and Earth given him Mat. â—8 18 A Kingdome which lasteth for ever Luke 1.33 And this Kingdome he had at or neare his ascension at which time and a thousand and some hundreth yeares after the Roman Kingdome stood and as some affirme yet stands Therefore the Roman Kingdome is not the fourth Kingdom in Daniel Argum. 2. The fourth Kingdome in Daniel is to bee destroyed before Christs Kingdome to which all Nations and not the Jews onely are to submit Dan. 7.14 not before a Kingdome of a thousand yeares as some conceit yet to come begins But the Roman Kingdome was not destroyed before Christs Kingdom began to which all Nations were to submit for it began about the time when Christ sent to all Nations to obey what hee commanded Maâ— 28.20 At which time and thence to this present the Roman Kingdome continues Therefore the Roman Kingdome is not Daniels fourth Kingdome Argum. 3. If the fourth Beast Dan. 7. expresses the Roman Kingdom then the Beast Rev. 13.1 to the 11. sets forth the very same Kingdome and not one like thereunto For most Exposisitors hold and that aright that that Beast Rev. 13.1 sets forth the Roman Kingdom But the Beast Rev. 13.8 to the 11 verse expresses not the very same bnt a like Kingdome to the foure Kingdomes Dan. 7. Therefore the fourth Beast Dan. 7. expresses not the Roman Kingdom That the Beast Rev. 13.1 to 11. expresses not the very same but a like Kingdome to the foure Kingdomes Dan. 7. I thus prove The chiefe mysticall and figurative termes in the Revelation having reference to something in the Old Testament expresso some new matter like the Old and not the same with the Old But the Beast Rev. 13.1 hath in the figurative and mysticall termes thereof reference to the Old Testament namely to the foure Beasts Dan. 7. Therefore that Beast Rev. 13.1 expresses not the very same but a like Kingdome to those foure in Dan. 7. What â—asfirmed of the chiefe mysticall and figurative termes in the Revelation is evident For Egypt Babylon the New Jerusalem the Wildernesse Paradise Manna and other the like termes expresse new matters like the old and not the same And that there is a manifest reference of that Beast Rev. 13.1 to the foure beasts Dan. 7. is most manifest For In Dan. 7. The 1. Beast is a Lion 2. A Beare 3. A Leopard 4. A Beast with ten horns The Beast Rev. 13.1 Hath 1. A mouth like a Lion 2. Feet like a Beare 3. A body like a Leopard 4. It hath ten hornes And as the foure Beasts Dan. 7. have seven Heads The Lion one the Bear one the Leopard foure and the fourth Beast one So the Beast Rev. 13.1 Hath seven Heads Thus the reference is most evident Answ. To this Argument is answered Bee it granted that Christs providentiall Kingdome over all things and his spirituall Kingdome over his Church were administred by him when hee lived upon earth yea even from the beginning of the world and shall continue unto the worlds end Yet his Monarchicall Kingdome in which hee shall govern and raigne as earthly Monarchs have done universally over the world is not yet begun Mr. Archer Replicat Christ in his Kingdome above mentioned is the most absolute King and Monarch that ever was is or shall bee and you much debase and vilify him and his Kingdome in comparing it and counting it inferiour to earthly Monarchies and Kingdoms For they rose out of the Sea or Earth Dan. 7.3 17. Rev. 13.1 11. But Christs Kingdome is set up by the God of Heaven and is often called the Kingdome of Heaven in the Gospel Christ is the Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15.43 and therefore is above all Joh. 3.31 The kingdoms of other States were destroyed Dan. 2.44 But Christs kingdome is everlasting and can never bee destroyed Dan. 7.27 Other great kingdomes of the world ruled over one hundred twenty seven Provinces or the like But Christ is to have all Nations to serve him Psal. 72.11 Even the uttermost parts of the Earth for his possession Psalme 2.8 In all things Christ hath the preheminence And therefore Christ at the time mentioned was a more absolute Monarch then any King ever was is or shall bee and had a lawfull authority to give out his commission for all Nations to be taught to observe his commands Mat. 28.20 But to come close up to the Point Thus I argue Argum. 1. When Herod Pilaâ—e and the Jewish Rulers rose up against Jesus Christ God set him up to bee his King on Mount Sion his holy Mountaine and gave him so eminent a Kingdome that to it all Kings Judges and people must submit or else bee crusht with an iron Scepter Psal. 2. Act. 4.26 27. Pnt Herod Pilate and the Jews rulers rose up against Jesus Christ one thousand five hundred and moe yeares agon This is undeniable Therefore God set up Christ his King on Sion his holy mountaine and gave him a Knigdome so eminent as above one thousand five hundred and moe yeares agon What ever men conceive Wâ—e must to the Law and testimony to the sacred authority of Scripture and seeing wee have good ground thence so to doe wee may and doe averre that notwithstanding worldly potentates not subtle reasonings onely but mighty oppositions also aganst Christ God set him up King on mount Sion and laughed to scorn the vain and frustrate designes of his Adversaries agents for and friends of Rome the then most potent Kingdome on Earth So that it must bee granted that Christs Kingdom then set up was more powerfull then Romes which to this very day never could though assisted by the Gates of Hell either by might or policy prevaile against Christs Kingdome Argum. 2. Christ in St. Johns time was the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1.5 had all things given him by his Father Luke 10.22 All power in Heaven and Earth Mat. 28.18 before his ascension so that hee was the head of the Church his body and in place farre above all principality power and Domination and every title and name that is named not in this world onely but in the world to come Ephes. 1.21 22. Therefore at Christs being here on earth or neere unto that time he had an absolute and boundlesse Soveraignty farre above all Monarchs and Kings that heretofore lived or ever shall hereafter For though many of them had very large Dominions and great prosperity both in Peace and Warre and subdued and vassalled many other Kings to their Scepters yet none of them had all power in heaven and earth committed into their hands by God They were not capable of such honour nor fit to be intrusted with so great a charge Chap. III. The Answer to many Objections of sever all Divines who would provetha Christs famous Kingdome is not yet begun T Is sufficiently above proved that Christs eminâ—nt Kingdome was long since begun yet against this truth as against
Gods and they but sojourners with him Vers 23. That they might observe how God blessed them when they in the seventh yeare labored not and that it was hee that gave the encrease when they did labour and so depend on his goodnesse to them It served also to bring them to the seventh seven and so come to the Jubilee the famous year of rest So they might rather conclude that the world should stand but this also would bee but a sandy foundation fortie nine thousand years and then have a great Jubilee and rest in which the last Trumpet should sound as in the Jubilee year the Jews Trumpets were wont to doe Obj. The ancient Jews understood Esa. 2.11 and 17. of the great day of judgement where it is said and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day The later Iews speak something to the same purpose and thence they say that the Lord shall be King over all the earth Answ. In Esay 2. is an excellent prophecie of the preaching of the Gospel and of the calling of the Gentiles by the Word going out from Sion and Ierusalem This was fulfilled when God set up Christ his King on mount Sion as I proved above Peruse the Chapter ballance each passage and particle thereof and try whether there bee any the least warrant for a day of judgment of a thousand years continuance It is true that when the Gospel began to bee taught Christ was by all true beleevers exalted alone and preferred above all the high looks and loftiness of men many idolatrous and superstitious persons then turned to Christ and cast away their silver and golden Idols as there it is foretold And if any unbeleevers saw not then Christs glory they were justly to bee blamed His glory was then such and hath so continued that the gates of hell could never prevaile against it It is true that many worldly Potentates then strove to exalt themselves above Christ and were highly exalted by others saying Who is like this our Lord who can war with him But Christ in due time did manifest that these brags were vain and foolish Because Christ by overthrowing them will shew his might to bee far above them and that all their forces are inconsiderable And at the day of judgment when all quick and dead shall stand before him all both small and great shall see and consesse him alone to bee exalted But neither in Esay 2. nor in the whole prophecie is there any ground for two resurrections and a day of judgment between them of a thousand years continuance Obj. The Rabbins think the title of Psal. 92. Lâ—jom â—assâ—abat for the day of the Sabbath to bee the argument of the Psalme and to be understood of the Sabbath of a thousand years Answ. Wee find the Rabbins often extravagant in their opinions therefore their bare affertion cannot bee a sufficient warrant unto us they say that Psal. 92 is for the day that shall bee all rest On Talm. Sanedr Ch. 11. and adde that a thousand years in Gods sight are but as yesterday from Psal. 90.4 Wee must attend more why they thus speak then that they thus speak and try what they say against their assertion thus I argue First if the title of the Psalm import that it was onely for the Sabbath of the thousand years that is then to bee used as the title Libnei Korch implies a Psalm to bee used and sung by the sons of Koreâ— how is it that some Rabbins say that it was sung by Adam in the evening before the Sabbath after the promise made to him and others say it was sung in the Sanctuary by the Levits Secondly If the title bee so expounded that Lejom Hassh meane concerning the Sabbath as the objection intimates by making this title the Argument of the Psalm this cannot bee For the Psalm intreats not of the thousand years of Christs reign making it such as some now doe Yea it speaks of Gods being the most high and the King exalted above all not for a thousand years but for evermore and touches matters usuall in the gracious course of Gods governing the world and his goodnesse to man in the same Thirdly What day is all rest none I think on this earth Here the Church is militant The dead that die in the Lord rest from their labours Revel. 