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10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

The former verses represented to us the great end of Christ's appearance to judgment; with respect to the wicked, it was for punishment, they shall be punished with everlasting destruction, &c. Now here we have assigned the gracious design of Christ's coming with relation to the godly he shall come to be glorified in his saints. Where note, The character of Christ's saved ones, they are saints, all such, and only such; not by visible profession barely, but by inward sanctification, and holiness of conversation also; and also all believers who are endued with the grace of saving faith. Note, 2. The end of Christ's coming, with reference to his own children. 1. To be glorified in his saints; mark, not to be glorified by them, but to be glorified in them: the head will not only be glorious in himself, but glorified in his members. The glory God gave the Son, he hath given the saints, and will put such a glory upon them in soul and body, as he himself shall be thereby glorified. 2. Admired in all them that believe, that is, he will do such things for believers, as will be to their own and others' admiration; things that will not only exceed their unbelief, but their faith too. Plainly thus, the Lord Jesus at the great day will put such glory upon believers as never was expected either by themselves or others, and consequently shall be admired, greatly admired, eternally admired, by all beholders. But, Lord, if the glory put on the saints shall be thus admired, how much more shall thyself be adinired, the bestower of that rich transcendent glory! The glory of thy justice in the damnation of the wicked will be admired, but not comparably with the glory of thy mercy in the salvation of believers. O! how will this strike the adoring angels into an ecstasy of holy admiration, and transport thy admiring saints into an eternal rap fure, when thou shalt come to be glorified in the saints, and admired in all them that believe.

11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of

his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

In these words St. Paul assures the Thessalonians, that although he could not come to them, that yet he prayed fervently_for them: We pray always for you. The faithful ministers of Christ can as soon forget themselves as their people in their prayers to God. Observe next, what he prayed for, on their behalf,-1. That God would count them worthy, that is, fit and meet for his calling; that is, for the fore-mentioned glory, which they were called to the expectation of, for they were already called; and therefore calling here must denote that unto which they were called, even the kingdom of glory. 2. That in order to this, God would fulfil, fully perform and accomplish, his whole purpose, here called his pleasure, and the pleasure of his goodness; to show that nothing but his own goodness was the cause of his own purpose. 3. He prays that God by his own power would strengthen the work of faith in them. And the work of faith with power. Where note, 1. That we are not only saved by God's good pleasure, but by faith. 2. That there is no saving faith, but what is a working faith. 3. That faith is wrought by a wonderful power, which doth produce wonderful effects.

12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our apostle declared at verse 10, how Christ should be glorified in his saints hereafter; now he prays that the name of Christ may be glorified in them here. Where note, That sanctifying grace maketh christians a glory to the name of Christ, not by adding any glory to him, which before he had not, but by setting forth that glory which he already hath. Note also, That as the name of Christ is glorified in the saints now, so they shall be glorified in him then, and glorified with him, and by him. The same glory, for kind, shall be put upon the head and members; grace is the only way to glory, and glory will be the certain reward of grace.

CHAP. II.

The former chapter was spent in a consolation against trouble, this in a caution against errors, or to rectify their judgments concerning the

time of Christ's second coming. An error had

crept in among the Thessalonians, concerning the speedy and immediate coming of Christ to judgment whilst they were yet alive; which

error Satan bad set on foot to subvert their faith, and expose the whole christian doctrine to contempt. Therefore to guard them against this fabulous error, he thus bespeaks them.

NOW, we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

As if the apostle had said, "Brethren, we beseech you, as you assuredly expect the coming of Christ, and do love, look, and long for, that day when it shall go well with you, and Christ will appear to your glory, that you be not troubled," &c. Learn hence, that the coming of Christ to judgment is a truth well known, firmly believed, and earnestly desired, by all true christians; well known, because the apostles, when they went abroad to proselyte the world, usually began with this point; firmly believed, for a day of judgment was never denied by any but those whose interest it was that there should be none; and earnestly desired, in respect of Christ our Judge and Saviour, and in respect of ourselves, who shall be sharers in the happiness of that day. Observe, 2. The apostle calls the coming of Christ, a gathering together unto him; intimating, that when Christ shall come, all the saints shall be gathered together unto him: at the day of judgment there shall be both a congregation and a segregation; a congregation of all believers, to make up the number of Christ's train and attendants, and that in one troop they may be brought into his heavenly kingdom; and a segregation, he shall separate the sheep from the goats, and sever the wicked from among the just; St. Matt. xiii. 44.

