Antichrist must be destroyed, because he hath set himself against the Son of God; against the Father, and against the Son.  He had a spite against the Son betimes, even then when he came forth but in little things, when he attempted to deny that He was come in the flesh.  But seeing he could make no earnings of that, he has changed his methods, and seeks to run him out and down by other means and ways.  “Because, therefore, he hath set himself against the Son of God, the King, therefore he must die.”

That he hath also set himself against the Son of God, is evident; for he has his name from thence:  he is therefore called Anti-Christ.

That he hath set himself against Him, is yet further evident; for that he has endeavored to take from him his headship once, and his offices for and in the church, which is his body; and has called himself the head of the universal church of God.

Antichrist must he destroyed, because of his exceeding covetousness.  Religion, such as it is, is the thing pretended to; but the great things of this world are the things really intended by him in all his seeming self-denials and devotions.  And for this covetousness also it is that this destruction is to fall upon him.  Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, (to his church,) that he may set his nest on high:  for he could not do the one before he had obtained the other.  For then indeed they began to be high, when they had so inveigled Constantine that he bestowed upon them much riches and honor; and then it was cried, by an angel, and the cry was heard in the city of Constantinople, Woe! woe! woe! this day is venom poured into the church of God.

Nor has any generation, since the world began, been so insatiably greedy of gain, as these poor people have been.  They have got kingdoms, they have got crowns, they have got—­what have they not got?  They have got every thing but grace and pardon.  Did I say before that religion was their pretence?  Doth not the whole course of their way declare it to their face?  Every one of them, from the least even to the greatest, is given to covetousness; from the prophet even to the priest, every one dealeth falsely.  Money, money, [Footnote:  Similar is the testimony of an eminent historian.  “In every misapplication which the popes now (thirteenth century) made of their power, money was the object.  Every new operation which they performed, was one of extortion; and every new act of oppression was on their part, a financial speculation.”  Planck.  V. 574.

Says Luther, in his address to the German nobility, speaking of the pope, “He is a shepherd:  yes, so far as you have money, and no farther.”  The above passage from Bunyan is altogether in the manner of Luther when describing the rapacity and avarice of Rome. hath removed them.  And these seeds has antichrist sown where the kingdom of Christ should stand.] as the pedlar cries, “broken or whole,” is the sinews of their religion; and