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WHAT is antichrist?

 
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:37 pm    Post subject: WHAT is antichrist? Reply with quote

Quote:
Excerpt from W.T.'s preaface to the parable of the Wicked mammon

Mark this also above all things, --that Antichrist is not an outward thing, that is to say, a man that should suddently appear with wonders, as our fathers talked of him. No, verily; for Antichrist is a spiritual thing. And is as much to say as against Christ; that is, one that preacheth false doctrine, contrary to Christ. Antichrist was in the Old Testament, and fought with the prophets; he was also in the time of Christ and the apostles, as thou readest in the Epistles of John, and of Paul to the Corinthians and Galatians, and other Epistles. Antichrist is now, and shall, (I doubt not) endure till the world's end. But his nature is (when he is uttered and overcome with the word of God) to go out of the play for a season, and to disguise himself, and then to come in again with a new name and new raiment. As thou seest how Christ rebuketh the Scribes and the Pharisees in the gospel, (which were very Antichrists,) saying, "Woe be to you, Pharisees, for ye rob widows' houses; ye pray long prayers under a colour; ye shut up the kingdom of heaven, and suffer them not that would to enter in; ye have taken away the key of knowledge; ye make men break God's commandments with your traditions; ye beguile the people with hypocrisy and such like; Which things all our prelates do, but have yet gotten them new names, and other garments, and are otherwise disguised. There is difference in the names between a pope, a cardinal, a bishop, and so forth, and to say a scribe, a pharisee, a senior, and so forth; but the thing is all one. Even so now, when we have uttered him, he will change himself once more, and turn himself into angel of light. (2 Cor. xi.) Read the place, I exhort thee, whatsoever thou art that readest this, and note it well. The Jews look for Christ, and he is come fifteen hundred years ago, and they not aware: we also have looked for Antichrist, and he hath reigned as long, and we not aware; and that because either of us looked carnally for him, and not in the places where we ought to have sought. The Jews had found Christ verily if they had sought him in the law and the prophets, wither Christ sendeth them to seek. (John v.) We also had spied out Antichrist long ago if we had looked in the doctrine of Christ and his apostles, where, because the beast seeth himself now to be sought for, he roareth, and seeketh new holes to hide himself in, and changeth himself into a thousand fashions, with all manner [of] wiliness, falsehood, subtilty, and craft. Because that his excommunications are come to light, he maketh it treason unto the king to be acquaintd with Christ. If Christ and they may not reign together, one hope we have that Christ shall live ever. The old Antichrists brought Christ unto Pilate, saying, By our law he ought to die; and when Pilate bade them judge him after their law, they answered, It is not lawful for us to kill any man; which they did to the intent that they which regarded not the shame of their false excommunications, should yet fear to confess Christ, because that the temporal sword had condemned him. THey do all things of a good zeal, they say; they love you so well, that they had rather burn you, than that you should have fellowship with Christ. They are jealous over you amiss, (as saith St. Paul Gal. iv.) They would divide you from Christ and his holy Testament, and join you to the pope, to believe in his testament and promises. Some man will ask, peradaventure, WHy I take the labour to make this work, inasmuch as they will burn it, seeing they burnt the gospel? I answer, In burning the New Testament they did none other thing than that I looked for, no more shall they do if they burn me also, if it be God's will it shall be.
Nevertheless, in translating the New Testament I did my duty, and so do I now, and will do as much more as God hath ordained me to do. And as I offered that to all men to correct it, whosoever could, even so I do this. Whosoever, therefore, readeth this, compare it unto the Scripture. If God's word bear record unto it, and thou also feelest in thine heart that it is so, be of good comfort, and give God thanks. If God's word condemn it, then hold it accursed, and so do all other doctrines: as Paul counselleth his Galatians:--Believe not every spirit suddenly, but judge them by the word of God, which is the trial of all doctrine, and lasteth for ever. Amen.


1 John 2:15-22
15See that ye love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him.  16For all that is in the world (as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of goods) is not of the father: but of the world.  17And the world vanisheth away, and the lust thereof: but he that fulfilleth the will of God, abideth ever.  18Little children it is the last time, and as ye have heard how the antichrist shall come: even now are there many antichrists come already, whereby we know that it is the last time.  19They went out from us but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. But that fortuned that it might appear, that they were not of us.  20And ye have an ointment of the holy ghost, and ye know all things.  21I wrote not unto you, as though ye knew not the truth: but as though ye knew it, and know also that no lie cometh of truth.  22Who is a liar: but he that denieth that Jesus is Christ? he is the antichrist that denieth the father and the son.  

1 John 4:2-3
2Hereby shall ye know the spirit of God. Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God.  3And every spirit which confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God. And this is that spirit of antichrist, of whom ye have heard, how that he should come: and even now already is he in the world.  
Quote:
1Jo 4:2 .. "ιησουν χριστον εν σαρκι εληλυθοτα"
Translated: Iesus Christ is come in the flesh
Code:
<(εληλυθοτα)> is come


2 John 1:7-9
7For many deceivers are entered into the world, which confess not that Jesus Christ is como in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.  8Look on yourselves, that we loose not that we have wrought: but that we may have a full reward.  9Whosoever transgresseth and bideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that endureth in the doctrine of Christ, hath both the father, and the son.  
Code:
2Jo 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, which confess not that Jesus Christ is como <(ερχομενον: as coming, or returning)> in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.


Quote:
Excerpts from William Tyndale's commentary on 1 John[1]

Little children it is now the last houre, and as ye have heard that Antichrist shoulde come: even so now are many Antichrists come already: whereby we know that it is the last hour. They went out of us, but were none of us: for had they bene of us, they had continued with us. But that fortuned that it might appeare, how they were not all of us.[2]

"Hour" is here taken for "time." The last hour is as much to say, the last time. Though the Apostles might not know when the last day shall be and how long the world will endure, yet this was showed them, then us by them, that Antichrist should first come[3]; and not only come, but also prevail and be reckoned after a worldly manner, and reign over all; setting up a long continuing kingdom[4] with damnable sects and wonderful kinds of hypocrisy, that is to say, falsehood cloaked under a contrary pretence, as testified Paul and also Peter.[5] This Antichrist began with the Apostles, sowing his doctrine among the doctrine of the Apostles, preaching many things as did the Apostles, while adding ever somewhat of his own, that the weeds might ever grow up with the corn. Of which John gathered a sign: that the last day drew nigh, though he could not be sure how long it were thereto.

