time the spirit in them did signifie vvhen it testified before hand the suffering of Christ and glory that should follovv 1 Pet. 1. 11. And it vvas revealed to them that not unto themselves but us under the gospel-dispensation witnesses both of his comming in flesh and state of grace or resurrection-life which was to follow they did minister such things The Apostles and other Saints in the gospel-day received that spirit not before given Jo. 7. 39. by which the mystery of Godliness became opened even through Christs being manifested in flesh justified in spirit and in our nature exalted into heaven All this visibly accomplished in Christ's person is the sum and substance of the gospel-testimony The resurrection-state is now no longer a land of distances very far off but brought neer and set open in Christ's glorified humanity Hence is the gospel-dispensation much more spiritual then that of the Law the object of faith being now brought into sight though spiritual saints under both these dispensations found a like acceptation with God The elders and worthies under the Law vvere through their powerful faith pleasing to God Heb. 11. 39. as well as spiritual-saints under the gospel They obtained a good report by faith They willingly and cheerfully confessed themselves strangers on earth or as to their natural state and principle though not actually possessed of the spiritual and heavenly This better thing vvas kept in reserve as neither given to nor received by them in such manner as after Christs comming for the compleating of their blessedness and finishing of that faith he was authour of before But the whole seed of faith spiritual saints before and under Law and Gospel agree in their witness to Christ's resurrection-state as that new name and life vvherein alone any ever were or can be saved or receive the vision of the divine glory And though the gospel-ministration be more glorious then that of the Lavv as a ballance to this priviledg of saints under the gospel those under the Lavv vvere made the first-fruits unto Christ in his resurrection-state in our nature For to their imprisoned spirits shut up in the faith of what was to be revealed Christ appeared and in the first degree of his resurrection-life preached it to them or bestowed it on them rendring the state of those just spirits a paradise by entring among them in his resurrection-life and glory And after this he poured forth his glorified spirit on saints in the body which rendred them powerful experimental witnesses of his resurrection-life and new name Thus the whole generation of faith whether as prophetical messengers before Christs comming in flesh or declarers of him after come have all most harmoniously agreed in their testimony to the spiritual nature and visibility of Christ's kingdom here treated on And thus having seen the testimony of the divine nature itself and the infallible creature-testimony of Christ and his saints to this truth as a secondary general confirmation of it we may observe the various types and figures in Gods providential workings for strengthning his Peoples faith in this important truth Even before the fall every voice of God to man was to point out this spiritual State of Rest he was to look after But all this counsel of God was neglected by him Yet did God even after the fall and before the giving of the Law warn Noah of this his twofold great design to wit of taking down the old or first creation-World and setting up that new one in which to establish this visible kingdom of Christ As a token hereof vvas he commanded to build an Ark and by his obedience to God therein did he condemn that sinful World which wilfully neglected the voice of God therein But Noah by faith saw Christ in that resurrection or kingdom-state figured by the Ark as a spiritual Rock of safety to himself and whole spiritual seed from that destruction figured out by the floud which all Angels and men that obstinately fix themselves in the old World or first-creation state against God and the second bring upon themselves And this deluge or destruction of man-kind by water points out the far greater destruction by fire in that day of the Lord wherein he will destroy the very heavens and earth on purpose reserved for the exercise of Gods long-suffering For their abuse of all will ripen them for a final consumption by the fire of God's wrath 2 Pet. 3. 7. Then even amidst those flames will he most certainly set up that spiritual kingdom in which shall be a like visible protection and safty to his saints as Noahs litteral Ark was to him and his family The next remarkable type of this spiritual truth before the giving of the Law was Abrahams conquest of the four Kings as figuring out not only the corrupt but righteous principles of nature in men and Angels which as singly naturall are all in a combined interest against the spiritual seed of faith and Christ their head These are signified in Abrahams person and his followers And their victory was a type fthe compleat and final conquest our spiritual Lord Abraham with all his saints will obtain over all that come against them to oppose the setting up of his spiritual kingdom visibly in the world After this have we another signal figure hereof in Gods remarkable dealing with the Egyptians as his enemies on behalf of the Israelites his friends in his marvellous wayes of punishing the one and delivering the other by his own right hand and out-stretched arm Both were types of that irresistable power in which Christ in these last dayes of greatest bondage and oppression to his people will give them a more remarkable deliverance then ever In these last and worst of times will be a combination in religious and civil principles against them figured by the Egyptian powers and the Magicians by the latter counterfeiting and by the former persecuting the new-creation spirit and power they both hate which Christ is ready to break forth in and thereby to bestow on his spiritual Israelites an absolute deliverance out of all their litteral and mystical captivities And by the same power will he so judge and deal with his enemies of all sorts as never to suffer them to rise up more against him or his spiritual Israelites Moses his whole government with the sanctuary and other things in his ministration were speaking figures and significant voices of this universal kingdom of Christ No circumstance in the civil or religious constitution of that government but remarkably signified the present truth And by signal sounds of his providence under every dispensation has the Lord been declaring and setting this truth before the faith of his People The sanctuary or tabernacle was not to be fixed as in its resting-place till his People were possessed of their resting-place the typical Land of promise Next this was Solomon's Temple on various accounts a signal type of Christ and of what he was to do
THE REIGN OF CHRIST Unto which He hath had a Right from everlasting WHICH God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the World began Acts 3. 21. LONDON Printed in the Year â—â—â—â— The PREFACE NOAH a Preacher of the Righteousness of God and a walker with him therein gave signal Warning a hundred and twenty years together of the approaching judgment on all despisers thereof Gen. 6. 3 -9. Mat. 24. 38 39. 2 Pet. 2. 5. The neglect of his alarming ministry was so universal that the flood came and swept them all away save Noah's family of eight persons And so shall also the comming of the Son of Man be say's Christ Mat. 24. 37 -39. The like dark midnight-state shall the World be found in at Christ's second coming People will be generally given up to sensuality signified by eating drinking marrying and giving in marriage and so will also be found scoffing at any such thing as Christ's coming to reign on Earth 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. But the Spirit he will come in will prove a mystical Fire that will burn up and consume all the highest excellencies in the fleshly earthly changeable corruptible first-creation-nature of Man or Angel signified by all the Kingdoms of this World and glory of them Mat. 4. 