before the day of judgement when the wicked shall have as great authority and riches as they neither can it properly be said that the Saints shall reigne in heaven for there is none to bee subject unto them then it remaines that the Saints after the day of judgement shall reigne here on earth Revel 5. 10 when they shall shine as the Sunne in the Firmament Matth 13. 43. and be as glorious in the fight of God as he was at the first all the creatures restored to their first persection then they will yeeld to man all that obedience that is due unto him and then shall man be honoured in the earth by the creatures as their Lord and King and wonderfull happy among the Angels in heaven being of their nature in his soule and in his body also being made of the same elements with other creatures here below then the Angels shall continue in heaven and these creatures shall continue here and men shall have bodies so full of agility to ascend up to heaven and to walke in the ayre as to goe upon the ground and the glory of the soule shall bee the wonderfull perfection of Gods Image in all the faculties of it then shall wee know both the secrets of heaven and earth then shall our memories will and affections bee after an unconceivable manner made conformable unto God yea we shall have both in our soules and bodies rivers of joyes and pleasure for evermore Psal 16. 11. Revel 21 7 Esay 66. 22. then shall the Saints inherit all things and the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remaine before mee saith the Lord and so shall your seed and your name remaine then shall wee bee Luk. 20. 35. 36. equall to the Angels being children of the resurrection and counted worthy to obtaine that world and we shall be as Kings and Priests and wee shall reigne on the earth Revel 5. 10. and all the creatures here will yeeld subjection to us as to their Lord and King and we shall be as Priests to offer the sacrifice of praise to the Lord and give him all the glory And if any shall yet say these times shall be before the end of the world because in the eighth Psalme it is said thou hast crowned man with glory and honour and thou madest him to have dominion over the workes of thy hands and hast put all things under his feet and then names all the creatures here below I answer David here magnifies the Lord for that great glory and honour that was put upon man at the first in Paradise when he had dominion over Psal 8. 6. all things under the heavens for this is spoken in the time past Thou madest him have dominion and thou hast put all things under his feet but Heb. 2. 8. if we speake of the new world we see not yet all things put under him And whereas some hold that the soules of men departed shall returne againe and their bodies shall be raised and united to them and they shall live here againe before the day of judgement a thousand yeares but I demand Revel 20. 4 with what bodies shall they rise if it be sowne a corrupted body shall it not rise in incorruption if it bee sowne a naturall body shall 1 Cor. 15. 43 44. it not rise a spirituall body they must rise with such a body as Christ did But when the disciples saw him they were terrified and affrighted Luk. 23. 37 Act. 10. 40. 41. and supposed that they had seene a spirit and as for wicked men they never saw his body at all after his resurrection him God raised up the third day and shewed him openly not to all the people but unto witnesses chosen before of God even to us who did eate and drinke with him after hee Luk. 24. 31. 51. John 20. 17. Mich 〈◊〉 10. arose from the dead and when hee was with them as soone as they knew him he vanished out of their sight this strangenesse was betweene his spirituall and their corporall bodies this is not your rest because it is polluted he charged Mary that she should not touch him then what communion can be betwixt them when some must not touch him and others were affrighted at the sight of him and as soone as they knew him hee vanished away because the world is polluted then it cannot bee that spirituall and corporall bodies should live together and though he eate and dranke with them after his Resurrection yet we must not thinke it was for necessity or through the perill of hunger but onely for delight and to shew them that Luk. 24 3◠40. he had a reall body as before with flesh and bones onely it was made immortall and everlasting never to dye more nor to suffer any perill more And whereas it is said That the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse Revel 20. 4 of Jesus and for the word of God and had not worshipped the beast they lived and raigned with Christ a thousand yeares This cannot be meant of a corporall death or of a bodily resurrection for the rest that were dead lived not againe Vers 5. 