willing to resign your whole Man Spirit Soul and Body unto the Government of Christ as LORD and King to Reign and Rule Guide and Govern you by his holy Spirit and Written Word Not that you can do those things of your selves I have told you without Christ you can do nothing Joh. 15.5 But it is your duty to do them and it is the Free Grace of God to work in you to will and to do according to his good pleasure Phil. 2.12 13. that he so working in you you may work out your own salvation with fear and trembling I would through the Divine Assistance of the Spirit and Grace of God make some Application of this our general Position unto the Churches of Saints for their edification First I most humbly beseech all the Churches of Saints to receive this Doctrine of Christ's Second Personal Coming from Heaven And to believe 1. That when HE comes he will glorifie the House of his Glory Isa 60.1 2 7. and will make Zion an eternal Excellency vers 14.15 22. God will build up Zion and then he shall appear in his Glory Psal 102.13 16. Then shall Zion be the Perfection of Beauty Psal 50.2 Out of which God shall shine In that DAY God shall be his Churches everlasting Light and Glory Isa 60.19 Rev. 21.23 Then shall Christ and his Church be each others Crown and Glory Isa 28.5 In that DAY shall the LORD of Hosts be for a Crown of Glory and for a Diadem of Beauty unto the Residue of his People Isa 62.3 Thou shalt also be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the LORD and a Royal Diadem in the hand of thy God Read Zech. 9.16 and Isa 60.13 2. That when Christ comes He will Restore all his holy Ordinances unto their Primitive Power and Purity yea unto an higher and greater degree of Excellency than in the Apostles Daies God will not only give his Churches of Saints Pastors according to his own heart which shall feed them with knowledge and understanding Jer. 3.14 15. but HE will also pour out his Spirit upon Sons and Daughters and upon the Servants and upon the Hand-maids also God will pour out his Spirit Joel 2.28 31 32. Before the great and terrible DAY of the LORD come The LORD will vouchsafe unto his Churches such Anointing of his holy Spirit as the Apostle John witnesseth and recorded 1 Joh. 2.20 27. But ye have an Unction from the holy ONE and ye know all things c. Read v. 27. and Joh. 6.45 Isa 54.13 Jer. 31.34 It is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God And not only be instructed and led by the holy eternal Spirit into the sound and saving Knowledge of all the Truths in God's written Word as the Truth is in Jesus but they shall see with their Eyes those things fulfilled which they have read and heard out of the written Word of God Matth. 24.33 34 35. That Gospel Ordinance of Praising God will then be with greater spiritualness and with more heavenly mindedness performed in the General Assembly and Church of the first Born where all the Sons of God shall sing together even all the Saints and Angels shall celebrate the high Praises of God together Read Rev. 5.11 12 13. Rev. 11.15 16 17. Rev. 14.1 2 3. Rev. 15.2 3 4. Rev. 19.1 4 5 6 7 8 9. The whole Worship of God shall then be performed by the true Worshippers in Spirit and in Truth according to Christ's Word John 4.23 24. for God will then give all his People one Heart and one Way Jer. 32.38 39 40. to worship him with one Consent Zeph. 3.9 14 16 17 18. In that day shall there be ONE LORD and his Name ONE Zech. 14.9 A Restitution of all things Acts 3.21 3. That when Christ comes his glorious personal and spiritual Presence with his Church Heb. 12.21 23 24. Rev. 22.2 3. will occasion a Confluence of all Comforts Isa 51.3 12. and 66.13 and Zech. 1.13 17. Then Zion shall be adorned with spiritual and glorious Beauty Isa 52.1 9 10. and compassed about with peace and safety God will be as a Wall of Fire round about Zion Zech. 2.5 10. Sing and rejoyce O Daughter of Zion for Lo I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee saith the LORD Read Ezek. 34.23 24 25 28 29 30 31. No Canaanite in the Land of Israel nor none that shall hurt or destroy in all God's holy Mountains Zech. 2.4 Jerusalem shall be inhabited as Towns without walls for God's salvation shall be her walls and bulwarks Isa 26.1 2 3. Then the State of the Church of God will bear some proportional Resemblance to the Kingdom of Heaven for it will then be a sinless state Isa 60.1 21. Zeph. 3.13 and Rev. 14.1 5. and a sorrowless state Rev. 21.1 2 3 4 5. and a timeless state Rev. 10.6 Time shall be no more For the thousand years time of the Church's Glory being finished and all the time of Satan and his Instruments ended who are the Abusers of Time Time shall pass into Eternity of Glory and Beatifical Vision and eternal Life Secondly I would also humbly intreat my Reverend Brethren to declare to the Ministers of Christ Churches of Saints what is noted in the holy Scripture of Truth concerning the WORLD to come the New Heavens and a New Earth and the New Jerusalem Also the Second Personal Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ from Heaven You are commissioned and commanded to declare unto the people the whole counsel of God revealed in his written Word and this Gospel of the Kingdom and Coming of Christ must be preached in all the Inhabited World towards the latter End thereof Matth. 24.14 as a Witness unto all Nations and then shall the End come This is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Generation Truth which ought to be Preached and Testified by the Ministers and Churches of Christ in these latter daies though they be killed for bearing this Testimony Rev. 11.3 4 7. Be faithful to Death and Christ will give you a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 and 12.11 Lastly A word of Consolation to those that do believe pray and wait for the world to come and the Spiritual Glory thereof 1. In general for then the Ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting Joy c. Isa 35.10 Then shall be the confluence of all spiritual Comforts to the Church and People of God Isa 60.1 2 3 7 13 19-22 The LORD shall be thy everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory vers 19. All the promises of Grace and Glory shall then be performed which are in Christ Yea and in Christ Amen to the praise and glory of God 2 Cor. 1.20 And then all Prophecies relating to the Churches Spiritual Glory shall be fulfilled Act. 3 19-21 which God hath spoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets Then will be a superabundant pouring out of
own unwillingness Thou wilt not come to Christ this Jesus Christ complained of John 5.40 But ye will not come to me that ye might have life Ah! woe's me saith the poor lost sinner If I were so deeply humbled for my sins if I had a soft broken penitent heart if I could get victory over my corruptions then I should be willing to come to Christ for pardon and for salvation but these things hinder me and discourageth me from coming to Christ I am ashamed to come I am afraid to come I confess I am unwilling to come yet know God and Christ is willing that thou shouldest come Mat. 11.28 And ere long the Day of God's Power will come upon thee and then thou wilt be willing Psal 110.3 Thy People shall be willing in the Day of thy Power Secondly I exhort you to believe in Christ When the Jaylor asked Paul and Silas and said Sirs What must I do to be saved They said Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16.30 31. This is that glad Tydings of the Gospel which Christ hath commanded and commissioned his Ministers to Preach unto every creature Mark 16.15 16. He that believes shall be saved but he that believes not shall be damned There is an absolute necessity of believing in Jesus Christ unto salvation for without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Alas saith a poor sinner I cannot Believe I know not how to Believe what shall I do to Believe I answer Faith is not of our selves it is not of works but it is the Gift of God Eph. 2.8 9 10. The Faith of the Operation of God Col. 2.12 It is the exceeding greatness of his mighty power Eph. 1.19 20. The same Almighty