Lord most high is terrible he is a King over all the earth he shall subdue the people under us and the Nations under our feet He shall choose our inheritance for us Psal 47. from 1 to 10 Psa 93.2 3 Ps 99.1 2 3 the excellency of Iacob Selah God is gone up with a shout the Lord with a sound of a trumpet sing praise to God sing praise sing praise unto oâ—r King sing praise For God is the King of all the earth God reigns over the heathen God sitteth upon the Throne of his holinesse The Princes of the people are gathered together even the people of the God of Abraham for the shields of the earth belongeth unto God Rev 19. from 5 to 12 he is greatly exalted And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude and as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty thundrings Rev 20.6 7 saying Allelujah For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready And to her was granted that she should be arayed in fine linnen 1 Cor 6.2 1 Tim 2.11 12 and he said unto me write Blessed are they that are called to the marriage Supper of the Lamb And he said unto me these are the true sayings of God And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Jâ—sus and for the Word of God and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years John 1.51 Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the world for is is a faithfull saying if we suffer with him Heb 1.14 we shall also reign with him Verily verliy I say unto you hereafter you shall see heaven open and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man Heb 2.5 6 7 For they are all ministring spirits sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation For not unto the Angels hath he put into subjection the world to come whereof we speak Rev 21.7 but in a certain place saith What is man that thou shouldst be mindfull of him for thou hast crowned him with glory and put all things under him although we yet see not all things put under him But he that overcometh shall inherit all things Dan 1.31 Verse 44 and I will be their God and they shall be my people For the stone that is cut out of the mounatin without hands shall smite the Image and make it like the chaff of the summer threshing floor and the stone shall become a great mountain and fill the whole earth And at that time the Saints shall possesse the Kingdom for ever Hosâ— 3.4 5 The children of Israel shall abide many dayes without a King and without a prince and without a sacrifice and afterwards shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God and David their King and shall fear the Lord and his goodnesse in the latter dayes Isa 11. from 1 to 13 And in that day there shall be a root of Iâ—sse which shall stand up an ensign to the people And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tong of the Aegyptian sea and with his mighty winds shall he shake his hand over the river and shall smite it in the seven streams and make men go over dry-shod Isa 66 And there shall be an high way for the remnant of his peoâ—le which shall be left from Assyria like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt Ezek 39 28 29 And he shall bring them into their own land and feed them with judgement upon the mountains of Israel For he will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in his people Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God Isa 32.1 2 that caused them to be led into captivity amongst the heathen But I have gathered them into their own land Joel 2 32 and have left none of them any more there neither will I hide my face any more from them And a King shall reign in righteousnesse Rev. 11 15 and Prâ—nces decree judgement For in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance And there was a great voice in heaven saying the KING-DOMES of this WORLD are become the KINGDOMS of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign forever and ever From these Scriptures it doth plainly appear that the Jews shall yet return to their town of unwalled villages and repair their former desolations And also that Christ shall have his Tabernacle with them and be their KING in the midst of them according to the Scriptures and reign over the house of David where his Saints shall be as Saviours upon Mount Zion and enjoy the Kingdom according to Gods good pleasure Wherefore seeing we receive a Kingdom that cannot be moved let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear for he that shall come will come and will not tarry even so Amen come Lord Jesus come quickly the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be multiplied unto all such as wait for his appearance and Kingdome in sinâ—erity and truth FINIS ERRATA PAge 3 l 3 read benevolous p 5 l 30 r City for eighty l 37 reither p 11 l 2 r prayers p 16 r Heb. 9.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 13. r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p 21 l 27 r ask for affirm p 28 l 20 r Acts for Exod. p 29 l ul r new for communion p 35 l 8 r you draw p 36 l 10 r Poet p 38 mend the margin r there was not a state of Immortality in Paradice equivalent with that which was brought to light no more to be subject to corruption p 46 l 17 r to fear death for did fear death p 47 l 14 r Christ owned Church p 52 l ult r many made sinners p 58 mend the margin noter Mal. 1.11.12 p 55 l 1 r despised p 65 l 32 r no man to do p 76 l 13 r moulded for marred p 77 l 6 r tender p 78 l 2 r can for cannot p 80 l 15 r tender also in line ult r tender p 82 l 17 r condition for transgression p 83 men the margin note r preterperfectâ—n e for preterimperfâ—ctience p 86 l ult r be kin p 87 l 13 r visited for rejected p 88 l 3 r reach for wrath p 89 l 22 r there justice left him and there mercy found him to bring him again from the dead p 90 l 6 r threatened for here ended p 92 in the margin r Indifferently p 93 l 4 r threatened for there opened p 95 l 18 r tender l 2â— r premised p 96 l 10 r I suppâ—se for I passe p 99 l 11 r dolefull for doubtful p 100 l 12 r Abraham for Adam l 19 r gave for you In the same p r Eâ—omitâ—s for Adamics p 112 l 3 r to whom p 119 l 32 r translated for calculated p 123 l 20 r mared for made p 127 apply 26 v. of the 9th ch to the Romans to the remnant of Israel p 132 l 24 r bride for bridegrom p 133 l 2 r in a dispute l 11 r depend p 131 l 13 r not troubâ—ed p 137 l 15 r Diotrephes for Elias l 26 r Rulers for unless p 141 l 20 r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p 168 l 5 r stain for strain p 174 l 8 r Joshua for Hosea
read the 14. Chapter and there you shall see he discovereth where the ten Tribes are and shall remain till the Lord shall dry up the River Euphrates and then shall be brought to Zion and Christ shall be their King and indeed the great reason why the Jews did not believe in Christ was because they understood not that he should come twice on earth first to suffer then to reign but at his first coming they supposed that he would restore all things and reign as King neither will they believe till they see him come in that manner in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory then shall they say lo this is our God we have waited for him and so I shall cease at present desiring thee also to be waiting for Christ that thou mayest be found worthy of the Kingdome and sit down therein with Abraham Isaac and Jacob the which is the desire of thy friend G. H. Curteous Reader I desire thee to mend some places in thy reading It being not so proper sense as the Authors desire is it should be by reason he could not be at the Presse to take a surveigh of it him self it also being sent up to the Presse at sevrral times in several parcels the which doub less exused some mistake but I have noted the most past in the Errata in the last page of the Book there is a mistake in the pages by marking of them twice with 55. therefore if I note any thing to be found in 55. If thou find it not there remember that 55. is in two places and in one of them thou shalt find it this I thought good to give thee to understand The Contents of the principal Matters contained in this Book A ARguments given to prove Sprinkling not to be Gods way in Baptism page 16 17 18. Adam proved to be dead in Gods account the same day that he sinned p. 44. Arguments given to prove that Infants ought not to be baptised page 36 37 38. A confutation of that which hath been said to my Argument about Original Sin from page 89. to page 96. Antiochus Epiphanes proved not to be the little Horn spoken of by Daniel in his 7th Chapter page 126. 127. B Baptism came not in the room or place of Circumcision page 14. 15. The Beast and false Prophet distinguished and proved to be two and neither of them to be the Romish Babylon page 163. to 168. C The two Covenants discoursed on and proved to be two individual Covenants not onely in administrations but in substance p. 19 20 21 E A discourse concerning Esaus rejection and of the selling of his birth-right page 59. to page 63. The Ninth Chapter to the Romans fully Expounded page 98. to 132. F The Fulfilling of the words of the Prophets concerning Christ in the letter of them as is proved page 190. G God proved to be the Father of our spirits or spiritual souls p. 42 44 45. Gods fore-knowledge not the cause of mens doing evill and rejection for the same page 52 53. God may love and hate one and the same creature or person and yet be unchangeable in his Decree as is proved page 54. to 59 God hath given every man power to repent and believe the Gospel with Objections of that nature answered page 66. to page 74. H The House of Judah and the House of Israel shall return out of their Captivity into their own Land that is Hierusalem proved by the Scriptures cited page 183 to page 109. I The Jews not to be converted by a Gospel-preaching page 157 to P 160. The new Jerusalem proved not to be the Saints but the habitation for the Saints as page 175. 