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CHAP. V. When this Eclipse, which the Church, at least a very great part of it was to suffer, was to be?
SAith St. Paul, 2 Thess. 2. 7. The Mystery of Iniquity doth already work. And St. John, 1 Ep. 2. 18. Little Children it is the last time, and as you have heard that Anti-christ, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (he that is more eminently and notoriously so) shall come, even now are there many Anti-christs.
It seems there were not wanting from the first beginning of Christianity, who endeavoured to oppose the Truth, and draw others from it, as it is described, Revel. 12. 1, 2, 3. No sooner is the Woman cloathed with the Sun, travelling in Birth, and pained to be Delivered, but behold the great red Dragon stands before her to devour her Child, as soon as it was born: Attempts there were from the first birth of Christianity to destroy it; but how∣ever, it is not of those we are to understand the forecited Pre∣dictions: No: As St. Paul gives the Caution, v. 3d & 4th. of that second Chapter of the second Epistle to the Thessalonians, there must come a falling away first, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, some great and notable Apostacy, or Revolt, and that man of sin be revealed, the Son of perdition, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, who opposeth, setteth himself as an avowed and restless Adversary, and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sit∣teth in the Temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
And when that was to be, he farther declares, by shewing, what it was that at present hindred his coming, v. 6. And now ye know what withholdeth, that he might be revealed in his time; where he speaks of it, as what was no secret among the Christians, what was sufficiently foretold, and made known to them; and then he goes on, v. 7, 8. For the Mystery of Ini∣quity doth already work, only he who now letteth, will lett, until he be taken out of the way, and then shall 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that wicked, lawless one be revealed.