2 Thessalonians 2

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BY the comming] as you doe assuredly looke for him; and as you desire that he may appeare to your glory, and that he may gather his whole Church into his Kingdome.

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In mind] the Italian, from the mind; namely, from your wise and setled judgement, and from your quietnesse of spirit; either by straying from things revealed in Gods Word, or by curious enquiring after those secret times, which are not revealed By Spirit] namely, by any doctrine or opinion, raised under a false pretence of inspiration of the holy Ghost. 1 Corinthians 12:10. 1 John 4:1-2. Is at hand] believers are indeed warned to watch continually, as neither knowing the day nor the houre of Christs comming, Matth. 24. 42. & 25. 13 Rom 13:11-12.James 5:8. 1 Peter 4:7. but the Apostle doth here condemn certain determinations of approaching times; by which mens minds were troubled, and drawne away from their callings. And the Gospel slaundereds when they were disapproved by a contrarie event.

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A falling away] namely, that great and generall revolt of the outward Church, from the faith and profession of the pure truth of the Gospell Be revealed] namely, that untill Antichrist be risen, and publiquely appeared and exercised his tyrannie and wickednesse, whose sinne is in the highest degree; because he is not onely a disloyall servant and open enemie, but also an usurper of the Sonne of Gods Empire. This Name is taken from the name which the Jewes gave to Antiochus. The Sonne of] namelie, he that is condemned to everlasting perdition, Revelation 19:1-21. 0. see John 17:12.

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Who opposeth] the Italian, that adversary; that great and deadly enemy of Christ, and of his truth, and Church Above] or against. This is also spoken of the resemblance between Antichrist and Antiochus, Daniel 11:36. who did not disanull all manner of religion, but would onely allow of that which he himselfe had established; and Antichrist was to doe the like All that is] not onely above the true God, but above Kings, Potentates, and others, to whom the name of God is attributed, for some resemblance, see John 10:34-35. Sitteth] that is to say,aignes, and commands: this circumstance is taken from what is spoken of the King of Tire, Ezekiel 28:2. In the Temple] namelie, in the middest of that assemblie, which hath before been the true spirituall Temple of God, namelie, his Church: and shall yet beare the name, and the markes of it: but with much corruption. See 2 Corinthians 6:16. 1 Timothy 3:15. Shewing] having made himselfe absolute Lord of consciences, and bringing all things under his obedience, and working them to his owne advantages, not directing them o God alone in Christ, by the pure preaching of his truth That he is] by usurpation; if not of the outward name, yet at the least of Gods incommunicable qualities, properties, rights, and preheminences.

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I told you] by a propheticke spirit, and divine revelation.

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Ye know] by that I told you by word of mouth What Withholdeth] namely, what hindereth and keepes it backe at this present time, untill the time which God hath prefixed. According to the opinion of the most ancient Doctors of the Church, we must understand it to be the Roman Empire, whose subsistencie stayed the manifestation of Antichrist, he being to build his tyrannie upon the ruines thereof, Revel. 13. 1. 11. & 17. 9, 10, 11. and therefore the Christans in former times praied for the lasting of the Roman Empire, though it was most cruell, because after that they looked for a worse.

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For] he gives a reason, why he said that it was kept backe: for even in those daies the Apostle saw in Spirit the first roots and foundations of the kingdome of Antichrist growing up, which notwithstanding he doth not specifie; peradventure he meanes the excesse of reverence given to the great City, even in things belonging to Christianitie, which in time would grow on to meere idolatrie, and slavery, See 1 John 4:3. The mystery] namely, that great designe and wicked worke of usurping Christs dignities over his Church, under the maske of piety and Christian Religion, Rev. 13. 11. and 17. 5. 7. yet quite contrary to the Gospell, which is the true mysterie of pietie, 1 Timothy 3:16 Worke] it begins to frame and insinuate it selfe into the spirits and minds of men He who] namely, untill that the Roman Empire successively held by particular persons, doe fall to decay. It being evident, that the degrees of the falling of the one, have been the degrees of the exaltation and establishment of the other.

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Shall consume] by the efficacie of his truth, he shall overthrow the falshoods, cunnings and practises thereof, and shall give it a deadly and incurable wound, which seemes to have a relation to what is spoken, Revelation 14:6-8 Shall destroy] of this is spoken, Revelation 18:2-3, &c With the brightnesse] the Italian, by the appearing; seeing that by Revelation 18:19. it appeares that there must be a long time between the ruine of the spirituall Babylon, and the last comming of Christ. It seemes that in this place is meant a powerfull, extraordinary, and most cleare operation of God, according to the stile of the Prophets.

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Whose comming, Antichrist shall install himselfe, and gaine authoritie and credit chiefely by miracles wrought by the divels meanes, to confirme his false doctrines, and worships.Power] namely, high and transcendent miracles Lying wonders] that is to say, diabolicall illusions: Or such effects, as are beyond human, but not evangelicall power. Whereas, to be a true miracle, the worke ought as well in substance, as in the manner of doing it, exceed the power, and manner of working of any created nature. And therefore all such miracles are false, especially because their aime is to authorize a false doctrine and worship.

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Of unrighteousnesse] proceeding from a wicked designe or inducing men to rebell against God: In them] it shall not worke but only upon the reprobates, 2 Corinthians 2:15; 2 Corinthians 4:3. and shall not take effect upon the elect, Matth. 24. 24. 2 Timothy 2:18-19 Rev. 9. 4. & 13. 8.

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Shall send them] by his just judgement, upon their wilfull and hardned incredulity, he will take away the light and wholsome judgement of his Spirit from them, whereby the cunning and deceits of Antichrist shall infalliblie have power to perswade and captivate them, See 1 Kings 22:22. Io 12. 16. Ezekiel 14:9.

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From the beginning] that is to say, from everlasting, before the world was, Ephes 1. 4. Se John 1:1. Through sanctification] hereby is signified the order of secondary causes, and of the means of the accomplishment of the everlasting counsell of Gods election. Which order God hath established, and executed in his elect, See upon 1 Peter 1:2.

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Of the glory] namely, of the life of glory, which Christ having acquired, doth, as head, communicate to all his members, See John 17:22.

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The traditions] the Italian, the instructions; Greeke, the traditions, See upon Matth. 15. 2.

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Thorough grace] the Italian, in grace; namely, wholly founded upon his grace and fatherly good will. Or, by the communication of his grace, which doth at this time comfort us, and giveth us assured hope of everlasting happinesse.