holy Catholick Church upon earth that we are to believe or hope for and the excellent Communion of Saints that we are in this world to expect And likewise that we are now especially by our prayers to labour to promote as God of old directed his people when their time of deliverance from Babylon drew on Jer. 39. Then said he they shall call on me and I will answer c. And when Daniel by Books understood the mind of God therein he set himself by fasting and prayer to seek for and help forward if it might be the accomplishment of such revealed Grace So now also that new Babel is abundantly revealed to God's People to be shortly to be thrown down and the New-Jerusalem much more abundantly revealed in Scripture shortly thereupon to be set up The Faith and Prayer of God's People ought in their sphear to seek to promote it and I observe the Dutch Notes though by men of different Judgments yet in the Preface of the nine last Chapters of Ezakiels Prophecy apply what is there said to some wonderful Glory of a Jerusalem to come of which the former restoring of the Jews from old Babylon was but a Type Besides I observe many Psalms and many passages in many other Psalms more than I read in Mr. Archers Book to tend so this way that otherwise as such prophetical-Scriptures besides seem not to have any probable fulfilling but according to Revelation Interpretation as I may call it which I must acknowledge I never did nor ever was like rightly and groundedly to have understood but according to the tenour of that blessed book And as Israels coming out of Egypt tended to the actual giving of them after forty years space the possession of Canaan of old so God's Peoples coming out of the spiritual Egyptian Antichristian bondage now approaching tends to bring all God's true Israel into the New-Jerusalem that comes down from Heaven Rev. 20. and is it not a main drift of the most if not of all the petitions in the Lord's Prayer to this purpose for when hath Gods Name been so comperably hallowed in Earth as it is in Heaven as then it will be both by Men and Angels in all he is made known by to his People When will his Kingdom come with such power to any suitableness in Earth as it is and will be in Heaven but when the Kingdoms of this World are the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 And likewise when at the same time Rev. 19. God's People shall so rejoyce when the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth because as it followeth in the next verse his Bride hath made her self ready And consequently when will the Will of God be done in Earth as it is by the blessed Aegels in Heaven but when his Subjects are of most obeddient hearts and loyal spirits as they will be under suh a prevalent reigning of Christ When my daily Bread this day any day be so comfortably and confidently prayed for and expected as when the particular promises of the greatest confluences of Temporal and Spiritual Blessings are to be fulfilled in their proper season to their best purposes c. When may we with such comfort and confidence pray for forgivieness of our Trespasses this day any day as when our hearts shall witness with us we least allow our sins When shall we be so assured of our own pardon as when our spirits are most free and clear in pardoning others in case they offend against us When can we so confidently pray to be delivered from the evil one and evil works with the consequents thereof this day any day as when Satan shall be known to be bound Rev. 20.3 and many great temptations removed and a very great measure of Grace attained and neer Communion with Christ enjoyed in this World Yea and will not the following enforcements of Prayer set down by our Saviour be then most clearly aplicable when the Kingdom is most manifestly Gods and the Power both to obtain it at his own time and pleasure and so likewise to retain it appears clearly his and consequently all Glory as his due shall be rendred unto him to all eternity Amen Amen And for the Martyrs and Saints to be raised at the entrance of Christ on this his Kingdom to have their part in the New Jerusalem I had the like thoughts before to what I find in other Authors That they should be in a state such as Christ was in after his own Resurection while he was not acssended to his Father but when I consider the many Prophesies of all those great things in the Old Testament so confirmed in the New and especially applyed in the Revelation to the New Jerusalem not only by allusion but by application of the Spirit of God and Christ himself in a special manner Rev. 10.7 as he declared to his Servants the Prophets And at that time reward is to be given to his Servanis the Prophets Rev. 11.18 and to his Saints and to them that fear his Name both great and small as it follows in the same Scripture And it is of main weight in this point that when the Chorus was set about the Throne Rev. 4.1 2 3. c. when Saint John was to receive the visions of that Book there is a Glorious appearance of God described and the Rainbow round about the throne as doing all to his Church through the Covenant of Grace through the Blood of Christ his only begotten Son and the seven Lamps burning before the Throne deciphering the seven Spirits or the Holy Ghost with his Gifts and Graces as Rev. 1.4 more clearly in Rev. 5. there is a Book in the hand of him that sat upon the Throne which none was found worthy to open but the Lamb that had been as it were slain having seven Horns and seven Eyes vers 6. which occasioned the four living Wights and twenty four Elders to sing a new Song and afterwards fall down and worship but the top of rejoyceing for all that was in the Book and after all that should be done and suffered by and for and in Christs Church which they represented in that vision it was this which was the great enforcement of their joy while the World was to continue And say they vers 10. we shall reign upon Earth And that Subject of such their reign there after all their labours and sufferings of the Saints as their time of refreshment Acts. 3.19 and Sabbatism or rest Heb. 4. is largely treated of in sundry Particulars in the 19 20 21 22. the four last Chapters of the Book of the Revelations and that those things therein contained must necessarily be understood of the state of God's Church upon earth according to the series and order of the Book in the last times and therefore were never yet accomplished take into serious consideration the brief abridgment of Reasons and Testimonies following to that purpose 1. The New Jerusalem is said to come down
ended Isa 60.19.20 Her Joy everlasting Isa 61.7 For ever shall her Land be inhabited Isa 60.21 Zech. 14.11 For to the Lord is she married Isa 62.4 who sweareth by his right Hand and the Arm of his Strength to give her no more over to her Enemies Isa 62.8 As that day the Lord shall be King over all the Earth and in that day shall there be one Lord and his Name one Zech. 14 9. Thus we see what glorious Promises are made to the New Jerusalem when the Promises of the New Heavens and the New Earth shall be accomplished with many other of the like nature whence it may appear how strongly pre-possession of prejudice against an Opinion of Doctrine may carry grave and otherwise judicious men away from the Way of Truth sometime upon one advantage or other as by Prescription by Multitudes of wise learned or even good men If they try not all things to hold that which is good which was mine own late Error in this particular or at least want of defecation of appendant Errors cunnigly by Satan affixed on this Truth as we observed in antient and modern seducements not distinguishing between the Depravation and Corruption of that Truth and Truth it self which in its Original was pure and untainted as in other cases many times when the corrupt super-additions of men have long prevailed to mingle themselves with anciently untainted Truths which when men can learn to view with unprejudiced minds and adhere to with uninteressed Affections will soon appear to them in their native excellency But for the said New-Jerusalem the more I observe many places of Scripture not only in the New Testament and Revelations but in the Psalms the Prophets and even the Historical Parts the more I am minded thereof from time to time And besides Psal 2. 