face continually remâ—mber his marvelous workes that he hath done his wonders and the judgements of his mouth yee seed of Israell his servant yee Children of Iacob his chosen ones he is the Lord our God his judgâ—ments are in all the Earth Be ye mindfull alwayes of his covenant the word which he commanded to a thousand generations Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham and of his oath unto Isaack and hath confirmed the same unto Iacob for a law and to Israell for an â—verlasting covenant saying unto thee will I give the land of Canaan the lot of your inheritance when ye were but few even a few and strangers in it c. 1 Chro. 16. But small reason had David and as little reason had they either the Fathers or the children to be alway mindfull of this covenant if God had not confirmed it sure unto them all even to the thousand generations for an everlasting Covenant ever to endure and that it had not beene heavenly without corruption The covenant was made when they were strangers on earth but when they shall inherit the same they shall be no more strangers but true owners Then shall they worship the Lord in the beawtie of holynesse and feare before him all the earth the world also shall be stablâ—â— that it be not mooved Then shall the heauens bâ— glad and the earth shall reioyce and men shall say among the Nations The Lord raigneth According as David declareth in the same Psalme And that David did well vnderstand this covenant of the inheritance of the land of Canaan to be an eternall inheritance in the world to come he declareth himselfe further unto the People in another Psalme where he exhorteth them also saying O come let us worship bow down let us kneele before the Lord our maker for he is the Lord our God we are the people of his pasture the sheep of his hands To day if ye will heare his voyce harden not your hearts as in the provocation and as in the day of temptation in the wildernesse when your fathers tempted me proved mee and saw my workes fortie yeares long was I greived with this generation and said it is a people that doe erre in their hearts for they have not knowne my wayes unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest Psal. 95. Where the King and Prophet David doth playnly shew that when God did sweare in his wrath they of Israel that sinned in the wildernes erring in their hearts should not enter into that good Land which God sware he would give to their Fathers as it is in Deut. 1.34.35 God meant most especially and cheifly the heavenly estate of inheritance in the world to come wherin holynesse and righteousnesse rest and peace should habit and abide and God himselfe would dwell with all the holy Fathers and their Seed as in his Tabernacle for evermore for which cause he calleth it his rest and sheweth that they that will enter into it must vnharden their hearts and heare his voyce that is to say repent and believe the promise otherwise there is no entering into it And this doth the Apostle plainly prove mentioning this very same thing to the Hebrewes saying And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest but to them that bâ—leived not So we see saith he that they could not enter in because of unbeleife let us feare therefore least a promise being left of entering into his Rest any of you should seeme to come short of it for unto us was the Gospell preached as well as unto them c. Heb. â— 7.8.9.10.4.1.2.3 c. Where he also declareth that every one that hath the faith of Abraham that so beleiveth as He did not onely hath an entrance heere in the Spirit Spirituallyâ— as he saith we which haue beleived doâ— enter and as all the holy Fathers had but also shall hereafter their owne persones soule and body inherit the same really and truely with all the holy Fathers and sheweth that the same rest and entrance into it is preached unto us by the Gospell as it was also unto them by the promise it containing the summe of the Gospell And that it remaineth yet to be expected of all the people of God who are heere so entred by faith Their calling and election being made sure as the Apostle Peter saith For so an entrance is aboundantly ministred unto us into the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.10.11 For Gods rest eternall is Christs everlasting Kingdome which is to be manifested at his appearing when he shall also judge the quicke and the dead as Saint Paul saith to Timothy For Ioshâ—a did not give the people of Israel that rest but Iesus Christ is to doe it in whom they beleived And of this salvation of Israel inheritance of the Earth and stability of the world doth the Prophet Esay also speake where he having forshewed the shame and confusion of the ungodly and Idolatours of the world which is to come upon them saith But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation yee shall noâ— be ashamed nor confounded world without end for thus faith the Lord that created the heavens God himselfe that formed the Earth and made it he hath established it he created it not in vaine he formed it to be inhabited I am the Lord and there is none else I have not spoken in secret in a darke place of the Earth I said not unto the seed of Iacob Seeke ye meâ— in vaine I the Lord speake righteousnesse I declare things that are right Esay 45.14.15.16 So that if Abraham Isaack and Iacob and their seed should not live and inherit the earth If God that made it had not established it so as they should inhabit the same and well therein for ever according to his word Then had he created it in vaine then had he said unto the seed of Iacob all this while seeke yee mee in vaine But the Lord speaketh righteousnesse he declareth things that are right and such as shall surely come to passe in their due time and season Neither hath he spoken in obscurity in darke places or corners of the Earth as if he would not have his mind knowen nay he speaketh plainly and openly to the eares of the people and inhabitants of the world So as the simplest soule through his grace may understand his meaning And for further confirmation that God did not create this excellent worke and Fabrike of the world to destroy it but that he hath established the same and will that it be not movâ—d Consider these scriptures 1 Chro. 16.30 â—sal 78.69 Psal. 93.1 Psal. 96.10 Psal. 14.5 The fift Question or Proposition Fiftly I aske iâ— the deliverance by Moyses and the possession and estate Ioshua gave the naturall Israelites in the land of Canaâ—n which God fore-shewed unto Abraham in Gen.
