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For my more cleare proceeding in the dis∣covery or the Man of Sinne, five things are considerable.
ANtichrist or the Man of Sin, is to be considered, either in the Spirit, or
in the Letter. 1 In the Spirit, Antichrist signifies one seemingly for Christ, yet in deed is against ••••m, and so is but a Man of sin, a son of perdition, and this hee will ap∣peare to be, both in the Mystery, and in the History.
1 In the mystery, or spirit, and in this he hath taken hold of every man, especially in these latter dayes; yet tis true, much time hath been spent by many, to find out this Man of sinne, who he is, and for the most part ascribe it to some particular man ne∣ver looking at the mystery, or root of ini∣quity, which is not in the first place, a man, but a wicked thing in man; and this, for want of a spirit of discerning, we have not seen Antichrist in our selves, but have cast him upon others, and so misse of the thing, or at least, most strike at the top-boughes, and are ignorant of the root: Now Anti∣christ in the mystery, or spirituall and in∣ternal part; It is a confederacie betweene Sathan, & the deceitful heart of man, trans∣forming himself into an Angel of light; nay into the Son of light: and while nothing lesse than Christ, and Christian wil satisfie; he wil be the Christ, or at least the Anti∣christ, instead of Christ to deceive soules.
For this was and is the last, the greatest and most deceiving stratagem that ever Sathan made use of to rui••e s••u••••s; that, where he cannot content soules but they must be Christians, he can be content with that, so he may be the Ch••ist: hence he is called the man of sin, the Son of perdition, that wicked deceiver, 2 Thes. 2. It is not Sathan acting in a carnal and fifthly forme of the flesh, but in the most refined part of the first Adam, so he keepe the creature in the first Adam still, he cares not.
1. There must be a reformation that it shall injoy, provided it be legally in the Letter, it must believe or else it can∣not be satisfied, and b••lieve it doth; but the ground must be built upon that first reformation, qualification, &c, wisdome is required to walke in Gods wayes, and to the knowledge of the mi••de of God: wisdome must and may be obtained; pro∣vided it be humane, the wisdome of the first Adam, that is en••ugh: power of acting must likewise of necessity be ob∣tained: a power shall be obtained, but it must be a creature-power, ••nd a creature-acting under the name and no••ion of the
power of God; that is indeed and in∣truth condemned though in none owned there must now somtimes be a spiritual minde, and that it injoyes likewise in its own apprehension, although hardly ob∣tained, and indeed the highest pitch of spiritualnesse is but carnal to the spiritual mans injoyment: this is a high pitch of spirituall mindednesse where Sathan dwells; to have selfe thoughts of Refor∣mation, thoughts to pray more, to walke more exactly, and to please God better; never, thoughts of living out of its selfe more, and of living in the injoyment of God in the Spirit more; and spiritual joy it must have s••mtimes too: why? that it shall have likewise, but it must arise from inlargement in duties, humiliati∣ons, selfe-actings, reformation, & all from selfe, and thus Sathan and the deceitful heart joynes together, to the delusion of many a soule, and this is Antichrist in the Mystery; the man of sin spoken of in Scripture, that comes with all deceiv∣ablenesse of unrighteousnesse: and wel may he be called a man of sin an Anti∣c••rist, a mystery of iniquity; for in this shape he deceives soules, and they are
never sencible of it, drawn in and never know it, until everlastingly undone, and he hath his diversities of formes in this kinde.