14.13 The time of all rest is in heaven onely 4. The speech of a thousand years being but as yesterday in Psalm 90. hath no more reference to the title of this Psalm then Harp and Harrow have each to other Fiftly The 90 Psalm speaks of mans birth his flourishing his decay If hee live threescore and ten or eightie years as men did in Moses in Davids in our times his dayes seeme as soon past as a thought To it they are compared If man could live a thousand years as Adam almost did these in Gods sight are but as yesterday as a watch in the night that are past What are they to God that is eternall Sixtly what reason hath any one to refer the words of a thousand years being as yesterday more to the seventh thousand years then to the fourth sift or sixt thousand years of the world Obj. Wee desire the conversion of the Iews and is it not the easiest way to deale with them for the same end not to wrest plain Prophecies which pertain to the last and glorious comming of Christ to his first comming So that wee hold the main truth and prove to them that Iesus of Nazaret was the true Messias and that they ought not to expect any other Answ. Here Mr. Mede answers himself saying That a Christian must consent no further to the Jews then his profession rightly I suppose grounded on Gods truth will give him leave The rule is good Now let us try what things hee holds to belong to the second comming of Christ not to his first as others affirme First Instance in Mr. Mâ—de in Revel. 1.7 it is said That Jesus Christ who bath washed us from our sins by his blood comes in the clouds of heaven and every eye shall see him even they that have crucified him and all Tribes of the earth hall mourn before him These passages are verified onely at Christs last and glorious comming Answ. The mourning of all kinreds of the earth in regard of their sins for whose expiation Christ was crucified is foretold Matth. 24.30 and Luke 21.27 where it is also said that hee comes with power and great glory {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with or upon the elouds of heaven that is say the Rabbins the Angels Coch-Nathon Sanedr pag. 370. answerable to Jude 14. Where God comes with thousands of his holy ones This was fulfilled before that generation passed Mat. 24.34 Luke 21.32 Some that heard Christ preach are told that they should not taste death untill they saw the kingdom of God come with power Matth.
The Lord reignes for ever and ever Exod. 15.18 When hee smote the Philistins with Emeroids and kept them under in Samuels time no King leading forth the Israelites Armies 't is also said that God is their King 1 Sam. 8.7 and 12.12 When the fury of buls dogs lions Vnicorns prevailed not over Christ so that hee conquered all power opposit unto him David sung The Kingdom is the Lords Psal. 22.28 When David himself overcame the enemies of his kingdom which was a type of Christs 't is said The Lord reigneth 1 Chron. 16.31 When Satan is conquered by Michael then it is proclaimed That the Kingdom is the Lords Rev. 12.10 When Christ judges and plagues Rome hee is stiled King of Kings Rev. 19.16 When at the day of judgment all his enemies are wholly cast down under his feet and lie at his mercy and disposure to bee judged then 't is said That the kingdoms of this world are our Lords even Christs Rev. 11.15 Hee that was first stiled Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1.5 then plainly at last appears so to bee what the wicked out of their pride would not before assent unto then they shall to their shame and confusion confesse and finde most true This I touched before and now have cleared fully and past denyall Object God hath promised to put on his armour Esa. 59.17 to make his sword drunk with the blood of the slain to make a great slaughter in Edom and Bozra Esa. 54.14 To powre out his indignation on the armies of the wicked to fat his sword with blood Esa. 34.2 To feed his enemies with their own flesh and to make them drink their own blood to contend with them that contend with his people Esa. 25.25 26. That wars moved against his Church shall not prosper Esa 54.17 That hee will wound Kings in his wrath and fill all with dead bodies and destroy the heads over divers Countries Psal. 110. and slay the wicked Esa 11.4 that is some eminent opposer of Christ That hee will make a City to bee an heap and a strong City a ruin Esa 25.1 And bring down them that dwell on high Esa 26.5 That when the Nations are ripe for the Harvest hee will fill the Winepresse of his wrath Joel 3.9 That hee will destroy all the Nations that come against Jerusalemâ— Zach. 14.11 These things are to bee fulfilled when God reigns in Sion and expresse the Churches happinesse and the wickeds misery not yet fulfilled Answ. From these Texts may bee inferred First that as the old Jerusalem was cruelly assaulted so shall the New â— for in it Christians suffer great tribulation Rev. 7.14 The Dragon wars with the Womans seed Rev 12.17 The ten-horned beast blasphemes Gods Tabernacle and the Saints in it wars with them overcomes them Rev 13.6.7 kils many of them Rev 6.11 And Secondly Though God suffer his Church by the enemies thereof somtimes to bee thus used yet hee being armed and riding on his white horse goes on conquering and to conquer at his good pleasure and sends the riders on the red pale and black horses to punish the great men of the earth and their retinue so that they hide themselves in caves and dens Rev 6. These things saith Mr. Mede were don within four hundred years after Christs birth After this Christ powres Vials of wrath on the Churches adversaries Rev 16. Hee makes Babel fall casts the beast and false Prophet into the lake of fire and slayes their remnant Rev 19. Hee slayes Gog and his Armies Rev. 20. Thus hee destroyss them that destroyed the earth Rev 11.18 The wicked may domineer for a time yet shall bee not onely in the four hundred years after Christ but oftentimes afterward foiled and in the end the victory shall be on the Saints party who are the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem They it they live are the Lords and if they die they change a pilgrims and militant state here into a glorious and perpetually setled estate hereafter Besides they leave on earth a faithfull â—uccession of Inhabitants of the new and spirituall Jerusalem against whom the Gates of hell cannot prevail whence it is that this Jerusalem cannot be destroyed and that all which maliciously oppose it shall bâ—e vanquished and subdued as all Nations were who fought against the old Jerusalem Thirdly that God not delighting in mens destruction le ts the wicked eat the wickeds flesh and drink each others blood Hee pulled down Aram and the neigbouring Nations by Babel Babel by Persia the Persians by Alexander King of Greece and his chief Captains the Greeks the posterity of Seleucus and Ptolomy by the Romans the chief Roman rulers {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} by mutuall conflicts among themselves and by the Goths and Vandals others and at the last day will utterly destroy and abolish that wicked State with the brightnesse of his comming 2 Thess. 2.8 What befell Babylon Tyre Damascus of Aram Kir and Ar of Moab Dumah of Edom Zoan of Aegypt will at length befall Rome For among the wicked there is an eminent and superlative wicked State called the wicked one whom God will destroy Esa 11.4 and this is as Jonathan Ben Vzziel saith Armylus the Roman power saith Mr. Broughton by originall from Romulus the word denotes him with no greater change then Armathia is put for Ramath Nor can the Roman Beast fall alone the heads of divers Countries the ten Kings fall with him Rev 16.14 and their posterity turn to Christs side verse 16. Thus Christ brings them low that carry their heads full high he quels their power and demolishes their cities Fourthly Christ who hath and still doth plague his enemies observes the time of their sins being ripe for the harvest Rev. 14.15 and come to the full height and then makes them drink full cups out of the winepresse of his wrath Thus to conclude it is manifest that the New Jerusalem shall subsist and prevail and that the City which in Saint Johns time ruled over the Kings of the Earth and which would then have no King but Caesar and now would have the Pope above all Kings persisting in one and the same fin of making lawfull Princes her vassals shall still boe decaying and at last bee utterly destroyed But hence can not be concluded that the Christian Church shall enjoy on Earth such and so long felicity as Mr. Archer and some others plead for and it is probable that such prosperity would bring more damage to the Church then could affection The Churches experience hath usually found it so to doe and on good ground hath contented it self with some small measure of outward comforts sweetned with plenty and abundance of spirituall refreshments Repl. You take the term Ierusalem in a mysticall sense and decline the corporall and outward felicity of the Church with diverting us to spirituall blessings If thus you fly to Allegorizing texts and turning plain evidences for corporall matters to