Power of God that raised Jesus Christ from the dead must raise the soul of a sinner from the death of sin unto the life of Righteousness The soul being dead in trespasses and sins must be quickened together with Christ and raised together with Christ Eph. 2.5 6. Thirdly I exhort you to Repent of your sins Repentance is also the Gift of God Act. 11.18 Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted Repentance unto life Evangelical Repentance is a godly sorrow for sin or a sorrowing for sin after a godly manner 2 Cor. 7.9 10. For godly sorrow worketh Repentance to salvation c. which Gospel-Repentance consists of confession of sins to God contrition and mourning for sins before God and turning from sins unto God with our whole heart and with our whole man in Spirit Soul and Body And I do exhort sanctified Believers to prepare themselves to leave this world and to enjoy the world to come Noah did prepare himself all the time he was building the Ark by being a just and perfect man and walking with God Gen. 6.9 for the Ending Time of this world draws near And the End of our natural life is to us the End of this World And that we may be prepared we ought to dye daily to sin to self and to this evil world And we must live to God live God in Christ Jesus Titus 2.11 12 13 14. For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works THE WORLD to Come CHAP. I. Wherein the General Position is propounded proved explained 1. The Position propounded THere is a World to come wherein will be the New Heavens a New Earth and the New Jerusalem also the Kingdom of Christ and his Saints the Resurrection of the Dead and the Eternal Judgment which World to come will begin when the LORD Jesus Christ shall come again from Heaven 2. The Position proved The holy Scripture of Truth doth Testifie 1. That there is a WORLD to come Matth. 12.32 But whosoever speaketh against the holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven him neither in this World neither in the World to come Eph. 1.20 21. Not only in this world but also in that which is to come And Heb. 2.5 For unto the Angels hath he not put in subjection that WORLD even that to come 2. That then the LORD Jesus Christ will come again from Heaven Phil. 3.20 For our conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Heb. 9.28 And to them that look for him shall he appear the Second Time c. 1 Thes 3.13 At the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ with all his Saints 3. That then there will be the New Heavens and a New Earth and the New Jerusalem yea and all things new Isa 65.17 I create New Heavens and a New Earth 2. Pet. 3.13 We according to his promise look for New Heavens and a New Earth c. Rev. 21.1 2. And I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth And I John saw the holy City the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven c. And Heb. 12.22 23 24. The heavenly Jerusalem 4. That the LORD Jesus Christ and his Saints shall have a Kingdom and shall Reign on Earth Dan. 7.13 14. 27. And there was given to him a Kingdom Zech. 14.9 And the LORD shall be King of all the Earth Dan. 7.27 And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People of the Saints of the most High c. Rev. 5. 9 10. And thou hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall Reign on Earth Also Rev. 11.15 20.4 And they lived and Reigned with Christ a thousand years 5. That then there shall be a Resurrection from the Dead 1 Thes 4.16 And the dead in Christ shall rise first Rev. 20.5 6. And the Rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished 1 Cor. 15.21 22 23-51 52. And the dead shall be raised incorruptible c. 6. That then shall be the last and Eternal Judgment Rom. 14.10 and 2 Cor. 5.10 For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ And Act. 17.31 Rom. 2.16 and 2 Tim. 4.1 Who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom 1 Pet. 4.5 Ready to judge the quick and the dead Eccles 12.14 God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing c. Rom. 2.16 and Matth. 12.36 called the Eternal Judgment Heb. 6.2 So then without all controversie or any modest contradiction we have the Testimony of Christ his Apostles and Prophets recorded in the holy Scripture of Truth for the full confirmation of our general Position 3. The Position explained In explaining our general Position I shall begin with the first
branch thereof already proved viz. That there is a WORLD to come wherein will be the New Heavens and a New Earth and the New Jerusalem By the World to come we are to understand that which the Apostle calls That inhabited WORLD even that to come Heb. 2.5 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Apostle Peter tells us that the old world being overflowed with water perished the world that now is even this present evil world is reserved unto fire against the day of Judgment c. 2. Pet. 3.6 7. But there will come another world after the world that now is called the WORLD to come in contradistinction unto this world Eph. 1.21 This world is distinguished from that world by Christ himself Luk. 20.34 35 36 37. The WORLD to come will be a New Creation then Christ will make all things new Rev. 21.5 He will create New Heavens and a New Earth and a New Jerusalem Isa 65.17 When St. John had seen in his Vision the New Heaven and a New Earth Rev. 21.1 2. He saw the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven and vers 5. He that sate upon the Throne said Behold I make all things new This New-Creation will bear some Resemblance unto the first Creation in respect of Matter Manner Parts and End thereof The Matter out of which the Lord Jesus Christ will create the WORLD to come whereof we treat is a meer Chaos viz. the Confusion and Desolation of this present evil world All things will be in a confused and desolate Condition towards the End of this world will be perilous Times 2 Tim. 3.1 In the last daies perilous Times shall come And great Tribulations such as never was Mat. 24.21 yea and most wicked Abomination the whole world lying in wickedness 1 John 5.19 and behold then even then will the Lord Jesus Christ appear Matth. 24.29 30. And HE will come and restore all things For then will be the Times of the Restitution of all things Act. 3.21 and then will Christ Restore our Judges as at the first Isa 1.26 27. HE will make our Oppressors Peace and our Exactors Righteousness Isa 60.17 Then the Wolf and the Lamb shall feed together They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain saith the Lord Isa 65.25 The Manner of the New-Creation will be in an Instant as the first Creation was God spake the word and it was done He commanded and they were created Psal 148.5 God said Let there be Light and there was Light Gen. 1.3 Isa 66.8 Who hath heard such a thing Who hath seen such things Shall the Earth be made to bring forth in one day They are created now and not from the Beginning Isa 48.6 7. Or shall a Nation be born at once far as soon as Zion travelled she brought forth her children And so will the whole New-Creation there will be a Restitution of all things and all things will be on a sudden made new Rev. 21.5 The Parts of the New-Creation in the World to come are first the new-New-Heavens and the new-New-Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness 2 Pet. 3.13 whereby we are to understand that New-State and Frame of Government here on Earth which the Lord Jesus Christ the King of Kings and King of Nations will constitute and command his Saints to execute in all his Dominions and Kingdoms under the whole Heaven Dan. 7.13 14 27. Isa 9.6 7. Secondly The New Jerusalem that heavenly Jerusalem Heb. 12.22 23 24. called the General Assembly and the Church of the first born written in Heaven c. whereby we are to understand that glorious State of the Church of God on Earth which will be in that day when God will glorifie the House of his Glory Isa 60.1 2 7 13 19 20. which Christ shall present unto himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle nor any such thing Eph. 5.27 but holy and without blemish called the Lamb's Wife Rev. 21.9 10 11. prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband v. 2. In this holy City the heavenly New Jerusalem shall the pure Worship of God be celebrated and his Sacred Ordinances shall be administred according to his Divine Institutions and his Spiritual Gifts shall again be given unto his Saints for the Glory of his holy Name and for the Conversion of the Nations that shall be saved Isa 60.1 2 3 4 5. The Gentiles shall come to thy Light The Abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee And Rev. 21.10 23 24. And the Nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it c. Thirdly The Renewed Creatures whose earnest Expectation waiteth for the Manifestation of the Sons of God Rom. 8. 