order or decencie at least might be approveable but as in conjunction with in its nature use or end with edifycation of the Church of Christ whereby natural or prudential agreements for times or places of worship and utensels therein by humane and Christian qualifications may be suitably judged of and approved by men pro hic nunc as it is or ought to be with some Officers quam diu se bene gesserint and so Moses's Brasen Serpent was approved to be Hezekiah's Nehushtan but still by the two former rules to be examined especially and necessarily by that of edifycation for prudence and decencie and all the other if not qualified for edifycation or being contrary are for ought I can discern from the Apostles said ruled cases pleas without doores in reference to such said constitutions or counsels of men in the Church of Christ Whereas for Officers and Ordinances and what else is necessary the Scripture gives many large instructions and Divine institutions which Persons of prudent hearts and sanctified Spirits will be apt to improve well by Divine grace duly sought for and rightly applyed and the Christian charity of others herein accordingly acquiesce But one the other part as any appear defective in the said respect of edifycation or prejudicial thereunto they may appear to be more dangerously enjoyned or hurtfully observed as being excentrical to the Apostle Pauls said boundaries of them And in that men have walked so out of these paths of Unity Piety and peace what sad effects hath Satan upon the corruption blindness and intersts of men and still doth earnestly endeavour to bring about let every mountain standing in the way of Union be endeavoured by you to be levelled and every bond be broken in sunder which is not of Gods allowance But yet may not piously and charitably intended incouragements in things seemingly only good but mistaken be retained and applyed to really good improvements which I suppose they may well be judged so to have attained their end with advantage True Christian Charity piety and prudence will regulate much in many like cases God grant them to all sorts in these respects especially concerned c. Secondly for Piety And all ye right Christianly charitable souls of all sorts how few so ever in these key-cold yea chilled last dayes ye seem to be you have but a little time here to bring forth your fruits of faith and love Let the season of your present being first ingage you to walk closly with God be much in private and secret communion with him your selves wherein you have if your hearts be upright in his sight the greatest advantage imaginable with the King of Heaven and Earth above the favorites of earthly Princes who sometimes mistake their faithfullest servants sometimes hear bad information against them sometimes are remote from them or they hindred from coming to them sometimes and in some cases and things they cannot help though at Gods pleasure Kings may be potent yet only God himself is Omnipotent many wayes beyond thought earthly Princes may fail theirs but God will never fail nor forsake his favourites in all times places and companies a good thought purpose expression of heart or word a spiritual soliloquie or ejaculation is very kindly taken at Gods hand from you who will reckon such soul actings tokens of much love sincerity when sometime more weakness in greater solemnities may appear 2. Be much in family duties prudently contrivied that ye may continue in them set your house in order for them be not slight or fickle in them judge not your selves in fit garb or posture for worldly business without necessity till God have his family worshipt at suitable opportunities a frothie profession and pretending to Religion hath of late times much more then formerly thrust these duties out of doors though they seldom have had good entertainment within save of some few true piety hath been long yea ever hitherto Rara avis in terris very scarce to be found families were the first and usually the best plantation of fruit trees in Gods Vineyard keep the resolution of Joshua especially now against the floods of ungodlyness families are like to be the best nurseries of such young plants for many advantages engagements endearments much quickning to encrease of grace in family-worship c. and that advantage doth wonderfully help encourage and further the publick Ministry of the Gospel c. thence are instilled usually and preserved too good principles or patterns of wholsom words with their improvements the defect whereof is now lamentable for the want both of private and publick Catechisings Do not all wise builders look mainly to their foundations for want of this so many tottering buildings soon reel aside to one error or other or are in continual danger of falling utterly or mouldering to nothing in Religion c. But then right Pious souls see that your true Christianity Thirdly for Charity to help forward