was in Gods place and his Deputy to direct Aaron and the Israelites and David who was Gods shepheard to govern and feed the Jews did {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} perform the best service they could for the bringing the people in those times of the world under them to a more blessed estate in another world Replicat But when the people would have made Christ a King hee did not assent thereunto but went from among them Joh. 9. Answ. The people there out of a sudden apprehension of Christs power who miraculously fed many thousands with five barly loaves and two fishes were not fit instruments nor had a calling to fit them for conferring on Christ so great a dignity Scinditur incertum studia in contrariavulgus is a true and cleare verdict upon them as the schism Joh. 10.19 plainly shews they which to-day would make Christ a King will to morrow depose him if not they some others in a like but contrary heat upon some sleight distaste will doe it Their Hosanna one day their Crucifige soon after shew the mutability of their fancy Secondly had Christ accepted of the kingdom at these few Jews instance this might have been an occasion of a grievous combustion in that seditious and discontented people because the chief Rulers of the Jews consented not thereunto and had much people blindly led by them If the chiefe builders refused the head corner stone and said Wee will not have this man rule over us and further conspired saying Come this is the heire let us kill him Christ who well knew Gods law for the government of that people would not bee made King unlesse hee was orderly called thereunto by the chief Elders and Rulers of their Tribes Thirdly Christ did not deny or publikely gainsay his being made a King but perceiving their intention to take him and make him a king hee withdrew himself and thereby both avoided civill dissention to which that people were too too prone and continued also his humble course of life that as a Lamb hee might come to the slaughter and die for us Hee well knew the time appointed for his humiliation and waited his Fathers good pleasure for his exaltation Fourthly when hee was set as a king upon the holy hill of Sion his purpose was to propagate his kingdom by other courses then suited with these peoples plots and devises Their thoughts and wayes were not Christs thoughts and wayes For his mind was to demonstrate his glorious might and Sovereignty and his Infinite and all-seeing wisdome by means in the worlds eye and humane esteem most unlikely This in his good time he accordingly peformed Object The Saints are said Apoc. 20 to raign with Christ a thouand yeeres this is not yet fulfilled Therefore there shall be hereafter a thousand yeeres of Christs raign in which the Saints shall raign with him on earth For their raign with him in Heaven is everlasting Answ. Obsrve well that 't is no where said that Christs raign on kingdom is of a thousand yeares continuance His kingdom foretold Dan. 7.14 begun long since and continues for ever hee neyer reversed his command of teaching all Nations Ever since that edict people of all Nations and languages have been called to Christianity shewed their faith by their practise and sealed their Testimony such as have been called thereunto by their deaths Secondly for the space of a thousand years after Christs time many were called in severall Nrtions and in every part of that thousand yeeres many lived and raigned with Christ and the true doctrine of the Gospel was held in some good measure untill neare the end of the thousand yeeres at which time there was a declining Mr. Fox Mart. Pres. pag. 5. Then matters grew worse and worse Fox p. 215 vol. 1. Sylvester a Sorcerer about that time held the Popes Chair And Hildebrand soon after appeared to rule not by Gods but by Satans spirit Id. pag. 237. So that soon after these wicked beginnings error and superstition spread very much in the Churches proceedings Quest When then did the thousand years of the Saints raigning with Christ end Tell us the time punctually Answ. As wee cannot design the very year and day of the beginning of Christs famous kingdom Gods setting him up King upon the hill of Sion nor doe wee hold it necessary but onely in generall aver with Scripture that it was begun in Christs life time on Earth So for the end of the thousand yeares of the Saints raigning with Christ wee will not point out the very yeare and day â— but wee say that about a thousand yeers after Christs time Satan being loosed did with the full height of his malice infuse into the Pope and his instruments Pride error and other impieties insomuch that by the Popes power and craft conjoyned the Nations in al the kingdoms of this western part of the world in great measure yeelded to the Popes supreme authority over all Kings to his pretended infallible determinations to many superstitious observances and were led blind fold into a multitude of false and currunt doctrines In this grand Apostasie Christ had faith full servants who saw Romes declining from truth and growth to an height of wickednesse These as the rest of the Saints formerly continued to inhabit the holy City the new Jerusalem though they were assaulted with bloudy and most violent persecution and were extremely oppressed and tyrannized over untill Luthers time Object The Saints are said to reign with Christ the thousand yeares in which Satan is bound Rev. 20. Their reigning with Christ imports more then when it is said that Christ reigns in or with them This their reigning with Christ hath never yet been performed For Christ hath never yet visibly and personally come again to the Earth that they might reign with him as the words import And therefore hereafter he must so come and they reign with him Archer Answ. 1. There is nothing spoken Apoc. 20. which may assure us or indeed give us any the least warrant of Christs personall and visible comming again to reign here on earth If such a matter had been it might much better have been concluded from this Lo I am with you always to the worlds end Matâ—ult Or from Christs walking amidst the golden Candlesticks Rev. 1. that is the Churches of God That hee then did perform and in the same manner which is there meant he will ever do it to the last day These speeches and the like put together would soonerafford which indeed they do not a personall presence of Christ still on earth then any speech Apoc. 20. And 2. where t is said The Saints reign with Christ on earth how can that be more emphaticall and imply more then this Wee shall suffer with Christ Rom 8.19 No man ever hence inferred that Christ must again come down from Heaven that wee may suffer with him In both speeches of reigning with and suffering with Christ
and authority thereby to bind or to loose to acquit or condemn in his name Mat. 16.19 By this means they had a greater power then Earthly Judges who passe judgment onely upon mens bodies liberty and goods But Christ gave the Apostles power to remit and retain sins Joh. 20.23 and tels them that what they hind or loose on earth is bound and loosed in Heaven Mat. 18.18 The Apostles and their successors were good and faithfull Judges and indued with wisdom directing them to kisse the Son Psal. 2. and were not like Pilate and Herod and other Judges who opposed him Thirdly the Apostles for I will not deny them any their just titles were {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} rulers under Christ Acts 15.22 For Christ is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the Ruler Mat. 2.6 and hath his rule and authority as hee is the great Governour above all feeding his people Israel expressed by this title Hence I suppose the Apostles to bee called Princes in all lands or all the Earth Psal. 45.16 for Christ sent them to all Nations They had their attendants who ministred unto and were directed by them These seeing and imitating the courses taken by the Apostles 1 Cor. 4.17 did work the work of God as the Apostles had done 1 Cor. 16.10 What is said of Paul and Barnabas and others Acts. 15.12 was true also of Peter James Matthias Silas Apollos and the rest they all had rule and authority given them by Christ according to their places And what authority Timothy and Titus had wee read in the Epistles wriâ— unto them The witnesses of Jesus Christ and of his Word who did not worship the Beast nor his image neither took his mark in their foreheads nor in their hands they lived and reigned with Christ and sat on the Thrones spoken of Rev. 20.4 and ordered matters in the Christian Church acccording to the direction of Christ the great ruler of the Church Object Before the famous thousand years and the great and terrible day of Christs conquering his enemies and setting up his kingdom Elias must come Mal. 4.5 and restore all things Mat. 17.11 Now Elias is not yet come nor are all things restored nor could the time of Christs incarnation and preaching bee termed a terrible day for it was a most joyfull day Alsted 54. Therefore Christs kingdom is not yet begun Answ. First Christ who had no guile found in his mouth tels the Disciples plainly That Elias was come before him Mat. 17.12 that is John Baptist in the spirit of Elias The Disciples conceived aright that Christ affirmed the Baptist to bee Elias Why then should any doubt of this truth Dr. Alsted might well have seen a figurative speech here as elswhere hee doth when a new State of the old Babels and Edoms spirit is termed Babel and Edom page 44. 