176. K The Kingdome of Heaven mentioned in Mark 9 1. and Matth. 11 22 proved not to be the Gospel Church page 47 48 49. L The Long-suffering of God waiteth upon the world of ungodly and not peculiarly on the Elect as page 71 72 73. M The Moabites and the Ammonites proved to be the daughters of Sodom page 153 154 N The National Ministery Examined and disproved page 133. to p. 146. The National Church and Ministery proved not to have the true Christian Faith page 179 to 182. O Original Sin brought not the second death upon Adam or any of his lines as is proved by arguments and Objections of that nature answered page 38. to 50. P Gods Power guided by his other Attributes so that there is some things be it spoke in reverence to God which God cannot do as is proved page 78 79 80. R Some men given up unto a Reprobate sense so as they cannot repent and the cause wherefore discoursed on in page 65. to 69. The Saints Reign upon earth is not to be understood Allegoricaly but literally page 171. That Christ shall Reign in Ierusalem over the house of David is proved by the holy Scriptures cited in page 189. to 200 The Resurrection of the wicked at the end of the thousand years doth not contradict the thousand years Reign to be the TIMES of restauration as page 173. S The Objections against Dipping and the Sprinkling under the Law urged to prove Sprinkling in Baptism examined and answered page 1. to 16. Sodom not yet suffering in Hell page 81. to 85. Sodoms return to their former estate discoursed on and proved page 153. T Tythes or a Tenth not lanful to be paid or received by a Gospel people or Ministery as page 31 to 35. The Temple that Antichrist shall sit in is proved not to be the Church of Christ page 168. Of the glorious effects under the sound of the seventh Trumpet page 168. to 171 W Washing of Disciples proved to be an Ordinance of Christ as p. 10. Z Syons Redemption Redeemed wherein is not onely proved that the Captives of Samaria and Ierusalem shall return to their former estate but also the Objections of that nature answered page 147 to 155. SYONS REDEMPTION AND ORIGINAL SIN Vindicated SIR I Am come now to the examination of that which you are pleased to call Errour the which I doubt not but I shall prove it to be the truth of the Gospel of Christ and your self to be Erronious and a leader of blind ignorant men and women which have been a long time a learning yet are as ignorants as ever and no marvel for many times people perish for want of knowledg but if the blind lead the blind at last they will both fall into the ditch but I pass breefly to your discourse in the which you do affirm That Baptizo oftentimes is taken for dipping or sprinkling To the which I answer and say that to say Baptizo is frequently taken for dipping is true because it is the proper signification of the word Heb. 9.10 and sometimes it is taken for thorow washing according to that phrase in the Hebrews but that it is taken frequently for sprinkling as you say is very false No correspondency between
return to their own Land onely the drying up of the River may be a little the precedent work as if time would give leave I would shew you and that the gathering of the dispersed of Israel and bringing them into their own Land will be fully effected under the sound of the seventh Trumpet which by the Prophet Isaiah is called the great Trumpet because under his sounding greater things will be effected than under any of the sounding of the other six Trumpets and therefore see what the prophet Isaiah saith Isa 27.12 13. which is as followeth And it shall come to passe in that day that the Lord will heat off from the channel of * Chap. 11.15 16. Rev. 16.12 the River to the stream of Aegypt called the tongue of the Aegyptian sea and ye shall be gathered one by one O ye children of Israel and it shall come to passe in that day that the GREAT TRVMPET shall be blown mark that and they shall come which are ready to perish in the land of Assyria and the out-cast of the land of Aegypt and shall worship the Lord in the holy mountain of Jerusalem And thus having shewed what the second thing will be that will be effected in the time of the sounding of the seventh TRUMPET I come now to shew what will be the third thing effected at that time which is The Kingdomes of this world shall become the Kingdom of Christ and he shall take his great power and Reign Rev. 11.17 Do you know what is meant in these Petitions in the Lords Prayer Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven surely if you did you would understand the Prophets a little better than you do So that Christ is yet to have a Kingdome in this world or that the Kingdoms of this world is to become the Kingdoms of the Lord Christ under the sounding of the seventh Trumpet as aforesaid Rev 11.15 for the proof hereof read the words of John which saith And the seventh Angel sounded and there was a GRAET voice in HEAVEN saying the KINGDOMES of this world are become the KINGDOMES of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever From hence we see that although Christ would not be King on earth before his suffering yet afterwards he is to receive a kingdome to himself even the kingdomes of this world and that he will take his great power and reign and then according to the words of the Psalmist Psal 22.27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord and all the kindreds of the Nations shall worship before thee for the kingdom is the Lords and he is the Governour amongst the Nations because of thy Temple at Jerusalem shall Kings bring presents unto thee Psal 68.29 and the kingdome and dominion and greatness of the kingdome under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high Dan. 7.27 whose kingdome is an everlasting kingdome and all dominions shall serve and obey him and Saviours shall come upon mount Zion and judge the mount of Esau Obed 21. and the kingdome shall be the Lords for he that overcometh will I give power over the Nations Rev. 2.26.27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron Psal 149.8 9. and binde the Kings in chains and their Nobles in fetters if iron to execute upon them the judgment written Rev. 5.10 this honour hath all the Saints praise ye the Lord. From hence we may see the Kingdomes of this world is to become the Kingdome of Christ and his Saints and they shall reign upon earth But you say Page 36. 37. The Saints reign is to be understood spiritually as by prevailing with God in prayer and the like To which I answer and say it is as likely to be true as that the Kingdome of Syria is the fourth Monarchy or Kingdome but that it cannot be so understood is plain for as yet I never read that any one man governed or reigned over all Nations or reigned over them by his prayers although it might bring judgments on many places and people Jam. 5.17 as Elias did when he prayed and it rained not for the space of forty six months but what hurt did that do to Aegypt where it raineth not and did ever any one by his prayers binde his King or Nobles in fetters of iron but admit we might grant that there were an hundred did so yet it would not prove the matter but be too narrow unlesse you could prove every man in particular to do so for this honour shall every Stint have viz. to reign and the wicked to be as ashes under the soles of their feet there might be very much said to the confutation of this but I shall not play the coward to fight with that which is so decripped and not able to look truth or sound reason in the face but that Christ and his Saints shall reign together on earth is plain first because there is plain text of Scripture for it Rev. 21.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. as above written secondly the Tabernacle of God is to be with men mark that and the Lord Jesus is to descend Zach. 14.4 and his feet standing in that day upon the Mount of Olives Job 19.24 25 26 27. the confideration whereof did uphold Job in his troubles that he should see his Redeemer in the latter dayes upon the earth whom he should behold for himself and not another And wereas you say Page 38. Christ is gone to prepare a place for us and that we shall becaught up to meet him in the ayre and be ever with him To which I answer and say and first if we shall be caught up to meet him it argues plainly that he is coming to live or he with us otherwise we may not be properly said to meet him if he be not coming towards us Obj But if it should be said it is true The Lord will come to judgement possibly here on earth but not to reign here To which I answer and say If he do hold his judgement here that implies that he will reign here for he shall reign when he sits in judgement but we finde plainly in Scripture that there is a great work to do when Christ comes before he shall give the ultimate sentence in so much that the Apochalips saith it will be a thousand years if I should say that the new Jerusalem should for ever abide in the Land of Canaan The meek shal inherit the earth which â—s yet they do not and we ever remain in it you would not know how to disprove it for although the Text say that we shall be ever with the Lord yet it doth not say that we shall be ever in the ayre for although Christ shall be seen in the ayre with the Saints and Angels which