polluted and so possessed with wickednesse as now it is capeable of so excellent and glorious a creature as shee is and shall be seene to bee in this day of her appearing in glory being now made ready perfectly adorned with all her ornaments as the Bride for the marriage of the Lambe that bought her her Lord and King Christ Iesus And blessed are they that are called unto the marriage supper of the Lambe Now shall this holy citie Hierusalem bâ—ing forth and receive all her children at once even in one day without any more travill or paines as it is written Before she traviled she brought forth before her paine came sâ—ee was delivered of a man child Who hath heard such a thing who hath seene such things shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day shall a Nation bee borne at once for as soone as Sion travilled she brought forth her Children Esay â—6 7.8 So that now when the Lord shall apeare to their joy that were hated and cast out for his names sake And to render recompence to his enemies as in the 5 and 6. verses he said then shall the earth in whose bowels the bodyes of the Saints had slept and whom she had bread and brought up and Sion also their spirituall Mother bring â—orth and receive all their children at once even in one day and she shall remember no more her sorrow for joy that her man-child is borne for so by that name it pleaseth the Lord to tytle her children as also in Revel. 12.5 She shall now bee adorned with them all according as her Lord foreshewed her in the time of her captivity when she complained saying The Lord hath forgotten me my Lord hath forsaken me and hee told her nay he had graven her upon the palmes of his hands and comforting her told her also that hiâ— children should make hast and biddeth her lift up her eyes round about behold shewing her as it were in a vision all her children which she longed for hasting unto her and said All these gather themselves together and comâ— to thee As I live saith the Lord thou shalt furâ—â—â—r loâ—th thee with them all as with an ornament and binde â—hem on â—hee as a Bride doth for thy wast and thy desolate places and the land of thy destruction shall even now be to morrow by reason of the inhabitants and they that swallowed thee up shall farre awayâ— the children which thou shalt have after thou hast lost the other shall say againe in thine eares the place is to straight for â—eâ— give place to mee that I may dwell then shalt thou say in thine heart who hath begotten me these seeing I have lost my children and am dessolate a captive and removing too and fro and who hath brought vp these Behold I was left alone These where had they beene c. Esay 4â— Here the Lord comforteth Sion with her children of the Gentiles that were to bee brought in unto her by the Gospel of Iesus Christ which was to bâ—e preached amongst them by his Apostles and Servants as in the 22 verse appeareth who were to supply the losse of all her other lost children of the naturall house of Israel Therfore now these being all accomplished unto her reioyce ye with Ierusalâ—m be glad with her all ye that love her reioyce with ioy with her all ye that mourne for her that ye may suâ—k and bee satisfied with the brests of her consolation that ye may milke out and bee delighted with the aboundance of her glory for thus saith the Lord Behold I will extend peace to her like a river and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing streame then shall yee sucke ye shall be borne upon her sides and be dandled upon her knees as one whom his mother comforteth So will I comfort you and ye shall bee comforted in Ierusalem And when ye see this your heart shall reioyce and your bones shall flourish like an hear be and the hand of the Lord shall bee knowne towards his servants and his indignation tâ—wards his enemies Esay 66.10 11 12 13 14. c. The children of Ierusalem are now to sucke and bee satisfied to milke out and bee delighted with the abundance of her consolation and the abundance of her glory c. it is not said with the milke of the principles or doctrine of Christ or forme of goverment and discipline of the Gospel as some would have it or at least expound it and to concerne cheefely their thousand yeares Church of the Iewes Nay the children of Ierusalem being now all accomplished unto her by the word of Christ they shall have no neede of Doctrine or discipline or governours or teachers of that kind or manner any more But the governement of this new Ierusalem shal be peace it selfe her exactors righteousnes it selfe The Lord her righteousnesse and the righteousnesse of all her children he being now personally in the middest of her And salvation being her walls and her Towers the glory of God her gates his praise as it is written of her God himselfe also dwelling with her and with all her Children as in his owne Tabernacle As Saint Iohn heard it proclaimed from heaven as he saith and I heard a great voyce from heaven saying Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himselfe shall be with them and be their God and God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neyther shall there be any more paine for the former things are passed away And he that sate upon the Throne said Behold I make all things new c. Revel. 21. This Ierusalem is that same which God spake of beâ—ore to the Prophet Esay chap. 65. having foreshewed him this great redemption and salvation of Israel and how all their former troubles should be forgotten and hidden from his eyes and that hee would create new heavens and a new earth c. then saith Bee ye glad and reioyce for ever in the things that I create for behold I create Hierusalem a reioycing and her people a ioy and I will reioyce in Hierusalem and ioy in my people and the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard in her nor the voyce of crying c. verse 17 18 19. And this is the same Tabernacle whereof God spake to the Prophet Ezekiell he having foreshewed him also this great redemption of the whole house of Israel from all their captivities Graves c. to their owne land and saying And they shall dwell in the land which I have given unto Iacob my servant wherein your fathers have dwelt and they shall dwell therein they aâ—d their children and childrens children for ever hereby the way we are to understand by They and their children c. Abraham Isaack and Iacob and all their seede or children of the promise