23. And not only they but our selves also which have the first fruits of the Spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of our body The End of the New-Creation in the World to come is first To make all things very good as God did in the first Creation Gen. 1.31 And God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good So the Lord Jesus Christ will create all things new and make every thing very good in the world to come Wherein will be the Times of the Restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began Act. 3.19 20 21. Secondly To glorifie himself and to make his Church glorious Isa 28.5 62.3 In that Day shall the LORD of Hosts be for a Crown of Glory and for a Diadem of Beauty unto the Residue of his People Thou shalt also be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the LORD and a Royal Diadem in the hand of thy God Isa 60.1 2 3 7 9 13 19 22. I the LORD will hasten it in his Time The second Branch of our general Position which hath also been proved is this That the LORD Jesus Christ shall appear the Second Time which is now to be explained The Second Coming of Christ from Heaven is often asserted by the Prophets and Apostles and confirmed by the Testimony of Christ himself Rev. 22.7 I come quickly ver 12. Behold I come quickly And ver 26. Surely I come quickly Amen Even so Come LORD Jesus Zech. 14.5 And the Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee Also 1 Thes 3.13 At the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ with all his Saints These Scriptures and those also before mentioned for proof of this Branch of our Position viz. Phil. 3.20 Heb. 9.28 do testifie That our LORD Jesus Christ will certainly suddenly and visibly appear the Second Time and come from Heaven upon the Earth in his own Person This Job believed and therefore did he speak Job 19.25 For I know that my Redeemer Liveth And be shall stand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the last of Time or Day upon the Earth Read ver 26 27. Heb. 10.37 Yet
3 8 11 16. And thou shalt come up against my People Israel It shall be in the latter daies And vers 23. Thus will I magnifie my self and sanctifie my self c. chap. 39.1 8-13 21 25 29. Secondly Mystery Babylon and the Kings of the Earth who have given their Power and Strength unto the Beast Rev. 19.19 20 21. Thirdly John's Mystical Gog and Magog and all their multitude Rev. 20.8 9. Who will compass the Camp of the Saints about and the Beloved City And fire will come down from God out of Heaven and devour them Thirdly Another End of Christ's Coming from Heaven and another Work that he will do when he comes again is this viz. He will set up his Davidical Kingdom on Earth Dan. 2.44 And in the daies of those Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom that shall never be destroyed Luk. 1.31 32 33. And the Lord shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David And Isa 9.6 7. The next particular in our general Position is touching the Kingdom of Christ and his Saints The holy Scriptures of Truth do in several places plainly affirm That the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdom of Christ and his Saints Dan. 7.13 14 27. Vers 14. And there was given him Dominion Glory and a Kingdom His Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away And his Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed Vers 27. And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People even to the Saints of the most High And Rev. 11.15 The Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdom of our LORD and of his Christ c. By the Kingdoms of this World we may understand universally All the Kingdoms in the whole world for Christ shall be King of all the Earth Zech. 14.9 In that Day shall there be one Lord and his Name one Particularly the Kingdom of David to wit Judah and Israel Luk. 1.31 32 33. And the LORD God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David And of his Kingdom there shall be no end Isa 9.6 7. Micah 4.8 And thou O Tower of the Flock the strong hold of the Daughter of Zion unto thee shall it come Even the first Dominion the Kingdom shall come to the Daughter of Jerusalem And vers 7. All those Prophesies shall be fulfilled Dan. 2.37 43 44. When the Stone hath broken all those Kingdoms in pieces vers 34 35 45. which Stone is Christ Luk. 20 17 18. and his Jerusalem Zech. 12.3 compared with Matth. 21.44 and Jerem. 51 19-24 And with thee will I destroy Kingdoms Then that Stone will become a great Mountain and fill the whole Earth Dan. 2.35 that is to say Christ will be King of all the Earth Zech. 14.9 And thâ— Kingdom of Christ will be enlarged 1. By the extraordinary Conversion of Sinners both Jews and Gentiles Isa 60.3 5 8 10-15 and Rom. 11 25 26 27. 2. By the pouring out of the Spirit upon all Flesh Joel 2.28 Isa 44.3 4 5. whereby the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea Joel 2.29 and Hab. 2.14 Then the Nations shall know That the LORD Jesus Christ is King of Nations Jer. 10.7 The King of Kings and the only Potentate 1 Tim. 6.15 And HE shall put down all Rule and all Authority and Power 1 Cor. 15.24 25. For he must Reign till he hath put all Enemies under his feet And the Saints shall know That the Kingdom of Christ is not of this World Joh. 18.36 that is to say Christ's Kingdom is not of a worldly Constitution but it is a spiritual and Heavenly Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.18 and called the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 25.1 2. though it will be a glorious Kingdom Psal 145.10 11 12 13. yet it is not that Kingdom of Glory where Jesus Christ his holy Angels and the Spirits of Just men made perfect now are for there are no foolish Virgins in that Kingdom of Heaven See more of this matter in my Exposition of the Parable of the Kingdom of Heaven Printed anno Dom. 1674. And also in the third Part of my Apocalyptical Mysteries Printed Anno 1667. likewise in my Exposition of the 11th Chapter of the Revelation Printed Anno 1679. This Kingdom of our LORD Jesus Christ will begin in the Daies of these Kings Dan. 2.44 that is to say the ten Kings of the fourth Kingdom the Roman Monarchy Then the Dominion shall be given unto the Saints Dan. 7.27 And the Saints of the most High shall take the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom for ever and ever Dan. 7.18.22 And they shall Reign on Earth Rev. 5.9 10. Then the Saints shall be rarely qualified and spirited for Government for They shall be all Righteous Isa 60.1 2 3 20 21. They shall do no iniquity Zeph. 3.13 And They shall be without fault before the Throne of God Rev. 14.5 They shall be endued with courage clad with Zeal and girded with strength to bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in fetters of Iron and execute upon them the Judgment written Luk. 19.27 This Honour have all his Saints Psal 149.1 2 6 7 8 9. and Zech. 12.5 6 7 8 9. and Isa 60.12 For the Nation and Kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish yea those Nations shall be utterly wasted And when the Kingdom of our LORD Jesus Christ is established on Earth and all the Kingdoms of this world are become his the thousand years of the Reign of Christ and his Saints being ended Rev. 20.4 5 6 7. then Christ will Raise the Dead and he will judge the Quick and the Dead which being done HE will deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father that God may be all in all 1 Cor. 15 24-28 The next particular in our general Position to be explained is the Resurrection of the Body at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ compare 1 Cor. 15.20 22 23. with 1 Thes 4.16 The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven And the Dead in Christ shall Rise first The Dead Bodies of the Saints shall then be Raised from the Dead that shall yet remain in their Graves They that sleep in Jesus will God raise up them will Jesus Christ awaken with the Trump of God 1 Thes 4.14 The Resurrection of the Dead hath this Order and is described by the Apostle in this manner to wit Christ first 1 Cor. 15.22 23 24. afterwards they that are Christ's at his Coming But the rest of the Dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished Rev. 20.5 6. This is the first Resurrection Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection They shall Reign with Christ a thousand years and that on Earth Rev. 5.9 10. These Kings and Priests are the Children of the Resurrection Luk. 20.35 36. being the Children of God Whose vile Bodies shall be changed and
