That he hath set himself against Him, is yet further evident; for
that he has endeavored to take from him his headship once, and his
offices for and in the church, which is his body; and has called
himself the head of the universal church of God.
Antichrist must he destroyed, because of his exceeding covetousness.
Religion, such as it is, is the thing pretended to; but the great
things of this world are the things really intended by him in all
his seeming self-denials and devotions. And for this covetousness
also it is that this destruction is to fall upon him. Woe to him
that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, (to his church,)
that he may set his nest on high: for he could not do the one before
he had obtained the other. For then indeed they began to be high,
when they had so inveigled Constantine that he bestowed upon them
much riches and honor; and then it was cried, by an angel, and the
cry was heard in the city of Constantinople, Woe! woe! woe! this day
is venom poured into the church of God.
Nor has any generation, since the world began, been so insatiably
greedy of gain, as these POOR people have been. They have got
kingdoms, they have got crowns, they have got--what have they not
got? They have got every thing but grace and pardon.
Pages:
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548