Lecture 6 · 2 Thessalonians 2:5–8

THE SIXT LECTVRE VPON THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAVL TO THE THESSALONIANS.

THE Apostle, Brethren, ye heard, proues against the false teachers that the comming of the Lord was not so neere hand as they thought and as they teached. He takes his argument from one thing that was to fal out in the world before Christs latter comming: Ere euer become (sayes the Apostle) there shall be an vniuersall defection from that faith of Iesus Christ. This matter will conteine a long processe of tyme, and therefore would the Apostle conclude, Christs comming is not so neere hand as they make the people beleeue. He expresses not the name of the Antichrist, but for the name he hes a long description and painting out of him This description we entered in the last day, and he lets them see when he shall be, when he shall come. He pointes him out in his nature. First in his very essence he shall be a man of nature lyke other men. Then he commes to his properties. What shall they be? First, a man of sinne, a wicked man as euer was or shall be in the world. The next propertie, He shall be the son of perdition a man long agoe ordeined to destruction. Then he commes to his actions (when he shall come and reueile him in the world) he shall oppone himselfe against euery thing that shall be called God or shall be worshipped. That is, against euery superiour power and Majestie, whether earthly or Heauenly, against God himselfe and his Sonne Iesus Christ Another action. He shall not be content onely to oppone himselfe in malice, but in pryde he shall exalt himselfe aboue all thinges that shall be called God and worshipped, either in earth, or in Heauen. Then, he commes to two speciall actions of his pryde; first, exalting himselfe aboue God, he shall sit in the Temple of God in the Church of God. (For so the Antichristian Church is termed, because shee keepes some ensenzies of the Church of God, the Word and Sacraments) He shall sit there as God on the consciences of men and wemen, to thrall and controle them at his pleasure. The other particulare action of his pryde, he shall showe himselfe as God, in the properties perteining to God, he shall take them all on him. This far we proceeded the last day in the description of the Antichrist, whom the Apostle prophecyes will come in the world ere Christ come againe, onely this I aduertise you, as I did before. Take not this man whom ye call the Antichrist to be a single man, one person, take him to be a succession of men, euery one following another in one kingdome and tyranny. The kingdome of Antichrist, all is termed vnder the name of a man. They are but one kingdome of all, one purpose of all, to exercise tyrannie on the Church of God heere on this earth.

Now, brethren, to the text. He leaues off this description for a tyme vntill he come to the ninth verse following, and there he returnes againe. Now in the meane-tyme he falles out in some speaches and admonitions to them concerning the Antichrist: and in the first verse we haue red, he confirmes the thing he hes spoken of the Antichrist, from the speaches he had with them when he abode among them in Thessalonica. Concerning the Antichrist I wryte, would he say, no other thing to you now nor that which I told you when I was with you. That which I then spoke that same thing now I wryte vnto you. Then in the next verse he showes to them that the Antichrist and Antichristanisme is come and begun already in the world, albeit his reueiling and his comming to his pryde is not yet, yet the Antichrist is come Antichristanisme and fals religion is begun. Then againe he telle, what withholdes him that he is not reueiled so soone and hastily. There is an impediment casten in which I told to you when I was with you: He insistes on this impediment, and telles when this impediment shall be tame out of the way, then this wicked man of sinne shall be reueiled. And last as he hes tolde of his comming out, and growing to an height in his pryde, so he propecyes of his decay and his destruction.

