines of your minde; stand fast in the faith; quit▪ your selves like men, your enemies on all hands are great and furious. The Devil is now exceeding wrath, know∣ing he hath but a little while, a short reign. Let's therefore be in∣couraged to patience, and let me write one word of comfort from my prison, to those Saints of God that seem to be prisoners to the Devil, that are held in the dreadfull black chains of desertion, that groan out their souls in dolesul complaints▪ Let them be comforted with this, Behold, the day of the Lord draweth nigh, your chains are dreadful, but not eternall. Lift up your heads, for the time of your redemption draweth nigh; Satan that hath chained you, shall anon be chained and sealed in hell; he hath oft assaulted you, but he shall assault you no more to deceive you.

Maintain the combate with constancie, patience, and faith; help is at hand, hope in the Lord yet a little while, & he that cometh will come, and will not tarry: he'l come to your aid and comfort, and salvation▪ who manfully resist the Devils blaspemous injecti∣ons; when he'l come to the damnation of those who willingly im∣brace, and joyfully entertain all his temptations, leaping and

laughing, & triumphing in the Devils chains, as with bleeding hearts we hear of them & see thē every day. These are of the night, of the black night, reserved for chains of darkness; but ye, who are child∣ren of the light, though for the present in darkness: keep on in duty and in a way of obedience, though you finde no comfort in it, God may have most glory when you have least comfort, and you therein expresse most grace, most obedience; Faith and patience, though in the storm you see it not, your acts of faith may be tos∣sed, but the habit abides firm, that seed of God shall never suffer Ship-wrack in the greatest storme; the Mariners skill is seen then most, when he saves the ship in a stormy night, when he hath nei∣ther Sun, nor Moon, nor Stars to direct or comfort him. Keep at the helme of Ordinances, let not Ministers, nor the Communion of Saints be grievous or irksome to you: let the oares of duty be played. Pray for the day stars appearing, long for the comming of Christ to destroy the beast and the false Prophet, and the Dra∣gon, according to his prophetick promises: for certain, that great day is neer; and doubtlesse, that day will bring great comfort to distressed and deserted souls, as well as others; therefore long and pray, and groane for this comming of Christ, which will raise the Witnesses, refresh his afflicted Saints, and convert the twelve Tribes, and chain up the old Dragon. Even so, Come Lord Iesus Christ, Come quickly,

AMEN.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gravius est di∣lig•…•…e •…•…eccatum quàm •…•…accre. Greg.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 propriè sig•…•…t a•…•…cui facer•…•… injuri∣am, aliquem per vim opprime•…•…e. Alsted.
• * 1.3

  Rom. 12.