THE VVORLD that Now is AND THE VVORLD that is to Come Or the First and Second Coming of Jesus Christ Wherein several Prophecies not yet fulfilled are Expounded By HAN KNOLLYS A Servant of Jesus Christ Rev. 1.19 LONDON Printed by Tho. Snowden An. 1681. TO THE READER Christian Reader SO needful is the true Knowledge of God and Jesus Christ so absolutely conducing unto Man's Eternal Well-being John 17.3 as whereby alone true Happiness is to be attained To that End in the former Part of this little Treatise is set forth First What the LORD Jesus Christ hath done and suffered for the Salvation of Sinners Secondly What HE doth work in them by his holy Spirit and Word in Order unto their Everlasting Salvation Thirdly What kind of Worship Churches Ministers and Ordinances the LORD Jesus Christ hath instituted and appointed under the Gospel And in the latter Part of it is briefly and plainly declared That there is a WORLD to Come That the LORD Jesus Christ will come personally visibly and suddenly That he will set up his Kingdom will Reign Raise the Dead and Judge both the Quick and the Dead 2 Tim. 4.1 At his Appearing his Kingdom It may be some of all sorts of Readers will judge and Censure me for one thing or another but with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by Man's Judgment I only entreat the Judicious Reader to search the Scriptures and thereby to prove all things and hold fast that which is sound I pretend not to Infallibility I know but in part yet I am willing to impart that which I do know unto others that are searching after Knowledge and Understanding And I pray that God will fill you that Read what I have written with the Knowledge of his Will Revealed in his written WORD That you may prove what is the perfect Will of God But if any man seem to be contentious we have no such Custom neither the Churches of God Nor will I contend with any one otherwise than the Apostle Jude exhorts in the third verse of his Epistle That we should earnestly contend for the Faith that was once delivered unto the Saints not by vain Disputings and Janglings but by sober Assertions and clear Proofs of Scripture Isa 8.20 Shew me friendly Reader wherein I have erred from the Truth and it will be as precious Balm and I shall esteem thee my friend indeed that will endeavour to convert me from the Errour of my Way if i◠be done in a Spirit of Love Nay if any one shall do it in another frame of spirit I shall thankfully acknowledge his kindness that will endeavour to Convince me to Reprove me yea although he should Reproach me and I would bear it patiently and humbly acknowledge my mistake And I will not obstinately hold fast any Errour after Conviction through the Grace of God for I love the Truth as it is in Jesus if my heart doth not deceive me more than my self or my esteem in the World Thy Souls Friend Han. Knollys From my Study in Bartholomew-Lane August 3. 1681. THE VVORLD That now is THE holy Scripture of Truth speaketh of three Worlds viz. The WORLD that was 2 Pet. 3.6 The WORLD that now is called this WORLD Mat. 12.32 the WORLD to come Heb. 2.5 The WORLD that now is is the Subject of the first Part of this Treatise And the WORLD to come shall be the subject of the latter Part thereof The principal matter of which we intend to treat touching the WORLD that now is doth concern the first Coming of Christ into this WORLD when the WORD was made Flesh and dwelt among us Joh. 1.14 The chief matter of the latter Part of this Treatise doth concern the Second Coming of Christ in the WORLD to come Wherein there will be New Heavens a New Earth and a New Jerusalem and all things will be new-created Rev. 21 1-5 CHAP. 1. Wherein our general Position is propounded proved and explained § 1. The Position propounded THat the Chief WORK of Jesus Christ in his first Coming into the WORLD was to save sinners to build up his own House the Church of the Living God and to institute all Gospel-Ordinances necessary for his Disciples to worship God in Spirit and in Truth § 2. The Position proved 1. That our LORD Jesus Christ came into the WORLD to save sinners Luk. 5.32 I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance Matth. 18.11 For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost And 1 Tim. 1.15 Christ Jesus came into the WORLD to save Sinners 2. That our LORD Jesus Christ being come in the Flesh did build up his own House the Church of God Heb. 3 -- 6. For this Man Christ Jesus was counted worthy of more glory than Moses in as much as He who builded the House hath more honour than the House Moses was faithful in all his House as a Servant but Christ as a Son over his own House the Church of God 1 Tim. 3.15 3. That our Lord Jesus Christ hath instituted all Gospel-Ordinances necessary for his Disciples to worship God in Spirit and in Truth 1 Cor. 11.1 2. Be ye followers of me even as I am of Christ And keep the Ordinances as I delivered them unto you Joh. 4.21 22 23 24. The true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth § 3. The Position explained The first part of our general Position to be explained is That our LORD Jesus Christ came into the WORLD to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Now the Method I shall observe in the Explanation of this part of our Position shall be to shew 1. What kind of Saviour Christ is 2. What Salvation Sinners may have by Jesus Christ And 3. How Sinners are saved by Jesus Christ And of these in order First What kind of Saviour is Jesus Christ I answer 1. The LORD Jesus Christ is an Almighty Saviour As there is none other Act. 4.12 so there needs none other Saviour None can pull a Soul out of Christ's hand Joh. 10.27 -- 30. Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-Man Emmanuel God with us Matth. 1.23 Jehovah our Righteousness Jer. 23.6 The Mighty God Isa 9.6 The Almighty Rev. 1.8 The true God and Eternal Life 1 Joh. 5.20 There is no Saviour but God Isa 43.3 11. I even I am Jehovah and beside me there is no Saviour And Jude v. 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen It is absolutely necessary unto Salvation to know and believe That the LORD Jesus Christ is very God as well as very Man So the Virgin Mary believed when she said My Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour Luk. 1.46 47. And so did all the holy Apostles and Saints believe and confess Rom. 9.5 2