Now to returne to the wordes. Remember ye not (sayes he) vvhen I vvas vvith you I told you these thinges. To assure them the more of the trueth of these thinges that he wrytes to them concerning the Antichrist, hee calles them to remembrance of that which he spoke to them face to face concerning this same purpose, and in doing this the vtters some peece of anger. Remember ye not. He vses some sharpnesse in wordes, because they were so obliuious, as to forget a thing so needfull for their saluation. Now to take vp some lessons shortlie on these wordes. Then Apostle then beganne verie soone to foretell the Thessalonians of the comming of the Antichrist and of that vniuersall defection that was to fall out so long after that: (for this prophecie is especiallie of that great Antichrist who came not a long tyme after this.) The estate of the Church of Thessalonica was floorishing at this tyme, he castes in a matter of discouragement heere. There shall be an vniuersall defection. Defection of the Church euer to be feared. Well, brethren, it is good euer to foresee the euil that is to come on the Church of God on the earth, yea euen when she is most floorishing to feare a decay and that her state will alter: For this is the nature of the visible Church of God heere on the earth, she is not so stabled nor setled, but she is subject to alteration and trouble, to defection, to falling away from God, from Christ and the trueth, and that both particularlie and vniuersallie, our setlednesse is not in this world, there are none so well stablished but they may fall, and therefore we should be euer in a dread and feare of destruction and alteration. And it is the parte of the Pastour aboue all other, euen in the floorishing of it, to be forwarning and foretelling of an alteration and defection to insew: For he as a watch-man should haue a sharpe eye to foresee, and he should craue a foresight of God to knovve thinges to insew that he may giue aduertismentes to the people, and they may be prepared for all dangers to come.

Another lesson. Ye see the Thessalonians hes bene forgetfull of that which the Apostle tolde them when he was with them, and therfore that which he spoke then he wrytes now to them. Naturaly vvee are forgetfull of spiritual things. So obliuious we are especiallie of thinges concerning our saluation, that we will receyue them in at the one eare, and let them goe out at the other; we heare to day we forget to morrowe. The seede is not so soone sowne but the deuill as a rauenous foull is readie to pull it out of the very eares that it be to vs nothing but a vanishing sound: and therefore it is the Pastors part euer to be calling to their remembrance the things that are heard. Ye see in a schoole, the master considering the weaknesse of the memory of the youth is euer repeating the thing they haue heard: as needfull it is to the Pastour to be euer repeating the thing he hes teached, for all are as infantes in thee schoole of Christ. 1. Cor. 13. 11. and it is the peoples part to be as diligent to heare ouer againe these things that pertaines to saluation, and to craue that the Lord wold blesse their memories there in that they may be the more able to gainstand all assaultes of the deuill and his suppostes: how canst thou gainestand if thou be not furnished with the armour of the word of God? Therefore the Lord grant me grace to forwarne you and sanctify your memories to receyue and keepe the things that concernes your saluation: for it may be the day of tentation is neerer nor we beleue.

But mark the forme how he cals it to remembrance: He does it with a rebuke and reproofe. Remember ye not. They who are forgetfull of thinges heauenly should not goe away without reproofe, calling to remembrance should be with rebuke. But marke againe the lenitie of the Apostle in rebuking. Remembes ye not sayes he? I told you before. Therefore all this rebuke should be with lenity and loue: sharpnesse should euer be mingled with lenitie. This is the thing I euer find this Apostle doing.

