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HAving shewed you the new birth, and the marks and characters thereof, I shall now lay downe a brief description of Anti∣christ, which is much cryed downe in pretence by many in our dayes; and for the better laying of him open to publick view, I shall give you some hints of the signification of his name.
And for so doing, I shall take the word in pieces, and
shew you what it properly im∣ports.
First, I shall shew what the preposition anti signifieth.
And secondly, what Christ signifieth.
1. The preposition anti, it signifieth [for, or in stead of] as in Mat. 2.22. and secondly it signifieth contrary to, or an ad∣versary against.
2. Christ signifieth anointed, and answered to the Hebrew word(a) Messiah, as John 1.41.
So that the word being put together, and taken according to the first interpretation of the preposition anti, it signifi∣eth [for, or in the room and stead of Christ] and according to this signification, Antichrist is that which is set up in the
room and stead of Christ, and upon this account he is called the man of sinne; who opposeth and exalteth himselfe above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God, sitteth in the Temple of God, shewing himselfe that he is God. 2 Thes. 2.3, 4.
So that whatsoever is set up in the room or in stead of Je∣sus Christ, whether it be with∣in us, or without us, whether it be that which is good in it self, or whether it be that which is bad in it selfe, if set up in the room of Christ, it is Anti∣christ.
1. If it be that which is bad in it selfe, set up in the room or stead of Christ, it is without dispute Antichrist.
2. But secondly, if it be that which is lawfull and good in it selfe, set up in the room of Christ, it is also Antichrist.
We have a cleare emblem of this, in the Brasen Serpent, which was crected and made by Moses, Num. 21.8, 9. And was broken to pieces by Heze∣kiah, as in 2 Kin. 18.4. Now concerning this Brasen Ser∣pent, there is observable these particulars.
1. That it was ordained and appointed by God, to be set up.
2. It was of singular use, to heale and save alive, those that were bitten by the fiery Ser∣pents.
3. It was an eminent type of Christ. Iohn 3.14, 15. But not∣withstanding,
when the peo∣ple set this appointment of God (which was so usefull and good for the people) in the room of God, and when they set that which was but a type of Christ in the room, or in stead of Christ, you see it was broken to pieces by Hezekiah, and the spirit of God doth ju∣stifie him therein, and saith, he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, because it was in the room or stead of God.
Why so any ordinance or appointment of Christ, (whe∣ther it be baptisme, or Church-fellowship, or breaking of bread, or whether it be our du∣ties and performances) set up in the room of Christ, is Anti∣christ.
But it is further to be obser∣ved, that when Hezekiah had broken the Brasen Serpent, he called it(b) Nehushtan, that is, a piece of Brasse, by which name he sheweth, that in it selfe it was but a piece of brass, and had no deitie in it, and therefore not to be adored and worshipped. Why so the ho∣ly and good ordinances of God, through which (in the right use of them) the Lord doth manifest himselfe, yet if set up in the room of Christ, and made the great characters of a soules happinesse, which at the last, to such as so set them up, they will prove to be meer Ne∣hushtans, as sounding brasse and a tinckling cymball.
Thus having spoke briefly to
the first particular, I come to the second.
In which is to be remem∣bred, first, that the Greek pre∣position anti, signifieth against, or an adversary to: And se∣condly, that Christ signifieth anointed, to shew unto us, that Jesus Christ is Gods anointed, and not only so, but all that are Christs, every true belee∣ving soule is the Lord's an∣nointed, 1 Iohn 2.20, 27. only here is all the difference, Christ is anointed above his fellowes. Psal. 45.7.
So that according to this in∣terpretation, the word doth signifie, that whatsoever is con∣trary to, or an adversary a∣gainst the Lord's anointed (to wit) Christ and those that are
Christs, is Antichrist; whether it be any thing against Christ within us, or whether it be any thing against Christ without us; whether it be that which is against Christ at Rome, or against Christ in England; whether it be any thing against Christ in a Nation, or against Christ in a Congregation: Antichrist is Antichrist, wheresoever it be.
Thus having given a briefe description of Antichrist, and the signification of his name; I shall endeavour to make a little improvement thereof, by way of use.
And seeing we live in the last times, in which are many An∣tichrists, I conceive it may not be amisse, to exhort all persons in generall, and in particular,
seriously to examine, whether there be not more or lesse of Antichrist in them, or set up by them.
And the reason why I presse this duty, is this.
