an Emperor, there can be no event to answer this, or any prophecy whatsoever.

I think Zebaoμa was designed to refer to the Roman Emperor. But if we understand it (as some do) of objects of, or things pertaining to, religious worship, the prophecy is still accomplished. For, doth not the Bishop of Rome claim the sole power of ordaining sacraments, consecrating altars and images, canonizing saints, and appointing what sorts of religious worship shall be paid; as well as to whom? Otherwise how comes it to pass, that the Virgin Mary is more frequently invoked than the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Is not this most evidently a religious tyranny, founded in, and still supported by, the pretence of religion? Other Potentates have sometimes called in religion for a pretence, and laid aside that pretence when their purpose has been served; but no tyranny besides this hath been entirely founded in, and all along carried on merely by, a pretence to religion. And how exactly has the Apostle prophesied of this, when he foretold that he would "sit in the temple of God," (not "a god," or temporal Potentate, but) " as a god!" that is, under another, a religious pretence,* he would lay claim to the power of a temporal Monarch, (in ordine ad spiritualia,) under the pretence of being the head of the Catholic Church; and, having all spiritual power, he would thus exalt himself. And I need not say that under this colour, the Bishop of Rome has claimed a most exorbitant power, and that herein this his kingdom is diverse from all kingdoms. For other Princes rule in their own dominions by their temporal power. But, under the notion of spiritual power, the Pope claims obedience in kingdoms and countries where a foreign temporal Prince could have no claim. So that, though he does not directly pretend to be "a god" or a temporal Prince, yet he "shows himself" to be one; and hath often been, in reality, possessed of equal or greater power.

'

From our saying that, "by the temple of God, in this prophecy, is meant the Christian church," Bellarmine would infer that then the Church of Rome must be the church of God, for there the Pope sitteth upon his throne. But his argument is vain and frivolous. And no more will hence follow than that the Church of Rome may be called the church of God in the same sense that an adulterous woman† may be called a wife; or as the greatest corruptions may retain the names which were given in the times of the greatest simplicity and purity.

Verse 6." And ye know what now hinders, that he may be revealed in his own proper season." From St. Paul's cautious ‡ and covert manner of speaking, lest he should offend the higher powers, as

* Lactant., lib. vii., sec. 17.-Rex ille teterrimus, sed mendaciorum propheta, et seipsum constituet, et vocabit Deum, &c.

+ Revelation xvii. 1, &c.

Vide Aust. de Civitate Dei, lib. xx., cap. 19.

well as from other arguments, it is highly probable that the Roman Emperors were the obstructing power. And it is remarkable that upon that very account the primitive Christians used to pray for the continuance of the Roman empire, viz., " to hinder the appearance of Antichrist.” *

Tertullian + (who flourished toward the conclusion of the second century) saith, "Now the mystery of iniquity worketh, only he who letteth will let till he be taken out of the way. Who is this," says he, "but the Roman empire?" +

And Jerome, § when he heard that Rome was taken by Alaricus the Goth, showed plainly that he expected the appearance of antichrist upon the removal of the Roman empire, and wondered that it was not more speedy. "For," says he, "he that hindered is taken out of the way, and yet we do not understand that Antichrist approaches.” Verse 7. For the mystery of iniquity already worketh; only there is one that obstructs, until he be taken out of the way."

It is impossible for us to know more of the tendency towards this grand apostasy in the Apostles' days, than the Apostles or primitive Christians have mentioned in their writings. Hymeneus and Alexander subverted the Christians, by teaching false doctrines. Diotrephes aspired after the pre-eminence. Demas overloved this present world. Others are charged with making a gain of godliness. Some, by a false humility fell into the worship of angels. Others placed religion in a distinction between meats and drinks, forbidding to marry, and enjoining abstinence from such things as God allows. Many others placed their religion in festivals and new moons, in a distinction between days and weeks, months and years; not considering that the kingdom of God consisteth in "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." And, finally, others denied that Jesus had a real body, and really suffered and died; or that Jesus, who came in the flesh, was the Christ. From such corruptions of Christianity it was that St. John said, "There were then many Antichrists."