Now to goe forward to the next verse. Because he said before the Antichrist was not as yet reueiled. The Thessalonians might haue asked the Apostle. What withholdes? What stayes? What impediment is there? Why is he not reueiled? The Apostle answers shortly. Ye know what withholds, it is not needfull I tell you, I told you it else when I was with you, call it to remembrance, it is not needfull that I should lose tyme by oft repeating of it. Yet, brethren, albeit he knew it, and the Thessalonians knewe it, because he had told them of it before, yet we knowe it not for any thing he showes heere. Therefore we must see what was the impediment that stayed the reuiling of the Antichrist till his hight and pryde. The Romane Empyre, and publishing of the Gospel are impedimētes staying the reueiling of the Antichrist. What was it? Both the olde and late wryters agrees in this. It was the Romane Empyre that floorished for the tyme. The euent and issue of thinges declared this to be true: For so long as the Romane Empyre stoode and the Emperour keept his owne seat at Rome (which now is vsurped by the Pope,) so long neither Mahomet in the East preuailed: (for, he was one of the destroyers of the Romane Empyre) neither the Pope in the West got vp his head: for the Empyre suffered him not to come to his hight. But when once the Romane Empyre decayed, the Emperour changed his seat, left Rome and remained at Constantinople. Then vp gets the Mahomet his seate in the East, the Pope in the West, and he sits downe in the Emperours seate. This is one impediment. Latter writers joines to this another impediment, that staied the reueiling of the beast and his comming to his hight, to wit, the decree of God, concerning the publishing of the Gospell of Iesus Christ in the world: Ere he should come to his perfection, it behoued, that the Gospel should be preached throghout the world: Ere there be any falling there must be a standing; ere there be any Apostasie there must be a receiuing of the word: It behoued, that, before apostasie the word should be vniuersally teached. Therefore the Romane Empyre decaying, the course of the Gospell comming to an end, the Euangell being vniuersally teached, the Antichrist breakes in and takes vpon him both the jurisdictiones, takes on him the earthly power, and then the jurisdiction ouer the soules of men, he killes the bodie with the temporall sword he killes the soule with the poyson of falle doctrine. His kingdome is euer slaying, either of the soules of men with false doctrine and poyson of Heresies, or else if men will not obey, he slayes their bodies with the sword. These are the impediments helde him back vnreueiled. Then learne heere, it is the Lord vvho stayes and holdes back euill from the world; and his maner is; he castes in impediments before the deuill and before wicked men ere they rise: The deuill and his suppostes is comming out rushing on the people, the Lord casts in impediments to them and then they must stand vntill these impedimentes be some way remoued: For, brethren, the power of the deuill and of darknes and wickednes is so great on the earth that the Church of God could not stand one day except the Lord did cast in impediments in the way of the deuil and wickedmen to hold them off. And so all the glorie of the standing of the Church in the earth, is to be ascriued to that God that holdes off and shall hold off by his prouidence, till they will they, the deuill wicked men from their wicked interpryses; and the Lord forbid the Antichrist should preuaile; for if he preuaile, assure thy selfe if thou stand steedfast: in the faith thy bloud shall pay for it: for of all Tygers in the earth he is the most bloud-thirstie.

Now the wordes following telles wherefore these in pediments are casten in. That he should be reveiled in his ovvne tyme, As he would say, his tyme is not yet come, that article of tyme God hes appointed and decreed from all eternitie he should be reueiled in, is not yet come Brethren, this is true, and al the Scripture makes it manifest. The Lord from all eternitie hes appointed tymes, opportunities, houres, moments, when euerything should be done that falles out in this world, euery action hes the owne moment prescriued to it, be it good, or bad. The Lord hes written the houre of it in his booke when it should be done. Now ye see by experience, the deuill euer seekes to preuent the tyme, yea, the best of vs all when the Lord hes appointed a time to our deliuerance, or to doe anything, cannot byde that tyme, but are euer freatting and fuming. Therefore, the Lord castes in stayes both to the deuill and to men on earth. When they are running forwarde, he will cast in a stay, and thou must stand there, and thou must stand vntil that same tyme and article come that he hes appointed, and it shall not ly in the power of the deuill and of all the earth to preuent that tyme.