be as plainely made to Abraham Isaack and Iacobâ— their owne persons as it is unto their seed and to all the seed as well as to a part or any one of them and that they of the many nations the faithfull Gentâ—les are of the same seed as well as the faithfull Iewes and heires of the promise together with them according as all the forementioned Scriptures do plainely declare so plainâ—ly as I suppose no man will denie Then I aske whâ—refore or for what cause they should not all receive the same and not any one or part be excluded seeing God is faithfull that promiseth God did covenant also with Abraham to be his God and the God of his seed and this hee established in no plaineâ— or suâ—er manâ—er then he did to give them the land for an everlasting possession as in the same place Gen. 17.7 8. appeareth but if God should faile either Abraham oâ— any of his seed in this respect how did he then keepe his covenant even so of the other Therefore as God will not faile either Abraham or any of his seed to be their God neither will he faile to give them the land of Canaan and all the world besides for an everlasting possession The fourth question Fourthly I aske if the true intent of the promise in the forementioned places be not of an eternall estate in the world to come after the resurrection of the body and end of this world That Abraham Isaak and Iacob and all their seed shall then inherit I say not the land of Canaan only although principally as the Throne and City of the great King but all the earth even to the utmost ends and bounds thereof according to Psal. 37. and Mat. 5. Where it is promised that the meeke shall inherit the earth And as the twenty foure Elders sing in their new song unto the Lamb Christ Iesus saying Thou art worthy to take the booke and to open the Seales thereof for thou wast slaine hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred tongue people nation hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall raigne on the earth Revel. 3.10.11 And who may these redeemed ones out of every kindred tongue people nation that shall raigne on the eaâ—th be but those of the many nations the faithfull Iewes and the faithfull Gentiles which God made Abraham a Father of and Saint Paul saith are heires with Abraham of the world And the promise that the meeke shall inherit the earth doth belong to every meek man as well as to any one of them and so to be fulfilled but it was never so yet in this world Abraham Isaack and Iacob the Fathers of those meeke unto whom the Land of Canaan was promised for an inheritance dyed and inherited not a foote Therefore that God may be found â—â—ue of his word they must all of them inherit it in the the resurrection because here it is otherwise neither is it said they doe inherit or raigne but they shall neither when God promised the land of Canaan unto Abraham and to his seed the earth the world to inherit as in the forementioned places did he meane this present as it is now polluted neither were they so to looke for it as the Prophet Micha saith to them of his time Arise yee and depart â—or this is not your rest because it is polluted It shall destroy you even with a sore destruction Mich. 2.10 But God spake and intended it of the world to come when all things should be new holy and heavenly and so did the Fathers understand and expect it And this doth the Apostle Paul proove from their owne words when they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth saying And they that say such things declare plainely that they seeke a Countrey And truely saith he if they had beene mindfull of the Countrie from whence they came out they might have had oppertunitie to have returned but now they desire a better Country that is an heavenly Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a City Heb. 1â— 13.14.15.16 In which words the Apostle doubtlesse hath respeâ—t to the promise in Gen. 17.7.8 Where God did establish his covenant with Abrahâ—m to be his God and the God of his seed and to give them the land and so understood both to be of like certainty and continuance and such as are heavenly and eternall And that there was also a Citie having foundations whose builder and maker is God which they looked for upon the promise and that therefore God was not ashamed to be called their God For Abraham well understood it was not for a corruptable countrey or a mooveable Citie in a transitory world as now this is that God called him out of the land of Vr to give him and his seed to inherit but for an uncorruptable unmooveable eternall in a better world and so much doe the very words of the promise expresse in that it saith for an everlasting covenant for an everlasting possession for no corruptable things are everlasting neither are these promises such as shall either vanish or faile And upon the ground of this covenant did Christ himselfe proove the resurrection from the dead against the Saduces knowing it to be most sufficient for the purpose saying Now that the dead are raised even Moyses sheweth at the Bush where he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaack and the God of Iacob they being now dead when Moyses thus spake which the Sadduces knew and therefore Christ saith unto them God is not the God of the dead but of the living Luk. 20.37.38 Prooving hereby that Abraham Isaak and Iacob must rise againe from the dead and live to inherit the countrey and Citie promised that God may be found true of his word and declare himselfe to be their God for everlasting according to his covenant Gen. 17. Ezod. 3.6 And that it shall be a heavenly eternall estate in the world to come the Lord also manifesteth in his answeâ—e to the Carnall objection of those Saduces a litle before where he saith The children of this world marry are given in marriâ—ge but they that shall be counted worthy of that world and the resurrection from the dead neithâ—r marry nor are given in marriage neither can they dye any more for they are equall unto the Angels and are the children of God being the Children of the resurrection Luk 20.35.36 Where the Lord sheweth plainly that the world to come which the holy Fathers and their seed shall inherit at the resurrection will be such a world as none of the ungodly shall be counted worthy to inherit any part thereof as they doe most parts of this world And to this covenant also had David respect in his Psal where he exhorteth the people of Israell saying Seeke the Lord and his strength seeke his
