pure Primitive times Now among the Prophets look first into that Evangelical Prophet Isaiah who is abundant to the purpose where we shall only take some few at present to prove that such a Kingdom of Christ is to come and refer the great things foretold by him and others concerning that Kingdom to be considered in another place First In the second of his Prophesie verse 2 3 4. It shall come to pass in the last days the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and the nations shall flow unto it And many people shall say Come ye and â—st us go unto the mountain of the Lord unto the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths for out of Sion shall go the law and the word of God from Jerusalem And he shall judge among the Nations and shall rebuke many people c. So Isa 9.7 Of the encrease of his Grvernment and peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgement and with justice from hence forth even for ever Again Isa 11.10 In that day there shall be a root of Jesse which shall stand as an ensign of the people to it shall the Gentiles seek and his rest shall be glorious as Heb. 4. And verse 11. It shall come to pasâ— that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people which shall be left from Assyria and from Egypt and from Paâ—hros and from Cush and from Elam and from Shinar and from Hamath and from the Islands of the Sea and verse 12. He shall set up an ensign of the Nations and shall assemble the out-casts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth with much more to that purpose in that place before and after these words c. And very remarkable is that Prophesie Isa 24.23 Then the Moon shall be confounded and the Sun ashamed when the Lord of Hosts shall reign in mount Sion and in Jerusalem before his ancients gloriously So again Isa 59.20 And the redeemer shall come to Sion and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob and very much to this purpose Cap. 60. but for this Kingdom more especially vers 14. The Sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet and they shall call thee The City of the Lord The Zion of the holy one of Israel Verse 15. Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated so that no man went through thee I will make thee an eternal joy of many generations Vers 16. They shall also suck the milk of the Gentiles and shalt suck the breasts of Kings and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer the mighty one of Jacob and so forward to the end of the chapter where many glorious things are spoken of this City of God as likewise very leargely in the following chapter and likewise in many others both before and after wards which may be considered in there place The next is the Prophet Jeremiah who in chap. 3.17 tells us At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord and all the Nations shall be gathered to it to the name of the Lord to Jerusalem neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart Another clear and vigorous Prophesie is set down Jer. 23.5 6. Behold the days saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch and a King shall rise and prosper and execute judgement and justice in the earth Verse 6. In his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the name whereby he shall be called The Lord our Righteousness And to the like purpose again Jer. 33.15 16. In those days and at that time will I cause the branch of Righteousness to grow up unto David and he shall execute judgement and righteousness in the land Verse 16. In those days shall Judah be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely and this is the name whereby he shall be called The Lord our righteousness and verse 17. Thus saith the Lord David shall never want a man to sit upon the Throne of the House of Israel and verse 21. If ye can break my Covenant of the day and my Covenant of the night and that there shall not be day and night in their season then may also my Covenant be broken with David my servant that he shall not have a Son to reign on his Throne and the like again repeated in the 25 and 26. verses The places are so clear and full I spare to speak any thing to apply them because they cannot justly and rationally be applied otherways and such as understand them onely spiritually say something but not all nor that which they principally drive at namely that special period of Christs reign upon earth whither the current of Such Scriptures lead and after all our Saviour himself abundantly in the Revelation instructs his people and all such as will not willfully shut their eyes against the light The Prophet Ezek. likewise speaks very clearly Chap. 24.23 24. And I set up one Shepherd over them and he shall feed them even my servant David he shall feed them and he shall be their Shepherd and vers 24. I the Lord will be their God and my servant David a Prince among them I the Lord have spoken it Again As evidently doth he speak of Christs reign Chap. 37. After that he had spoken of the joyning of the stick of Judah and Ephraim into one he saith vers 22. And I will make them one Nation in the land upon the Mountain of Israel and one King shall be the King to them all and they shall be no more two Nations neither shall they be divided into two Kingdoms any more at all and vers 24. David my servant shall be King over them and they shall have one Shepherd and they shall also walk in my judgements and observe my statutes and do them and vers 25. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant wherein your Fathers have dwelt and they shall dwell therein they and their Children and their Childrens Children for ever and my servant David shall be their Prince for ever And in those nine last Chapters of Ezekiel which learned and judicious men conceive to be the Revelation of the Old Testament where the holy Prophet had high mysteries of the New Jerusalem imparted to him and amongst the rest there are observeable many things set forth concerning the Prince and what order of state belonged to him and in conclusion he saith The City shall be called at that day viz.
