ANTICHRIST is the adversary of Christ; an adversary really, a friend
pretendedly. So then antichrist is one that is against Christ; one
that is for Christ, and one that is contrary to him; and this is
that "mystery of iniquity."
Against him in deed; for him in word, and contrary to him in
practice: antichrist is so proud as to go before Christ, so humble
as to pretend to come after him, and so audacious as to say that
himself is HE. Antichrist will cry up Christ; antichrist will cry
down Christ; antichrist will proclaim that himself is one above
Christ.
Antichrist is the "man of sin," the "son of perdition;" a beast that
hath two horns like a lamb, but speaks as a dragon.
Christ is the Son of God; antichrist is the son of hell.
Christ is holy, meek, and forbearing; antichrist is wicked,
outrageous, and exacting.
Christ seeketh the good of the soul; antichrist seeks his own
avarice and revenge.
Christ is content to rule by his word; antichrist saith the word is
not sufficient.
Christ preferreth his Father's will above heaven and earth;
antichrist preferreth himself and his traditions above all that is
written, or that is called God or worshipped.
Christ has given us such laws and rules as are helpful and healthful
to the soul; antichrist seeketh to abuse those rules to our hurt and
destruction.
The spirit or soul or life of antichrist is that spirit of error,
"that wicked," that "mystery of iniquity," that under color and
pretence of verity draws men from truth to falsehood.
The body or flesh of antichrist is that church or synagogue of Satan
in which the spirit of antichrist dwells, or unto which the spirit
of antichrist is become a soul and life.
But God will destroy both soul and body.
Antichrist therefore is a mystical man, so made or begotten of the
devil, and sent into the world, Satan himself being the chief and
highest part of him.
Three things therefore go to the making up of antichrist: the head,
body, and soul. The devil, he is the head; the synagogue of Satan,
that is the body; that wicked spirit of iniquity, that is the soul
of antichrist.
Christ then is the head of his church, the devil is the head of
antichrist; the elect are the body of Christ, the reprobate
professors are the body of antichrist; the Holy Ghost is the Spirit
of life that acteth Christ's body; that wicked spirit of iniquity is
that which acteth the body of antichrist.
Thus therefore are the two great mighties set forth before us, who
are the heads of those two bodies.