Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Timothy 4:1

1 NOw the spirit speaketh expresly , that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits , and doctrines of devils .

Either hath inwardly revealed it to my Spirit, as Act. 10.19. and 13.2. or (which is more probable) because the verb is in the present Tense [non-Latin text not transcribed], it saith it in the written word, which must be in the old Testament, (for the new was not at this time written,) but then the question is, where the Holy Ghost hath expresly in the Old Testament, spoken of the Apostacy of the latter times. Our famous Mede answers in Dan. 11.35, 36, 37, 38, 39. where from ver. 30. is a plain prophecy of the Roman Empire, and ver. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39. of Antichrist, where it is said, Some of them of understanding shall fall to try them, and to purge them, &c. and he speaks of a King, That shall do according to his Will, and shall exalt himself, and magnifie himself above every God, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of Gods,—Neither shall he regard the God of his Fathers, nor the desire of Wom[illegible: 1 letter]n, nor regard any God, but magnifie himself above all. Where that learned man thinks is an excellent description of the Roman Empire, their various Victories, Successes, Declinations and Mutations, and amongst other things, ver. 36. That they should cast off their old Pagan Idolatry, and after that m[illegible: 1 letter]ke a defection from the Christian Faith, and not regard Marriage (called there the desire of Women) nor indeed truly regard any God. This the Apostle saith should be in the last times. The last times (saith the afore-mentioned famous Author) are the times of Christs Kingdom, which began in the time of the Roman Empire; during which time this Epistle was wrote, where the Apostle speaking of time yet to come; the latter times by him mentioned must needs be the latter part of the last times, which he saith began in the ruine of the Roman Empire, upon which followed the revealing of Antichrist that wicked one, mentioned 2 Thess. 2.7. concerning these times, the Spirit said expresly, that some should in them depart from the faith,

Giving heed to seducing Spirits, by which some understand the Devils themselves, others false Teachers, or false Doctrines, which are afterwards mentioned, called

Doctrines of Devils, by which some understand Doctrines suggested by Devils, or published by the cunning, and art of Devils. But others think that by Doctrines of Devils, here are not to be understood Doctrines so published, but Doctrines concerning Devils, and that the meaning is, that in the last times the Pagan Doctrine concerning Damons should be restored. The Pagan Daemons were an inferiour sort of Gods, a kind of middle Beings between their Highest Gods, and Men, whose Office was to be Advocates and Mediators▪ between Men, and the Highest Gods, because they judged it was not lawful for men to come to the Highest Gods immediately, these they Worshipped by Images, even as the Papists at this day make use of, and Worship Angels and Saints. See more [illegible: 1 letter]ully what Mr. Mede saith upon this Argument in his own book, and in Mr. Poo[illegible: 1 letter] 's Latine S[illegible: 1 letter]nopsis upon this Text, and what he saith seems very proba[illegible: 1 letter]ly the sense of this Text, especially, considering the two Doctrines mentioned, ver. 3.

It was usual with the Prophets when they declared the Oracles of God to assert in the beginning of their Revelations That the Lord hath spoken Isa. 1.2. Ier. 1.2. Ioel 1.1 The Apostle in the same manner, in the beginning of his praediction of things future, declares the Spirit speaketh expresly, that is, either clearly revealed it to me as, Acts 10.19. and 13.2. thus expresly is opposed to obscurely; for sometimes the Revelations given to the Prophets were under shadows and figures in divers manners, but the Spirit discovered in a most intelligible manner, what Seducers should come in the Church, &c.

Marginal references: 2 Thess. 2.3. 2 Tim. 3.1. 2 Pet. 3.3. 1 John 2.13 Jude 18.