Now to come to the next verse. There are two things concerning the Antichrist. The first, his comming in the world. The second his reueiling after his comming. There is a difference betweene these two: His comming to the height and his reuelation. As concerning his comming to his height, it might haue bene asked by the Thessalonians, Is he come yet? we vnderstand by thy speaking, he is not reueiled yet, but is he come yet? He answeres, Euen novv the misterie of iniquitie is in doing: shortlie the meaning is. The Antichrist, the Antichristianisme, false religion, Heretical doctrine, is come alreadie, albeit it be not reueiled and come to the hight. He calles Antichristanisme iniquitie: for, of all iniquitie, false doctrine is the greatest iniquity, and of all sinners on the earth a false teacher and deceiuer of the people of God is the greatest sinner. Therefore he is called the man of sinne, a man addicted to sinne, as a slaue to his master. Further he calles it the misterie of iniquitie. It is called a misterie, because it came not to the light at the first, but, lay vp hid in a misterie. It was not knowne not detected in the owne cullour nor came not to an height that men might know it. Then, marke, ye see, the Antichrist and Antichristianisme, that is, false religion beganne verie soone, Euen novv there are many Antichrists, sayes Iohn 1. Epist. 4. chap 3. vers. It beganne in Pauls and the Apostles dayes. It was conserued, as it were, in the mothers bellie in those dayes, but, it lay long and many yeeres hid vp in a misterie, and it lay long time lurking in Rome and in the Church thereof, and then, at last broke vp there the great Antichrist. It lay so hid vp, not comming to the perfection, to the yeere of the Lord six hundreth and three yeeres, and then, it was broght to a great maturitie and perfection, by Phocas the Emperour and Pope Bonifacius the third. It layth the mothers wombe getting forme and grouth, ere it came to the reuelation, so, the Antichrist is an olde childe. Mark it, there are many misteries in the world, and among all the rest, there is a mistery of sin: as there is a mistery of godlinesse. 1. Tim. 3. chap. 16. verse, so, there is a mistery of vngodlinesse, and sin lyes very long hid, ere it break out and appeare in the owne cullor in any person. Alas, thy sin will ly long hid, as it were, clocked vnder a clock in thee, ere it come to an height, (for, sin is a deceyuing thing) but, at last, it will bud out in spyte of thy teeth. And to speake of this sinne of false doctrine in particulare. It lay hid many yeeres ere men knew of it. No question, in the dayes of the olde fathers Chrysostome, Augustine, and the rest of them, many corruptions broke in, which they saw not, because they lay hid vp in a misterie so, that, they could not see them, vntill it hes pleased the Lord now to reueile them Wonder not, that the doctors reproued not this Heresie and that Heresie; no, sin lyes hid vp wonderfully. The greatest sin will ly hid vp vnder the greatest holinesse.

Then in the end of the verse, he returnes againe to the impediment, and he speaks two thinges of it. First, how long it shal lust, and then, what shal follow from once it shal be taine away, to wit, that man of sin shall be reueiled. Now to the words, ye layes, He that vvithholds shall let, till he be taken out of the vvay: that is to say, the Romane Emperor, for, he speaks of the succession of Emperours, as of one man, because there was one kingdome to wit, the Romane Empyre, as before he spoke of the Antichrist. He shall withhold that head of the Romane beast from using, vnto the time he be taken away. Then, what time shall he be taken out of the way? Euen, at that article, the Lord hes appointed, then the Lord suffred him to be taken out of the way? Who took him one out of the way? Mahomet with his [confederates, as] the Saracens and Turks in the East wer the first subuerted the Romane Empyre, and then; Boniface and his successours ouerthrewit in the West. Mark this. When as the point of time prescriued by the Lord to things to be done commes, then all impediments, that hold back that thing; if it were the Empyre of all the world shall be put out of the way, and shall haue no standing, but will vanish away. By the contrare, before that point of time come, I shal mak one stray stay a man, one word shal hold him, the least thing in the world shall hinder him were he raging neuer so fast. To let you see, that al goes by the effectuall working and dispensation of God that workes all. It standis not in this man, or, that man, albeit he were an Emperour, or, Monareli, but onely in God, who hes appointed a tyme to euery thing that all glory may be giuen him. That men say not, I did this or that: No, it is the Lord, that from time to time hes wrought it. Ye will see some times a marueilous hardnesse to win thinges that ye thinke be easie to be done, and againe an easinesse to come to thinges which ye thinke hard. All tends to this that we may know, all is decreed by the secreet and effectuall prouidence of God.

