further to consider wherefore the Lord sent them forth from the Garden Which was Least he should put forth his Hand and take also of the Tree of Life Gen. 3.22 By which words we are to take notice that God doth positively declare that he did not know what Man would do till he proved and tryed him and saw what was in Man And Therefore least he should also take of the Tree of Life and eat and Live forever God having before pronounced Death for his offence God sent him out of the Garden These words we are to take in the plain Letter of the Text. That God did not then know what Man would do And this God declaring we are bound to believe In as much as it is impossible for God to ly Heb. 6.18 But many by not rightly apprehending these forementioned places have laid the generality of the world under Eternal Damnation by a fore sight in God of Adams transgression Notwithstanding God hath fully declared that when he saw that the wickedness of Man was great upon the Earth and that man had wholly corrupted his way except Noah It repented the Lord that he had made Man on the Earth and it grieved him at his Heart Gen. 6.5,6,9,12 And this we are to take in the plain Letter of the Text without we will blaspheme his Holy Name in making the God of Truth a lyer which is impossible for him to be Heb. 6.18 And when God promiseth a Blessing whether conditional or absolute according as he hath promised he will make it good Hath he said and shall he not do it or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good For God is not a man that he should lye nor the Son of Man that he should repent Numb 23.19 But upon man's returning God is often said to Repent of the Evil he thought to do unto them So likewise of a Blessing when it is promised on condition and the condition not performed Jer. 18.8,9,10 And it was after God had proved and tryed man he saw what was in man And seeing our great High-Priest could not be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities till he took our Nature Heb. 4.15 So it was much more impossible that God who is of purer Eyes then to behold Iniquity with approbation could be cumbred with the foresight of all the abominations and wicked stratagems of the Devil or Man before they were created or the World in which man offended And the God of Truth having sworn that he delighteth not in the Death of a Sinner but rather that he should return and live Ezek. 33.11 And how can this be true if God had reprobated the generality of all Mankind from all Eternity And likewise God saith The Soul that sinneth it shall dye the Son shall not bear the iniquity of the Father Ezek. 18.20 that is when they come to be judged And accordingly it is said when they are judged That every one shall receive for the things done in the Body whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5.10 For Christ will then condemn none for the Sin of Adam's Transgression the which we call Original Sin for which we have laid the greater part of the World under Eternal Damnation by a foresight in God of Adams transgression And it is by the false Notions which the Christians have received through the mistaken places of Scripture which has caused several to deny the Lord Christ to be the Son of God knowing that the God of Truth would not send his Son and the Servant of his Son to contradict what he had before declared for tho' our Faith in some things may be above our Reason but not contrary to Reason And tho' it is said He that planted the Ear shall he not hear he that formed the Eye shall he not see Psal 94.7.9 This is spoken only to the time after Man had a being and when they transgressed and thought God did not see But in that God said when Man had corrupted himself that it repented him that he had made Man and that it grieved him at his heart Therefore with permission I speak this it being not improbable that if Man had fallen no otherwise then in Adam's transgression that then Christ by taking our Nature and therein performing perfect Obedience he might thereby have satisfied Divine Justice without making his Soul an Offering for Sin Which made the Lord Christ desire of God that if it were possible that Cup might pass from him But it being impossible that God's justice could be otherwise satisfied therefore he drank it and God was troubled that Man had so corrupted himself as to fall under his severe Condemnation he having no pleasure in the Death of a Sinner Ezek. 18.32 But many by their false apprehensions that all things were fore-ordained before the Creation making no distinction between the great difference that is betwixt the Creation of the World and the meaning of the Foundation of the World and by several mistaken places Whereby they have made the wonderful Love of God in the gift of his Son only a thing fore-determined according to the Counsel of his own Will and that from all Eternity And the wonderful Love of Christ in laying down his Life for the World which Love passeth Knowledge has been made a design in God that thereby some might be saved and the rest damned And these conjectures some have had of God who is the Fountain of all Wisdom Love and Justice as to think that God from all Eternity elected some without Reason and left the rest to eternal Damnation without having any regard to Reason Pity or Love But when such come to be judged they will find that God has a reason for what he doth And some there are that hold that God hath two Wills an outward Will to invite all to come and accept of Salvation and a secret Will that only the Elect shall be saved Which Notions were no other then Blasphemy against the God of Truth were they wilfully committed And because most of the received mistaken Notions will not permit God a Reason for what he doth therefore the foresaid Elias Thomas Moor pretending to vindicate God's justice more than the others saith God not making the Angels that fell nor Man at first of ability to stand and therefore he saith God in Justice cannot punish Man in Hell nor leave the Devil to damnation And were this true that God did not at first make the Angels that fell and Man of ability to stand I should be of his mind also in thinking it could not be justice in God to condemn them to the Fire of Hell for doing that which he had before determined But now the Prince of Darkness through our mistaken Notions by the false Interpretations put upon the Scriptures has compleated his design in throwing his miscarriage and the World 's upon God that thereby Man might be as wicked as the Devil would have them Concerning Adam's Fall I
should come to Repentance 2 Pet. 3.9 But if we will not deny our selves for Christ Christ will deny us And the Lord saith in the 33d verse That he is the Bread of God that cometh down from Heaven and giveth Life unto the World That is to all that will take hold of the offered Mercy And Christ saith if he be lifted up from the Earth he will draw all Men unto him John 12.32 Which accordingly followed for after the Lord's Ascension the Holy Ghost was given to be in the Elect whereby the World was convinced that God had sent Christ and so the Nations embraced the Faith and by so doing became the Seed of Abraham and a great number for the major part in Scripture is reckoned as the whole but afterwards when the evil Servants came to think the Lord delayed his coming they began to smite their fellow Servants and to eat and drink with the drunken Luk. 12.45 But we building our Faith upon those dark Sentences which the Lord put forth thereby to leave Israel to Blindness are become Blind our selves also XI The Woman cloathed with the Sun Or The Woman in the Wilderness REV. 12.1 There appeared a great Wonder in Heaven a Woman cloathed with the Sun and the Moon under her Feet and upon her Head a Crown of Twelve Stars Now whereas it is said There appeared a