8. 96 98 99. which one mentions especially I have taken notice of sundry others since God hath opened my eyes as he did Hagers of old to see these refreshing Waters of Comfort as Psal 89. 50. and divers passages in others which seemed to tend that way as Psal 146.5 6 7 8 9 10. 148.11 12 13 14. 149. throughout and those nine last Chapters of Ezekiel 〈◊〉 the Dutch Bible reckons like Daniels to be Revelations of the old Testament which set forth things to be accomplished in the New though they seem not to own the Opinion yet sometimes again lay grounds of it The second and seventh of Daniel speak much of Christs Kingdom and many other places too largely here to rehearse The Spirit of God seems to me to have spoken so largely thereof and in many specialties likewise to these purposes and the things themselvs seem so to approach as evidently may appear from the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ th best Expositor of the meaning of his own Prophetical Spirit that it much concerns all Gods People diligently to search and examine all such Truths as he hath set down there for our now seasonable Instruction and Consolation being sunk down near to the very dregs of the Worlds evil Times And as our Saviour on Earth directed to search the Sciptures for Salvation so now being in Heaven he directs his people to search them in this for consolation And as then he said In Moses the Prophets and the Psalms as it is written of me for the former so for this he not only points out Moses the Prophets and the Psalms in the old Testament but hath likewise taught the Apostles the Evangelists with many other persons divinely inspired in the New Testament to give witness to these things and lastly by his own wonderful gracious divine Vide the Irenicon or Peaceable Consideration of Christ's Kingdome c. though mystical Revelation to the beloved St. John wherein very much is held out concerning his own Kingdom and the New Jerusalem and as it was when by the Ministry of Christ and his Apostles the Doctrine of the Resurrection had been more cleared than in former times yet afterwards the Apostle Paul shews a farther Mystery concerning the same 1 Cor. 15. We must saith he all be changed though not all dye so many things are still Mysterious to us concerning both the New Jerusalem and the Resurrection though concerning both our Saviour in his Revelation hath last super-added greater farther Discoveries in both than any were before at least in evidence and clearness Yet how are the Eyes of very many withheld from discerning these things and in great part it is like to be so to all save to them to whom it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God which he uses to do as Christ himself informeth us to Babes and Sucklings when they are hid from the Wise and Prudent Mat. 11.25 and therefore to be humbly and faithfully sought And though the Apostle Paul concerning the Jews general Conversion had discoursed largly in the ninth tenth and eleventh Chapters of the Epistle to the Romans yet still he reckons that Doctrine mystical v. 25 c. Let all such therefore as are of truly Christian Spirits wait upon God as by other means so by faithful and earnest Prayer to the true Teacher of his own Mysteries as may appear requisite in a matter of so great importance concerning all Gods faithful People who seem to have their peculiar interest therein Rev. 3.21 and 20.4 5. and 10.18 which is incomparably greater and better for that thousand years than all the Crowns and Scepters and Kingdoms of the World not improved in Christs service in the mean time This part of a Letter of May 20 1664. to Mr. Cal of the order of the times of the Seals Trumpets and Vials perused with that Abridgment of the Seal-Prophesie with the large Note page 26 27 28 29. of the Irenicon with the following Paper of two defects in Mr. Durhams book of Scotland may to observant Readers give much light to the book of Revelation and the Scheme of that whole book and Summarie of Daniel before the Parallels after drawn up when many hundred of both the other were burnt Anno 1666. serves for the like use but with somefarther advantages therein observable c. THe first six of the seven Seals are the first Times after the giving of the Revelation to St. John toward the end of the first Century or first hundred of years after Christs coming in the Flesh the which said six Seals reached to the time wherin Constantine the Great threw down the Heathenish Idolarry 〈◊〉 Romane Empire about the year 320. after Christ they are set â—ow Rev. 6. But out of the seventh Seal proceeded the Seven Trumpets whereof the six first contain all the ensuing time of the Roman Empire both Christian and Antichristian and the seventh Trumpet will begin at the ruine of Antichrist Vide Paper of Decemb. 7. 1664. where divers Reasons are given for it and continue as some conceive to be the last day of Judgment or
ΠΡΟΔΡΟΜΟΣ OR THE FORE-RUNNER OF The Peaceable Consideration of Christs Peaceful Kingdom upon Earth Abridged made useful for those that have the former and those that have them not ALSO Containing many necessary matters often since referred unto in the following parts of the wole work and briefly pointing out such things as are elsewhere more fully explained with some Additions and Amendments Unto which are Annexed divers things most useful of those contained in the Irenicon and also directing where the substance of the rest is to be found in the other parcels printed since the year 1666. when many hundreds of all the first four parts were burnt or lost which may supply the want of them as are particularly set down in the end of this Prodromus Mal. 4.5 Behold I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Mat. 17.11 Jesus answered and said unto them Elias truly shall first come and restore all things but I say unto you Elias is come already and they knew him not c. Post funestam Gogi Magogi cladem i.e. Papae Turcae Ez. 38.39 Describitur Nova Hierusalem cui nomen Jehovah Shamma Dominus Ibid. c. 48. ad finem By W. Sherwin Minister of the Gospel London Re-printed in the Year 1674. TO THE READER Christian Reader BE pleased to observe with me that the subject of mystical Prophesis respecting the seven Millenniums or a thousand Generations of the World may fitly thus be described viz. To be Gods appointed space of time divinely couched in his word for the accomplishing of his own great design for his own infinite glory concerning his Son Jesus Christ as Mediator and all those that he hath given him in the world and for the carrying on of his work of Redemption in his 3 great offices of Prophet Priest and King for his Vniversal true Church in the said time of his Mediatorshop until the happy restitution of all things shall be compleated in the world by him both for his Saints and all inferiour Creatures in their capacity as in reference to things which will mostly be seen being temporal until those eternal things shall be obtained which eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor entred into the heart of man to conceive both for men and Angels for ever more In which way Gods most wonderful and most gracious design towards all those blessed intelligible creatures for his own glory according to his word will gradually be discovered and fully at last obtained by them for all eternity And this which was first declared in the word will be last accomplished in the world until from their temporal being they all pass to the confines of eternity To which purpose take notice 1. That what was briefly declared Gen. 3.15 by God the Father Son and Holy Ghost at mans fall is the foundation and short comprisal of all future revealed mercy That the Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents head and with Psal 110.1 Rev. 19.11 20.4.8 9 10. 2. That in Gods Covenant with Noah for all flesh Gen. 8 9. for the earths continuance not only as a stage to act all future mercies to men and other creatures upon during the said space but by its fruitfulness to be for an accommodation to them but chiefly in that world which is to come Joel 3. 