In the beginning of the next verse, we haue the effect, that shall fall out, vpon this prophecie, when once he that withholds the the thing out of the way that is the Romane Emperour, which is termed heere as a man, by reason of a kingdome, many Caesars, but, yet, one kingdome. Then, sayes he, that vvicked man shall be reueiled, that great Antichrist shall be reueiled. (As for the small Antichrists, that were forerunners of the great, he speakes not of them, then this great Antichrist shall show himself in power, to the world, he is called a lawlesse man, and who cannot be subject to a law. Who is that? He that craues an absolute power. And who craues an absolute power, if not that beast of Rome? Who breakes and makes lawes as he pleases, Gods law, mens law? Read the history of him. So ye haue heere the reueiling of him, his comming to his greatnesse. To make this plaine. When was it, that the great Antichrist came? for, this prophecie is of him, and this reueiling is to be vnderstood of him. When came he to this perfection? When was he first reueiled? I shew you before, in the dayes of the Apostles the Antichrist beganne and lurked, vnto the six hundreth and three yeere of our Lord, and a great part of that time lurked in Rome he was not yet in greatnesse: well then, his greatnesse beganne in the six hundreth and three yeere of God, as the Histories notes. And vpon what decasion? Grovving & reueiling of the antichrist. One Photas an adulterer, a parricide and wicked man alwayes, when he had slaine his master [Mauritius the] Emperour, and so had become odious to the people, to conciliat to him the fauour of the people he would showe himselfe beneficial to the Church, he pronounces Bonifacius the third and his successors after him (there is the Antichrist) to be Popes, to be supreame and vniuersall Bishops of the whole earth, which styles Gregorie his predecessor so much abhorred. Then in the six hundreth and seauen yeere in a Sinod all counsell holden at Rome vnder the same Bonifacius the third, this priuiledge to be vniuersal Bishops of the world is ratified to the Bishoppes of Rome. A little after this (see how this growes) in a counsell holden in Africa vnder the Emperour Constantine the nephevv of Heraclius. Theodorus the Bishoppe of Rome gettes this style and these tytles sent to him, Domino, Apostolico culmini sublimato, sancto patrum patri, Theodoro Papae, & summo omnium praesulum principi Synodus Africana. That is, vnto the Lord lifted vp on high to the Apostolicall seate, the holy father of fathers, the most high Prince of all Prelats Theodore the Pope, writes the Synode of Africa. And yet he is not come to his height, till in the 666. yeere of the Lord, which number in the reuelation of Iohn, 18. is called the number of a man, that is, an explicable number, easie to be counted with men. In this yeere he commes to the height of his perfection, as that prophecy of Iohn tels and experience teaches. Who makes him vp and perfites him? Euen, he who should haue holden him downe, the Emperour of Constantinople Constantinus, Prorogatius Barbarus, Vitilianus being Bishop of Rome for the time, he makes vp the beast: He sets him vp on the top of his honour. Then, brethren, the Roman Bishoppe, who was before but a legate to the Roman Emperour, he is set downe in his soueranitie, subject to no mortall man vnder the Heauen. Then commes in al abominations, all corruptions, all vices, and among all the rest, in commes the Masse, and it is determined, that it should be celebrate in the Latine tongue in all the world. The Antichrist in this 666. yeere commes to the height of height, he cannot come higher.