great Wonder in Heaven a Woman First I shall here shew you what or who this Woman is This Woman is the Elect Church or Remnant chosen from among Israel which had a peculiar Calling 2dly Why she is said to be in Heaven It is because she is highly favoured by the Heavenly Powers or Powers of Heaven which is God In being by him elected fore-chosen ordained and secured so by God as none shall pluck them out of his Hand John 10.29 3dly Why she is termed a Wonder Was because there was none elected through the first or Old World nor till the then time that Israel was brought out of Egypt to be placed in the heart of the Earth and laid as a Foundation of the World to come From which Foundation Christ was figuratively slain in the Paschal Lamb From which Foundation the Works of those unbelieving Jews were finished when they through unbelief of the Promise of God's giving them the Victory refused to go to fight for the Land of Canaan for which all that were numbred of them from twenty Years old and upward dyed in the Wilderness save Caleb and Joshua Now all Israel were taken into Covenant and Life and Death set before them for them to choose Life that they and their Seed might live Deut. 30.19 But in the Wilderness they were disobedient therefore they were cut off After which God secured a Remnant of that Foundation which was then a laying in Israel for the World to come which is the World of which the Apostle speaks Heb. 2.5 And this exceeding kindness of God to this elect Remnant or Woman was the Wonder in Heaven For this is the Foundation or Remnant chosen from the Foundation which standeth sure unto whom Christ promised to be with to the end of the World and that he would send them another Comforter which should abide with them forever Joh. 14.16 This is more fully proved and explained in the former Book Therein is also shewed that God elected and chose from among the Gentiles a peculiar People to the praise of his Name Acts 15.14 upon the first publication of the Gospel who received the holy Ghost to be in them that the World by the evident witness of the Spirit might believe that God sent Christ the which was given for a ground of Faith that thereby we might believe the Truth whereby a door of Mercy was set open to all Believers that believe like Abraham the promised Reward is to be had in the way of their Obedience for Christ is become the author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him whether Elect or not Elect. Whereas it is said in the 4th verse of this 12th chapter That the Elect Remnant or Woman was cloathed with the Sun That is she was covered over with the Righteousness of Christ which was applicable before he was Incarnate or in the Flesh as well as afterwards and in that she is said to have the Moon under her Feet thereby shewing the little value she has to all the changeable Vanities and Pleasures of this World which is like the Moon and therefore she is said to have the Moon under her Feet And in that she is said to have upon her Head a Crown of twelve Stars thereby signified the twelve Apostles to whom was given the preheminency and in time to come the ruling power And in that they are termed the twelve Stars is because they were the first Publishers of the Gospel by which many were turned to Righteousness and of such it is said They shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 Rev. 12.2 Now whereas it is said This Woman being with-Child cryed travailing in Birth and pain to be delivered That is of this Elect Remnant or Woman as concerning the Flesh the Lord Christ came And in that she cryed out pained to be delivered was her ardent longing for Christ coming in the Flesh that by the Seed of the Woman the Serpents Head might be bruised Gen. 3.15 But whereas it is said in the 3d. Verse There appeared another Wonder in Heaven a great Red Dragon When the Apostle saw this Vision this Dragon or Devil was not then wholly cast out from some part of the Heavens as doth appear in the 8th verse And whereas it is said in vers the 4. That this Dragon or Devil stood before the Woman to devour the Child as soon as it was born That was in that the Devil stir'd up Herod to seek the young Childs Life thinking to have destroyed him with the Innocent Children vers 5. And she brought forth a Man Child which was to rule all Nations And therefore notwithstanding all Satans attempts this Child was preserved till he himself freely laid down his Life by which he conquered Death after which he was caught up unto God and his Throne according as it is said Acts 1.9 He was taken up and a Cloud received him out of their sight And in Heb. 8.1 It is said He is set at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens Rev. 12.6 And the Woman fled into the Wilderness where she had a place prepared her of God that they should feed her there a Thousand Two Hundred and Threescore Days From whence we are to take notice there is no mention made of the time how long it was before she fled into the Wilderness after the Child was caught up unto God Now having proved this forementioned Woman to be a Body of People as also the Scarlet Whore that sits on many Waters is a Body of People Rev. 17. And as the Scarlet Whore is
Lord comes the which will not be till after the Lord comes as I have fully made appear in the fore-mentioned Book For Idumea will be the Figurative Heavens with their Hosts that will be destroyed Isaiah 34.4,8 When Israel is Restored which Idumea in the Revelation is termed mystical Babylon and the Figurative Heavens and Elements which will be destroyed Rev. 6.3,4 And the Heaven and Earth that will pass away with which are included the rest of the Wicked that know his Laws for the Covetous Man is said to be an Idolater as well as he that Worships an Idol Eph. 5.5 Col. 3.5 And those that walk after the Lust of the Flesh will fall under the Condemnation for the Wicked shall perish and the Enemies of the Lord shall be as the Fat of Lambs they shall consume into smoke shall they consume away Psalm 37.20 And we reckon our Enemies always to be them that knows us and not them that knows us not And St. Peter's Charge was that they should be mindful of the words that were spoken before by the Holy Prophets and of the Commandment of us the Apostles 2 Pet. 3.20 Which was that they might not be ignorant of the coming of the Lord which the Scoffers are willfully ignorant that by the word of God the Heavens were of old and the Earth standing out of the Water and in the Water whereby the World that then was being overflowed with Water then perished verse 5.6 The which World was the World of People and then they were not distinguished by Heavens and Earth for then there was no Ruling Powers but what belonged to Parents over their Children and Families and therefore alike termed the World and not the Heavens and Earth As Israel was not termed Heavens and Earth till they became a Ruling Power and People So likewise the Heathen when they became a Ruling Power and People then were they termed a Heavens and Earth as I have already proved but in that St. Peter saith the Heavens and Earth that are now by the same word are kept in store reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly Men verse 7. But in that he saith the same Heavens and Earth which are now are kept in store unto Judgment Therefore he had no reference here to those that were of old and the Figurative Heavens which was then in the Apostles time was the Roman Power by which the Servants of Christ were then opprest and it is the Roman Power which are now likewise their Afflictors and will remain till the Lord comes and then will they be destroyed with Fire with the Perdition of the rest of the ungodly Men who knowing the Laws of the Lord will not obey them And then not only the fore-mentioned Heavens and Earth of People