Because that I doe heartily wish and desire, that persons would not only labour to throw down Antichrist with∣out them, but also to be as zea∣lous and willing to throw down Antichrist within them. For when persons doe labour to throw down Antichrist at Rome, and to throw downe An∣tichrist in England, to throw downe Antichristian powers, and Antichristian Ministery, and Antichristian mainte∣nance, and many other particu∣lars, that might be named; and
yet all this while, have a spirit of Antichrist within them, and by the power there∣of, to throw downe Antichrist without them, it is no more, then for Satan to cast out Sa∣tan.
But it may be, most persons to whom these presents shall come, will be apt to justifie themselves, and say, we have not an Antichristian spirit, and therefore this doth not concern us.
Well, if it be so, I shall re∣joyce; but yet notwithstanding, because it is the property of Antichrist, to pretend that he is for Christ, and although he be a minister of Satan, yet he doth transforme himselfe into an Angell of light; I shall
therefore propound some par∣ticular, which through the bles∣sing of God, may helpe those whom it may concerne, to know whether Antichrist be in them or no: And first it is to be remembred, that whatso∣ever is set up in the room, or instead of Jesus Christ, is An∣tichrist; and that being remem∣bred, I would begin first, with a covetous worldly minded man, which hunteth for the world, as a ravening woolfe for his prey, and the world he must have, though with ne∣ver so great oppression of the poor, and yet it may be, pre∣tend for Christ too.
Now let such an earthly minded man examine, in truth, whether his covetousnesse
doth not raigne and rule over him, in stead of Christ, and whether he doth not set the I∣dols of his covetousnesse in his heart, instead of Christ; and Judas-like, had rather have the bag in his hand, then Christ in his heart, and yet pretend for the poor.
The like might be said of pride, where that raignes, and passion where that raignes, and voluptuousnesse where that raignes instead of Christ, all which is Antichrist, and upon this account, we may conclude with the Apostle Iohn, that even now there are many An∣tichrists, who Dives-like, are clothed in purple, and fine linnen, and fare deliciously eve∣ry day, when poor Lazarus
lieth starving at their doors.
I shall come in the next place to examine the legall professor, who it may be can say, I thank God I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adul∣terers, proud, and passionate: but on the contrary, I fast twice in the week, and give tithes of all that I possesse; and pray oft, and give almes to the poor, and many other things.
But will you say, this is An∣tichrist too?
I answer, that those duties in themselves, are not Anti∣christ, but when they are put in the room of Christ, and set up as a mans righteousness, and to make them his saviours; this is Antichrist, for Christ is the only saviour of them that
beleeve, and not mens duties and performances.
I have only one particular more, concerning this first branch of Antichrist, which I could heartily wish, if it were the will of the Lord, that there might be no cause to mention it; but so it is, that when the sons of God are met together, this Antichrist also commeth amongst them, and sitteth in the Temple of God; and by his power even in the children of God themselves, causeth them to exercise dominion over each others faith, and causeth as it were, Ephraim to envy Iudah, and Iudah to vex Ephraim: But God hath promised, that the envy of Ephraim shall depart, and then they shall not vex one
another any more.
And thus I have done with the application of the first branch of Antichrist.
And now I come to make some application upon the se∣cond branch, which is this;
That whatsoever is contrary to, or an adversary against the Lord's anointed, (to wit, Christ and all that are Christs) is An∣tichrist.
Now for the further opening of this particular, I shall shew you, that as the Greek preposi∣tion anti doth signifie, contra∣ry to, or an adversary against, that it doth agree in significati∣on with the Hebrew word Sa∣tan, and this the Apostle Paul plainly sheweth, in the 2 Thes. 2.9. speaking of Antichrist, the
man of sin, whose comming (saith he) is after the working of Satan; so that if we look how Satan works, why after the same manner Antichrist doth worke, and they are both as one.
And this word Satan or An∣tichrist, it is applyed in Scrip∣ture, sometimes to the Devill, as he is an adversary to Christ and his people.
Sometimes to wicked men, as they are adversaries to Christ or his people.
Sometimes to good men, when they act evilly against Christ or his people.
1. It is applyed to the De∣vill, as he is an adversary to Christ, as doth appear by ma∣ny Scriptures, as Mat. 4.8. com∣pared
with 10 of Luke 22.3. See also Revelations 12.9 and 20.2.
2. This name is applyed to the Devill, as he is an adversa∣ry to the children of God, as may be seen from Job 1.6. to the 7 verse of the second chap∣ter. Also 1 Pet. 5.8.
2. It is applyed to wicked men, which are adversaries to Christ or his people; as in the 1 Kin. 11.14, 23, 25. In all which places, that word which is translated adversary in the English, it is in the Hebrew, Satan.