Antichrist is one of the first who sees the light, and who comes and preaches Christ for a while, seeking his glory in Christ's Gospel. But when he discovers that there will be no glory for himself besides that of preaching, then he goes and preaches that doctrine which is contrary to Christ. If he cannot disguise himself, nor his scheming, whereby his poisoned heresy is hidden under the bait of true doctrine, then is he a professed and open enemy.

The Apostles were clear-eyed and spied Antichrist at once, and put him to flight, weeding out his doctrine quickly. But when charity waxed cold, and the preachers began to seek themselves and to admit glory, and honor of riches, then Antichrist disguised himself after the fashion of a true Apostle and preached Christ with subtlety and cunning, bringing in first this tradition, later that tradition, darkening the doctrine of Christ, and setting up innumerable ceremonies, Sacraments and images, giving them significations at first, but later their signification was set aside, and works were instead preached as holy deeds to justify, to put away sin, and to save the soul. Antichrist taught that men should put their trust in works and whatsoever was unto his glory and profit; and under the name of Christ ministered, leaving Christ out altogether, becoming head of the congregation himself.

The Pope made a law of his own to rule his church by, putting Christ's law out of the way. All the Bishops were under the Pope, and all Curates under the Bishops, but all renounce, under oath, Christ and his doctrine.

But seeing John took a sign of the last day that he saw Antichrist begin, how near ought we to think that it is, which after 800 years, reigning in prosperity, see it decay again, and his falsehood to be now disclosed, and him to be slain with the spirit of the mouth of Christ; that is, with that old doctrine that proceedeth out of Christ's mouth. For Paul saith when Antichrist is utterly [destroyed], then cometh the end.

But ye have anoyntyng of that holy, and knowe all thyng, I write not unto you as though ye knew not the truth, but as unto them that know it, and how that no lye is of the truth.[6]

Christ in the Scripture is called the holy because he only sanctifieth and halloweth us. And he is called Christ, that is to say, anointed, because he anointeth our souls with the holy ghost and with all the gifts of the same. Ye are not anointed with oil in your bodies, but with the spirit of Christ in your souls; which spirit teacheth you all truth in Christ and maketh you to judge what is a lie and what is truth, and to know Christ from Antichrist. For except he taught your souls within, the pouring of words into your ears would be in vain. For they must be all taught of God, John 6:45. And the things of God no man knoweth, save the spirit of God; and the carnal man knoweth not the things of the spirit of God. On the contrary, the spiritual that is anointed with the spirit judgeth all things, 1 Cor. 2:11-15. Therefore, we are forbidden to call any of us Master upon earth, Matt. 23:10, seeing we have all one Master now who is in heaven who only teaches us with his spirit, though by the administration and office of a faithful preacher.

God freely chooses some men to salvation without respect to anything foreseen in man [7]

The same preacher cannot make his preaching [take root and] spring up in the heart, no more than a sower can make his corn grow, nor can he say "this man shall receive, and this not." His is to sow the word only, committing the growing to God, whose spirit breatheth where he listeth, and maketh the ground of whose heart he wishes fruitful, and chooseth whom he will at his own pleasure, and for no other cause known unto man.

Who is a lyer but he that denyeth Iesus is Christ? The same is Antichrist that denyeth the father and the sonne.

Forasmuch as Antichrist and Christ are two contraries, and the endeavor of Antichrist is to quench the name of Christ, [it is asked by our adversaries] how can the Pope and his sects be Antichrist when they all preach Christ? Say I again to thee, how was Pelagius Antichrist, whose doctrine the Pope defendeth in the highest degree, and how were all other heretics Antichrist? Verily, Sylvester the Pope did what all heretics do -- he abused the name of Christ. He gathered offerings, tithes and rents in Christ's name, bestowing them to his own honor and not Christ's. He brought the conscience of the people into captivity through superstitious fear, as though such authority was given him by Christ. And every syllable [in Scripture] that sounded as though it fit his purpose, he expoundeth it falsely and fleshly, and therewith deceived and bewitched the ears of the people, making them his own possession, to believe what he wished, as though it made no difference to them if he preached true or false; so they believed and did as he biddeth them.

But all the texts which show the Pope his duty, he puts out of the way, including all the texts which set the conscience at liberty in Christ, as well as those which prove salvation to be in Christ only. With Pelagius he preacheth the justifying of works, which is the denying of Christ. He preacheth a false binding and loosing by confession to a priest which is not [grounded] in the trust and confidence of Christ's shed blood. He preacheth the false penance of deeds, neglecting to preach that we rein the flesh so that we sin no more. Rather, he teaches that we make satisfaction to redeem our past sins. What else can this be but the denying of Christ, who alone made redemption for our sin? The Pope maketh of the works of the ceremonies, which were customarily used to be signs and remembrances of things to be believed or done, service unto God and his Saints which are spirits, to purchase with their merits whatsoever the blind soul imagines. All are the denying of Christ. For if thou wilt receive an anointing of grace or mercy from anywhere besides Christ, he is no longer Christ unto thee.

Christ is called Jesus, a Saviour. He is called Christus, king anointed over all men whom they must hold, and whose benefit must they all have. He is called Emanuel, God is with us, for he only maketh God our God, our strength, power, sword and shield, and shortly, our father. He is called Sanctus, that is, "holy", who hallows, sanctifies, and blesses all nations. And these be his names forever, and are no names of hypocrisy?..[But not so with those we] call Curates which "care" for their parishes as the wolf for the flock; and Bishops that are [called] "overseers," which will so oversee that they will suffer naught to be prosperous, except their own commonwealth; and some [clergy] who call themselves "dead" which live in all voluptuousness; and some who call themselves "poor" who [allegedly] have nothing proper and yet live in all abundance; as well as they that shave and disguise themselves with garments and ornaments to signify that which is contrary to who it is they really are.

Nay, Christ is no hypocrite. Nor is he disguised as is one who plays a part in a stage play, representing a person or state which he is not. He is always that which he name signifies. He is ever a Savior, and ever anointed with grace, or to set God at one with men. And these things which his name signify are those which he does for the repentant sinners who have trust and confidence in his blood that they might be saved and sanctified.