8. This will be an amazing surprize and cause a consternation in all concerned therein beyond and above all conception or language by the understanding or tongue of natural Man or Angel Even when Christ is at the door ready to come forth about this terrible work in righteousness to judg and make war on all first-creation vanities will Men generally more than ever contradict and blaspheme the spiritual Watchman's warning thereof so that he with his Fellows shall be men wonder'd at reckon'd mad-men and the contemptiblest Fools in the whole World for believing or asserting any such thing Hence will that day of the Lord or the Lord coming forth in that judgment-day-light of his all-searching all-discovering all-trying new-creation Spirit be a general surprize to the World Sea and Land all inhabitants of the Earth and of the Sea in the but reformed or in the polluted spirit of nature He will come as a Thief with his irresistible light upon them in their midnight darkness never less expecting or more deriding any such doctrine or thing The temper of the World before the general destruction of it by Water is made by Christ himself a representing figure of the desperately rebellious condition and most evil circumstances it will be found in immediately before the near approaching destruction of it by Fire Abel Enoch and others doubtless though not all recorded did in the true new-creation spirit of prophecy warn the people of their day of their groundless security and self-flattery as to any approaching judgments Enoch before that destruction by Water prophesied the second destruction of it by Fire at Christ's second coming with the ten thousands of his Saints Jude ver 14 15. His being the seventh from Adam may seem not to be taken notice of without some concerning significancy It was the judgment of the more enlightned sort of Jews when in their flourish that the World would stand six thousand years a thousand years for a day answering the six days works of God in the first-creation and then Christ would come in the glory power and marvellous light of the new-creation to keep his seventh thousand years Sabbath-day wherein to proclaim a jubilee to the World and so a rest or cessation from all the works of man in his own work-a-day first-creation spirit life or activity Of the said six thousand years 5678 are past Whether that saying of Christ speaking of the great tribulation in these last days beyond all that ever was or will be that for the Elects sake those days shall be shortned may not import a period of Satan's reign and Man's day in this World before the sixth thousand year be fully expired is a question with some But what less can it signify The Jews appropriate that perswasion as to this World 's continuing six thousand years more peculiarly to Elias Elias complained he was left alone in his spiritual testimony as to any associates with him in the awaken'd exercise of the same spirit as also that his witness was universally rejected and person persecuted by those in power God's answer to him was he had seven thousand men in that Israel who had not bowed to Baal that is not wilfully and knowingly through self-love to their earthly life and state Satan's dwelling place rejected and hated the heavenly life of that new-creation spirit that is God's dwelling place for ever in which he will dwell amongst shine upon and own his true Sion-Saints as his People and himself their God for evermore Any that have come forth in the awaken'd exercise of the true new-creation spirit of prophecy grace and prayer everlasting righteousness and truth have experienc'd an almost universal contradiction and discountenance as Fools and mad Men. The Apostles and primitive gospel Christians when clothed with a wonder-working power under the former rain or first shower of the spirit from Christ's ascended humanity seem to have had the best on 't as to this yet how were even they yea the most eminent teachers among them hated and disturbed contradicted blasphemed and murdered I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain says Esay in my prophetical ministry declaring the righteousness of God as the only true way of Salvation to Man This he concludes as relating to the next to no success he found amongst Men. But he found the Lord's approbation judgment and that his work found acceptance and he a reward there Esay 49. 4. So Paul if our ministry says he of himself and fellow-Gospel teachers prove through mens wilful neglect and hatred of it a savour of death unto death yet are we therein a sweet savour of Christ unto God 2 Cor. 2. 15 16. No big looks nor stout words of contradicting Enemies should appale or discourage God's Commission'd Messengers of Truth How were they mock'd misus'd and despised even in Jerusalem till there was no Remedy 2 Chron. 36. 16. God charg'd Ezekiel to discharge his Watchman's Office in speaking his Words to them Whether they would hear or obey or whether they would forbear that is rebel against and reject them So also does he command Jeremy to arise and speak his words to them and not be dismaied at their Faces lest says he I confound or break thee in pieces before them Jeremy Prophesied amongst the then only professing People of God in the whole World and yet had the whole Land against him the Kings Princes Priests and People of Judah But God made him in the strength of his true Spirit of Prophesie too hard for them all a defenced City an iron Pillar and brazen Walls against the whole Land Jer. 1. 17 18. Yet notwithstanding all this fencing and steeling him
to bear the shock of such an universal opposition and contempt we find him through the wrangling distemper of his oppressed natural man that 's the disputer of this World in the Saint himself at a sore loss and ready to make very strange Conclusions I am in derision daily every one mocks and reproaches me for speaking the Word of the Lord. Then I said I 'le speak no more in his Name But his Word in my heart was as a fire and I could nor forbear or hold from declaring it Jer. 20. 7 9. When his particular denunciations of desolating Judgments on Jerusalem were accomplished the Jews dispers'd and confounded he was still at the same pass tossed up and down from post to pillar under a universal contradiction As for the word thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord say the Jews we will not hearken unto thee but do whatsoever goes forth of our own mouth follow the words of our own wisdom Jer. 44. 16 17. This they conclude upon come what will Desperate resolutions When Johanan the Son of Kareah and all the Captains of the remaining Forces left by Nebuchadnezzar and all the Jews from the least even to the greatest had besought Jeremy to seek the Lord on their behalf as to what course they should steer after the murder of Gedaliah whom the King of Babilon left to be their Governour he told them the Lord's message that if they stay'd in their own Land they should be safe if they went to Egypt for which he saw their inclination the very Sword of Nebuchadnezzar they causelesly fear'd at home should be sure to meet with them there Johanan the Son of Kareah and all the proud Men tell him he speaks falsly and that the Lord had not sent him to say go not into Egypt to sojourn there So they not only go but force him and Baruch along with them in flat contradiction to their own message And when there we have seen how obstinately they demean themselves against him and all his words All this have we Jer 42. 43. and 44 chapters At this rate are true witnesses of God handled all along this World Christ himself had in a manner a universal contradiction to his whole Gospel-ministry of the second covenant from the professing Jews with their Teachers Priests Scribes Pharisees c. in the first He came to his own people in the first who received him not but blasphem'd and murder'd him for the doctrine of the second though exactly consonant to their own Law and Prophets rightly understood and so became they no people of God at all in first or second What they had was taken from them for rebelliously refusing the great and true Salvation by him farther discovered and offered to them Christ's meek and quiet bearing such universal contradiction of mystical Sinners to his whole Gospel-ministry is set before his followers therein lest they be quite tired out and faint in their minds on like occasion Heb. 12. 3. Concerning the KINGDOM of GOD to vvhich Christ hath had a Right from Everlasting Testified by Saints in all Ages unto the visible Possession vvhereof the signal slaying of the Tvvo Witnesses and the raising them again by the angelical Preachers of the everlasting Gospel into an Association vvith themselves vvill be an immediate fore-running and preparatory Dispensation THERE is not any Truth more frequently foretold or positively asserted in the whole Scripture than the Second Comming of Christ to set up his visible Kingdom on Earth On his joyful appearance for this blessed Angels and Saints hopes have from the beginning been fixed as the season for such an Opening the Temple of God in Heaven as will render the Divine Inhabitant thereof visible on Earth This by first cleerly stating and declaring the infinite and absolute Soveraignty of Gods divine Essence above all And next unto this divine unity the high and superlative Prerogative of the first divine and creature-composition in the Mediatour's person Thirdly the great and peculiar Priviledges of the most heavenly Saints And lastly the just and immutable Rights and Advantages of blessed Angels and other glorified Saints above whatever was to be found in the natural first-creation state of either Hence the whole new-creation seed of Christ from a subjection to chang and vanity in their first-creation life and clothing have been secretly groaning and panting after that deliverance and freedom that 's to be brought to them by this second visible spirituall coming of our Lord Jesus from heaven to Reign on the earth And this will they more impatiently then ever desire and long after toward the end of the encreasing unreasonable Bondage under Satan's reign and Man's day This that the whole Creation groanes after and expects is the peculiar hope the certain and wel-grounded perswasion of spiritual Saints whose Faith becoms an undoubted evidence to things not seen to the natural understanding Rom. 8. 