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CLASS II.

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

THE moft careless reader of the Prophetical parts of the Old and New Teftament can fcarcely fail to notice, that there are several ftrong intimations, and many direct and clear predictions concerning a Power, a Perfon, or a fucceffion of Perfons, that were to arise in the world, and either deceitfully arrogate to themselves the place and office of Christ, or exercise a direct enmity and oppofition to Him and his Religion.-Such is the “ANTICHRIST," or "the many ANTICHRISTS," fpoken of in the New Teftament. The characters and properties of these Powers

or

? It may perhaps be neceffary to apprize the unlearned Reader, that the term Antichrift ('Avrixgisos) is an epithet generally meaning any power or perfons acting in any refpect in oppofition to Chrift or his doctrines. Its par

ticular

or Perfons, the dignity which they were to affume, the means by which they were to recommend themselves to the world, the arts which they were to practife, and the perfecution they were to carry on, to opprefs the true Christians, and obtain adherents to their errors, are all clearly reprefented in va rious paffages of Scripture.

Prophecies refpecting ANTICHRIST.

In order to throw as much light as poffible upon this fubject, I fhall collect the principal of thefe Prophecies into one point of view, before I venture to offer any obfervations upon them, excepting only the Prophecies of Daniel, Thefe, as they will be stated particularly in the courfe of this Chapter, I fhall omit here, to avoid a length of repetition;

ticular meaning is to be collected from those paffages of Scripture, in which it occurs. "It may either fignify one who affumes the place and office of Chrift, or one

who maintains a direct enmity and oppofition to him." See Hurd's Introduction to the Study of the Prophecies, vol. ii. p. 10.

obferving only that Daniel exprefsly mentions a Power which was to arife from the last of the four great empires of the world, but was to be divers from it.

St. Paul, guided by the fame spirit of Prophecy, directs the attention of the early Christian converts to a fimilar subject.

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not foon fhaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by Spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, as that the day of Chrift is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day fhall not come, except there come a falling away firf, and that man of fin be revealed, the fon of perdition: who oppofeth and exalteth himfelf above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; fo that he as God fitteth in the temple of God, fhewing himself that he is God, Remember ye not that when I was you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth, that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth, will let until he be taken out of the then fhall that wicked be revealed,

yet

with

way. And

whom the

Lord

Lord shall confume with the Spirit of his mouth, and fhall deftroy with the brightness of his coming even him, whofe coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and figns, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be faved".

The Apostle resumes the fame fubject in his first Epistle to Timothy, and forewarns him of fome great Apoftafy, that was at fome future time to happen; and he characterizes this great event by such peculiar and ftriking circumftances, as may lead us, who live in these later ages, at once to discover the particular perfons to whom the defcription is applicable,

Now the Spirit Speaketh expressly, that in the latter times fome shall depart from the faith, giving heed to feducing Spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrify, having their confcience feared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abftain from meats, which God bath created to be re

も 2

Theff. ii. 1-10.

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ceived

ceived with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

This know alfo, that in the last days perilous times fhall come: for men fhall be lovers of their ownfelves, covetous, boafters, proud, blafphemers, difobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, falfe accufers, incontinent, fierce, defpifers of thofe that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleafures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from fuch turn away.

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Mofes, fo do thefe also refift the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further; for their folly shall be manifeft unto` all men, as theirs alfo was. But evil men and feducers fhall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived,

For the time will come, when they will not endure found doctrine; but after their own luft Shall they heap to themselves teachers, having

← 1 Tim. iv. I, 2, 3.

itching

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