Lecture 7 · 2 Thessalonians 2:9–10

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

WE returne again, in this text, to the description of the Antichrist to be reueiled, the Apostle before had casten in some things in the way pertaining to the present purpose. Ye heard the Antichrist to be reueiled was descriued from his nature. First, of nature, he should be a man, like other men, then, hee is descryued from his properties; first, a sinfull man, addicted to sinne, a slaue of sin and iniquitie; next, the sonne of perdition, a man from all eternitie ordeined to perdition. Then, he came to his actions, that, he shall doe, when he shall be reueiled; first, in malice of his hart he shall oppone him to euery thing called God, in Heauen and earth, to the powers and majesties, here, on earth, to the Majestie of God and Christ, in Heauen. Another action, when he shall be reueiled. in pride, he shall exalt himself aboue all thing, that is called God, and is worshipped in the world. Yet, more, in pride he shall sit in the Temple of God, not like a common man, but, as God, in Gods seate, on the consciences of men and wemen, in the Church of God. And last, he shall showe himselfe to be God in all things, in all his titles and styles, and al his dignities and shall bereaue God, so far, as lyes in his power, of all dignities and honors, that pertaines to him allone.

Novv, to speake nothing of that, hes beene spoken before. In this 9. verse, the Apostle returnes againe to the description of the Antichrist, and in this place he descriues him from the effectualnes, or, effectuall power, he shall haue, in men ordeined for perdition, when he shall come and be reueiled in the world. Then, to come to the words. Satan effectual, by, and in the antichrist. Whose comming, sayes the Apostle, shall be according to the effectuall povver of Satan. As he would say, when he shall come and be reueiled in the world, Satan, that sent him shall be effectuall and powerfull by him, powerfull in men and wemen, that perishes, that are ordeined from al eternity to perdition. Heerein, shortly, learne, then. Euen, as God, by Iesus Christ in his ministrie, whom he sends out, will be effectuall, in these, who are his, if all the world had sworne the contrare: So, Satan the enemy of God and man, in this pointe will prease to be like God, and in his maner, will be effectuall and powerfull, in them, that are ordeined for death, by the Antichrist. As God in his church for saluation will be powerful by his ministry: so, the Antichrist wil be powerfull, to them, that are ordeined to perdition. Yet, brethren, the words imports more, to wit, that, Satan shall, not onely be effectual by the Antichrist outwardly, but, he shal be effectuall inwardly, in the hart of him; and when he shal work by him, he shal not work by the mouth, or, hand outwardly, but, by the effectual working in his hart and will inspire in his hart to do the turne. In this pointe likewise Satan preases to be like God. When God by his minister as effectuall, he not onely workes by his mouth, or his hand or any outward member; but he workes by his soule and inward affections cheefly. 1. Cor. chap. 14. verse 25. it is said of the Prophets that God is in them. Indeed he prophecyes not onely in the mouth but he enters in the hart, and thereby he prophecyes aswell as by the mouth: Paul sayes 2. Cor. 4. 13. We beleeue and therefore vve speak. If the Prophet speake not with the tongue because he beleeues in the hart, all his preaching is deare of a pennie. See Coll. 1. 29. So Satan will be like God in this pointe, he will enter in his minister, namely the great Antichrist, he will possesse his hart and all the inwarde affections of his soule, and by them he will be powerfull in them that are ordeined for damnation before the world was made.

Now to goe forward in the text following. The Apostle setdowne two meanes by the which the Antichrist when he shall come shall be effectuall in them who perishes. Marke the two meanes, and experience this day teaches the trueth of them. The first meane he calles it, all maner of povver, then he expones himselfe what he meanes by this power, by signes and lying vvonders: wonderfull working that commes of a power. Another meane in the verse following. And in all deceiuablenesse of vnrighteousnesse, that is, doctrine that is first false, secondly fraudulent, hauing onely a cullour of the trueth. So to take it vp shortly. The two meanes, the Antichrist shall haue, is first working wonderfully next speaking, vttering false doctrine; first worke and wonders, and then word: Worke and word are the two means whereby the Antichrist deceiues you, by his worke he deceiues the world, by his word he propons false doctrine. Now to speak of the first meane: His first meane are wonders and miracles. The Antichrist shall be effectuall by working wonders in them who are ordeined to perdition when he shall be reueiled in the world. Brethren, as the minister of Christ is effectuall by working of signes and wonders, as the Apostles were, and before them the Prophets in their owne tyme: So the Antichrist the minister of Satan he will prease to be like them, and he will be effectuall in these who perishes by working of wonders and miracles. But what wonders are these that the Antichrist workes by? The Apostle calles them lying signes, and wonders, lying first in respect of their end, wherefore they are wrought, to confirme false doctrine and lyes to men; to establish falshood: and againe lying, because the wonders that are wrought are no true things in substance, they are but illusions, and meere juglerie to deceiue the people. Ye see the deuill would faine be like God, and in the meane-tyme he is a plaine counterfairer, and to call it so the ape of God, counterfaiting God: So the minister of Satan the Antichrist a plaine counterfaiter of Christs-Minister, an ape set vp, as he hes seene the Ministers of Christ worke, so he will stand vp and counterfaite, all are but apes, all their miracles and working but apes playing.