for the Mâ—untains shall depart and the Hâ—llâ— be removed but my kindnesse shall not depart 〈…〉 â—hee neither shall the Covenant 〈◊〉 Jer 〈◊〉 22 23 24 2â— peace be removed saith the Lord that hath me cyon th 〈◊〉 turn again O Virgin Israel turn again 〈…〉 Corts and I will cause the Captivity of 〈…〉 Captivity of Israel to return and I will build them 〈…〉 first Jer◠〈◊〉 For 〈◊〉 set mine eyes upon them for good and will 〈◊〉 theâ— again to this Land and I 〈…〉 do 〈◊〉 and I will plant then 〈…〉 nor throw them doâ—nany 〈…〉 〈…〉 of Israel ye shall shoot 〈…〉 your fruit to say people Israel 〈…〉 For behold I am for 〈…〉 be alled and sown 〈…〉 the jouse of Isreal 〈…〉 be inhibited and the 〈…〉 upon you man 〈…〉 and bring fruit and I will 〈…〉 and I will do better unto you than at your beginning and ye shall know that I am the Lord. Thus faith the Lord of Hosts in those dayes it shall come to passe Zach. 8.22 23 that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the Nations even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew saying we will go with you for we have heard that God is with you And it shall come to passe in the last daies Isa 2.2 3 4 5 that the Mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the monntains and many people shall go and say come ye and let us go up to the Mountian of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob Mich. 4.1 2 3 4. and he will teach us of his wayes for the Law shall go forth of Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem For Zions sake will I not hold my peace and for Jerusalems sake will I not rest untill the righteousnesse thereof go forth as brightnesse and the salvation as a lamp that burneth Is 62.1 2 3 4 The Gentiles shall see thy righteousnesse and all Kings thy glory and thou shalt be called a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord and a royal Diadem in the hand of thy God Thou shalt be no more termed forsaken Isa 51.3 neither shall thy Land be termed desolate any more but thou shalt be called Hephzibah and thy Land Beulah Isa 35.10 Chap. 51.11 for the Lord delighteth in thee For the Lord will comfort Zion and he will comfort all her wast places and he will make her wildernesse like Eden and her desâ—rt like the garden of the Lord joy and gladnesse shall be found therein thanksgiving and the voice of melody For the Ransomed of the Lord shall come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads They shall obtain joy and gladdesse and sighing and sorrow shall flee away Zeph. 3.19 For he will gather them out of all places where they have been driven and get them fame in every place where they have been put to shame and for their shame they shall have double and for their confusion they shall rejoyce in their portion Isa 61.7 For in their Land double everlasting joy shall be upon them and they shall be put into a place of their own and move no more neither shall the wicked afflict them as aforetime But the sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and all that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet and shall call thee the City of the Lord the Zion of the holy one of Israel Isa 60.14 Ver. 18 21. Violence shall no more be heard in thy Land wasting nor destruction within thy borders but thou shalt call thy walls salvation and thy gates praise thy people also shall be all righteous they shall inherit the Land for ever and thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a peaceable habitation Isa 66.10 11 12 13. rejoyce you with Jerusalem and be glad with her all ye that love her rejoice for joy with her all ye that mourn for her that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breast of her consolation that ye may milk out and be delighted with the abundance 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 stream then shall ye suck ye shall be born upon her sides and dandled upon her knees as one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you Chap. 65.18 Isa 30.19 and you shall be comforted in Ierusalem For behold I create Ierusalem a rejoycing and her people a joy for the people shall dwell in Zion at Ierusalem thou shalt weep no more He will be very gratious to thee at the voice of thy cry when he shall hear it he will answer thee Psal 102.13 14 15 16. For the Lord shall arise and have mercy upon Zion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come so the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord and all the Kings of the earth thy glory When the Lord shall build up Zion Ver. 21 22. he shall appear in his glory when the people are gathered together and the Kingdomes to serve the Lord to declare the name of the Lord in Zion and his praises in Ierusalem Look upon Zion the City of our solemnity thine eyes shall see Ierusalem a peaceable habitation a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down Isa 33.20 21 22 24. But there the glorious Lord will be to them a place of broad rivers And the inhabitants shall not say I am sick the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquities the Lord hath sworn by his right hand and by the arm of his strength surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies and the sons of strangers shall no more drink thy wine for which thou hast laboured but they that have gathered it shall eat it and praise the Lord and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the Courts of my holinesse Isa 62.8 9 10 11 12. Go through go through the gates prepare ye the way of the Lord cast up cast up the high-way gather out the stones lift up a standard for the people Behold the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world say ye to the daughter of Zion behold thy salvation cometh behold his reward is with him and his work before him And they shall call them the holy people Ezek. 34.12 13 28. the redeemed of the Lord and thou shalt be called sought out a City not forsaken As the Shepheard seeketh out his flock in the day when he is amongst his sheep that are scattered so will I seek out my sheep and deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day and I
Branch of righteousnesse to grow unto David and he shall execute judgement and righteousnesse in the Land Jer. 33.14 15 16 17. In those daies shall Iudah be saved and Israel dwell safely and this is his name whereby he shall be called the Lord our righteousnesse For thus saith the Lord David shall never want a man to sit upon the Throne of the house of Israel For the Lord shall roar oâ—t of Zion and utter his voice from Ierusalem and the heavens and the earth shall shake but the Lord will be the hope of his people and the strength of the children of Israel So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion my holy moutain then shall Ierusalem be holy Joel 3.16 17 18 19 20 21 and there shall no stranger passe through it any more But Iudah shall dwell forever and Ierusalem from generation to generâ—tion For I will cleanse their bloud which I have not cleansed for the Lord dwelleth in Zion For the Lord hath chosen Zion he hath desired it for his habitation This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it I will abundantly blesse her provision I will satisfie her poor with bread I will cloath her Priests with salvation and her Saints shall shout aloud for joy Psal 132.13 14 15 16 17 18. There will I make the horn of David to bud I will ordain a lamb for mine anointed His enemies shall be cloathed with shame but upon himself shall his Crown flourish in that day it shall be said to Ierusalem fear not and unto Zion let not thy hands be slack the Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy Zeph 3.14 15 16 17 18 19. Sing O daughter of Zion shout O Israel be glad and rejoyce with all thy heart O daughter of Ierusalem The Lord hath taken away thy judgements he hath cast out thine enemies the King of Israel even the Lord is in the midst of thee thou shalt not see evill any more But the captives of the host of the children of Israel shall possesse that of the Canaanites even to Zarephath and the captivity of Ierusalem which is in Sepharad shall possesse the Cities of the South And Saviours shall come upon Mount Zion Obed 18.19 20 21 to judge the Mount of Esau and the Kingdomes shall be the Lords Again the word or the Lord of Host came unto me saying Thus saith the Lord of Hosts I am jealous for Zion with a great jealousie and I was jealous for her with great fury Zach. 8.1 2 3 4. thus saith the Lord I am returned unto Zion and will dwell in the midst of Ierusalem and Ierusalem shall be called a City of truth and the mountain of the Lord of Hosts the holy mountain And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives which is bâ—fore Ierusalem and the Lord thy God shall come and all his Saints with him for Enoch also the seventh from Adam Enoch prophecied of Christ kingdom Judg 14 Zach 14.4 5 9. prophecied of these things saying behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints And the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day shall there be one Lord and his name one Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the TIMES of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord for he will