solemnly with one accord engaging themselves to come together in ONE Congregation and to Assemble themselves together in some one Place every first Day of the week to worship God publickly in all his holy Ordinances with their mutual professed Subjection unto the Laws of God's House and with a Professed Resolution to Continue in the Apostles Doctrine and in Fellowship and in Breaking of Bread and Prayer through the Help of God All which being done the same Minister ought to declare them to be a Church of Saints and the Ministers and Brethren of other Churches being also present ought to own and acknowledge them to be a Sister-Church by giving them the Right hand of Fellowship and so to commend them by Prayer unto God and to the Word of his Grace who is able to build them up and to give them an Inheritance among all them which are sanctified The Well-Being of a particular Church of Saints doth principally consist in three things viz. Oneness Order and Government That Gospel-Oneness which maketh very much for the Well-Being of a particular Church is threefold First That there be but ONE Church in one City 1 Cor. 14.19 34. and that all the Congregations of Saints in that City called Churches bear but one Name to wit the Church of God in that City as in the Apostles daies Act. 15.4.22 1 Cor. 1.2 Rev. 2. 3. chap. That so there may be no Schism Divisions nor sinful Separations from the Church of God but that the whole Church may be perfectly joyned together in ONE As a City that is compact together Psal 122.3 as an House or Building fitly framed together Ephes 2.21 22. and as a Body fitly joyned and compacted by every joynt of supply Eph. 4.16 Secondly That this Church be of one Heart and of one Soul Act. 4.32 being perfectly joyned together in the same Mind and in the same Judgment 1 Cor. 1.2 9 10. that so they may all with one Mind and one Mouth glorifie God even the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ Rom. 15.6 having the same Love one to another Phil. 2.1 2 3. and the same Care one for another 1 Cor. 12.25 26 27. each one endeavouring to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace Eph. 4 3-6 This Oneness will make the Communion of Saints very comfortable Col. 2 2-5 And hereby they will enjoy Fellowship with the Father Son and Spirit in all God's holy Gospel-Ordinances to the Glory of God and their own Edification Thirdly That this one Church and all the Congregations of Saints that are Members thereof walk by one and the same Rule of the written Word of God Phil. 3.16 being Ordered and Guided by their Bishops Pastors Teachers Presbyters or Elders according to the Royal Laws of God's House called the perfect Law of Liberty Jam. 1.25 submitting themselves unto those Guides Act. 20.28 whom God hath made their Overseers who watch for their Souls as they that must give an Account Heb. 13.7 17. Cant. 6.4.10 Gospel-Order is a great Beauty and Ornament to the Church Col. 2.5 and Order makes very much for the Well-Being of the Church And Gospel-Order consisteth in these things Psal 48.2 Ezek. 16.12 14. First That the Bishop and Presbyters set in Order the things which are wanting in the Church Titus 1.5 1 Cor. 11.34 Secondly That all things in the Church be done decently and in Order which Christ hath commanded to be done 1 Cor. 14.40 And for which his Apostles and Disciples have given us Example Phil. 3.17 Thirdly That the Order of the Gospel be carefully observed and kept in the Administration of God's Sacred Ordinances in the Admission of Members in the Ordination of Church-Officers and in withdrawing from every Brother that walketh Disorderly God was offended with his Church under the Law because they sought him not in due Order 2 Chron. 15.11 12 13. 1 Cor. 14.33 And God hath committed the Government of his Gospel-Church and Kingdom unto Christ to Order it c. Isa 9.6 7. God is not the Author of Confusion Gospel-Government is ordained and appointed of God for the Well-Being of his Church The Church of God cannot have a Well-Being without Christ's Instituted Gospel-Government And to that end God the Father hath laid the Government of his Church upon his Son Jesus Christ Isa 9.6 7. To whom he gave all Power in Heaven and Earth Matth. 28.18 And he hath made Christ Lord of his House and King of his Church Heb. 3 1-6 Psal 149.2 The Lord Jesus Christ deligated this his Ecclesiastical Government of the Church unto his holy Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers called Bishops Presbyters or Elders who where allowed of God to be put in Trust with the Gospel 1 Thes 2.4 And the Apostles and Evangelists did commit the same unto faithful men 2 Tim. 2.12 whom they Ordained Bishops Presbyters or Elders in the Churches of Saints Titus 1.5 7. Act. 14.23 which Gospel-Government as we said before is not a Coercive-Power over Mens Consciences nor is it a Dominion over their Faith neither is it a Lordship over God's Clergy or Heritage but it is a Stewardship of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 2 3 4. Let a Man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God And Titus 1.7 For a Bishop must be blameless as the Steward of God Unto this Gospel-Government appertains Church-Censures of Admonition 2 Thes 3.15 and Titus 3.10 Suspension or withdrawing from a Brother or Member that hath and doth walk disorderly 2 Thes 3.6 and Excommunication of those Members that live in gross and scandalous sins 1 Cor. 5.1 4 5 13. CHAP. II. Of Gospel-Ministry § 1. THE LORD Jesus Christ is the Chief Minister of God's Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 8.1 2. which the Lord pitched and not Man He is the Chief Pastor of God's little Flock (b) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pastorum Princeps 1 Pet. 5.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. the Bishop of our Souls (c) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 2.25 Heb. 13.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 13.20 The great Shepherd of of the Sheep who in all things hath the Pre-eminence (d) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in omnibus Ipse Primatum tenens or Supremacy § 2. HE gave Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers for the work of the Ministry Ephes 4.11 12 13. 1 Cor. 12.28 The Apostles Prophets Evangelists were appointed by Christ to Preach the Gospel to the World Mark 16.15 and for the Gathering of the Saints framing and perfectly joyning them together (e) Eph. 4.11 12 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The Pastors and Teachers were Set by Christ in the Churches as fixed Officers for the Edifying of the Body until we all meet together in
not the holy Scripture teach Women professing godliness when they come to pray and worship Gods to adorn themselves in modest Apparel with shamefac'dness and sobriety not with broidered hair or costly Aray 1 Tim. 2.8 9 10 11 12. 1 Pet. 3.3 4 5 6. And more especially in daies of Humiliation and Tribulation even at such a time as this which is indeed a perillous time Read Exod. 33.4 5 6 7. Isa 3 16-24 Another Character of those Apostates of the last Daies is Truce-breakers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Covenant-breakers such as do break their Oaths Vows Promises Ingagements Oh how guilty have some Courtiers Counsellors Souldiers Mareners Citizens Professors and Church-Members been of those hainous sins Read the Army-Remonstrance 1648. and that Book intituled A Looking-glass for the ARMY in which Book you may find collected the Vows Promises and Covenants that those Sword-bearing Professors made and several of them brake To say nothing of the Scots and English Covenants so solemnly taken in their Parish-Churches Many Professors have broken God's Covenant as Israel did Jer. 31.23 Which my Covenant they brake Another Character of the Apostates of the last Daies is False-accusers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Calumniators Devils incarnate such are those false witnesses that rise up against men and do falsly accuse them Psal 35.11 And when may false witnesses do not agree in their Testimony which men suborned at last comes other false witnesses and then the Sentence of Death is given and afterwards executed Thus they dealt with the Lord of Life and put him to death Matth. 