3. It is applyed to the chil∣dren of God themselves, when they act evilly; as in Mat. 16.23. we may find, that when Peter, one of the Apostles of
Christ, began to rebuke Christ, telling him, that it should be far from him, to go to Jerusalem, to suffer many things of the Elders and chiefe Priests and Scribes, and be kil∣led, and be raised againe the third day, saying, these things shall not be unto thee. Now this his speech being so contra∣ry to what Christ came into the world for, and also in that act, he being such an adversa∣ry to all those that Christ came to dy for, as well to himselfe as to others; Christ turned and said unto him, get thee behind me Satan, as if he should have said, get thee behind me, my adversary, thou art an adver∣sary to me, and an adversary to thy selfe, and to all my peo∣ple,
in what thou hast done, thou art Antichrist to purpose.
Now concerning these three particulars, I shall not so much at present mind the first and second, because this book is dedicated to the sons and chil∣dren of God, and therefore I shall rather endeavour to make some improvement of it, by way of use to them.
And for that I shall consider the case of Peter; and
Therein shall first mind, what he rebukes Christ for, and what he perswades him from.
2. What the tendancie of his rebuke and perswasion was.
3. Christ's answer unto Pe∣ter, upon the whole.
1. That which Peter did re∣buke
Christ for, was this; be∣cause that Christ told him he must suffer death, and rise a∣gaine, according to that in the 24 of Luke and 46. That it did behoove Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: But Peter tels him, this shall not be unto thee; Lord be it far from thee.
But now in the second place, I shall observe the tendancy of Peter's speech.
1. It did tend to hinder Christ from doing and suffe∣ring that which the father had appointed him to, for the Fa∣ther had appointed and prepa∣red Christ a body, that he might offer it up as a sacrifice, once for all.
2. His rebuke and perswa∣sion
did tend to the ruine of all persons, whom Christ came to reconcile to God by his death, because that if Christ should not have dyed, there had been no reconciliation to God, neither for Peter him∣selfe, nor others, as the Scrip∣ture doth abundantly mani∣fest.
3. I shall now consider Christ's answer to Peter upon this; and that is, get thee be∣hind me Satan, thou art an offence unto me; for thou sa∣vourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Now from Peter's case, we may observe these four parti∣culars.
1. That some of the chil∣dren
of God, may be so far o∣ver-powred by a Satanicall, and Antichristian spirit, as to rebuke persons for, and per∣swade them from, that which is according to the will of God, and beneficiall to his people. Thus you see Peter did to Christ, and he rebuked him, saying, be it farre from thee Lord, this shall not be unto thee.
2. We may also note, that Christ doth declare, that those that doe rebuke any person for doing what God hath appoin∣ted, or perswade them from it, that they are Satan or Anti∣christ, and in that act, adver∣saries to him. Thus you see Christ did to Peter, get thee be∣hind me Satan.
3. VVe may further observe, that when any shall rebuke a person for doing what God hath appointed, that Christ is much offended at it, for so he tels Peter, thou art an offence unto me.
4. And in the fourth place, we may observe, that when any person shall rebuke for, or perswade a soule from any thing that God hath appoin∣ted, and that wherein he may be serviceable to others, it is because they savour of the things that be of men, and not the things that be of God.
Now from what hath been spoken and observed concer∣ning Peters case, there might be divers uses drawn, as first.
1. to examine whether there
be none in these dayes, that doe rebuke persons, for do∣ing what God hath appointed, and perswade them from that; wherein they may be service∣able to others.
2. It might be of use, to in∣form all that doe so as afore∣said, that in such acts, Christ giveth them the name of Sa∣tan, Antichrist, or adversaries, against him and his people.
3. It may serve to re∣prove all those that have, or doe rebuke any persons, as aforesaid, as doth appeare by the words of Christ, to Peter, get thee behind me Satan, thou art an offence unto me.
4. It may serve by way of caution, to those that have so done, that they take heed they
doe so no more.
Thus I have given some hints of what use might be made of the particulars before mentioned: But I shall not en∣large upon them, but leave the judicious Reader to enlarge them in his private meditati∣ons.
And I might come in the next place, to shew that every lust and corruption in the heart of man, is Antichrist, al∣though it be not brought into word nor actions, because it is contrary to Christ, and an ad∣versary against him. But I shall leave this till some other op∣portunity, and commit what I have written, to the blessing of God. Amen.
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John 12.5, 6.
1 Iohn 2.18.
Luke 16, 49, 20.
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Neb. 10.5.6, 7, 10.
Rom. 5.10.
I fear up∣on strict examinati∣on, that there would bee some found that do not only re∣buke, but persecute also