6. till the 1000. yeares were finished and yet in the first Resurrection who are as blessed and holy as the rest On them the second death hath no power and they being in the first resurrection and yet not raised in their bodies what is this but to rise from the death of sinne to the life of grace on such the second death hath no power and Christ answered the Sadduces that Abraham Isaac and Jacob are living for God is the God of the living and he is their Mat. 22. 32 John 5. 24. God he that is thus alive shall dye no more but is passed from death to life And againe the planting of the Gospell and increasing or spreading of the Church may very well be called a Resurrection because men were brought out of a state of death to a state of life and the growth of the Church was like to the rising of the waters of the sanctuary first to the Ezekiel 47. ankles then to the knees then to the loynes and to a river that could not be passed over so was the Resurrection of the Church at the first but twelve Acts 1. 15. 2. 41. 44 5 14. then a hundred and twenty then there was added three thousand then five thousand then multitudes both of men and women now he that hath part in this first resurrection on them the second death hath no power and whether they have this first Resurrection in the first thousand yeares after Christs ascension or in the second it matters not so they have it before the day of Judgement on them the second death hath no power But our controversie is about those that were slaine for the witnesse of Jesus and yet lived and reigned with Christ a
thousand yeares but as I said before this cannot be meant of a corporall death or bodily resurrection but it must be understood mystically that they were slaine in their outward livelihood both in their name and estate saith David I was as a dead man out of mind in the esteeme of the world and yet at the same time reigne over satan and their owne corruptions Or if any were slaine in the first thousand yeares yet God left not himselfe without witnesse but the more they afflicted them the more they multiplyed Acts 14 17 Exod. 2. 12 Rev. 11. and grew as Israel did in the bondage of Aegypt and some of the witnesses that were slaine are said to lye in the streetes and not suffered to be buryed and after three dayes and a halfe the Spirit of life came into them and they stood upon their feete these things have beene clearely shewed of late to be understood mystically And againe can we thinke that some of them that are dead their soules shall return some shall not to live here a thousand yeares and their bodies raised and not all shall some rise a thousand yeares before others doth not Christ say they shall all rise in one houre Marvell not at this for the houre commeth in which all that are John 5. 28 29. in the graves shall heare his voyce and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evill to the resurrection of damnation 1 Cor. 15. 52. And doth not Paul say In a moment in the twinckling of an eye at the last trump for the trump shall sound and the dead shall be raised Then I conclude this argument that if the bodies of all shall rise together in one houre in a moment in the twinkling of an eye but it is said all they that are in the graves not some of them and in a moment not a thousand yeares distance of some from the rest that shall rise from the dead And whereas some affirme that in this thousand yeares the Church or Kingdome of Christ shall be all righteous all Saints under the King of Saints and no hypocrites nor excommunicate persons and the wicked Revel 15. shall be as slaves to them in that day and the Saints shall be as Lords in the earth and shall neither marry nor be given in marriage and the Apostles shall come and rule this Kingdome I answer these things some are false and some are true but mis-applyed those that are true are to be fulfilled after the day of Judgement and not in this corrupted world as when the people shall be all righteous they shall inherit the Land not onely a thousand yeares but for ever in the Isa 60. 19 20 21. new world when the Sunne shall no more goe downe nor the Moone withdraw it selfe but the Lord shall be to them an everlasting light and thy God thy glory And so if the Saints of the most High shall take and possesse the Kingdome I answer After the day of Judgement so they shall not onely for a thousand yeares but for ever even for ever for his dominion Dan. 7. 18. 14 7. is an everlasting dominion when all people and Nations and languages shall serve him in it and to say that there shall be no Hypocrites in it I say so too in the new Jerusalem when it comes downe from heaven unto the earth but this will never be till the restitution of all things till the fire at the day of Judgement hath purged the earth and made it fit for so great a mercy wherein dwelleth righteousnesse but till that day of Judgement this cannot be For the Tares and the Wheate shall grow together untill the Harvest which is at the end of the world and the Angels are the Reapers and by them shall the Wheate bee brought into the Barne they shall gather the elect from the foure windes Mat. 24. 