For as concerning his masses, prayers for the dead, images, pilgrimages, monkish vows, sinful fasts, and the beastly single life of their priests, though when the spirit of antichrist was in them they did bear some sway in the world, yet now of what esteem are they, or who has reverence for them?  They are now blown together under hedges as the dry leaves, for the mice and frogs to harbor in.  By ordinances of antichrist, I do not intend things that only respect matters of worship in antichrist’s kingdom, but those civil laws that impose and enforce them also, yea, enforce that worship with pains and penalties, as in the Spanish inquisition.

These are the very pillars and sinews by which antichristianism remains; and were these dispirited, the whole building would quickly become a ruinous heap.

What could the king of Babylon’s golden image have done, had it not been for the burning fiery furnace that stood within view of the worshippers?  Yea, what could that horrible command to pray for thirty days to neither God nor man but to the king, have done, had it not been for the dark den and the roaring lions there in readiness to devour those that disobeyed it?

As therefore the burning fiery furnace and the den of lions were the support of the horrible religion of the Babylonians of old, so popish edicts are the support of the religion of antichrist now; and as long as there is spirit, that is, authority in them, they are like to those now mentioned.  The spirit of such laws it is that makes them dreadful:  for as the furnace would have been next to nothing if void of fire, and the den as little frightful if destitute of lions, so these laws will be as insignificant when Christ has slain the spirit that is in them—­that spirit which causes that as many as will not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

Manner of antichrist’s destruction.

Antichrist shall be brought to ruin gradually; a part after a part:  here a fenced city and there a high tower, even until she is made to lie even with the ground.

As for the order of the angels that pour forth this wrath, they plainly show that this enemy must come down by degrees; for these vials are by them poured out one after another.  Now, since by these vials antichrist must fall, it is evident that this man of sin, this son of perdition, is to fall and die by degrees.  He would not die at all, as is manifest by his wrestling with it; but it is an almighty God that judges, and therefore he must come down.  His friends also, with what cordials they can, will labor to lengthen out his tranquillity; but God hath set his bounds, and he cannot go beyond the time appointed.

We must also put a difference betwixt his being fought with and wounded, and that of his dying the death.  Michael and his angels have been holding him in play a long season, but yet he is not dead; but, as I said, he shall descend into battle and perish, and shall be found no more for ever.