shew me such a way to resolve those difficulties both by the several sences of Christs coming in the New Testament and to open to me a way of interpreting of what texts seemed contrary so as I had no president that I know of and yet so evident as I conceive cannot with good reason be denied and as for what is said of his intercession if Christ will perform that work thence forward by a presential intercession as formerly he did by a supernatural in his mosteminent improvement of his Preistly Office in heaven so may be his and the Fathers good pleasure and that is all that can be said since no Scripture gainsays it Or how the remaining part of his Preistly Office shall thenceforth be performed is known to himself as of the Prophetical till that Preistly begun so eminently to be manifest but divers texts as was said seem to limit his sitting at God the Fathers right hand in heaven to his next appearance or beginning of his coming to judgement However any that are not satisfied De modo may safely in the interim resolve of this that such a glorious Kingdom of Christ upon earth shall be and for that the Seripture is both clear plentiful and a truth with much joy and thank fulness to be embraced though some cannot happily so fully be resolved in what manner Christ will appear to set it up though to me the Scriptures spoken of in the and of the Fore-runner makes it evident that it will be personal andwithal seriously without prejudice consider also what is said of Mat. 28. and Mat. 13. concerning the sence of the end of the world with divers other things of weight to such purposes as you may find Chap. 4. pag. 41 42 43 44 45 46. c. and so I conclude with my prayer for the guidance of Gods holy Spirit for all such as humbly and faithfully seek according to the rule of his sacred Word to be rightly informed in this particular To whom I as to that in special commend all such who is the sole-worker of faith in every branch of it for which his Word hath laid any foundation to be received in the season of it as it was even with the very Apostles themselves concerning the receiving of the Gentiles to grace first by miracles afterwards by the Word and all other means usually ERRATA PAge 3. line 1. r. after likewise p. 5. l. 2. r. Chap. 20. p. 8. l. 1. r. is the p. 15. l. 22. r. Psal 145. p. 24. l. ult r. is set forts p. 27. l. 2. r. of the roul p. 35. l. 3. r. personal p. 42. l. 18. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 47. l. 13. r. after end p. 48. l. 33. r. Saviours p. 49. l. 1. adde and them that were with him and Ibid. l. 19. r. Censers Ibid. l. 24. r. and an eye p. 51. l. 3. adde of those three and of one p. 65. l. 25. r. to Saint Johns p. 73 74 75. falsly numbred at top p. 74. l. 27. r. their p. 75. l. 19. adde will p. 77. l. 1. r. for the spirit Ibid. l. 18. r. Testimonies Ibid. i. 24. r. others p. 81 spokan for spoken p. 94 l. 7. r. of truth CHAP. I. Of the Method and Order in handling the subject Which holds out a twofold consideration of Christs Kingdom on Earth First of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That it is Secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the things that belong to it Concerning the first seven things to be done I Confess by reason of the stream of Interpreters running contrary and the seeming disagreement with some articles of Christian faith I have been apt to decline any opinion of Christs raigning with his Saints the thousand years to come But since Gods divine providence by his word and spirit hath guided me into a more intense and serious consideration of the great emergencies thereof towards his Church in these latter times by whose especial grace upon search into those mystical Prophesies of Daniel the Revelation with other sacred Scriptures which doubtless hold out many things in reference thereunto I have found much satisfaction in such of Gods proceedings and by the series of times decyphered in the Revelation I see there is a necessity of finding some way of reconciling or removing such appearing difficulties or differences amongst good men For though some by interpreting the day of the Lord to be taken for the whole time of Christs raign upon earth from his first appearing to the end complexively in the sence St. Peter seems to speak of One day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day all which time they personally conceive him to be with his Church upon earth in his humane nature against which I shall by Gods assistance offer some reasons to be weighed in due place This then seemed to me to be a likely way to salve the difficulty I then upprehended c. For I conceive Christs raign these thousand years to be understood mystically for some wonderful manifestation of his Kingly power and dominion in his Church by the operation of his spirit although he remain in his humane nature at the right hand of God to make intercession for his people till the end of the world which may in regard of his infinite power and glory be manifest any other way he shall be pleased to magnifie himself gloriously in the world as before and since his incarnation some time he hath done But that he will in those times to come manifest himself in his Kingly glory and Majesty the Scriptures are so evident as it seems not to be questioned I shall therefore by his assisting grace and by the evidence and direction of his holy Spirit and truth endeavour to manifest the same to be hereafter in the thousand years of the flourishing state of his Church when Satan shall be bound under or about the seventh Trumpet in the considering of which we shall proceed in the order following by these ensuing steps First to consider the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that such a reign and Kingdom shall be Secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what belong to the said Kingdom and that first Spiritually secondly Temporally Concerning the first seven things are to be done 1. I shall lay down such Theses or Positions agreeing to holy Scripture and the Analogy of Faith as may much make way for Doctrines of this nature 2. I shall offer some reasons against the understanding of a personal reign of Christ in a bodily presence with his Saints on Earth 3. To endeavour to open the sence of the mystical and glorious reign of Christ which we understand according to Scripture sense and give some illustrations of it 4. To Parallel some mysteries in Daniel and Ezekiel with such things as are set forth in the book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ the King of Saints 5. To point