1. If the name of Christian wil serve, and yet live loose and prophane; that they shall have, and there he wil hold them. If there must be a conformity to Christ, and a more zealous and conscionable walking; to quiet the Conscience, it shall have it: he will go as neere unto Christ with the soule as may be, provided it rest it selfe below: and thus, Christ saith, ma∣ny shall come under this delusion, ex∣pecting life from duty, and it wil appear to be but workes of iniquity of sin, (why) because acted by the man of sin, acted not from a right principle, nor by a right power, neither to a right end; acting there must be, but not Christ-acting. Hence it is, that though he wil be a Christian, and so talkes much of Christ, yet; he denyes Christ to be come in the flesh, that is in the flesh of his Saints, the spirit of Christ acting and working all things in the Saints (and they are sensible of it) and thus this de∣ceivable man of sin carries on hood∣winkt
to perdition many and many a soule, And now it is more wicked and deceivable, than when in its proper place, acting after the lusts of the flesh, Gal. 5.19.20.21. then every one al∣most is sencible of it. Hence it is, that Christ saith, Mat. 12.45. The uncleane spirit being cast out, that is out in its un∣cleane forme; it can no longer be owned: he is now content to come in, when it is swept and garnished, prophanesse and filthynesse is gone, and now he comes in a more refined forme, perhaps legall reformation, as the present Phari∣sees to whom Christ spake, or else the name of Christian, or the knowledge of Christ, after the flesh; but Christ saith, the latter end of the man thus deceived is seven times worse than the begining: he comes in this refined forme with se∣ven worse spirits than himselfe, and so makes him seven times more, the Child of perdition than before. Oh then, how doth it concern every one bearing the name of Christian to looke about them∣selves, if they are not deceived and delu∣ded, with this Antichrist under the name of Christ! seeing it is the high-way
of soules ruine, now in the dayes of the Gospel; for herein doth Sathan declare himselfe to be the Master of Arts in trans∣forming himselfe into the son of light, and under the name of Christ, and Chri∣stian, to ruine soules.
2. There is Antichrist in the History or in the Letter, and this flowes from Antichrist in the Spirit: now the soule being possessed with Antichrist, he growes up into some forme, and now not onely in the spirit invisibly, but in the letter: more visible he appeares sit∣ting in the seate of God, and he may be descryed principally under these 3 heads, as sitting in the seate of Christ, and acting those things which properly belong to Christ.
1. In making Christians by a hu∣mane power, it being the proper worke of God in Christ to make Christians, Iohn 6.37.44. but now here is an Antichrist will undertake the businesse, and so turns the world into Christians or rather An∣tichristians, and pretend that they do the worke of Christ too: when, if he did the worke of Christ, he would rather keep off all carnal ignorant ones, and ac∣cept
of none, until made willing and spi∣ritual by Jesus Christ; for Christ doth not onely owne soules, when they come; but first gives them a will to come, and that by a spiritual, and not a humane power. Hence it comes to passe, that there are so many carnal profane ones under the name of Christian, because made Christian not by Jesus Christ but by men.
Oh that the Lord would be please to inlighten the understandings of these men betymes, that they might not walke in a way so directly opposite to the Gos∣pel, and destructive to their own & milli∣ons of soules.
2. In prescribing rules of worship which is proper onely to Jesus Christ to prescribe rules, and to carry through the soule in acting according to these rules.
1. To prescribe rules; this belongs unto Christ, and who ever undertakes it, puts themselves in the roome of Christ, and is the Antichrist: this is to exercise creature-wisdome in the things of Jesus Christ, and (indeed) to sit in the seate of God. It is the worke of Christ in the Spirit to helpe; in prayer or any duty; we
know not what we pray for as we ought, but the spirit helpeth our infir∣mities, Rom. 8. It is Christ that helpeth both to see our wants, and formeth by his spirit, words within accordingly. Therefore those who prescribe formes and rules of worship, put themselves in the roome of Christ.
2. It belongs to Christ to give in pow∣er to act according to those rules, but Antichrist gives the command, and so carries on an external acting, not accor∣ding to Christ; but his own minde.
3. Antichrist may be discovered as sitting in the seate of God not onely 1. In making Christians. 2. In prescri∣bing rules, but 3. In compelling all un∣to those rules whatever Christ saith, that matters not; he himselfe will be the Christ, and must be obeyed, let Christ say what he will, and all that question his power must be the Antichrist, for he exalteth himselfe above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he, as God, sitteth in the Temple of God, shew∣ing himselfe that he is God, and in all these particulars there is a mystery lyeth, a myste••y of iniquity, that is iniquity
hid under the name and notion of Christ; therefore, so much the more to be dreaded. To be a Christian, is accounted a gallant thing: and therfore, not only himself; but o∣thers likewise look upō it to be a matter of much piety, to make men Christians, and cause them to own Christ.