will be burnt up that is that paâ—t of the Earth where the devouring Storm cometh mentioned Psalm 11.6 Vpon the wicked he shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tsmpest and then it is the hail will sweep away the refuge of lies Isaiah 28.17 Whereby it sheweth there will be Hail mixed with Fire as was in Egypt Exod. 9.23,25 For the Storm of Hail in Isaiah and the Storm of Fire in the Psalms hath â—ts tendency to one and the same time And this Hail is said to come down on the Forrest Isaiah 32.19 At which time Israel and the rest of the Nations that are saved will be safe in Israel's Land whilst the Earth is renewing as I have largly proved in the fore-mentioned Book of the Figurative Speeches But because the Adopted Seed to whom this is spoken have ' transgressed the Laws changed the Ordinances therefore the Curse devoureth the Earth and the Inhabitants thereof burned and few Men left ' Isaiah 24.5,6 That is few Men will be found Righteous among the fore-mentioned so as to be left when the other are destroyed for this Earth of People that has so wilfully offended â—he Transgressions ' thereof shall be heavy upon it and it shall fall and not rise again ' verse 20. So as in the first Judgment there will be some Sentenced to everlasting Punishment according as the Lord by the Parable declares Matth. 25.46 And the wilful Opposers of the Truth will likewise be raised to receive their Condemnation for then the Saints will rise to everlasting Life and some to Shame and everlasting Contempt Daniel 12.2 For they that neglect the greater Salvation fall under the greater Condemnation For then the Heathen Powers of Rome or otherwise called Heavens that wilfully resisted the Truth when the Holy Ghost was given for the Confirmation thereof will rise to receive Punishment and therefore likewise said to be kept in store as well as the Heavens of the Christian Rome which has made Lies their Refuge For these sdumean Heavens or mystical Babylon will be the Heavens that will be on Fire and the Elements that will melt with fervent heat of which St. Peter spake But he saith neverthelâ—ss we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new eaerth wherein dwelleth Righteousness 2 Pet. 3.12,13 For the Apostles always had their Eye to the Prophesies as not to teach in contradiction to the Promises And God saith Isaiah 65.17,18 For behold I create new heavens and new earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind But be you glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her People a joy And because God would have us take notice what this is that he here Creates he therefore saith Behold I Create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her People a joy This is the new Heavens and new Earth that God Created upon the old Foundation the which is Israel of which Foundation Christ is the chief corner Stone And why is it here said that God will Create new Heavens and new Earth because they are such Heavens and such Earth as was never here such before as to have Righteousness dwelling in them as will be when Jerusalem is made a rejoycing and her People a joy For when Christ first came the ruling Power was not given him though he had then Righteousness dwelling in him and it is said these Heavens came down from above Isaiah 45.8 Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness let the earth open and let them bring forth salvation and let righteousness spring up together I the Lord have created it This Righteousness the Lord Creates when he comes down with all his Saints which are the Heavens that comes from above then will he pour down Righteousness and then the Earth of his People will bring forth Salvation and then Salvation and Righteousness will spring up together For the Covenant is to them and their Children and to as many of us as are found in our Obedience and in that day God will appoint Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks Isaiah 26.1 Thus the Prophets
and Apostles agree that Salvation will be when the times of Refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3.19,21,22 And Christ saith Search the scriptures for they were they that dâ—d testifie of him John 5.39 And then there was no other Scriptures but the Old Testament Now all Christ's Sufferings being fulfilled in the plain Letter of the Word and left us upon Record ever to believe the same And as in the Word it is Prophesied that Israel should be scattered so we evidently see the same and we ought also and are bound to believe all the great Prophesies and Promises relating to Christ's second coming that they will be performed in the plain Letter of the Word and as it was Prophesied that God would pour forth his Spirit Joel 2.28,29 Of which St. Peter saith It was made good to them in that time Acts 2.16,17,18 Which was for the Confirmation of the Gospel and as an earnest of their Inheritance in time to come or Restitution Before which time as in Joel 2.30,31 God will shew wonders in heaven and in earth blood and fire and pillars of smoke which accordingly has come to pass for by wars much blood hath been spilt And the Lord in a great and wonderful manner hath sent out of the earth fire and pillars of smoke for these many hundred years but much more of late And it is said verse 31. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord come This came to pass when the Nations which had embraced the Faith came to have no love to the Truth God then gave them up to Delusion 2 Thess 2.10,11 For when the people could not endure sound doctrin but after their own lusts they did heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and they turned away their ears from the truth and were turned unto fables 2 Tim. 4 3,4 And when the Seducers and false teachers went about to deceive they then became deceived ch 3.12,13 For God doth never so punish without a cause Eze. 14.23 And then was the Sun turned into darkness for in the Scriptures the Teachers are termed the Light of the World and when the Sun the Teachers were darkned the Moon which is the World of People which receiveth her Light from the Teachers as the Moon doth her Light from the Sun the People were soon turned into Blood by hating and killing one another The Pope and his Clergy pretending to be the true Church Mahomet the true Prophet and every Sect the right Remnant and thus the Prince of Darkness carries on his Designs in setting Men to hate and kill one another through these Divisions Now in that Prophesie of Scripture is of more than a private Interpretation 2 Pet. 1.20 But we must be sure to put no other Interpretation on it but what we can make plain from the Word And in Joel 3.15 It is also said The sun and moon shall be darkned and the stars shall withdraw their shining Here the Prophet may have a Reference to the material Sun Moon and Stars which by the Glorious Appearing of the Lord will be obscured by his Brightness But when the Nations came to have no love to the Truth God suffered a Spirit of a strong Delusion to go forth 2 Thess 2.11 For God hath determined that those that will not deny themselves for him shall suffer by him for unto them that are contentions and will not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath upon every soul of man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile but glory honour and peace to every man that worketh good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile Rom. 2.8,9,10 For there will be a Redemption in time to come for all that order their Conversation aright and have not been wilful Opposers of the Truth which is one of the worst of Unrighteousnesses And though it is those who comes in Heirs to the Promises made to the Fathers that are made partakers of the greater Glory yet there is Glory and Salvation for others of a lower degree And though