To him that overcommeth will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I overcame and am set with my father in his Throne Revel. 3.21 In this Throne Christ is to reigne under God the Father as his King according as hee said to David I will settle him in my house and in my Kingdome for ever c. 1 Chro. 17. It is Gods Kingdome then And the Lord God calleth this Sonne of David his annoynted one his Sonne his King and the hill whereon he shall sit to reigne his hill as in Psal. 2. where he saith not withstanding all those heathen and people Kings and Rulers that tooke couâ—sell against him and against his Anoynted that said Let us breake their hands asunder and cast their cords from us yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion And the King shall receive of God the Father that which he bid â—im aske saying aske of mee and I will give â—hee the heâ—thâ—n for thine inheritance and the uttermost ends of the earth for thy possession thou shalt breake them with a rod of yron and dash them in peeces like a potters vessell verse 8.9 Which power also the King will give to the Children of Sion as he promised saying And hee that overcommeth and keepeth my words uâ—to the end to him will I give power over the Nations and hee shall rule them with a rod of yron and as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers even as I have received of my father Revel. 2.16.17 And it shall be fulfilled which David his father foretold of him saying He shall iudge the poore of the people hee shall save the children of the needyâ— and shall breake in peeces the oppressor they shall feare thee as long as the Sun and Moone endureth throughout all generations hee shall come downe like raine upon the mowen grasse like showeâ—s that water the earth In his dayes shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the moone endureth he shall have dominion also from Sea to Sea and from the river to the ends of tâ—e earth thâ—y that dwell in the wildernesse shall bow before him and the enemie shall licke the dust The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kinsts of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts yea all Kings shall fall downe before him all nations shall serve him Psal. 72. And the children of Sion shall be joyfull in their King and the Lord wil take pleasure in his people will bewtifie the meeke with salvation as he also said The high praises of God shall â—ee in their mouthes and a two edged sword in their hands to exâ—cute vengance upon the heathen and punishment upon the people to binde their Kings in chaines and their Nobles with fetâ—ers of yron to execute upon them the iudgement written this honour have all the Saints Psal. 149. And it shall now be fulfilled alâ—o which is written O clap your hands O yee people shout unto God with the voyce of triumph for the Lord most high is terrible he is a great King over al the earth he hath subdued the people under us the Nations under our feet hee shall chuse our inheritance for us the excellencie of Iacob whom hee lovâ—d God 〈◊〉 gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a Trump sing prayses unto our God sing praises sing prayses unto our King sing praises for God is the King over all the earth sing ye praises with understanding God reigneth over the heathen God sitteth upon the Throne of his holinesse the Princes of the people are gathered even the people of the God of Abraham for the shields of the earth belong unto God he is greatly exalted Psal. 47. And great shall the Lord bee in this day and greatly shall hee bee praysed in the citie of our God in the mountaine of his holinesse Bewtifull for situation the ioy of the whole earth is mount Sion in the sides of the North the Citie of the great King God is knâ—wne in her pallaces for a refuge for lâ—â— the Kings were assembled they passed by together they saâ— it and so they marviled they were troubled and they hasted away feare tooke hold upon them there and paines as of a woman in travill So terrible to the wicked of this world shall mount Sion be in the day of her glory and so great an astonishment to all those that formerly oppressed her who although they shall not enter in through the gates of the Citie to see or understand of her felicity joyes within or anyway partake of her pleasures yet they shall understand of her power and see with feare and greife her brightnesse and glory without It is for the Princes of the people of the God of Abraham to enter in through the gates into the Citie and for their Kings to come and bring theiâ— glory and riches into it as it is written Esay 60 11. Revel. 21.24 And they shall say As we have heard so have wee seeâ—e in the citie of the Lord of hosts in the Citie of our God God will establish it for ever Selah Psal. 48.8 The holy Citie the new Hierusalem which had beene so long withdrawne from the earth because it was not by reason of the wickednesse and pollutions thereof meete to receive hir being Gods eternall Tabernacle when Christ her Lord and King shall have purged the earth and heavens of all their pollutions and vaine corrupt workers of men that are therein as he will doe in the great day of his comming according as his Apostle Peter witnesseth saying But the the day of the Lord will come as a theefe in the night in the which the heavens shall passe away with a great noyse and the elements shall melt with fervent heate and the earth also and the workes thâ—t are therein shall be burnt up 2 Pet. 3.10 And as the Apostle Iohn also saith And I saw a great white Throne and him that sate thereon from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away and there was found no place for them Revel. 20.11 These things being done and that there shall bee new heavens and a new earth as the Lord also promised Esay 65.17 according to 2 Pet. 3.13 and as it was foreshewed unto the beloved Disciple who saith And I saw a new heaven and a new earth c. Revel. 21.1 Then shall that holy City come down from heaven as he saith And I saw the holy City the new Hierusalem comming downe from God out of heaven perpared as a Bride adorned for her husband ver. 2. For pollutions and curses may not abide where the Throne of God and of the Lambe is nor where this holy citie shall stand as it is said And there shall bee no more Curse but the Throne of God and of the Lambe shall be in it and his servants shall serve him Revel. 22.3 Neither is this world being