Oh! but here lyes a mystery of iniquity, many soules made Christians by a humane power, are but Antichristians, and so under the name of Christian, are likely to be un∣done for ever, if the Lord prevent it not: An excellent thing accounted in the world to make creatures Christians, as soone as they are born, by sprinkling a little water upon them, & so in bearing them in hand, that they are so ever after: but here lyeth a mystery of iniquity, & one of the soule ruiningst mysteries of iniquity as ever came from Hel: Speak England, speake all Na∣tions called Christian; whether (almost all people of all sorts, devoutly slain in the spi∣rit under this mystery of iniquity) to have formes of worships prescribed, that all Priests and People may walk in one forme and way of worship, and all compelled un∣to it, is accounted an excellent part of Christianity? but here lyeth a mystery of
iniqui••y under it. First, it brings all sorts of people to be acting in something, though worse than nothing, and so de ude them∣selves in all their actings; it causeth them to look to men, and not to Christ Secondly, it causeth them to blesse themselvs in their unity, in formes and worships, never que∣stioning their Onenesse with Christ in the Spirit, they are as strangers unto it. Hence it is, that uniformity in the Letter, is so much called for amongst all sorts of peo∣ple, being wholly ignorant of unity in spi∣rit.
I could instance in divers other particu∣lars as Ministry, Guifts, Church, Ordinan∣ces all have something like Christ in them; but it is al but the number of a man, meer∣ly humane, carnal Ministry, humane guifts, and annointings in stead of the spirit, car∣nall Church, invented Ordinances: but I passe it at present.
ANtichrists reigne is likewise in the spirit, and in the letter; Antichrist or the Man of sinne, is as high in his reign, as confident of his good estate.
First, his reign in the spirit in the myste∣ry, he sheweth himself, that he is God; he perswades soules, that he is the Christ, his wisdome and his righteousnesse, his rules & his Ordinances, they are of God; and they must stand, although it hath neither Scri∣pture nor reason, I mean in the spirit for it: and thus this mystery of iniquity hath reig∣ned a long time; it began to work in the Apostles dayes.
Secondly, the reign of Antichrist in the Letter: he also visibly sheweth himselfe, that he is God, and must be submitted un∣to, under penalties, fines, and imprison∣ments, better speaking against the Ordi∣nances of Christ, than his Ordinances. And thus he reignes with power, and likewise with much confidence; for, She sitteth as QVEENE, and saith, she shall see no
sorrow; but her sorrowes will come in one day, &c.
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.
THe consummation of Antichrist shall be by the same meanes that discovers him, the bright goings forth of Jesus Christ in the Gospel: for, as the kingdom of Jesus Christ goes up in the spirit; (for the kingdō of heaven is within you &c.) so the kingdom of Antichrist must go down: this is the meanes fore-told and prescribed by the Apostle, who fore-saw him in his rising, 2 Thes. 2.8. The Lord will consume him with the breath of his mouth, and destroy him with the brightnesse of his coming, the preaching of the Gospel, and the bright comings forth of Jesus Christ in the spirits of his people shall both consume and de∣stroy him: As it is not a humane wisdom that shal discover him, so neither is it a humane power that must destroy him: for all humanity in the things of God, whe••her wisdome or power, it is Antichristian: Therefore, not that which shall destroy Antichrist; but that which will uphold him untill he be destroyed: the ruine of Antichrist is farther held forth, Rev. 14.6.
The Angel flyeth through the midst of hea∣ven, preaching the everlasting Gospell; and vers. 8. Another Angel followeth, saying, That Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great City, &c. The preaching of the Gospel, is the meanes, you see, of Antichrists ru∣ine; and the Sermon is, Feare God, and give glory to him. This Sermon, is that wil ruine Antichrist, both in the letter, and in the spirit; give glory to God, that is, let God be all, and in all: let God bee your enjoy∣ment in the spirit; see you live upon no∣thing below him; give not glory to crea∣tures, duties, actings, any thing either of the first Adam, or Antichrist: give glory to God in the letter, give not glory to Man, set not up Man in the roome of God; doe not cry the voyce of Man, and not of God, in any of the things of God; and this is the Sermon that shal ruine Antichrist.