Now, though the Pope and his sects give Christ these names, yet they rob him of the effect, taking their significations unto themselves, making of him a hypocrite, as they are themselves. They be right Antichrists who deny both the father and the son. For they deny the witness the father bare unto his son, as they deny the son of all power and glory that his father gave him.

Whosoever denyeth the sonne, the same hath not the father.

For no man knoweth the father but the son and to whom the son sheweth him, Matt.11. Moreover, if thou know not the mercy that God hath shewed thee in Christ, thou canst not know him as a father. Thou may well, without Christ, know him as a tyrant. And thou may know there is a God by his works, as the old philosophers did. But thou can neither believe in his mercy, nor love his laws, through which we worship him in the Spirit, except by Christ.

Let therefore abide in you that which ye heard at the beginning. If that which ye heard at the beginning shall remain in you, then shall ye continue in the Sonne, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, everlasting life.

If we abide in the old doctrine which the Apostles taught, and harken to no new one; then we abide in the Son and the Father (for they build upon the Son), through confidence in the Son, and are heirs of everlasting life.

These things have I written unto you because of them that deceive you. And the anointing that ye received of him dwelleth in you and ye need not that any man teache you, but as that anointing teacheth you of all things, and is true, and is of no lye: Even as it hath taught you, so abide therein.

When a true teacher preacheth, the Spirit entereth the hearts of the elect and maketh them feel the righteousness of the law of God, and by the law, the poison of their corrupt nature,[4] and thence leadeth them through repentance unto the mercy that is in Christ's blood. As an ointment heals the body, even so, the Spirit, through confidence in Christ's blood, heals the soul, making it love the law of God; and therefore is called anointing or ointment, and may well be signified by the oil of our sacrament. But outward oil, as a sign, can never heal the soul, nor make it feel safe. In like manner, neither is a drink at a tavern, though it quenches a man's thirst, to have our trust. Let us, therefore, follow the teaching of the Spirit which we have received, (as Paul says), an earnest, to certify our hearts, and to make us feel the things of God, and not cleave to the traditions of men,[9] in which is no feeling, but only confirms their assertions through glorious persuasions of human wisdom, but not after the wisdom of God?

And now little children abide in him, that when hee shall appeare we many have confidence, and not bee made ashamed of hym at hys commyng.

Here are two things to be marked. One, if we cleave unto Christ after the doctrine of the Apostles, and as they built upon him, we shall be bold and sure of ourselves at his coming. It is also true that, in his master's absence, a servant, who does only his master?s commandments, cannot be confounded at his coming home again.[10] But, and if, we follow men's doctrine, how can we be bold? Yea, how should we not be ashamed with our teachers, unto whom then he shall say (when they boast themselves how they have been his vicars),[11] I know you not; depart from me ye that have wrought wickedness,[12] and in my name have brought in damnable sects,[13] and have taught your disciples to believe in other things besides me. Now the sum of all that the Apostles taught and how they built upon Christ is the new testament. But the pope's doctrine is not found there; it is unproved [by Scripture]. Therefore, he shall be confounded, he who wittingly and willingly shuts his eyes at the true light, opening them only to believe his lies.

Another [point made by the above Scripture verse] is this: All the scripture maketh mention of the resurrection and coming again of Christ. All men, both who went before and come after, shall then receive their rewards together. We are commanded to look every hour for that day. And what is done upon the souls departing their bodies unto that day, the Scripture makes no mention, but only that they rest in the Lord and in their faith. Wherefore if someone declares doctrine regarding the state of the soul after death teaches the presumptuous imaginations of his own brain.[14] Neither can his doctrine be an article of our faith. What God does with [those who die in the Lord] is a secret laid up in the treasury of God. And we ought to be patient, being certain of the scripture, that they which die in the faith are at rest, and ought not to search that secret anymore than he ought not search the hour of the resurrection which God hath put in his own power.

But remember this, the whole nature of man is poisoned and infected with sin.[15] And his life of sin must be mortified. And the root of all sin and first vice with which we were infected is the sin of being wise above that which God hath taught us. This is seen in that Eve would have been as God in the knowledge of good and bad.[16] Therefore, hath God hid many things, and commanded that we shall seek none of his secrets further then what he hath opened to us in his scripture,[17] for the purpose of mortifying this particular poison of all poisons, which is the desire to appear wise and the shame we feel to be ignorant in anything at all. Wherefore, they who violently make articles of faith without God's word [as their authority] are still alive in the root of all sin and vice, and grow out of the devil and not out of Christ. And their articles are the blindness of the devil, not of the light of Christ, for Christ's light hath everywhere the testimony of the scripture.[18]

If ye know that he is righteous, know that all that woorke righteousnes are borne of him.

Our nature is to work wickedness and is blind to righteousness.[19] And then it follows that we must be born anew in Christ before we can either do or know what is righteous. And in him we must first be made righteous before we can work righteous works. This conclusion is contrary to that held by the Pope, for he says that works do make the man righteous. But Christ's doctrine says that the man makes the work righteous. The Pope's doctrine states, a righteous man springeth out of righteous works. But Christ's doctrine states, righteous works spring out of a righteous man, and a righteous man springeth out of Christ.[20] The Pope says, the works make the man righteous which before was wicked. Christ says, the works declare that the man is righteous, but the man was first made righteous in Christ, and the Spirit of Christ taught him what righteousness was, healing his heart, making him consent thereto, turning his desire to righteousness and the works thereof.[21]

--.Dearly beloved believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits whether they be of God. For many false Prophetes are gone out into the world.

By spirits are meant preachers. If the preaching or doctrine be good, it is of the Spirit of God. If it be evil, it is of the devil. We ought not believe every man's doctrine unadvisedly, or condemn any man's preaching before being heard or seen for what it is. It is the duty of every Christian man to examine, judge and try it, whether it be true or false. Quench not the Spirit, saith Paul, I Thess. Neither despise prophesyings, but prove all things, and keep that which is good.[22] Destroy not the gifts of the Spirit of God, but try whether they be of God, and good for the edifying of the congregation. Keep that which is good and refuse that which is evil. And suffer every person that hath any gift of God to serve God therein, in his degree and estate, after a Christian manner and a due order. Why try the doctrines? Verily, for there be many false prophets abroad already. I told you before that Antichrist should come, as our Master Christ told us he should come. But now I certify to you that Antichrist's kingdom is begun already. And his disciples are gone out to preach. Try, therefore, all doctrine. Wherewith shall we try it? With the doctrine of the Apostles, and with the Scripture which is the touchstone --- [23]

Hereby know ye the spirite of God. Every spirite that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. And every spirite that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God. And the same is that spirit of Antichrist, of whom ye have heard that he should come. And even now he is in the world already.