ΕΙΡΗÎΙΚΟΠOR A Peaceable consideration of CHRIST's Peaceful KINGDOM on EARTH to come Rev. 20.4 Rev. 5.10 To be added to the ΠΡΟΔΡΟΜΟΣ or Fore-runner WHEREIN The Proof and Confirmation that such a Kingdom shal be is abundantly established upon a seven-fold foundation more particularly set down in the next ensuing leaf Whereunto is added an Appendix concerning the first Resurrection spoken of Rev. 20.4 5 6. compared with Rev. 11.18 manifesting it to be of the bodily Resurrection of the Just to begin not long after the glorious appearance of Christ and his said Kingdom Breifly and plainly set down for the benefit of all faithful Christians Ezek. 37.24 25. And David my servant shall be King over them and they shall all have one shepherd they shall also walk in my judgments and observe my statutes and do them And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant wherein your Fathers have dwelt and they shall dwell therein even they and their children and their childrens children for ever and my servant David shall be their Prince for ever Dan. 7.21 22. I beheld and the same horn made war with the Saints and prevailed against them Vntil the Ancient of days came and judgment was given to the Saints of the most High and time came that the Saints possessed the kingdom 2 Thess 2.8 And then shall that wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming Among the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or forms of Doctrine in the Council of Nice by Gelas Cyzicen History thereof this is recorded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is We expect according to the holy Scriptures the manifesting unto us the appearing and Kingdom of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ and then the Saints of the most High as Daniel saith shall take the Kingdom Answerably hereunto our Received Nicene Creed From thence he shall come at the end of the world to judge the quick and the dead as it is Rev. 11.18 and then follows Whose Kingdom shall have none end as before explained Hoc Omega suis MVNVS Alpha tulit Printed in the Year 1665. THE CONTENTS THe Proof and Confirmation That such a Kingdom of Christ shall be is established in the sequel of this Treatise upon the sevenfold foundation ensuing First From a frame of Christian Doctrine containing the general consideration of Christs three great Offices of Mediatorship as the great Prophet Priest and King of his Church in seventeen Theses with six inferences drawn from them page 3 to 8. Secondly By a visional representation of Old and New Testament Doctrine suitable thereunto from the fourth and fifth Chapters of the Book of Revelations setting forth God the Fathers glory as Creator and the Lambs as Redeemer whence are also other seven inferences deduced to confirm Christs Kingdom to come on earth p. 9 to 35. Thirdly By divers evidences and expressions in those four Apostles writings to whom Christ in a special manner manifested his Kingly glory viz. to Peter James and John at his tranfiguration and Revelation to John and to St. Paul at his conversion from whose writings six several senses of Christs comings are observable since his coming in the flesh p. 41 to 56 Fourthly From the eminent Chronologers of the holy Ghost who writ of Satans three Babels namely Moses of the Tower of Babel Daniel of the Monarchy of Babylon and St. John of the mystical Babylon all which come to their utter confusions at the said setting up of Christs Kingdom on earth p. 57 to 71 Fifthly From the other Prophets of all times with the Psalms in the Old Testament and all sorts of Gospellers in the New Chap. 6 7 8. Sixthly By other Arguments drawn from the Lords prayer and the three usual received Creeds or Articles of Confessions of Faith p. 90 to 95. Seventhly From the most ancient Orthodox Fathers of the most pure primitive times who owned this truth in its untainted purity p. 96. All which with many other useful particulars to be observed occasionally set down in reference to Christs personal reign with his raised Saints will more fully appear First by the contents of each Chapter premised and then by the Chapters themselves in order unto which for brevities sake I refer the Christian Reader In the Appendix the bodily resurrection of the Saints is first explained from the distinct consideration of those two parallel Texts of sacred Scripture Rev. 11.18 and 20.4 5 6. confirmed from sundry Texts of Old and New Testament and many weighty considerations tendered to manifest that first resurrection there spoken of to intend the bodily resurrection of the Saints at that very time whereunto that Revelation of Jesus Christ for his Churches benefit hath particular reference Further shewing that the Antient Doctors and Fathers of the primitive times of the Gospel were of that judgement A TABLE OF CHRONOLOGIE BEcause the help of some Chronologie is very needful to the understanding of mystical Prophesies in the holy Scriptures especially for such as this small treatise is intended for and to that end they may neither be troubled or discouraged with too large or too many or curious notions or varieties of mens opinions concerning the order of times I shall here labour to set down such a general soantling for the use of ordinary capacities that by the help hereof together with what is all along set down ofttimes in the following Treatise they may in some sort have pointed out to them the times the things they therein read of have particular reference unto And this we shall indeavour to set down First More generally until the beginning of the four Monarchies set forth Dan. 2. and Dan. 7. 1. By the great Image Chap. 2. 2. By the four Beasts Chap. 7. Again secondly To consider particularly the times following them 1. Then more generally In the first place consider what Moses compendiously sets down before the general Deluge for the space of 1656. years of the old world as ordinarily it is computed 2. From Noahs flood to the promise made to Abraham about the year of the world Anno 2030. is 374. years Exod. 12.4 3. From the promise to Abraham to the Israelites departure out of Egypt 2460. is 430. years 4. The beginning of the Assyrian kingdom by Nimrod about 1788. which continued to the Chaldean Monarchy by Nebuchadnezzar about 1700. years 5. Take notice the Temple of Solomon was begun about the 3000. year of the world as learned Dr. Usher computes it from whence to the Captivity of Babylon he reckons likewise 395. years being in the year 3395. And may not the Antitype of Solomon and his Temble be glorious at the end of 3000. years more 6. I shall here adde a general computation of Bucholcherus for the apt concinnity thereof reaching first to the Captivity of Babylon and through all following times 1. Israel saith he
further considering what is said Rev. 21.22 c. to this purpose of of the same time I observed Rev. 21. at the new heavens and the new earth the Tabernacle of God is said to be with men which may denote a near communion in a more unusual manner then formerly and in the new Jerusalem that came down from heaven the Lord God Almighty the Lamb are said both to be the light and the Temple thereof chap. 21 22 23. which may import some excellency both of worship and discovery then to be in the Church Again c. 22. the pure river of water of life out of the Throne of God and the Lamb which may note the abundant and constant overflowings of the graces of the Holy Ghost with power in that time proceeding from the Father the Son and so the tree of life by that river c. to note Christ will be gloriously and graciously present with his Church then to preserve it in that excellent condition as in Paradise if man had eaten of that tree and like to those in Ezekiels Visions in the nine last Chapters of the Temple the New Hierusalem the waters flowing thence and the trees there c. all which Texts seriously weighed occasioned me to apprehend some wonderful new dispensation of grace under the reign of Christ upon the earth which whether it may be some only mystical appearance of Christ glory and Majesty shining from Heaven upon earth either spiritually wrought or visibly apparent as the lighten-from one end of the earth to the other Mat. 24.27 or in what manner or how long that time only may manifest yet Master Brightman who is large upon a flourishing state of the Church of the Jews hath a learned and large exposition of the precious stones in the new Hierusalem applies them spiritually to such a Church to come in earth wherein Paraeus dissenteth from him upon the ground fore-hinted And that Text Psa 110.1 Sit thou on my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool which in the New Testament seems sundry times to have reference to the ruine of Antichrist and his