3. By Noahs Prophesie God sets forth the lineal discent of such as for the future should chiefly be given to Christ Gen. 9.25 26 27. viz. Jews according to the Covenants and Promises after made to their Fathers and Gentils by their first and second calls c. 4. God afterwards accordingly made Covenants with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and for their seed and though the natural seed of Abraham forfeited their Typical Canaan by breaking their Covenant Mich. 2.10 yet faithful Abraham through his one divine seed Christ hath obtained for all his spiritual seed that City spoken of Heb. 11.39.40 5. Gods mercy was after set forth to David as by a Kingdome first also forfeited by his natural race to the casting down of Davids Tabernacle by the Babylonish Captivity thereby making way for the long interim or interruption of Davids said Kingdome for the 2300 years of the four Gentil Monarchies but by his divine seed Christ Gods Covenant is renewed with David for his spiritual seed 2 Sam. 7. who shall partake of the sure mercies of Davids Kingdome Ezekiel 55.3 with and by Christ in his Mediatory or Davidical Kingdome Revelation 20.4 3.21 when will also be restored to the Saints a Paradise in that world to come instead of that lost by the first Adam on earth when there will be new heavens and new earth and the old will not be remembred c. When the New Jerusalem state shall be set up for all Abrahams faithful seed Heb. 11.10 16. and all Israel shall be saved upon their union with the Gentils of which from the possession of Canaan the whole world mostly consists concerning which particulars I shall refer you to the intent perusal of our last Treatise on Rev. 10.5 as guiding to the scope and drift of such first so divinely declared and last in the world to be fulfilled grace which we all ought to be very diligent and active to obtain W. S. THE PRODROMUS 1. THis previous intimation I conceive may be of good use that these Abridgments of the Prodromus and Irenicon may not only be an helpful introduction to serious enquirers into the mystical part of the Gospel of Christ respecting that world to come but may together with those latter printed principles serve both for a commentary as well as a confirmation of the sum and substance thereof in the two folded leaves and other parts therein quoted which is also illustrated by the practical parts on Rev. 20.5 Gen. 3.15 Jer. 3.17 Rev. 22.20 but may be also as a directing table to find such things as are after supplyed in the latter parcels and relate unto them upon divers accounts And in the Irenicon will be shewed how the first intended method chap. 1. which was many ways first interrupted after the degrees observed c. 2. Instead of those Prodromal texts to page 5. formerly being after spoken of in our latter Parcels we here direct to consider well the nature and use of our several books contained in the first leaf of the General Title page or twelve foundations of faith the knowledg whereof may much advantage many and to our account after the Key where many other useful directions are also included and to the Key it self whereby much previous matter against mens mistakes is tendred Assert 1. page 2. and very useful and necessary informations of many sorts not observed by many others are also observable as that Daniels short hints of the subject matter of the Revel were shut up till the time of the end but opened since though mystically divinely by Christ himself in the book of Revel
probably at the Jews Conversion in the former part thereof when that nation will be born in a day Isa 66.8 and the marriage of the Lamb will be v. 7. Then in v. 11 c. is set forth the glorious coming of Christ to destroy the said enemies to the end of the ch when he will eminently make his foes his footstool as Psal 110.1 at the Armageddon Battel p. 7. The 4th Prophesie Rev. 11.13 14. to the end concerns the ruine of the Roman Empire the time whereof shall be no more as saith that Angel of the Covenant probably ch 10. when the 7th Angel begins to sound and Christs visible Dominion is then to take place c. See the Divine Thesis ch 2. p. 3. of the Irenicon November 3. 1663. This part of a Letter to a Friend Nov. 3. 63. now ten years past I had given order to leave out of the Abridgment but upon perusal thereof the 7th of April 74. I find it so considerable many ways being a Summary of my knowledg then of these Doctrines that I now order it to be re-printed and I would have all sorts take notice that all I have written since except my last great Discovery of the Scope of Revelation Prophesie on ch 20.5 and some other late Discoveries and Distinctions in our Key and that late Summary occasioned by my late Noble Learned Judicious good Friend Sir Robert Morai in the 2 folded leaves and the latter part of the Divine Theses from the 11 12th to the end with the addition now following them I say all others written since tend chiefly to the confirmation and explication of the same truth of the mystical part of the Gospel of Christ both in respect of those Principles and Practicals as in the first leaf of the 12 Foundations of Faith and for both purposes also I commend to them the due consideration of our 31 Observations useful for understanding mystical Prophesies with answers to objections both after the Tract on Rev. 22.20 in the 4th part AS for the New Jerusalem since the Bar viz. how Christ could personally make intercession in Heaven and yet personally reign on earth at the same time which occasioned my opinion of a mystical reign c. was taken away whereby I have formerly conceived it to be an Article of Faith which the Scripture expressly declared viz. That the Heavens must contain Christs Person till his coming the second time to Judgment my meaning was to the last Judgment having not then understood his coming in the clouds of heaven at his appearance and Kingdome to judge quick and dead at the first Resurrection of the Saints 1000 years before the rest of the dead to be the beginning of his great day of Judgment I have I say found much since in Scripture but especially in the book of the Revelation to tend to a coming of Christ as the great Monarch to set up his glorious Kingdom upon the putting down all worldly Powers that stood in opposition to him 1 Cor. 15. when he will begin to judge the quick and dead Rev. 11.17 18. I have lately perused Mr. Archers Book of Christ's Personal Reign and though in all things therein I am not satisfied yet I cannot find solid reason in many things to dissent and in other things it seemeth convincing and doubtless in his time he was a very discerning Christian and I had of late before I read that or any other of the like nature since my most earnest search into mystical Prophecies of the latter times the same apprehensions of divers passages in Scripture which I find to agree with his Book as the applying what our Saviour promised to his Disciples when he came to his Kingdom which I find will be in the Thousand years Rev. 20.4 promised to the New-Jerusalem Inhabitants Rev. 3.21 that then they should sit on twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel And that of our Saviour Luke 21.24 that Jerusalem should be trodden under foot till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled but to be raised up again then And when he wept over Jerusalem he said They namely the People of the Jews should not see him henceforth till they said Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Mat. 23. ult denoting that then they should see him And that promise Zach. 12.10 to the end which is in a way of mercy foreshewing how upon their conversion they should mourn in humble contrition and look to him at his appearing when that Nation shall be born in a day Isa 66.8 which judicious Expositors apply to the expressions Rev. 1.7 Behold he comeh with Clouds and every eye shall see him and they also that pierced him that is the People of the Jews that after their imprecation on themselves and on their children shall be accomplished will as the Apostle Paul speaks Rom. 11. appear to be beleved for their Fathers sake when those times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Act. 3.19 and then all Israel shall be