send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you whom the heavens must receive untill the TIMES of restitution of all things which God Acts 3.19 Rom. 2.16 Acts 17.31 2 Tim. 4.1 hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began For he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousnesse by that man Christ Iesus at his appearance and Kingdome Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tydings that publisheth peace O Judah keep thy solemn Feasts perform thy vows Nah. 1.15 for the wicked shall no more passe through thee he is utterly cut off For thus saith the Lord of Hosts yet once is it a little while and I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry-land And I will shake all Nations Hag. 2.6 7 8 9. Isa 61.1 2 3 Rev. 15.8.29 to 35. Psal 48.8 9. Psal 68. from Isa 66.6 Ezek. 41.14.15.20 21 23 25. and the desire of all Nations shall come and I will fill this house with glory saith the Lord of Hosts And the glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former saith the Lord of Hosts and in this place will I give peace saith the Lord of Hosts Behold I will send my messenger and he shall prepare the way before me And the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his Temple even the messenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in Behold he shall come saith the Lord of Hosts But who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appears For he is like a refiners fire and like fullers soap And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and he shall purge the sons of Levi Mal 3.1 2 3 4. and purge them as gold and silver that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousnesâ—e Then shall the offerings of Iudah and Ierusalem be pleasant unto the Lord as in the dayes of old and as in former years and I will be as the dew unto Israel he shall grow as the lilly and cast forth his root as Lebanon his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the Olive tree and his smell as Lebanon They that dwell under his shadow shall return Hos 14.5 6 7 8. they shall revive as the corn and grow as the vine the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon Ephraim shall say what have I to do any more with Idols Isa 55.11 12. who is wise and he shall understand these things For they shall be led forth with joy and the mountains shall break forth before them into singing And at that day will I raise up the Tabernacle of David Amos 9. from 11. to 16. that is fallen and close up the breaches thereof And I will raise up his ruines and will build it as in the dayes of old Balaams prophecy to Balack as touching the estate of Israel in the latter dayes Numb 24. from 14 to 20. That they may possesse the remnant of Edom. And I will plant them upon their own Land And there shall come a Star out of Jacob and a Srepter shall rise out of Israel and shall smite the corners of Moab and destroy the children of Seth and Edom shall be a possession Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies and Israel shall do valiantly Out of Iacob shall come he that shall have dominion
and shall destroy him that remaineth of the City For unto us a child is born unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called Wonderful Councellour the mighty God the everlasting Father the prince of Peace Of the encrease of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdome to order it and to establish it with judgement Isa 9. 6 7 8. and with justice from hence forth even for ever the zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this For he shall come down like the rain upon the new mown grasse as showers that water the earth In this day shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the Moon endureth He shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the rivers to the ends of the earth Psal 72.5 10 12. they that dwell in the wildernesse shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust The Kings of Tarshish A promise of Moses as touching Christ in â—n Alâ—gory Deut. 33.13 14 15 16 Isa 53 12. Christ was delivered to death and so was for a time separated from his brethren Isa 45. and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Sebâ— shall offer gifts Yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him And for the chief things of the ancient mountains and for the precious things of the â—asting hills And for the precoâ—us things of the earth and fuâ—nâ—sse hereof and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush let the blessing come down upno the head of Ioseph and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren Therefore will I devide him a spoil amongst the great because he poured out his soul to death Therefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a name above every name that every knee should bow before him They shall come before thee in chains they shall come over and they shall fall down unto thee As saith the Angels to Mary Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son Luke 1.31 32 33. and shalt call his name Iesus and he shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his father David and he shall reign over the house of Iacob for ever and of his kingdome there shall be no end And I saw in the night visions and behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the Ancient of dayes and they brought him near before him And there was given to him dominion Dan. 7.13 14 and 27. and glory and a kingdome that all people Nations and languages should serve him his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not passe away and his kingdome that which shall not be destroyed And the kingdom and dominion and greatness of the kingdome under the whole heaven 3 John 3.2 shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose kingdome is an everlasting kingdome and all dominions shall serve and obey him Now are we the sons of God but it doth not appear what we shall be Luke 22 28. but when he shall appear we shall be made like him for ye are they saith Christ that have continued with me in my temptations I appoint unto you a kingdome and I will give you power over the Nations Rev. 2.26 and you shall rule them with a rod of iron and break them like a Potters vessel Psal 149.9 even as I have received of my Father this honour haâ—h all the Saints praise ye the Lord Thou shalt bring them in and place them in the mountain of thine inheritance Eph. 15.17 18 in the place O Lord which thou hast made for thee to duell in in the Sanctuary O Lord which thy hands have established The Lord shall reign for ever and ever Much might be said by way of allusion concerning Jonahs prayer Jâ—nah 2.4 Jâ—m 5 7. 8 Chap. 2.5 I said that I was cast out of thy sight yet will I look towards thy holy temple Be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord behold the husband man waitâ—th for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it untill he receive the early and latter rain Be ye also patient establish your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth near Heaâ—ken my beloved brethren God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdome For we have not followed cunning devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Petâ— 1 from 16 to 22. For he shall come in the clouds and every eye shall see him and they that peirced him shall mourn And then they shall say lo this is our God we have waited for him blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord For thou Bethlehem in the Land of Judeah Isa 25.9 Mat. 23.27 28 Chap. 25.31 Mat. 2 6. Mark 13.34 Rev 22 12 art not the least of the Princes of Judah for out of thee shall come a Governour that shall rule my people Israel For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey who lest his house and gave authority to his servants and to every man his work and commanded the Porter to watch Watch ye therefore for ye know not when the master of the house cometh Watch ye therefore for he will come and give to every one according to his works blessed is that servant when his Lord cometh finds so doing he wâ—l give them a crown of life and a place in the Paradice of God in that new heaven and new earth Luke 12.37 1 Pet 5.4 Rev 2.7 Mat 5. 5 Jer 23 5 for the meek shall inherit the earth For behold the day cometh saith the Lord that I will raise up unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth in his day Judah shall be saved and Israel dwell safely and this is his name where by he shall be called Mich 4.7 THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNES And I will make her that halteth Psal 146.10 a remnant and her that was cast out a strong Nation and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zâ—on from henceforth and for ever Psal 67. from 1 to 8 Thy Lord shall reign for ever even thy God O Zion to all generations O let the Nations be glad and sing for joy for thou shalt judge the people tighteously and govern the Nations upon the earth Selah God shall blesse us and all the ends of the earth shall fear him Psal 49.14 1 Thes 4 Psal 149.2 Clap your hands all ye people shout unto God with the voice of tryumph For the