Whatsoever opinion any member of Antichrist holdeth, the ground of all his doctrine is to destroy the article of our faith: that Christ is come in the flesh. For though the majority of all heretics is come in the flesh as they are in the flesh, yet they deny that he is come as the Scripture testifies and as the Apostles preached him to have come. The whole purpose of the devil and all his members is to destroy the hope and trust that we should have in Christ's flesh, and in those things which he suffered for us in his flesh, and in the Testament and promises of mercy which are made us in his flesh. For the Scripture testifieth that Christ hath taken away the sin of the world in his flesh, and that the same hour that he yielded up his Spirit into the hands of his Father, he had fully purged and made full satisfaction for all the sins of the world. So that all the sins of the world, both before and after his passion, must be put away through repentance toward the law and faith and trust in his blood; without respect for any other satisfaction, sacrifice or work.[24] For if I once sin the law rebuketh my conscience and sets variance between God and me. And I shall never be at peace with God again until I have heard the voice of his mouth, that my sin is forgiven me for Christ's blood sake. As soon as I believe this, I am at peace with God, Romans 5:1, and love his law again, working the work of love.

How Antichrist and his members deny Christ came in the flesh

And that Christ hath done this service in his flesh, deny all the members of Antichrist. And hereby thou shalt know them. All doctrine which is built upon Christ, which places trust in Christ and confidence in his blood,[25] is of God and is true doctrine. And all doctrine which withdraws hope and trust from Christ [alone] is of the devil and is the doctrine of Antichrist. Examine the Pope by this rule and thou shalt find that all he doth is to the destruction of this article. He wrests all the Scriptures, setting them clean against the whole counsel of God, in order to destroy this article. He ministers the very Sacraments of Christ unto the destruction of this article; and so does he with all other ceremonies, by his absolution, penance, purgatory, dispensations, pardons, vows, with all dissembling. The pope preaches that Christ is come to do away with all sins, yet not in the flesh, but in water, salt, oil, vows, ashes, friars' coats and monks' cowls, and in the vows of them that forswear matrimony to keep WHORES, and to swear poverty yet possess all the treasure, riches, wealth and pleasures of the world; and having vowed obedience, to disobey lawful authority, both of God and man. For in these hypocrisies and false sacrifices does he teach us to trust for the forgiveness of sins, and not in Christ's flesh [sacrificed for us].

Ye are of God little children, and have overcome them. For greater is he that is in you, then he that is in the world.

He that dwelleth in you and worketh in you through faith, is greater then he which dwelleth and worketh in them through unbelief. And in his strength ye abide by your profession, and confess your Lord Jesus, how he came in the flesh and hath purged the sin of all that believe in his flesh. And through that faith ye overcome them - even in the very torments of death. So that neither their deceptions, neither their pleasures, neither their threatenings, or their torments, or the very death wherewith they slay your bodies, can prevail against you.

They be of the world, and therefore they speak of the world, and the world attendeth[26] unto them. We bee of God: and hee that knoweth God heareth us. And he that is not of God heareth us not. And hereby we know the spirit of truth and the spirite of errour.

There are only two kinds of men in the world:
Those who belong to God and those who belong to the devil

There be and ever shall be two generations in the world: one of the devil, which naturally hearken unto the false Apostles of the devil because they speak so agreeably unto their natural complexion. And another of God, which harken unto the true Apostles of God, consenting to their doctrine. And this is a sure rule by which to judge all spirits, that we judge them to have the spirit of truth, which harken unto the true doctrine of Christ's Apostles; and also to judge them to have the spirit of error which hearken unto worldly and devilish doctrine, abhorring the preaching of the Apostles. And see whether the pope's doctrine be worldly or not, if pride and covetousness be worldly, ye and LECHERY, too. For what else do his doctrines consist of but benefices, promotions, dignities, bishoprics, cardinalships, vicarages, parsonages, prebends, change of bishoprics, resigning of benefices, of unions, pluralities, and that which cometh once into their hands may not leave their hands; yea, and of WHORES and CONCUBINES, and of capturing the consciences of the covetous. All that hearken to that doctrine abhor the doctrine of the Apostles, persecuting it and them that preach it--

--.Herein appeared the love of God unto us warde, because God sent his only sonne into the world, that we should live through hym. Herein is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent hys sonne, a satisfaction for our synnes.

Man's free will decision for Christ a damnable lie

If a man had once felt within his conscience the fierce wrath of God toward sinners, and the terrible and most cruel damnation that the law threatens: and then beheld with the eyes of a strong faith, the merciful favor and gracious taking away of the damnation of the law and the restoring again of life, freely offered us in Christ's blood, he should perceive love, and so much the more, that it was showed us when we were sinners and enemies of God, Romans 5, and that with all deservings, without our endeavoring, enforcing and preparing ourselves, without all good motions, qualities and properties of our freewill. But [he loved us] when our hearts were as dead unto all good working, as the members of him whose soul is departed. This truth I will prove to stop the blasphemous mouths of our adversaries [who preach man's freewill love of God]. I will from innumerable texts rehearse but one found in the beginning of the second chapter to the Ephesians, where Paul saith thus,

Ye were dead in trespass and sin in which ye walked according to the course of the world and after the governor who ruleth in the air, the spirit that worketh in the children of unbelief, among which we also had our conversation in time past, in the lusts of our flesh and of the mind (so that the flesh and the mind were in agreement to sin, the mind consenting as well as the flesh) and were by nature the children of wrath as well as others. But God being rich in mercy, through the great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sin, hath quickened us with Christ: for by grace are ye saved: and with him hath raised us by and with him made us sit in heavenly things through Jesus Christ, for to show in time to come the exceeding riches of his grace, in kindness to usward in Jesus Christ. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: for it is the gift of God, and commeth not of works, lest any man should boast himself. But we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, unto which God ordained us before that we should walk in them.