saved both of Jew and Gentile And though many grave Divines for a long time interpreted all that hath been spoken to this purpose for the most part to a spiritual sense yet the things that some hold out to the contrary 〈…〉 answered so that if this Opinion or rather matter of Faith â—e but freed from those evil additions that the subtilty of Satan in the Primitive times thrust upon it as if it should be a Kingdom of sensual pleasure for before thse misrepresentations or false aspersions rather as Mr. Mede notes it was very antient And freed likewise from that bold presumption and scandalous wickedness of our latter times for any under pretence of Christs Kingdom given to the Saints to go about by the Sword or any other unlawful means to divest Magistrates and Governors of their Offices to take that Kingdom before Christ give it to them to whom it will belong as being appointed to them by his Father in his own time namely at Christs appearing Here consider that Christ saith he came not to destroy the Law and Paul saith he established the Law and this is necessary to vindicate this Doctrine from scandal and to warn well-meaning persons that they think not upon seeming-fair pretences of good to attemp to do evil God having revealed that he will set up that Kingdom himself and that only in his own oppointed time On the other side saith our Saviour He that breaketh the least Commandment and teacheth men so shall be the least that is none in the Kingdom of Heaven as he answered the Mother of Zebedees Children Mat. 20.23 It shall be given to them for whom it is appointed by my Father appointed as well for the time when as the persons to whom These and the like errors being removed from it I think it may have an hnorable and comfortable place in matter of true Christian Faith as containing the best times of the most
from God chap. 21.2 and not to ascend up or be taken up unto God as the Church Tryumphant at the last day shall be 1 Thes 4.17 Christ will take the Church up to himself John 14.3 it shall not come down after the last Judgment to remain here 2. I conceive the New Jerusalem that comes down from God will he a kind of Tryumphant Church confisting of the raised Saints though in the thousand years it be not fully glorified yet perfectly sanctified and saved Rev. 20. knowing in due season they shall be so glorified as 1 John 3.2 3. But all others of the faithful in the natural life shall walk in the light of that Jerusalem the Mother of us all Gal. 4. Rev. 21.24 and accordingly the several Texts lelating to either are to be distinguished The Church is said to be prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband vers 2. Now the Church Tryumphant for all the Elect gathered together is not a Bride prepared but a wife in marriage fully accomplished 3. Because it is called a Tabernacle a removing state and God also said to be with men and to dwell as in a Tabernacle with them but concerning the Church Tryumphant in Heaven the manner of speaking is to say It is with God 4. Because the Holy Ghost so strongly confirms this renovation of all things avouching it again and again vers 1.5 commanding to write and affirming the words to be faithful and true which needed not in so generally approved believed truth touching the state of the Church Tryumphant 5. Because John is made to ascend on high to see this new City below him descending out of Heaven from God 6. Because it is said to be measured and that with the measure of a man v. 16 17. which sheweth it to be the Church on Earth which is only measurable and to be measured c. 11.1 Zach. 1.16 but not the Tryumphant in Heaven 7. Because here is said That Nations shall walk in the light of it and Kings of the Earth shall bring their glory and honour to it vers 23 24. yea the glory and honour of the Nations too v. 26. But none can bring earthly glory and honour for of such he speaketh in Heaven above to becautifie it withall 8. This seemeth not unreasonable though somthing in the Letter carry our thoughts to a state of full perfection chap. 21.4 22.3 4 5. because the like speeches have been used by the Holy Prophets aforetime to set out the graceful and peaceful state of the Church Isa 65.17 18 19 25. 60.18 20. 25.8 60.21 and yet farther observe after those high expressions it is said chap. 22.6 These sayings are faithful and true the Lord God of the Holy Prophets who had spoken of old time sent his Angel to shew unto his Servant John the things which must shortly be done which words shortly be done seem alwayes in this Book to note the state of the Church on earth Now for testimonies in the next place Some such thing is promised to the Jews in the Books of the Prophets which seem not yet to be fulfilled but deferred till the seventh Trumpet be blown when the Mystery of God shall ye finished as hath been declared to his Servants the Prophets by which words it is clear that all things in the Prophets are not accomplished till this Book of the Revelations be fulfilled for the Prophets have formerly spoken of this Mystery to be finished under the seventh Trumpet Now that we may not wonder at the New Jerusalem here set forth look unto the prophesies of old and mark what by them the Lord did promise unto the Jews after their captivity 1. He tells them They shall be brought back again to Jerusalem and to inhabet Judea Zach. 8.7 8. 10.8 9. Isa 60.10 15. 62.10 And all Nations Isa 61.11 2. He will pour upon them the Spirit of Grace and Supplication and they shall look upon him whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him Zach. 12.10 14. 3. He will make them strong to overcome all their enemies and they shall inhabit Jerusalem again Zach. 12.6 and build the old wastes they shall raise up the former desolations and they shall repair the waste Cities and the desolations of many Generations Isa 61.4 58.12 and that by the help of strangers and their Kings Isa 62.10 4. Being so built where as it had been forsaken and hated so as no man went thorow it he will make it an eternal Excellency and a Joy of many Generations Isa 60.15 For 2. Violence shall no more be heard in the Land wasting nor destruction within the borders but her Walls shall be called Salvation and her Gates Praise Isa 60.18 The Sun shall be no more her light by day neither for brightness shall the Moon give light unto her Isa 60.19 20. 2dly All the people shall be righteous Isa 60.21 and no cananite there Zech. 14.21 3dly Her Officers shall be Officers of Peace and her Actors Righteousness Isa 60.17 4thly Her Watchmen shall never be silent Isa 62.6 neither shall her Vision ever be wanting Isa 59.21 But the false Prophet and the unclean spirit shall be cut off Zech. 13.2 So as by this glorious and graceful state she shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name Isa 62.2 that is Hephziba and the Land Beulah for the Lord would delight in her and marry her or Jehovah there shall be the name of the City Ezek 48.35 5thly Hereupon they shall be known among the Gentiles and People and all that see their Seed and Off-spring shall acknowledge them the Seed which the Lord hath blessed Isa 61.9 An holy People Redeemed of the Lord sought out and not forsaken Isa 62.12 6thly The Gentiles and their Kings shall see her Righteousness and Glory Isa 62.12 whereupon they shall come to her Isa 60.3 and that with earnest desire and high estimation of her Zech. 8.22 23. and be joyned to the Lord and become his People also with her Zech. 2.11 These Nations and Kings shall bring to her Sons and Daughters Isa 60.4 and 49.22 Enrich her mightily with abundance and precious things Isa 60.6 17. She shall eat the Riches of the Gentiles Isa 61.6 and suck the Milk of the Gentiles and the breasts of Kings Isa 60.16 who shall be her Nursing Fathers and Queens her nursing Mothers 〈◊〉 â—9 23 bringing her Presents and Gifts Isa 60.6 and 45.14 they shall fall down and make supplication Isa 45.14 they shall worship with their Faces to the Earth and lick the dust of her Feet Isa 49.23 Zech. 14.16 Strangers shall be her Servants Isa 61.5 Yea such as will not serve her shall be destroyed Isa 60.12 Zech. 14 17. She shall be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a Royal Diadem in the hand of her God Isa 62.3 And this her excellency shall never be changed her days of mourning shall be