your good account be outwardly manifest in your gracious works of charity not only to supply necessities but to prevent evil and do good many poor souls that study faith and good conscience towards God and men have much encountering with tentations in a low and hard condition by reason of the prevailing iniquities of the times and the many ways of the practise thereof by the licentious who fight so against their own outward wants by weapons of iniquity using such unlawful ways and means and practises which others may not dare not do not yet are straightened by others sins in such cases their oppressors upon such accounts How should the strong and able in estate herein in Christian compassion help the infirmities of the weak especially in reference to their soul-danger thereby or to see to the good education of their childeren and that their widdows and orphans chiefly be relieved c. how by such charitable deeds especially with the addition of instructions and encouragments might you in so doing draw others to Christ and instrumentally save their precious souls consider what out of your Revenues you can with a chearful heart and ready hand yearly monthly or weekly return to God in a thanks-offering by his now many many receivers neer you or known to you for the all which you have received besides and consider according to the Apostles rule how God hath prospered you the preceding week and let that grace of an humble thankful true christian charity have its due operation in you in her proportion and if rents and gains will not do it as you desire then cut off sinful excesses in vain expences more closly and barely in too costly and curious apparel lavishing entertainments in inconsideratly costly buildings now the world is neer her departure by her great shaking fits ceising upon her yet these are the common sins of the times and the breeders of mens future sorrow and too late repentance when a much better and safer improvement should have been
11. saw their own particular interest as was said in Canaan a far of at the Resurrection where their bodies Josephs bones lay reposed till they arise then to take their possession of it and reign with Christ when at that his last day he will raise them up Joh. 6. 9. Lastly God confirms unto Jacob his personal interest in the land of Canan and to his immediate natural seed the 12 Tribes here again said to be as the dust of the earth and hence faith God in conjunction with his Divine spiritual seed Christ again v. 14 in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed in that respect probably with his blessings given to the several Tribes Gen. 49. and to Esau his blessing also being his immediate seed which went very far but what might be wanting in him was made up in that one seed Christ therefore he adds and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed who will at the first blessed resurrection raise all his Saints who in their measure have suffered with him as members of his mistical body to reign then with him 2 Tim. 2.12 and saith he Rom. 8.17 We are made by Christ heirs of God and joynt heirs Christ viz. in his Mediators Davidical Kingdom bequeathed to them by our Saviour himself in his last will a little before he died after his divinely propherical Prayer Joh. 17.24 said he Father I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me And lastly c. 32. Jacob as a Prince wrastled with God and prevailed whence the name of Israel was given to him retained by all Gods people since to shew them how to prevail with God for promised mercies viz. by Faith Prayer and New obedience c. See of these covenanted mercies Prodrom or Forerun page 37 38. and God was so mindful of both the everlasting Covenants which Noah and Abraham c. as he calls that Gen 9.16 that by the experience of the former witnessed by the Rainbow many hundred years after he teaches the Prophet Esau thereby to confirm his covenanted mercies to all Israel with the beloved City Es 54 9. This saith he shall be as the waters of Noah unto me c. as I have sworn c. so will I not be wroth with thee yea all that promised grace v. 17. is said to be the heritage of the servants of the Lord even from that time whose Righteousness is of him c. 4. We proceed to the promised and covenanted mercies of David for ever through the whole state of Christs Davidical Kingdom who stands in divers relations to David as his Antitype Seed and Saviour wherein consisted the sure mercies of David in and by him who was the root of David Rev. 5 as well as the branch Zac. 3.8 who was owned to be the son of God at his Resurrection Ps 2.7 and returned not to corruption whereby was manifest the sureness of his mercies Act. 13.32 33. wherein all the faithful partake Es 55.3 by a covenant ordered in all things and sure 2 Sam. 23.5 though chiefly respecting Christs said Kingdom as in Nathans message may appear 1 Chr. 17. 