It is scarcely necessary to add, that he is here describing the very same delusions mentioned by the Apostle. Mr. Kett has also very well observed, that " these words (of our Lord) clearly relate, not only to the prognostics, but to the cir "cumstances which happened during the siege. The tyran❝nical zealots who ruled the city,' says Josephus, suborned "many false Prophets to declare, that aid would be given to "the people from heaven.' This was done to prevent them "from attempting to desert, and to inspire them with confi"dence. In this manner Impostors, abusing the sacred name of God, deluded the unhappy multitude; who, like ❝ infatuated men who have neither eyes to see, nor reason "to judge, regarded neither the infallible denuntiations pro"nounced by the antient Prophets, nor the clear prodigies "that indicated the approaching desolation." *

From this various and accumulated evidence; it might now safely be left to the judicious and candid Reader to determine, whether it is not, in the highest degree probable, that St. Paul had a reference in the whole of his description of the Man of Sin, &c.—not to the corruptions of the Church of Rome-but to the Jewish nation, and to the destruction of Jerusalem, and the accomplishment of our Lord's prediction upon that subject. But there is one argument more in favor of this interpretation which must not be omitted, as it will, perhaps, be deemed little inferior, in point of importance, to any which have been advanced, and that is contained in the 15th verse, and appears to be the conclusion of the subject. Therefore brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word-or our Epistle. Here the standing fast appears, most unquestionably, to be opposed, to their being shaken in mind or troubled, as particularly mentioned, in the second verse, and the traditions in which they were to stand fast, seem evidently to be those relating to the coming of Christ-or to the predictions of our Lord concerning the true nature of his coming as the Messiah-or to the destruction of Jerusalem. + Now, what is all this, but

* See Kett on Prophecy, Vol. I. pages 230, 231.

very

A very learned and ingenious Correspondent has very modestly put this Question upon the meaning of the word tradition here adopted. "May not the traditions mentioned in 2 Thess ii. 15. be a general term, expressive "of the different doctrinal propositions which had been taught by St.

Paul P

very strong presumptive evidence that what the Apostle had said to remove the anxiety of the Thessalonians, and to enable them to stand fast, were not, as has been supposed, new predictions of very distant events-but merely a repetition of the predictions of our Lord concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, together with such additional circumstances relative to the character of the Jews, as had fallen under the Apostle's observation, and which the Thessalonians, most unquestionably had an interest in, if only as proofs of the truth and integrity of his character as a true Prophet of God.

It will readily be perceived that this interpretation of the term tradition is founded upon the supposition that the Gospels were not then published, and consequently that the predictions of our Lord, respecting the destruction of Ferusalem were, in the strictest sense of the word, traditions. It must indeed be acknowledged that there is some variety of opinions concerning the time of the publication of the Gospels, and it is very far from the design of this work to enter into a minute examination of these opinions. There appears, however, to be a considerable degree of weight, in the observations of Dr. Paley upon this subject, "Whilst "the transaction," says this very able and judicious Writer, "was recent, and the original witnesses were at hand to relate "it; and whilst the Apostles were busied in preaching "and travelling, in collecting Disciples, in forming and "regulating societies of converts, in supporting themselves "against opposition; whilst they exercised their ministry "under the harrassings of frequent persecutions, and in a "state of almost continual alarm; it is not probable that, in "this engaged, anxious, and unsettled condition of life, they "would think immediately of writing Histories for the in"formation of the public, or posterity." *

"Paul ?" But it is submitted to his and the Reader's attentive consideration whether, as the standing fast appears, manifestly, to be opposed to the Thessalonians being shaken in mind---or troubled---the traditions ought not to be confined to that subject which had occasioned their trouble; which most indisputably was concerning the coming of Christ.

* See Paley's Evidences, Vol. I. page 159. Dr. Paley has observed, in a note at the foot of the same page, that---This thought occurred to Eusebius. "Nor were the Apostles of Christ greatly concerned about the writing of "books, being engaged in a more excellent ministry, which is above all

human power."

But

But besides these general reasons against the early publication. of the Gospels-there appears to have been some particular and special reasons for delaying the publishing them, at least, for a considerable time. These are so ably stated, by the judicious Dr. Lardner, that no apology will be necessary for presenting them to the Reader. Speaking of the predictions of our Lord concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, he says, "It must have been very difficult and hazardous to "publish such things in writing. How offensive these sayings must have been to the Jewish people, and perhaps to દ some others likewise, is easy to conceive from the nature "of the things spoken of. St. Matthew and the other "Apostles might repeat, in the hearing of many, what Christ

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had said to them, and in part to others also, concerning "the overthrow of the Temple and the Jewish State. Yea, "very probably, they had often repeated these things to "attentive hearers. But speaking and writing are different. "And I apprehend, it could not have been safe, nor pru"dent, to record these predictions (many of which are very plain, and all intelligible) soon after our Lord's "ascension." *

These observations, it is probable will receive additional force, by an attentive perusal of the History of the Acts of the Apostles in which it does not appear that they were very forward even in speaking upon this very delicate and dis agreeable subject. But it is not intended to pursue this argument any farther than just to observe that it is, on all hands allowed the two Epistles to the Thessalonians were among the first, if not the very first, which were written; being generally supposed to have been sent to them about the year Fifty-two, and consequently the probability is the greater that they were published before the Gospels. +

The judicious Reader will not, however, conceive that too great stress is meant to be laid upon the argument drawn from the Apostle's use of the word tradition. By no means.