rather to the beginning of the thousand years The first four Trumpets which are reckoned the milder miseries upon that World of the Roman Empire contain somewhat above two hundred years after Constantine Rev. 8. When the Goths Vandals Hunnes Almains c. by degrees took away the Emperour who was he that letted the revealing of Antichist spoken of 2 Thes 2. The other three Trumpets called the Vae vae vae Tubae or three Woe-Trumpets Rev. 8. last vers are as follows The first Woe-Trumpet or fifth Trumpet is coneived to begin Anno Dommine 622. according to Helvicus when those Locusts out of the bottomless Pit viz. the Saracens subdued and over-ran one half of the Eastern Roman Empire bringing in with them that horrible Imposture of Mahomatism Rev. 9. first part of the Chapter which continued till about Anno Domini 1300. When the second Woe-Trvmpet or sixth Trumpet is conceived to have begun when the Turks the other Mahometan Locusts overcame the Sarecens and overcame likewise the other half of the Eastern Roman Empire Rev. 9. latter part of the Chapter which Trumpet will end with the utter perdition of the last Head of the Roman State viz. the ruine of the Popedom being the Feet and Toes of the Image expounded by Daniel cap. 2. And for the state of the Church contemporary with these contained in the little Book in the Angels Hand Revelations 10. after a short Chronological Table as it were of both Prophesies chap 11. to vers 15. and thence to the end of the Chapter a short Relation of the sounding of the seventh Trumpet and state of the World then and thence forward as after follows The first Contemporary State of tho Church is set down chap. 12. dontaining the Primitive times till Constantines and the Dragons flood of Arrian Pesecution from those times till the Womans the True Church her flight into the Wilderness not long after the Year of our Lord 400. when its probable the Date of the Beast began the false Apostatical Church when the Western last Head of the fourth Beast which had received a deadly wound was again healed set forth by two Beasts chap. 13. The first having seven Heads and ten Horns deciphering the Politick State the other with two Horns like a Lamb and speaking like the Dragon the Ecclesiastical State thereof whose time is forty two months the same with the Lord Christs two Witnesses Prophesying Sackcloth 1260 days of years Rev. 11. and the Womans the True Church her abode in the Wilderness for a time times and half a time as chap. 12.14 where the Lord 's said Witnesses nourish her to the end of the said time and last period of the sixth Trumpet under which most if not all of the seven Vials the seven last Plagues Rev. 15.16 are poured out upon the beast the Popish State and Church to the utter destruction thereof whilst the 144000 followers of the Lamb stand with him upon Mount Zion Rev. 14. harping with their Harps and singing as it were a new Song before the Throne and the four living Wights and twenty four Elders who are excellently described ver 4 5. till all the Angels had done their Messages and the Son of Man that sate on the White Cloud had thrust in his sharp Sickle several times at the request of the last Angels to reap the Harvest Grapes of the Earth fully ripe to the end of the chap. Which Angels seem contemporary if not the same with the seven Angels pouring out the seven Vials chap. 16. particularly set down And it seems probable that the sixth of those Vials is now pouring out by the Turkish Army drying-up the great River Euphrates of the German Emperors dominions and forward towards Rome whereby the maintenance honour and desence of the Popedom hath been long upheld and conveyed to it As the great River Euphrates was useful unto old Babylon until the great Army of Cyrus having turned the waters another way passed thorow the Channel thereof into old Babylon Or if by such means with others as by the conversion of some and plagues and confusions in others the Turks Dominions as the great River Euphrates shall be dryed up in the issue to make way for the Jews the Kings of the East to come into Palestine yet so it will but the sixth Vial upon the great River Euphrates and it may not improbably be true of both The seventh Vial will end the Popes Being and all evil Dominion being poured upon the Air where the Prince of the power of the Air hath so long prevalently ruled which is called the end of the second Woe Rev. 11.14 at the end of which the seventh Trumpet will sound which is called the Wo-joy Trumpet first bringing for the most part destruction to the Wicked in the World and likewise bringing in great happiness to Gods faithful People following in the thousand years Rev. 20. and other things concerning the New Jerusalem and the contemporaries therewith in the two last Chapters of the Book of the Revelations Concerning which state of things in the Church then I conceive the not distinguishing between the seventh mystical Trumpet and the last loud-sounding Trumpet 1 Thes 4.16 is the occasion of some misapprehensions of some things to be in the said thousand years which are also an occasion of stumbling to many as to the matter of Doctrine of the Kingdome of Christ upon Earth whence the great and sudden change of all the Faithful is apprehended to be at the beginning of the seventh mystical Trumpet which I conceive from the Apostle's words will not be until the other loud-sounding Trumpet above a thousand years after at the last Resurrection and great day of the last general Judgment at the end of the World 1 Thes 4. which will follow the last attempt of the Devil by Gog and Magog Rev. 20. at the end of the thousand years at which great sudden momentany change in the twinkling of an eye at the Voice of the Archangel and sounding of the said Trumpet both all those that were raised at the beginning of Christ's Reign or all along the thousand years as learned Mede conceives and all the Faithful that are found alive at last on Earth must all then pass through that momentany change and be rapt up with the Faithful likewise which departed this life in the said 1000 years then raised to meet Christ in the Air in a glorious condition For though such as were raised before the beginning of Christ's Reign were before in an excellent state in regard of their bodies suitable to what Christ's was in before he ascended unto the Father yet then it seems probatile they will be more glorious bodies than formerly mortal eyes could endure to behold therefore saith the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 15.51 We shall not then all sleep but we shall all then be changed both living and dead All be changed both living and dead or raised before namely all that are faithful
observed until the Empire and Church become one under Christ's Kingdome in the time or haply after the time of the seventh Trumpet Therefore after the Lamb Christ Jesus had received the Book at the Hand of him that sat upon the Throne chap. 5. in the Chapter following John heard the thundring Voice of one of the Beasts saying Come and see when the Lamb opened the first Seal where he beheld a white Horse and he that sat on him had a Bow and a Crown was given to him and he went conquering and to conquer denoting the dispensations of God's Grace in the world through Jesus Christ who received of the Father this Book of Revelation of the things concerning the Church and her Enemies and hath all power to fulfil and execute them accordingly here first set forth by the white-horse so tendering Peace by the Preaching of the Gospel which like a Bow shoots out Arrows as Psal 45. piercing the hearts of all sorts it is sent unto and by which Christ will be Victorious and Glorious c. and therefore in the sending abroad of his Gospel he goes conquering of all sorts thereby and to conquer and subdue all such as shall oppose and persecute it This hath been his design ever since this white horse was sent abroad guided by that Rider and this is and will be pursued till he fully have the Crown of Victory when his Enemies shall become his Foot-stool Psalm 110. at the day of