This being the true account of that zeal, with which the doctrine of Antichrift was afferted in the days of Reformation, let us fee how the cafe ftands at prefent; and whether any reasonable prejudice lies against the doctrine itself, from the uses, that were then so happily made of it.

In the first place, The injunction, to come out of her, was, as I obferved, not forged by the Reformers; nor (admitting that church to be Antichriftian) was it mifrepresented by them. Every reader of the prophecies must confefs, that the command is clearly delivered, and that the fenfe of it is not mistaken. How ferviceable foever, therefore, this topic was to the cause of reformation, it is not, on that account, to be the lefs efteemed by the juft and candid inquirer.

In the next place, I will freely admit, that the dread, in which moft men, if not all men [e], of that time, were held, of in

[c] II [Luther] condamnoit les Bohemiens qui s'etoient separez de nôtre communion, et proteftoit qu'il ne lui arriveroit jamais de tomber dans un femblable Schifme. VOL. II. curring

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curring the imputation of Schifm, was much greater, than the occafion required, and, upon the whole, a fort of panic terror. For, though a caufelefs feparation from the church would indeed have loaded the Reformers with much and real guilt, yet when the abuses of it had risen to that height as to reduce an honeft man to the alternative, either of committing fin, or of leaving its communion, they might well have juftified themselves on the evident neceflity of the thing, and had no need of a pofitive command to authorize their feparation. All this is, now, clearly feen; and if the firft Reformers did not fee thus

Boffuet, Hift. des Variat. l.i. p. 21. Par. 1740. And again, p. 28; Apres, dit-il [Luther,] que j'eus furmonté tous les argumens qu'on propofoit, il en reftoit un dernier qu'à peine je pus furmonter par le fecours de Jefus Chrift avec une extrême difficulté et beaucoup d'angoiffe; se'ft qu'il falloit écouter l'Eglife.-One fees for what purpose M. Boffuet quotes these paffages, and others of the fame kind, from the writings of Luther. However, they shew very clearly how deep an impreffion the idea of Schifm had made on the mind even of this intrepid Reformer.

much

much (as very probably they did not) all that follows, is, That the doctrine of Antichrift, from which that command derived its effect, was less neceffary to their cause, than they fuppofed it to be; not, that the doctrine itself is without authority, or the command without obligation.

Laftly, I observe, that, though the violences of the time might force the Reformers to take fhelter in this doctrine of Antichrift, and though the prejudices of the time might induce them to take the advantage, they did, of it; yet, neither of these confiderations affords any just prefumption against the doctrine, as it lies in fcripture, and is enforced by us at this time out of it; because we argue, not from their authority, but from the prophecies themfelves; which are much better understood by us; than they were by them; and are ftill maintained to fpeak the sense, which they put upon them, I mean with respect to the general application of them to the church of Rome, though we have nothing

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thing to apprehend either from the power of that church, or from the prejudices of the people.

Let no man, therefore, rafhly conclude, from the free ufe made of this doctrine by our old Reformers (and there is scarce one of them that has not left behind him a tract or difcourfe on Antichrift) that it hath no better or other foundation, than in their interefts or paffions. A reasonable man fees, that it has no dependance at all upon them. That Luther, indeed, heated in the controversy with the church of Rome, and fmoaking, as I may fay, from the recent blast of the papal thunders, should cry out, ANTICHRIST [d], fhall pafs, if you will, for a fally of rage and defperation [e]. But that we, at this day, who revolve the prophecies at our eafe, and are in little more dread of modern Rome, than of

[d] Contra Bullam Antichrifti- a tract of Luther, fo called, against the Bull of Leo X.

[e] Luther reconnoit après la rupture ouverte, que dans les commencemens il étoit comme au defefpoir

antient Babylon, fhould still find the refemblance fo ftriking as to fall upon the fame idea; and should even be driven against the strong bias of prejudice (which with us, in England, for above a century paft, has drawn the other way) to adopt the language of our great Reformer; this, I fay, is a confideration of another fort, and will not be put off fo flightly.

STILL, there are other prejudices, which oppose themselves to this great Proteftant principle, That the Pope is Antichrift: and thefe, it will not be befide the purpose of this Lecture to confider. It may, then, be faid,

II. "That, although there be not the fame evident neceffity for bringing this odious charge against the Papacy, as there was formerly in the infancy of Reformation, yet obvious reasons are not wanting, which may poffibly induce the Proteftant churches of our times to repeat and inforce it. So long as the feparation is kept up, the partiE 3

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