As we know what the apostasy is at its height, we may justly conclude that every corruption in worship, faith, or practice, was a making way for this apostasy, somewhat of the spirit of the "man of sin," or "the mystery of iniquity" then working. And (according to this part of the prophecy) it is well known that they have not arrived to their grand corruption of Christianity, but step by step; and at the first by slow and almost insensible degrees.

Dr. Geddes's "Essay on the Roman Empire," &c., vol. iii., p. 26 of his Tracts.

+ De Resur. Carnis., c. 24.

" It

See also Lactant., lib. vii., sec. 16, 17; and Jerome on Daniel, who says, was a general opinion that, towards the end of the world, ten Kings should share the Roman empire; and that Antichrist should be the eleventh, and overcome them all." § Ad. Geront. de Monogam.

Verse 8. And then shall be revealed that wicked one," or lawless person.

And it is notoriously evident, that the removal of the Roman Emperors did actually open the way for the advancement of the Bishop of Rome to his power and grandeur.* Then was "that wicked one" signally revealed: avoμos, "that lawless person." How proper a title for him who hath been declared to be subject to no law, but that he can, by the plenitude of his power, make right wrong, and wrong right; virtue vice, and vice virtue; that he can dispense with all laws human and divine; and that he may do all things above law, against law, and without law!

Verse 8." Whom the Lord will consume by the breath of his mouth, and will utterly abolish by the brightness of his coming." These words must be considered as thrown in by way of parenthesis ; or else his destruction mentioned in this verse will be placed before his coming, and exalting himself to such power by the most wicked and deceitful methods mentioned in the next verse. And I suppose it was thrown in to comfort the Christians under such dark prospect, by the assured hope of this tyranny's coming to an end. As the last sentence was inserted by way of parenthesis, we may go on with the principal subject as if it had not been there.

a

Verses 9-12.-When the obstructing power is removed, "then shall that wicked one be revealed, whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders;" and with the most fraudulent and unrighteous cheats, though none need to be deluded thereby, if they are lovers of truth and virtue.

The many pretences to miracles in the Church of Rome + have abundantly fulfilled this. They have asserted that churches have been taken up in one place, and carried through the air into distant countries; that images have nodded, smiled, frowned, or spoken, upon occasion; that the blood of a saint hath been annually liquefied on a certain day of the year; that the first convert St. Gaul made in Switzerland was a bear; that St. Antony, of Padua, preached to a vast assembly of fishes which he had miraculously called together, and who devoutly heard him preach "the word of the Lord;" that St. Francis preached with great success to birds and beasts, which he thought our Lord had commanded, when he bade the Apostles "go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." (Mark xvi. 15.)

Numberless have been the fictitious apparitions of the souls of dead men, in order to prove such a state as purgatory. Nay, to prove this, what have they not pretended to? Voices from heaven or hell;

• See Dr. Geddes's Tracts, vol. ii., page 10.

+ See Dr. More's "Mystery of Iniquity," page 133, &c. ‡ Addison's Travels, page 284. Ibid., page 47, &c.

cures at the shrines of their saints, or by their bones and relics, to which they have sometimes ascribed the power of raising persons from the dead. All the legends and "lying wonders" which the most diabolical invention could contrive, have been made use of to found and support this notorious apostasy.

But

For my own part, I question the reality of all their miracles. suppose any of them to be real, a miracle only showeth that some being interposes, who is superior in power to man. And as we must judge by the doctrine and practice they would promote, whether miracles are wrought by a good or a bad spirit, it is evident that (if they work any real miracles) they are assisted by a malevolent and wicked spirit ; because they would thereby promote ignorance and falsehood, idolatry and wickedness.