the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Titus 2.13 to begin at or about the destruction of Antichrist 2 Thess 2.8 when he will come with Clouds Rev. 1.7 and when all Families of the Earth shall mourn seeing the Son of man coming in the Clouds with Power and great Glory Mat. 24.30 and 26.64 of which design the Spirit of God by the holy Prophet speaketh eminently Psal 45.4 saying Ride on in thy Majesty because of the Word of Truth of Meekness and Righteousness viz. to subdue unto his Obedience by conquering and his right Hand will teach him terrible things by conquering and subduing his Enemies and such as withstand him And this in all parts of the Revelation will be evident for persecution will follow the Gospel as the Shadow the Substance so long as the Seed of the Serpent and the Seed of the Woman have their aboad together in the world and therefore in this Book in the following Seals God seems thereby to manifest what dispensations he would shew towards such persecuting Enemies in all the following Seals and Trumpets till that time of eminent victory and conquest begin to be manifest unto men in the World at the foresaid Period for the great comfort of his Church to be believed from his Word and which should be applyed daily for the warning of wicked men if they will be admonished Mr. Mede doth very appositely apply the Red Black and Pale Horses to such purposes in the three following Seals observing from the Histories of the Primitive times how they were accomplished as likewise Mr. Fox observes remarkably that after the Roman Governors had rejected the offer of receiving Christ and that Satan had engaged them in Persecutions above thirty of their Emperors successively came to untimely deaths but how such Judgments of Sword Famine Pestilence followed one another upon the Empire and sometimes altogether besides as may be observed from the first second and third Seals but especially from the fourth as more particularly is set down by the aforesaid Mr. Mede I would therefore have observed in the fifth Seal the remarkable different dispensation of God when most of the ten Persecutions had reged and sent home such multitudes of believing Christians to blessedness by their sufferings that by the opening of the fifth Seal is signified to the Church how God was mindful of the Blood of the Martyrs by the crying of the Souls under the Altar for revenge not that they in Happiness then did complain or so did really cry for Vengeance but that God looked upon what had been done to them as an occasion whereupon he would revenge them but yet not presently but after their Brethren which should soon after suffer as they had done had been likewise killed which seemed to have been fulfilled in the Tenth Persecution under Dioclesian and others which continued ten years to gether which probably was the ten days Tryal and Tribulation formerly spoken of Rev. 2.10 but the sufferers under the Beast are included also And accordingly in the sixth Seal came the great Earthquake when the Sun became like Sackloth of Hair and the Moon like Blood and the Stars fell and the mighty men hid themselves in the Caves of the Earth when the wrath of the Lamb was two ways manifest first In dethroneing the Dragon and casting him down to the Earth in abandoning the Heathenish Idolatry and secondly By curting off his Instruments the then wicked Rulers of the World by the means of that Reforming Victorious Conqueror the Emperour Constantine the Great when God's hand was so heavy upon Dioclesian Maximinianus Galerius Maximinus Maxentius Licinius and many Governours under their Command with their Armies and particularly on Pontitius Culianus Theotimus with many others as Stories testifie And afterward by taking away by degrees the Seat and Throne of the former Beast who received afterward the deadly wound upon which the Dragon had so prevailed before to persecute the Saints as appears in the Trumpets following which proceeded out of that seventh Seal all of which sounded their several Wrath and Judgments against it till it went into utter perdition under every form both East and West But before the execution of that Wrath God would Chap. 7. and 14. have both his 144000's of the Faithful sealed where those Trumpets Blasts should come who should be saved from the spiritual mischief of them and after the sealing of those 144000 Cap. 7. are an innumerable company of Palm-bearers of all Nations and Tongues which the said Author rightly conceives to be the great confluence of Christians when the Jews with the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in which will I doubt not be in the time of Christs powerful Reign for this is the course observable in this Book as may hereafter be more manifest that the spirit of God first setteth down what blessedness shall ensue the sufferings of his People before those sufferings come Now I conceive with a Learned Author that these 144000. sealed Ones Cap. 7. are another from those 144000 Cap. 14. for which he gives divers Reasons shewing those in Cap. 7. were to be preserved in the Greek Church in the Eastern Empire and that from the fifth and sixth and the part of the seventh Wo. Trumpet that might fall there as towhat evil might there fall at the begining of the sounding thereof which said sealed Ones are specially to be preserved and secured at the entrance of the fifth or first Woe-Trumpet by the
in the little book chap. 10. begins again with the affairs of the Church more especially having set forth Gods dispensations in respect of the Empire both while it was Draconized and after it had been Christianized Which little Book when John had eaten up he is told by the mighty Angel of the Covenant that he must prophesie again before Peoples and Nations and Tongues and Kings so that they might have advantage to know these Prophecies had they enquired as he had so prophesied for as it was otherwise of them so it was before them and as he had done it in one respect before namely of the Empire wherein the Church had her being so he should do it again in another respect namely of the Church who had her being there but chiefly under Antichrist in his time where there was another 144000 followers of the Lamb to arise chap. 14. Therefore after the Table of the Times in part of chap. 11. to ver 15. wherein we may see ver 1. a description of the state of the Primitive Times in ver 2. her state in Antichrists forty two months and ver 3. the true Churches state in regard of the most eminent part of it namely of the two Witnesses her Pastors their thousand two hundred and sixty days of years who should feed the Woman in her Wilderness condition and stand on Christs part against Antichrist powerfully and successfully till about the time of finishing their Testimony to ver 7. and then what should befal the Beast upon his last War against the finishing Witnesses upon their Resurrection and Ascention after the Beast had killed them to ver 17. where is the ending of the second Wo and thereupon comes in a short Abridgment of the seventh Trumpet containing the great Changes of the affairs of the World and of the Church namely evil to the wicked World but happy to the true Church and this excellent Abridgment seemed needful in regard of the great concernment of all sorts to understand this as of main use to the whole Book Again the foresaid Author faileth in not distinguishing between the first War the Beast makes against the Saints and Servants of Christ wherein he kills and prevails whereupon all the World wonder after the Beast and the second War against the Witnesses which is dismal and fatal to himself as Mr. Mede well observes and hence the said Author reckons the Witnesses slain above an hundred years ago and so passeth without taking notice of the last finishing Witnesses as then counting the Beasts forty two months expired reckoning the Vials in the seventh Trumpet before the second Wo be past or almost any thing of the Beasts ruine begun which work the Angels that have the Vials are to begin and finish as Mr. Mede and others judge upon considerable grounds c. But in chap. 12. is begun the story of the new Prophesie of the true Church in the Primitive times which is there represented