It is

* See Lardner's History of the Apostles, Vol. I. pages 75, 76. + Dr. Paley has observed, immediately after the passage last quoted from him, that "It is very probable, that emergencies might draw from some of them occasional letters upon the subject of their mission, to converts, or "to societies of converts with which they were connected." From this passage, it should appear as if he thought some of the Epistles might have been written before the Gospels.

from

from the whole of the reasoning upon the Apostle's language, taken collectively, that the Reader will form his judgment of the propriety of applying it to the Jewish nation, and, it may, at least, be presumed, that enough has been said to stagger the staunchest advocate for the application of it to the Church of Rome!

But before this part of the subject is concluded, it may not be improper to remark, what a variety of interpretations have been indulged, by fanciful men, in explaining the meaning of this celebrated chapter. "These titles," says Mr. Zouch, when speaking of the Man of Sin, and Son of Perdition, &c. "have been given to different personages-to the leaders of "the factious Jews, who revolted from the Romans before "the destruction of Jerusalem-to Caius Caligula, a mer, "ciless tyrant-to the Emperor Titus, the delight of man, "kind-to Simon Magus-to the Gnostics-to Mahomet→ "nay, to the bright luminaries of the Reformation, John "Wickliff and Martin Luther. These different interpre, "tations have had their allotted day. While the gloss of "novelty shines fresh upon them, they are in vogue, and "flourish for a time; but at length, like the dreams of a "sick man, they vanish into air.". See Zouch's attempt,

page 20.

The application of St. Paul's Man of Sin to the Church of Rome, has been the most generally adopted by Protestant Writers-but very learned men, even among them, appear by no means to have been satisfied of the justness of that interpretation. The late Mr. Jones; it is well known, adopted an hypothesis of his own, and has applied" the prophecy of "this great defection," to use the words of Mr. Zouch, in his Attempt, pages 3, 4, "to a neighbouring country, where "the Christian Religion hath been renounced, not negatively, through corruption of manners, or neglect of truth, but positively, publickly, and in solemn form; where the restraining power of government and the obligation of law have not been interrupted and defied, but absolutely taken "out of the way and abolished-where we see a portentous "Company rise up, who take to themselves the sublime de"nomination of Legislators, not under the Authority of God, "but in their own right, exclusive of His Legislation, and "in opposition to His power; where the churches have been "shut up from the worship of God, and opened to admit

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the

the worship of Reason the reason of Man, or Man him"self, who now, as God, is actually seated in the Temple of "God, to be worshipped." See Zouch's Attempt, page 4.

This hypothesis, Mr. Jones has so ingeniously supported, ás, apparently, to have made a convert of Mr. Kett; for he says, "That it has been satisfactorily shewn, by Mr. Jones, "that St. Paul's Man of Sin, is equally applicable to the "Infidel power, which we have seen arise in France." And what is still more extraordinary, Mr. Zouch, when speaking of Bishop Horsley's sentiments upon this subject, says, "It "excites some degree of surprise to find that your Lordship "doth not seem to acknowledge the traits and lineaments of Popery in the Prophetic pages of Daniel, St. Paul, and St. "John. Whilst Mr. Kett, and almost all the Protestant "Interpreters of Scripture, intimate the decline and the ap"proaching fall of Antichrist; you are fearful that his kingdom is not yet begun, that he is yet to rise; or at least that he is only now rising." ↑

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Had learned men been influenced by the evident interest that the Thessalonians had in the Apostle's description, and by the equally evident knowledge which they possessed of various particulars relative to it, they would have had little difficulty in finding out his meaning; for it appears with an evidence little short of demonstration, that the Apostle had the Jewish nation, and the Jewish nation only, in view, in his description of the Man of Sin, and that all other applications, however striking the resemblance may be, are totally groundless and ill founded, and, if depended on, will in the end, involve the abettors of them, in disappointment, and consequently, will have a tendency to injure, instead of serving the cause of Christianity. And this seems to be the case even with respect to the application of St. Paul's Man of Sin to the Church of Rome; for the advocates of this hypothesis are obliged to expect the coming of Christ, whenever its power is annihilated. That power, it is evident, is now upon the decline-but there is no room for supposing, from

* See Kett on Prophecy, Vol. I. page 381. See a Letter to the Bishop of Rochester by a Country Clergyman, page 7

+ It is remarkable that Mr. Kett quotes the Bishop of Rochester's sentiments upon this particular subject, with considerable marks of approbation. See Kett on Prophecy, Vol. II. pages 269, 270,