and tell me to morrow it is falfe, I fhould believe it neither true nor falfe, upon your Authority, but judg as I found reafon. But pray will you be

confider thofe

infomuch

pleased to words following that if it were poffible, they fhould deceive the very Elect.

B. I confider, that our Lord relates the matters of this Chapter, to his Difciples, on purpose to make them cautious, of being deceiv'd by thefe falfe Chrifts and falfe Prophets, who fhew great Signs and Wonders. I infer therefore from hence, that thefe great Signs and Wonders, must be of fuch a Natire, as that they may be dif covered

covered and distinguished by the Elect, from those true mighty Miracles that were wrought by Christ, in favour of the Gospel, so that if they fhall use their utmoft Care, and Diligence, and Skill, they fhall not be deceived by them. Why did our Saviour, otherwife, forewarn his Difciples of these Signs and Wonders, and bid them beware of those that wrought them? this had been to no purpose, if with their utmoft Care, Diligence, and Skill, they could not have distinguish'd these falfe Chrifts, and their Wonders, from the true Chrift, and his Miracles.

A. But might they not have been deceiv'd, had they not been the Elect?

B. The Elect are here, con verted Chriftians, and fuch as had been fo for some time, and were now rooted and eftablish'd in the Faith. And the meaning is, that without all Care, and Attention, and the Ufe and Exercife of their Faculties, the very oldest and the foundest Christians, might be feduced by these pretended Chrifts and Prophets, who would make fuch ufe of the Signs and Wonders that should go before the Deftruction of Jerufalem, and play fo many Tricks of their own, and be fo confident in their Boaftings,

that

that it would stagger a modeft and diftruftful Man, to fee and confider them. They must therefore beware, examine things, and stand upon their guard: For the Understanding and the Senfes of good Men, are no better than those of their Neighbours; the Elect may be foon cheated as other People, if they will not look after themselves. I take these Words to be a good proof, that by Signs and Wonders, we are not to understand true undoubted Miracles, for there is no way of guarding against true undoubted Miracles they carry all before them,

as

when

when once we are convinced that they are true.

A. Be pleased then, to make as fair a riddance of the difficulties that seem to arise from that Paffage of St. Paul, ii Theff. ii. 9 Even him whofe Coming is after the work ing of Satan, with all Power, and Signs, and lying Wonders; and I fhall be entirely fatisfied.

B. This is a Defcription of the Coming of Antichrift, and tells us that Satan fhall at that time work as powerfully and fubtilly, as poffibly he can, to withdraw Men from Christianity, and make them believe a Lye.

A. What