account of all that which is done by us whether good or evill for he that hath improved his talent must come and stand before his Lord as well as he that hath not improved it to receive the sentence so that the small standing before God maketh not for you and again you say I deny that there is any yet in glory in the four and thirtieth Page of my Book Answer You do somewhat abuse me and my Book in saying I do deny any yet in glory Some Saints in glory as Enoch Elijah and Christ and possibly Moses and others although David be not yet ascended into Heaven I have not such an expression in the four and thirtieth page as I know of for I am perswaded that Enoch and Elijah and Christ and possibly Moses are at this time in glory although David be not yet ascended into Heaven the summ of what I say in the four and thirtieth page of my Treatise is That although the spirit of man returneth to God that gave it yet without the body is not in capacity or capable of joy this is my judgement or thoughts concerning man before the Resurrection that the Righteous go to sleep in peace and when they awake out of the dust of the Earth All the time of their sleep although they lye many years in the dust it will be but as it were a moment and also the wicked shall lye down in trouble and horror and their troubles will come fresh on them so soon as they awake out of the dust and their time will be also as a moment because there is no remembrance of time or any thing amongst the dead but if any be otherwise minded provided they hold fast the Foundations they may do well for this is nor so material for this we agree in that we shall all arie at the general Resurrection and shall come to judgement and then receive according to what we have done in the body whether it be good or evil and whereas you cite Christs words to the Thief on the Cross which is I say unto thee this day shalt thou be with me in Paradiâ—e To which I say that all that may be safely gathered from these words is that Christ gave him a promise of Paradice that day not that Christ and the Thief were to be both together in Heaven that same day for Christ dâ—d not ascend in many dayes after Although Christ said that day to the Thief that he should be with him in Paradice yet it doth not follow that Christ and the Thief were that day to be together in Paradice because he Thief not dead nor Christ ascended that day and it cannot be proved that the Malefactor was dead that day but as to these things I have spoken before both in private conference with you and also I have discovered it in publick and therefore at present shall insist on the next thing only say as to the Saints lying under the Altar Table if you please to resolve this question without doubt What the 〈…〉 is that cryeth for vengeance because the soul is variously taken in Scripture and because Abels blood is said to cry for vengeance and Christ poured out his Soul to death and made his Soul an offering for sin and we know that Christs blood is that which is the offering for sin for without it there were no remission of sins and might also ask you what the Altar Table is and mach more I could say to it but I pass to the next but by the way I cannot but take notice of your merry conceit where you say you could laugh tel me that if Sodom fire wire eternal it must be eternal as God is and then some Creature coeternal with the Creator or to last for ever and then Hell fire and is will becken to each other Although a Fools mouth be full of laughter you have no great cause to laugh at me for saying that the fire that the Sodomiter were destroyed withall was an eternal fire because that Iude faith It was the vengeance of eternal fire that they suffered and also if we consider that God ever was a consuming fire and his breath as a devouring flame and when Tophet is set on fire it shall be by the breath of the Lord. I could say very much as to both these particulars Psal 18.8 Isa 30.27 Dan. 7.10 Heb. 12.29 Psal 97.3 only I leave you to peruse the Scriptures in the margent and so I shall pass to what you say in answer of that of Is 24. of the Kings of the earth being punished on the earth which is say you some were purishedby Assirians and by Babylonians by Persians and Grecians and then hell is past and if this be meant hell how can they be rejected again say you To which I answer and first that this Chapter is a Prophecy of the destruction of the habitations of the earth and of the last Judgement is plain to him that hath his eyes in his head because the Prophet spake of the general Resurrection before he makes an end of his speech and we know order of words proveth nothing in many places and that the Prophet doth carry on his discourse to the state of the general Resurrection see Chapter 25.8 and also Paul speaking of the general Resurrection to the Corinthians Whereas the Prophet spake of punishing of the host of high ones and Kings on the earth and after speaâ—s of gathering them as prisoners into the plâ— is not another thing but the method of the punishment before-mentioned and order of word proves nothing referreth them to this Text saying As it is written Death is swallowed up in victory O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory and whereas you by order of word would prove a visitation after their punishments to be the Gospel in respect of whose glory the Sun and Moon are dim To which I say there is not so much as a colour of truth in it as I conceive and whereas the Text speaketh of gathering them as prisoners into a pit and after many dayes to visit them After he hath spoak of punishing them on the earth therefore you conclude that the visitation is after the punishment To which I answer and say it is no such thing for first he speaks of punishing of them and the place where and then the manner how he will punish them First punish them he will to wit the hoast of high ones that are on high although happily they may think they are too high or out of the wrath of punishment and the Kings of the earth who have lived there in pleasure shall there be punished and as he saith he will punish them and where he will punish them so he sheweth the method of their punishment that is they shall be gathered as prisoners into the pit and then after wards shall be visited that is the Lord will visit them with a due recompence of
spirits in prison which implies that there is a place of Purgatory that Christ went thither oâ— to hell to preach and bring them fâ—om thence and so they shall come forth when they have paid the utmost farthing and this is Romes doctrine and the article of your faith he descended into hell And again you by your Articles must believe in the Catholick Church but you were better to believe and put your trust in God and how can you have a Catholick or universal Church so as to be an over spreading Whore unlesse you uphold Infant Baptisin the which makes all persons to be of the Church and so receiving the mark of the first Beast and are a cage of all manâ—er of unclean birds for as saith the Spirit All Nations have drank of the wine of her fornication and the Kings of the earth have committed fornication with her and you Merchants have been made rich through her and therefore you uphold and plead for her But wo wo wo unto thee Virgin daughter of Babylon thy Mothers pride and uncleanness and traditions seen in thee wo unto the Cities of Nations you must fâ—ll and then your Mother MISTERY BABYLON through whose loyns ye came shall come in remembrance before God so that both she and you that have commited fornication with hâ—r shall be cast into a bed together And again wo wo unto thee thy day is coming it hastens therefore flee out of her that the day of the Lords wrath fall not on you because it will fall with a heavy consumption on all that are found out of the simplicity of the Gospel but I passe to the next thing which is say you We may be true Ministers although come from Rome as Christ was the true Christ which came from Adam which waâ— finful lines This is plainly the sense of what you say To which I answer and say That although Christ came through the womb of the holy Virgin yet he was not begotten of or by man for if he had been in Adam as we were then had he been a sinner as we were for we all sinned in him and then no Saviour Rom. 5. but I passe this advising you to learn that great mystery of godliness to wit God minifest in flesh c. And whereas you say you may be a true Ministery and yet have your Ordination in or thorow Rome because Christ came from Adam as aforesaid to which I say there is no parallell because Christ was not of Adam or by the will of Adam as your Ordination was of the Pope and by the will of the Pope through his assigns viz the Bishops and much I might say to shew that there is no fit parallel either in Christ coming through the womb of the Virgin which was Gods appointment or Aaronâ— Priesthood Christ owns not that Priesthood that comes through Roms the which was according to Gods appointment but that God hath appointed a true Ministers approbation and Ordination to be from or through Rome or that they may be accounted as true Ministers which have their Ordination that way and so come through Rome I am yet to learn for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean no not one and also such stones as come from Babylon must not be a corner-stone in Zion Christs Priesthood came not through a false state but was to be ordained in and by a true Church and all Ministers that are otherwise Ordained are not Christs Ministers And again whereas you tell me of a great story of several that lived in England who did refuse to submit to the Popes Supremacy and that also say you Origen confesseth that Christianity was in England in his time To this and such like discourse