53. Secondly the word Nora in Mal. 4. signifies not a day terrible to affright but a day with all diligent and reverend care to bee looked unto Such a day was it when Christ appeared in the flesh and published the Gospel Acts 2.20 a day of much comfort and joy and therefore Joel 2.31 it is called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a glorious day and Nora elswhere is rendred by {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} glorious Deut. 20,21 The Lord did for Israel great and glorious things for such they were to Israel at their comming out of Egypt And hence it is that Joreh Elohim is rendred one that fears God Job 1.1 and that Joseph using the same word saith I fear God Gen. 42.18 not that God was terrible to him but that hee had a filiall and religious fear of the divine Majesty And thirdly if you would know how Iohn Baptist restored all things First tell us how all men beleeved that John Baptist was a Prophet in very deed Mark 11. and how all men honâ—â—red Christ Luke 4.15 And if you answer not your selves wee will assay to find you an answer It must needs bee that all in these and the like places admits some restriction and concerning Iohns performance wee find that all things which he spake of Christ were true Joh. 10.41 That hee told the Publicans and Souldiers and other people their duties Luke 3.12 That the Pharisees and Sadduces and all Ierusalem and the Region round about Iordan were baptized by him Mat. 3.5 His doctrine was repentance for remission of sins and hee prepared the way for Christ by whom all flesh should see the salvation of God Luke 3.3 4 5. and many other matters he preached Now I am assured that no man will conceive that all things absolutely were to bee restored by himâ— for then what need would there bee of one greater then hee to come after him It is enough that hee taught such doctrine as set all matters in order according to Gods will for the approach of Christ the Saviour of mankind But 't is replied Saint Augustine and others say That Elias indeed shall come and restore all things that is confirm the Saints vexed with antichrists persecutions So that Malachies prophecy being once fulfilled in Iohn Baptist yet may a second time hereafter bee fulfilled in some worthy instrument of God Alsted p. 54. Answ I acknowledge Saint Augustine to bee in his time an excellent and bright shining light in Gods Church so other Fathers But I beleeve Christs exposition of Malachi to bee undoubtedly true namely that Iohn Baptist was that Elias spoken of by the last Prophet in the Old Testament and to have appeared in the very porch of the New Testament and that Malachies prophecy was by him perfectly fulfilled Yet because Gods dealings are often alike I say that God who sent Enoch to the Church of old declining Noah to the old World Elias to Israel Iohn Baptist to the Iews become wicked may also send some eminent person or persons to the world neare the end there of who shall give warning of Gods comming to his own people and servants in mercy to his enemies in judgment before the last day Object It is promised That all the ends of the Earth shall bee saved and every knee bow to Christ Esa. 45.22 23. and every tongue confesse unto him Rom 14.11 Phil 2.10 That all Israel shall bee saved Rom 11.26 Mic 2.12 But this hath not yet been performed there was never yet an universall conversion of all Nations nor of all Israel therefore Christs kingdom in which this is to bee fulfilled is not yet come or begun Alsted 89. Arch 11. 28. Glimps 28. Answ The word all in many places of Scripture cannot as was above said bee extended to every particular but must be warily limited It is said that Christ healed every disease Mat 4.23 that hee is a light to every man that is born Job 1.9 That Saint Lukes Gospel was written of all things which Christ had done Acts 1.1 whereas so short a book could not
live godly must suffer persecution 1 Tim. 3.12 This is their portion in this life as usually Gods Word describes it The godly are trees planted by rivers Psal. 1.3 Esa. 14.8 and as trees endure many a sharp frost and bitter storm to make them take root the better They are Vines Psal. 80.9 but must bee pruned else they will bee luxuriant in boughes deficient in fruit What Son is there whom the Father chastiseth not Heb. 12.7 Christ himself hath told us how these things may bee competible and consistent In the world saith hee yee shall have trouble in mee yee shall have peace Joh. 16.33 So there may bee terrours within and fightings without but God is the comfort of his people 2 Cor. 7.5 6. The joy the quiet repose the happinesse of the faithfull is to have God for their God Rev. 21.3 And having him they can want nothing needfull things present and things to come all are theirs 1 Cor. 3.22 They shall not want any thing that will work for their good nor have any thing which may procure their harm Thirdly it is not alwayes conclusive God hath promised this or that therefore undoubtedly it shall bee fulfilled interminis according to the expresse words For first many of Gods promises bee conditionall free in the promiser and not deserved by us though by Gods work upon us wee obey him and hee fulfill his promise but many promises by mans neglect of the condition deserved to bee cut off from beeing fulfilled God promised that a man should not stand before Israel in battle Josh. 1.5 yet sometimes their sins so provoked God that the Canaanites foyled them God said that Elies house should walk before him for ever but now saith hee upon their offending him it shall not lee so They that honour me I will honour 1 Sam. 2.30 And secondly wee must ballance the promises of God made to his people with the threats against them God doth so Lev. 26. Deut. 28. Rom. 2 6. c. And makes both take effect as to him seems good These good things saith Zachary shall come to passe if yee obey the voyce of the Lord Zach. 6.15 and by the rule of contraries the evils shall come to passe if they disobey Fourthly many promises are made good to Gods people in heaven with greater advantage then they could bee on earth God promises length of dayes and prosperity to such as keep his Laws Prov. 3.1 2. yet Henoch lived not half so long as his fore-fathers and Josias had his years cut off in battle though both Religious God made them a recompence in Heaven Fifthly Temporall promises are often fulfilled in this life with much advantage in spirituall favours God promises that the wives of such as fear God shall bee as Vines on the house side their children as Olive plants about their Tables Psal. 128.3 That the meek shall inherit the Land Yet often good and faithfull men lose wives children brothers lands and the like but God then gives them spirituall graces in this life Which are a hundred fold better for them and in the life to come everlasting blessednesse Mark 10.30 Object Christ visibly and personally came first to bee incarnate secondly he so comes to receive his Kingdom and thirdly to judg all men at the worlds end Some confound the second and third comming of Christ and think there shall bee no comming of Christ to judgment but to the last and finall judgment His comming to receive his Kingdom hath been overlookt since the first hundreth years of Christ Arch. 15. p. Answ. Dr. Alstede who is most zealous in your way and ready to maintain your conclusion for the thousand years yet accords with many Expositers before him and approves but of the first and last visible and personall appearing of Christ If a middle comming of Christ could have been justifyed hee wanted neither will nor skill to have asserted it Here Mr. Archer who censures otherâ— for dim-sighted and over-looking what hee conceived hee saw will bee found not single cied but to have mistaken and made three commings of two as hee whose sight failing him said Geminis consurgit mensa lucernis that there were two candles where in truth was but one If the Texts hee brings for a second visible and personall comming of Christ at the beginning of the thousand years yet to come were in any least measure conclusive I would particularly examine them But that labour may well bee spared If hee demand Quest Is there no comming of Christ to judgment untill the last judgment I Answer There is no visible and personall comming of Christ to any other judgment Yet Christ judges and punishes the wicked of the world by bloodshed famine pestilence Rev. 6. and 18.8 and 19.2 Many remarkable wayes hee hath judged and plagued the Churches enemies on earth by his instruments as a King punishes his disobedient Subjects by his Judges and Justices yet Christ leavs not nor comes down from Heaven his Throne no more theâ— an earthly King from his palace Repl. But there is a partiall judgment at the beginning of Christs Kingdome For after this judgment the Temple is opened the Ark of the Covenant is seen there are lightnings thunders c. Rev. 11.18 This Text is manifest and proves a judgment performed by Christ when his Kingdom to come begins and before the Temples opening c. Arch. p. 13. Answ. First The judgment spoken of Rev. 11.18 is the last judgment at the worlds end for there the dead are judged small and great and therefore all of them There Gods servants according to Christs promise are rewarded and his enemies destroyers of the earth destroyed Secondly I Answer that that which followes of the Temples opening the Ark seen of lightnings and thunders and the like is but a preparation and passage to the vision next in place And may much better begin the twelfth Chapter then end the eleventh Chapter This I prove because wee finde the like addresse to other visions in this book Namely Chap. 4.1 and 5. and Chap. 8.5 such a preparation was made at the giving of the Law Exod. 19.16 Object Christs Kingdom is said to bee at the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11.15 and then all kingdoms in the world are subject unto him Arch. p. 11. Likewise after the condemnation of the great Whore and the avenging of the Saints bloodshed by her Christ is said to bee Lord of Lords and King of Kings Therefore then towards the worlds end the eminent Kingdom of Christ begins Answ. Christs eminent Kingdom began as was shewed above and from his being upon earth hee hath had the kingdom power and glory for ever But as the Lord is evidently known by executing judgment Psal. 9.16 so hee is especially known and taken notice of by men to bee King when hee in evident manner shews his power in defending his servants and in plaguing his enemies Hence it is that when hee ruined Pharaoh and his Host Moses said