The text is plain. We were stone dead and without life or power to do or consent to good. Our whole nature was captive under the devil and led of his will. And we were as wicked as the devil now is (except he now sinneth against the holy ghost) and we consented unto sin with soul and body, and hated the law of God. But God of his grace only quickened us in Christ, and raised us out of that death and made us sit with Christ in heavenly things. That is, he set our hearts at rest and made us sit secure in the life of Christ's doctrine, immoveable from the love of Christ. And finally, our second birth is God's workmanship and creation in Christ, so that as he which is yet unmade hath no life nor power to work, neither did we until we were made again in Christ. The preaching of mercy in Christ quickened our hearts through faith, wrought by the spirit of Christ which God placed in our hearts before we were wise--.

[1] Originally published, 1531. Our source: THE WHOLE workes of W. Tyndall, John Frith, and Doct. Barnes, three worthy Martyrs, and principal teachers of this Church of England, collected and compiled in one Tome together, being before scattered, & now in Print here exhibited to the Church. To the prayse of God, and proffite of all good Christian Readers, (London: John Daye, 1573); pp.406-417. Slight alterations in text by this present editor are for ease in comprehension only. Footnotes and paragraph headings have been added by this editor.

[2] 1 John 2:18-19.

[3] Antichrist should come before Christ ever comes, negating "secret" Rapture theory.

[4] Antichrist will not be one person who comes in the last 3 1/2 years of the world, but will reign as a succession and dynasty for ages.

[5] E.g., II Thess. 2; Acts 20:28-31; 2 Peter 2, etc.

[6] 1 John 2:20-21.

[7] Header inserted by this editor.

[8] I.e., A depraved nature, which all have.

[9] I.e., to rely on the Bible alone as our rule of faith.

[10] Matt. 24:45-47.

[11] I.e., The popes, who claim to be Vicars of Christ.

[12] Matt. 7:23.

[13] 2 Peter 2:1.

[14] I.e., The Roman Catholic doctrine of Purgatory.

[15] I.e., a sin nature which is totally depraved.

[16] I.e., the doctrine of original sin.

[17] Deut. 29:29.

[18] I.e., Sola Scriptura: Scripture alone is our rule of faith.

[19] John 3:3; Romans 3:10-20.

[20] I.e., the tree makes the fruit good, the fruit does not make the tree good. A good tree gives good fruit. Matt. 3:10; 7:17-20; 12:33.

[21] I.e., Regeneration by the Spirit must proceed anything righteous in the man, whether thoughts, words or deeds.

[22] 1 Thess. 5:19-21.

[23] Scripture alone is our guide and rule of faith.

[24] I.e., Faith alone in Christ alone.

[25] I.e., Faith alone in the merits and person of Christ alone.

[26] I.e., listens and heeds.

_________________
Zechariah 4:6
He answered, and said unto me: This is the word of the LORD unto Zorobabel, saying: Neither thorow an host of men, nor thorow strength, but thorow my spirit, sayeth the LORD of Hosts.


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 2:39 pm    Post subject: WT commentary excerpts on Antichrist Reply with quote

Quote:

Excerpts from Tyndale's Treatise on Antichrist A.D. 1527[1]

Jesus and Paul warned of Antichrist's false miracles

-Antichrist of another manner has sent his disciples forth, those false anointed, of which Christ warned us beforehand, that they should come and show miracles and wonders, even to bring the very elect out of the way, if it were possible.[2] He sendeth them forth as Paul prophesied of them, with lying signs and wonders [3] ..

Bishops and priests bear the Mark of the Beast

-Bishops and priests that preach not, or that preach anything whatever except God's word, are none of Christ's, nor of his anointing; but servants of the Beast, whose mark they bear, whose word they preach, whose law they maintain completely against God's law, and with their false wisdom give [the Beast] greater power than God ever gave to his Son, Christ .. Antichrist is too good to be judged by the law of God; he must have a new, of his own making........

Christ and His Apostles warned us not to sleep because Antichrist comes;

False prophets to be judged by Scripture

-Wherefore did Christ and his apostles warn us so diligently of Antichrist and false prophets that should come? In order that we should slumber and sleep carelessly? Or was it so that we should look in the light of the scripture with all diligence, to spy them when they came, and not to suffer ourselves to be deceived and led out of the way? John tells us to judge the spirits. How shall we judge them, but by the scriptures? How shall we know whether the prophet be true of false, or whether he speaks God's word, or of his own imagination, if thou wilt not see the scriptures..

Magistrates are the executioners for the Church of Rome, as was Pilate for the Pharisees;

Persecution by the Church of Rome foretold

-The emperors and kings are nothing nowadays, but are hangmen for the pope and bishops, to kill whosoever they condemn; as Pilate was unto the scribes and Pharisees and the chief priests, to hang Christ. For just as those [Jewish] prelates answered Pilate, when he asked what [Christ] had done, If he were not an evil doer, we would not have brought him unto thee, meaning: We are too holy to do anything Improperly, you can be sure what we say Is true. In the very same way so say our [Catholic] prelates, He ought to die by our laws, he speaketh against the church: Or they say, Your grace Is sworn to defend the liberties and ordinances of the church, and to maintain our Most Holy Father's authority.............

The prophets, including the Prophet Jesus, were all killed for the same reason: they exposed the hypocritical false prophets of Israel;

The Church of Rome, the type of unbelieving Israel, also kills the prophets God sends them;

Matthew 23 a prophecy of the Church of Rome

-Who slew the prophets? Who slew Christ? Who slew his apostles? Who killed the martyrs and all the righteous that were ever slain? The kings and the temporal sword at the request of the false prophets. Why were the prophets persecuted? Because they rebuked the hypocrites which beguiled the world, namely princes and rulers, and who taught [the sheep] to put their trust in things of vanity, and not in God's word, teaching them to do such deeds of mercy as were profitable unto no man, but unto the false prophets only; making merchandise of God's word.

Why did they kill Christ? For rebuking the hypocrites [for shutting up the kingdom of heaven to men, taking away the key of knowledge]. The hypocrites will not allow men to know God's word, but Instead burn it, and make heresy of it.......

