PART 1

JESUS PROVED TO BE THE MESSIAH

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

PREFACE

CHAPTER 1

The Genealogy of Jesus

CHAPTER 2

The Birth of Jesus

CHAPTER 3

The Birth-place of Jesus

CHAPTER 4

The Time when Jesus made his Appearance

CHAPTER 5

The Testimony of Inspired Witnesses

CHAPTER 6

Direct Testimony from Heaven

CHAPTER 7

The Personal Testimony of Jesus

CHAPTER 8

The Miracles of Jesus

CHAPTER 9

The Character of Jesus.

CHAPTER 10

Jesus a Teacher

CHAPTER 11

Jesus a Sacrifice and Priest.

CHAPTER 12

Jesus a King.

CHAPTER 13

The Resurrection of Jesus

CHAPTER 14

The Blessings conferred on the Gentiles by Jesus

PART 2

THE PAPACY PROVED TO BE ANTICHRIST

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

CHAPTER 15

The Seat of Antichrist

CHAPTER 16

The Time of Antichrist

CHAPTER 17

Antichrist a peculiar Power

CHAPTER 18

Antichrist an Apostate from the Christian Faith

CHAPTER 19

Antichrist an Idolater

CHAPTER 20

Antichrist a Blasphemer

CHAPTER 21

Antichrist an Innovator

CHAPTER 22

Antichrist a Persecutor

CHAPTER 23

Antichrist the Possessor of great Riches

CHAPTER 24

Antichrist the Possessor of great Power

CHAPTER 25

Antichrist distinguished for Craft and pretended Miracles

CHAPTER 26

Antichrist a Reprobate

CHAPTER 27

The Downfall of Antichrist

NOTES

RECCOMENDATIONS

THE undersigned having examined the general plan and some of the parts of a new work, termed Christ and Antichrist, believe that the publication of said work would much tend to promote the cause of our common Christianity.

The arguments both for the Messiahship of Jesus, and the Antichristian character of the Papacy, are strong and convincing. Much advantage, too, is derived from the fact, that these arguments are placed in a sort of parallelism with each other. No real Christian will be prepared to deny the Messiahship of Jesus. But the author shows, that the very same mode of proof will also establish the Antichristian character of the Papacy. In this way the argument against Popery is presented with great advantage.

The individual and peculiar views of the author we do not pretend to endorse; nor can we express an opinion as to those parts of the volume which we have not examined. So far, however, as our examination has gone, we take great pleasure in giving our approval to the publication of this new and apparently interesting work.

MOSES D. HOGE, Pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Va.

S.J.P. ANDERSON, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Danville, Va.

ROBERT BOYTE C. HOWELL, Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Nashville, Tenn.

EDWARD WADSWORTH, Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Norfolk, Va.

JAMES R. GILLAND, Pastor of Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church, Chester District, South Carolina.

DAVID CALDWELL, Rector of St. Paul’s Church, Norfolk, Virginia.

UPTON BEALL, Rector of Christ Church, Norfolk, Virginia.

JAMES B. TAYLOR, Corresponding Secretary of Foreign Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention, Richmond, Va.

STEPHEN TAYLOR, Pastor of the High Street Presbyterian Church, Petersburg, Virginia.

E. D. SANDERS, Pastor of the Lebanon Presbyterian Church, Prince George county, Virginia.

JOHN LEYBURN, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Petersburg, Va.

JOSEPH C. STILES, Pastor of the United Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Va.

SAMUEL L. GRAHAM, D.D. Professor of Oriental Literature, Union Theological Seminary, Virginia.

From an exhibit made to me of the outline of this work by the author, I am exceedingly interested in his plan, as novel and advantageous; and hope he will be able speedily to put it to press, and that it will have wide circulation.

JAMES G. HAMNER, Pastor of the Fifth Presbyterian Church, Baltimore.

It will give me great pleasure to see this work in print, and judging from the brief hearing I have had of its plan, as given me by its estimable author, I am prepared to hear that it will be well received by the Christian public, and extensively useful.

HENRY V.D. JOHNS, Rector of Christ Church, Baltimore.