sayes as to Ezekiel 1 appoint thee a day for a yeare a day for a yeare To him the words are doubled that wee should not mistake In Daniel wee find them not single And must not of our owne heads devise what was never intended 2. The dayes two thousand three hundred in Dan. 8.14 bee properly understood of dayes according to Mr. Brightman and others Why then may not one thousand two hundred dayes Dan. 12.11 be so likewise expounded Reply Dayes one thousand two hundred and sixtie and moneths fortie two in the Revelation expresse a longer time then the bare words import So may the summe here If you say that in the Apocalyps is meant properly so many dayes or moneths you accord with the Papists who hold that Antichrist shall reign but just three years and a half Answ. I know well that Christs servants Rev. 11. witnesse to his truth that the beast Rev. 13.1 rages that the woman clad with the Sun Rev. 12. is preserved in the Wildernesse longer then three years and a half though the limits of their times expressed properly signifie no longer a spade but I say further that phrases and formes of speech in the Revelation have often reference to former matters to which they have some resemblance So Babel and Egypt in the Apocalyps signifie not properly but metaphorically places and States like them for mischiefs done to Gods people and their ruine thereupon So the three years and an halfe of the Saints preaching and persecution is not properly just so long but hath a reference unto Christs preaching and persecution which was in proprietie of speech just so long This is to shew that the Saints case is like Christs and the time not properly but by allusion understood of them So in Scripture the Saints afflictions are called the afflictions of Christ Col. 1.24 and the Saints are said to have {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a share and part of Christs sufferings Phil. 3.10 and to bee {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} partakers of Christs sufferings Heb. 12.8 and to bee {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} comformable and like to Christ Rom. 8.29 and Saint John and other Christians are said to bee companions in tribulation and in the Kingdome of Christ Rev. 1.9 Thus Christ is the great and eminent both Teacher of and sufferer for the truth his servants imitate his actions and are like to him in suffering Such was the course of Christs publick ministery whilst hee lived such must be theirs untill their deaths As hee so they must hold out and continue faithfull in their callings His time was but three years and an half theirs may bee lesse perhaps something more but however it will bee a momentary and short space in regard of the eternall weight of glory which follows it Againe as the seven Churches of Asia some purer some more corrupt some in diverse respects prais-worthy others in as many respects justly to bee blamed shew the state and condition of seventie and more Churches and what Christ hath to say to them in regard of their like obedience or disobedience unto him So the teaching and sufferings of Christ in three yeares and an halfe shew what shall bee the case of his servants in three times three or moe years of their ministry So that time is put for the condition of the time and things done therein As Act. 3.24 The Prophets foretold these times And Esther 1.13 wise men knowing the times that is things done in the times And Christ saith Father keep me from that houre Joh. 12.17 that uphold me in the sorrowes of that houre Thus then you see apparently that I run not into the Papists errour who absurdly bound Antichrists persecution and the Saints sufferings to three years and an half Rome first in its wicked and Idolatrous Emperours secondly in its proud and superstitious Popes hath been an Egypt and a Babel to Gods servants oppressing them these one thousand six hundred years and not barely three years and a half and in all this time God hath had witnesses to his truth The allusion both to the places and the time is most elegant and comfortable They that suffer with Christ shall also reign with him Sixtly If the setling of the dayes one thousand two hundred and ninetie counting them so many years as above bee faultie then Mr. Archers addition of fortie five yeares unto them which are the overplus of one thousand three hundred thirtie five dayes by him counted yeares Dan. 12.12 must also be erroneous Besides Mr. Archer mistakes by making those fortie five years to be a time of great affliction to the Jews For their welfare begins at the end of one thousand two hundred and ninetie dayes when Jerusalems desolation is repaired and the daily sacrifice renewed and a further accesse of happinesse is made unto them fortie five dayes after So that Dan. 12.11 12. speaks of the Jews welfare not of their misery and fits their condition in Antiochus time exactly for about fortie five dayes after Judas Maccabeus had cleansed the Altar and sacrificed thereon Antiochus became extreamly sick and confessed how unjustly he had tyrannized over the Jews 1 Macc. 6.8.9 c. and soon after in the next year died Seventhly Mr. Archer affirmes that Julian was the setter up of the abomination of desolation spoken of Dan. 12.11 Mr. Brightman is of the same opinion on Dan. 12. Admit this to be true then hee must also bee the taker away of the daily sacrifice for both these go together and have the same time asoribed unto them Now Julian was so farre from taking away the Jewish sacrifices that hee indeavoured to set them up and did much countenance the Jeâ—es against the Christians Socrateâ— Eccl. Hist. B. 3. Eighthly there is no reason why Mr. Archer should hold that after dayes or years one thousand two hundred and ninetie Dan. 12.11 the Jews should bee cal'd to Christianitle The Text faith no such thing but tels how the Jews should bee freed from two miseries first from the desolation of Jerusalem secondly from the taking away their daily sacrifiâ—e Seeing these two are the miseries befalling the Jews untill the end of the time there designed they must necessarily fall in the time that sacrifice was lawfull And therefore they must not bee in the daies of Titus or of the Turk Ninthly These learned men swerve from the truth by not making Christ at his being on earth the strong man who bound Satan and gave his Apostles power to tread on the Serpent whose head himself brok and whom hee made as lightning to fall from Heaven so that from the time of Christs Ascension the devill could not prevail to deceive all Nations as before hee had don but was loosed about a thousand years afterward as hath been declared above Tenthly There is not any passage in the Revelation or elsewhere that I know from which it can bee proved that the Papacy
him and rode firth conquering and to conquer Rev. 6.2 This hee judges to bee in the beginning of the Apocalypticall times And that it was so I have above proved In the latter end of his Kingdom Christ makes an absolute conquest over the beast and â—alse Prophet and casts them into the fiery Lake and brings all men to judgment and then delivers up his Kingdom of governing and defending his Church in this world to his Father And they reign together eternally with the Saints in a setlâ—d and blessed estate Secondly I conceive the terms at his appearing and in or at his kingdom to bee in sense at his manifest appearing to bee the great King And that the form of speech is duobus pro uno positis by putting two expressions for one So Thunders and voices Rev. 8.5 are put for thundring or loud voices as both Mr. Mede and Mr. Brightman expound that place The reason why I thus understand it is because Christ ever truly the great King then appears manifestly to bee the great King indeed by an absolute conquest over the Churches enemies and by over-comming death and by bringing as the great and onâ—y King the whole world to judgement Object In Dan. 7.9 and Rev. 20.4 Thrones are said to bee set up and judgment given to the Saints who are said to judg the world 1 Cor. 6.2 and the Saints to obtain the Kingdom that is to live and reign with Christ Besides in Dan. 7.13 14. and Luk. 21.24 it is said That Christ shall appear in the clouds of heaven and have power glory and kingdom given him so that all people Nations and languages shall serve him and that these things shall come to passe when the times of the Gentiles shall come to an end That is when the little born Dan. 7.11 namely Antichrist is overthrown Therefore Christs glorious Kingdom and the Saints reign with him takes not place untill the Popedom bee ruined Answ. In Dan. 7.9 the Thrones that is those of the four beasts are said to bee so our new translation hath it cast down and the Antient of daies to sit on his Throne Hee gives judgement to the Saints that is on their party or inables them to maintain their party against the little horn that domineered over them before for a time times and half a time The Saints therefore in those daies after Antiochus his armies were defeated set up Gods worship again 1 Macc. 4. and maintained their cause against the body of the fourth Beâ—st which was then hornlesse Dan. 7.11 and 26 So that it began to decay and was consuming daily unto the end This the Jews Gods people did untill the Son of man came in the clouds of heaven and received the â—ternall kingdom Dan. 7.14 which began as was above proved one thousand five hundred years agon Secondly How Christs Kingdom so long agon begun the Saints judged and reigned I have likewise declared Thirdly Christs glorious comming to judgment is sometimes to bee understood of vengeance and punishment insâ—icted on the world for their sins So the Lord is said Judg. 14. To come with thousands of his holy ones to give judgment against all men and to rebuke the ungodly c. when hee drowned the old world So Christ comming with power and great glory in these Texts of Daniel and Luke may expresse his comming with vengeance against the Romans and Jews that kild him and opposed the Gospel For it is said Luk. 21 22 and 32. That that age and generation should not passe untill all those things were fulfilled Besides it is not said that Christ shall not so come untill the times of the Gentiles were fulfilled but untill Jerusalem bee trodden under foot by the Gentiles and the power of heaven Sun Moon and Stars that is the government of that people bee shaken This was don when Jerusalem was overthrown Repl The sense of Luke 21.32 may bee {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} this people Nation kindred of the Jews shall not passe or cease to be a Nation or people untill these things bee fulfilled The word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} so signifies Ans. The word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} expresses Dor generation in the old Testament a hundred times It is sometimes also put for Gnam Mispaâ—haâ—h Mâ—ledeth people nation progeny But then commonly it intends and denotes the Nation or family then living which is all one in meaning with Generation In this sense The People and Nation and race of men now living shall not passe or be extinct untill all these things be accomplished Repl If you deny the Texts Dan. 7.9 22. Rev 20.4 to expresse the great day of judgment Christs comming in the clouds with power and great glory and the Saints with him to judge the Earth and