by a Woman cloathed with the Sun and having the Moon under her feet and upon her head a Crown of twelve Stars whereby was described her excellency of the Primitive Church of Christ which soon contesteed with the great red Dragon and his Angels till she by Faith and Prayer obtained the Man-child Constantine the reforming Emperor by whose means God cast down the great red Dragon from his heaven upon earth together with his Angels by which means the Woman had two wings of an Eagle given her to flee into the Wilderness for a time times and half a time but before her flight into that retired hidden condition the Serpent cast out his flood of abominable Heresies chiefly against the Persons of the Holy Trinity by Arrius Eutiches Macedonius and others to have carried her away thereby which took up probably almost an hundred years before her time times and half with Antichrists 42 months took place all which time from Constantine the forementioned Author reckons within the date of the Beast and consequently he ends it as much too soon as may farther appear and yet for the Earths opening her Mouth and swallowing up of the Dragons flood of Heresies what he objects against the usual opinion to wit That it was not the incursion of the Barbarous Nations because some of them favoured Arrianism the same might likewise be objected against what he says of the visible Professing Rulers to be the Earth then opposing those Eerrors in many Councils though they favoured Superstition and so might be accounted the Earth but to that might be answered amongst them were many in those times good and Orthodox men about the fourth Century and yet perhaps more fitly it might be applyed to the Bishops of Rome and their party that in those times to get to themselves preheminence did take upon them to end differences in Religion and became in a sort famours thereby getting honor and credit among men thereby and being to be the Beast out of the Earth acting for earthly ends the Earth might be said to help the Woman by withstanding errors against the Sacred Trinity yet promoting Superstition c. and so might swallow up the flood Rev. 13. Concerning the two Beasts in the thirteenth Chapter the said Author is very excellent full and clear above any I have seen if he had timed their rising rightly only he seems to confound the number of his Name ver 17. with the number of the Beast ver 18. whereas the first denotes evidently the remotest sort of Antichrists followers that only may be reckoned or numbred amongst his party which were to be in the last days as they are described by the Apostle 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. when others of the Beasts party come in the latter times which forbid Marriage and command to abstain from Meats c. 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. But the number of the Beast ver 18. belongs to the Beast himself concerning the Exposition whereof he giveth a probable conjecture of his many errors as the Sober Guess and others produce many more which learned and industrious men have observed and particularly opposing the Beasts number to the 144000 or the measure of the Holy City and I conceive the considering it as numerus Terminans as Dan. 5. may be more considerable than many think as was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in another consideration setting out what Countrey man Antichrist should be and what Language he should use in his Laws and Worship wherein I conceive the wonderful Divine Wisdome of God is much to be acknowledged in setting down Mystery Babylons name so to exercise the several gifts he hath given to several men several ways to have their apprehensions agreeable to truth and considerable in reference to this menifold monstrous Beast wherein they are to be found in one respect on other and so the largest comprehensive sence is like to prove the true sence and many of them to be acknowledged real in such a strange compounded Creature of many as he
abiding that they might be accepted who was their spiritual Priest to intercede for them and their King to protect them spiritually Again Chap. 11. the two Witnesses prophecying in Sackcloth 1260 days have as a general Consolation to the Church all that time foreshewed to them that they shall rise again and ascend into Heaven at the end of the days and soon after have the state of the Kingdom of Christ on Earth foreshewed unto them in the end of the same Chapter So likewise the other 144000 Lamb-followers in the Western Empire are set forth to be with the Lamb in Mount Sion and have this Character of the New Jerusalem upon them That they have his Fathers Name written upon their Foreheads Chap. 14.1 Again Those that should be Sufferers under Antichrist towards his fall they sing the Song of Moses coming out of their Wilderness-condition and praise God for his Judgments upon their Persecutors and have the entrance of Christs Kingdom upon Earth set before them for their comfort Chap. 15.4 5. so that unto this scope drive the Consolations of the sufferers and faithful Christians of all times since this most holy and comfortable Book was given to Christs Church and so both those Arms of that Red Sea of Blood running through the Eastern and Western Empires in the Churches meet together at the borders of the Land of Canaan promised to the Fore-fathers and their Seed about the end of the sixth Trumpet and entrance of the seventh And whether it reacheth further than unto that New World may seem questionable First because it is one of the Woe Trumpets and no such things seem suitable to the Kingdom of Christ upon Earth in the thousand years Secondly because the whole continuance of that is set forth by another Title for the comfort of the Church namely Of the Saints reign with Christ a thousand years as it were by way of distinction from the former suffering times of the Church Thirdly there is nothing clearly said in the Text that it should continue longer than to bring the Woes upon Antichrists Kingdom and other Enemies in the World and seems to end with the last Plagues so called because they are the portion of the Churches Persecutors before the thousand years and utterly bring them to perdition and as the sixth Vial seems to end with the Armageddon-Battel Chap. 19. so the seventh binds and shuts up Satan for that thousand years wherein he must no more seduce the Nations Chap. 20. And what this Author saith of Satans being cast into the Lake after the thousand years as a Vial and the last Vial of the seven is contrary to the Text Rev. 16. at the latter end of the Chapter where it is said that when the seventh Vial was poured out the great City was divided into three parts and then great Babylon came in remembrance before God executed Chap. 18. which will be done above a thousand years before Satans casting into the Lake of fire where the Beast and the false Prophet were cast so long before Besides Satans casting into the Lake seems not to be reckoned in the nature of such Vials as gradually brought destruction on the Beast and other persecuting Enemies on Earth but as his last doom at the comsummation of all things and the dissolution of the World which is as much a mercy to such as are saved as a beginning of woe and wrath to Satan and all damned Men and Devils but an end only to the being of inferiour Creatures which had long before in the thousand years enjoyed the liberty of the Sons of God as is said Rom. 8.21 Again the drift of the Trumpets were to blow out Wrath and Judgment upon the Earth and Grass and Trees Chap. 9.4 c. and such things as were upon the Earth belonging to wicked men till they should be destroyed from off the face of it and there to end and Satan was then bound in the Pit when there was no work for him to seduce such after their destruction who was their Captain and Counsellor before It is likewise observeable what Mr. Mede saith of the thousand years wherein the Saints were to reign that Satan afore-hand in the time of Antichrist set them up in a false way of reigning to eclipse their true reigning that afterward they should have on Earth and therefore taught Antichrists Followers to set them up superstitiously and idolatrously to worship and pray