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O F By J O H N.B U N Y A N. 1692. First published four years after John Bunyan's death. |
PREFATORY REMARKS BY THE EDITOR
his important treatise was prepared for the press, and left by
the author, at his decease, to the care of his surviving friend for publication.
It first appeared in a collection of his works in folio, 1692; and although a subject
of universal interest; most admirably elucidated; no edition has been published in
a separate form.
Antichrist has agitated the Christian world from the earliest ages; and his craft
has been to mislead the thoughtless, by fixing upon the humble followers of the Lamb
his own opprobrious proper name. The mass of professed Christians, whose creed and
mode of worship have been provided by human laws, has ever been opposed to the sincere
disciples of Christ. To imbibe every principle from investigation and conviction
of the holy oraclesto refuse submission to any authority in the spiritual kingdom
of God, except it is to Christ, the supreme head and only lawgiver in his churchto
refuse obedience to human laws in the great concern of salvation and of worship;
whether those laws or decrees emanate from a Darius, a Nebuchadnezzar, a Bourbon,
a Tudor, or a Stuartto be influenced by the spirit which animated Daniel, the three
Hebrew youths, and the martyrs, brought down denunciations upon them, and they were
called antichristian: but alas! the sincere disciples of Jesus have ever known and
FELT who and what is Antichrist. They have been robbed, incarcerated in dungeons,
racked and tormented, transported, drowned, hung or burned. The most frightful atrocities
have been committed upon the most peaceful and valuable members of society; because
they valued their soul's peace in preference to temporal advantages. These cruelties
are THY cursed deeds, O Antichrist! The hand writing against thee is exhibited in
blood-stained and indelible characters. The Great God has decreed thy downfall and
ruin"That wickedwhom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth,"
(2 Thess 2:8). All who are found partakers in his community, must be consumed with
an everlasting destruction. No "paper-winkers" [1] can hide this truth from
the enlightened regenerated mind. "O my soul, come not thou into their secret,
unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew
a man. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel!"
In Bunyan's time great cruelties were practised to compel uniformity. To that absurd
shrine many thousand invaluable lives were sacrificed. Blessed be God, that happier
days have dawned upon us. Antichrist can no longer put the Christian to a cruel death.
It very rarely sends one to prison for refusing obedience to human laws that interfere
with religious worship. "My kingdom is not of this world," said the Redeemer:
and his followers dare not render unto Caesar, or temporal governments, that which
belongs exclusively to God. Human coercion, in anything connected with religion,
whether it imposes creeds, liturgies, or modes of worship, is Antichrist: whom to
obey, is spiritual desolation, and if knowingly persevered in, leads to death.
On the contrary, the kingdom of Christ is love, meekness, forbearance, persuasion,
conviction, and holy faith. The Christian who dares not obey Antichrist may still,
in some countries, suffer personal violence; but the olden cruelties have given way
to the spread of the gospel. Should the wicked spirit of persecution still light
its unhallowed fire in any sect; may heaven forgive and convert such misguided men,
before the divine wrath shall consume all that pertains to Antichrist. "Come
out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord."
Bunyan conceives that previous to the universal triumphs of the Saviour, Antichrist
will spread his influence over the whole earth; and the church be hidden from outward
observation, in the hearts of believers. This idea, which was also cherished by Dr.
Gill, and others, deserves careful consideration; while we keep in mind, that leaven
which must spread, however invisible in its operation, until the whole earth shall
be leavened.
The dread enemy may yet appear in a different shape to any that he has hitherto assumed.
When mankind, by the spread of knowledge, shall throw off the absurdities and disgraceful
trammels of hypocrisy, fanaticism, and tyranny, which has so long oppressed them;
there may be experienced a vast overflowing of infidelity, and perverted reason assume
the place of Antichrist. Through this and all other opposing systems, Christianity
must make its irresistible progress: all that opposes is doomed to ruin by the Great
God. Every heart will be subdued by that blessed knowledge, which has the promise
of the life that now is as well as of that which is to come. Bloodless victory! The
ark being exhibited, every Dagon must fall before it, then shall be realized the
heavenly anthem, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
towards men."
GEORGE OFFOR.
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