26.59 60. and with Stephen Act. 6.11 12 13. and stoned him to death Another Character of the Apostates of the last Daies is this Lovers of Pleasures more than Lovers of God Who more than rich Professors for fine Clothes sumptuous Houses delicate Fare costly Furniture and Court-fashions wherein they have exceeded since the Burning of the City besides other vain Pleasures wherein they have delighted themselves more than in the waies of God and Godliness Amos 6.1 Woe to them that are secure in Zion Ver. 3. Ye that put far away the evil day V. 4. That lye upon Beds of Ivory V. 5. That chant to the sound of the Viol. V. 6. That drink Wine in Bowls But they are not grieved for the Affliction of Joseph The last Character of these Apostates in the last Daies which is a sign of the Ending-Time of this Evil WORLD is this viz. Having a Form of Godliness but denying the Power thereof To have a Form of Godliness is to hold on in Religious duties and Gospel-Ordinances as Praying in their Families often hearing Sermons attending daies of publick Fasting and of Thanksgiving also frequent Assembling themselves with the separated Congregations of Saints and therein partake of all Gospel-Administrations such are Sinners in Zion and Hypocrites like them Isa 33.14 yet are lovers of themselves and lovers of Pleasures more than God Christ Godliness and the poor afflicted Children of God Proud-Professors Covetous Church-Members Covenant-breakers and false-accusers denying the Power of Godliness For though these Apostates profess they know God yet in works they deny him Tit. 1.16 Read Isa 1.11 12 13 14 15. Isa 6.2 3 4. I am not against the True Form of Godliness that is to say Church-Fellowship and Gospel Order and the Worship of God in Spirit and in Truth according to the Constitutions of Jesus Christ and his Apostles But I thus speak and write to open and expound the words of this Prophecy Another Sign of the Ending-Time of this world is the abounding of Iniquity among the profane persons of the world Mat. 24.3 12. Tell us what shall be the sign of thy Coming and of the End of the world And Jesus answered and said unto them Iniquity shall abound The Apostle also tells us 1 Joh. 5.19 The whole world lyeth in wickedness Ungodliness was the destruction of the Old World Gen. 6.5 6 7. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the Earth V. 5. And the Lord said I will destroy Man from the face of the Earth V. 7. The destruction of the Old World was by the Flood but the desolation of the world that now is shall be by Fire 2 Pet. 3.6 7. The Earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up By Iniquity we are to understand those Immoralities and abominable wickednesses that are committed and practised by ungodly men who declare their sins as Sodom and boast of their abominations Now Reader consider how doth Iniquity abound to wit Adultery that hath gotten a Whores forehead which is not ashamed of that abomination Also profane and false-swearing which is an abomination to the Lord who hateth profane and false Oaths And Drunkenness which so unmans men and so effeminates them that they are thereby fit for nothing but sinfulness wantonness lasciviousness and all manner of wickedness Likewise oppression violence robbery injustice bribery and all sorts of unrighteousness Lastly Persecution Imprisonment and Banishment for Preaching the Lord Jesus Christ and Practising the Ordinances of the Gospel Do not these Iniquities abound in our daies I think that the Inhabitants of this Nation do abound in these Iniquities much more than in former Ages Another Sign of the Ending-Time of this World is that great Tribulation which our blessed Saviour spake of Mat. 24.21 29 30. This is that hour of Temptation which Christ said shall come upon all the world Rev. 3.10 11. This day of Tribulation will be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a Nation even to that same time Dan. 12 1-4 Shut up the words and seal the Book even to the Time of the End The Tribulation of the People of God will be the War that the Roman Beast will make against Christ's two Prophetical Witnesses wherein he shall overcome them and kill them Rev. 11.7 See my Exposition of that Chapter and Verse Printed 1679. And the Tribulation of the Roman Beast the great Whore and the false Prophet will be the seven Vials of the last Plagues of God Almighty which shall be poured forth upon Mystery Babylon the great Rev. 16.17 18 19 20 21. And the seventh Angel poured out his Vial into the Air and there came a great voice out of the Temple of Heaven from the Throne saying It is done And there were voices and thunders and lightnings And there was a great Earthquake such as was not since men were upon the Earth so mighty an Earthquake and so great And the great City was divided into three parts and the Cities of the Nations fell and great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the Cup of the Wine of the fierceness of his wrath And every Island fled away and the Mountains were not found And there fell upon men a great Hail out of Heaven every stone about the weight of a talent and men blasphemed God because of the Plague of the
Hail for the Plague thereof was exceeding great And immediately after the Tribulation of these daies they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great glory Matth. 24. v. 29 30. Then will Christ take unto him his great Power and Reign he will create New Heavens and a New Earth wherein dwells Righteousness Isa 65.17 66.22 2 Pet. 3.13 Rev. 21 2-5 And he that sate upon the Throne said Behold I make all things New Now this New Creation is the WORLD to come CHAP. V. Of Separation § 1. GOD did separate his Antient People the Jews from all other People in the World to be his peculiar People to worship him according to his Institutions and Commandments Levit. 20.24 26. And God hath commanded the Believing Gentiles to be separated from Idolaters and Unbelievers or Infidels and to have no Communion or Fellowship with them in any false Worship 2 Cor. 6 14-18 § 2. But though Believers may be and ought to abide separated from the Worship and Worshippers of Idols in their Temples (a) 2 Cor. 6.16 17. and from the Worship of the Unbelieving Jews in their Synagogues (b) Act. 19.8 9. And also from the Worship and Worshippers of the Beast or his Image (c) Rev. 14.9 10. 20.4 and from the Assemblies of all false Worshippers and from all false Worship yet sanctified Believers ought not to separate themselves from the true Churches of God and of his Saints that Worship him in Spirit and in Truth and walk in the Faith and Order of the Gospel according to the Rule of the written Word of God so far as they have attained § 3. The most pure Churches of Saints on Earth are subject to mixture some false Brethren may creep into a Church of Christ unawares (d) Gal. 2.4 and some false Teachers too (e) 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5 8. Men of corrupt minds and corrupt manners also (f) 2 Cor. 2.17 And there may be some Errours in Doctrine and some Evils in Conversation among them as there was among some of the Churches of Christ in Asia in the Apostles time (g) Rev. 2.14 15 20 24. But yet Believers ought not to separate themselves from those Churches of Saints whereof they are Members for those Errours in Doctrine or Evils in Conversation until they have first faithfully and orderly born their testimony against them secondly until they have humbly entreated the Church and the Ministers thereof to Reform those things that are amiss among them and thirdly until the Church and the Ministers thereof do utterly Refuse to Reform those Errours in Doctrine and those Evils in Conversation among them § 4. The Ministers and Members of the Churches of God ought to imitate Christ in this matter and to follow his steps Our LORD Jesus Christ did see many things amiss in some of the Churches in Asia viz. unsound Doctrines and corrupt Manners to wit the Doctrine and Deeds of the Nicolaitans which Christ hated c. But notwithstanding Christ did not presently forsake those Churches nor did he command any of the Ministers or Members thereof to separate themselves from them neither did Christ blame any Believers that were sound in their Judgments and holy in their Conversations for holding Communion with those Churches But Jesus Christ did first bear his Testimony against those Errours in Doctrine and Corruptions in Conversation Secondly Christ called upon the Church and Angel to Repent and Reform what was amiss And Thirdly Christ gave them space to Repent and waited for their