abolith Antichrist with the brightnesse of his comming in the thousand years yet to come you undermine the pillar of Evangelicall faith concerning the glorious comming of Christ Answ God is known by executing judgment Psalm 9.16 Not by the great and sinall judgment onely but by other particular judgments also on mankind Some Jews might mis-conceive of Gods dealing towards them and be perswaded that they should in or at Christs time get their necks from under the yoak of their oppressors But when they saw Jerusalem in that age ruined many Jews cruelly slain the rest grievously disperst how could they but think and you now conceit that God then sate gloriously in judgment against them who were grown as secure as they in the old world Mat. 24.37 Luke 17.26 As this judgment was conspicuous and shewed the great power and glory of Christ and verified Christs speech of some then standing by him who should not taste death untill they saw Christs kingdom come with power Mark 9.1 So I verily believe that Christ will come in the clouds or {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with clouds of witnesses Mark 14.62 and great power to judge and destroy Antichrist and all his Churches enemies Apoc. 20.9 Thus doe I endeavour to hold up the pillar of Evangelicall truth and in no wiâ—e undermine it Christ I say hath already by the brightnesse of his comming in the word preached given Antichrist such a blow that hee shall never lick himself whole and will in his good time bring him to utter confusion What was done in the thousand years I have above sufficiently unfolded Object Justin Martyr tels Trypho the Jew that himself and all Orthodox Christians knew the resurrection of the body and the thousand years in which Jerusalem should be re-edified adorned and inlarged according as Ezekiel and Esay had prophecied of a thousand years in which shall bee a new heaven and new earth So that Jerusalem is made to triumph and the dayes of Gods people to bee as the dayes of the tree of life In these words saith Justin we hold that the thousand years are implicitly pointed at He further
saith that John in the Revelation prophesied that Christians should accomplish that thousand year in Jerusalem Answ. Justin beleeves the resurrection of the body wee deny it not But Justin asserts not two resurrections as some now doe one a thousand years before the other Justin sayes that Jerusalem shall bee re-edified inlarged adorned in such sense as Ezekiel and Esay foretold it is most true A Jerusalem that in Rev. 21.10 Gal 4.26 all the world over shall bee made a place of Gods worship as was the old Jerusalem to the great joy of all people the distinction of Jew and Gentile shall bee taken away and all true Christians shall bee the Israel of God and true Jews and shall have no need of the old Jerusalem How implicitly in Esaies words by Justin cited the thousand years should be pointed at he is quicksighted that can discern No man I think endeavours now to prove the thousand years from that text in Esay It there were any such thing in Esays words Logick now if ever would work it out Further St John sayes not totidem verbis in expresse terms what Iustin alledges but that there shall be a new Ierusalem comming down from heaven not built by man and that the Saints shall reign a thousand years with Christ and I will also grant that this reign should bee in the new Jerusalem But that reign was in the beginning of the Gospels times for a thousand yeers and shall not bee towards the end of the world This Ierusalem is mother of us all of all the Israel of God of all beleeving Iews and Gentiles in all times to the world end and is not limited to old Jerusalems seat and some certain time That kingdom began long since and was such as hath been above shewed not such as the pleaders for the thousand yeers to come describe it Object Divers of the Ancient Fathers besides Iustin Martyr as Ireneus Tertullian Lactantius Nepos and others held the opinion of the thousand yeers reign Austine himself sometime inclined to the same and it seems to bee Ieroms prime Argument against it that it savoured of Judaism to reject this opinion is a neglect of an ancient Tradition of the Church Papias recommended it to the Fathers above they to us Answ. The antiquity of this opinion will be little warrant to the verity of it if wee consider that Ireneus sayes That Papias an Auditor of St. John asserted it whereas Papias himself denies that ever hee saw or heard the Apostles And Eusebius B 3. Histor Eccles. sayes that Papias was too credulous and of shallow judgment and by mis-interpreting Apostolicall expositions led others into errour as Ireneus in this very point and as some conceive in the opinion of Antichrists reign but for three years and an half near the worlds end You see then what a tottering and weak foundation this tradition hath It is granted that Austin had an inclination to like of it but his {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} second thoughts made him wisely to abandon those Fathers faulty opinion and to correct his own as for Ierom hee censures the millenary conceit to bee a Iewish {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} fable and so inconsistent with the vision in Apoc. 20. jarring in it self contrary to other Scriptures and unworthy of the Christian faith See Ierom on the life of Papias Hee had therefore Arguments sufficient to confute it Dionysins a learned and judicious Bishop of Alexandria called together the chief abettors of this opinion and argued with them about it three dayes from morning till night and examined Nepos Book in defence thereof whereupon in conclusion his chief opposer yeelded and promised never to teach or so much as to mention the opinion again and all the rest there present submitted to the truth Euseb. Histor. B. 7. Repl. Bee this opinion true or false or whether the Fathers held an errour herein or no to bee of the same minde with the Jews is not alwayes culpable The Rabbins tell us that the seventh millenary is the great day of Judgment That the world shall continue six thousand years and in the seventh thousand bee destroyed with fire and purified and the Lord alone shall bee exalted in that day Esa. 2. that is shall bee King over all the Earth They say that God in this millenary shall break the wicked and that it shall bee a great Sabbath or day of rest Other Rabbins hold that the sixt millenary shall be the day of Judgment Rabbi Elias sayes that the world should continue two thousand yeers before the Law two thousand years under the Law two thousand under Christ See these and other their opinions cited by Mr. Mede on Revel. 20. Answ. No man holds the Jews in all things culpable They are most carefull and vigilant preservers of the originall Hebrew Text intire and uncorrupt so that had not the Jews and Greeks been kept distinct people untill these times the knowledge both of the Hebrew Greek originals had perished by the prevalency of Papistical darknesse See my preface to Cognatio Linguarum The Iews also when they list to speak out shew good skill in the sacred stories Besides many passages in their Talmuds about their rites and customes serve better to open some difficulties in the New Testament then our Latine Commentaries What I attribute to the knowledge lockt up in the Hebrew tongue see in my Book Cognatio Linguarum Posit 9. The Rabbins have many truths but like good corne in much chaffe themselves often times so speake that they will tell you Stultus credit omni verbo it is sillinesse to take all they speak for sad truth Maimonid part 1. chap. 62. Schick Bechin Happer pag. 114. Some truths they hide under Enigmaes and Parables and of them they say I finding a Pomegranat did eat the Kernels and laid by the Rinde P. Galatin 1.7 Yet many such riddles they have not worth the cracking their shell and more like a deafe nut then an wholsome Pomegranat These fall under Pauls prohibition of not giving heed to fables 1 Tim. 1.4 Hee that will prositably peruse them must try all things in them and keep that which is good 1 Thes. 5.21 And whoever will hope to deale soundly with them which would bee a glorious and heavenly work for their conversion must bee able to match and surpasse them as in sound knowledge of the Scripture so in their own tongue and learning as the Apostles and ancient Fathers did the Greeks Herein Mr. Broughton did much and had hee lived longer by good incouragement was both able and willing to have done far more Secondly for the present question observe the Jews jarring opinions Some of them hold the day of judgment the wickeds breaking and the Messias his exalting to bee at the end of the fift millenary which is fully past for I hold the world to be five thousand five hundred seventie one years old in this year