to whom it belonged and my servant David shall be their King for ever Moreover saith the Lord I will make a Covenant of peace with them it shall be an everlasting covenant with them and I will place them and multiply them and I will set my Sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore my Tabernacle also shall be with them yea I will be their God and they shall be my people And the hâ—aâ—hen shall know that I the Lord doe sanctifie Israel when my Sanctuary shall bee in the midst of them for evermore Ezek. 37. This is that Country and Citie which the holy Fathers sought mentioned in Heb. 11. This is the place whereof God spake to David where he said Also I will ordaine a place for my people Israel and will plant them and they shall dwell in their place and shall be moved no more neither shall the children of wickednesse wast them any more as at the beginning c. 1 Chron. 17.9 This is that purchased possession untill the redemption wherof the faithfull are Sealed with the holy Spirit of promise the earnest of that their inheritance spoken of by Saint Paul Ephe. 1.13 14. This is that Eternall Tabernacle which God is the builder of and not man spoken of in Heb. 8.2 and 9.11 which Christ hath purchased with his owne blood for our Eternall inheritance as in verse 12. This is the place which Christ spake of to his Disciples when he said I goe to prepare a place for you Iohn 14. And this is that Building of God not made with hands eternall in the heavens spoken of 2 Cor. 5.1 This is that inheritance incorruptable undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for us who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to bee revealed in the last time spoken of in 1 Pet. 3 4 5 6. the times of restitution of all things whereof he spake in Acts 3. for then it is to bee revealed from heaven as Iohn foresaw Revel. 21. when all things shall be new This is the Kingdome which cannot be shaken spoken of in Heb. 12.27 28. This is that Citie of which he saith for here we have no continuing city but we seeke one to come Heb. 13.14 And this is the glory which Saint Paul saith the children and heires of God that suffer with Christ shall receive as joynt heires together with him for the manifestation whereof the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth and untill which the whole creation travelleth together in paine as in Rom. 8.17 18 19 20 21 22 23. And this is the rest which is said to remaine unto the people of God spoken of in Hebâ— 4. where hee exhorteth saying Let us therefore labour to enter into that rest leâ—t c. verse 9.10.11 Now all these promises and testimonies being of one and the same eternall inheritance as doth plainely appeare and that it belongeth to all the faithfull as is also manifest and being so acomplished as before is declared Then Abraham Isaac and Iacob and all the holy Fathers before them and their children and their childrens children after them to the thousand generations even all their seede to this worlds end for there shall be no increasing of children any way afterwards shall inherit according to the promise the Land of Canaan which God gave unto the Fathers that good Land which he espied for them the glory of all lands as the Scriptures title it And not that Land onely but every habitable part of the world besides yet that land principally as the glory of all the rest There the Fathers sojourned in expectation thereof upon the promise There by faith they tooke order and gave charge to have their bones laid expecting their resurrection to that end Thither their children were brought from their servitude in Egypt to possesse it typically There God revealed his counsells and testimonies by his servants the Prophets There was the Temporall typicall Hierusalem There was Davidâ— Throne There was Iesus Christ the true king and heire of all things borne There he suffered and underwent the shame from thence he ascended into Heaven and to the same place he shall come againe as it is written And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives which is before Hierusalem c. Zech. 14.4 And there shall his Throne be upon the holy hill of Sion according to Psal. 2. For although his Kingdome and dominion shall reach throughout all the World from Sea to Sea and from the river to the ends of the earth as it is said where also his Saints shall inherit and raigne yet there shall be his Throne and his glory most eminent even there where he suffered the reproach and that shall all his enemies in that day see and know For God will get his servants praise and fame in every land where they had been put to shame according as he said Zeph. 3.19 And all the Seed and children of the promise since the beginning of the world the true Israel of God shall now be a nation before the Lord for ever and be Kings and Preists unto God and shall raigne on the Earth as the twenty foure Elders declared and being all of them the Children of God and of the new Hierusalem redeemed by the blood of the Lambe The Lambe wil now among all the rest of his promises and gifts performe this also in Rev. 3. Where he saith Him that overcomeâ—h will I make a pillar in the house of my God and he shall goe no more out I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the City of my God The new Hierusalem which cometh downe out of Heaven from my God and my new name ver. 12. Where we see also as in Rev. 21. that it is to come downe out of Heaven I aske now If these things be so as hath beene declared or no if they be truly so then I aske where ye will have ground for your doctrine of a thousand yeares glorious Church of the Iewes in the Land of Canaan or of any other that ye will have rise from the dead before the end of this world or what have ye to object against that which hath beenâ— said If ye object and say heere is not in all this a word spoken of heaven that the Saints after the resurrection of the body and end of this world shall ascend with Christ and Christ with them to live and raigne there in the presence of God and with all his holy Angels for ever I confesse I have not spoken a word to that purpose and the reason is because I find not a word in all the holy Scriptures that saith it and what they speake not I am not bound in this case to beleive though I deny them not heaven God may take up of them into heaven as he did Paul if he so please though he hath not said it That the Saints shall