the Jews that have been since Christ's time were cast off for the Sins of their Parents yet not for ever and ever to be forgotten of God without their own Sins does occasion it for there will be a Redemption in time to come for some and if Israel for the Sin of their Parents has been left to stumble on the dark Mountains these seventeen hundred years no wonder if the Adopted Seed has been left to stumble thereon for above this thousand years For it is Israel who as touching the Election is beloved for their Fathers sake Rom. 11.28 For though there was but a Remnant chosen from among them that were chosen according to the Election of Grace verse 5. Yet they were all Gods chosen and elected People for their Fathers sake Isaiah 45.4 And this God did because he loved their Fathers because they had walked with a perfect Heart before him The which when the Lord proved Israel in the Wilderness they did not And therefore the Lord saith Deut. 31.21 For I know their imaginations which they go about even now before I have brought them into the land Here because God would have us take notice when it was he knew it therefore he redoubles his Words and saith even now at the time when they were in the Wilderness But we do never read of God's foreknowing his Drowning of the World till he saw the Wickedness of Man was great and then it was that it grieved him at his Heart that he had made Man but God's choosing Israel was for their Fathers sake and not that he had Elected them without a why or a wherefore but when God had proved and tryed Israel in the Wilderness and as they had there often miscarried God saw they would again fall away for which he determined to leave them to Blindness the like God foreseeing that the Gentiles would fall away for which he determined to leave them to Delusion For as of old when the People fell away Rom. 1.18,20,21 the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and godhead so that they were without excuse because when they knew God they glorified him not as God but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkned verse 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them up to a reprobate mind So we see Man 's not improving his Day of Grace has been his Destruction all along and not that they had not a Day of Grace given them and it is such that God gives up to Delusion that first deceives and deludes themselves
Ezek. 14.7 And like not to retain God in their knowledge but in the way of well doing we may commit the keeping of our souls unto God as unto a faithful creator 1 Pet. 4.19 Now St. Paul speaking of the Creation of the World in the fore-going Words Rom. 1.20 makes mention of it as such and not as the Foundation of the World And all the Apostles in all their Writings agree in calling the Twelve Tribes the Foundation of the World to come And likewise Zachariah the Priest said God hath raised up a Horn of Salvation in the House of his Servant David Here he doth not say that this was Prophesied of from the Foundation of the World but by all the Holy Prophets since the World began Luke 1.69,70 That he would raise up a horn of salvation in the house of his servant David And in David and Solomon was the Typical Kingdom of Christ And after David had received the Kingdom God by the Prophet said His seed shall endure for ever and his throne as the sun before me Psalm 89.36 This ever is the ever of the time to come the which all the Prophets Prophesied of from David till Christ came but no Prophet Prophesied that this Salvation should come out of the House of David before David was and had received the Kingdom But we not apprehending the difference between the Creation and Foundation nor the beginning of this World to come has cast us into most dangerous Mistakes for thereby we have received another Faith than what the Gospel teacheth in thinking none but the Elect can be saved and that some thereby have thought they should be saved by the Righteousness of Christ contrary to the Words of Christ which are upon the condition of their Obedience which will prove destructive if unrepented of Likewise we have another Hope than what the Scripture Teacheth for by our Predecessors falling into Popery we have lost the form of sound words as they were first delivered and to maintain our received mistaken Notions we must not believe what God hath declared promised and sworn to And this out of pretence of justifying God's Wisdom which some say doth greatly consist in God's sore-knowing all the Wickedness of the Devil and Man from all Eternity whereby they make God the first conceiver of it and likewise with such approbation as some say as he did not only suffer it but decreed it to be committed which is so quite contrary to the Holy God as the thoughts thereof are to be abhorred it being Blasphemy for to think it for he hath absolutely declared against it For it was after God saw that Man had corrupted his Way it repented him that he had made Man upon the Earth and God said it griewed him at his heart Gen. 6.6 Now whether it is right in the sight of God to believe Man rather than God judge ye Acts 4.19 And that God that is an unchangeable Being in Holiness Wisdom Justice Goodness and Truth which are his proper Attributes and therefore impossible for God to lie Heb. 6.18 For God is not a man that he should lie neither the Son of Man that he should Repent that is when God hath absolutely promised a Blessing he will certainly perform it as it is here declared Hath he spoken and shall he not make it good Numbers 23.19 And we are to believe of God in every thing as he hath declared of himself to be moved to pity upon Man's Repenting and Returning and to Anger and Wrath upon Man's Rebellion and of certain God will never be angry with any for believing what he saith or hath promised or sworn to And the Prophet for believing what another Prophet told him in contradiction to what God had declared to him a Lyon met him and Slew him 1 Kings 13.17,18,24 And as the Faith of Abraham was set down for our Example so this was Recorded for our warning that we might not believe Man in contradiction to God Now Christ and the Apostles being rightly understood are found to agree with the Words of God and the Prophets and the Care of the Apostles was such as to compare spiritual things with spiritual things 1 Cor. 2.13 To see if the Spirit spake in them agreeably to what the Spirit spake in the Prophets of old that thereby no Delusion or Deceiver might creep in among them for God did never send his Son and the Servants of his Son to contradict what he himself hath declared promised and sworn to XVI The Glory and Blessedness that will be in time to come For the Lord will come to judge the Nations in the valley of Jehosaphat and restore his People Israel Joel 3.1,2,12,13,16,17,18 and then it is the Lord will make Mount Sion and eternal excellency and the joy of many Generations Isaiah 60.15 And then it is his people shall be all righteous and inherit the land for ever Then it is a little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation the Lord will hasten it in his time Isaiah 60.21,22 Here the Lord sheweth there will be another time after this time in which his People will be blessed against which time St. Paul ordereth Timothy that he should charge them that are rich in this world that they be rich in good works laying up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come 1 Tim. 6.17,18 And sure if we were not blind we could not think that all that are Rich in this World are Elected but that by doing good Works all may lay hold of eternal Life ' for Christ is become the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him ' Heb. 5.9 Whether Elect or not Elect but those that remain blind now God has made plain his Word is because they have no desire to see but whether some will see or not it is in the time to come that God will make that promised new everlasting Covenant with his People and put his laws in their inward parts and write them in their hearts and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know ye the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord Jer 31.33,34 And in that day the Lord will make a covenant for them with the beast of the field and with the fowls of heaven and with the creeping things of the ground and then will the Lord break the bow the sword and the battel out of the earth And then will the Lord betroth Israel to him for ever in righteousness in judgment in loving kindness and in mercy Hos 2.18,19 And then the days of his People shall be the age of a Tree and then it is the Meek shall inherit the Earth and delight themselves in the abundance of Peace and then it is the evil Beasts will cease out of the Land Ezekiel 34.25 Now this Covenant some have blindly imagined that it