22-25 Heb. 11. 1. They only have the first-fruits and earnest of this yet invisible Spiritual Life in which Christ will appear to all They have the tasts of the new Wine of his Spiritual Kingdom And hence do they greatly thirst after the full draughts thereof in his Kingdom They are therefore uncessant in Prayer to God and this in Obedience to and agreement with the command and will of Christ for the comming of this Kingdom as those Spiritual Watch-Men that in harmony with the Holy Angels cease not Day nor Night to cry unto God for the Personal comming of their Spiritual Lord to make his nevv Jerusalem a praise in the vvhole Earth Esay 62. 1 6 7. For this will compleat the adoption of Sons by the redemption of their body and manifestation of the Sons of God in a visibility of their spiritual life This will be a Jubile to the whole World How deeply then are Angels Saints and all Men concerned to be rightly informed and have their hope fixed in this Important thing the comming of their Spiritual King in his new-creation Glory to reign over them For therein will be comprehended all their distinct Interests and Advantages Peter by way of Prophecy speaking of this spiritual kingdom positively asserts it not to be of a Fabulous or controversible nature but grounded on clear Evidence and undoubted Demonstration For he had the honour of being an Eye-vvitness by faith of Christ as from the beginning living in his root clothed with Glory and Honour 2 Pet. 1. 16-18 And since his ascent in our nature have spiritual Saints been waiting for his descent therein God by setting him at his right hand therein has Endovved him vvith the Povver and Glory of his Fathers Throne to set up his visible kingdom on earth Jo. 5. 22 27. Act. 17. 31. All this seems implied in the voice Peter heard from the excellent glory saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am vvell pleased as having descended and finished the vvork given him to do in our earthly nature
his creatures or on the other hand derogate and take from the authority of this most authentick Book of the divine mind by denying Christ's divinity and owning him only as the most excellent creature-being this twofold fault of adding to or taking from this Book will be declared equal by the equal punishment of both eternal death Neither of them shall have any part in the life and blessings of the said Book but only in the plagues and wrath vvritten and treasured up in it for such offenders Rev. 22. 18 19. Deut. 32. 34. No lesse then so is the danger and guilt in denying the conjunction of divine and creature-spirit as the peculiar constitution of the mediatour the only means of creating Angels and men and of revealing the divine glory to them in their second and spiritual make To deny this is to deny the creation on at least any possibility for creatures beholding or enjoying God The foundation of their blessedness is layd in the union of two natures in the mediatour as the utmost result of Gods free love and contrivance of his divine wisdom The deep foundation of creatures blessednes was laid in the first invisible fellowship of divine and creature-nature in the mediatour The actual giving this blessedness to them is by the lowest part of his new-creature-spirit and communication thereof to them to qualify them for receiving the divine vision Having thus found out the spirit of true saintship let us consider the distinct testimony to the present truth the visible kingdom and universall reign of Christ given by saints in all ages Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied this sabbatical rest and kingdom Jude 14 15. To enumerate every particular herein were endlesse when from the whole course of scripture it may be observed that the final result and utmost end of every dispensation has been to point out the invisible state of truth which by Christ's second appearance was alwayes by God designed to be made manifest For though Christ in that invisible Angelical life he had from everlasting in his root were to the Seed of faith before and under the Law a Land of distances very far off Esay 33. 17. Yet by faith savv they this spiritual King in the beauty of his new-creation glory as the resurrection-Lamb This sight of him through faith became the spiritual food on which they lived And in this faith they died with a steadfast hope to partake thereof This hope became to them the Waters that failed not and the bread by which they were nourished up unto eternal life The vision hereof by faith vvas the substance of those things after to be manifested And they rejoyced in the meanes they by faith discerned for the manifestation thereof Christ in the Angelical life of the spirit of the branch was from the beginning the object of faith to Angels and men And in that his invisible life and state was laid the sure foundation of his visible kingdom here spoken to As thus seen and understood he and his Kingdom have been witnessed by true saints from first to last In this Archangel did God from the beginning so put his divine name as thereby according to Moses his experience to give the view of his one divinity which otherwise had remained absolutely invisible to any meer creatures By this means did saints under the law-dispensation look into that spiritual Canaan into which they nor did nor could enter till their spiritual Joshua or Jesus went before them thereinto The holy Ghost vvas not given till Jesus vvas glorified Joh. 7. 39. The discerning this by faith before Christ's comming in flesh even his visible rule over Angels and men in our glorified nature appears 2 Sam. 23. 3 4. where 't is said He vvill be just because ruling in the true fear and perfect love of God over the whole earth And this man Christ that will so rule vvill be abiding place from the Wind and a covert from the storm as the comforting shade of that great and high Rock the mediatours first and invisible divine and creature-conjunction wherein unaccessible to the highest saint Through the branch as their blessed shade do they condescend to shine forth to the unspeakable comfort of all saints from the highest to the lowest They do all in the twofold spiritual resurrection-life of the branch receive those beams of the divine and most glorious Sun that without such an interposing shade Christ's exalted humanity in which he is the saints covert would be a consuming fire to them from the vast distance and infinite disproportion of the object and subject The glorified man Christ becomes the safe defence of saints as fitting them for Gods looking down with favour upon them and their looking up to and beholding him to their everlasting comfort As united with his glorified humanity they enjoy for ever his divinity The man Christ then in our glorified nature will in answer to the sight of faith in all ages and uncessant desires of his Angels and saints actually â—avv and rend the heavens so as to shew himself in his heavenly state and glory in which yet concealed and shut up as his far countrey till the restitution of all things at his second appearance in the visibility of his spiritual kingdom-state Then shall he be as the light of that morning which is to succeed the dismally dark Night of mans degenerate day under Satan's reign the Lightning out of the East that shall shine even unto the West over all in a moment 2 Sam. 23. 4. Mat. 24. 27. This vision David had with other saints by faith vvas made to speake by the comming death and resurrection of Christ in our nature in which were comprehended all that died in the faith thereof who then came actually to partake of that life and glory which by faith they knevv vvas to be revealed or set open in Christs person By faith did they see their blessed lot in the said spiritual state and divine vision is thus to be given in Christ's person by whose presence in flesh and performances therein the shadowy ceremonies and types of the Law fled avvay through which till then saints faith did feed on the invisible substance as the good things to come in which they rejoyced And their mystical House or individual persons were not to grow under the visible shadowy ministration thereof in their day on earth yet saw they themselves secured in the everlasting covenant compleated in their â—ead in whom they discerned all things ordered and made sure for them â— Sam. 23. 5. They saw the works of redemption finished in Christs invisible state as the Lamb slain before the foundation of the World the object of their faith And they knew all would be made visible in our nature by him In both these respects was he the object of all their desire and delight This was their bed of rest whether in or out of the body patiently waiting for and diligently enquiring vvhat manner of