Now, brethren, I thinke, ye would aske this question, whether, if Satan and the Antichrist hes power to worke true miracles and wonders, or, not? I answere shortlie, In trueth, I say, Satan is not able to worke one true wonder, he hes not power to worke one miracle, Definitiō of a true miracle. that is true in substance, and I prone it, both by reasons sons Scripture; but, shortlie. By reasons: a true wonder, or, miracle is a worke, that is wrought aboue nature, against nature, contrare to the course of nature, contrare to all second causes, of the which, when it is done, none in the world is able to giue a natural reason, wherfore it is so. There is the definition of a true miracle: I could let you see out of the Scripture many examples of these, the rauishing of Enoch and Elias to the Heauen. Who can giue a naturall cause, for the lifting vp of two heauy bodies to the Heauen? The preseruation of Noe with so many with him in the Arke, a worke against nature. The confusion of languages, at the building of Babell; a wonder. Saraes conceiuing of a Son, when she had past the date of conceiuing and bearing children. The passing of Israell safe though the red sea and through the floode of lordane. The standing of the Sun in the heauen, when Ioshua fought. The going back of the Son, when Ezechias wasick. The Eclypse of the Sunne, when Christ was crucified. The sauing of Daniell, in the Lyons den. The sauing of the three children, in the fire. The sauing of Ionas, in the Whales belly. The burning vp of Elias sacrifices with a fire from Heauen, against nature. Come to the new Testament, the raising vp of so many dead bodies, and the greatest wonder of al, the incarnation of the Son of God, his suffering, his resurrection, the greatest wonder, that euer was wrought. Satan cānot vvork true miracles. Who can giue a naturall cause of these things? Now, come to the assumption. Satan cannot change nature, it passes his power to impeed the course of nature, to do any thing against the second causes, it must be of as great power, to change nature, as to create nature, the power, that alters nature is as great, as the power, that creats nature: Satan, by al mens confession hes not the power to create, onely the Lord hes power to create: It passes the deuils power to create the smallest creature on the earth; and therefore, it passes his power to change nature, and to do any thing against nature and the second causes. And therefore, Rom cha. 4. vers. 17. these two, the changing of nature and the creation; are only ascryued to God, as proper to him. To God, saies he, vvho quickens the dead, that is an alteration of nature, and calles these these thinges that are not, as if they vvere, that is, creating, by the word of his mouth: at the naming of it, the thing, that was not, standes vp and is. And so, we must conclude, Satan hes no power to worke one true miracle. This, for the reason. Come to the Scripture. Read ye not, 72. Psalme vers. 18. Blessed be the Lord God, euen, the God of Israell, vvho does onely vvondrous things. And in the 77. Psalme, vers. 13. 14. Who is so great a God, as our God: thou are the God, that vvorkes vvonders: as he would say, there is none, can worke wonders, but, God. So, this question is easily solued. But, there is another question. Will not God vvorke vvonders by the ministrie of the Deuill and the Antichrist? shovves not God his povver, in vvorking vvonders by them, as he did, by the Prophets and Apostles his ovvne seruants. Brethren, I shall shovve you my opinion, vvithout the prejudice of any mans judgement. I thinke, not: for, all the wonders, that, the deuill will worke are to this end, to establishe lyes, against God and his glory. Novv, I say, the Lord vvill not lend his povver to Satan, to work one true wonder, to deface his owne glory and to establish false doctrine, and I think, I haue a sufficient probation of this, out of the 9. chap. of Iohn, 16 verse. When Christ had giuen sight to the man, that was blinde, the Pharisies made inquisition of the man, they fell in altercation amongst themselues, the one halfe reproaching him, the other halfe defending him, and they say, If he vvere a sinner, that is, a deceiuer, he could not vvorke vvonders, but, he hes wroght this wonder; therefore, we conclude he is not a deceiuer. And the man himselfe, who got sight reasons after this maner, verse 33. This man hes wroght a wonder in me, therefore, he is no deceiuer. Then, ye will aske. What miracles are these, that, the Antichrist vvorkes in the vvorld? I answere, Either they are onely delusions, nothing in substance, onely juglerie, deceiuing of the senses of men; or, if there be any thing in effect, if there be any solide work in them, they are done, because they are natural, they are not done against nature. O, but, they seeme vvonderfull, to vs! I ansvvere. The olde serpent knovves nature and the force of it, better, nor vve doe, and he knovves the second causes and sundry thing in nature, that neuer Physition tooke vp. Againe, he hes a slight in vvorking, which we cannot take vp, and therefore, knowing the nature of things, and hauing slight in vvorking, vve thinke the things that are done so, to be wonders, albeit in effect they be no wonders. So in one vvord, Satan neuer vvrought one true miracle, but, either they haue bene delusions, or, else, vvorkes agreeing vvith nature, vvhich vve thinke to be vvonders, because the causes of them are vnknovvne to vs.