more saw him that is invisible Thus a Christian may in this life by faith see take comfort in and rejoyce most heartily in the glorious estate of the life to come and as wee use to say have an heaven upon earth whence it is that the Church on earth is called Heaven Of which hereafter I shall speak Secondly the comforts joyes blessings of Gods people in this life are exceeding abundant his gifts {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} unutterable 2 Cor. 9.15 their rejoycing for the same is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} unexpressible 1 Pet. 1.8 They have peace {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that passes all understanding Phil. 4.7 If they lose wife children brothers lands or the like they receive in this life {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} things an hundred fold better Mat. 19.29 And if Paul count all things dung in comparison of Jesus Christ and the enjoying of him the old Jerusalems richly beautified Temple the resplendent Jewels in the new Jerusalems walls and gates composure the gold transparent as glasse with which the streets are paved the Cry stall rivers the fruitfull trees with which the City is furnished and adorned cannot fully and to the life set forth the wonderfull glory of Gods Church in this life Let what can bee said of the Kings daughter Christs Spouse of the Churches excellency from outward matters Psal. 45. in the Song of songs and elswhere this addition Sâ— is all glorious within surpasses all So there is an ward beauty a spirituall glory superadded to the outward excellency of the Church that goes beyond the highest strains that can by words bee uttered Let but the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ the enjoyment of his favour the comforts of the holy Ghost which in this life must bee gotten by them that hope to enjoy his presence in the other world bee put into the ballance against all worldly matters to whose lustre allusion is so often made in these two Chapters they are of more weight and greater worth then all such outward things Wherefore the lofty and stately expressions in these Chapters cannot be denyed to belong to the Christian Church of which Christ is the light from his being here on earth untill he give up his government of the same at the last day and take up with him his servants to those heavenly mansions which he hath prepared for them Chap. VIII whether the binding of Satan for a thousand yeers bee already past The Question stated THE Angels which in the beginning of the world fell from their happy condition were east down into Tartarus and were there reserved in everlasting chains under darknesse to the judgment of the great day Jude 6. Therefore they are at all times so bound that they cannot work any mischief to man without especiall commission from God who gives them liberty and looses their chain so far onely as to him seems good This sometimes God doth and that either for triall of the godly as in Jobs case or for to humble them as when Paul was buffeted by Satans Messenger 2 Cor. 12.7 Or for punishment of the wicked as when Ahab bent to believe false Prophets was deceived by a lying Spirit 1 Kings 22. or upon some other the like cases Of this restraint and loosing of Satan the question is not Scripture informs us further First of an eminent and notable binding up of Satan for a thousand years after Christs time in the Abysse or bottomlesse pit wherein hee is so fast sealed up that hee cannot deceive the Nations Secondly of an eminent and manifest loosing him after the thousand yeers are ended After which time hee works much mischief against Gods people and draws the Nations in all coasts of the world into combustions of war The controversie here is whether this notable binding up of Satan bee already past or yet to come This I am now to discusse Chap. IX The famous and notable binding up of Satan is already past and is not yet to come THis position I thus prove Arg. 1. The famous kingdom of Christ and Christians and this notable binding up of Satan for a thousand years begin both together Dr. J. Alstede Mr. J. Mede Mr. Archer The Glimpse joyntly hold this undeniable But the famous Kingdome of Christ and Christians began moe years then one thousand five hundred agon as I have above proved Therefore the notable binding up of Satan began one thousand five hundred years agon and therefore is past long before our time Arg. 2. Hee that did in eminent manner by the Spirit and finger of God cast out devils and did {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} annul and undo the works of the devill and spoyled him of his power did first eminently bind Satan Matth. 12.29 Luk 11.20 c. But Christ at his being on earth above one thousand five hundred years agon did in eminent manner by the Spirit and finger of God cast out devils and annull and undo the works of Satan and spoyle him of his power Therefore Christ then bound Satan as above in an eminent manner Of Christs casting out of devils is often mention made in the Gospels as Luk 11.10 and elsewhere and this hee did in such manner that all man were astonied thereat Matth. 9.33 Mark 1.27 and never saw it in the like manner That Christ did annull and undoe the works of the devill and take from him his power is manifest The devill was the Prince of darknesse Christ was the light of the world Joh. 1.9 The devill blinded the minds of unbeleevers Christ commanded light to shine out of darknesse and gave the Nations knowledg of himself and the Gospel 2 Cor. 4.4 The devill caught men in his snares Christ by bringing men to repentance and faith freed them from those snares 2 Tim. 2.26 Zacheus of a Publican and sinner and lost man was by Christ made a son of Abraham Luk 19. So were other the like converts The Ephesians were children of wrath as other Gentiles and walked according to the Prince that rules in the ayre or darknesse but Christ inlightned the eyes of their understanding quickned them by grace saved them through faith Ephes. 1.2 The devill drew men at first into sin and thereby brought as other calamities so death on mankind but Christ by his death destroyed him that had the power of death that is the devill Heb. 2.14 and tooke away the sting of death 1 Cor. 15.55 So that Satan did but bruise Christs heele Christ crushed Satans head Thus Christ did overpower and conquer Satan in those primitive times as the Texts cited shew Arg. 3. Christ hath already become the head of all principalitie and power and spoyled them and made a shew openly and triumphed over them Coloss. 2.10 and 15. and being raised from death sate on Gods right hand and was above all principalities and powers and dominions and had all things subject to him and under
been By his example his Successors were infected with ambition pride tyranny stoutness disobedience to their Emperours lawfull Autority So that Mr. Fox saith That the Popes after this Hildebrand imitated him on the Kings of Israel did idolatrous Jeroboam Whereupon the Clergy of France said that Hildebrand ruled not by the Spirit of God but of Satan It seems that they saw Satan loose in him and his practises Pope Alexander that proudly set his foot on the Emperour Fredericks neck confirmed the wicked acts of this Hildebrand Pope Adrian said that this Frederick claimed homage of the Popes required it of them that were Gods and Sons of the high God In brief the Popes in these times did so domineer that Kings could doe little in their own Realms because the Popes exalted themselves and to get'a boundlesse autority took away all unity and concord Not England alone but Germany and France and most parts of the western world felt this to their smart had their Estates impoverished by large contributions and heavy exactions at the Popes pleasure and their blood lamentably and profusely exhausted in the wars for the holy Land as the Pope stiled them and in other combustions So that Mr. Fox averres that these courses were taken to weaken and bring low Princes and to advance and inrich the Popes And that the restlesse spirits of Romanists and especially of the later sprung brood of the Jesuites more violent then ever have raised grievous combustions in the Church there is scarce any eye so dim that doth not clearly discern Thus it appears that Satan was loosed about six hundred years agon and then deceived the world as of old and that by the means of Romanists grievous Wars and bloudshed have broken forth which may well bee tearmed the wars of Gog. And so the learned H. Bullinger esteems them and more sully relates the miseries of those wars Of the same minde is the judicious D. Paraeus and others In those Wars many of Gods Saints were vexed with the Popes pride exalting himself above Christian Princes were much afflicted injured and slain the like may bee said of other Wars which have succeeded them for the holy Land Repl. The expresse words Rev. 20.3 are that Satan shall bee loosed but for a short time in which hee deceives the Nations and promotes the wars of Gog which compasse the holy City Therefore it is an errour to make the wars of Gog of five or six hundred years continuance already past Whereas Gogs assault will bee but a sudden â—urry and last but a little time nor in those wars shall an hair of the Saints perish Arch. 34. 41. So many years cannot bee counted a shors time D. Alstede p. 36. Answ. Five or six hundred years may in Scripture phrase be termed a short time For first Where the Saints Souls under the Altar are bid to rest a little season untill their fellow servants bee killed even as they Rev. 6.11 It is manifest that the Saints of God have been â—illed much more then six or seven hundreth years as were the Christians at or near the Primitive times of whose fouls in that place is mention Secondly Five or six or seven hundred years may bee termed a a short time of the Churches sufferings if they bee compared with the eternall blisse that Gods people shall enjoy after their miseries in this life are ended In the like sense the afflictions of Gods Servants in this life how great soever are termed light and momentary in regard of the most excellent and eternall weight of glory in the life to come 2 Cor. 4.17 And thirdly so many years in regard of the thousand years of Satans restraint are a shorter time and may bee termed a short time with respect to the thousand years In this sense Dr. Alstede himself and some others take them Fourthly Christ himself saith Behold I come shortly or quickly Rev. 22.20 and yet is not hee come to make an end of the world as there of revealing matters from the Primitive times to the worlds end in which space one thousand six hundred years are already past Thus six hundred years and moe may bee termed a short time Mr. Archer here erres against plain Scripture Gogs wars shall not bee a sudden and short hurry not much harmfull to Gods Saints For God tells us that Satans rage shall bee fierce because â—ee bath but a short time Rev. 12.12 Gogs wars are in the four Coasts of the Earth and are so great and furious that God comes down himself to put an end to them and to vanquish and punish the Autor and Instruments of the War Wherefore D. Alstede more soundly holds that in these wars will be a grievous and lamentable affliction of Gods people Repl. If the wars of Gog and Magog have already lasted so long as you conceive then surely they cannot bee far from their end and the last and finall judgment must be near at hand But it is expected that there shall bee a time of great prosperity of the Church in all matters not sinfull Arch. pag. 3. and that the same time should begin within some few years and continue many hundreth years before the last day of judgment And that the Jews also shall be called and enjoy those happy times Answ. It is very probable that the day of judgment is neer For first there hath been as was foretold 2 Thess. 