complices seems to limit Christs sitting there to that season And St. Pauls five parts of the mystery of Godliness makes the last to be his taking up into glory as if in that was the finishing of that mystery 1 Tim. 3.16 as the Angel Christ Rev. 10.7 likewise speaks Antichrists time shall be no more But some Scriptures speaking of the end of the World Lo I am with you to the end of the World Mat. 28. ult and so the parable of the Tares the Harvest is the end of the world seemed to oppose any new way of dispensation but setting against those Texts the Angels viz. Christs swearing time should be no more Rev. 10. which some learned Divines expound of wicked Dominion at the end of the fourth Monarchy by the Popes perdition which agrees with a like vision Dan. 12.7 where likewise he swear for a time times and a half when he that is Antichrist figured before in Antiochus Epiphanes and here again spoken of shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people all those things should be finished i. e. the Kingdom should be given to the Saints of the most high as before and Michael the great Prince stand up for Daniels people vers 1. which evidently agree with the times of the seventh Trumpet But for further resolution I considered Mat. 28. ult and Mat. 13. where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies the finishing together while the Tares and the Wheat grow together till all that offend be gathered out of Christs Kingdom of the age as Gods finishing his mystery Rev. 10. and in both those places appeared to be remarkably the same in sense with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 often used for the present state of things till evil Dominion end as may be seen in many places of the new Testament as first for worldly men Luk. 16.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hujus seculi the Children of this world are wise in their generation so of the Devil 2 Cor. 4.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bujus seculi in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that beleive not So Ephes 6.12 The Rulers of the darkness of this world So Joh. 12.3 Stan is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Prince of this world So also John 14.30 which is onely until the same time and so in that sense those phrases seem to be taken till the end of the prevalency of evil men and Devils when Gods mystery shall be finished at the seventh Trumpet when glorious light of grace and truth will shine in the Church of God and for the Parable of the Tares where the Harvest is expounded to be the end of the world it seems manifestly to be meant of such a coming wonderfully at the setting up of his Kingdom where it is said he will then send his Angels to gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and the order of proceeding seems contrary to the last destruction for here the Angels must first gather the Tares and bind them in bundles and burn them before the Wheat be gathered into the Barn the true Church but at the last judgement when Heaven and Earth and all the works in them shall be burnt which is called then the destruction of the ungodly men Christ by a change before in an instant delivers the faithful then alive from that temporal destruction and the ruine of Antichrist seems agreeing with that of the Tares burning first in order by taking of that hurtful brood out of the way c. And in Luk. 17. The examples of the Flood in Noahs time and the destruction of Sodâ—â—m and Gomorrah in Lots time are instance in which were the taking away of ungodly men but not the destruction of the Universe so here 't is said all that offend and work wickedness shall be taken out of Christs Kingdome But as we hinted before of Christs giving the Kingdom to the Saints that it must be his certain gift to them not any mens daring attempts will carry it so if any new dispensations shall be which we but darkly guess at Gods present Institutions must necessarily be observed and prized till in such regard his will is clearly made known to his people for all such affairs are the flowers or jewels belonging onely to his celestial crown that none other may order but himself and in his own appointed time onely and it is a snare of Satan to concieve otherwise thereof and in case Satan know any such truth his malice of late is the more remarkable in his seduced followers who to their own and others mischeif have cryed down and rejected Gods sacred Ordinances in the times when they are most useful and needful for them and others Or by any other ways or means then to make them unprofitable or ineffectual If some Ordinances shall not continue in
thousand years particularly specified Rev. 20. when he would raign with his Saints on the earth and when the new Jerusalem shall come down from God out of Heaven Rev. 21.2 By all which it may appear that in the whole body of the Book of God the life-blood and spirits as it were of the Scriptures concerning Christ seem cheifly to run in this vein to set forth the excellency of his kingly Office and that even the eminent use of Prophesie in the first period and the execution of Priesthood in the second do in a great part make way for and usher in the most eminent glory of his Kingly Office in the third Period whereupon Christs mediatorship will be perfected full reconciliation made with God and abundant enterance to the mystical body of Christ together with himself their head administred into eternal and perfect blessedness Thus having offered unto the consideration of serious and truly Christian Spirits all the forementioned evidences to confirm this glorious excellent truth wherein the main difficulty of the matter seemed to lye as respecting the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shew that most certainly the raign and Kingdom of Christ in the world eminently is to come as our Saviour hath made known to Saint John in the thousand years under or after the seventh Trumpet We should here proceed to the other part which concerns 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those things fore-promised to be enjoyed by Gods people in the time of such his reign And that both spiritually viz. Abundance of grace spiritual peace joy security large communion with God Christ and the holy Spirit Together with much benefit and comfort by the perfected Saints perfected I say in respect of their real happiness and the security of it Rev. 22.9 on such the second death shall have no power And also temporally viz. abundance of outward plenty peace security comfort in the enjoyment of the temporal blessings and good things of this life more then ever any ages of the world since the fall obtained whereunto the Scriptures likewise give large Testimony But because there have been in sundry Proofs already many things set forth to this purpose concerning the things of Christs Kingdom and in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or forrunner hereof already published as in a short abridgement thereof contained many great things of such nature from evident Texts of holy Scripture We shall not at present proceed any further therein but as the Providence of God may further lead thereunto But de modo now we shall add nothing fearing to be either too curious or peremptory therein onely at present resolving that either mystically or personally in case of a new dispensation that Kingdom of Christ will in its time appear that we may not gain-say such as have obtained more light therein nor seem to diminish from the glory of it or any ways resist the truth We should likewise in the last place adde some improvement of this to all sorts of persons which we shall