The taking it down by the Babylonian power and the rebuilding it in Cyrus and Darius his dayes by the command of God were figures of the first and second comming of Christ He took down himself in his first and fleshly building in our nature by a holy death and raised himself up therein into a spiritual everlasting righteous life in which he will set up his visible kingdom on earth The second litteral Temple in reference to this spiritual new building of our nature in Christ's person in which visibly to rule and reign over all is said greatly to have exceeded the beauty or glory of the first however singly in the letter so inferiour thereunto that the Old men that had seen the glory of the former Wept Ezra 3. 12. Haggai 2. 3 7 9. By all these significant types and figures did God feed the faith of true saints under the Law who saw to the end of that ministration which was suitable to that non-age of the world their lot was fallen in as also to the changable nature of first-covenant-life in the highest dispensation thereof Thus seeing the end of all that vvas to be abolished were they in the right use thereof pointed unto Christ both in his invisible Angelical state of resurrection-lamb living in his root and also as to descend out of that into a visibility and so to come forth in our glorified nature By the shadowes of the Law and signal voices of providence did the spiritual seed under the Law by faith behold this twofold day of Christ invisible and visible and rejoyced therein Q. But if the visible kingdom of Christ be thus certain as evidenced by the testimonies of God Christ blessed Angels and Saints and signified to us by law-types and by the providences of God in all ages Why does Christ suffer himself to be kept so long out of the possession thereof or suffer his title thereunto to be denied him by the profane and most injuriously questioned even by the religious party among men Men at highest in holy flesh righteousnes of man with evil Angels in their natural excellencies are the worst sort of scoffers that will be found in the last dayes against this visible kingdom of Christ on earth and that in a self-condemning light 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. And saints in whom the first-covenant Temple-building is taken down by the crosse in order to the rebuilding them in the spiritual glory of the second in which to reign with Christ are with all their doctrine spectacles of scorn and wonder to natural Angel and Man who have set up themselves in the glory of the first against the second 1 Cor. 4. 9. A. For a satisfactory answer to this question it will be needfull to look back to Gods method from the beginning as to all the rule and power given to Christ in his invisible creature-day before either the actual transgression of angel and man or creation of them As to manifestation that which is natural was first in Christ's person Christ the branch in his invisible state was the first-born natural-Spirit before the first begotten from the dead the Resurrection Lamb in a spiritual new-creation life The originally unchangable creature-spirit of Christ was the High-Priest that sacrificed the said first-born and so raised it into its own twofold new-creation life the original nevv heaven and nevv earth And thus by the death of his invisible natural state as a purâ— and spotless sacrifice did he lay the sure foundation of his visibility 〈◊〉 the said spiritual life to be brought to light in our glorified nature Iâ— that first death of nature in Christ was exhibited the necessary tryal of aâ—â— mens and angels obedience to the will of God by the like sacrifice and death of the natural state in them This was shewed them both and all in innocency by spiritual light that by a faithful following of theâ— Lord 's own suffering steps they might have been translated into thaâ— spiritual state which alwayes according to God's wise method was to follow Christ through such sacrifice of his invisible natural state did inseparably unite in his own person the natural and spiritual or first and second-creation spirits which are still distinct though united And hereby has he a right of dominion over all the works of God's hands in both worlds or creations natural and spiritual as Maker and Heirâ— of all things in both Heb. 1. 2. But though Christ thus laid a sure Foundation of blessedness for those vvhose names vvere vvritten in his resurrection book of Life inasmuch as their persons comprehended in his death would yield up nature to death in like obedience with him yet many angels and men do finally refuse through inordinate love to the life of nature to exchange their natural for his spiritual State So do they keep up their natural state as a wall of partition between them and God's spiritual in which alone true blessednes can be found Since the fall all mankind have an inherent seed of enmity in them to God Christ and his spiritual Life This enmity in the evil angels by whom sown in men is unchangable and incurable In man barely as a consequent of the first sin not so But this disease in man till cured by such obedience to the Cross as was at first refused is an infectious leprosie in him and becoms as mortal and incurable in him as in the evil angels when found guilty on the like personal account with our first parents By the purifying fire of the Cross alone can the enmity contracted by the fall be melted down or that obedience performed which alwayes was the duty of the first-creation spirit in man or angel before their fall in order to their establishment in a spiritual state of everlasting blessedness The disobedience of man and angel has made no change in God's proceedings as to the death of the natural in order to a spiritual life but has rendred man's suffering part under the Cross much more hard and difficult through an actual enmity and struggling contrary mind thereunto set up in him by the Devil But in this hard work the over-ruling providence of God makes the utmost malice of visible and invisible enemies serviceable to the bruising the saints heel or crucifying his natural man which is absolutely necessary for his receiving that spiritual life in which to break the enemies head The allotted time for the compleating this work of patience on the whole spiritual body of Christ is the saints suffering Season on the finishing whereof they are all to enter into a state of everlasting rest and blessedness And this is the ground of Gods patience towards all sorts of wilful enemies of himself and saints during the time the Prince and Power of the Air is permitted in answer to his own desire to have the active ruling power in and over the natural state and principle which in greatest love God has absolutly denied to Christ and his saints So
Conquerors The way of their Conquest was by suffering This is the mystical Weapon by which the Lord and Servant were both to fight this spiritual battel By steddily enduring all sorts of oppositions and sufferings they became triumphant overcomers All the persecutions primitive Gospel-Saints met with in and for their witnessing service tended only to the working out those marks of the dying of the Lord Jesus in their mortal Flesh that were matter of rejoycing to their immortal Spirits All the sorrow of their natural man outward or inward was soon forgotten for joy the spiritual Man-Child was born in them This man-child-spirit was the mystical Reed like a Rod given John to distinguish the inner from the outer Court and accordingly to measure the Temple of God the Altar and them that worship therein This work could be done by no other Reed save the glorified Spirit of Jesus fitted for discerning or judging in harmony with the divine and new-creature mind of Christ between the first and second creation-spirit as also between the twofold distinct branches of the new-creature-spirit or building in Christ and of the differing ranks and orders of Saints belonging thereunto who will find their respective places and portions in the vision and enjoyment of the divine Glory This high priviledg through the spiritual mind and judgment of the Lord thus set up in the Saint Paul esteemed of so inestimable a value as in comparison thereof to make no account of his own or others natural judgment in the highest and most accurate exercise of it 1 Cor. 4. 