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characters and properties of these Powers 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 practise, and the perfecution they were to carry on, to oppress the true Christians, and obtain adherents to their errors, are all clearly reprefented in various paffages of Scripture.

Prophecies refpecting ANTICHRIST.

In order to throw as much light as poffible upon this fubject, I fhall collect the principal of these 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 course of this Chapter, I

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.

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fhall omit here, to avoid a length of repetition; obferving only that Daniel expressly 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 similar 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 shall not come,`except there come a falling away firft, and that man of fin be revealed, the fon of perdition: who oppofeth and exalteth himself 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 yet with you, I told you thefe 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

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of the way. And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord fhall confume with the Spirit of his mouth, and fhall deftroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose 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 same subject 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 fuch peculiar and ftriking circumstances, as may lead us, who live in these later ages, at once to discover the particular perfons to whom the description is applicable.

Now the Spirit fpeaketh expressly, that in the latter times fome fhall 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 hath created to be received with

2 Theff. ii. 1-10.

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thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times fhall come: for men fhall be lovers of their ownfelves, covetous, boasters, proud, blafphemers, difobedient to parents, unthankful, unboly, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accufers, incontinent, fierce, defpifers of those 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 these 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 also 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. 1, 2, 3.

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itching ears; and they fhall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables d.

A Power, fimilar to that defcribed by St. Paul, is likewife predicted by St. John.

Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that Antichrift fhall come, even now are there many Antichrifts; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would, no doubt, have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifeft that they were not all of us. Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jefus is the Chrift? He is Antichrift that denieth the Father and the Son,

And every Spirit that confeffeth not that Jefus Chrift is come in the flesh, is not of God. And this is that fpirit of Antichrift, whereof ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world.

But of fuch a Power a more full defcription is given in the Revelations, under the

2 Tim. iii. 15. 7, 8, 9. 13. iv. 3, 4.

1 John, ii. 18, 19, 22. iv. 3.

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