only at present in two words as it were adjoyn First to warn all opposers to take heed that either by denying or opposing Christ Kingdome in Doctrine practice or project least when Christ comes in his Kingdom they should be found resisters thereof and fighters against it or particularly comes in wrath against any such in the interim by sending any swift messenger thereof unto them remembring his sentence against those old rebels the Jews Luk. 19.27 But those mine enemes that would not that I should rule over them bring hither and slay them before me For it is a desperate danger to be found fighters against Christ upon any account or engagement in the world whatsoever at any other time but more especially at that time when he shall come in his glory and will manifest his great power and wrath upon them Secondly To encourage all Christs over-comers to be valiant and resolute in fighting against and resisting of all Satanical frauds and Antichristian oppositions against Christ and his Kingdom and to plead Christs right for the strenghening of others to stand on Christs part but always according to Christs warrant and direction in the pleading of this his last clause in the last part of his New Testament-will left amongst us in special mercy to poor unworthy sinners And for their encouragement they may observe from his word that it seems not to be long before he will make it good Surely saith he I come quickly Rev. 22.20 and this is according to the order of things therewith described probable in its order to draw on very fast For Antichrists ruin will make way for Christs reign on earth in that his eminent Kingdome Office and Authority and to that end let both sorts seriously consider that excellent closure of the Prophesie of that Evangelical Prophet Esay Chap. the last vers 5. and so forward which seems very apposite to that purpose and seriously to be weighed upon sundry considerations both respecting the latter time of Anti-christ and divers matters concerning Christs Kingdom then to come And so we conclude with the Churches earnest request unto Christ for the hastening of his coming Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen Arguments for Christs Kingdom upon earth from the Lords Prayer First from the three first Petitions Arg. 1 VVHat Christ set down as the cheif rule and direction of the prayer and faith of his people shall surely be accomplished But that Gods Name should be Hallowed his Kingdom come his will be done on Earth as in Heaven is by him given as the cheif rule of their prayer and ground of their faith Therefore These things shall most surely have their accomplishment on Earth as in Heaven That is intra spheram activitatis quoad statum which in this respect is like to be remakable though corruption then be in the Saints yet will be then strongly and powerfully resisted the more grace the more glory to God then and after to themselves Arg. 2 At what time these are most-eminently promised and foretold to be in the world in that they shall be fulfilled and performed But in Christs reign on earth they are most eminently promised and foretold that they shall be Rev. 11. Rev. 20. Therefore In that time they shall be fulfilled and performed Argument from the fourth Petition Gods people may then pray most comfortably and confidently for daily bread when they find all such grace most inlarged on his Church unto which the entail of all needful temporal blessings is cheifly made yea and upon that account are in great abundance promised But such entail of needful supply of temporals or daily bread upon the abundance of spiritual grace in the time of Christs said reign upon that account is more strongly then made unto them yea and abundance of temporal prosperity unto the abundant measure of grace which then will be given Therefore Gods people will most comfortably and confidently then pray for it Argument from the
fifth Petition Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors When Gods people are most ascertained that they shall attain the end of this Petition they will most comfortably and confidently pray according to the tenour of it But in the time of Christs reign on earth they shall be most ascertained that they shall attain the end of this Petition Therefore They shall then most comfortably and confidently pray according to the tenour of it Now this Petition hath a double respect First to the obtaining of the assurance of their own pardon Secondly to engage them to pardon others and both these ends will then be most promoted First their eminent measure of faith and love zeal and sincerity c. will upon their prayer of truth assure them of their own pardon And secondly the exercise of divers of their graces besides obedience to Gods command which requires them to do so will engage them likewise to forgive others Argument from the sixth Petition Lord lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Gods faithful people may then best pray for their deliverance from the evil one and from the evil of his temptations when they know most assuredly by the world that they are for along time removed from them But in the said Thousand years they shall most evidently know from the word that the evil one and the evil of his temptations are so removed from them Therefore They shall then best pray for such their deliverance both from the evil one and the evil of his temptations Yeaâ— their prayer in truth or sincerity will be then both a means of their deliverance and of the assurance thereof as being Gods ordinance for his Church to that end Argument from the enforcement For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory c. The consideration of these enforcements will then be most vigorous and strong unto the Saints when they are assured from the word that there is such a time wherein God will most evidently and fully manifest them unto good and bad on earth at the time of his next coming But he will most evidently and fully manifest them unto good and bad upon earth according to the word Therefore The consideration thereof gives the greatest enforcement and vigour then unto the prayers of the Saints or in reference to that time Arguments from four Articles of the Creed First From thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead Secondly I believe the holy Catholique Church Thirdly I believe the Communion of Saints Fourthly The Resurrection of the body of the righteous Argument from the Article From thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead Arg. 1 THose that rightly believe that Christ will come from the right hand of the Father to judge both the quick and the dead they must believe he will do it in same time the Scripture teacheth it But the Scripture teacheth that he will do this after the seventh Trumpet at the beginning of the thousand years Rev. 11. Rev. 19. Rev. 20. Therefore They that believe it rightly must believe he will then do it Arg. 2 They that rightly believe Christ will come from the right-hand of the Father to judge the quick and the dead they must believe he will do it in the same order that the Scripture hath set it down But the Scripture hath set down Christ appearance or first coming of Christ to judgment at the beginning of the said thousand years Therefore They that deny his first coming then to judgment deny it in that order the Scripture hath set it down in Besides the manner of his proceeding is different at the first and second coming of Christ to judgment At the first he will begin with the Temporal destruction of his enemies First with fine and sword so taking away those Tares by Bundles and then cast them into Hell and then the Angels