2 Sam. 7.8 c. which we have largly considered in our 7th Foundation of Faith when the heathen and the uttermost parts of the earth will not only be given to Christ for an inheritance but for a possession Ps 2.8 when God sets his King upon his holy hill of Sion and though he is the Fathers Commissioner to execute the contents of the book which he received Rev. 5. from his ascention to the ruine of the Roman Empire viz. during Gods spiritually powerful Kingdom of the Stone said to be set up by the God of heaven Dan. 2.28 yet when the Kingdom of the Mountain comes all opposite Kingdoms will becom like the chaff of the summer thrashing-flore v. 35. for at his ceasing to sit at his fathers right hand his foes will eminently be made his footstoole Ps 110.1 and that man of his right hand will appear to be made strong for himself Ps 80.17 when all the Dominions of the world will be given to him under the whole heavens Dan 2.13.14 27. and God will give him his right in Davids Diadem Ez. 21.27 and all the faithful before stiled the Sons of David as well as the seed of Abraham Isaac and Jacob being the meek like David whose soul was as a weaned child Ps 121. shall all then inherit the renewed earth and delight themselves in abundance of peace Ps 37.11 and be blessed in that state Mat. 5. ◠at the first resurrection Rev. 20.6 for then he will actually personally as we shewed take to himself his great power before committed or permitted to others who had abused it and will then himself reign with his Saints upon the earth Rev. 5 10. Rev. 20.4 Rev. 11.14 15. when the Angels of God shall worship him Ps 97. Heb. 1.6 and all knees in heaven earth or under the earth now shall then bow or be subject to him Phil. 2.9 10. and all creatures adore him Rev. 5.8 9 10 c. when not only as the son of David he shall have that Kingdom but also as the son of God he will be actually Gods heirof all things by his Triple right of creating ordering and redeeming all things for that purpose as Heb. 1.2 3 6. when Abraham by him and under him will be actually heir of the world Rom. 4.13 who before was only by faith so and this Kd. Dan 7.13 14. seems also to be setled upon Christ as Gods obedient son and faithful servant by his own Donation as a boon or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that he had fully done all Gods wills and so he as the captain of the Salvation of his suffering members upon the like account gives his Kingdom to them 2 Tim. 2.12 making them joynt heirs with himself Rom. 8.17 bequeathed the beholding of his glory to them as by his last will Joh. 17.24 Father said he I will c. through whom Davids seed living in the world then will probably be blessed in a special manner Es 61.9 Then will kingdom power and glory all be his from his coming in the clouds not only in his own glory but also of the father and his holy angels Mat. 25. which he will resign back unto the father when the last enemy death shall be destroyed that God may be all in all and the son also himself be subject unto him when perfect reconciliation is made Christ having so conducted all his Saints from their general rapture to meet him at their glorious change to enter upon those things for ever that eye hath not seen c. besides thee O God saith Esay c. 64.4 and Oh what things saith David with an holy admiration Ps 31.19 of which an excellent improvement is made by our
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR A KEY of the DOCTRINES contained in this BOOK for the better perusal thereof With some Additions Of Christs being Heir of all things in his three-fold Right Heb. 1.2 3. And Abrahams being Heir of the World Rom. 4.13 And of Promised and Covenanted Mercies to the Fathers since that first Promise made for a thousand Generations Gen. 3.15 By W. S. Minister of the Gospel London Printed for F. Smith at the Elephant and Castle without Temple-Bar 16â—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR The Key of the Doctrine of the Kingdom of God c. for the better perusal of this Work First in more brief Assertions Secondly in their larger Explications 1. The briefer Assertions 1. THat the substance of these Doctrines contained in this Work is set down for Information of all sorts and to remove mistakes in the two folded leaves after the Everlasting Gospel on Gen. 3.15 2. That they yeild no ground of prejudice to Magistrates yea such prejudice is inconsistent with the Tenour of them See Word written page last besides Letters c. 3. Their Scripture Evidence is holy just and good containing an excellent part of the Gospel of Christ See the 12. Foundations the S. convincing Arguments 4. All holy Prophets and Pen-men of Sacred Scriptures give witness to them and chiefly the greatly beloved Prophet Daniel and the beloved Evangelist John the first declared Acts 3.19 20 21. The 2d from the Order or Series of the Rev. in the Letter to Mr. Cal. March 20. 