The spirit of such laws it is that
makes them dreadful: for as the furnace would have been next to
nothing if void of fire, and the den as little frightful if
destitute of lions, so these laws will be as insignificant when
Christ has slain the spirit that is in them--that spirit which
causes that as many as will not worship the image of the beast
should be killed.
MANNER OF ANTICHRIST'S DESTRUCTION.
Antichrist shall be brought to ruin gradually; a part after a part:
here a fenced city and there a high tower, even until she is made to
lie even with the ground.
As for the order of the angels that pour forth this wrath, they
plainly show that this enemy must come down by degrees; for these
vials are by them poured out one after another. Now, since by these
vials antichrist must fall, it is evident that this man of sin, this
son of perdition, is to fall and die by degrees. He would not die at
all, as is manifest by his wrestling with it; but it is an almighty
God that judges, and therefore he must come down. His friends also,
with what cordials they can, will labor to lengthen out his
tranquillity; but God hath set his bounds, and he cannot go beyond
the time appointed.
We must also put a difference betwixt his being fought with and
wounded, and that of his dying the death.
Pages:
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542