inherit the earth and dwell therein for ever there are a hâ—ndred words in the Scriptures of God to prove as ye may see by that whicâ— is written And when Christ cometh in his glory his holy Angels shall come with him and God himself will dwell with his people and they shall be his Tabernacle as hath beene declared And this I say yet further that if you can breake Gods covenant with the day and his covenant with the night and that there should not be day and night in their seasons If ye can remoove the Sunne the Moone and the Starres out of their places and from their order and put an end to the dayes of Heaven then ye may breake and put an end to the things before declared otherwise they shall stand and not faile for ever as the Lord hath said Ier. 31.35.36.37 Ier. 33.20.21 Neither shall these ordinances ever depart from before the face of the Lord What were it that all these excellent promises and sayings in Scripture should onely intend a thousand or two thousand yeares glorious Church of the Iewes or of any other to be in the time of this world and then to cease and how many absurdites would follow too many to relate The Iewes had almost two thousand yeares time in their troublesome Typical estate and there hath beene neere one thousand six hundred yeares since wherein all that glory hath beene troden downe and the people disperst as well the Saints that were then in the land as the other one whom the wrath of God which was written is ceased upon And will ye have this glorious estate that hath beene so many thousand yeares spoken of and looked for of all the faithfull upon Gods promises since the beginning to last but for a thousand yeares or two as some would have it and to concerne only and belong to a remnant of Iewes remaining discended of the most viperous generation of them that ever were as Christ himselfe chargeth them such as were to fill up the measure of their Fathers wickednesse and that these should be all of them generally called and saved this is beyond all sound aprehention and besides all Scriptures of truth such a calling and such a saving was never knowne to be of the best dissent naturall that ever was nor was ever knowen to be the manner of Gods dealing and procâ—eding in any age with any people whatsoever But to chuse out from among them and their Children here one and there one as Abell leaving Cain Isaack leaving Ishmael Iacob leaving Esaw and so in all times both with Iewes and Gentiles seldome many of one mans Children and lesse times all like as is hoped was with Iacobs sonnes but as it is writen Though the Children of Israel be as the sand of the Sea a remnant shall be saved for God will finish the worke as Saint Paul saith and cut it short in righteousnesse because a short worke will the Lord make upon the earth and as he saith againe from Esay Excâ—pt the Lord â—f Sabbath had lefâ— us a seed wee had beene as Sodome and beene made like unto Gomorrah Rom. 9. And as Christ himselfe saith for shewing how it would be to the worlds end Strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth â—nto life and few there be that finde it Mat. 7.14 If ye say the Scriptures speake much of the Iewes calling and especially Saint Paule in Rom. 11. My answere is it seemeth to doe so but there is a great mistaking of the Apostles wordes and meaning by many for he speaketh onely of a remnant of elect Iewes and chiefely of those in his owne time which the Christian Romanes had their eye upon Marvelling that so few of so great and religious a nation did beleive the Gospell of Christ and confest him which was the occasion of the Apostles writing unto them in this manner to informe them as concerning the reason thereof and proveth unto them by former experience and testimonies of the Prophets that they were alwayes but few in comparrison of the great number of obstinate ones that did beleeve in their â—earts to salvation as in Chap. 9. from the testimonie of Esaiah and in this Chap. by that in the time of Eliahs And so all his arguments are to prove that God did never cast away his elect people of Israel Nor would but that they should all come in according as many of them did especially in those dayes for then they had the most excellent meanes that ever they had or shall have while the world stands which because the Rulers and greatest number of them did so wilfully reject filling up the measure of their Fathers sinnes who persecuted and killeâ— the Prophets and they now Christ himselfe was therefore to be taken from them and the wrath of God to cease upon them to the uttermost according as Moyses had foretold long beâ—ore Deut 28. from the 15. verse to the end of the Chap. And as Christ himself pronounceth sayingâ—For these be the dayes of vengance that all things that are written might be fulfilled But woe be to them that are with child and to them that give suck in those dayes for there shall be great distresse in the land and wrath upon this people and they shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led captive into all Nationâ— and Ierusalem shall be trodden downe of the Gentilâ—s till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled Luk. 21.22.23.24 As also Saint Paul testifieth Thesalo And the time being now come that the Gentiles should heare the word of the Gospell that Gods elect among them which by Gods appointment were now in these latter dayes to be many in number might bee brought inâ— So long as untill the times of the course of the Gospel among the Gentiles for the bringing in of all Gods Elect of them be accomplished Hierusalem is to be troden downe of the wicked unbeleeving Gentiles And so long also shall blindnesse continue upon the generation of those vipers that Christ spake to that they may fill up their measure as they did the measure of their fathers according as they said his blood bee upon us and upon our children These are that part of Israel of whom Saint Paul saith Blindnesse in part is hapned to Israel untill the fulâ—esse of the Gentiles be come in the fulnesse of Gods Elect Gentiles for so he meaneth so the words themselves doe expresse And these are those other sheepe of whom Christ spake in Iohn 10. which being brought in there shall be one fould and one Shepheard one Nation and one King for ever And all the blinded Iewes and Gentiles also that have reiected the grace of God in Christ shall see these sheep of the Gentiles that come from the East and the West and North and South sit with Abraham Isaack and Iacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdome of God and themselves cast out as