Now, brethren, to end this matter. Heare a little of his downe going againe. As the Apostle heere prophecyed of his climming vp to the height of the ladder, so, to comforte the Church of God in all ages, he prophecyes of his destruction. Whom sayes he, the Lord shall consume vvith the breath of his mouth, and shall abolish vvith the brightnesse of his comming. There are two parts here of his decaying. The first part is his consuming; the next part is his abolishing. His consuming is with a slownes; for, as he came not incontinent to his height, so, he decayes not incontinent, long ere he decay, he consumes away, as a body consuming, and then, he endes at a sudden. Who consumes him? Who abolishes him? Who, but the Lord Iesus Christ? He it is who shal consume the Antichrist. Maner of cōsuming of the antichrist. To speake of his consuming. Where-with melts he him away? with the breath of his mouth, that is, by the preaching of the Gospell, and that by the poore Ministers, who are despised in the world: He makes his Ministers breath and blow on the beast, and this breath of the Ministers consumes the beast. When began this consuming of him? Euen soone after he came to his height. Ye heard of one Iohn Wickleff in anno 1383. he blew on the beast. Iohn Husse, Ierome de Praga in Bohemia, albeit he was burnt and the beast got the mastrie of him, yet he consumed the beast. Ye heard of Luther in Germanie, his name shall not be buried. Melanthon, Zuinglius, Oecolampadius, men of worthie memorie; and then good Iohn Caluin in France, Viretus, Farellus. they blew in their tyme on the beast. What shall I say? To be short, so many faithfull men as the Lord raises vp in the ministry they are as many slayers of the beast with their breaths. Now learne one thing. When the Antichrist is come to his height, who goes too to beate the beast downe from his height? Is it the Emperour? is it this king or that king? No, no word of them. Is it any power in this world? No, it is the Lord Iesus. He will haue the honour of the wreack of the Antichrist. And therfore, as it were, in his owne person he will enter in combat with the beast. Now what armour vses he? Commes he on with this wordly armour, gunnes and gainzies, I aske of thee? No, no thing is spoken of them, but a breathing and blowing is told of. Iesus Christ blovves on the beast and consumes him vvith the breath of his mouth. The word of the Gospell is the armour he vses: that same armour the beast abuses to hold vp his kingdome vvithall, the Lord takes out of his hand and slayes him vvith. What instruments vses he to this turne? He takes not Angelles from the Heauen to breath on him. No, but sillie simple bodies, some out of the beasts owne bodie, some otherwaies raised vp to blow on the beast. Marke all these circumstances. They all let you see, that, in beatting dovvne of the beast onely Iesus Christ ought to haue the glorie of the victorie. Whether ye looke to him who strikes the battell, the armour, or, them, who are souldiers in the battell, all lettes you see, the glorie should be giuen to Christ alone. What is more vyle, nor the vvord of the crosse and this vyle ministrie, and yet he vvill haue him vvreaked and consumed with the word and ministrie. He chuses not great and mightie things, not kings and Emperours to this worke (wonder not, nor be not moued, that ye see so many kings stand by the beast, to see the Emperour, the kings of France and Spaine stand for him) but the Lord will vse base meanes to destroy the beast, that the glorie may be giuen to him allone.

Now to come to the other pointe, his abolishing. He is abolished at the last. When shall this be? When Christ shall come againe. How shall it be? The face and presence of Iesus shall deuoure him. As soone as the Lord shall come downe, as soone shall he vanish and be burnt vp, as caffe with the fire. The word of the Gospell consumes him and burnes him, but, not quyte vp. But, the face of Iesus in that day shall burne him quite vp, and then, that prophecie of Iohn Reuel. chap. 20. verse 10. shall be accomplished: He shall be casten in a lack of fire and brimstone which shall neuer haue an end. Then, brethren, beware of this word; for, if it worke not to lyfe, but be a sauour of death to death; if it doe thee no good in this lyfe, be assured, that most glorious face of the Lord in the world to come shall destroye thee. Therefore, looke, that, the word be an instrument to thy consolation, and the power of God to thy saluation. Looke how the word is effectuall to thee, in this life: for, so shall the presence of Iesus be to thee in the life to come, either to thy saluation, or, damnation. The face of the Lord shal consume thee if the word hes wroght no renewing of thee in this life. It is said in the chapter preceeding verse 9. They which did not obey the Gospell shall be punished vvith euerlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the gloree of his povver: one blenke of that face shall consume in an instant, all the reprobate. Craue then, that, the word may be powerfull, that ye may escape this fire of that presence of Iesus in his comming. Then, heere, ye may perceiue, that, the kingdome of the Antichrist is not altogether abolished, it takes a long tyme, ere it be taken away. Wonder not, that, he hes such a power in this earth: for, certainly, this prophecie telles vs, that, there shall be some face of the Antichristes kingdome, vntill Christ come. Looke not, that, Papistry end, ere Christ come, look not that euery reformed Church shall be quite of them, but, they shall be as thornes in their sides till Christ come, and let no man ouer soone triumph, but let euery one make him for the battell. There are none of the professours of Christs trueth but they should prepare them for battell. Therefore, let euery one seeke this armour, that being enarmed with that spirituall armour, so far as God will giue the grace, echone may breath on the beast to his consumption, that, so, God may be glorified and then shalt thou triumph for euer with him. To whom be praise and glore for euer.

AMEN.