1664. and in the Irenicon p. 26 27. and from the Scheme of the Rev. and Summaries and Abridgement of Daniels Prophetical Visions and the Parallels of both Monarchies in both books 5. That the book of the Revelation is given by Christ to his Church as an Orderly more full Exposition of many things in Daniel before shut up to Men and Angels and Sealed until that time of the End wherein Christ so revealed them Which said book of the Revelation is a Divine mystical Comment of such hidden part of Daniel See thence three sorts of Learned Mens mistakes page 30. of our General Title page as may be manifest by our said book of Parallels 6. That there are eight several sences of Christs comings in the New Testament two before his Ascention and six since First in his coming in our flesh as in that faithful true saying Christ came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 2dly when as the Minister of Circumcision Rom. 15. he came to his own viz. the Jews and they received him not John 1.11 The other six since he Ascended are handled page 41. to page 46. of our Irenicon c. See the last page of the Word written concerning the last coming 7. That Christs said Appearance and Reign the thousand years will both be personal may thence be plainly evident in that he then according to Scripture expressions is said to come to Judgment and then as well as at the last General Judgment both the Judgment is said to be set and the Books to be opened which are the Scriptural decypherings of both Judicial acts and quick and dead at both said Acts are judged as Dan. 7.10 with Rev. 20.4 and of the same time Rev. 11.18 upon the sounding of the seventh Trumpet when the Kingdoms of the world become the Kingdoms of Christ and he is praised by the twenty four Elders for taking to himself his great power and reigning they praise him not only that he had so judged that is rewarded his servants the Prophets and his Saints and all that fear his name both small and great but that he had judged them that destroyed the earth having so judged the Whore and probably the Turk also hence saith St. Paul of the same time who will judge the quick and dead at his Appearance and his Kingdome 2 Tim. 4.1 and in the said table of times chap. 20 4. to verse 11. passeth the thousand years of Christs said reign and Satans binding the little space for his attempt with his last Gog and Magog before the last General Judgment most clearly and fully set down with a great deal of distinct exactness of order at the last said Judgment the quick namely the last Gog and Magog are consumed with fire and all the Dead judged when the Jugdment was set and the Books opened v. 11 12 c. to the end So Mr. Mede Mr. Archer Mr. Maton and others but especially Dr. Homes a collection of whose main Texts of holy Scripture I shall only here quote referring the Readers to p. 78. of his R. R. which here I set down for the benefit of such as may not haply see his book where first he hath ten Texts for Christs personal appearance in the New Testament viz. Joh. 19.37 expounded by Zach. 12.10 unto which he addeth Rev. 1.7 Mat. 24.30 2 Thes 2. v. 1. to 9. Mat. 26.29 1 Tim. 4.1 Act. 3.19 20 21. Mat. 23.38 39 Mat. 24.3 Also sive Texts in the Old Testament Dan. 7.11 to the end which Mr. Mede stiles the Mother text for it Jer. 23.5 6. Zac. 2 10 11 12. Zeph. 3.14 and besides his judicious and learned Explications of them all a discourse is added thereof after the said texts And after his opening of many Prophesies in their order as they stand Recorded to this and other the like purposes respecting these said Doctrines very largly and learnedly out of the Old Testament He then adds page 377. twelve texts of holy Scripture more out of the New Testament for Christs personal reign viz. Mat. 24.13 14. Luke 1.31 32. 21.24 22.28 29 30. Acts 1.6 7. Rom. 11.25 26 27. 1 Cor. 15.1 to 29. 2 Cor. 15.16 17 18. Phil. 2.9 10.11 Rev. 2.25 26 27 28. 3.21 18 19 chap. Concerning all which Scriptures he saith so much there and else where that I judge may satisfie all impartial and understanding Christians and those Texts which prove his personal appearance will also prove his personal reign as we said which is the end wherefore he then appears as the Great King of Kings to sit on Davids Throne and to do his Kingly work of destroying and slaying his Enemies Rev. 11.19 Luke 19. and of rewarding his faithful servants the Prophets and his Saints and all that fear his name both small and great Rev. 11.18 22.12 So performing the mercies promised to the fore-fathers Luke 1.72 and the Oath which he sware unto our father Abraham c Luke 2.32 to be the glory of his people Israel of which Scripture is aboundant See Sir Henry Finch his book forenamed but note especially the time when the Kingdoms of all Nations shall be given to him Dan. 7.13 14 c. and all Kingdoms to make it yet more evident under the whole heavens shall serve and obey him v. 27. with Ezek. 37. chap. Esa 24.23 also our Tract on Jer. 3.17 with our paper of Sept. 27. 1664. p.