Tyndale, the prophet, exposes the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church in straining out a gnat through superstitious ritualism, but swallowing a camel by committing whoredom and killing the saints

-Ye blind guides, saith Christ, ye strain out a gnat and swallow a camel. Matt. 23. Do not our blind guides also stumble at a straw, and leap over a block; making narrow consciences at trifles, and at matters of weight none at all? If any of them happen to swallow his spittle, or any of the water wherewith he washes his mouth before Mass; or touch the sacrament with his nose, or to happen to handle it with any of his fingers which are not anointed; or say "Alleluia" instead of "Laus tibi Domine": or pour too much wine in the chalice; or make not his crosses aright, how he trembles! How he is struck with fear! What a horrible sin he has committed! But to hold a whore, or another man's wife, to buy a benefice, to set one realm at variance with another, and to cause twenty thousand men to die on a day, is but a trifle and pastime with them!

The Jews boast ancestry from Abraham;

The Popes claim apostolic succession from Peter

-The Jews boasted themselves of Abraham; and Christ said unto them, John 8: If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the deeds of Abraham. Our hypocrites boast themselves of the authority of Peter, Paul and the other apostles, [yet they are] completely contrary to the works and doctrine of Peter, Paul and all the other apostles. These [hypocritical Jews and Catholics] teach not to fear God in his commandments; but to fear them In their traditions......

Tyndale warns the flock of the wolves and judgment awaiting those who follow them

-Be learned, lest the hypocrites bring the wrath of God upon your heads and compel you to shed innocent blood; as they have compelled your predecessors to slay the prophets, to kill Christ and his apostles, and all the righteous that since were slain. God's word pertaineth unto all men, as it pertaineth to all servants to know their master's will and pleasure, and to all subjects to know the laws of their prince. Let not the hypocrites do all things secretly. What reason is it that mine enemy should put me in prison at his pleasure, and there to starve me, and handle me at his pleasure, and judge me himself - secretly - and condemn me by a law of his own making and then deliver me to Pilate to murder me? [4]

Tyndale and all Reformer/Prophets were persecuted as was Christ;

Jesus would not have been crucified had He made ecumenical friends with the Pharisees

-Hereof may ye see, not only that our persecution is for the same cause that Christ's was, and that we say nothing that Christ said not; but also that all persecution is only for rebuking of hypocrisy; that is to say, of man's [supposed] righteousness and holy deeds, which man hath imagined to please God and to be saved by without God's word, the testament that God hath made In Christ. If Christ had not rebuked the Pharisees because they taught the people to believe in their traditions and holiness, and [because in their avarice took] offerings that came to their advantage, [or had not rebuked them when] they taught the widows, and others whose friends had died to believe in their prayers, [or had not rebuked them for teaching] that through their prayers the dead should be saved; and through means [of those deceptions] robbed them both of their goods, Christ might have been uncrucified unto this day.

If Paul had not preached justification by faith, he, too, might have lived;

If the Reformers had not rebuked the pharisaical Prelates, they, too, might have lived

-If St. Paul had not preached against circumcision, that it justifieth not; and that vows, offerings, and ceremonies justified not; and that righteousness and forgiveness of sins came not by any works of merit, but by faith, believing the promises of God, and by the deserving and merits of Christ only, he might have lived unto this hour. Likewise, if we preached not against pride, covetousness, lechery, extortion, usury, simony, and against the evil living both of the spirituality as well as of the temporality we might endure long enough. But touch the scab of hypocrisy, or pope-holiness, and go about warning of their false doctrine and how they reign as gods in the heart and consciences of men and rob them, not only of their lands, goods, and authority, but also of the testament of God, and salvation that is in Christ - then it matters not to them what Scriptures [support you], or what miracles thou has performed: but [they determine] thou art not only a heretic possessed by a devil, but a traitor to the king.

[1] Doctrinal Treatises by William Tyndale, [Parker Society, 1848]; pp. 232-51. Paragraph headings added by present editor. This material is taken from the editor's book, Antichrist in Our Midst.

[2] Matthew 24:24.

[3] II Thess. 2:9.

[4] As was Jesus also illegally tried and executed.


Quote:

Excerpts from
An Answer Unto Master [Sir Thomas] Moore's First Book (25th chapter)


?..And when Master Moore saith many mysteries are yet to be opened, as is the mystery of the coming of the Antichrist, nay, verily the babe is known well enough, and all the tokens readily seen in him, by which the scriptures describe him.

a sure token that the pope is antichrist (29th chapter)

And though unto all the arguments and persuasions which Master Moore would blind us with, to believe that the Pope with his sect were the true Church, and that God, for the multitude's sake, will not suffer them to err, though we were so simple that we saw not the subtlety of their arguments, nor did we have the words to answer them, but armed only bare faith in our hearts can we be so sure that we cannot be deceived therein, feeling and seeing the conclusion is false and the contrary true.

For first Peter says, II Peter 2:1-2, There shall be false teachers among you which shall secretly bring in damnable sects, denying the Lord that bought them, and many shall follow their damnable ways, by whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of, and with feigned words they shall make merchandise over you. Now saith Paul, Romans 3:19, The law speaketh to them that are under the law. And even so this holds true for those who profess the name of Christ. Now the Pope hath ten thousand sects, differing in their consciences as in their coats, setting up a thousand manner of works to be saved by, which is the denying of Christ. And we see almost all follow their damnable ways. And because Peter said that the many shall rail and blaspheme the truth, it follows there shall be a little flock reserved by the hand of God to testify the truth unto them or else how could they rail on it? And it follows that those railers will be in the majority or else they would not do it [out of fear or shame]. Now what truth in Christ doth the Pope not rebuke and in setting up false works deny altogether? And as for their feigned words, where findest thou in all the Scripture purgatory, penance, pardon, hyperdulia, and a thousand more feigned terms. And as for their merchandise, see for yourself whether or not they sell all God's laws as well as their own, as well as all sin, and all Christ's merits, and all that a man can think. To one he sells the fault only, to another the fault plus the penalty, purging the man's purse of his money and his brain of his wits!

Christ warned of false Christians coming in His name

And Christ saith, Matt. 24:24, there shall false anointed arise and shew signs and wonders; that is, they shall show miracles and so prevail that, if it were possible, the elect should be brought out of the true way. And these false anointed, by the same rule of Paul, and in Christ's saying also, that they shall come in His name, meaning in the Church of Christ, and of them that shall call themselves Christian, and shall shew their wonders before the elect and be a sore temptation unto them, to bring them out of the way.