Christ hath spoken So their blindnesse shall last no longer they shall now see what they reiected and what is come of it according also as Christ said to their fathers for I say unto you ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord Mat. 23.39 for every eye shall see him and all tongues shall confesse at this day that Iesus is the Lord to the glory of God the Father as it is written And as touching that living and raigning with Christ for a thousand years spoken of in Revel. 20. of the soules of them that were to be beheaded because they would not worship the Beast nor his Image nor would receive his marke c. which is there sayd to be the first resurrection This being the onely Scripture they make use of to proove a thousand yeares glorious estate of a Church of the Iewes as some would have it or as others of the faith full disceased whom they will have to rise from the dead a thousand yeares before the end of the World and resurrection of the ungodly c. Therefore to remove these opinions and stop all obiections against the cleare truth if possible it may be My â—nswer is in breefe this First they are utterly mistaken in the word Soules because they wil have it to intend bodies as well as soules for although sometimes in Scripture soules only are named when both bodies and soules are meant as in Gen 46.15 and so the 27. verse where it is said All the Soules of the House of Iacob which came into Egypt were three score and ten yet I say it cannot be so meant here my reasons are first These soules which Saint Iohn saith he saw are the soules of men be headed and not of living men but if yee say Iohn foresaw them risen and so names the soule for both my answer is This cannot be the soule may not be named for the body nor with the body in this case as to meane both because the soule of a regenerate man being now alive by faith cannot be said either to dye with the body or to rise with the body neither is there any resurrection of the soule after the death of the body therefore may not be named for the death of the body nor for the resurrection of the body neither is there such an instance in all the Scriptures as to say wheÌ„ a righteous mans body dieth or is dead there is a soule dead although it may be so said of an ungodly manâ— because his soule is alwaies dead spiritually And to say of a regenerate man that when his body riseth from the dead his soule riseth with it is to say a manifest untruth When those Saints rose from the dead at the time of Christs suffering it is not said their soules rose but thâ—â—â— bodies onely as in Mat. 27.52 When Iohn saw under the Altar the Soules of them that were slaine for the word of God Revel. 6.9 He apprehended their bodies to bâ— dead as the text sheweth plainely in that the Soules cryed How long Lord holy and truâ— dost thou not Iudge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth thâ—y being in heaven and it was sayd unto them that they should râ—st a little season untill their fellow servantâ— and their brethrâ—n that must be killed as they were should â—e fulfilled vers. 10 11. neither were the bodies of the first to rise before the last were slaine as the words declare Therefore my conclusion is that the living raigning with Christ and the first resurrectionâ— in this place spoken of is of the soule onely and noâ— of the body and that it beginneth here while the soule and body are togetherâ— as Christ himselfe declareth saying Verily verily I say unto you The â—ower is comming and now is when the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they that heare it shall live Iohn 5â—25 And then afterward speaketh unto the Iewes saying marvaile not at this for the hower is comming in the which all that are in the graves shal heare his voyce and shall come forth they that have done goodâ—â—â—to the resurrection of life and they that have done evill unto the â—â—surrection of condemnation vers. 28.29 Here we see the resurrection of the bodyes of good and band out of the graves are both together in one houre and that the resurrection of the Soules of the faithfull is daily all the time before as hee saith the hower is comming and now is And as touching this first resurrection of the Soule Saint Paule saith Ye are buried with Christ in baptisme wherein also ye are risen with him c. Col. 2. And aagaine If ye be risen with Christ seeke those things which are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Colosâ— 3â— 1.2.3 And the Soule being once risen with Christ liveth alwaies now though his body die or be beheaded and it may truely bee sayd of him to his great comfort even while he is in the body Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection for on such the second death hath no power But they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall raigne with him I will not say now a 1000 yeares in that manner with out the body because those yeares are almost expired So long a time being past since the first sufferings of Saints for those causes of not worshipping the Beast c. began who had the full time of the thousand yeares before them to come as they whose Soules Iohn saw under the Altar that cryed How long Lord holy and true dost thou not Iudge and avenge â—ur blood on them that dwell upon the earth it is not every Soule a thousand yeares but a thousand for all But this I say unto and of every such soule that he shall live and raigne with Christ untill his commiâ—g in glory And then he shall live and raigne with him soule and body for evermore world without end And this I say further That whosoever hath not part here in the first resurrection let him be sure whosoever hee be the second death will cease upon him body and soule for ever hee shall have no other first resurrection after the death of his body to helpe him or make him blessed and holy As concerning the other things of this twenty chapter and also of the 11. to the Romans before spoken of If the Reader please to inquire for a booke intituled The deliverance of the whole house of Israel from all their captivities he may see in the same the particular matters oâ— both in a more full manner declared which I hope through the grace of God with his diligent observation shall cleare the truth of all these things plainely unto him And now let me a little advise the Reader whosoever he be first that hee would take heede hee have not the word
