The marrow of Christianity

SECT. III. The discovery of Antichrist.

THE Revelation of Antichrist may bee considered, either first, as he openly and publicly reveales himselfe to bee the Anti∣christ by his confidence, and powerful act∣ing, as the Christ, or above Christ: of this, the Apostle speakes, 2 Thes. 2.3.

2 It may be considered, as a mystery of iniquity, and so revealed by the spirit of Christ unto his servants; and so the revela∣tion or discovery of Antichrist unto the Saints, shal be by the spirit of Christ in the preaching of the Gospel: as it is a mystery of iniquity in it self; so it must be that hid∣den wisdome in a mystery, 1 Cor. 2. that must discover it. Now where the Lord worketh for his discovery, hee first disco∣vers him to be the Antichrist; hee helpes the soule to find him out: And then second∣ly, he discovers the evill, the iniquity of him he lets the soule see; that it is, the greatest,

and the subtlest adversary that ever it had to deal withall; the most dangerous, be∣cause cloathed under so faire and Christ∣like a Garbe, and the hardest to be discove∣red; such an Adversary, as bears soules in hand, that they are going to heaven, when they are in the broad and rode-way to ru∣ine, like a cunning Hocas-Pocas, that jug∣leth away a mans estate, before he is aware of it, and all the while pretends friendship: & thus it is the spirit o God in the Gospel, that must discover and reveal Antichrist in the mystery; that same spirit who revealed it to the Apostle Paul, and the same who revealed both his rising and falling, to John in the Revelations; those who thinke to attain the discovery of him by humane in∣dustry, historicall readings, &c. are excee∣ding low in their apprehensions, and come short of the discovery of him: he may bee strongly working in a man, while hee is discovering of him.