The Elect are small in number and persecuted

And the elect, which are few in comparison with those who are called and come feignedly, shall among that great multitude be kept by the mighty hand of God against all that is possible. So that the Church and the very elect shall never be shall never be such a multitude together by themselves without persecution and temptation of their faith. Whereas the great multitude under the Pope are they who persecute and tempt. And these which the Pope calls heretics shew no miracles by their own confession, neither ought they, inasmuch as they bring no new learning, nor ought they use any teaching besides that of the Scripture which is already received and contains miracles. Christ promised us naught in this world save persecution for our faith. And the stories of the Old Testament are also our examples, I Cor. 10. And there, though God at a time called with miracles a great multitude, yet the very chosen that received the faith in their hearts, putting their trust in God alone, and which endure in temptations, were but few and ever oppressed of their false brethren, persecuted unto death, driven into corners.

And when Paul, II Thess. 2, saith that Antichrist's coming shall be by the working of Satan with all power, signs and wonders of falsehood and all deceivableness for them that perish because they received not love unto the truth to be saved by, and therefore shall God send them strong delusion or guile, to believe lies. The text must also pertain unto a multitude gathered together in Christ's name, of which one part, no doubt the greater, for lack of love unto the truth that is in Christ to live thereafter, shall fall unto sects and a false faith under the name of Christ, and shall be indurate and established therein with false miracles to perish for their blindness. First of all, the Pope has no Scripture that he dare abide by in the light, neither does he care, but blasphemeth that his word is truer than the Scripture. He hath miracles without God's word, as all false prophets had. He hath lies in all his Legends, in all preachings, and in all books. They have no love unto the truth, which appeareth by their great sins that they have set up above all abominations of all heathen that ever existed, and by their long continuance therein, not of frailty, but of malice unto the truth and of obstinate lust and self-will to sin, which appeareth in two things:

The one, that they have gotten them of wiles and falsehood enacting laws superior to the laws of man, even above King and Emperor, that no man should constrain their bodies and bring them into better order, so that they may be allowed to sin freely without fear of man. And on the other hand, they have made God's word void, that it should not have authority over their consciences, insomuch that if any man rebuke them using God's word, they immediately persecute him, presenting him with their false doctrines, and make him a heretic to burn him and quench his testimony.

The Papists precisely fulfill II Timothy 3

And Paul saith, II Timothy 3, In the later days there shall be perilous times, for there shall be men that love themselves, covetous, high-minded, proud, railers, disobedient to father and mother, unthankful, ungodly, vulgar, promise-breakers, false accusers, unloving, despisers of good, traitors, heady, puffed up, loving lusts more than God, having an appearance of godliness, but denying the power thereof. And by "power" I understand the pure faith in God's word which is the power and essence of all godliness and whence all that pleases God springeth. And this text pertains unto them that profess Christ. For when he saith, having an appearance of godliness, and that which follows in the text, of this sort are they who enter into men's houses and lead women captive laden with sin,[1] ever asking and never able to attain unto the truth (as do those priests who hear confessions), it appeareth that they be such as will be holier than others and teachers and leaders of the rest. Do they not love themselves, their high positions, ordinances, lies and dreams, despising all laws of God and man, regarding no man unless he holds the same degree of dignity. And as for their covetousness which all the world is not able to satisfy, will they not stop at nothing that it may serve their purpose and satisfy their greed? For example, if God punishes the world with an evil plague, the Papists will immediately paint a wooden idol and call it "Job," claiming its power to heal the disease rather than warn the people that the plague was a judgment of God to mend their living. And as for their high mind and pride, see whether they be not above Kings and Emperors and all the names of God, and whether any man may come and bear rule in this world except he swear an oath of obedience to them.

And as for the issue of "railing" of which Paul warns us, one need only look at their excommunication to see whether they spare King or Emperor or even the Testament of God. The Papists disobey mother and father in that they subordinate God the Father to the holy Father, the Pope, whose ceremonies they must serve. They show themselves to be unthankful and unkind when they receive one thousand pounds rent from a man for his land, then refuse one of his offspring a single night's lodging when he is in need. And as for their promise and truce-breaking, see whether any appointment of theirs may withstand their dispensations, though the appointment was lawful, the Sacraments having been received as confirmation. And see whether or not the monks and friars have broken all the appointments and ordinances made by the original founders of their sects. And see whether they be accusers and traitors of all men, even secretly of their very own Kings and nations. And as for their headiness, see whether they be not bold, running headlong unto all mischief, without pity or compassion, not caring what misery or destruction should fall on other men, so they may have their present pleasure fulfilled. And see whether they love not their lusts, not being restrained from them either by any law, God or man. And as for their appearance of godliness, see whether or not they all falsely claim to be God's servants, and whether or not they take almost all men's consciences captive.

And it followeth in the text, as the sorcerers of Egypt resisted Moses, so did they also resist the truth.[2] Therefore, they, too, must be mighty deceivers.. Of these and similar texts, and of the similitudes of the kingdom of heaven taught by Christ in the Gospels, it appears that, because the holy ghost be in the chosen and teacheth them all truth in Christ, to put their trust in him, so they cannot err therein while the earth standeth, God shall never have a church that shall either persecute or be free of persecution themselves any season, though persecution of others is the manner of the Pope.

The Two Churches Contrasted

But there shall be in the Church the fleshly and spiritual seed of Abraham; a Cain and an Abel, an Ishmael and an Isaac, an Esau and a Jacob; as I have said, a worker and a believer, a great multitude of them that be called and a small flock of them that be elect and chosen. And the fleshly shall persecute the spiritual, as Cain did Abel, and Ishmael Isaac and so forth; and the great multitude shall persecute the small little flock, and Antichrist will be ever the best Christian man.

So now the church of God is double; a fleshly and a spiritual: the one will be and is not,[3] the other is and may not be discerned as such, instead being called a "Lutheran" or a "heretic," etc. Understand therefore, that when God calls a congregation unto his name, he sends forth his messengers to call generally all men. These messengers bring in a great multitude amazed and astonished with miracles and powerful arguments which the preachers make and they therefore are compelled to confess there is but one God of power and might above all, and that Christ is God and man, and born of a virgin, and a thousand other things. And then, the great multitude which is called but not chosen, after they have attained to this common faith, which the devils possess as well, they then go off onto their own imaginations, saying, "We may no longer serve idols, but only God, who is one." And the manner of service they establish comes out of their own brains and not the word of God. Instead, they serve God with carnal service just as they once did their idols, their hearts still serving their own lusts. And one monk will serve him wearing white, one friar will wear black, another in grey, and another in black and white..They will be shorn and shaven and Sadducees, that is to say, righteous; and Pharisees who are separated from all other men by their apparel. They believe that there is a God, but since they cannot love his laws they have no power to believe in him. They put their trust and confidence in their own works, and by their own works they will be saved, as do the rich of this world when they bestow gifts and presents unto great men to gain favor for their cause..