See likewise, Rev. 12.9. The Divel and Sathan, the mystical Antichrist, was cast forth of heaven, to the Earth; that is, he shal not bee suffered any more to delude soules, in a heavenly shape: the Divel is now turned Christian, and he makes warre with the Saints, under the name of Christ, both in the Spirit, as wel as in the Letter:
And hence the great warre is betweene Christ and Sathan in Heaven; that is, be∣tween the Heaven of Christ, and the Hea∣ven of Sathan, under the name of Christ. But now John saith, he saw Sathan cast out of Heaven; that is, he shal deceive soules no more, in a Heavenly forme; neither perse∣cute the Saints any more under the name of Christ: (A glorious word, and it is com∣ming on apace) for, the most part of soules in that part of the world, called Christians, are ruined in the Divels Heaven; and be∣leeve it, this is the great work Christ hath to doe, in these latter dayes, the consumma∣tion of Antichrist; that is, First of all, Antichrists spiritual delusions, by which he hath deceived soules. 2 And all Anti∣christs deluding formes and ordinances, by which the common sort of people are ge∣nerally deluded: the worke of Christ is to powre downe Vials of wrath upon the head of the Man of sinne, both in the spi∣rit, and in the letter: Looke about you therefore, all you, whose spiritual life con∣sists in nothing, but spiritual and Antichri∣stian delusions, with invented and Anti∣christian formes and ordinances. A Vial of Wrath is coming on you, which wil shat∣ter
to pieces al your confidence: and then, if mercy prevent not, you may stand looking on, and crying; alas, alas, in one houre is so great riches come to nought? and then, when this is fulfilled, there shal be no more warre in Heaven, or spiritual delusion un∣der the name of Christ.
A glorious word for those that dwel in Heaven, and that which wil cause joy to the Saints.
For, first they shal bee without, and a∣bove, all danger of delusions, in the spirit, or in the letter,
And secondly, they shal from the same ground, be for ever freed from fellowship with Hypocrites, and literal Christians; for their communion shal bee more, in the spirit, and lesse, in the letter: and there shal in no wise enter into it, any thing that de∣fileth; neither whatsoever worketh abho∣mination; that is, lives earthly, carnal, and prophane, or maketh a lye; that is, Hypo∣criticall, that seemes to be what he is not; But they which are written in the Lambs book of life: and there shal be no more a Cananite in the house of the Lord for e∣ver. This is the great work Christ hath to do in these latter dayes; the consumma∣tion
of the Kingdome of Antichrist, who hath a long time sate in his seate, with the exaltation of his owne Kingdome in the spirit.
Answ. FIrst, in the mystery and spi∣rits of the Saints, as Jesus Christ comes in, and shiues gloriously in the spirit; so shal Antichrist bee discovered, and destroyed: and so hee hath received a great blow already in this Nation, through the shinings in of Jesus Christ in the spi∣rit amongst many of his Saints: so that this is the time of Antichrists ruine: when Je∣sus Christ comes in, and takes place in the spirit of his people; as the Kingdome of Christ increaseth, so the Kingdome of An∣tichrist decayeth and consumeth.
Secondly, Antichrist shal bee destroyed when the everlasting Gospel shal be prea∣ched; that is, when the Angel flyeth through the middest of Heaven, preaching the ever∣lasting Gospel; that is, when the Ministers
of the Gospel shal come forth with their ful, and heavenly discoveries of God in the spirit, being permitted to preach the Go∣spel, by the Earthly power in all places with liberty: For, much hath beene done already by the witnesses professing in sack∣cloth: that is, almost always in danger of a civil persecution; and much ignorance of the mystery of the Gospel, which hath cau∣sed them to prophesie in sack-cloth; yet they have had power, to cause fire to come from Heaven, as oft as they please, burning up all Antichristian formes, and invented delusions: And then, what wil be done, think you, when the Ministers of the Go∣spel shal come forth in the full and bright discoveries of the Gospel, with liberties here below for the publishing of it?
Thirdly, Antichrist shal bee destroyed, when the witnesses have beene slaine, and laine dead three dayes; (that is a short space) then a tenth part of the City shal fal, and the rest shal have their time pro∣longed; but, for a time and a season. The first woe is almost past; behold, a second, and third woe cometh quickly: waite, and it wil come apace.
Thus have I from the Light of Truth, with as much brevity as may be, in some measure, hinted at this Man of sinne, this Mystery of Iniquitie, with his reign, ruine, with the meanes and time.