G. W. MUSGRAVE, Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church, Baltimore.

Circumstances have not permitted me to examine the work Mr. C. proposes to publish, but the plan, as explained by himself, strikes me very favorably; and his general reputation affords a sufficient guarantee that it is executed with ability. I hope the work will be published and widely circulated.

H.A. BOARDMAN, Pastor of the Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia. July 1, 1846.

I take much pleasure in saying, that I have great respect for the person and understanding of the author of the fore-mentioned work. I know that he has read and thought much on the subject of which he has written, and I regret very much that I cannot have an hour’s leisure to examine the work.

I can only say I shall look for the work with much interest, and hope the author may find a liberal publisher.

WILLIAM S. PLUMER. Richmond, Virginia, June 24, 1846.

I regret that the stay of the author of the above work in Richmond is so brief, that I cannot have time to examine more fully than I have done his manuscript. But from my impression of the plan and execution, I am inclined to think that the chief excellency of the work consists in the distinctness with which it exhibits the evidence that Jesus is the Christ, and that the Papal Church is Antichrist — in its adaptedness to the capacities of ordinary readers, in its simplicity, and in its freedom from language and expressions calculated to give offense. The author has gone “to the Law and the Testimony,” more fully than is common with writers on the Papacy; and this, after all, is the greatest recommendation of the work — for the word of God is that sword of the Spirit which must effect the conquest.

I could wish to see it not only published, but very extensively circulated, and such I am inclined to think will be the fact, when its merits become known.

B. GILDERSLEEVE, Editor of the Watchman and Observer, Richmond, Va.

PREFACE

AS many judicious and excellent ministers of various Christian denominations have recommended the publication of the following work, the author sincerely hopes, that the mere circumstance that it is issued by a particular Board, will not hinder its general circulation. It is not a sectarian, but a Christian and Protestant work. Both the subjects, too, of which it treats are not only of general interest to all Christians, but of special interest to the whole church at the present time. More, probably, than at any past period, is the Church seeking the universal establishment of the kingdom of Christ on earth. Two special obstacles in the accomplishment of that result are Judaism and Antichristianity. Remove these, and how rapid and glorious would be the spread of the gospel over the whole earth! This fact is beginning to be well appreciated by Christians both in Europe and America. Hence, the recent missions to the Jews, and also, to several Papal countries. The author hopes, therefore, that he has taken his stand, not simply in the great controversy, but also in the great spirit of the age. Let then the following pages be perused, not with the belligerent feeling of religious controversy, but with the prayer of our Lord — “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

INTRODUCTION

THE history of the human race has wonderfully exhibited the craft and malignity of Satan, as contrasted with the power and grace of God.

When the destiny of that race was suspended upon the observance of a particular precept, the great enemy, through his subtlety, effected the violation of that precept, and the consequent condemnation of the human species. But good arose out of evil. Divine grace had provided a Deliverer, and the assurance was given, that “the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head.”

Soon after this, the malignity of Satan is seen, in promoting bloodshed and slaughter among mankind. Cain kills his brother, and “the earth is filled with violence.” Here again Jehovah interposes. Noah is commanded to build an ark, in which, not only himself and family were for a time to be deposited; but, in which, through this one family, all future generations were to be preserved. A flood of waters then desolates the earth, the ungodly are destroyed; but the chosen family outride the storm and are safely landed on the sunny top of Ararat.

A few centuries after this awful warning, the great deceiver introduces idolatry into the world. Those created things, which God had ordained to minister to the wants of men, are themselves converted into deities. The settlers of new colonies, the inventors of useful arts, venerated ancestors, are all considered as so many gods. Nor did the evil stop here. These distant objects and revered names, must be brought nigh to the worshipper; they must approach his senses. To effect this; pictures, images, and statues were introduced; and even these received divine worship! God interposes again. Abraham is called from Ur of Chaldea, and he and his posterity are made the depositaries of the truth and promises of Jehovah.

The enemy, however, pursues this chosen race. He raises up among them false prophets; he leads even Israel into idolatry! For these breaches of his covenant, God punished his people in various ways; and ultimately caused them to endure a long and afflictive captivity in a foreign land.