27 28. of our Prodrom or Forerunne 8. That these Doctrines are summarily the Scriptural explications of two Articles of Faith vix of Christs coming to judgment Dan. 7. Rev. 20.4 and of his raising of the just at the first blessed and holy Resurrection v 5 6. 9. That the Jews aversness from owning Christs grace to the Gentiles before Peters Vision Acts 11. should caution the Gentile Christians against opposing those Doctrines from Scripture containing the Jews stronger title by far to much more ample mercies See that renownedly learned and religious Gentleman Sir Henry Finch his book of the calling of the Jews and his Epistle to them and that will be when their glorious Messiah shall come to those who are beloved for their Fathers sakes Rom. 11.28 to take away the Vail from their hearts 2 Cor. 3.16 10. The reason Mr. Mede gave of the clouding of these Doctrines when Antichrist was to arise viz. to make way for his coming The like also may be given for the clearing of them in some measure when the Date of that Man of sin is wearing out namly to help to bring him down I say but in some measure because the Scripture gives divers hints that they will not be received by many Rev. 19.9 21. 5. 22.6 Luke 18.8 Dan. 12.10 which now appears by prevailing iniquity by prejudice of some and interests of others ingagements of credit business shakings of the world many distractions tentations contrary seducements and the like See the emergent conjecture of 1666. from Christs Ascention on Rev. 22.20 p. 36 37 c. from four Mistical Numbes 11. That the Dominion of Gods people the Jews will be manifest then to be founded in grace and to be the Generation whom the Lord hath blessed Es 65.23 probably more especially the Tribe of Judah as distinctly so known from other people Es 61.9 when they shall be borne in a day spiritually and nationally for the most part probably at Christs appearance to them when his feet shall stand on mount Olivet from whence he ascended and then will cause the cleaving of the Mountain and great Vally to Azal as the Prophet Zachary c 14. foretels and their iniquity be taken away in one day Zac. 3.9 And as Justice and Judgment are now for ever the stability of Christs Throne so they will be then of all other Kings besides See Foundat 7. 12. That Abraham Isaac Jacob and Sarah expected by Faith their particular Shares or Lots in the Land of Canaan a far of Heb. 11. viz. at the Resurrection of the Just and in assurance thereof they would be buried there as also Joseph would have his bones as it were to keep possession till that time of fulfilling Gods promise thereof to each of them See p. 38 39. of the Prodr therefore they counted themselves Pilgrims 2dly they sought no opportunity to return v. 15. 3dly they looked for that heavenly countrey of Christs Kingdom v. 16. Rom. 4.16 17 18 c. Gal. 3.8 9 c. See our 15 Reasons in New Jeru and Prodromus p. 38. 13. That some of the Subjects of Christs Kingdom will be raised Saints the Children of the Resurrection in that world Luke 20.35 36. others converted Jews and Gentiles in their natural life in their several conditions as follows 14. There will be accordingly two New Jerusalems in the world the one came down from God out of heaven Meto-nymicolly in respect of the Inhabitants for the time to come being when they came down the spirits of just men coming with Christ to receive their bodies called the Bride the Lambs wife Rev. 19. Rev. 21. and so to be the Inhabitants of that glorious City whose maker and builder is God Heb. 11.10 Rev. 20. where the said raised Saints will behold Christs glory which was by Christs last will bequeathed to them Joh. 17.24 The other New Jerusalem will be built by men and partly by strangers and their Kings for the use of such as shall walk in the light of the said New Jerusalem See Tract on Jer. 3.17 page 6 7. 15. The great discoveries to be made to Saints and Angels in the time of Christs said Kingom respecting Scriptures Creatures and Providences c. will probably much more enable both sorts of them more excellently to set forth Gods praise to all eternity G. Tit. page and greater discoveries to be in that Millen than in all the 6000. years before 16. Scripture Theologie of that world to come in the time of the New Heavens and New Earth is of very large consideration in respect of the many particularities thereunto appertaining See first Arg. of the Word Written of things before the 1000. years in them and after them and our 31. Obser after the Tract on Rev. 22.20 with our 12. Foundat 17. The knowledge of Christs execution of his three great Offices as the work his Father gave him to do during the continuance of his Mediatorship in respect of his Mediatorship in the three great Periods of the World viz. as the great Prophet in the Old Testament by his immediate