Amendment before he did forsake them Read the second and third chapters of the Revelation And therefore I conclude That none of the Ministers nor Members of any true Church of God ought to separate themselves from the Church nor ought they to forsake the Assembling of themselves with the Church nor absent themselves from any part of the true Worship of God nor turn their back of any Gospel-Ordinance of Christ in the Church because of Offence against any Member or Minister in the Church But they ought to bear and have patience and to wait upon Christ and his Church until such Offenders be orderly proceeded against and those offences be reformed or removed by the Laws of God's House Or else until the Candlestick be removed out of its place for suffering those Errours in Doctrine or Corruptions in Manners and Conversation and for adding impenitency unto such impiety iniquity suffered and indulged in the Church by the Ministers therein and by the Members thereof to the dishonour of God the scandal of the Gospel and the great offence and grief of the godly who have walked orderly and have not defiled their Garments but have watched and kept themselves unspotted of the world and uncorrupted with those Evils in the Church which would not be healed and therefore ought to be forsaken and separated from by the faithful Ministers of Christ and all the holy People of God Seeing then that the Ending Time of this evil world will be so perillous and a Day of so great Tribulation I do intreat both unconverted Sinners and sanctified Believers to suffer a word of Exhortation I do therefore exhort unconverted Sinners upon whom the End of this WORLD is coming by Death or Dissolution That you would come to Christ Believe in Jesus Christ and Repent of your sins First I exhort you to come to Christ for there is not salvation in any other Acts 4.12 If you will not come to Christ whilst you live you will certainly go to Hell when you dye Psal 9.17 Some poor sinner haply will say Alas I am a vile sinful sinner I am unworthy may I presume to come unto Christ Yes Jesus Christ who came into the world to save the chiefest of sinners doth invite all that will to come unto him Isa 55.1 2 3. Rev. 22. v. 17. But if I do come unto Christ will he not refuse me and reject me and cast me off No! Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out Some poor lost sinner may haply say Indeed I see a great need of Christ to justifie me and to sanctifie me and to save me but I know not how to come to Christ I cannot come to Christ what shall I do I answer It is true no man can come to Christ except the Father draw him John 6.44 but God the Father doth draw sinners unto Christ with his Cords of Love Jer. 31.3 Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting Love therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee Though thou canst not come to Christ yet know that the Lord Jesus Christ can and will come to thee and teach thee to go to him as he did Ephraim Hos 11.3 4. The danger is not in thy own Inability that thou canst not come to Christ accept of Christ and take Christ upon Gospel-terms of Free Grace but thy souls danger lyeth in thy
a litlte while and HE that shall come will come and will not tarry Act. 1.11 This self same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven As Christ ascended into Heaven in his own Person so he shall lihewise descend from Heaven in his own Person Matth. 24.27 As the Lightning cometh out of the East and shineth unto the West so shall also the Coming of the SON of Man be so visible Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds and every Eye shall see him And 1 Thes 4.13 14 18. The LORD himself shall descend from Heaven c. To them that look for him he shall appear the Second Time without sin unto Salvation Now the principal things to be explained in this Branch or part of our general Position are three viz. 1. The Manner 2. The Time 3. The Ends of Christ's Coming First Touching the Manner of Christ's Second Personal Coming from Heaven it is testified Matth. 16.27 That the SON of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father The Glory of the Father is the highest and most heavenly Glory called the Excellent Glory 2 Pet. 1.16 17 18. When we made known unto you the Power and Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ For he received from God the Father honour and glory from the Excellent Glory which was but a glimpse of that Excellent Glory of the Father which Christ shall come in Attended with all his holy Angels and glorified Saints from Heaven and met in the Air by all the changed Saints then living on Earth Jude v. 14. Behold the LORD cometh with Ten Thousand of his Saints and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of Angels saying with a loud voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and honour and glory Rev. 5.11 12. and 2 Thes 1 7-10 When the LORD Jesus Christ shall be Revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels At the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his Saints 1 Thes 3.16 1 Thes 4.17 18. Then we which are alive and remain unto the Coming of the Lord ver 5. shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Read Luk. 21.17 Mark 13.16 Matth. 24.30 Secondly Touching the Time of Christ's Second Personal Coming from Heaven Though of that Day and that Hour when Christ shall come knoweth no man no not the Angels of Heaven nor the Son of Man but the Father only Mark 13.26 32. Yet there are some signs of Christ's Second Coming recorded in the Scripture of Truth whereby we may know that it is near even at the door The Disciples of Christ asked him What shall be the sign of his Coming Matth. 24.3 to whom Christ gave this for a sign ver 37 38 39. But as the Daies of Noe were so shall also the Coming of the Son of Man be And Luk. 17.28 29 30. Likewise also as it was in the Daies of Lot even thus shall it be in the Day when the Son of Man is revealed It will be so with the Men of this World as it was with the Men of the Old World which God destroyed with Water Then the wicked ones of that Generation were very ungodly Gen. 6.5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the Earth c. And Christ told his Disciples Matth. 24.12 That Iniquity shall abound a little before his Second Coming vers 30. And it will be so with the Men and Women of these Cities as it was with those Citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah whose Cities were burned Another sign of Christ's Second Coming is a great Apostasie both in the Doctrine and Worship of the Gospel This sign of Christ's Second Coming the Apostle Paul foretold 2 Thes 2.1 2 3. Now we beseech you Brethren by the Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ Let not man deceive you for that DAY shall not come except there come a falling away first An Apostasie first from the Doctrine of the Gospel especially Faith and Love 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter daies some shall depart from the Faith c. And Christ saith Matth. 24.3 12. The Love of many shall wax cold before his Second Coming from Heaven vers 30. Some Teachers make the Law of the Ten Commandments a Doctrine of Faith in Christ affirming that those ten words are a Covenant of Grace Other Preachers make the Gospel of the Grace of God a Doctrine and Covenant of works teaching Justification by works and Salvation by works holding Free-will and falling away And many there are of whom the Apostle Peter prophesied 2 Pet. 2.1 2. False Teachers who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them c. And 2 Pet. 3.3 4. That there shall come in the last Daies Scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying Where is the Promise of his Coming c Insomuch that our Saviour said Luke 18.8 When the Son of Man cometh shall he find Faâ—th on Earth And many Professors will fall from their first Love as the Ephesians did Rev. 2.4 The Faith and Love of the Primitive Saints in the Churches of Christ continued and increased 2 Thes 1.1 2 3. Your Faith groweth exceedingly and the Love of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth But in these last Daies many depart from the Faith and many cool in their Spiritual Affections to Christ there are great decaies of Grace and many flourishing Professors experience great withering fading and decaying in their spiritual gifts and graces their backslidings are increased As the Apostasie in Doctrine so in Worship is a sign of the Last Daies and of the Second Coming of Christ The Apostle Paul foretold thereof 1 Thes 2.3 4. 