The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

II. Becon Deals With Antichrist Throughout His Works

THOMAS BECON (c. 1511-1567), facile writer, and author of numerous books on “popery”—sometimes writing under the pen name of Theodore Basille ²⁹ (or Basil)—was born, it is thought, in Norfolk. Educated first at St. John’s College, Cam bridge, from which he obtained his B.A. in 1530, he later obtained the degree of D.D. also from Cambridge University. He was ordained about the year 1538, and entered the Protestant PFF2 401.6

ministry in an era full of danger. Later, charged with heresy be cause of his opinions and writings, he was brought to Paul’s Cross to recant and to revoke his doctrine. After making some sort of public submission, he retired to the country. PFF2 402.1

Upon the accession of Edward VI, Becon had more personal security and a wider field of usefulness. He was made a rector, and then one of the six chaplains of Canterbury, under Arch bishop Cranmer. He also taught at Oxford “without molestation,” and held other important positions. PFF2 402.2

However, upon the assumption of the throne by Mary, in 1553, when the Reformed preachers were silenced, deprived of their parishes, and cast into prison, Becon was one of the first to be committed to the Tower as a preacher of “sedition.” John Bradford, martyred in 1555, was one of his companions at the time. Becon was somehow released (some attribute his release to a mistake as to his name on the part of the state official, Gardiner), and at once repaired to the Continent, going to Strassburg. While there he wrote constantly. Upon the accession of Elizabeth (1558) he returned to his homeland, and was soon placed in Canterbury, made rector of Christ’s Church, Newgate, and also given other important positions. PFF2 402.3

1. PORTRAYS MARKS FOR IDENTIFYING ANTICHRIST

In his The Acts of Christ and of Antichrist, Concerning Both Their Life and Doctrine (1563) ³⁰—comprising 226 propositions contrasting the two—Becon paints a very impressive and complete picture. Presenting the two aspects of teaching and life, it leaves little to be said, and is completely buttressed by Scripture. An earlier treatise, The Displaying of the Popish Mass, speaks of “antichrist’s brood of Rome” and the “idolatrous priests of Babylon.” ³¹ PFF2 402.4

The general preface to his three volumes discloses the whole tenor of his writing. This rather graphic paragraph must suffice: PFF2 402.5

“In this third volume, I say, as the time and manners of men justly required, I have somewhat more sharped my pen in some places against antichrist and his Babylonical brood, than in my books heretofore made and published. In them also I have disclosed a great number of antichrist’s jugglings, superstitions, new-found sects [orders], pardons, pilgrimages, ceremonies, and such-like devices. I have also shewed what is to be thought of the bishop of Rome’s primacy, which he challengeth over and above all other, yea, and that by the faithful testimonies of certain most faithful writers, both ancient and of this our time. In fine, I have displayed the wicked kingdom of the son of perdition, and set it forth in his lively colours, that all men, if they be not obstinately blind, and willingly set themselves against the manifest truth of God’s word, may easily know antichrist, and beware of his wolfish whelps and of their pharisaical leaven.” ³² PFF2 402.6

2. SECOND ADVENT WILL DESTROY ANTICHRIST

In A New Catechism (410 pages), by Becon, in the section on “Prayer,” he expresses a desire for the destruction of Antichrist through the second advent, at which time Christ’s kingdom will be established. In it the very phrasings of the prophecies concerning Antichrist are used, and with many marginal references to Scripture, such as Daniel 7 2 Thessalonians 2, and Revelation 17, 18, and 19: PFF2 403.1

“We desire of our heavenly Father, that antichrist with his kingdom, which hath seduced, and daily doth seduce, an infinite number of miserable and poor wretched souls through his glistering and painted visor of counterfeit, false, and feigned holiness, may shortly be slain and brought unto confusion ‘with the breath of the Lord’s mouth, and utterly be abolished with the brightness of his coming;’ that ‘that sinful man, the son of perdition, which is an adversary, and is exalted above all that is called God, or that is worshipped,’ may no longer ‘sit in the temple of God, boasting himself to be God,’ nor be ‘drunken’ any more ‘with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesu,’ nor yet sell the souls of men, nor utter any more of his false and counterfeit merchandise to the simple ones; that the kingdom may be his alone, which is ‘King of kings and Lord of lords.’ ” ³³ PFF2 403.2

Stronger words are used, consonant with the times, which will not be repeated here ³⁴ PFF2 403.3