of God and Gospel of Iesus Christ whereby his Soule and body should live eâ—ernally in respect of persons I meane so as to esteeme or disesteeme that which he shal heare spoken or see written according as the speaker or writer is in place or name of acount in the world But that he would with all carefulnesse and diligence of minde search and inquire into every thing that he heareth or readeth and as he shall finde things cleare to his understanding confirmed to his soule and conscieâ—ce by the word spirit of God to be of God hiâ— truth So to imbrace and keepe them without asking after or saying in his minde or harkning to any that shall say unto him I But who or what is the Authour as if the knowledge of the person place and repute of the Authour would make the matter much better or worse whereas the words matters of a speaker or writer in divine thingâ— especially doe best discover unto the Children of wiâ—edome what the Authour is And Christ sheweth plainly that the fruit whereby his faithfull shall know the true Prophets and the false is their words which proceede from the good or from the evill treasure of the heart and â—aith that men by their words shall bee justified and by their words shall be condemned Mat. 12.33 34 35 36 37. Luke 6.45 And what doth now so prove unto the faithfull the goodnesse of the Prophets and Apostles as their words And secondly my advice unto the Reade is that hee would himselfe betake him to the diligent search and studie of the Scriptures with earnest desire and humble request unto God in his heart to guide and instruct him by his holy Spirit unto the understanding of the same For without all doubt the holy Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles are the most sure and clearest Preachers of the truth and waies of eternall life that are to be found in the world and such as we may be sure off will not deceive us And let the Reader take heede that his trust or dependance bee not on any man whatsoever though he be never so high in esteeme or take never so much upon him And this I say further unto him for his comfort and incouragement whatsoever he bee if hee can preferre wisedome and understanding in his heart before all things in the world I meane the true wisedome which is from above and shall with his whole soule desire and seeke it at the hands of God hee shall assuredly attaine unto it let him not doubt for so sure as the Lord God which promiseth will not faile of his word if he can and shall so preferre it So seeke it he shall have it Let him not harken or give heede unto any that shall say it is not for you to search the Scriptures and studie them so you are unlearned cannot understand them you have not the tongues wherin they were written c. As if God had promised and tyed the understanding of his word and Gospel of Salvation to those and such like common gifts which men may abound with and perish Nay take heede of these for they speake not the words of wisedome unto you but of falsehood and deceit If they did understand in their heart what true wisedome is and from whence it commeth they would not so speake but would know that God is the instructer and free giver of this wisedome to the learned and the unlearned without respect of persons And that hee hath often times confounded the wisedome of the wise and mighty of the world by weake and despised things as Saint Paul declareth proving it from the Prophet Esay saying For it is written I will destroy the wisedome of the wise and bring to nought the undeestanding of the prudent Where is the wise where is the Scribeâ— where is the disputer of the world hath not God made the wisedome of this world foolishnesse c. And againeâ—Ye see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty c. But God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and the weake things of the world to confoâ—nd the mighty and base things of the world and things which are deâ—pised hath God chosen and things which are not to bring to nought things that are that no flesh might glory in his sight 1 Cor. 2.19 20 26 27. Saint Paul was learned yet these are his sayings Although peradventure some dare be so bold as to say they are now out of daet because they would have it so to be conceived of the people to the end they should not seeke understanding from the Scriptures but depend upon them for instruction and have them in admiration as hath beene the policy and practise a long time of them of the Church of Rome to keepe the people from the Scriptures that they might remaine in ignorance and exalt them in their mindes and honour them as Gods Prophets and their words of errour and deceit as Gods oracles Take heede of such I say for although they doe not like to have any to bee Lords over them in such respects yet they by this shew plainly that they would be Lords over you But howsoever the Lord saith to the humble in heart that he will teach them his waies that his secrets are with them that feare him and that hee will dwell with him that is of an humble and contrite heart And Christ saith Aske and ye shall have seeke and ye shall finde knocke and it shall be opened unto you Nay more Behold I stand at the doore and knocke if any man open the doore I will come in to him and will sup with him and hee with me Rev. 3.20 Here is no excepting of persons though never so poore or dispised never so low of place or calling in the world shepheard clowne or other if he can so seeke the Lord and his wisedome and waies if he can so open he will come in to him he will comfort him and teach him for thâ—â— is nothing under the Suâ—ne wherein the Lord doth takâ— the like pleasure as to bee conversant with men to acquaint them with his waies and truth that they should admire his goodnesse and set forth the same to his praise what honor what preferment what treasure what dignity unto man in this world is like it To be so in account with God that made heaven and earth and beloved of him and to know it to be so as all the holy Fathers Prophets and Saints have done there is no comparison And all this out of doubt is to bee attained God is still the same he can make knowne his love and his waies now as well as heretofore and the time is now come into the world and incoming wherein he will doe it more abundaâ—tly then hath been for many yeares since the Apostles times because he wil now gather in his last fruits he will have his truth knowne and his word truely understood of his people for to that end it is written that they may walke in the light thereof to their comfort and salvation and the praise of his Name Therefore my advice is neglect not so great a treasuâ—e And so I commend him unto the Lord and to the word of his grace for his guidance and protection unto whom bee all honour and praise both now and for ever Amen And so I rest his freind in Chrisâ—â— I. E. FINIS Errata PAge 6. l. 4. for coâ—cerning 1. considering p. 8. l. 19. r. Psal. 5.9 10. p. 14. l. 20. 1. Psal. 114.5 p. 26. l. 3. for words r. workâ—s and l. 6. r. Revel. 2.26.27 p. 28. l. 5. for workers r. workes p. 28. l. 24. for curses r. the â—urse p. 30. l. 1. r. shall be fare away 2 Tim. 4.1 Heb. 11.13 Ezek. 37 12 13. Ezek. 39.28 Ezek 37.14 1 Chron. 16.29 30 31 32 33. Act. 1.6 Luk. 22.20 Psal. 47. Psal. â—â— Ier. 31.35.36.37 Ier. 33.20.21 Deut. 28. Esay 10.22 23. Rom. 9 27â— 28.29 Esay 1.9