2 ThES. II. 10.] THE EIGHTH SERMON. 77
Lamb ; ' that is, all those that give up themselves as servants and soldiers to the antichristian estate, and obstinately adhere to and pro- mote that profession, they shall taste of the Mediator's vengeance, which will be very sore and severe : Luke xix. 27, ' These mine ene- mies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring them forth, and slay them before me.' Popery is the highway to damnation. (3.) It beareth this sense, that they are fore-appointed to perish who are left to these delusions ; they are such as God hath passed by, and not chosen to life. This is to be considered also ; for damnable errors take not effect on God's elect : Mat. xxiv. 24, ' If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.' The elect cannot altogether be seduced and drawn away from Christ, for God taketh them into his protection, and guardeth them against the delusions of false prophets, that, if they be for a time, they shall not always be deceived. So it is said, Kev. ix. 4, ' The locusts shall hurt none of those that had the seal of God in their foreheads.' The delusions of Antichrist have only their full effect on those who are not elected and sealed, upon the hypocritical professors that live in the visible church. So it is said again. Rev. xiii. 8, ' All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life ; ' and again, Rev. xvii. 8, ' And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world.' The elect are still excepted, which is much for the comfort of the godly, who belong to God's election, that he shall not prevail over them totally, finally. God hath chosen you to life.
3. The reason of this doom : ' Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved.' By the truth is meant the gospel, the chief truth revealed in God's word, and the only means of salva- tion : Eph. i. 13, ' In whom also ye trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.' This is the truth most profitable to lost sinners ; receiving is put for entertaining, or believing the word ; as Acts viii. 14, ' When they heard that Samaria had received the word of God ;' and Acts xi. 1, ' That the Gentiles had received the word,' and elsewhere. This reception must be with love: Acts ii. 41, 'As many as received the word gladly;' and Acts xvii. 11, ' They received the word with readiness of mind.' And this affec- tion must produce its effect, so as to convert them unto God. Now, this is denied of them who are seduced by Antichrist, that they ever had any true love to the truth, or minded it in order to their salva- tion. Now, the business is, whether the clause concei'ned only the Jews, or can be applied to Christians ? The Jews clearly received not the love of the truth, but did refuse Christ and his salvation. And herein the papists glory of an advantage of turning off this prophecy from themselves. But the ajjostle speaketh not of rejecting the truth, but of not receiving the love of the truth, which is not proper to the Jews but to false Christians. The Jews' company rejected Christ, and Antichrist was not sent to them for a punishment, but wrath came upon them to the uttermost, to the excision and cutting off their nation. But here is rendered the reason not of other judgments, but why men are captives to Antichrist. Therefore it is not so to be confined.
78 THE EIGHTH SERMON. [2 ThES. IL 10.
Doct. 1. The subjects of Antichrist's power and seduction are those that perish.
2. The great reason why God sent this judgment on the Christian world, is because they received not the love of the truth.
Doct. 1. That the subjects of Antichrist's power and seduction are those that perish.
It is a dreadful argument we are upon, yet necessary to be known for our caution, however to be handled warily. (1.) It is certainly more meet for us to have a regard of our own estate, than curiously to inquire what becometh of others. The apostle waiveth judging them that are without, 1 Cor. v. 12. I know he meaneth it of the censures of the church, which are not exercised upon infidels, but Christians ; but so far we may apply it to this case, that we should not rashly judge of the eternal state of other persons, but rather of things wherein our- selves are concerned. If the inquiry were only matter of curiosity, surely Christ's rebuke would silence it, 'What is that to thee ?' John xxi. 22 ; for Christ is ill pleased with curiosity about the state of other men ; but it is fit we should know our own duty and danger, and to that end it must be discussed. (2.) That there is a great difficulty of the sal- vation of papists so living and dying, if not an utter impossibility. Partly because, though it should be supposed that they retain the foundation, yet they build such hay and stubble upon it, so many errors in doctrine, corruptions in worship, and tyranny in government, that if a man could be saved, he is saved but as by fire, 1 Cor. iii. 13; and no man that hath a care of his soul will either embrace Popery or continue in it. Where the way is plainest there are difficulties enough, and the righteous are scarcely saved ; and, therefore, in a questionable way, none should venture. Worshipping of angels and saints departed, and images, are no light thing. Nor will a serious Christian choose that way where the doctrines of the gospel are so exceedingly corrupted, and there is such a manifest invasion of the authority of Christ, by challeng- ing a universal headship over his church without his leave, and this maintained by errors and persecutions. (3.) We must distinguish of those that lived under Popery, rather as captives under this tyranny, than voluntary subjects of this kingdom of Antichrist ; as many holy men did in former times, groaning and mourning under the abominations, rather than countenancing and promoting them. To these God speaketh when he saith. Rev. xviii. 4, ' Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.' They were his people while they were there. These were as those ' seven thousand in Israel that had not bowed the knee to Baal,' Rom. xi. 4. (4.) There is a difference to be j)ut between those that err in the simplicity of their hearts, knowing no better, and those that withstand the light ui)on carnal reasons, and will not retract their errors, though convinced of tlic degeneration of Christianity ; for simple ignorance is not so damning as obstinate error : Luke xii. 48, * But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes,' <fcc. ; and 1 Tim. i. 13, ' But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief The scriptures many times condemn a way as a way of ruin, but all in that way are not damned ; as John iv. 22, ' Salvation is of the Jews.' Tiierc it is eminently dispensed, and