A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first Epistle generall of John by ... John Cotton ...

Doct. 2 Antichrist denyeth Jesus to be the Christ, or, he that denyeth Jesus to be the Christ, is Antichrist.

1 John 4.3. 2 Epist. John 7. the name of Antichrist shews he is such a one as is against Christ, an enemy to Christ, 2 Thes. 2.4, he is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

A man may deny Jesus to be the Christ, either grosly and assertively; or else cunningly and fraudulently; of ancient Heriticks, some denyed the man∣hood of Christ, and some the God-head, and some palpably denyed his Of∣fice of mediation and redemption. But that false Antichrist did not deny him palpably and grosly, 2 Thes 2.2. for first, Antichrist is said to work in a mystery. Secondly, that he should sit in the Temple of God, 2 Tim. 2.4. so

that he should keep some correspondency with Christ, and his, and sits as a Member of Christ, otherwise no Church would suffer him; so that he should not openly and grosly deny Christ, but he should deny him to be that Christ that is anoynted of God, anoynted to be King, Priest and Prophet; therefore if you shall finde any in the Church to deny Christ to be King, Priest and Pro∣phet of his Church, that is Antichrist; therefore observe how their Doctrine cuts asunder the whole work of Redemption.

1 For his prophetical office, the Church of Rome denies it; Christ is anoyn∣ted to be a Prophet to teach his Church by his Word, and by his Spirit in his Word; they deny his Propheticall Office.

1 By adding other unwritten traditions to the Word of God, as necessary.

2 By preferring the Vulgar Translation to be more authentical than the O∣riginal languages.

3 By denying the use of the Scripture to the common people, and telling them, it is obscure and dangerous for them.

4 By suspending the authority of his Word, not upon the Testimony of his Spirit, but on the Church of Rome; so that if you ask a Papist, why they re∣ceive the Gospel of St. Matthew, and deny that of St. John, they say, because the Church hath received the one, and renounced the other; and so they make the Scripture to depend on general councils, especially on the Pope.

2 The Lord teacheth his Church by his Spirit, which they evacuate.

1 By confining this Spirit to councils, and Clergy-men, and not to the common people.

2 They evacuate this teaching of the Spirit, by making it a conjecturall thing, and probable, but not of any certain knowledge, and thus Antichrist denies his Prophetical Office.

For the Priestly Office of Christ, which consists, first, in offering sacrifice; secondly, in intercession, for the application of his sacrifice.

Now the Church of Rome evacuates his Priestly office, first, in his sacri∣fice.

1 By adding other sacrifices, and so they make his not to be sufficient, and they add two Sacrifices, first, the Sacrifice of merits, and they say they me∣rit, first, by works done, as building of Churches, Monasteries, &c. which they say satisfie for mens sins; and secondly they merit by suffering, as Pilgri∣mages and Purgatory, and so by indulgences and Pardons.

2 They evacuate the Sacrifice of Christ, by evacuating the Redemption of Christ.

1 By making it not plentifull; whereas the Redemption of Christ is a plenteous redemption both for body and soule, they say he redeems us from eternall pains, but not from temporall, from Purgatory.

2 By making it not gracious; for they say the grace of Redemption is ap∣plyed to us not invincibly, but according to the will of the Creature.

3 By applying it not by faith, but works.

4 They say a man cannot know his Redemption by Christ, surely and cer∣tainly, but probably.

5 This grace they dispence not spiritually, but elementally, by imposing it on Sacraments; so that without Sacrament, no grace; and some grace is given ex opere operato.

3 They evacuate his Sacrifice, by making it not eternal; so that this grace is not certainly eternall, but he that hath been washed in Christs blood, may finally fall away, and become a reprobate.

4 In making it not necessary in respect of some, as the Virgin Mary.

2 They say it is not necessary, in respect of temporal punishments.

2 They evacuate his Priestly Office, by discouraging people from coming to God in the name of Christ, but to approach to God by the mediation of the Virgin Mary, and some Saints; they would have us direct our prayers to some Saint, and so deny the sole mediation of Christ.

3 For his Kingly Office, they deny it, partly by denying his Head-ship; they deny his absolute Soveraignty, they will not make the election to be of Free Grace.

2 By setting up another Head in the Church, the Pope which God never appointed; as he that sets up another King without his consent, doth as good as deny the other King; so here is as much dishonour to Christ, in setting up a new Head, as in cutting off the true Head, to set up one that may rule all Nations, have the deciding of all Causes, &c.

3 They deny his Kingly Office in his great work of Conversion, by make∣ing it not to depend on the Soveraignty, or prerogative of his Kingly Office, but on the liberty of our wills.

4 They deny his Kingly Office, by defacing his Kingdome, which is his Body, his Church; they deface his Church, his Body, and transforme it not into a christian state▪ but Antichristian, and so make it no Church of Christ, and so deny his Kingly Office.

They deface the Church of Christ, whether Militant, or Trium∣phant.

The Church Militant, whether you look at it as a Catholick Body, for that,

1 They teach that the most erroneus, notorious livers, are truly Members of the Church, but we see Christs Kingdom consists of spiritual people; they are but ill humours.

2 They give false notes of the Church, antiquity, universality, prosperity which may agree to some Heathenish places.

3 They make the Church infallible, and this they confine to the church of Rome, so that if Rome fall, the church of Christ falls.

2 For the parts of the church, either in a council.

• 1 They say a council is uncapable of errour.
• 2 Subject to the Pope.
• 3 That they may make Laws to binde the consciences of men.

Or else in the several parts.

1 For the Head the Pope, they set two heads on the Body, and so make it a Monster.

For the middle Members, the Priests.

1 They say, they may not marry, and so are unclean.

2 Exempt them from the power of civil Magistrates, and so are an inordi∣nate generation.

2 Their regular Priests, as Monks and Fryers, they are all of them abomi∣nable, not planted by God, and professe poverty and chastity, which exposeth them to uncleannesse.

For the lowest Members, the Lay-men, whether Magistrates, or private men.

1 For Magistrates they make them not heads, no not in their own King∣doms, but subject to the Pope, and he desposeth them.

2 For the people, he can dispence with their Oath of Allegiance.

3 From both, they with-hold the Scripture in the known Tongue, and the cup.

For the Church Militant in Purgatory, they make a Church God never acknowledged.

For the Church triumphant, they make the Saints as so many Idols, in praying to them, visiting their Relicks, making them partakers in Christs me∣diation; such a Kingdome as this Christ would loath, and any true christian derest. So that we see, though they doe not deny his Man-hood, nor his God-head, yet they deny him to be the Christ, that is, the anoynted, for they wash off all his Unction.

Ʋse 1. It may discover to us the depth, and the danger of Popery; the Doctors of their Church say, it is impossible any should be saved out of their

Church, but you must know, you cannot give up your selves to an Antichri∣stian Doctrin but you turn an enemy to Christ, you take away his Offices, make him no Christ, no Saviour; therefore let none say, Popery and the true Religion may be reconciled, they may as well combine Light and Darknesse, as Christ and Antichrist.

Ʋse 2. It may be an use of thankfulnesse to God, that hath delivered us from this darknesse, and brought us to know the truth as it is in Jesus, the true King, Priest, and Prophet of his Church; therefore let us sanctifie God in our hearts, let us walk as men that are redeemed, and taught of him; learn we to rest on him for pardon, for teaching, for direction, and gui∣dance.