3. The new-creature-building or spiritual life in Christ's person and glorified manhood consists of two parts or principles heavenly and earthly glorified The full asserting these renders any one Saint or more Christ's twofold or two witnesses as declaring the comprehensive fulness of his new-creature-Spirit Though Abraham as a figure of Christ was the Parent of a twofold seed or first and second covenant Jew he was also in a farther sense a figure of him as Parent of a twofold spiritual new-creature seed his heavenly and earthly glorified members experimental witnesses of the twofold principles of his new-creature building This mystery was frequently represented by types and shadows to the faith of spiritual Saints under the Law but the distinction and inseparable union of these two parts of Christ's comprehensive creature-nature received their first visibility in Christ's glorified humanity By this the before invisible temple of God was opened and the first shower of his risen Spirit sent down on Gospel-Believers which qualified them by a single or double portion in the twofold parts of the new-creation-building to be his two witnesses Such are assigned their distinct witnessing-work according to John's vision Rev. 11. as members of his heavenly or earthly glorified body These two sorts of witnesses of Christ's spiritual life as all joined together declare and make up the fulness of his creature-building as members of his mystical spiritual body This twofold new-creature principle in Christ and Saints was lively figured out in the request for the two Sons of Zebedee by their Mother who was a figure of Christ our spiritual Parent in his desire to his Father to wit that his two sorts of witnessing Sons or Saints may sit on his right and left hand in an everlasting fruition of his divine glory And these are the two spiritual anointed ones Olive-trees or Sons of Oil placed on each side of Christ the Lord of the whole Earth Zech. 4. 3. 14. Rev. 11. 4. John also saw a Sack-cloath-state these two witnesses would be brought into notwithstanding their first eminent visibility in the power and under the strong and clear Sunshine of the spiritual presence of Christ amongst them And this dark season of their Sack-cloath prophecy must in faith and patience be passed thorow by them and the visibility of their spiritual state be taken or withdrawn from them All this seems figured out to John by that Woman clothed with the Sun having the Moon under her Feet Rev. 12. 1. Hereby is represented First the birth of the conquering man-child spirit in Christ's person Secondly the powerful witness of it in and by his spiritual members Then John saw this man-child caught up from the Woman or Church to God and to his Throne And on the withdrawing this man-child-spirit from the Woman or crucified members of Christ is she commanded into the Wilderness as the prepared place for her where to remain by God's appointment 1260 days or years the allotted time for their sack-cloth prophecy During this sack-cloth state of his Church on Earth Christ takes care for the nourishing their inward Man by invisibly feeding that from his own Spirit with his hidden spiritual Manna through such angelical visits as their own natural understanding may be little sensible of This Wilderness-state and Sack-cloth prophecy therein is a peculiar dispensation of the Cross suited to the time of the man-child-spirits absence as to any visibility thereof During this season the Woman spiritual Saints in their crucified natural man is shut up as in a secret Chamber or Wilderness in which secured from any dangerous or hurtful assaults by World or Devil and is therein by Faith chastly and quietly to wait for the return of her spiritual Lord and Husband in the visible glory of his man-child spiritual life and state Then John saw also the means by which this mystical Woman or Spouse of Christ was to be carried into the Wilderness as her prepared place or state of safety Two wings of a great Eagle were given her by which to flee into the said Wilderness-state out of the reach of any hurt by the utmost expressions of her inward or outward enemies malice which would certainly be sent after her as a flood ver 14 15. The great Eagle by whose wings she is carried into this place of security is the person of Christ as head to his new-creature Saints by making his own natural spirit or state under the cross that dead carkass to which they are gathered Mat. 24. 24. in a conformity to him by the like death of nature in them in order to receive his invisible spiritual new-creation-life This by a fixed faith in the two distinct principles of his new-creature-Spirit the two wings of that spiritual Eagle by which they are safely carried and guided into the wilderness-state of their crucified natural man under the Cross By these wings is the inward man of Christ's mystical dead body protected kept in perfect safety and invisibly nourish'd for a time times and half a time from the hurtful fury of the Serpent The sack-cloth prophecy then is dated from the Woman 's actual flight into the Wilderness which was at the withdrawing and absence of the man-child Spirit from her as to such visibility thereof in true signs and wonders as was afforded and for a season continued in and to the primitive Gospel-Church So her proper cloathing became sack-cloth in which
with them in their angelical ministration And by the powerful entrance of Christ's new-creature-life into them will they be raised as found by the angelical reapers the full ripe corn to be gathered up by them into that preparatory service with themselves Next these will they take care of that precious seed-wheat that lies hid under the earth of the natural spirit or at most appears but in its young and tender blade These spiritual Watchmen and preachers of that day are by Christ's command to take care of such The Angels that were to open the Seals and pour forth the vials of God's wrath on the Earth are required not to hurt the grass of the new Earth neither any green thing or tree not the seed or any the least beginnings of an ever-green spiritual life The spiritual seed however hid in the earth of the yet active natural spirit shall by their powerful preaching the everlasting Gospel be made wonderfully to spring up grow and prosper so that this holy seed from among all nations shall abundantly flow in unto them in those days of such a universal return out of all captivities as hath been the well-grounded hope and relieving expectation of Saints in all former ages From the redemption of the spiritual seed by the preparatory ministry of Angels will flow a full restitution to the whole Earth The Earth not yet brought to trial shall by the powerful preaching of the Angels become as the garden of Eden and by obedience thereunto be in measure restored to their first-creation-state in order to their experiencing a far greater mercy by Christ's personal presence if the fault be not their own when brought under such great and high advantages And having thus seen the first part of the work of this preparatory dispensation in reference to the good seed and innocent earth the second we shall find to be in reference to the evil seed who ' after all trial by wilfully rejecting the truth have shewed themselves the accursed earth John saw the same time apointed for a recompence of love to the one and wrath to the other These latter are the Nations that will be angry at Christ's second coming Yea by the preparatory dispensation thereunto will there be set up such a condemning testimony in the hearts of the incorrigibly wicked as will render even that a day of gloominess clouds and thick darkness to them Joel 2. 2. Even their restor'd natural state on which they have doted shall be so signally judg'd and blasted by the breath of the Lord in this his preparatory day set up in his Angels and risen witnesses that it shall be left behind them as a waste and desolate Wilderness with whom the Lord will have no more to do in any way of love or trial ver 3. This season is to put a period to the Serpent's active reign and Christ and his Saint's passive and to bring the seat of the Whore and Beast to judgment who will therefore be enraged more than ever against Christ and his Saints and Angels Then will they come forth in the most subtile imitations of Christ's preparatory angelical ministers For this will Satan prepare his evil angelical Chariots and take his fixed evil seed among men into a like association as Christ's blessed Angels and Saints so as exquisitely to counterfeit this preparatory ministration of Christ to the deceiving if possible the very Elect. He will cloath his false Apostles Prophets and Servants through his sinful transformations with an appearance of Christ's resurrection-Garments And so will he assume to himself the very creature-throne of Christ setting up himself in that glorified Temple in imitation of Christ's united divine and creature-natures shewing himself to be God 2 Thess 2. 