2. a departure front the true Religion and that most conspicuous and manifest about a thousand years after Christ and the man of sin the son of perdition the adversary of Christ the exalter of himself above all that is called God is disclosed and by good proof demonstrated Luther and many other Learned Writers some in many since his time have laid open to the world Antichrists wicked enterprises by the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and shewed how in the ages before Luther the world was gull'd by strong deâ—sioâ—s and beleeved lies Secondly the new Babel that is Rome is fallen in her honour and repute Her grand claim of universall vicarship her power over Kings her unerring judgment in matters of controvâ—rsie her vast chalenge of all power spirituall and tâ—porall and her like capitall errours are plainly by the writings of the Orthodox party confuted and by religious Princes within their own Territories taken away in good part and will daily more and more fall to the ground At Cyrus conquest of the old Babel the Kings and their Nations subject to her Scepter left her So now England Scotland Denmark a great part of Germany the Protestant Churches in France and others elswhere once under Romes yoak have already abandoned the Popes power and censure the Roman Church justly as condemned by God himself in the Apocalyps And in truth the Pope is more honoured at a distance which often beguiles the eye then in some parts of Italy and even in the territories near Rome Thirdly are not men become self-lovers proud covetous boasters blasphemers disobedient to Parents unthankfull unholy without naturall affection truce-breakers false accusers c. 1 Tim. 3.1 such as Paul there saith men would bee in the last dayes Whereas Gods servants should bee endowed with righteousnesse faith charity peace and should bee gentle apt to teach patient c. 1 Tim. 2.22 which are vertues graces in these days somewhat rare Let us therefore not be secure and cry peace peace and happy dayes but remember the worlds stupiditie in the dayes of Noah and Lot Luk. 17.27 how the world then feared nothing till judgment seised on them Let us rather watch and waite for Christs comming and appearance being confident that as Christ by the Sword out of his mouth his heavenly word the bright shining light of the Gospel hath made a great manisest â—msumption of Antichrist so by his glorious and last comming he will abolish him 2 Thes. 2.8 Matth. 25.31 And destroy them that destroy the earth Rev. 11.18 among whom Antichrist the Pope of Rome hath been and is a chiefe actor Then shall all the world see most clearly Christ to be which in truth hee hath ever been the Lord of Lords and King of Kings Revel. 19.16 Then even his enemies shall see that his Kingdom was such as could not bee shaken nor prevailed against by all their malice power and designes and hee thenceforth shalll reign in heaven with his faithfull servants in happinesse for evermore Rev. 11.15 Concerning the Jews calling to the Goâ—el I have above spoken Here onely I adde that wee should take heed of any proud or contemptuous cariage towards them They were broken off from the true Olive and wee graffed in God is able to graffe them into it again It concerns us to use all good means to win them to Christ If wee can trade to the Indies for worldly commodities why should wee not take courses for reducing some at least of that once beloved nation into Christs fold FINIS
21.5 And appears further thus Christ is the second or new Adam hee maks new matters floods in deserts them that were not his people to bee his people be makes a new Covenant speaks to people by new tongues gives them new hearts and new spirits puts new wine into new bottles gives beleevers a new name written in a white stone clothes them with new garments puts a new song into their mouths makes a new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem that is a Church of all beleevers both Jews and Gentiles These things began to bee performed in Christs life time and have been are and will bee continually in fulfilling unto the worlds end For all Christians from the first to the last have their portion herein Secondly the marriage of Christ with the Christian Church began with the preaching of the Gospel for then God made a marriage Feast and invited guests unto it Mat. 22.2 Joh. 3.29 Hee hath ever since now doth and will continue still inviting them thereunto so long as the world lasts Paul long since prepared the Corinthians a pure virgin for Christ their husband 2 Cor. 11.2 The other Apostles and Religious Teachers ever since have endeavoured the same for other people and Nations Thirdly the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Tabernacle of God was among men at the Gospels beginning Then Christ {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} bad his Tabernacle among men Job 1.14 and became Immanuel God with us by assuming humane nature This Tabernacle Christ took up with him to heaven at his ascension Besides as God had his dwelling or Tabernacle among the Israelites in the wildernesse and in Canaan so Christ walks amidst the golden Candlesticks the Churches here on earth Rev. 1. and on his throne hee sits in the midst of the Rulers of his Church Rev 5.6 and all Christians did doe and shall acknowledge his glory honour dominion to the worlds end as they in that Chapter doe Fourthly the Covenant by which men of all Nations are Gods people and hee their God Rev 21. was made at the beginning of the Gospel and continues to bee made with all converts to the end of time For God dwelt among the Corinthians and by Paul said unto them I will bee your God and ye shall bee my people 2 Cor 6.16 and hee is the same to every person of any Nation that fears him Acts 10.35 This Covenant is made with all that bee taught of God and hear him Jer 31.33 34. Iohn 6.45 And fifthly from the Christian Churches beginning to the worlds end All tears are wiped from the eyes of all beleevers no death sorrow crying pain doth rest on them but passes away Apoc 21.4 So that if they weep as men in affliction cannot but sometimes doe they upon better consideration will bee as though they wept not 1 Cor 7,31 They suffer tribulation but they come out of it and by the Lamb of God are filled full of all joy and comfort Rev 17.14 There will bee wicked men who with their tongues will calumniate and with their weapons wound them but their malice shall not prosper in the end They themselves shall fall because Gods Covenant of mercy and peace shall never fail his people Esa 54.10 c Hence the Saints are bidden when perils are at hand not to fear Acts 27.24 not to fear the fear of the wicked 1 Pet 3.14 God being their helper they need not fear what man can doe unto them Heb 13.6 Yea tears shall bee so wiped away and pain so allayed that they shall count it exceeding joy that they fell into temptations and afflictions Jam 1.1 Their sorrow is in the issue turned into joy which no man can take from them Joh 16.20 This is of force sufficient to wipe off all tears For they shall have assurance by their faith in the Lamb and in his blood and by their testimony given unto Gods truth to overcome Mat 28.8 Rev 12.11 I might goe on and further instance in other particulars which subserve and are fitted unto these already spoken of In brief I will collect them and say no more but what may point at them in generall First seeing the old Jerusalem is ruined God builds a new one the mother of all faithfull Christians both Jews and Gentiles and this must needs bee a great and capacious City having glorious foundations and walls to bee strong for defence and have gates on each side of it for accesse thereunto from the foure coasts of heaven Secondly if the twelve Patriarchs of old had their names graven in pearls and jewels and born by Aaron a type of Christ the upholder of all the faithfull for the comfort of each godly person in the twelve Tribes much more may the names of the twelve Apostles bee set upon the twelve foundations of this glorious City for the comfort of all such as are begotten children to Christ by them and their doctrine Thirdly if Gods Law was esteemed by David walking therein above gold above the finest gold and thousands of it then doubtlesse the streets of the New Jerusalem in which all good Christians walk may very well bee compared to gold as pure and clear as glasse Fourthly the Tabernacle and Temple of old glittered with golden surniture and the choicest gems the Christian Church comes not short of either of them but is as every man must needs grant far more glorious in all respects hath more excellent and spirituall priviledges and clear and comfortable doctrine far beyond all former times As the Tents for Gods people are inlarged and their curtains further spread then of old Esa. 54.2 So are Gods favours more extended to the Christian Church then formerly to the Jewish Fifthly If David was the light of Israel and by his high esteem of Gods word the light to mens paths made his people to walk safely in that light much more now is Christ the David or beloved of God and the light of the world and directs Christians to come out of darknesse unto the saving Truth These and other matters most glorious spoken of the Churches estate in Rev. 21. 22. are belonging to the Church of God in this life Nor need any man to admire that the high and heavenly expressions in these two Chapters used concern the estate of the Christian Church in this life For first the faithfull in their life time have {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} an exhibition or subsistence of things hoped for of the happinesse promised them for life to come They have {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a summary inventory of things not yet seen Heb. 11.1 that is of the inheritance immortall and undefiled and that fades not away but is reserved for them in Heaven 1 Pet. 1.4 The eye of faith is quicksighted and beholds things afar off as present Hereby Abraham in his dayes saw and enjoyed Christ and redemption by him and Moses which is much