Novv, Markes of the Antichrist. 1. False miracles. brethren, there is one marke of the Antichrist, that, Paul foretelles shall be, vvhen he is reueiled. Men shall knovv him, by this marke, He shall vvorke false wonders and miracles. Now, let vs seeke where is this man, that glories most in the vvorld in working wonders, when al ordinare wonders by God hes ceased: Whether is he in the East, or, West? Who is he, that sayes, miracles and vvonders is a true marke of the true Church? so, that, if vvonders be not vvrought in it, it cannot be the true Church. Is it the Turke? No. Who is he, that vvith fiue vvordes, Hoc est enim corpus meum, vvill make daily such a vvonderfull transsubstantiation of bread in the flesh of Christ, and of vvine in the bloud of Christ, and sacrifice him ouer againe? Who is he, that bragges of vvonders vvrought at dead mens graues? Who is he, that will make you trow, that, dead and dumble stocks and stones, Images set vp in Temples, will laugh, whiles weep, whiles speake to you, vvhiles cast a glance to you? And last, to come to one thing (for, a thousand thinges in this purpose is nothing; alwaies, the Lord keep vs from the sight of this) Who is he, that tels a wonderfull taile of our ladie of Laurete, Maria Lauretana, so called from the Mount Laurete, that her Idoll being in Galilea without the hands of men by the Angels was lifted vp from Galilie and set downe in Italie, where she is worshipped with multitude of pilgrimes, out of all countries offering to her pretious jewels, and she is worshipped this day as the Idols among the Gentiles were worshipped. Ye may knowe, and if it pleased God to open mens eyes, none needed to doubt who it is. Is it any other but the Pope of Rome? It is he that is the Antichrist, and if he be not the Antichrist, there neuer was nor shall be an Antichrist in the world.

Now I goe forward to the next meane, whereby he shall be effectuall in them who perishes. The next meane is doctrine. He calles it the deceiuablenesse of all vnrighteousnesse. This vnrighteousnesse is false doctrine; 2. false doctrine. it is doctrine in substance, but, false doctrine, then in cullour it is fraud and deceiuablenesse, a false cullour; it hes a cullour of the doctrine of Christ, but a cullour onely. So the Minister of Christ is powerfull in the elect by doctrine and the word preached. So the Antichrist is powerfull by doctrine in these that perishes and are in the Antichristian Church, so, that, he preases to be like Christs true Ministers in this pointe. But as in miracles he is false, so, in teaching doctrine he is false. There is another marke whereby we shall knowe him. As false miracles was one marke, so, false doctrine, doctrine of deceite is another marke. Who is he that propones such doctrine as this, that first is false, and next hes a faire cullour that deceiues the world, who will speake fairely of Christ, his work, his nature, his substance, his incarnation, and pretends his glorie in all thinges and yet mingled with falshood, and all to deceiue the world? Is it the Turke No I tell you what the Turkes is, he is a man that oppones himselfe to Iesus Christ and his doctrine directlie, not fainedlie but openlie: so he is not the Antichrist. The Antichrist is fained: the Antichrist vnder the pretence of the name of Christ oppones himselfe to Christ. Then againe the doctrine of the Turkes is not culloured, but is opposite in plaine tearmes to the doctrine of Christ. So neither can the Turke be the Antichrist, nor the doctrine of the Turke be such a doctrine, he speaks hereof. Then who is the Antichrist, and who is it that propones this Antichristian doctrine? Who is it that takes the name of Christ, and calles himselfe Christs friend, and showes a cullour of Christs doctrine? Alas that men should be so blinded in such a light, as it were in malice to put their finger in their owne eyes, and when the Lord hes set him vp that all the world may see him, rather ere they should see him, they would put out their owne eyes. But albeit they should close their eyes neuer so fast that they should not see him yet this word of Iesus shall cry it in their eares, and conuince their consciences, nill they will they, that that beast of Rome the Pope is the Antichrist.