is made with them although they do not find any of those things here promised made good to them Such like Ephraim feed on Wind but the Lord will establish this promised Covenant when he Reigns in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his Ancients Gloriously Isaiah 24.23 Which will be when he gathers his wheat into his garner and burns up the chaff with unquenchable fire which is at the time when he will judge the nations in the valley of Jehosaphat and at the time when the Saints are raised which are called the first resurrection Rev. 20. And then will the new Jerusalem come down out of heaven from God and be placed in the elementary Heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 This is the tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man Heb. 8.2 The pavement of which is of pure gold as it were transparent glass through which the glorious Saints will then shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father Matth. 13.43 And when this ' World is become the Kingdom of our God and of his Christ ' Rev. 11.15 ' Then will it become the Kingdom of their Father and ' then in the ages to come God will shew forth in them the exceeding Riches of his Grace ' Eph. 2.7 That they ' should be to the praise of his Glory that first trusted in Christ ' Eph. 1.12 And likewise all that overcome and ' keep his Works to the end shall sit with Christ in his Throne ' Rev. 3.21 For the Glorious Tabernacle will be Christ's Throne as the Heaven of Heavens is God's Throne and this Glorious Tabernacle is the Tabernacle or Covert spoken of in Isaiah which the Lord will place over all the Assemblies of Israel when he cleanseth their Blood Isaiah 4.4,5,6 which he hath not yet cleansed Joel 3.21 And the Glory of the Saints in this glorious Tabernacle the Apostle had a Reference to when he said ' God hath provided some better thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect ' Heb. 11.40 And the glorious Saints Perfection will not be till Israel receives the Promises for when the Lord comes again the dead Bodies of the Saints will be Raised and then under Christ their Head will be given to them their ruling Power upon Earth Rev. 5.10 For then they will with Christ Descend from the glorious Tabernacle as the Lord formerly did in the Cloudy Pillar to the Tabernacle in the Wilderness so likewise will the Lord Descend upon the real Mount Zion which the Lord will make an eternal excellency and the joy of many generations Isaiah 60.15 And then will the Lord destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people and the vail that is spread over all nations for then he will take away the sting of death from all his people which is sin and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth Isaiah 25.7,8 But when Christ first came he was laid in Zion as a stumbling stone and thereby a Vail was cast upon the Face of Israel and they were made the Rebuke of all the Heathen But when the Lord again coâ—…es he will then take away the covering off of all faces and the rebuke of his people from off all the earth and then his people Israel will be all righteous and inherit the land for ever Isaiah 60.20,21 For the Lord hath said he will gather them out of all countries and will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul Jer. 32.37,38,39,40,41 And at the time of the Judgment of this World it is that unto the Son of God will be given dominion and a kingdom that all people nations and languages should serve him his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed Dan. 7.14 And then shall be the end of the Wicked of this World when the son of man shall send his angels and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and them that do iniquity Matth. 13.40,41 Therefore it is clear according to the Word of the Lord in Daniel 7.27 That this Kingdom which shall be given is under the whole Heaven from whence ' those that Offend and them that do Iniquity will be gathered out and cast into a Furnace of Fire after the Lord comes ' and the Angel flies in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth saying with a loud voice fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment is come and worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters Rev. 14.6,7 And then will Israel and the Heathen Nations that know not God be called in which will be after the Lord comes and just before Babylon's Fall Rev. 14.1,8 And this was the Kingdom that St. Peter's Endeavour was that the Elect Remnant to whom he Wrote might be able after his decease to have these things always in remembrance 2 Pet. 1.11,12,13,15 This is the World to come of which St. Paul speaks of Heb. 2.5 And this is the Kingdom the Angel told the blessed Virgin of that Christ should reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdom there shall be no end Luke 1.33 But this Kingdom will not be until the times of Refreshing shall come from the Presence of the Lord and then 't is that the kingdom and dominion and the great ness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the most high whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey him Dan. 7.27 When the Lord taketh to himself his own great Power and Reigneth the which will be when the seventh Angel soundeth Rev. 11.15,16,17 And then it is that the Raised Saints will likewise Reign under Christ their Head Chap. 5.10 And then to Israel and the People under them will be given the Kingdom they being the People of the Saints of the most High Phil. 1.10 And that ye may approve things that are excellent that ye may be Sincere and without Offence till the day of Christ XVII Who they were that were made able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit AND whereas the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 3.5,6 ' Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God ' that is without God we can do nothing ' for in him we live move and have our being ' Acts 17.28 And if he take away our breath we dye but as God hath made us Rational Souls and given us his Law so as to understand thereby his Will in his Word and God by so doing has made us capable to do something but in that he saith verse 6. God hath made them able ministers of the new Testament not
