The reason why Christ came into the world was, that he might destroy
all the works of the head of antichrist, and them which he endeavors
to complete by his wicked spirit working in his body. And the reason
why antichrist came into the world was, that the church, which is
the body of Christ, might be tried and made white by suffering under
his tyranny, and by bearing witness against his falsehoods. For, for
the trial of the faithful and for the punishment of the world,
antichrist was admitted to come. But when he came, he first appeared
where one would have thought there had been no place nor corner for
his reception.
Here therefore was his first appearance, even in the church of God.
Not that the church did willingly admit him there to sit as such; he
had covered his cloven foot; he had plums in his dragon's mouth, and
so came in by flatteries, promising to do for Christ and his church
that which he never meant to perform; for he showed himself that he
was God, and in appearance set his heart to do as the heart of God.
And who could have found in their heart to shut the door upon such a
one? True, he came, when he came thither, out of the bottomless pit;
but there came such a smoke out thence with him, and that smoke so
darkened the light of the sun, of the moon, of the stars, and of the
day, that had they been upon their watch, as they were not, they
could not have perceived him from another man. Besides, there came
with him so many locusts to usher him into the house of God, and
they so suited the flesh and reason of the godly of that day, that
with good words and fair speeches, by their crafty and cunning
sleights whereby they lay in wait to deceive, they quite got him in,
and set him up and made him a great one, even the chief, before they
were aware. Further, he quickly got him a beast to ride on, far, for
sumptuous glory, beyond--though as to nature as assish a creature
as--that on which Balaam was wont to ride; and by this exaltation he
not only became more stately, but the horns of the beast would push
for him.
Again, this man of sin, when he came into the world, had the art of
metamorphosing, and could change himself, both in form and shape,
into the likeness of a beast, a man, or woman.
A lily among thorns, a pearl on a dunghill, and beauty under a veil,
will make one turn aside to look on it. Answerable to this, the
church, even in the wilderness or under persecution, is compared not
only to a woman, but to a comely and delicate woman. Thus the
church, though in her weeds of widowhood, is become the desire of
the eyes of the nations; for indeed her features are such
considering who is her head, where mostly to the eye beauty lies,
that whoso sees but the utmost glimpse of her is easily ravished
with her beauties. The church, the very name of the church of God is
beautiful in the world; and as among women, she that has beauty has
her head desired, if it might be, to stand upon another woman's
shoulders; so this and that and every nation that beholds the beauty
of the church, would fain be called by that name.
The church, one would think, was but in a homely dress when she was
coming out of captivity; and yet then the people of the countries
desired to be one with her: "Let us," said they to Zerubbabel and to
the fathers of the church, "build with you, for we seek your God as
you do."
The very name of the church is striven for of the world; but that is
the church which Christ has made so; her features also remain with
herself. Hear the relation that the Holy Ghost gives of the
intrinsic beauty of the church when she was to go to be in a
persecuted state: "She was clothed with the sun, had the moon under
her feet, and had upon her head a crown of twelve stars." And yet
now the dragon stood by. But I say, here is a woman! Let any one who
will attempt it show such another in the world if he can.
They therefore that have any regard to morality, civility, or to
ceremonial comeliness, covet to be of the church of God, or to
appropriate that glorious title to themselves.
And here indeed antichrist came in. She took this name to herself;
and though she could not come at the sun, nor moon, nor stars, to
adorn herself with them, yet she has found something that makes her
comely in her followers' eyes. See how the Holy Ghost sets her
forth: she was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with
gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her
hand. Hence she is called the well-favored harlot, the lady of
kingdoms.
But because the chaste matron, the spouse of Christ, would not allow
this harlot to run away with this name therefore she gets upon the
back of her beast, and by him pushes this woman into the dirt; but
because her faith and love to her husband remain, she turns again
and pleads by her titles, her features, and ornaments, that she and
she only is she whose square answereth to the characters which her
Lord had given of his own; and so the strife began. For so soon as
this mistress became a dame in the world, and found that she had her
stout abettors, she attempts to turn all things topsy-turvy, and to
set them and to make of them what she lists.