But a little sheep, as soon as he is persuaded that there is a God, he runneth not unto his own imaginations, but unto the messenger that called him, and asks him how he shall serve God. In Acts 9, when Christ had overthrown Paul and caught him in his net, Paul asked, Lord, what wilt thou that I should do? And as the multitude who were converted in Acts 2 asked the Apostles what they should do, and the preacher setteth the law of God before them they offered their hearts to have it written therein, agreeing that it is good and righteous.

And because they have run clean contrary unto that good law, they sorrow and mourn because their bodies and flesh were otherwise disposed. But the preacher comforteth them and sheweth them the testament of Christ's blood., how that for His sake all sins committed are forgiven, and all their weaknesses they shall gradually overcome by His strength, only if they repent and submit themselves to be taught, as students, learning to keep this law. And a little sheep receiveth this testament in his heart, and in it walketh and serveth God in the Spirit. From henceforth all is Christ with him, and Christ is his, and he is Christ's. All he receives, he receives of Christ; and all that he does, he does to Christ. Father, mother, master, Lord and Prince are all Christs unto him, and as Christ he serveth them with all love. His wife, children, servants and subjects are Christ unto him, and he teaches them to serve Christ, and not himself and his lusts. And if he receive any good thing of man, he thanks God in Christ, who moved the man's heart. And his neighbor he serves as Christ in all his need using that which God had lent him, because all classes of men have been bought with Christ's blood.

And he will not be saved because he served his brethren, neither does he promise his brethren salvation for serving him. But heaven, justification, forgiveness, are all gifts of grace, and all that is promised them they received freely of Christ and of his merits. And that which they have received of Christ they use to serve each other freely, as one hand does the other, seeking for their service no more than one hand seeks for the other hand's health, wealth, help aid, succor, assisting one another in the way of Christ. And they serve God in Spirit only, in love, faith, hope and dread.

When the great multitude that be called and not chosen, Cain, Ishmael, Esau and carnal Israel with bodily service and help works, as were those who served Idols also, yet the little flock did no such thing. And why did they not come forth to take holy water?[8] Wherefore, saith the little flock, Nay, brethren, God forbid that ye should think that these put away thy sins. Only Christ's blood washeth away the sins of all that repent and believe. Fire, salt, water, bread and oil be bodily things given unto man for his necessity and with which to help his brother. God, who is Spirit, cannot be served by such things. Neither can they enter into the soul to purge it. For God's word only purges the soul. Are not such things hallowed?, say the Papists. We reply, It is not in the hallowing of them that causes whosoever is sprinkled of water or eateth of the bread[5] to receive health of soul and body. The blessings promised unto Abraham for all nations are in Christ and out of his blood. His word is the bread, salt and water of our souls. God hath given you no power to give others, through your magic charms, such virtue unto irrational creatures, which He hath hallowed Himself, making them all clean (for the bodily use of them that believe) through His word of promise and permission and our thanksgiving. God saith, if thou believeth St. John's Gospel, thou shalt be saved, and not for the hearing of it with so many crosses surrounding thee, or for the observing of any such observances..

[1] Verse 6 ff.

[2] Verse 8.

[3] I.e., the fleshly church acknowledged by the world.

[4] I.e., baptism.

[5] I.e., in the Lord's Super.



Quote:

Excerpt from The Obedience of a Christian Man

Antichrist of another manner hath sent forth his disciples, those false anointed of which Christ warned us before, that they should come and show miracles and wonders, even to bring the very elect out of the way, if it were possible. He anointeth them after the manner of the Jews, and shaves and shears them after the manner of the Heathen Priests which serve the Idols. He sends them forth not with false oil only, but with false names also. Compare their names unto their deeds and thou shalt find them false. He sendeth them forth as Paul prophesied of them, II Thess. 2, with lying signs and wonders. What sign is the anointing? It is the sign that they are full of the holy ghost. Compare them to the signs of the holy ghost which Paul reckoneth, and thou shalt find it a false sign. A Bishop must be faultless, the husband of one wife. Nay, saith the Pope, the husband of no wife, but the keeper of as many WHORES as he wishes. God commandeth all degrees of men to marry, if they burn and cannot live chaste. The Pope saith, if thou burn, take a dispensation for a CONCUBINE, and put her away when thou art old, or else as our lawyers say, If ye live not chaste, see ye appear clean to others, and play the knave secretly, barbarous, yea, to WHORES and BORDELLOS?..

Apt to teach, as Peter saith, I Peter 3:15, ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that ye have, and that with meekness, which thing [they claim] is signified by the boots which doctors of divinity are created in, because they should be ready always to go through thick and thin, to preach God's word; and also by the Bishop's two-horned miter which signifies the absolute and perfect knowledge that they ought to have in the New Testament and the Old. Are not these false signs? For they teach not, but discipline only. Yea, saith the Pope, if they will not be ruled, cite them to appear, and question them sharply about the following: what they believe of the Pope's power, of his Pardons, of his Bulls, of Purgatory, of ceremonies, of confession, of such like creations of our "most holy fathers." If they miss in any point, make heretics of them, and burn them, saith the Pope. If they be of mine anointed and bear my mark, degrade them. He says, Defrock them, cutting off their hair and fingers, torture them craftily, and by using pain make them deny the truth. But now, say our Bishops, because the truth has come so far abroad and the lay people are beginning to smell our wiles, it is best to oppose them with craft secretly, and to tame them in prison. Yea, let us find the means to have them in the king's prison and to make treason of such doctrine?...

_________________
Zechariah 4:6
He answered, and said unto me: This is the word of the LORD unto Zorobabel, saying: Neither thorow an host of men, nor thorow strength, but thorow my spirit, sayeth the LORD of Hosts.
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