matter Dan. 7.28 Of this Vision which did appertain to this Mystery which has to this day been hid from Israel And Daniel heard but understood not therefore said O my Lord what shall be the end of these things And the Lord said go thy way Daniel for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end verse 8.9 And the Disciples asked the Lord why he spake to the Jews in Parables the Lord said to them It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven but to them it is not given Matth. 13.10,11 For indeed this Kingdom of Heaven or Heavenly Kingdom is a great Mystery which when the Christians had lost the knowledg of this Secret it was then to remain a Secret till the time of the end and now is the time the Lord will have it Revealed and they that desire spiritual Wisdom shall understand it Dan. 12.10 And the Lord will first come in the Clouds of Heaven before the last or seventh Angel soundeth Matth. 24.31,32 And the Saints that are under the Altar receive white Robes Rev. 6.9 In which they will accompany the Lord into the world before their Bodies are raised and then will the Nations know the two Witnesses which now they understand not And all this is to be after the Lord comes and before the seventh Angel soundeth Rev. 11.15 And when the seventh Angel sounded there were great Voices in Heaven Saying the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever And the Saints receiving their Bodies at the sound of the last or seventh Trumpet 1 Cor. 15.52 the Elders fell upon their faces and worshiped God Rev. 11.16 But our Predecessors having lost the right Apprehension of these things by reason of the Apostacy so as they that came after did not understand how God could make his Promise good to the raised Saints in providing Mansions in the Heavens for them in that Tabernacle which the Lord shall pitch and not Man at which time the Lord will restore Israel to their own Land Likewise then God will make good his Word concerning the Heathen so as all the Families of the Earth shall be blessed in Christ after the wilfully Wicked are Condemned accordingly as God hath threatened that he would send his Angel and gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend as I have fully proved For God by the Law and Gospel speaks but to them that are under it and they are the World and Heavens and Earth that will be Condemned by it Isaiah 34. Chap. 24 5,6 For transgressing the laws changing the ordinances breaking the everlasting covenant therefore the curse devoureth the earth that is the Earth upon whom the Curse falls for the Offences For the Ordinances which St. Paul would have the Church keep as they were delivered unto them 1 Cor. 11.2 God by this Prophet declares they have changed And in Ezekiel 34.18 it is said they have eaten the good Pastures which must be those Ordinances which Isaiah saith they have changed that is put them away and made new ones in their room that is new Articles of Faith new Church Government new ways of Administring the Sacraments in all these things the Romish Church is horribly out of the way besides all their other Abominations and likewise others as to some of these things will be found dangerously out of the way for treading down with their Feet the Residue of their Pastures and also fouling of the deep waters with their feet so as the flock eat that which they have trodden with their feet and drink that which they have fouled with their feet verse 18.19 This place and the foremention'd Chapters of Isaiah have peculiar References to the second coming of Christ to Judgment at which time he will Judge between Cattel and Cattel and the Rams and the hee Goats v. 17. And then the Lord will feed his Sheep himself so as then they shall no more be a prey when he is Prince among them verse 22.23,24 and the offending Shepherds will God then feed with Judgment But after the Teachers of the Romish Church had changed the Ordinances or eaten the good Pastures or as the Lord saith hid the Talent they thereby made way to set up their own Institutions and so transgressed the Laws and brake the everlasting Covenant for the moral Law is an everlasting Covenant Isaiah 24.5 as well as the new Covenant when Established will be an everlasting Covenant to them with whom it is Established for the old Covenant will only then be done away as a conditional Covenant as now it is for the Lord will then give an inherent perfect Righteousness to all with whom that Covenant will then be made as thereby they shall be enabled perfectly to keep the moral Law for then God will magnifie the Law and make it Honourable Isaiah 42.21 But when the Nations came to have no love to the Truth and their Rulers would not any longer be holden with the Cords of the Laws of the Lord according as it was Prophesied of Psalm 2. Then God permitted the Prince of Darkness to hoist up the Beast an Instrument whom Satan had prepared for his purpose who thought to change times and laws and they were given into his hands till the day of judgment and then shall his dominion be taken away Dan. 7.25,26 But God all along preserved the Law and the Testimony of the Prophets safe in the Hands of the Jews whom he scattered throughout the World that they might be a Light to the World in the cloudy and dark Day when the Beast had deprived the Nations of the rest of the Scriptures and the Christians knowing that Christ was come and that the Ceremonial Law was Abolished and that Christ was that great Sacrifice that had made an Attonement for Sins that were past for all those that would walk in Obedience to the rest of God's Laws and Commands and Precepts that Christ would then compleat their sincere Endeavours they not forgetting Baptism and the Lord's Supper For all the Prophets as they declare Christ first coming to Suffer so also they declare that he will come again to Judge and Reign And in the way of well-doing God has declared by the Prophets that we may stay our selves upon his Promises in that he will shew his Salvation to all that walk uprightly by their improving the Day of Grace whilst it was in their Hands that they might not be hardned through the Deceitfulness of Sin by accustoming themselves therein which had the Christians taken heed to the Law and to the Prophets herein they could have been very little out of the way ' for whosoever speaks not according to the Law and the Testimony of the Prophets it is because there is no light in them Isaiah 8.20 But many being deceived by the Popish Idolatrous Worship and with their pretended Pardons and also
Angels of Light 2 Cor. 11.14 Gal. 1.8 And we were to receive nothing in contradiction to Moses and the Prophets Luke 16.31 But God will carry on his work according to his word As for any to expect the Spirit to be poured out upon them to prepare them for the coming of the Lord is a great Mistake and the Prince of Darkness would gladly perswade any to believe that for by that belief he keepeth them from preparing themselves that thereby they may be taken at unawares for Satan has many Wiles to deceive poor Souls For the Christians will not have the Spirit poured out upon them before the Lord comes to prepare them no more than Israel had when the Lord first came for if so the Lord would not have commanded them to be upon their watch lest coming suadenly he should find them sleeping XIX Christ saying all Power was given of the Father Explained WHereas Christ said after he arose Matth. 