Rescued from their visible idolatry, the next device of the great apostate was to obscure and corrupt those living oracles of God, by which Israel was to be governed. The synagogue has now taken the place of the grove, and the Rabbi that of the prophet of Baal. The word of God is now the professed object of study. Learned men are raised up, and schools of biblical literature are established. But inquiries are pursued beyond the testimony of God, and tradition is made the interpreter of Scripture. Soon this tradition is exalted into an authority equal, or even superior to that of the written word; while the strange spectacle is exhibited, of a people, with the law of God in their hands, yet following “the doctrines and commandments of men.” It was at this period, the great Deliverer appeared.

The doctrines of Jesus were designed to bring men back from human testimony to that which is divine. Tradition, philosophy, human teaching, all he subjected to revelation. By his death too, and priestly intercession in heaven, he abolished the pre-existing priesthood and ritual, and introduced a simple and spiritual mode of worship, adapted to all nations, and designed for universal prevalence. He abolished, in short the slavery of men and introduced the freedom of God.

This new system met with special opposition from Satan. He stimulated first the Jews, and afterwards the Romans, to persecute and destroy it.

Favored however by God it ultimately triumphs. Embraced at first by the people, it afterwards enters the palaces of the great, and even ascends the throne of the Caesars.

This new aspect of affairs, led Satan to a different mode of attack. Unable to crush the new system, he undertakes its corruption. This was effected chiefly by the Papacy, a scheme more subtle in its conception, more extensive in its operations, and more destructive in its effects, than any ever devised for the overthrow of the truth and church of God.

Already have God’s people been, in a great measure, delivered from this tyrannical power. The yoke of iron has been broken, the walls of brass have fallen down. The light of the Reformation now happily shines upon a large portion of Christendom: and millions there are, who rejoice in the truths which Popery for centuries had eclipsed, and hidden from the world. Nor is this all; we have the promise of Jehovah himself, that the very last fragment of this oppressive system, shall ere long be banished from the earth. “Whom,” says an Apostle, “the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”

In applying the term Antichrist ( Anticrivtov ) to the usurping power here alluded to, the writer has not only followed great and ancient names, but the true etymology and meaning of the word. Macknight defines its meaning thus — “One who puts himself in the place of Christ, or who opposeth Christ.” Schleusner says — “In Novi Testamenti libris, semper adversarium Christi ejusque religionis, significat” 1 — “in the books of the New Testament it always signifies an enemy of Christ and of his religion.”

How appropriately the history and character of the Papacy have fulfilled these descriptions, need not here be affirmed.

This term, too, has been applied both by the ancient fathers, and by modern writers, by Protestants and Romanists, to some great enemy to the church, not existing so early as the days of the Apostles. Speaking of the Roman empire, Tertullian says — “Cujus abscessio in decem reges dispersa Antichristum superducet” 2 — “Whose separation into ten kingdoms will bring on Antichrist?” Cyril, of Jerusalem, expresses himself thus on the same subject — “Decem simul reges Romanorum excitabuntur in diversis quidera locis, eodem tamen tempore regnantes. Post istos autem undecimus Antichristus, per magicum maleficium Romanorum potestatem rapiens.” 3 “There will arise at the same time ten kings of the Romans in different places indeed, but reigning all of them at the same time. But after them the eleventh will be Antichrist, who, through magical wickedness, will seize the power of the Romans.” Commenting on the passage in Thessalonians, Jerome says — “Nisi, inquit, fuerit Romanum Imperium ante desolatum, et Antichristus praecessit, Christus non veniet.” 4 “Says the apostle, unless the Roman empire shall first be desolated, and Antichrist precede, Christ will not come.” Augustine also employs the word in the same sense. “Nulli dubium est, eum de Antichristo ista dixisse; diemque judicii non esse venturum nisi ille prior venerit.” 5 “It can be doubted by none, but that he (Paul) speaks these things concerning Antichrist, and that the day of judgment will not come, unless he first appear.” Gregory the Great, bishop of Rome, also employs the word in the same way. Reprimanding John, bishop of Constantinople, who was seeking to be made head of the whole church, he says — “Ergo fidenter dico, quod quisquis se universalem sacerdotem vocat, vel vocari desiderabit in elatione sua, Antichristum praecurrit.” 6 “I say confidently, therefore, that whosoever calls himself universal bishop, or even desires in his pride to be called such, is the forerunner of Antichrist.”