shall gather the Wheat into his Barn Matth 13. But at his last coming he will first gather the good the dead in Christ shall rise first and the raised before and the quick living upon earth at the voice of an Archangel and the trump of God shall be all changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye and be caught up to meet Christ in the Ayr and so being freed from the destruction of the wicked they shall be ever with the Lord 1 Cor. 15.2 Pet. 3.10 when the Heavens shall pass away as a seroll and the Elements melt with fervent heat and the earth with the works thereon shall be burnt up as the Scriptures witness after the thosand years is past Argument from the beleif of the Holy Catholique Church Such as rightly believe that they are essential properties of the Church of Christ to be holy and Catholique ought to believe it to be such in reference to those times chiefly wherein Gods word declares it shall be chiefly such But in the said thousand years his word declares it shall be cheifly such Therefore They that rightly believe those properties must then according to Gods Word cheifly beleive it to besuch The Pseud-Holy and Pseud-Catholique Harlot of Rome hath long falsly assumed those properties to her self all that time the Scripture hath foretold the world should wonder after the beast Rev. 13. The seducer knowing that they belong to the true Church hath so ascribed them to the false Church that the true holy Catholique Church might not be expected But that hereafter in the said thousand years the Church of Christ will be holy above all former times the Scriptures abundantly shew as before is set down and much more follows And secondly that it shall then be most Catholique from East to West from Sea to Sea from one end of the world to the other there are also plentiful Testimonies which never yet were fulfilled Argument from the beleif of the Communion of Saints They that beleive the Communion of Saints aright must beleive it in that manner and in that time the Scripture sets it forth on earth But the Scripture sets it forth most eminently in the said thousand years to come Therefore according to Scripture they must beleive it will then be most eminent upon earth They will then be of one heart and one way the Lord one and his name one Ephraim shall not envy Judah nor Judah vex Ephraim Argument from the Resurrection of the body Such as rightly beleive the resurrection of the bodies of the just must believe it in the same time and order the Scripture of true had set it down But the Scripture of true sets down the beginning of the resurrection of the just to be at the beginning of the thousand years of Christs reign on earth first the Martyrs and eminent Saints and then every one in his own order Therefore they that rightly beleive the resurrection of the Saints bodies must so then beleive it Argument from the Article of the Nicene Creed He shall come again
with glory to judge both the quick and the dead whose Kingdom shall have none end THose that acknowledge a Kingdom of Christ as Mediator after his first glorious appearance or coming to judge the quick and the dead plainly acknowledge his Kingdom of the thousand years But the composers of the Nicene Creed plainly acknowledge such a Kingdom of Christ after his first glorious appearance or coming to judge the quick and the dead Therefore The composers of the Nicene Creed plainly acknowledge Christs Kingdom in the thousand years This is proved from the quotation of that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Title Page grounded upon the Prophesie of Daniel and after the thousand years Christ as Mediator will have no kingdom it being at the end of the world to be given up to God the Father c. Arguments from the Article of the Nicone Creed I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord and Giver of life who proceedeth from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son is to be worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets At what times the Scriptures foretell that the Holy Ghost who spake by all the holy Prophets will most inlighten his Saints and Servants in the right understanding of them and will most be manifest to be the Lord and Giver of spiritual life and consequently to be most evidently to be worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son all Gods faithful people are bound specially to believe in him in reference to the fulfilling of all such Prophesies concerning those times But the Holy Ghost in the Scriptures hath expresly and particularly foretold that such things shall be eminently fulfilled in the time of Christs said Kingdom upon earth when he will most evidently appear to be the Lord and Giver of spiritual life and consequently most eminently to be worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son Therefore All Gods faithful people ought specially to believe in the Holy Ghost in reference unto such eminent fulfilling of such spiritual promises concerning those times He first spake by the Prophets more rarely till Christ was come in the flesh namely only to those few special messengers from time to time whom he immediately inspired He was given more plentifully unto his Saints and Servants after Christ was glorified for so saith the Apostle Joh. 7.39 But after our Saviour commanded his Disciples to tarry at Jerusalem until they were indued with power from on high 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Phrase is Emphatical the same with Rom. 13.14 Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and they were so soon after indued with the holy Ghost Act. 2. which in verse 33. St. Peter calls the receiving of the promise of the Holy Ghost hence the Apostles had a spirit of power 2 Tim. 1.7 and so had all the company of the beleivers that prayed with Peter and John Act. 4.31 when the place was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Ghost So was Steven Act. 6. and many others not onely Jews but Gentiles which then seemed strange to the Christian Jews Act. 10.45 47. but this held not long but for the first setling and ratifying the Gospel of Christ in such extraordinary manner which is by judicious men conceived to be as a preludium of the great fulfilling of the prophesies fully to be accomplished in the thousand years to the end which were applyed likewise for that time by the Apostle Act. 2. out of Joel 2. and Esa 44.3 unto which great fulfilling seems the applying Psa 8. in Act. 4.24 and Act. 2.25 in that prayer when the place was shaken vers 31. to the end both which places have reference mainly unto those times as Heb. 2. and the context of Psal 2. doth evidently make manifest then all Gods Saints will more evidently with open face behold the glory of the Lord and be changed into the same Image by the Lord the Spirit that Spirit of power that was in those first times sent down upon the Apostles and others extraordinarily And if Christ shed forth his Spirit so wonderfully at that time when he went to receive his Kingdom how will he pour it out upon all his Saints when he shall come gloriously to rule and reign in his Kingdom in a different and more eminent way then ever before manifest unto the world which will be executed every way irresistibly and prevalently towards enemies and his people of all sorts by his spirit of Power and Domination as Tremel upon 2 Cor. 3.18 who will then likewise be more fully and evidently manifest to be our God with the Father and the Son proceeding from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son is to be worshipped and glorified as the Niâ—ene Creed excellently For the glory of the whole Trinity will