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2 That ye be not soon shaken mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

Note here, 1. The error which the apostle disproves, namely, that the day of Christ, that is, the day of judgment, was then at hand, to come in a few years; which was very true with respect to his coming to destroy Jerusalem, but not as the final judgment. Learn hence, That the time of Christ's coming to judgment must be pati

ently expected, but not positively determined. Note, 2. The effect which this error might produce, namely, trouble and unsettledness of mind: That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or troubled: implying, (1.) That errors breed trouble and disquietude of mind. (2.) That christians should be so established, and have such constancy shaken and moved from the faith. Note, of mind, that they should not be easily 3. A removal of all the supposed foundations of this error, or the means which these impostors used to entice the Thessalonians to embrace it; and they are three, namely, spirit, word, and letter: Not by spirit, that is, be not shaken in mind by any pretence of spiritual or divine revelation; nor by word, by any pretended message or word from us; nor by letter, that is, nor by any thing contained in our former epistle, or in any spurious and counterfeit writings, passing under the apostle's name, mentioning as if Christ should come in that age wherein they lived. We need not wonder that St. Paul is so careful to obviate this error of the present coming and appearance of Christ, because, should the Thessalonians have depended upon it, and found themselves deceived in their expectation of it, it might have caused great trouble to them, and even shaken their stedfastness in faith.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

As if the apostle had said, "Let no man deceive you in this article of your faith, by

any

Christ's coming there shall come a great pretence whatsoever; for before falling away from the catholic faith, and by that means the man of sin will be revealed who is the son of perdition :"-Note here, 1. Such a proneness there is in the nature and mind of man to embrace and entertain error, when once vented, that there is need of repeated dissuasives from it, and to guard persons against the poison and infatuation of it. Let no man deceive you by any

means.

Note, 2. A general apostasy or defection of the visible church from the faith of christianity, must be before Christ's coming to judgment; Except there come a falling away first. It is foretold as a thing that would certainly come to pass. Note, 3. The revelation of Antichrist de

clared, That man of sin shall be reveal ed, the son of perdition: where by the man of sin, understand not a particular individual person, but a society and succession of men, such as is found in and amongst the papacy, where the sodomy, blasphemy, incest, adulteries, sorceries, murders, treasons, which are not only committed, but countenanced; not only acted, but authorized; do most evidently declare that there never was such an apostasy from christianity since it had a being in the world, as is found amongst them. Note, 4. This man of sin is also styled the son of perdition. (1.) Actively, a destroying son, one that brings others to destruction. (2.) Passively, a son that shall be destroyed; Antichrist and all his adherents shall be destroyed, utterly destroyed, by Jesus Christ, and his kingdom shall perish without any hope of recovery; first destroying, and at last destroyed. Where note, That our apostle at the first, the very first, mentioning Antichrist, doth declare his destiny; at his first rising he declares his fall and ruin. That man of sin, the son of perdition.

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself. above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Our apostle proceeds in the further description of this man of sin, by a two-fold note of distinction, namely, by his enmity and opposition, and by his dignity and exaltation. Observe, 1. His enmity and opposition; He opposeth himself, that is, against Christ, as his name Antichrist sig nifies, opposing him in his doctrine, in his offices, in his members; corrupting his doctrine, debasing his offices, persecuting his members. Observe, 2. His dignity and exaltation, which consists of two parts, 1. He exalteth himself above all that is called God, or is worshipped; that is, he exalteth himself above all magistrates, emperors, kings, and princes, who are called gods, because representing his person, as his vicegerents, usurping a power over all civil authority, enthroning and dethroning princes at his pleasure. 3. His arrogance is set forth, in relation to God himself, that as God he sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. By the temple of God, under

stand the church of God, the external, visible church, which professeth the faith of Christ and bears his name; in this temple of God he sitteth as an officer or bishop: and sits as God, that is, as god upon earth, whom all must adore: kings kissing his feet, emperors holding his stirrup; and claiming the same power that Christ hath in and over the church, namely, an universal supremacy, an absolute authority, and an unerring infallibility. And the usurped titles given to him declare that he sheweth himself that he is God; he is called supremum numen in terris; "the chief god upon earth;" and that from him it is affirmed, that no appeals are to be made, no, not to God himself; that he can change the sacraments delivered by Christ, and decree contrary to scripture. Now to accept of these flattering titles, and to pretend to such an unlimited power, is to shew himself that he is God.