inspired Messengers 2dly As the great High Priest in the Newe First by his own Oblation Secondly by his Intercession during Gods Kingdom of the Stone wherein Christ appears to be the Fathers Commissioner to open the Sealed Book and execute the Coments thereof Rev. 5 c. In the third he begins his own Kingdome of the Mountain Dan. 2.35 which he went to Heaven to receive and then to return Luke 19. Dan. 7.13 14. the knowledge thereof I say is of very great concernment to all true Christians viz. as it is distinct from his particular execution of his said three Offices for particular Christians Souls in all times since mans fall in respect of the particular Application of them all in their virtue and efficacie as the Prophet Priest and King of every beleiving soul by the powerful work of his holy Spirit See 17. Thes p. 9 10 11 12. of the Prod. with the addition p. 44 45 46. and especially more largly handled in our Everlasting Gospel on Gen. 3.15 18. The last Trumpet Rev. 11. and the last sounding Trumpet 1 Thes 1. 1 Cor. 15.52 53. differ not only in above a 1000. years distance of time but also in their natures and uses See the Series of Prophesies in the Scheme of the Revelation and the Abridgment of the Revelation and Daniel which may much help as a standard with the Parallels to take due proportions in such cases c. 19. That there are two Gogs and Magogs to be destroyed the one at the beginning the other after the little space at the end of the 1000. years First the Pope Dan 7.7 8 9 10 c. with the latter part of the chap. the body of which Beast is to be consumed with the burning flame probably at the Armageddon Battle And the Turk of whom in the latter dayes Ezek. 38.8 16. as to his Armie
Being without a Blessing but misery Therefore in chap. 9. he largly distributes his Blessings to Noah his Sons to the beasts cattle and creeping thing fish fowls and every plant or green herb and subjects all to man only forbidding cruelty as appears by that expression Flesh with the life thereof that is the blood thereof shall ye not eat and again repeats his blessing v. 7. And then God largly establisheth his Covenant with all creatures and men again in v. 8 9 10 11 12. and then confirms it with the token of the Rainbow from v. 13. with a great deal of very gracious inlargment and improvement when they shall see that token to v. 17 Hence Gods Throne is compassed with the Rainbow Ez. 1. Rev. 4. where he gives an excellent Epephonema of his said grace as I may say And God said unto Noah this is the token of the Covenant which I have established between me and all flesh which is upon the earth Now as the earth with its fruitfulness and varieties of creatures is made the stage and accommodation too for all actings of promised and purposed grace from thence to the end of the world so the chief and greatest performances of fruitfulness are reserved for the time of Christs said reign as Psal 67. twice Then shall the earth bring forth her increase and God even our God shall give us his blessings And hence so many and great promises of those kindes upon the great Restauration of the Jews and Israelites and for both Davids house and Abrabrahams Isaacs and Jacobs then to have the Dominion See from this Covenant a strong assurance made thereof twice together almost yet in two Visions of the Prophet Jeremiah ch 33. v. 20 21. If saith God ye can break my Covenant of the day and my Covenant of the night c. Then may also my Covenant be broken with David my servant that he should not have a Son to reign upon his Throne c. that is Christ shall most certainly reign as the Son of David to the end of the world and what man shall dare to deny this and make any other meaning thereof And again v. 25 26. If my Covenant be not with day and night and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob and David my servant so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham Isaac and Jacob for I will cause their captivity to return and have mercy on them Many other places may here be produced to like purpose but this in brief at present 3. That all those Promises and Covenanted Mercies made and given to and with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and to their spiritual seed by that one Divine seed Christ for a thousand Generations which is a frequent expression in holy Scripture Jer. 32.18 Ezek. 34.7 Deut. 5.10 and particularly applyed to the promise and Covenant of the Land of Canaan and sung out by David at the bringing home the Arke to his Tent provided for it 1 Chr. 16.8 and again recorded Ps 105.8 c. in the last place said to be the Covenant which God remembred for ever and the word commanded for a thousand Generations c. as largly there set down to all three who in the grace they received resembled the Trinity Abraham as the fountain of mercy to his seed invested in himself Isaac as the conveyer thereof in thy seed alone not in thee