4. This will the Devil by his inspired instruments set himself to do in these latter days counterfeiting the Spirit of Christ in himself and Saints as spiritual Magicians to fight against the spiritual Moses's of that day blessed Angels and Saints in the most subtile imitation of their spiritual and true wonder-working power This will Satan do to weaken the authority of their spiritual ministration from implacable hatred thereunto In this mystical way of opposing Christ and his work to be done by Angels and Saints will he and his party of Angels and Men be counterfeiting the signs and wonders wrought by the new-creation-power and spirit of Christ This will they do notwithstanding the signal judgments of God upon them as on the type Pharaoh and his Egyptians God's judgments then instead of working them into an obedience to his message were by them abused to the encreasing their wilful hatred of that hand and power they could not but confess just in smiting them Yet in height of contempt would they be imitating that new-creation-power by which they were convinced the wonders of that day were wrought All this was but a type of what the mystical Pharaoh and his Subjects will do in the preparatory day to Christ's second coming And for a season will they be permitted so to do to try and prove many Many that are spiritually wise will be found stumbling and falling hereby But being unwillingly mistaken their very mistake will be caused to tend to the purifying of their faith and also to the ripening of their enemies for destruction This was figured by the red Sea that became a total destruction to the enemy and salvation to Israel All this shall be more eminently seen in wilful hardners of their hearts against this powerful ministration of Angels On such wilful Sinners in that day will the said Angels pour forth the vials of Gods wrath sealed up from the beginning to this appointed season In whatever deceitful appearances such Sinners will be found out and punished under the distinct vials of wrath poured fourth upon them And they shall all be made to stand as convicted and condemned persons in their own consciences by the powerful light of this angelical ministry as Christ's inferiour court of judicature in order to receive an irreversible sentence of Death from the highest seat of judgment from which can be no appeal being set up in Christ's person by whom as soveraign Lord to be pronounced Yet shall not this sentence be finally executed upon them but on purpose suspended during the thousand years active reign of Christ in which they are to be so chained up as to be disabled to make the least resistance or give any interruption thereunto This powerful restraint as to the expressing their enmity against the peaceable reign of Christ and his Saints will much encrease their torment But let us now resume and come to a more particular and distinct consideration of all these things First What is meant by the Seales the opening thereof and pouring forth of the said Vials Secondly how and in what manner are they to be poured forth and upon whom Thirdly how far are the judgments thereof to reach visible or invisible in this preparatory dispensation
given to a faithful witness-bearing in his spirit of true freedom for which they have suffered all along Satan's reign This shall in its place be more fully spoken to And then will be declared God's most wise and holy grounds why the injuries done to the Souls under the Altar slain for the testimony of Jesus have lain so long unaccounted for Under this preparatory dispensation shall the murderers of Jesus and his spiritual Martyrs be punished according to their works All these judgments and mercies are to be opened by the seven new-creation Trumpets sounded by seven Angels on the opening of the seventh and last Seal Rev. 8. 1 2. On the sounding of these Trumpets the judgments sealed up for foes amongst the treasures of mercy for friends Deut. 32. 34 35. will be executed by the pouring forth of the seven Vials All this as the performance of God's promise on behalf of the two slain witnesses Rev. 11. for raising them up into an association with spiritual Angels for the powerful preaching of Christ's everlasting Gospel-life For this will they have power to shut and open the blessings and judgments of Heaven in perfect harmony with the spirit and will of Christ distributing both in love or wrath to the inhabitants of the whole World This is implied in the command given them over that mystical Fire by which the wrath of that day is to be executed and in their power also to give or withhold the heavenly rain of Christ's risen-Spirit and likewise for turning the Waters of the cleansed natural state as turned into enmity against the same into blood from the just wrath and displeasure of God By all ways literal and mystical will the sealed-up judgments of God be opened to smite the accursed Earth in such a successive pouring forth of wrath upon it figured by the plagues on Pharaoh and Egypt by the hands of Saints and Angels in this fore-running dispensation on this side the glorified body of Saints as was figured in Eliah subject to like passions with other Saints in the unchang'd body Jam. 5. 17. Saints in this dispensation will not only have power over the material Heaven so as by the spirit of true faith and prayer to withhold or give the rain thereof but in a like command with Elias to cause the angelical fire to come down on their Enemies for their destruction as he did on the Captains with their Fifties that came in opposition to the new-creature spirit of prophecy by the powerful workings whereof in him he was seen to be a man of God Wilful enmity to this spirit God will come forth in signal displeasure against Now if this power literally and spiritually was thus manifested in Eliah by a union of Faith only with Christ in his new-creature-spirit before the former Gospel-rain thereof Act. 2. what will be impossible to the power of it in Saints on the latter rain thereof for the ripening of Angels and Saints therein to a full harvest fitting them to do all things needful to make way for their Lord's second coming And having thus considered what is meant by the opening of the Seals and pouring forth of the Vials in the preparatory day to Christ's second coming by Angels and Saints we are next to enquire how and in what manner and measure they are then to be poured forth and upon whom For this it is observable that every Vial hath and that from the beginning bin suited to the more or less criminal nature of the several wilful Offences which now shall be laid open however before hid and sealed up This is implied by the distinct places or parts of the accursed first-creation-Earth each Vial is to be poured upon John hears a voice out of Christ's new-creation Temple into which the good Angels were first brought as the first faithful obedient followers of their Head Lord and Master thereinto They are sent out of this Temple with the seven-fold new-creation Trumpet given them by the Lamb for his service as ministring spirits and first sounders forth of this his new-creation-voice to his Saints who thereby become qualified with them to preach the everlasting Gospel of the Kingdom or declare the glad tydings of their Lord 's coming in the seven-fold glory of his resurrection-state to the whole Earth And not only so but they are also fitted to be joined with the holy Angels for pouring forth the Vials of God's wrath on the fixed inhabitants of the Earth who are enemies to his spiritual heavenly appearance and Kingdom Thus we find the first Vial poured forth upon the Earth Rev. 16. 2. the second on the Sea the third on the Rivers and Fountains of Water the fourth on the Sun the fifth on the seat of the Beast the sixth on the great River Euphrates the seventh on the Air. In these distinct vials and places are held forth the particular assigned judgments according to the sealed up wrath of God for every part of the sinful first-creation-Earth The first Vial is poured out upon the Earth not the corrupt but restored Earth repaired by Christ as to their loss by the fall of Adam and so capacitated to answer Christ's heavenly call He hath therein afforded them clear convictions of his new-creation-life for their everlasting blessedness But through wilful refusal of this and despite thereunto are they sound guilty of worshipping the Beast and receiving his mark which is the peculiar Sin for which punished They voluntarily pay that homage to the wicked Angel that 's due to God who hath by his own act made himself the mystical Beast here meant in his self-chosen earthly sensual spirit by a fixed unchangeable enmity to God and his heavenly creature-spirit rendred devilish The same fixed in by Man with its wisdom and all its first-creation excellencies is devilish also Jam. 3. 15. This renders a Man a Devil Christ called Judas so One of you is a Devil Joh. 6. 70. The changeably evil spirit of Man baptiz'd and transform'd by the unchangeably evil spirit of the Devil into unchangeable union with him in enmity to God renders man a Devil If baptiz'd into the unchangeably righteous spirit of Christ man becomes with Abraham the unchangeable friend lover and beloved of God The cleansed mystical house or enlightned righteous natural man receiving the evil angelical spirit is thereby fixed in enmity to God In this case Christ found and asserted the professing righteous Jews with their teachers to be Ye are of your Father the Devil so far were they from being the true spiritual seed and Children of Abraham or of God as they flattered and asserted themselves to be This end or last state is worse than their first in the corrupt nature as born dead in Sin but not unchangeably so as now they are Mat. 12. 43 -45. Joh. 8. 38 -44. Such incorrigible wilful Sinners against the Holy Ghost and its convincing spiritual light set up in their consciences will fall under the sad effects of the