5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Observe here, That the doctrine of the rise and ruin of Antichrist is necessary to be made known; for though these things were not to come to pass in their days, yet and now repeateth it again when absent, St. Paul taught them before when present, to fasten it upon their mind and memories; it is necessary to deliver this doctrine, both to warn the faithful against delusion, and to fortify the faithful against persecution, when Antichrist is discovered, christians and to keep them patient under it; for under his tyranny submit to sufferings more persecutors is martyrdom and suffering for cheerfully; suffering under Antichristian Christ, as well as under pagan persecu

tors.

6 And now ye know what withholdeth, that he might be revealed in his time.

Observe here, 1. How our apostle intimated to the Thessalonians that Antichrist was not then revealed, and consequently that they were not then to expect the coming of Christ to judgment. Observe, 2. The impediment that then hindered his revelation: Now ye know what withholdeth; by which the Roman empire is generally understood: the man of sin could not rise to his greatness, so long as the Roman empire stood in its grandeur; for

this seat could not be filled with two imperial powers at once; whilst the Roman emperor possessed Rome, and the seat was full, until it was void it could not be the seat of Antichrist. But why did not the apostle name it then? Ans. That he might not incense the Roman emperors against the christians, as he must have done, had he openly said, " Antichrist shall not come till the Roman empire is destroyed;" he therefore covertly says, Ye know what withholdeth.

7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work only he who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the way.

That is, the beginnings of Antichristianity are secretly and mysteriously already working, which will bring Antichrist him. self forth in time, even Antichristian doctrines, and the affecting of Antichristian dominion; only the empire that now hindereth must be removed and taken out of the way. Note here, so great an enemy is Satan to the salvation of mankind, that no sooner did Christ erect a kingdom in the world for saving sinners, but the devil set up his ensign in opposition thereunto. Antichristianism is almost as old as christianity; the mystery of iniquity soon appeared after the revelation of the mystery of godliness; though truth be error's elder, yet error is not much truth's younger: The mystery of iniquity doth already work. And from these words, He that letteth will let, till taken out of the way, learn, That the greatest empires and monarchies upon earth have their final and fatal periods determined by God, beyond which they shall not stand; the Roman empire that letteth, shall be taken out of the way.

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

These words contain both the risk and ruin of Antichrist, his revelation and destruction. Observe, 1. The title given to him, o Avoμos, the lawless one, he that boasts himself to be above all law, and assumes to himself a power to dispense with all the laws of God, as we well know who does. Observe, 2. His revelation, Then shall that wicked be revealed. God has revealed Antichrist to the world, let none wilfully shut their eyes against

him, but let him be shunned and abhorred; if his adherents will not fall off from him, but be partakers with him in his sins, let them expect to be partakers also with him in his plagues; to continue his adherents is dangerous, but to turn his disciples is more dangerous for that is a downright apostasy, and flat revolt from Christ to Antichrist. How Almighty God may dispense mercifully with errors imbibed in our education we know not, but to turn our back on the truth wherein we have been educated

