XXIII. Antichrist
Antichrist Described
Antichrist is the adversary of Christ; an adversary really, a friend pretendedly. So then antichrist is one that is against Christ; one that is for Christ, and one that is contrary to him; and this is that “mystery of iniquity.”
Against him in deed; for him in word, and contrary to him in practice: antichrist is so proud as to go before Christ, so humble as to pretend to come after him, and so audacious as to say that himself is HE. Antichrist will cry up Christ; antichrist will cry down Christ; antichrist will proclaim that himself is one above Christ.
Antichrist is the “man of sin,” the “son of perdition;” a beast that hath two horns like a lamb, but speaks as a dragon.
Christ is the Son of God; antichrist is the son of hell.
Christ is holy, meek, and forbearing; antichrist is wicked, outrageous, and exacting.
Christ seeketh the good of the soul; antichrist seeks his own avarice and revenge.
Christ is content to rule by his word; antichrist saith the word is not sufficient.
Christ preferreth his Father’s will above heaven and earth; antichrist preferreth himself and his traditions above all that is written, or that is called God or worshipped.
Christ has given us such laws and rules as are helpful and healthful to the soul; antichrist seeketh to abuse those rules to our hurt and destruction.
The spirit or soul or life of antichrist is that spirit of error, “that wicked,” that “mystery of iniquity,” that under color and pretence of verity draws men from truth to falsehood.
The body or flesh of antichrist is that church or synagogue of Satan in which the spirit of antichrist dwells, or unto which the spirit of antichrist is become a soul and life.
But God will destroy both soul and body.
Antichrist therefore is a mystical man, so made or begotten of the devil, and sent into the world, Satan himself being the chief and highest part of him.
Three things therefore go to the making up of antichrist: the head, body, and soul. The devil, he is the head; the synagogue of Satan, that is the body; that wicked spirit of iniquity, that is the soul of antichrist.
Christ then is the head of his church, the devil is the head of antichrist; the elect are the body of Christ, the reprobate professors are the body of antichrist; the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of life that acteth Christ’s body; that wicked spirit of iniquity is that which acteth the body of antichrist.
Thus therefore are the two great mighties set forth before us, who are the heads of those two bodies.