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justice against God, always understood in the firft two or three Chapters of this very Apoftle's Epistle to the Romans, where it is notoriously meant of theRoman Idolatry,orUnjust Worship, whereby theGlory of theCreator is in any Degree given to a Creature: as likewife in his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, as may appear from that famous Text, Ch. vi. 14. And here also in this to the Thesalonians, as it feems in his very Revelation concerning Antichrift, Chap. ii. 12. where it must be obferved that the 'Adnia, or False Worfhip, of the Corrupt Chriftians, is plainly fuppofed Introductory to that of the Antichriftians and therefore not the Same. So that the modern Notion of Antichrift is inconfiftent with the Account of his Rife given us by St. Paul: And the falfe Worship of the Corrupt Church, which is Spiritual Whoredom, muft needs be diftinguished from that Worship which is to be introduced by Antichrift, being no less than a Total Apoftacy from Christianity.

V. A Fifth Reafon for the Distinction aforefaid betwixt Babylon and Antichrift, is, becaufe Antichrift, according to the general Opinion of the Antient Ecclefiaftical Writers, fhall exprefs his utmoft Hatred of Idolatry, and of every Appearance thereof. Thus Hippolytus fays Antichrift fhall not fuffer Idols; St. Cyril of Jerufalem, Antichrift fhall abhor Idols; St. Ephrem, he fhall proclaim himfelf an Enemy to Injustice, ['Adria, Idolatry] abhorring Idols; St. Chryfoftom, He fhall diffolve and deftroy malas Ts Ots, all the Gods, f

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by utterly rooting out all manner of Idolatry; and fo in like manner others of the Antient Fathers when they speak of Antichrift. And this Opinion antiently fo univerfally received, that Antichrist was to fhew himself an Hater of Idols, they did ground not merely upon the Silence of Scripture as to the Charge of Polytheism, or even of fo much as eating the things offered to Idols, and communicating in the Idols Temples, or bowing before an Image; but upon the exprefs mention of his Oppofition to all that is called God, with the Atheistical Exaltation of himself to receive more than humane Honours in the Temple of the true God, and his fending or leading his Tributary Kings with their Armies to extirpate the Idolatrous City and Kingdom, as before hath been. fhewn. Antichrift therefore is not the fame with Babylon but on the contrary he shall be her profefs'd Enemy, running into a quite contrary Extream, and despifing all that fhe holdeth Sacred, or that is worshipped, that fo he may fet up himself upon the Ruine thereof. Whence it appears that the fpiritual Adultery of the Church of Rome, if Rome be Babylon, and the Idolatrous Mixtures that may be found in her Worfhip, cannot properly be called an Antichriftian Worship, notwithstanding it may be the most proper and effectual Means to introduce it. The which is further confirm'd by the following Argument; which fhall be the laft that I will here mention.

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VI. BECAUSE Antichrift by this Declaration againft Idolatry, as aforesaid, fhall affume to himself the Name of Divine Majefty, and be worshipped as God with proper and Divine Honour. This Idolatrous Worship of Antichrift, as a God by Commiffion, or Appointment, is confirmed by St. John, in that he fays they worshipped the Beaft [i. e. Antichrift] faying, Who is like unto the Beast? which Words contain a Periphrafis of the True God, of whom the Holy Scripture ufeth to fpeak in fuch Terms as these. For this fee Pfal. xxxv. 10. lxxi. 19. lxxxix. 8. cxiii. 5. and Mic. vii. 18. To which the Original of the Surname of the Maccabees, from the Infcription on the Banner of Judas that was first so called, is generally referr'd by the Learned. As alfo in a blafphemous Allufion to the name of the Lord of Hofts, or the Lord mighty in Battel, and to the aforefaid Military Infcription of Judas Maccabeus, it is likely enough that the Worshippers of Antichrift may cry out, Who is able to make War with Him? Nor would it be hard from hence to derive the true Signification of the Word Maozzim in Daniel, comparing it with an Expreffion of St. Paul in Phil. iii. 19. But howsoever that may be, it doth not seem as if Antichrift would exalt himself, by favouring any thing that may look like Idolatry; but rather on the contrary as if he would honour no other God but himself,and would erect his Empire chiefly upon the Principles of Mr. Hobs's Leviathan,by affuming to himfelf all Religious Power whatsoever. For fz

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the Elements of Antichriftianifm are no where more plainly and fully laid down than by this unhappy Writer in that Book. And indeed I cannot but be of the Opinion, from the Manner of the Performance of this celebrated Piece of his, that he may well deferve for it to be accounted one of the Prophets and Forerunners of Antichrift: and that when this grand Leviathan fhall arife in the World, whofe Arm is his God; and fhall establish his Kingdom, by lifting up the Banner of Maozzim, in Oppofition to that of the Cross of Chrift, and make his Name and Image to be adored by most of the Inhabitants of the Earth; he will be fo far from feeming to favour Superftition and Idolatry, that under the Pretence of driving them out of the World, he will labour to banish all Senfe of Religion, and especially to expose the whole Chriftian Revelation to the utmoft Scorn and Contempt. There cannot, I think,be a more certain Characteristick of Antichrift than this: and the Advances that have been made within ourMemory,and daily are making, by the Apostles of Satan, for bringing about this End, are fo Notorious to all; as no more need be faid to justifie the Design of a Treatife which is to promote a fairExamination of the various Phænomena and Signs which now every where appear, and to awaken all Sober-Thinkers carefully to watch against the Evils of the Laft Times,and efpecially against that Antichriftian Leaven which is working powerfully in theChildren of Difobedience and Infidelity at this Day,. who

who are employed to prepare the Way of Antichrift the Great, and to fill up the Myftery of Iniquity.

I cannot better conclude than with the Words of a Great Prince, under the afflicting Hand of God, which were written about Twenty Years fince, to one of the principal Lords of his Court.

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"BE not infenfible of the Plagues with which God is afflicting the greatest Part "of Europe: WAR,FAMINE, PESTILENCE, lay all things Wafte; and thefe ChaftifeCC ments give us to understand, that there is a juft Judge Above, who governeth the World, and whom we ought to fear. And what this Penitent King then said to that Great Lord his Friend, having pretty feverely chid him for his Indifference in Religion, and his frequenting of Balls, Opera's, and other Diversions and Amusements, may now be faid to every one that shall read these Sheets, or reflect on the Face of these Times, Be not you the Lalf that shall profit by these wholesom Warnings of Heaven.

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