63g AgainfI Dellarmtne, CAP.;, their opinion touching Anrichrifs approching, upon their perfwafì- onof the endof the world, it had been neceffarily, that as they erred about this : fo they fhould have erredabout Antic-brill, but feeing they grounded their opinion uponother arguments, and feeing they gathered not fo much that eflnrichr j2 drew neere, becaufe the end ofthe world was at hand, as that the end oftheworld approached, becaufe eXntichrifh was at hand, that which they affirmed touch- ing this matter, mutt needs be firme and ftable,unleffe you can teach us that the rely of their reafons are as light as their opinion wasvaine touching the end ofthe world. But it is evident by their words,that they fufpec`ted the end ofthe world to be at hind, becaufe of4nti- ehrifts cómming, and not on the contrary. For Jerome reafoneth, that ef1ntichrift was at hand, becaufe that which hinderedwas ta- ken away. Gregory gathered, as much out of the fulfilling of all things that were foretold, then which, what more certaine argu- ment can therebe. And you your f lfe confeffe that all theancient Writers confidering the Wickedneffe of their timer, did fufpea`t that the time of ef'ntichrift was hangingover them. They did not therefore conclude about Antichrifts commingout of their fufpeaing that the world was at an end. For the HI end is no where made a figne of things that gobe foreit,but things that gob, ,re are made figne6 ofthe la(t end , Being it is the laft of all, and molt unknowne ofall other things,even to the Angels themfelves,yea to the Sonofman,Matth. 24. Mark 1,3.32.36. lt cangiveno forewarning of things that be be- fore it,and better known then it. They knew therefore by certain ar- guments that Antichriti was fhortly to.come, but that which they added touching the lift end,did rclye only upon anuncertaineconje- dure of men. They had received a fall, Chronologie from Clement e.Jlexand. Strsesat. i. that five thoufand (evenhundredeighty four yeares two moneths, and twelve dayes werepart from eA'dam to the death ofCommodes the Emperour. To this was added theopinion touching the laftingof' the world for {ixthoufand yeares. Whereupon Cyprian faith in his Preface to his exhortation to the Martyrs : Six thoufandyearesare now almoft fulfilledfinte the time that the `Devil[ began tofight againft mankind. And that ofLallantiws came thence in the 7 Bookofhis Divine In- ftit.Chap.25. All the time We look, for in this World, ís no more hut the fpaee oftwo hundredyears.To thefè ifwe {hall adde their conjedure touching theworlds quick& prèfent expiring afterAntichriftscom- aning,thenfnal it eafìly appeal ,that there is great differencebetween thofe
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