The Reformers generally, and since them, the great body of Protestants, have uniformly employed this term to designate “the man of sin” of the apostle Paul, the “little horn of Daniel and the “beast” predicted by John.

The very same use is made of this term by Romanists themselves. “But Antichrist,” says Calmet, “the real Antichrist, who is to come before the universal judgment, will, in himself include all the marks of wickedness, which have been separately extant in different persons, who were his types or forerunners.” 7 The commentator on the Doway Bible, in his remarks upon the “man of sin,” says, “It agrees with the wicked and great Antichrist, who will come before the end of the world.”

There is also exegetical evidence, that the term Antichrist, in the epistles of John, is legitimately used in its application to the head of some great apostasy from the Christian faith. There is strong probability, that these epistles were written after the destruction of Jerusalem. If so, “the last time” of John, cannot refer to a period just preceding the subversion of that city. It seems rather to be synonymous with “the latter times,” spoken of by Paul. Nor is there any objection to this in the fact, that John says, “Even now are there many Antichrists.” The apostle Paul makes the same statement concerning “the man of sin” — “The mystery of iniquity doth already work.” Each of these apostles too, represents the person, or persons of whom they speak, as those who had departed from the Christian faith. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, says Paul, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith.” John also describes his Antichrist, or Antichrists, as those who “deny the Father and the Son,” and as persons who “went out” from the church.

The true interpretation of these passages seems to be the following: The Spirit of God had revealed to the apostles, that at some future period there would be a great corruption of the Christian faith. Even in their own day there were some, who had begun already to depart from that faith and to corrupt it. These the apostles considered as the forerunners of those later apostates, who would more generally and dreadfully pervert the gospel of Christ. In a more general way therefore, they classify them all together, but give a more particular description of the later and more notable apostates.

The preceding observations and authorities will justify, it is hoped, the use of the term Antichrist as employed in this volume. As the writer firmly believes that the “little horn” of Daniel, the “man of sin” of Paul, and “the beast” of John, all symbolize the papal power, he has felt no hesitation, in applying the word Antichrist directly to that power.

The author has also to state, that the motive which has led him to unite the two subjects, Christ and Antichrist, into one volume, is that the two sets of testimonies may: act with reciprocal force upon each other. The first argument is with the Jew, “beloved for the fathers’ sake;” the second is with the Romanist, pitied for the Savior’s sake. The same mode of proof is employed in both cases. And it is sincerely hoped, that if the Jew shall see any reason from these pages, why the Romanist should be convinced, he may also find something to lead him to his own Messiah; and that if the Romanist shall here find any thing which he supposes ought to satisfy the Israelite, he may also discover reasons to renounce his own system of error.

It is not, however, for either Jews or Romanists that these pages are chiefly written. The specific object is, to convince men in general, that the Papacy is the Antichrist predicted in the word of God. Most who will read these pages, are Christians, at least in name. They have no doubt, but that Jesus is the Christ. The author, therefore, proceeds, upon the same ground on which the Messiahship of Jesus is established, to prove the Antichristian character of the Papal power. To his own mind, the one set of arguments is as strong as the other; so, that if it be admitted, that Jesus is the Christ, he sees not how it can well be denied, that the Papacy is the Antichrist.

There is a strange similarity on this subject, between the infatuations of the child of Abraham and the disciple of the Pope. Both are looking for the proper subjects of these prophecies as yet future. To the Jew, Messiah is yet to come. Jesus to him is an impostor, a malefactor; his death was merited, his name is to be execrated. To the Romanist, Antichrist is yet to come; he is to arise but a little this side the last day. To him the Papal is the only true church, nor is there salvation in any other. Here is agreement, a strange agreement in infatuation and delusion! Surely God hath “blinded their eyes” and given them up to their own understandings.

Possibly some may think, that in a few of the chapters, sufficient regard has not been had to the unity of the argument. These apparent digressions have been indulged in, to exhibit more fully by contrast, the Christians and Antichristian systems. Popery never looks more deformed than when brought into comparison with true Christianity.