of yours I answer and say suppose it was granted that Christianity was in England long before Origens time to which possibly I could speak somewhat but if I should when I have done all possibly as few would believe me in that as do believe you in this which you have said Therefore our businesse is not to shew how long ago it was that Christianity was believed or practised in England but our businesse is to shew whether the Ministery or our Nation had their Ordination by a true Church or Presbyter or whether it were from the salse Church and Presbyter as the Lord Bâ—shop and so consequently from the Pope for what if the Gospel were preached and believed in England and so we may comparatively say that one of the Beasts heads was wounded yet there hath been time for his deadly wound to be healed and all the world to wander after him bence it comes to passe that we have in England a worldly Sanctuary and a worldly Ministery the which is not of God or by his appointment and therefore must fall and so I come to shew these two things First That the Ministery of the Nation as they now stand and have for a long time so stood are not Christs Ministers First in respect of the persons qualification ordaining And secondly the persons qualification ordained And thirdly their Office or work what they are appointed to and these in order And first to the first which is The persons qualification ordaining and the first is whether the Lord Bishop was a lawful Presbyter yea or nay the which if not then it wil appear plainly that the Ministery of the Nation is not a lawfull Ministery being not lawfully Ordained to the work of the Ministery The Ministry of the Nation no true Ministers of Christs appointment And fiâ—st we may consider his ordination or appointment whence it was whether by a true Presbyter or whether it were from a false to which I say of necessity it must be a false for whether it were the Pope Gregory the great or the like it is plain it was not from a true Presbyter because your own grant is that your Ordination came from Rome in the 27 page say you We were in Rome or came through Rome therefore I shall not trouble my self about the succession of your Ministery because it is affirmed by you and readily believed by me that it came from Rome But Secondly To his qualification as touching his good manners in life and conversation all England knowes that knows any thing that he was of such an evill conversation that he did not onely tollerate sin in himself but also in others 2 Tim. 4.2 so far he was from charging the Ministers â— as Paul did Timothy to preach the word instant in season and out of season that he in Pâ—int gave liberty to prophaâ—ation and to lay aside the preaching or Gods word for a season and to interpose Romes inventions together with dancing and laciviousness upon the first day when persons ought to be imployed in holy duties these things together with imprisoning men that were conscientious was the practice of him from whom as under the Pope you Ministers of the Nation were assigned and appointed
and I will gather all Nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat and will please there for my people and for my heritage Israel whom they have scattered amongst the Nations behold I will raise them out of the place whether ye have sold them so shall ye know that I am the Lord dwelling in Zion my holy mountain then shall Jerusalem be holy The return of Judah and Israels captivity proved and there shall no stranger passe through her anymore mark that but Judah shall dwell for ever and Jerusalem from generation to generation for I will cleanse their bloud that I have not cleansed for the Lord dwelleth in Zion therefore shall the redeemed of the Lord return and come with singing to Zion and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and mourning shal flee away Thus we may see that Jerusalem is yet to be the praise of the whole earth and that Judah and Israel shall return and be glorious as in former time nay more glorious for the Kingdome shall be restored unto Israel and Christ shall be King over them not allegorically as some ignorantly conceit for there be multitudes of objections as to that opinion that cannot be answered but it shall be fulfilled in the letter of it But because I cannot inlarge my self upon this subject my desire is that the curteous Reader would peruse these ensuing Scriptures and do heartily desire the Lord to apply the right understanding of them to thy soul Read Ezekiel chap 37 38. 39. and Isa 11.12 and 65. and 66. read the 68. Psalm and Psal 102. and 122. read Jer. 30. and 31. read Joel chap. 2. and 3. read Zeph. 3. read Zach. 12. and 14. Mal. 3. these and many more Scriptures doth shew plainly that the people of Israel and Judah shall turn from their captivity into their own Land and also take notice that these Scriptures speak not of Judahs captivity viz. that of the seventy years and the like from which they have returned and yet for their sins are gone to captivity again but this is the return not onely of Judah but also of Israel viz. the ten Tribes the which never more shall go into captivity 2 Sâ—m 7.10 Isa 61. But In their own Land DOVBLE EVERLASTING FOR shall be upon them so shall they dwell in a place of their own and move no more neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them as beforetime for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Thus you see that Judah and Israel shall yet return to their own Land But say you It cannot be for Ezekiel plainly saith when I shall bring their captivity the captivity of Sodom and her daughters and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them when thy sister Sodom and her daughters shall return to their former estate and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate then thou and thy daughters viz Judah shall return to your former estate From which Text you conclude that Sodom and her daughters shall never return and so consequently Judah and her daughters shall never return To which I answer and say that this Text seems to be your strong hold yet you shall see this Text will fight against you and therefore in the first place I shall shew who they are that are called the daughters of Sodom And secondly I shall prove that Sodom and her daughters shall return to their former estate and if so then you may blush for shame to say that Judah shall never return And so to the first which is to shew what people are called the daughters of Sodom the which we finde to be the Moabites and the Ammonites Gen. 19. for when the Lord overthrew the Cities of the plain there was none did escape save Lot and his wife and two daughters and as for his wife she was turned into a pillar of Salt so that of all the Cities of the plain which is Sodom primely and the adjacent Cities there was none left to bear the name of the daughters of Sodom but Lot and his two daughters And therefore Lots daughters consulted to make their father drunk that they might bear seed by him Gen. 19.31 for say they Our Father is old and there is no man in the earth to come into us after the manner of all the earth implying that the Lord had appointed in order to distinguish the Nations one from another that they should propagate onely with their own Nation therefore saith Lots daughters There is no man in the earth to come into us c. upon which we finde they made their father drunk with wine It is proved that Sodom and her daughters shall return to their former estate and they lay with him and the first born conceived and brought forth a son and called his name Moab the same is the father of the Moabites to this day and the younger bare a son also and called his name Ben-ammi the same is the father of the children of Amon to this day So that the Moabites and the Ammonites spring from the people of Sodom viz Lot and his daughters and are called the daughters of Sodom now the circumstance of the reasons of their captivity would be too large to discourse of onely we may take notice that the Prophet Amoâ— in short sheweth us the reason for you may mind the Lord did forbid Israel from doing Moab and Ammon any wrong when they passed by to destroy the Nations for as Ezekiel saith Ezek. 16. Deut. 29 19. they were brethren to Israel and therefore the Lord suffered Israel as aforesaid to do them no hurt yet notwithstanding the Lord gave them captive into the hands of their enemies from whence also they shall return Amos 1 13. as I shall shew you and the reason that Amos rendreth why God did give them into the hands of their enemies is because saith he For three transgressions of the children of Ammon Chp. 1.2 and for four I will not turn away the punishment thereof because they have ript up the women with child of Gilead that they might enlarge their borders thus saith the Lord 2 King 3.26 27. for three transgressions and for four of Moab I will not turn away the punishment thereof because he burnt the bones of the King of Edom into lime The which cruel act is recorded in the second Book of Kings and also the reason of their captivity the Prophet Ieremiah speaks largely of But I shal come now in the second place to prove that they viz. the daughters of Sodom shall return out of captivity and that also the earth viz. the place of Sodom shall be restored and then I have fully proved the matter and that the place of Sodom shall be restored is clear because the whole Creation that was made subject to