Now to go forward and to come to these, in whom the Antichrist shall be effectuall, when he shall be reueiled and in whom now he is effectuall by false wonders first, and next, by doctrine, by fraude. In these, sayes he, vvho perishes, he shall be powerfull in these who perishes. Who are they? That long agoe were ordeined to damnation, destinate in Gods counsell from all eternitie to damnation. Paul 9. Rom. verse 22. calles them vessels of vvrath, made and formed (as a potter will make a pot) to dishonor, So are they ordeined to destruction before all eternitie. Paul calles them Ephes. chap. 2. verse 2. the children of disobedience. antichrist effectuall in them, vvho are ordeined to perdition. This we haue to rejoice in, the effectualnesse of the Antichrist is bounded; it is not said, that, he shall be effectuall in all men: No, God forbid, but his power is bounded; it shall onely be effectuall to them that perishes, and are appointed to damnation. I read in the 9. chap. Reuel. verse 4. the locusts that rose out of that smook of that bottomles pit, they destroyed onely them, that had not the marke of God in their fore-heads. 13. chap. 8. verse, it is said, that, they onely should adore the beast vvhose names are not vvritten in the booke of lyfe of the Lamb. Then, onely the reprobate that are ordeined to perdition are subject to that finall deceiuing by the Antichrist, that his deceite may be as a chaine to bind them to perdition. Lord if they who are bound with the chains of the Antichrist hes great cause to search out the ground of their election, whether they are such as are ordeined to perdition, seeing they are in the wrong way. Goe out of Babylon, commit not fornication with her: for, certainly, if malitiously ye continue in byding with her, ye shall be condemned with her. Mark againe another comfort to the elect. The elect of God are not subject to these deceiuing errors and Heresies of the Antichrist as the reprobate: They are not subject thereto finallie, although for a tyme the Lord will suffer them to be drawen avvay, to the end they should knovve themselues to be dissolute Christians. Matthevv chap. 24 verse 24. Christ saies, false Christs and false Prophets shall do such vvonders, that if it vvere possible they should seduce euen the elect, meaning that it is not possible the elect should fall in this finall defection. Who are they then in whom the Antichrist preuailes? Onely they who are ordeined to perdition: That is, such an object as is disposed and prepared before all eternitie to be deceiued by the Antichrist in tyme: they are the matter that is perishing and is ordeined to perish. I wil make this more cleare by an exemple: When the fire burnes vp the caffe and dry timber, ye see, the cause of the burning not onely in the fire; for, if a stone, or, iron were in the place of caffe, it wold bide the fire: so the cause is not in the burning heate of the fire onely, but also, in the caffe that is the matter thereof: Euen so it is with them that are deceiued by the Antichrist, the cause of there deceite is not onely in the force of the Antichrist, but also, in the euil disposition of the men that are deceiued. In plain talk, many are ordeined to Helles fire, and therefore when the Antichrist lights on such folkes they are readily and easily deceiued. And yet, I see, God hes his parte: Who gaue this disposition? Who hes ordeinde it? Who hes ordeinde men to damnation? It is God in his eternall counsell. So the Antichrist is not able with his effectualnes to doe any thing in man, but, that, which God hes determined. First, the Lord of all creatures he dispones, he makes some vessels to honor, some, to dishonor. That eternall decree of God giues such a disposition to the creature, that, in tyme it is capable of good meanes, to life; capable of deceite, to destruction. So, it is God in his eternall counsell, that justly dispenses, and the Antichrist in his time works according to Gods dispensation. So the Antichrist hes not the glory that he can doe any thing without God, neither needs the godly to be offended nor affrayd for the Antichrist, nor to be discouraged when they see men daily falling away from the truth. Nothing can be done without Gods decree. Christ was crucified, a foull fact, yet, it is said Act. 4. vers. 27. that, the Lord had appointed from al eternity, he shold suffer for saluation, and for that cause, the hands of Herod, the Iewes, the Priests and al were lowsed to crucifie him: nothing commes, but by the Lord, that he may haue the glory of all workes.