and undeniably assert and demonstrate his right to the universal monarchy of the whole Earth And having thus seen in a parallel to Moses his day how all the materials of Christ's visible Kingdom are to be provided the mystical Stones hewed squared and polished for compleating the new-building we are next to consider by way of parallel also the view that from an angelical hand and glory is to be given of the Throne and heavenly Temple of Christ as was of Moses his Tabernacle by the rearing thereof before fixed in the Land of Canaan Through the angelical light of the preparatory day shall the new-creation Temple of Christ be opened and rendred much more perspicuous than ever it hath yet been And this as a needful qualifying of the new Earth for so great a glory as will shine forth upon it by Christ's personal coming to set up and establish his visible and everlasting Kingdom In order to this work let us yet more particularly examine the type in which Moses in every thing relating to it received exact direction from God and was also shewed the original patern of the typical Tabernacle in that holy Mount the same with this angelical ministration that 's to reveal Christ the original and substance of all According to this angelical sight through faith given to Moses was he to provide every Pin and Board belonging to the Tabernacle and answerable to the pattern joyn and linke every part of the whole together And so became it a lively figure of the compleat new-creature-building in Christ and his comprehensive body head and members who must all be exactly and inseparably joyn'd together in a spirit of faith and love by that supply to each other which must be made by every joint and member according to the effectual working of the distinct measure of the new-creature-spirit of the head in every part to the increase and perfecting of the whole body in love Eph. 4. 16. Of this compleat creature-building in the invisible existing state of the new-creature-seed in their head before Angels or Men personally and individually were and also as to be brought forth in his spiritual life and inseparably therein joyn'd to Christ their Head and Parent in their distinct subjected places as lively spiritual Stones in his new-creation-Temple 1 Pet. 2. 5. was the literal Tabernacle an appointed type The foundation of Christ's visible Kingdom is laid in this preparatory dispensation giving Pisgah-sights and views of the glory of Christ and his true spiritual Land of Promise before his actual appearance This will yet be more evident from the spiritual meaning of all things belonging to Moses his Tabernacle the type both of Christ's invisible Being and visible Kingdom Exod. 40. There was first the Tabernacle itself then the tent of the Tabernacle and thirdly the cover of the tent each a cover to the other This done in the truth and substance makes the new-creature-house in Christ a fitted reception for the divine inhabitant and to blessed Saints and Angels also This was also figured out by the covering Mercy-seat Ark and Testimony the holy things put within the Tabernacle So in the figure is a compleat view given of the original patern or creature-building in the Mediator of which it was the appointed representation as to be acknowledg'd in root and branch fitly figured by the threefold distinct covers on the infinite divinity which the Tabernacle consisted of The single fleshly humanity of Christ was the outermost cover put upon the twofold immutable being of his creature-nature his heavenly and earthly glorified spirit fitly represented by the Tabernacle and tent thereof and as so the fitted receptacle to the most choice high and holy things his eternal power and divinity and then also to those things of his eternal Power and God-head to wit his original creature-being or root the immediate workmanship of his own divinity In this twofold respect may he not unfitly be represented by the Ark and covering merey-seat The divine and creature-nature of the Mediatour in this first and invisible fellowship or conjunction are the things as in type preserv'd in such an invisibility as not to be immediately look'd upon or seen by any Therefore on purpose did they lodg and seat themselves in that mystical Tabernacle the body or visibility of the Mediatour provided also by himself as the new-creature-Temple and Sanctuary pitch'd by God not Man in which his invisible holy divine and creature-nature or things are laid up out of the immediate sight of any But they are to shine forth through the said blessed Tabernacle with safety and to the comfort of every worshipper and attendant about the said Tabernacle according to the lesser or greater distance in which placed The true Tabernacle in the capacity of branch exalted into personal union with the Mediatour as his divine head and creature-root is become that Temple of God in Heaven that by the setting up of Christ's visible Kingdom is to be open'd on Earth Rev. 11. 19. And so will the compleat personality of the Mediatour be beheld in his divine and twofold creature-being Thus by considering the spiritual meaning of the Type have we the reason why the literal Tabernacle was to consist of so many covers and also for the invisibility of the holy things with which furnish'd to wit as the significant types of the great original that is the invisibility of the divine and also creature-nature in its first conjunction with divine and so also of the fulness and variety of his new-creature-nature For it was needful his divine and creature-nature in their first and invisible conjunction should wrap up themselves in Christ the branch as in a threefold cover or Tabernacle and this as the only means to give the vision of his divine-nature and creature-root to Angels and Men. And having thus considered the distinct parts of the Tabernacle and holy things wherewith furnished consider next the form and manner in which set up to wit in a four-square shape God assigning the distinct places of every Attendant about it from highest to lowest At East or upper-end were placed Moses Aaron and his Sons At each side and West or lower-end were the other Levit's placed according to their respective charges as chosen into the room of the First-born Israelit's for the service of the Tabernacle in a subjected service of love to the high-Priest's office preparing and slaying the Sacrifices but not permitted immediately to draw nigh to God by offering the Sacrifices or touching the Ark and holy things therein Thus Moses Aaron and his high-Priest Sons together with the whole Tribe of Levi were the first Attendants in their higher and lower places round about the literal Tabernacle Then about the same and Court thereof at a greater distance were the whole Congregation of Israel placed in their several Tribes with a Prince and Head to every Tribe and other inferiour Rulers appointed according to Jethro's advice approved by God over thousands
these remarkable dealings of God in order to these wonderful designs taken notice of not only by the World in general but the professing party amongst whom must be found as to seed the wise-Virgin-spirit Even such also are slumbring and sleeping in this dark day and in such a remarkable calm of security as is a most certain prefage of a storm And if this be the temper of God's friends a spiritual seed what can be expected from incorrigible enemies on such a wonderful commotion and shaking of their power but a coming forth in their utmost strength and highest expressions of rage and malice to maintain themselves against that power the very light of the day convinces them will undermine and destroy them and all their worldly interests literal and mystical But to spiritual Saints awaken'd and found alive this dispensation that is so amazing and confounding to others as to make their Hearts fail for fear of what is coming upon the Earth becomes a cherishing food causing them to lift up their heads though involv'd in God's outward chastisement of the World as having a common share therein They are supported and owned by God as Friends to whom he communicates the secret of his designs in all He shews them he is therein pleading their cause in destroying his and their enemies and securing his beloved Lots mystically and also litterally so far as is for his glory and their good Though therefore the Figtree their natural Spirit blossom not nor fruit be in the Vine or true and choice plants of the Kingdom though the labour of the Olive fail and there be no meat in the Field no stock in the fold or herd in the stalls Hab. 3. 