and instructed, makes it more dangerous to our salvation. Observe, 3. Antichrist's ruin, Whom the Lord shall consume and destroy. Here note, That the apostle had no sooner discovered Antichrist's rise, but be presently declares his ruin: The Lord shall destroy him; that is, the Lord Jesus Christ shall destroy him gradually, he shall waste away by little and little; as his rise was, such shall his ruin be: destroyed and consumed he shall be, but not presently; because God has an use for him, work to do for him, to scourge his people, to try his people, to unite his people. Observe, 4. How Antichrist's ruin is accomplished, (1.) With the spirit of his mouth, or the breath of his mouth: the expression denotes, the facility and easiness of his destruction: it is done with a breath; the breath of God will leave him breathless : as he hath stood by the flattering breath of men, so he shall fall by the consuming breath of God. The breath of God here denotes the preaching of the gospel, and intimates, that Antichrist's destruction shall be by the ministry of the word, and the victorious evidence of truth; but besides this ministerial word, there will be a providential word, which God will make use of for Antichrist's destruction: the former means we are to use, the latter God is to make use of. Again, (2.) The destruction of Antichrist shall be by the brightness of Christ's coming; at Christ's coming to judgment, the final ruin and utter destruction of Antichrist shall be accomplished; let not the church then be discouraged, though Antichrist remains, after all endeavours used for his ruin, it is sufficient we are assured that Antichristianism shall be finally destroyed: for the time, leave we that to God, if it be not till the day of judgment, or Christ's final conquest over all his adversaries, why should not we be contented to tarry for it; seeing infinite wisdom determines the time, as well as the thing itself.

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders,

An account is here given how Antichrist doth acquire and keep up his power in the world: the first and great instrument is Satan; after the working of Satan, is as much as, by the working of Satan, denoting not only his pattern but his influence. The devil has a great hand over wicked men in the world, his way of dealing with them is most efficacious and powerful; he is certainly the first founder and supporter of the Antichristian state. Observe, 2. The subordinate instrumental means by which Antichrist gained his power in the world; namely, by pretended miracles: With all power, and signs, and lying wonders. Miracles are called powers, because the effects of extraordinary powers; signs, from their use, because they sealed the doctrine to which they are applied; wonders, because they breed astonishment in the minds of beholders. Now Antichrist pretends to all these, but his are lying powers, lying signs, and lying wonders; because the greatest of his pretended miracles are fables, forgeries, impostures, diabolical delusions. Learn hence, That Antichrist doth uphold and support his kingdom by a false show of signs, wonders, and mighty deeds; they are mira, but not miracula; what he cannot prove by the oracles of God, he endeavours to prove by the miracles of Satan.

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Here we have a three-fold description given of the subjects of Antichrist's kingdom; they are described, 1. By the ways and means how they are drawn into this apostasy and defection, and that is, with all deceivableness of unrighteousness; where, by unrighteousness, understand his false doctrine and wicked laws, which tend to the making his disciples and followers injurious to God, unjust to men, and cruel to themselves; and by deceivableness, is meant all manner of deceits and wiles, tricks and cunning persuasions, to make the world believe his unrighteous errors to

be pure and innocent truths. Learn, That such as are ringleaders to error, are men of no conscience, but find out all unrighteous ways and means to make their tenets plausible, and pass for truth; they come with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. Again, 2. They are described by the doom and misery which await them, they are such as perish; that is, such as are in an actual state of perdition, and, without hastening Learn out of it, are undone for ever. hence, That the subjects of Antichrist's power and seduction are those that perish. And, 3. They are described by their sin, which is the cause and reason of this doom: Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Where mark, It is not enough to receive the truth in the light of it, but we must also receive it in the love of it, or it will do us no good; to make truth operative, there is required, besides knowledge, faith and love, there may be knowledge without faith, and there may be faith without love, that is, without any affection to the truth believed; it was therefore a pious prayer of St. Austin,

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me, Domine, &c." "Lord, make me taste that by love, which I taste by knowledge." As the certainty of truth calls for faith, so the amiableness of truth calls for love: if truth be not received into the heart as well as the head, it will not secure against apostasy, nor prevent perishing.

11 And for this cause God shall

send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The sin of those who are seduced by Antichrist was mentioned in the foregoing verse, the judgment of such is here declared in these verses, which is twofold, delusion in this world, and damnation in the next. 1. Delusion in this world. Here note, 1. The author of this judgment, God shall send them strong delusions; as it is a sin, God has no hand in it; but as it is a punishment, God has to do in it; there is a judicial traduction or delivering them up to a spirit of error, who do not receive the truth in the love of it, and this without the least shadow of unrighteousness, punishing sin with sin. Note, 2. The degree or nature of the punishment: delusions, strong delusions: given up to the efficacy of error, which is discovered by

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