Jacob as the immediate dispenser to the twelve Tribes to Ishmael his natural seed but in conjunction with Christ that what was wanting in Jacob should be made up in Christ therefore saies God to him in thee and in thy seed Christ shall all the families of the earth be blessed and God often stiles himself the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob in reference to the Promise yet to be fulfilled to them personally in their inheriting the promise of Canaan called the Lot of their Inheritance Psal 105.11 in the time of Christs Kingdom on earth but the 1000. generations seems to contain 7000. years from the giving the first promise Gen. 3.15 to the end of the world Which Promise contained in the bowels of it all the great Promises made to the Fathers afterwards and as from that Conduit head God hath disposed through those water pipes of future Promises his mercies to this or that person family or nation as he pleased ever since a generation being usually reckoned 7 years as 21 years is 3 lives suitable to Davids old age of 70 years which few of very many attain to in the intermediat 4000. years of the world for the ages of the old world and of the world to come differ for distinct reasons so the other seems to be the standard and the said Promise or Covenant seems be to here said to be remembred for ever and the other drawn from that for the residue of 1000. generations by Abraham Isaac and Jacob to their spiritual seed at the Resurrection of the just c. untill as Job saith The heavens shall be no more and the earth with all upon it become ve Tohu ve Bohu i. e. become again without form and void for ever c. or a perpetual prison Come we first to Abraham that Pater excelsus the Father of the faithful to whom the said grace was dispensed in a 7 sold gradation Gen. 12.2 3. and so forward c. Whereupon his ready obedience to Gods call he made a large comprehensive Promise of that land and all other mercies to himself alone personally as Gen. 1â— 18 through the Divine one seed Christ conceived then and afterwards so by faith in Abrahams soul that as our Saviour said John 8.56 Abraham saw my day and was glad yea and his future day also of injoyment a far of with Isaac Jacob and Sarah Heb. 11. at the said Resurrection represented in the deadness of Abrahams body and Sarahs womb and Isaacs saving from death in a figure c. 2. Upon his coming to Sichem God appeared to him and promised that land unto his natural seed v. 7. as it is expounded c. 15.13 14. whereof Abraham in person was to have no part v. 15. nor Isaac nor Jacob who all died long before the 400. years ended 3. When he was severed from Lot God said to him c 13 14 15 16 17. View all the coasts East West c. For I will give it to thee and to thy seed for ever namely to his one most Divine seed Christ Gal. 3.16 who should continue for ever and would retain his right and maintain Abrahams Proprietie which he hath purchased for him and all his and God bids him walk through that land then for saith he again I will give it unto thee 4. When upon Gods great incouragement Abraham represents his Age and Childless estate unto God c. Thereupon he bids him look up to Heaven and tell the Stars
Articles of Faith p. 90 91. of Iren. c. 2. Observe in general that from the varietes of the Discoveries in the said three books were by a special hand of Providence those 8 comprehensive convincing Arguments deduced in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Word Written which as strangly was published as might be shewed whereunto likewise very many upon like account might be added as being in like manner couched in such mysterious Discoveries and observable passages upon many occasions therein contained and many from the 31. Useful observations to understand mystical Prophesies after the Tract on Rev. 22 20. I might here add others from the nature and end of these Doctrines as that they are Homogeneal Harmonious and uniform with all other Christian Doctrines p. 50. to the end not new but only Scriptural explications of the Old Assert eight of the Key and from the end of them viz. the fulfilling of the promised mercies to the Fore-Fathers p. 5 6 7 8 9 10. I have observed 4 places in Scripture Divinity wherein these Doctrines naturally fall in otherwise there will be a Chasme and void place from Scripture grounds observable First the Consideration of the general Execution of Christs 3 Offices is to precede the particular as being the chief part of that well grounded distinction in the 11 and 12. Divine Thesis in p. 5 6. of the Irenicon 2dly Sacred Scripture teacheth that after Christ hath satisfied for sin risen again ascended and sitten the appointed time at the right hand of God on his Fathers Throne till he make his foes his footstool then he will begin to sit on his own Throne at his coming the 2d time without sin only for Salvation to all his People to perform that