an Assyrian and also King of Babylon but that there is more meant in the Text than the destruction of any of the Babylonious Kings in foretime as you may see in the discours of the chapter considered with the 5. of Micha Again you say Page 31. That Antichrist is set out in a double form a Tyrant and a false Prophet and yet but one beast Answ Where you learned that lesson that the Beast and falce prophet was one and the same or one Beast I know not to before your cited place Rev 13.4 11.18 will not prove it but you may see they are not one and the same Beasts Read Syons Redemption you my see 〈…〉 why the Antichrist may not be understood to be the Romish Babylon for the answer is not valued to it But another beast rose out of the earth saith John v. 11 and in chap 10. v. 20. they are clearly distinguished into viz. a Beast and false Prophet which was subordinate to the Beast both these mark that Were taken alive and cast into the lake of fire and brimstone Hence your answer to my first reason why the Romish Babylon is not the Antichrist falls to the ground Curteous Reader peruse my Syons Redemption and you shall see the answer given to it not vallued with it Secondly you say That Antichrist shall confesse God and Christ in words Answ I pray when you write again inform me of whom you learned that the Antâ—christ would confesse God or Christ in words For as yet I never learned it from the Scriptures But I shall shew that Antichrist will never own Christ in words or works and it is a main property in Antichrist to deny Christ in words as well as in works as saith the Apostle John Who is a lyar but he that denieth Jesus to be the Christ The Antichrist will not confess Christ in words nor works as is clearly proved he is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is the spirit of Antichrist for many deceivers are entred into the world who confesse not that Jesus Christ is come into the flesh this is a deceiver and an Antichrist From whence we may see the main property of the spirit of Antichrist to deny both in words and actions any other God or Christ save himself and this spirit was working in the Apostles time to bring forth that great design viz. the man of sin or the Antichrist as saith the Apostle Paul The mystery of iniquity doth already work 2 Thes 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 only he that letteth viz. the sixth Head will let till he be taken away then shall the wicked be revealed and oppose HIMSELF above all that is called God or worshipped so that he as God shall sit in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God And Daniel saith that HE shall stand up against the Prince of PRINCES Dan. 8.23 24 25. Dan. 11.36 37 38. and do according to his will and shall exalt himsel fand magnifie himself above every God and shall speak mark that MARVELOVS THINGS AGAINST THE GOD of GODS From whence although more might be said we may see that the great ANTICHRIST will not deny God onely in works but also in words From whence your answer to my second Reason also falleth to the ground without remedy and so I passe to the next which is say you It is plain that the Pope shall not be destroyed untill the last day to the proof of which you cite 2 Thes 2.8 and Rev 19 20. knowing not what you say nor whereof you do affirm Answ I have already proved that HE viz. the Man of sin spoken of in the Tessalonians is the Antichrist and not the Woman which sate upon the scarlet coloured Beast Mystery Babylon and also that power or ten horns that shall support Antichrist shall totally destroy the Pope viz. Rome which is called by the name Whore and after that time Christ and his Army shall destroy the Man of sin and his Army Now that this is a clear truth I shall shew from two plain Texts of Scripture and first to the first that is that the Popes Kingdome shall be unterly destroyed by those that shâ—l uphold and give their power to the Antichrist read Rev. 17.16 17 18. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall cat her flesh and burn her with fire for God hath put it into their hearts to fulfil his Will and to agree and give their kingdom to the Beast untill the word of God shall be fulfilled and the woman that thou sawest is the great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth Hence we see that those Kings that shall give their power and Kingdoms to the Beist viz. the Antichrist shall utterly destroy Rome and burn her with fire The Pope and his Kingdome is to be destroyed by the Antichrist as is plainly proved insomuch as there shall not remain neither root nor branch Thus you have seen the Pope and his kingdome destroyed by the Beast or the ten horns which were upon the Beast and now in the second place I shall shew that the Beast and those Kings after this victory over Rome shall adventure another engagement and that is with the Son of man and his Army but then he come to hisend and none can help him with an universal destruction read Rev. 19.19 in these words And I saw the Beast and the Kings of the earth and their Armies gathered together to make war against him that sate on the Horse and against his Army and the Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet that wrought miracles before him with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the Beast and them that worshipped his Image not Jupiter these both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone and the remnant was stain with the sword of him that sate upon the Horse which sword proceeded out of his mouth and all the fowls were filled with their flesh This was the great sacrifice that the Lord had to sacrifice in Bozra and also the reaping of the earth spoken in Joel and also the Wine presse spoken of in the Apochalips Joel 3.11 12 13 14. Isa 59.16 17 18. ch 63.1 2 3 4 5 6. Ezek. 39.1 2 4 5. 17 18. Rev. 14.19 20. and he that wants further satisfaction as to this read my Syons Redemption although I might adde unto it if time in reference to other occasions would give me leave but I study brevity and thus having vindicated my reasons which proves that the Romish Babylon is not the Antichrist by shewing that Rome shall be destroyed by Antichrist namely by the ten Horns as his servants by his appointment and he to remain till
will be his glorious Army Mat. 24.30 Zach. 14.14 Exod. 1.11 Rev. 1 7. Zach 12.10 Joh. 19.26 yet it s plain he shall descend upon Mount Olivet and restore Israel and put the new earth into the possession of the meek from whence we never finde they shall return but Gods Tabernacle shall be with them there as before said and there is not one objection that I know of at present but may easily be answered Joh 14 1 2 3 and where it is said Christ is gone to prepare a place for us we know Christ tells us that in his Fathers house there is many mansions and therefore no great need of prepatation onely speaking according to mans capacity and so John saith Rev. 11.2 3 4 he saw it adorned as a Bride for her Husband and that house that Christ calls his Fathers house and that inheritance that Peter saith 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5 is reserved for us in heaven 〈◊〉 her but that new Jerusalem that shal I come out of heaven viz from above â—he clouds and be situated upon the new earth and so Christ will be the King and Governour of the whole earth at which time he will reconcile to himself a things both in heaven and earth and his will then will be done on earth as now it is in heaven Christs will shall be done in earth as it is done by Angels now in heaven so that every knee hath of things in heaven and earth at that time shall bow before him when there shall not be Lords many or Gods many but he onely Lord throughout all the earth and his name one onely we except him the which hath put all things under him but yet we ee not all things subdued under him for there are many that will not have him to reign over them and the last enemy which is death is not yet destroyed but I passe briefly to the next thing which is The heavens say you shall retain Christ till the restauration of all things and therefore Christ will not come untill the wicked be raised for say you shall the earth after it is restored be digged up and disaced for to raise the wicked To which I answer and say that such as you have you put into your book you erre and know not the Scriptures or the power of God cannot he who gives to every seed his own body after it is turned to dust a thousand years raise up such by his power without defacing the earth or putting the earth in an incapacity to bring forth her fruit after the manner of an earth restored or did you never read that the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up Korah and his company and yet closed her mouth again or hath not he that openeth the earth power to shut it again without defacing of it and did you never read that God took out one of Adams ribs Gen. 2.21 and closed up the flesh instead thereof and yet not Adam defaced or imperfect by it many such like instances might be added but the objection is not worth an answer and therefore I passe to the next thing onely take this by the way that is the Heavens are said to retain Christ till the TIMES of restauration and we know that the word TIMES in the plural number is taken for years as Nebuchadnezzar was to be turned out into the open field till seven TIME Dan. 4.23 had past over him meaning seven years so then the text may be read thus Acts. 3.19 The heavens