2 Tim. 3.1 5. This know also that in the Last Daies Men shall be Lovers of their own selves c. more than Lovers of God having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof In those last Daies even a little before the Second Coming of Christ the Laodicean Churches will be lukewarm neither cold nor hot formal not fervent in spirit serving the Lord Rev. 3.15 16. And then the National Churches will be Papal Superstitious and Will-worshippers Col. 2.16 18-22 23. Which things have indeed a shew of Wisdom in Will-worship c. Then Mystery Babylon will say I sit a Queen c. Revel 18.7 8. Therefore shall her Plagues come in one day to wit the seven Vials of the last Plagues for in them is filled up the wrath of God Rev. 15.1 7. And then our Lord Jesus Christ will come in power and great glory and shall utterly destroy Antichrist 2 Thes 2.8 Whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his Coming When those Virgin-Professors who have highly pretended to be upon their watch waiting for the Coming of the
Bridegroom Christ Jesus shall grow secure careless invigilant and all slumber and sleep it is a Sign that the Second Coming of Christ is near Matth. 25.5 6. While the Bridegroom Jesus Christ tarried they all slumbred and slept And at midnight there was a Cry made Behold the Bridegrom cometh And ver 10 The Bridegrom came called the Son of Man ver 13. See my exposition upon the Parable of the ten Virgins printed Anno 1667. David prophesied Psal 145.10.11.12.13 that the latter DAY Saints shall bless the LORD Saying They shall speak of the Glory of thy Kingdom and talk of thy Power To make known to the Sons of Men the glorious Majesty of his Kingdom But when the wise Virgins begin to be Sinfully silent and dare not bear their Testimony boldly and publickly for Christ against Antichrist when they cease to teach and preach the Doctrine of Christs Second Coming and of the glorious Majesty of his Davidical Kingdom then they begin to grow carnal worldly careless and secure formal and lukewarm But there will then come a Midnight Dispensation that will awaken all virgin Professors and then Christ will come Another Sign of Christ's Second Coming from Heaven is that great Tribulation which our Saviour foretold his Disciples would be immediately before his Second Coming and Appearance Matth. 24.21 29 30. For then shall be great Tribulation And immediately after the Tribulation of those days they shall see the Son of Man Coming in the Clouds of Heaven c. This great Tribulation will cause Distress of Nations with great perplexities Mens hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming upon the Earth Luk. 21.25 26 27. Read Dan. 12.1 2 3 4 8 9 13 c. This great Tribulation will be such as never was since the world began Mat. 24.21 WOE WOE WOE to the Inhabitants of the Earth Rev. 8.13 and of the Sea Rev 12.12 And the People of God especially his two Prophetical Witnesses to wit the separated Churches and their faithful Ministers shall not be exempted from the Tribulation of those Daies for they shall suffer Persecution 2 Tim. 3.1 12. This know also that in the Last daies perillous Times shall come Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution And when the two Prophetical Witnesses of Christ shall have finished their Testimony that is to say have Preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ King of Nations Jer. 7.10 and Matth. 24.14 The Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless Pit shall make War against them and shall overcome them and kill them Rev. 11.7 See my Exposition of the 11th chapter of the Revelation where I have proved That before the Second WOE be past Rev. 11.14 The Papal-Beast shall ascend that is Rise and Reign and He shall overcome that is the Papists will prevail against the Protestants and will kill the Two Witnesses that is they will persecute the separated Churches of Saints and their Ministers scatter their Assemblies disperse their Congregations break their Meeting-places imprison some banish others and condemn some to Death and will burn them kill and slay them And the Second WOE being past the Third WOE will come quickly Rev. 11.14 to wit the Seven Vials of the Last Plagues of God Almighty shall then be poured out upon the Papal-Antichristian Beast the great Whore and the false Prophet whose Name is Mystery-Babylon Rev. 17.5 See my Book intituled Mystical-Babylon unvailed Thirdly Touching the Ends of Christ's Second Coming to wit what Christ will do when he comes again from Heaven First When Christ cometh from Heaven with his holy Angels HE will send them to gather together his Elect from one end of Heaven to the other Matth. 24.30 31. Then shall the dispersed of Judah be gathered and the Out-casts of Israel with them as was foretold Isa 11.12 16. And HE shall set up an Ensign for the Nations and shall assemble the Out-casts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four Corners of the Earth In that DAY God will pour upon the House of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and Supplication and they shall look upon Christ whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him Zech. 12.10 and Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds and every Eye shall see him and they also that pierced him Then shall come to pass that wonderful work of the Jews Conversion prophesied Isa 66.6 8. Who hath heard such a thing Who hath seen such things Shall the Earth be made to bring forth in one day Shall a Nation be born at once And so all Israel shall be saved as it is written The Redeemer shall come to Zion Isa 59.20 And shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob Rom. 11.26 27. For this is my Covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins And all the Tribes of Judah and Israel being gathered they shall all be Reunited into one Nation which the Prophet Ezekiel shewed them by the parable of two sticks made one stick in his hand Ezek. 37 15-22 And I will make them one Nation And one King shall be King to them Vers 24. And they shall have one Shepherd Vers 27. My Tabernacle also shall be with them Yea I will be their God and they shall be my People Vers 28. My Sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore Then shall also the fulness of the Gentiles be converted unto them Isa 6.1 2 3 5. And the Gentiles shall come to thy Light and the Abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee Rom. 11.25 Until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in And the Nations of them which are saved shall walk in the Light of it and the Kings of the Earth do bring their glory and honour into it Rev. 21.24 This will be a glorious day and a glorious work and then will the LORD be for a Crown of Glory and for a Diadem of beauty unto the Residue of his People Isa 28.5 6. Then shall they be also a Crown of Glory in the hand of the LORD and a Royal Diadem in the hand of their God Isa 62.3 And this is One End of our Saviour's Second Coming from Heaven Isa 49.6 To gather his People together unto himself Psal 50.5 Gather my Saints together unto me Matth. 24.27 28. Secondly Another End of Christ's Coming from Heaven and another Work that he will do when he comes again is this viz. He will put down all Rule all Authority and all Power that are his Enemies who would not have him to Reign Luk. 19.27 For he must Reign until he hath put all his Enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15.24 25. as was prophesied Psa 110.1 and Luk. 20.42 43. The External Enemies of Christ are principally three First Ezekiel's Gog and Magog who are prophesied of Ezek. 38. 39. chapters Thus saith the Lord I am against thee O Gog c. 38. v. 2