They have, likewise, by the most unrighteous deceit, appeared as professed friends to Christianity, though really its greatest enemies.t They have canonized men for saints, who have been the most flagitious sinners; and have consecrated murders, treasons, massacres, and rebellions, by promising their votaries that they should not pass through the fire of purgatory, but should have immediate entrance into heaven, suppose they should be cut off in perpetrating such black and horrid crimes.

It were endless to mention their pious frauds and specious astonishing methods to increase their numbers; to draw in the worst of men, and discourage the best; in order to gratify their own exorbitant lust of riches, power, and ambition.

And must not men have cast off the love of truth, who can delight in their fabulous traditions and monstrous lying legends; and tamely give up the Scriptures, or speak of them with contempt?

Thus have I briefly gone through the several parts of this prophecy, and shown (I think) that no prophecy can be more exactly accomplished.

COROLLARIES.

1. "FROM what hath been said, it is easy to judge concerning Popery and the Reformation." It is not the largeness of a church, nor her external pomp and splendour, which makes her the true church.

Austin. de Civit. Dei, lib. xx., cap. 19. And Dr. Geddes's Tracts, vol. iii., p. 25, &c. However, that they lay claim to miracles, see the Popish Catechism, Appendix, sec. 13.

+ Lactant,, lib. vii., sec. 19. Hic est autem, qui appellatur Antichristus: sed se, ipse Christum mentietur, et contra verum dimicabit, &c. How remarkably applicable is this to the Bishop of Rome, who lays claim to the title of "the successor of St. Peter, and Christ's Vicar upon earth;" and consequently "the head of the Church, the Father and Pastor of all the faithful!" See the Popish Catechism, cap. ult. + See the Appendix to the Popish Catechism, sec. 2.

Nor are they always the schismatics who are the fewest in number. No; suppose all the nations of the earth should generally agree together in maintaining absurd doctrines, immoral and unreasonable practices, uncharitableness and impositions; they are properly the heretics and schismatics; and let the number who separate from them in defence of truth, virtue, liberty, and charity, be never so few, they are in reality the true church, and the other is only a true schism, or worldly faction; even though their party be as numerous as that with the soles of their feet they could dry up rivers.

Holding the truth in love is a mark of the true church. And such as forsake this are apostates. Such is the schism, faction, and apostasy of the present Church of Rome: that "mother of idolatries, and of the abominations of the earth." And reformation is a most glorious thing, when founded upon its right basis of reason and Scripture.

2. "How strong an argument may what hath been said afford us for the truth of the Christian religion!" Here was a most signal event foretold, and that many ages before it came to pass; an event, the like to which had never happened since the creation of the world, and, most probably, there never will happen such another. It was therefore an event which was out of the reach of all human conjecture or foresight. And yet experience hath shown that the prediction was exact. Neither enthusiasts nor impostors could possibly have guessed so agreeably to so uncommon an event. Nor can we, who have lived to see and know so much of the accomplishment, describe this apostasy in a more just or lively manner than St. Paul has here done in a few verses, and St. John more largely in the Revelation.

They, therefore, must have been true Prophets, and divinely inspired; or else they never could have uttered such remarkable predictions, which time and fact have so amazingly verified.

Some other arguments for the truth of the Christian religion, though just and conclusive, may be of a more subtile and difficult nature. But the rise and progress of this apostasy is a fact, a plain, notorious, well-known fact, an argument which cannot easily be evaded; but must strike the virtuous and attentive.

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All church history for several past centuries is full of it; and we need only open our eyes, and we may behold too much of it. For the man of sin' is even now upon his throne, exalting himself as much as he can above all the Kings of the earth, and with such strong delusions seducing the nations, as to make many of them "believe a lie."

They may pretend among us "that Popery is altered, and become a meek and harmless religion; and that they have thrown off that persecuting spirit which they have formerly discovered." But does not the hellish court of Inquisition still subsist in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and other Popish countries? And our poor distressed Protestant brethren in the southern parts of France, who have, not many years