Now to goe forward. He subjoines, a cause of the perdition of the wicked that are deceiued and so, reserued to damnation, besides this, that it is Gods ordinance. Ther is another cause, ther are none seduced by the Antichrist, but they who deserues justly in Gods judgement to be giuen ouer to be deceiued. Gods decree is the ground-cause of damnatiō, yet, of necessitie there interuenes a cause or doing, where by justlie thou deserues thy own damnation, and closes thy mouth that thou hast not one word to speak, when the Lord is putting his eternall decree to execution. Come to the cause. They perish, because they receiued not the loue of the trueth, that they might be saued. What can be but perishing, when men malitiously will not loue the trueth, but contemnes it? What can ensue? The Lord is trueth, imbrace the trueth, ere thou shalt neuer be saued: when men hes renounced the truth wherby they shold be saued, how shall they be saued? Now take heed, there are many means and causes that will bring men to Hel. Murther wil bring thee to Hell, Contempt of the trueth a cheef meās of damnation. harlotrie, perjurie, blasphemy, foul concupiscence, any of these will cause thee die. But, notwithstanding of these & many moe sins against the Law, the Apostle maks chuse of one sinne, one cheefe sin that procures damnation, contempt of Gods trueth, contempt of the Gospell teached, he leaues all causes and takes vp this. The lesson is, lfye will looke to them who hes once giuen vp their names to Christ, and so, are called Christian men and wemen, and taking on them the name of God, and profession of the faith of Christ, in the day of judgement we shall see this to be true, the cheefe pointe of dittay, that shal be laid against them, is, thou contempned my Gospel in the earth. It shal not be said to them, thou art a murtherer, harlot, &c. no thou art a contempner of my Gospel. That shall be the cheef cause of thy perdition: for, it is the mother cause of all sin, because if men would imbrace sincerely the trueth of God and loue the Gospel, if they wold imbrace Iesus in their hart, O, if he wold not keep thē from many inconuenients! It is the contēpt of the gospel that leads thee to thy sins, it is the contempt of the Gospell that makes thee a murtherer, an adulterer, &c. Thou contemned the Gospell of Christ, and therefore the Lord castes thee away and giues the ouer to thy owne affections, to commit sin with greedinesse, to be a blasphemer, an adulterer, and to commit other sinnes. So the mother cause and speciall ground of all sinnes is the contempt of the light and the word of Iesus, and this may euidently be seene in this land, especially in great mens houses.

Now he sayes not, because they receiued not the trueth, but he sayes, because they receiued not the loue of the trueth There are many will seeme to receiue the trueth, and who will take heed to the Gospel so diligently as they? And therefore the first thing that men should take heede to, is the hart, looke if in the hart there be an vnfained loue of God and his trueth. It is not thy eare in hearing of the word, nor thy mouth in speaking well of it that will make thee a good receiuer of the trueth, but it is the hart. Looke there be an vnfained loue to the trueth, in it, and then hold vp thy eare, and it will sinke in so sweetly in thy soule that thou shalt feede on it so joyfully as no tongue neither of man nor Angell can tell. It is not the outward profession nor the outward receiuing (if thou should sit a thousand yeeres hearing) that will bring thee to life: First thou must haue hart and soule disposed inwardly with an vnfained loue to God, to Iesus Christ and his Gospell, and then Heauen and earth shall got together ere thou perish. An hart that loues Christ and this light shall neuer perish: on the other part, al the outward forme of doing, the protestation, subscription and the rest of these outward things shal not saue thee in the day of the Lord, if there be not a peece of this loue in thy hart. And so I end with this word. Anathema maranatha, accursed be he that loues not Iesus Christ and his trueth. And by the contrare blessed are they that loues Iesus Christ and his truth, euen this word preached by this base ministrie, and blessed shall they beforeuer. To this Christ with the Father and the holy Spirit be all praise for euer.

AMEN.