shall retain Christ till the year of restauration the which being duly weighed and truely understood will teach us that the times or years of Christs reign will be the times or years of restauration and so I come to the next thing which is say you Satan was bound a thousand years Page 38 39 as not to hinder the propagation of the Gospel although he raised persecution against the professors thereof Answer what may I say to this peice of contradiction 〈…〉 hindred when the Professors thereof 〈…〉 to death if this 〈…〉 not the Gospels propagation know not what hindreth it but this is as likely to be true as the conversion of persons from a state of sin to a state of grace called the first resurrection for John in his vision saw all that had suffered under the Romish Babylon from Rev. 18. and all that had suffered under the great Antichrist to be alive again in the state of resurrection from the dead but the rest of the dead men lived not again til the thousand years were finisht and that this means a resurrection from the grave is plain because the Apostle saith that the dead in Christ shall rise first also John saith that when the thousand years are finished 1 Thes 4. Satan shall be loosed and gather God and Magog and then shall be the resurrection of the rest of the dead men according to the saying written And the sea gave up the dead that was in it and death and hell viz. the Grave delivered up the dead which was in them c. And again whereas you say John saw the souls and not the bodies of them that were beheaded in heaven with Christ To which I answer and say Gen. 46 26. it is said that there was above threescore souls came into Egypt with Jacob now did these souls come without bodies or is not the body or the individual man called the soul this you may read frequently in Scripture Hos ch 10 11 as in the book of Hosea and several other Scriptures And whereas you say that John saw their souls in heaven The text saith no such thing that John saw them in heaven but the text saith that John saw the souls of them that were beheaded and they lived From whence we learn that God shewed John the state of the resurrection of the just to be a thousand years before the resurrection of the wicked The dead in Christ shall arise from the dead a thousand years before the wicked for the rest of the dead men lived not again untill the 1000 years were filnished Rev. 20.6 7. and when Christ speaks of his coming and raising the dead and changing the living that live in him â—e saith that Two shall be in one bed the one taken and the other left and that this agreeth with Pauls words to the Thessalonians which saith the dead in Christ shall rise first iâ— plain because Christ adds this word also where the carkâ—se is thither will the Eagles be gathered all which sheweth that the dead in Christ shall rise first and John resolves the doubt that is how long the dead in Christ shall rise before the other dead men and that is saith he a thousand years for the rest of the dead men lived not again untill the thousand years are finished this is the first resurrection So then the resurrection spoken of by John is not to be understood
and his Disciples should be for signs and wonders in Israel it was so and as it was prophesied that the Jews should smite him on the cheek it was so and as it was prophesied that they would give him vineger to drink it was so and as it was prophesied that one should betray him for thirty pieces of silver by which the Potters field should be bought it was so and as it was prophesied that they should cast lots for his vesture it was so and that a bone of him should not be broken but that he should be peirced it was so done to him These and many such like things as touching Christ and also concerning Israels Captivity by the Bibylonians which was foretold by the Prophets was fulfilled in the letter multitudes of such like things as I could speak of but the time fails me which was fulfilled in the very letter Therefore let us believe that what the Prophets as touching Christs glorified condition in Jerusalem and Peter knew well what he said when he speaks of Christs Kingdome saying We have not followed cunning devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus but we were eye-witnesses of his glory and we have a more sure word of prophesie to which you do well if you give heed mark that knowing first that no prophesie of Scripture was of any private interpretation neither came it by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Hence we see the Prophets words are of great weight and also take notice that all the Prophets bare witnesse to the truth of what I have asserted and this intervening discourse I thought good to adde to that end that the courteous Reader might take notice that what the Prophets had foretold was and is to be fulfilled in the letter of the Scriptures unlesse they are proverbs or parables or the like and therefore I shall desire thee to read them the more diligently and distinctly they want not an interpretor but are very plain to him that hath any discerning spirit onely take notice of this that whereas the Prophet Ezekiel speaks of David he means the Son of David viz. Christ which is to sit upon his Throne for ever as the discourse of the Chapter will clearly shew as possibly I may give an hint of it in the marginal â—oat and these few things premised I come to the second part of the assertion which is That Christ shall Reign in Jerusalem And in order to the making of it appear to be truth I shall shew you that the Prophets have foretold it viz. that the Lord shall make Ierusalem or Zion at or in Jerusalem his seat and reign there before whom Kings shall fall down and shall worship before him therefore mark well the words of the Lord spoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets Psal 2.6 Zach. 2.10 11 12 13. which saith Yet have I set my King upon his holy hill of Zion Sing and rejoyce O Daughter of Zion for lo I will come and dwell in the midst of thee saith the Lord And many Nations shall be joyned unto the Lord in that day and shall be my people and I will dwell in the midst of thee Isa 31.4,5 6. and thou shalt know that the Lord of Host hath sent me unto thee And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy Land Jer. 13.7 and shall chuse Jerusalem again Be silent O all flesh before the Lord Isa 24.23 for he is raised up out of his holy habitation So will the Lord of Hosts defend Jerusalem and in defending of it he will deliver it Ezek. 34.23 24. Then shall the Sun be ashamed and the Moon confounded when the Lord of Hosts shall Reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem David being prophesied to be a Shepherd and Prince in Jerusalem and so to remain for ever is to be understood Christ before his Ancients gloriously At that time they shall call Jerusalem the THRONE of the Lord and all the Nations shall be gathered unto it to the name of the Lord to Jerusalem neither shall they walk any more after the imaginations of their evill heart And I will set up one Shepheard over them and he shall feed them even my Servant David he shall feed them and he shall be their Shepheard And I the Lord will be their God and my Servant David viz. Christ a Prince a-amongst them I the Lord have spoken it Behold I will take the children of Israel from amongst the heathen whither they be gone Ezek. 37.21 10 29. and I will gather them on every side and will bring them into their own Land And I will make them a Nation in the Land upon the mountains of Israel and one King shall be King to them all and they shall be no more two Nations neither shall they be devided into two Kingdomes any more at all Neither shall they defile themselves with any of their transgressions but I will cleanse them so shall they be my people and I will be their God And David my servant viz. Christ shall be King over them It cannot be meant that David in the letter shall be their Prince for ever but Christ that is called the Son of David and is to sit upon his Throne for ever and they shall have one Shepheard and they also shall walk in my judgements and observe my statutes and do them And they shall dwell in the Land that I gave to Jacob my servant and they shall dwell therein even they and their children and their childrens children for ever and my servant David viz. Christ shall be their Prince for ever Moreover I will make a Covenant of peace with them and it shall be an everlasting Covenant and I will place them and multiply them and will set my Sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore My Tabernacle also shall be with them and I will be their God and they shall be my people The heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctifie Israel when my Sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore Rev. 21.3 4. And I heard a great voice from heaven saying the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself will be their God And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Rev. 5.9 10. And they sung a new song saying thou art worthy to take the Book and lose the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy bloud out of every kindred tongue and Nation And hath made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the earth Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will perform that good thing that I promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah In those daies and at that time will I cause a