28.18 All power is given to me in heaven and in earth That was he then had paid the purchase of it and he was then as really assured of it as though he had it in Possession having the Promise of God for it And it is the Scriptures usual way of speaking to mention things that are to come as though they were then present Accordingly God said to Abraham I have made thee a Father of many Nations at which time he was not Father of one Child But God having promised it was certainly to come to pass and therefore spoken as then done Gen. 17.5 Rom. 4.17 According to which Christ spake for it is the World to come that is to be put in subjection unto him Heb. 2.5 And when the seventh Angel soundeth then it is the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 When he hath taken to him his own great power verse 17. I hope the Christians will consider these great Truths that they may not be found upon a false bottom For God doth not now compel but chalk out the way and leaves Man to chuse or refuse to obey But in the day of his Power he will again pour forth his Spirit for the first Churches had but a foretast of the earnest of that Inheritance which his People will partake of when the Lord again comes World without end And then his People Israel will be made a willing People Ps 110.3 When he removeth the Iniquity of that Land in one day in that day shall they call every Man under his Vine and under his Fig-tree Zach. 3.9,10 Then it is the two Olive-trees will give out of themselves the Golden Oyl of Grace and Wisdom into the Candlestick that is all of Gold Chap. 4.2 And then the Lord will make his Church a glorious Church without Spot or Wrinkle Eph. 5.27 But now the best of Saints are not without Sin 1 John 1.8 I thought at this time to have given a full Satisfaction who these two Olive-trees were who in the New Testament are termed two Witnesses who all along have accompanied the Church or Woman in the Wilderness who according to Promise had never been deceived by Beast or false Prophet And these two Witnesses always accompanying her therefore said to be cloathed in Sackcloath in bearing part of her Afflictions with her as it was formerly said of Christ that in all his Peoples Afflictions he was Afflicted Isaiah 63.9 And also it is said the holy Spirit may be grieved For these two Olive-trees which in this time are said to be the two Witnesses Rev. 11.3,4 and also elsewhere in the Scripture they are often so called and these two Witnesses we may readily believe can do all those Miracles Cited in the 5 and 6 Verses whereas it is said in the 8 Verse their dead Bodies Now this being spoken of the Remnant to whom the Lord promised to be with to the end of the World and that he would send them another Comforter that should abide with them for ever as is at large in the Woman Cloathed with the Sun prov'd And when these Persons become so opprest by the Beast as Scattered Imprisoned and Slain these two Witnesses cannot then by them bear their Testimony against the Evil of Sin and the Pernicious Idolatrous Worship of the Beast and thus the two Witnesses are said to be dead when their Bodies are thus Slain so as they cannot by them bear their Testimony whose dead Bodies were again to stand upon their Feet As to what I have here but hinted concerning them to give some Light herein I thought to have fully proved and to have made clearly appear who this fore mentioned Beast is But having many other things to answer my time would not permit me at this present O that we had but a Heart to consider the greater Truths of God whose Faithfulness cannot fail according to his Word for which blessed be his Name World without end Amen FINIS
all that was said concerning the Remnant and first Churches and Israel at the restitution of all things that they now belong to them and are made good to them in this time although they find not in them what is there promised but many vainly imagine through their mistaken Notions that they are now so secured by Christ's Righteousness as they cannot finally fall away and so little regarding the plain words of Christ as his Sermon on the Mount Matth. 5. to the eighth Chapter And also that he laid down his life for the world John 3.17 And his general Invitation to accept of Salvation by taking his Yoke upon them Matth. 11.28,29 And Christ faith If thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments Matth. 19.17 And in loving God and our Neighbours hangs all the Law and the Prophets Matth. 22.4 And is commanded us by Christ and his Apostles Rom. 2.13 And not the hearers of the Law are just before God but the doers of the Law shall be justified and it is said to the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no Light in them Isaiah 8.20 Therefore St. Peter terms it a more sure word of prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star arise in their hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 For in the Prophecies is declared the promises of the blessedness in time to come in which time will be given an inherent perfect righteousness which is the day Star that will then arise in their hearts for in time to come is given the eternal life 1 Tim. 6.19 Now the Bereans were said to be noble because they searched the Scriptures to see if those things which were spoken by the Apostles were so or no Acts 17.11 And the Scriptures then was only the Old Testament and all the Prophesies were to be fulfilled and as many of them as has not yet been fulfilled remains still to be made good in as much as it is impossible for God to lie Heb. 6.18 Jer. 31.33,34,35,36,37 Isa 54.9,10,11 Chap. 62.8 much less forsworn and Christ saith Think not that I am come to destroy the law and the prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil for verily I say unto you till heaven and earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled Matth. 5.7,18 That is not till all the great Promises and Prophesies that are written in the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled both as to the Punishments and the Glory that should follow Dan. 7.27 Isaiah 60.21 Which promised Glory could never come to pass had not the Lord laid down his Life to purchase to himself a glorious Church in time to come without spot or wrinkle but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5.27 Isaiah 60.21 And accordingly in Isaiah it is declared and in the Rev. 5.10 For the glorious time will not be till Israel receives the Promises Now all our mistaken Notions are quite contrary to the Law and the Prophets and therefore not to be received by us and though Christ Abolished the Ceremonial Law it was no ways contradictory to the Prophets for David Typically speaking of Christ saith Sacrifice an Offering thou desirest not then said I lo I come in the volume of the Book it is written of me I delight to do thy will O God Psalm 40.6,7 Christ was that acceptable Sacrifice which only could take away Sin which the Sacrifices of the Ceremonial Law could not do and therefore were to be Abolished Ezek. 20.25 But whereas Christ saith Matth. 11.13 All the Prophets and the Law Prophesied until John which was because the Ceremonial Law was then to be Abolished and then part of the Prophesies was fulfilled in Christ's first coming but there is other of the Prophesies are still to be fulfilled which not only foretels the Lord's second coming but also what will be in time to come agreeable to which the Lord Revealed to St. John by Revelation Now though the Gentiles were not commanded the outward Circumcision yet there is required of them the inward Circumcision of the Heart Rom. 2.29 The performance of which has been little observed but unto this Circumcision Baptism is a Figure and though we keep the eighth day or otherwise call'd the first day for our Sabbath yet this is not repugnant to the Scripture for when God blessed the Sabbath Day he pronounced the Blessing to the Sabbath Day not naming the seventh Day in the Blessing but in that God said the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God from hence it doth not appear that it should remain so for ever and ever Which words are added to that which is so to continue and the eighth Day was the great Day of the Feast which was likewise the Jewish Sabbath which was a Figure of the great Feast or Sabbath in time to come unto which their being Circumcised on the eighth Day doth allude in which God will Circumcise their Hearts that they shall no more Sin against him by the then Establishing the promised new everlasting Covenant which Crowns Life to the Soul which Covenant now is but a Covenant of Promise but when Established God's People will be all Righteous and then it is Israel will inherit the Land for ever Isaiah 60.21 And this God declaring we are bound to believe in as much as it is imppssible for