17. that is though there be a mystical as well as litteral Famine by the total drying up of all Food to the natural mind as well as body yet to the powerful faith of spiritual Saints is it a time of rejoycing in their spiritual Lord invisibly communicating his hidden and incorruptible Manna to them which is a Bread of Life not only to their spiritual but natural Man also which lives not by that Bread which is the single food of the natural Spirit but such as the living Word of God is and gives unto the whole Man of his Saints for ever Mat. 4. 4. And then shall their natural man as with Hinds feet walk upon the high places of this first-creation-world in a conquering and victorious spirit over them Saints will find themselves more and more established in their spiritual faith and expectation of Christ's visible Kingdom by those very ways and means concerning which the fleshly mind or natural spirit at best as well as the profane world do with with the Samaritan Lord judg impossible to bring about such a design The true Believer is so far from thinking God's arm shortned or hand weakned on this withdrawing all sort of visible help from them as thereby to be quickned up into the expectation of those angelical powers Christ hath in reserve to work their deliverance by Nothing to them seems lacking but such a powerful exercise of their precious faith as may give them a patient waiting upon God for the performance and that with great advantage of whatever he hath promised as to the actual setting up of Christ's kingdom and rule of love over them Then will our blessed Lord arise out of his holy new-creature Temple and in his spiritual glory or second appearance take a visible possession of that universal power and authority which was always his right from the foundation of the World He will bow and open those Heavens in which all this while retained Act. 3. 21. He will descend and actually let down that new-Jerusalem-glory out of the said Heaven which is the proper clothing provided by himself for his heavenly and earthly-glorified Saints For when the preparatory work is compleated the King himself will suddenly appear Even so come Lord Jesus and all thy Saints with thee come quickly Amen FINIS
People The natural man spirit life or state at best in the persons of Saints is their free-will-offerings figured by the Israelit's literal So by a happy transformation or translation into the spiritual life of Christ become their whole persons at length true lively Stones in his new-creation-Sanctuary figured by the literal 1 Pet. 2. 5. This comes to pass and this come they to by being with Paul obedient to the heavenly vision or discovery of Christ's spiritual heavenly life of truth for which made willing in this day of his power the powerful angelical preaching the everlasting Gospel to part with the but earthly natural fleshly life of their own spirit or nature even with the freedom and life of their own wills as their true free-will-offerings to God under the kindlings and in the same mystical fire Christ himself kindled on the spirit of our nature at best in his own very person To this will Saints be induced by the Angels preaching the everlasting Gospel-life of Christ to them presenting the riches and fulness of his new-creature-nature to the inward senses of his heavenly and earthly glorified spiritual Seed This will not only fill them with unspeakable joy but powerfully convince all unprejudiced reasonable men of the worship due to Christ from all Then shall the new-creature Temple in Christ figured by Solomon's the pattern for which was received from the true temple-spirit 1 Chron. 28. 12. be so open'd as not only to give a view of the divine inhabitant thereof to be worshipped but allow and warrant a free access and safe approach to the divine Majesty For Christ is both the house and builder thereof the presenter also of Saints Prayers unto God most high And for the said House sake will all be accepted according to promise even all persons and performances found to be done in the spirit of the House true Sanctuary-light and life Then shall the seed of the Kingdom be qualified in their awaken'd spiritual senses both to look into and read with delight and comfort the law of God's divine mind and will engraven in Christ's new-creature-nature or spirit of truth which is the living Book or word of God in and by which is given the vision of the divine glory for their everlasting blessedness and also the whole of his requirings from them in reference thereunto The powerful preaching or opening all this to them will in a high degree priviledg them both to see and do the whole will of God Now in order to such a Gospel-preaching as shall be the effectual means of bringing such great and glorious things to pass the preachers will be endowed with that universal new-creature-tongue and understanding which comprehends all other tongues and knowledg The confusion of languages at Babel as to the words of man's wisdom in his own spirit nature and way will be no obstruction to this universal Gospel-preaching to all Nations in the words of God's wisdom or true new-creature-spirit of prophecy A demonstration hereof was given by the said Spirit in the Apostles They could make themselves understood by people of various Languages Act. 2. 4 11. In this universal new-creation-tongue will the angelical preachers raise the seed of first-born-Saints out of their Grave or crucified nature into such a heavenly spiritual life as will capacitate and qualify them to judg the highest elect angels as exalted into a life light and discerning above them Yet till then they receive instruction from spiritual Angels as their teachers and guardians Heb. 1. 14. The next service of Love these angelical preachers will perform is to the earthly seed of spiritual Saints to whom under Christ they are ever to be the instructing and nursing Parents having received from Christ the highest earthly glorified wisdom in the highest conjunction with yet subjection to the wisdom of the heavenly creature-spirit which is above it and them So will Angels be subjected rulers under Christ over his first-resurrection-Saints in a glorified earthly spiritual life Thirdly in their natural make distinct from both the former qualifications are the holy Angels fitted to preach the highest single natural wisdom to the rational righteous man in the largest and most extensive intuitive way of communication that principle in Man is capable of receiving These angelical Ministers will also declare the right use Men are to make of such instruction by growing out of this lowest degree of Christ's obedient Subjects that 's but a changeable state into an everlasting blessed state of spiritual life and true freedom the glorious liberty of the Sons of God And herein have we seen these spiritual builders or preachers fitly qualified to provide all sorts of materials for the visible Kingdom of Christ This by speaking the words of wisdom suited to every distinct principle and understanding in those of whom this Kingdom consists as an adaequate agreeable knowledg of God to all They will declare the good will of God for restoring to all in general the free and orderly exercise of their intellectual rational and sensual powers they were first created in But all this in order to their yeilding subjection to a spiritual state kept in reserve for them through which to be brought into such unchangeable union with Christ's new-creature-spirit as that is in with the divine The very divine Oracles and Laws of God's mind shall then as in Moses his time be committed to these spiritual Ministers who by their new-creation-tongue and universal knowledg will be capacitated for the declaring thereof They will be furnish'd with the very essentials of all right ministry and magistracy by which to lay the sure foundations of both as to spirituals and civils on which the visible Kingdom of Christ must be built Hereby will the everlasting benefit of the government in both become so evident as irresistibly to prevail not only with awaken'd spiritual Saints but enlightned and reformed natural Men for their full consenting to the same So without the least force or compulsion the Nations of this new World shall in an abundant manner flow in unto the Lord voluntarily yeilding a ready subjection to Christ's angelical preachers so as to shew the same not to proceed from fear but for conscience-sake And Christ shall have the whole glory of all For the holy Angels will declare it to be in the power of his spirit they do all and that it is his will alone is done by them in all their proparatory work This work will so influence the Nations of the new World as to cause the congregation of spiritual Israelites to bring themselves as free-will-offerings to Christ the spiritual materials and subjects of which his new-creation-Sanctuary and Kingdom is to consist So see we the high honour of these spiritual builders and preachers in this preparatory day Their feet will be beautiful and glorious in this angelical mount or ministration proclaiming the glad tydings of their Lord 's sudden coming to reign visibly in this World They will powerfully