wonderfully shine out in that Kingdom of Christ upon earth when the Tabernacle of God is with men So Rev. 11.19 and the pure river of the water of Life shall run through the New Jerusalem come down from heaven which is the place our Saviour tells his Disciples Joh. 14.13 that he went to prepare for them when he would receive them to himself that they might be where he is as divers Scriptures evidence where he injoyns them that as they beleive in God they should also beleive in him and presently after in the same Chapter doth twice promise to them the Holy Ghost First to be a Comforter to them Secondly to lead them into all truth Vers 16. and afterwards again Vers 26. and so God the Father Son and Holy Ghost will be then made evidently manifest unto the Saints when they shall possess that place which Christ there promised to prepare for his Disciples c. even to all the faithful in their degree for they shall all then know him from the least unto the greatest Jer. 31.34 Heb. 8.11 As for Testimony of Primitive Churches and Doctors take the evidence of the Nicene Council and therewith the Nicene Creed of whose Kingdom there shall be no end set down in the Title page with sundry quotations of Ancients and Fathers breifly set down in the Appendix following concerning which particular it is not needful here to be large because it is so plentifully learnedly and judiciously already performed by Dr. Nathaniel Homes in the first part of the Dawning of the day-star and in divers other parts of that Book whither the Judicious Reader may be referred in this point for abundant satisfaction therein whereby this Doctrine of Christs reign is abundantly vindicated from novelty and manifested to be purely primitive THE APPENDIX Wherein is breifly considered what Rev. 20. Chap. sets down concerning the thousand years but more especially voncerning the first resurrection verse 4 5.6 compared with the other parallel Text having reference to the same time Rev. 11.15 16 17 18. Setting forth divers reasons for such resurrection of the Saints bodies then spoken of in the said Texts with sundry
other Scriptures and instances both in the old and new Testament pertinent to that purpose And that the Doctrine of the resurrection which was all along in Scripture taught gradually before is most fully cleared by the two last Apostles St. Paul in his Epistles and St. John in the book of the Revelation NOw because that Matutina resurrectio which Mr. Mede speaks of called the first resurrection Rev. 20.4 5. By way of Antithesis to the last more general resurrection of the good and bad before not raised is of great concernment to the then living godly and Saints departed before let us confider what the Scriptures set before us concerning the same And because Christ hath more fully revealed to his Church Rev. 20. the pleasure of his father therein more then formerly was made known in the word for the Doctrine of the resurrection in diverse things in the Old and New Testament was revealed by degrees and St. Paul shews some mysteries of it and our Saviour there more Let us therefore in the first place consider the context of what is there said thereof Rev. 20. and then come to the verses wherein it is contained Vers 1 2. The Angel Christ lays hold on Satan and binds him a thousand years which thousand years by the most learned on all hands is agreed to be literally taken for many reasons Vide Parae on Rev. 20.2 besides the emphatical expressions after several times the mention of a thousand years the Spirit of God sets them out with an Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 three times vers 3 5 7. as if he should say these thousand years before-mentioned indefinitely are now so often spoken of demonstratively punctually setting down what was done before what in and after them in all which the word clears the literal sence Verse 3. He shuts him up in the bottomless pit and seals or secures him there during that time but shews he must after the thousand years be loosed for a little season And the fulfilling of that his loosing is set down as this matutina or first resurrection is decyphered vers 4 5 6. For Vers 7. Shews when Satan is accordingly loosed out of Prison Vers 8. Shews how he prevails to gather his hosts of Gog and Magog in great numbers in all the four quarters of the earth Vers 9. Sets down their design to compass the camp of the Saints and their disappointment by fire from heaven that devours them Vers 10. Shews the judgement of Satan in the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false Prophet were cast before the thousand years Vers 11. And so forward to the end is described the ensuing last judgement where the judge is set down in this 11. verse and his Throne he sat on Vers 12. the persons judged all sorts small and great the ways of their tryal by opening the books and according to their works Verse 13. How they came to the judgement The Sea and Death and the Grave gave up all the dead Vers 14 15. Shews who were cast into the lake of fire at the last namely Death the last enemy 1 Cor. 15. and Hell or the grave with all whose names were not written in the Book of life Now concerning this first resurrection it is largely described in many particulars Verse 4. In the first place are thrones and they that sate on them and judgement was given unto them which seems to be such eminent holy persons as the Apostles or great Prophets assessors with Christ then that as our Saviour promised should sit and judge on thrones at his Kingdom Luke 22.29 30. Secondly All other faithful Saints that lived and reigned with Christ the thousand years Vers 5. declares the different conditions of all others there called the rest of the dead that had not part in that first resurrection Vers 6. Contains the condition quality and priviledges of all the then raised Saints First they are blessed Secondly they are holy and therefore blessed Thirdly They are thereupon secured the second death shall have no power on them they are most safe from the judgement of the wicked that will come Fourthly the excellency of their promotion First to be Priests of God and Christ to offer praise c. continually Secondly Kings to reign with him the thousand years And this the Parallel Text Rev. 11.15 and so forward at the sounding of the seventh Trumpet doth likewise confirm where verse 15. is set down the beginning of Christs reign upon earth and the continuance for ever while the earth continues Secondly the praise of the Church thereupon namely the twenty four elders now without mention of the four beasts as formerly vers 16. Vers 17. There is the object of their praise Lord God Almighty which is and was and is to come and then reigned Secondly The ground of that their praysing him for taking his great power and reigning Verse 18. The occasion opportunity and advantage that Christ took then to take his great power and to reign First of evil unto the evil the Nations were provoked to anger and rage by the Devil against the Saints as also he will do to compass the Camp of the Saints when Satan is loosed Chap. 20.9 and here Gods wrath came upon them in devouring fire and destroyed them that destroyed the earth in the end of the 18. vers Secondly in the middle part of the same verse we have the advantage or opportunity Christ takes of good to the good First of the dead before that They should then be raised and they are of two degrees First Gods eminent servants the Prophets that should have suitable reward to their great service or sufferings or both And Secondly less eminent Saints Again good to the good then alive on earth such as fear Gods name small and great for the blessed and holy dead raised then will be above sear there perfect love as Saint John speaks hath cast out fear Lastly Vers 19. There is described the spiritual glory of the grace of God discovered in Christ above what was before so as peculiar to Jerusalem that comes down from heaven The temple of God was opened in heaven and there was seen in his temple the Ark of his Testament and on the other hand is set forth the terrour of Gods wrath manifest then against ungodly men to be horribly destroyed from the earth as is set down at this time So Psal 50 1 2 3 4 5 c. Dan. 12.1 which likewise referres both to the good and the wicked Now for the condition or state of the raised Saints it is probable to be like or suitable to what was in Christ before he ascended to his Father that appeared and disappeared as he saw good for his Disciples and sometime eat and drank with them as both the Gospel manifests Vide Mat. 26.29 compared with Luk. 22.18 19. one verse speak of the Passover the other of the Lords Supper and the Apostle Peter saith