Adoption to the raised Sts. even the Redemption of their Bodies Rom. 8.23 by freeing them from the corruption of the grave c. And 2dly all those alive from all their enemies both Men and Devils to serve God without so much as fear of them all the dayes of their lives Luke 1 71. Rev. 20 c. and to redeem even the inferiour creatures from the bondage of corruption from Men or other Creatures into the glorious c. viz. in their capacity in that state of the restitution of all things Rom. 8.22 Acts 3.21 See for this in the Everlasting Gospel on Gen. 3.19 p. 8. the 6. particular there 3dly From the Scripture explication of the Lords Prayer that his Name may be then hallowed in earth as it is now and till then in heaven and so his Kingdom may come and will be done in earth then as in heaven now which will be perfectly done upon the coming of that Kingdom by Angels and raised Sts. in that world and by others then alive in a very great measure See p. 90 91. of the Iren. and New Jer. p. 4 15 the first Vse 4thly It is in part the end of that state both of the faith and hope of many of Gods servants who now groundedly both believe and hope for such their interest in that state of the promised mercies to the Fore-Fathers as we shewed largly in our Key being a part of Csts Purchase and of the Sts. inheritance for so long a time of which much is said in Scripture c. See the Key of the covenanted mercies to the Fore-Fathers and their spiritual seed as we here touch but that which in gnneral we shall only here farther set down as to the former Argum. is this one most comprehensive Foundation of Multitudes of particular Arguments in several kinds from several sorts of Subjects considered in the whol work namly That Doctrine is Divine truth which hath not only clear Scriptures for the nature and substance of it and for all useful and profitable parts and branches of it but also for the distinct and clear handling of both it them from Scripture foundations and this farther which is yet of very great waight where the faith thereof is wrought that these Doctrines are only in substance the promised mercies to the Fore-Fathers Ab. Is and Jacob and all their spiritual seed both circumcised and uncircumcised for that state in special through that one Divine seed Christ Gal. 3. to be fulfilled in that world to come Heb. 2.3 Luke 20.35 36. in the time of the New Heavens and New Earth c. which is the time of Christs great day of Judgment and of his Davidical Kingdom which is another strong foundation of the same promised mercies of all the spiritual Sons and Daughters of David through and with Christ himself then in that world I might add many others c. But now for the first said members viz. the substance and main branches of these Doctrines that have clear Scripture grounds that he that runs may read in the whose work but for the 3d which is the distinct handling of those things some may question therefore amongst the many distinctions in our Key whereof many were not before this work observed that I knew of I shall instance in the two New Jerusalems one the immediate work of God to be made by himself their for the Saints raised after Christs appearance or coming Heb 11.10 16. and described gloriuosly Rev. 21. which is not the future glory of heaven as formerly mistaken for fifteen reasons c. See New Jeru◠p. 9 10 11 12 c. The other made by men for the converted Jews and Gentiles as the Prophet Esay saith expresly by Strangers and their Kings Esa 60.9 See New Jerus 6 7. and for the 4th member that for those promised mercies to the said Fore-Fathers and David will then be accomplished to all the Elect that have lived before or suffered with or for Christ before that his 2d coming in the clouds of Heaven and that they shall have their rest with the Apostles 2 Thes 1.7 and be rewarded then Rev. 11.18 19. and all such have their part in all that promised mercy in that state our grounds of those covenanted mercies after the preparatorie 21 assertions laid down in the Key may sufficiently if well considered I conceive satisfie all serious unprejudiced understanding Christians which I doubt not to such may much more be made evident from divine Authority and these things would be greatly enquired into if Christians but compently knew and believed such their own mercy and interest in that state with Christ in that long continued excellent holy and happy condition which he hath purchased for them and gives them interest in with himself being joynt heirs thereof with himself A large volume might be written and to good effect on these 3 Articles to this end 1. of Christs coming to that first judicial act of Judgm Dan. 7. above 1000. years before the last trump and raising of the wicked suddainly as probable after the faithful that departed in the 1000 years as Esa 65.20 2dly of the communion of Sts. both raised and living 3dly of the resurrection of the just only