""=".i/7+.17..11:' ^,,.L-"" 5 C H A P.z. Epiflleto theTheffalonians. V a R.3. IOI Ref.S.Hierome and other ancients many conceited it a ci- uile defeaion from the Roman Empire. Nifi inquit,vene- rit dtfcef o primum, vt omnes Jentes qua Romano :mperio fubiacent, recedant ab eis, & mox: Nifi, inquit, fuerit Ro- manumImperiumdefolatum, (, eAntichriflus precef Brit, non veniet Chri flits. The fentence is true ; but the expo - fition impertinent. For I (lands or fads the Church with the Empire ? z Was this the (inne which God fhould pu- nifh by giuing the raines to Antichrit ? Defeaion from the Empire ? 3 Or were Chriflians to be Authors of fuch ciuile defeóólion ? 4 The (inne fpecified as caufe of Anti - chrifls raigne and curled efficacie in delufion, is not = re- ceiuing lone ofthe truth, &c. S I am deceiued if Scripture any where vfe the tearme to fignifie any other then a fpi ritual! or Ecclefiaflicall deft Lion from God, Heb. ;. 12. Ifni 1. 5. From Faith 17im.4.I. From Religion, Ads 21. 21. We haue confent of befl expofitors among(! Roma - niis: of Saint Aufíin better aduifed. __Refugarn vtique a Domino Deo : The defeòlion then is fpirituall. Concer- ning it fee thefe particulars. I What it is. To Thomas it founds retroceffionem a `Dee : a going backe or departure from God, with whom we haue had tome reali appearing,or graduall coniunc`lion : to whom we haue performed or profefí'ed fubie5ion. Three things efpecially there arc that knit vs vnto God, and whereby we teflifre fubie6ion veto him. I Faith. 2 Religion. 3 Obedience. Accordingly they make three forts of Apollafie : I From Faith. 2 From Religion. 3 From Obedience. The tearmes I keepe, willingly varying in explication. I From Faith: as when a man forfakes the true do. ¿trine of Faith, whereof bee hath bin informed; and which he hath entertained into his iudgement and pro. fefiion, and fais to Paganifine, Iudaifine, Herefie. See I Tim.4.2. a From Religion : as when hee forfakes the worfhip of the true God, and fais to worfhip Idols as Achaz : or from the true manner of worihiipping the true God ;the 3 Hitron,Epiß. ad .9lgafiamq4 rZTilefZ,IO, aims ad locum. de Ciuitate.dei. hb,zo,tap. Ig, z.t'erfidia. 1..46 ordine. 3 Inobtdientie. ro
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