as follow largely Vers 51 52 53 54. having in the middle of the Chaptâ—r shewed those sundâ—y particulars of it First For the order Christ should rise as the first fruits and cause of the Saints holy resurrection ver 23. Secondly The time when the Saints in a special manner alone should be so raised by him namely at this his coming ver 23. Thirdly He gives an intimation how long he must reign after that coming till all enemies be put under his feet Fourthly He sets down the last enemy to be subdued that is death which came by the first Adam and at last shall be destroyed by the second Adam Fifthly In vers 27. is imployed his invincible prevalency when all enemies are destroyed and vers 28. how as Man or Mediatour Christ will be subject to the Father to this purpose Psal 110. gives a clear evidence which is concerning the raign of Christ on earth after which Paul shews as Mediatour he delivers up the Kingdom to God the Father vers 24. When death and hell shall be cast into the lake of fire as was said Rev. 20.14 read what will then be at the last most general resurrection hinted before vers 51 52 53 54. Consider the many particulars there taught in this point not known usually before and so in like manner in the 20. Chapter of the Revelation Christ reveals to Saint John more fully and clearly what Saint Paul had taught before obscurely and darkly till hereby explained namely that under the seventh Trumpet when Christ shall come to raign on earth and shew himself there gloriously in his Kingly Office there shall be such a first resurrection of Martyrs Apostles Prophets and such holy persons of all sorts as was observed before and this Gods faithful people ought to know and believe to their great comfort and rejoycing as well as any thing concerning the Doctrine of the resurrection so gradually made known to the Church before as Christ was pleased any way before to dispence the knowledge thereof to the glory of him who shall so raise them to raing with him here where they have served him in faithfulness or suffered for him or with him And now we shall by Gods gracious assistance proceed to consider other Scriptures that seem to confirm this which we have delivered from Christ Rev. 20.4 And this doubtless was revealed to the holy Fathers and Prophets in the Old Testament concerning the raising of the deceased Saints at Christs Kingdom on earth as really though not so clearly as it is now to us in the New Testament as being the cheif glory of that his Kingdom wherein they were to have their part therefore God is the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and that should be his memorial for ever to whom and their posterities with them the land of Canaan was promised and shadowed out to be accompished at this time fully wherein all the great promises to that purpose are to have their compeat accomplishment vid. Deut. 30 to vers 11. Deut. 4.20 21. Eze. 37.25 This Jobs expectation had particularly respect unto When the Judge should stand on the earth at the last day as the original carries it and Daniel was to stand in the lot at this time as before we shewed and which seems to be our Saviours drift in the Text Rev. 20. and for this end the great promises of circumcising the heart of the seed of those holy Fathers tend to this Deut 30.6 when they had been driven to the utmost parts of heaven and brought into the lands which their Fathers possessed that they might possess it vers 4.5.6 in their sight So that Evangeligal Prophet Esay Chap. 26. professeth of himself and the faithful with him in that his excellent Song to this purpose vers 19. where having spoken in order of the condition of Gods people in the time now past unto the time of the resurrection of Gods people at this very period as may appear from the Context for having spoken of their condition in the captivity of Babylon ver 13. When other Lords besides the Lord Jehovah had had Deminion over them and yet they would by him only make mention of his name Concerning those Lords he saith They are dead they shall not live they are deceased they shall not rise therefore he had visited and destroyed them and made all their memory to perish vers 14. though they themselves were removed that were his Nation into all the ends of the earth and though a long time after they had prayed and been like a woman with child in pangs and hopes yet had brought forth nothing but wind since for long time there was no deliverance wrought in the earth neither did the inhabitants thereof fall v. 16 17 18. yet that both would come to pass he professeth his saith saying of Gods people and of himself Thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust as Ephes 5.14 Awake thou that sleepest and rise from the dead and Christ shall give thee life as also Esay 60.1 and then it followeth for thy dew is as the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out the dead where he fully shews his faith concerning this first resurrection where he shews the Jews should be a herbs after winter is past quickened by the reviving dew of the spring-time whereas the Lords spoken of vers 13. were such as are mentioned not then to rise Rev. 20 5. the inhabitants that had not fallen till that time those Rev. 19.11 to the end but the Jews Church and himself as at the first resurrection when those said inhabitants of the earth among the rest of the dead that lived not should have no part in that first resurrection when unto himself and Gods people both a temporal and spiritual resurrection will be both of body and soul and outward condition at that time hence the Israelites and Jews as two sticks joyned into one though like dead bones before scattered yet then God shews they should be raised with flesh and skin and be and stand up as a great army Ezek. 37. and hereunto may be referred the mystical resurrection of the two sackcloth witnesses as typical thereof And this the Apostle Paul seems to declare by the Allegory of the two Testaments Gal. 4.26 resembled by Hagar which was Mount Sinai in Arabia that gendred to bondage and Sarah the Jerusalem that is above that is the Mother of all the faithful that Mother City prepared for them Heb. 11.16 that will then come down from God being the City of the living God Heb. 12.12 with all her children The children of the resurrection as our Saviour stiles the faithful Luk. 20.36 shall possess unto which purpose he applyes Gods being the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob in vers 37. next following yea moreover our Saviour describs the faithful v. 35. by being counted worthy to receive that world and the resurrection from