God to lie Heb. 6.18 And God never left himself without Witness to confirm the Truth of his Word that we might have Ground for Faith for by that time most of the Elect among the Gentiles were taken off by Death Jerusalem was destroyed and the Jews became a scattered People through the World according as God by the Prophets and Christ hath declared and which is to this day evidently known and that they were thus scattered because of their Sins this the whole Book of God declares and themselves acknowledge and by them the Scriptures of the Old Testament have been more safely preserved all along amongst the Nations whilst the Nations were deprived of the New Testament by the Pope and so lost the right apprehension of the meaning of the things therein contained and likewise the Ordinances spoken of 1 Cor. 11.2 Which he praises them for keeping them as he delivered them the which St. Peter foreseeing according as by the Prophet is declared that the Goats would eat the good Pastures and tread the residue with their Feet and foul the deep Waters Eze. 34.17,18 Therefore St. Peter terms the Writings of the Prophets a more sure Word of Prophesie whereunto ye do well to take heed 2 Pet. 1.19 And the Scriptures declare concerning Israel first their Rise their Continuance their scattering and there remaining scattered till the Messiah again comes and there being such a scattered People among us and through the whole
World who acknowledge the Law and Prophets in the truth of these things it is certainly evident to us and the whole World that the Scriptures are true and the Word of God and to confirm the Truth of what God hath there declared he hath given us a Sign in the Heavens Signs upon the Earth and under the Earth and thro' the World But for Brevity sake I shall here mention but three which are evidently known to all First That the old World for Sin was drowned the Rainbow in the Heavens doth witness to the Truth of the Word Secondly God declareth that his Anger should set on fire the Foundations of the Mountains which should burn to the lowest Hell Deut. 32.22 Which for these many hundred years is come to pass and also that Hell should enlarge her self Isaiah 5.14 Which within these few years is wonderfully come to pass by the Rivers of Fire Pitch and Bitumen which has been sent out thence the which doth likewise bear witness to the Truth of God's Word and also Israel's being scattered doth witness to the World the Truth of the same XV. Christ proved to be the Son of God BUT peradventure some will say how can we prove the New Testament to be true and Christ to be the Son of God seeing the Jews do not own it I shall not here go to prove it from the Words of the Apostles as to believe it through their bare Word but I chiefly believe it because I find those things that were fore Prophessed of by the Prophets concerning the Messiah made good in the Crucified Jesus unto which sure word of Prophesies we are always to take heed And in that the Scriptures now again being rightly understood they are not contradictory to what God before spake by the Prophets for we are to believe nothing in contradiction to what God hath spoken by the Prophets for what God hath absolutely promised he will certainly perform And therefore to declare his Righteousness in the performance of his Promise he sent the Son of his Love to Suffer for Sinners as was declared by the Prophets and that for Israel's wilful Disobedience he was then a Stone of Stumbling and a Rock of Offence to both the Houses of Israel for a Gin and for a Snare to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem Isaiah 8.14 Which accordingly so fell out for they expecting he should come as a King and not apprehending that he should first come to Suffer therefore he was Despised and Rejected of Men. A Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief they hid as it were there Faces from him he was despised and they esteemed him not Isaiah 53.3 And it was Prophesied concerning him Isaiah 7.4,15,16 That a Virgin should conceive and bear a Son and that he should be born in Bethlehem Mic. 5.2 And lowly Riding upon an Ass Zach. 9.9 And the Lords Sufferings and Death were likewise foretold Isaiah 53 7 He was brought like a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep dumb before the shearers so opened he not his mouth Zach. 11.12,13 And they weighed for his price thirty pieces of silver Ps 22 16,18 And they pierced his hands and his feet Dan. 9.26 And the Messiah was cut off but not for himself all these hings and many more were made good in the Crucified Jesus Therefore I believe him to be the Messiah that Seed of the Woman that should â—…ise the Serpents Head Gen 3. And that Lord unto whom the Lord said sit thou on my right hand till I make thine 〈…〉 Ps 110.1 Which will be when the Lord again comes to deliver his People And for further Proof that this Lord is God God saith Zech. 13.7 Awake O sword against my shepherd and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of hosts And none can be the fellow of God but the Son of God which is God and therefore said of him that Was to be born in Bethlehem that his goings forth have been from of old from everlasting Mic. 5.2 And of him it is said Vnto us a child is born and unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and he shall be called the wonderful counceller the mighty God the everlasting Father the prince of peace Isaiah 9.6 And when this Prince of Peace shall come and take the Government then will he be to all his Sheep the everlasting Father and the God of the whole earth shall he be called Isaiah 54.5 And of this Prince of Peace it is said Thy throne O God is for ever and ever the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows Psalm 45.6,7 And according to this the Apostles declare of Christ the Lord that he is God for they were not nor did not hold any thing in contradiction to what God hath declared by the Prophets and what is declared of God in the Old Testament there is nothing contrary thereunto in the New And as the Holy Spirit was spoken of throughout the Old Testament so likewise in the New only sometimes called Holy Spirit sometimes Holy Ghost which is all one it being the Breath of God which is called the River of God the Streams whereof shall make glad the City of God the Holy Tabernacle of the most High Psalm 46.4 Which pure River of Water is said to proceed out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb Rev. 22.1 therefore this River giveth Life and maketh glad Now as there is Figurative Heavens and Earth spoken of in the Old Testament so there is also in the New and as there is a Figurative Sea made mention of in the Old Testament so likewise in the New for there is in both several Figurative Expressions which have one and the same meaning aluding to one and the same thing in both which I have fully made appear in my Book of the Figurative Speeches therefore I shall not insist here up on it But God did not only speak mystically to Israel concerning Christ's first coming because for their Sins they might be snared broken and taken but the second coming of Christ is also to us now since we have lost the true meaning of the word these things appear very mystical in the New Testament to us that the wicked of the Adopted Seed whose turn it is now to be snared broken and taken for God by the Law and Gospel speaks to them that under it as I have fully made appear from the Scriptures in my Book of the Explanation of the New Testament and they are the World that will be Judged by it and the Wicked of them that will not live in Obedience to it are the World that will be then Condemned by it The which the Christians not apprehending they put the Day of Judgment far off expecting the Fall of Babylon and the Restoration of Israel to be before the