to them and before their Shrines and Images making them sinfully to have a reign with Christ on Earth in shew but really against him and his Father And all that said time of Antichrist he hath played the Ape in seeking to pour out the Vials upon Christs Kingdom to come as Christ had before declared that he had seven Angels in their times to pour out seven Vials to the destruction and ruine of Antichrist The first of Satans seeming Vials was by imposing Chiliasm upon it by carnal pleasures and typical Worship though upon slight unjust and false pretences as Mr. Mede manifests Secondly By the advantage thereof he obtained that some of the Ancient Fathers were so prejudiced that they wrote against it though the former for the most part were for it Thirdly By such prejudice and the like he obtained that good men all along misplaced the thousand years by way of anticipation though differing in the time they began and expounding them all along the Popes time only of a Spiritual Reign Fourthly By Popish false Glosses and Expositions upon all the Revelation and that part in particular c. Fifthly By seducing men of latter times since the Light of Truth began more than of a long time before to break forth to seek disorderly to set up Christ's Kingdom which will be God's own work in his own time to anticipate the same and that by acting against the Divine Precepts that Christ came to establish in casting off due obedience unto Magistrates and endeavours to suppress the Ministry thereby to scandalize the Doctrine of Christ's Kingdom on Earth Sixthly More lately by such as this Author names in the end of his Book Gr. Ha. concerning whom he declares much in a few lines who would make the Revelation an History of things past rather than a Prophesie of things so long to come so that the Pope should not be Antichrist in his forty two moneths much less Christ have a thousand years Reign on Earth afterwards And lastly The seventh Vial that Satan hath to pour on Christ's Kingdom seems not unfitly to be conceived to be by displacing the Vials Chap. 16. from their own time unto Christ's Reign whereunto they are not competible whereof the subject matter will be then taken away or making a groundless great Chasm of above a thousand years difference from the sixth to the seventh when Satan is to be cast into the Fiery Lake which is a business of a much differing nature many ways from all the Vials as well as in time
verse 21. the little Horn prevailed until the Ancient of Days came verse 22. which is farther explained vers 26 27. And Mat. 24. after the coming of the Son of man was described by the Lightning from one part of the Heaven to the other and after the trouble then to be upon the Earth vers 29. it is said Immediately shall appear the sign of the Son of man which is probably conceived to be Christ himself as a sign then to the whole World and the time seems decyphered vers 24. that that Generation shall not pass namely in that the Nation of the Jews was to remain distinguished from all other People for they have been and will be preserved mostly unmixed with others untill the appearing of Christ and as 2 Thess 2.8 Antichrist is to be destroyed at the appearance of his coming So likewise Mat. 23.39 Ye shall not see me till ye shall say Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord implying that then they shall see him And in that Parable upon the occasion of the time of the appearing of the Kingdom of God vers 11. having before chap. 17. compared the days of the Son of man to the days of Noah and Lot which latter of Lot seems to resemble the next appearing of Christ and the former namely of Noah his last coming to judgment those two days of the Son of man Now as Lot and his Family were sent out of Sodom first before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed in that particular destruction so the faithful shall first come out of Babylon and spiritual Sodom before it be destroyed in that partial destruction though like to be very great and terrible and as Noah and his in the general Deluge were carried by the Ark above the destruction of the old World by Water so in the general conflagration of the World at Christs last coming all the Faithful at their great and general change shall be caught up to Christ their safe Ark in the Air above the destruction of the Wicked by Fire at the Worlds last destruction and as the Rabbins speak from the Prophet Their strength shall then be renewed like the Eagles and be there with Christ in safety as neither lyable nor capable any more of any such misery I say then in the 11th Chapter he speaks of such a coming vers 13. when he will reckon with such as would not have him reign over them and with the unprofitable Servant at his coming verse 23. and will have those his Enemies then brought and slain before him vers 27. when he shall receive his Kingdom and return vers 12. and this Parable was particularly spoken by our Saviour to resolve the mistake of such as thought the Kingdom of the Messiah should then immediatly appear vers 11. And many of the Prophets expressions import as much which I shall now insist upon But for how long and in what manner he may be personally present so as Rev. 1.7 he is said to come with Clouds haply to vail the brightness of his Glory which otherwise mortal Eyes could not endure I dare not say for as the Apostle Paul speaks he dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto otherwise As no man hath seen him so no man can see him 1 Tim. 6.16 and whether after some time of his appearing personally that expression of the Tabernacle of God its being with men as Rev. 21.3 imports some wonderful Glory and Grace upon the New Jerusalem as upon the Tabernacle of his Grace of old or the Glory of God shining upon it as Isa 60.1 whose Sun and Light setteth not day nor night vers 19 20. by some brightness of Glory and Grace shining upon them continually making glad the City of God when the Lamb shall be her Light as Rev. 21.23 or their beholding of him as Stephen did miraculously at his death sitting at Gods right hand or in what manner the Ark of Gods Testament shall then be seen when the Temple of God is opened in Heaven Rev. 11.19 with many expressions to like purpose or how long that Resurrectio Justorum shall be in finishing which Mr. Mede in one of his Letters seems to conceive may be a great part of the thousand years and according to their order as the Apostles phrase is first of the Martyrs and most eminent Saints and so of the rest successively concerning which and the like as I am in the dark so I must be silent God in his own time will reveal what he knows best for his People in the mean time there is matter enough of Comfort and Rejoycing in respect of both Quick and Dead in the good and blessed condition of his Church in the said thousand years upon Earth to all such as so wait upon Christ here as the true Followers of the LAMB Rev. 14. that they may be in a capacity of the Happiness reserved for either sort in those times for which the Holy Scriptures give plentiful Evidence if Men will not hide their eyes from the Light thereof But besides what was said of the personal Appearance Coming and Reign Assert 7. of the Key the strongest evidence above all others is the undoubted fulfilling of all revealed promised Mercies and Covenants to and with the Fathers carried on also in old and new Testament by the spirit of God till Christ by his Divine Key hath so graciously unlocked the Mysteries of them as we shewed on Rev. 20.5 of the first bodily Resurrection 1000 years before the rest of the dead for at his Appearance and Kingdome 2 Tim. 4.1 he Personally judgeth Quick and Dead Personally comes in the Clouds and brings his Saints with him Personally raiseth their bodies is Personally seen of the Jews his Enemies are personally slain before him Luke 19. his Saints personally behold his glory his bodily Tabernacle will personally be with men Rev. 21.3 he will personally sit upon the Throne of David to order it c. Isa 7. will personally inherit all Nations will from te marriage of the Lamb personally be the Husband and Head of his Bride the Church with many other things peculiar then to himself c. FINIS