31. And they shall gather out of his Kingdome all things that offend and them Math. 13. 41 42. that doe iniquity and shall cast them into the furnace of fire but when the Angels are sent about this businesse they will finde them altogether minding earthly things as eating and drinking and marrying and mixed together Mat. 24 37 38. two in a bed the one taken and the other left two in the field and two grinding at the Mill the one taken and the other left Therefore when Christ comes to Judgement there shall be Hypocrites and they shall not be used as slaves but in the same bed at the same worke and recreation together And to say the Saints shall be Lords over the wicked this cannot be true neither here nor hereafter for before the end the wicked shall have as great a share of outward riches and honour as the Saints and many times greater and after the day of Judgement I shewed before that all things that offend and that doe iniquity shall be cast into the furnace of fire so that though it be true they shall be Lords and Kings it is not meant over wicked men but over the rest of the creatures this Adam had and lost it and Revel 5. 10 the second Adam hath restored it to us againe as I shewed before and to say that the Apostles shall rule this Kingdome when they are all Saints and the King of Saints present is not worth the answering for they shall be all Kings and Priests unto God and his Father Feare not little flocke it is your Rev. 1. 6 5 10. Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome none shall rule but God alone for all rule and authority and power shall then be put downe Then shall Luke 12 32 1 Cor. 15. 24 28. Revel 20 1 2 3. God himselfe be all in all But they will object against all this cleare light that John saw an Angell come downe from heaven having the key of the bottomlesse pit and a great chaine in his hand and he laid hold on the Dragon that old serpent which is the devill and bound him a thousand yeares and cast him into the bottomlesse pit and shut him up and set a seale upon him that he should not deceive the Nations till the thousand yeares should be fulfilled and after that he must be loosed a little season This say they is to be understood of Christ binding the devill a thousand yeares after their soules are returned againe and their bodies raised and united to them then they say they shall live here a thousand yeares againe before the day of Judgement in great glory and happinesse I answer the devils were bound in chaines of darknesse as soone as they had sinned For God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them downe to hell and delivered them into chaines of darknesse And if you aske me how long I 2 Pet 2. 4. Jude 6. Job 1. answer till the day of Judgement He was in
of the tree were for the healing of the nations and there shall be no more curse but the Throne of God and the Lambe shall be in it and his servants shall serve him and they shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads and there shall be no night there and they need no candle neither light of the Sunne for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reigne for ever and ever and hee said unto me These sayings are faithfull and true then blessed are they that doe his commandements that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the Citie then shall they rejoyce in their portion in their land they shall have double everlasting joy shall bee unto them I Isay 61. 7. Isay 60. 15. 18. will make thee an eternall excellency violence shall no more bee heard in thy land wasting nor destruction within thy borders but thou shalt call thy walls salvation and thy gates praise For they shall hunger no more neither thirst any more for the Lambe in the midst of the Throne shall Reve. 7. 16 17. Luk. 20 35 36. feed them and lead them unto living fountaines of water and they that are accounted worthy to obtaine that world and the resurrection from the dead can die no more but are equall to the Angels in this new heaven and new earth God will wipe away all teares from our eyes there shall bee no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither any more paine because the former things are passed away And he that sate on the Throne said behold I make all things new and there shall bee none in Revel 21. 1 4 5 that world that his strength is gone with age nor an Infant who is weake Isay 65. 20. for want of age or that hath not fulfilled his dayes they shall bee all in their full growth and first perfection If it be said the child shall die a hundred yeares old I answer I have shewed before that there shall be no more death in the new Jerusalem when it is come downe from God out of heaven Revel 21. 4. Luk. 20. 36. then the meaning of that place is this those that lived in the first age of the world living eight or nine hundred yeares were a hundred yeares before they came to their full growth but in the resurrection they shall rise in their full growth as if they had dyedat the age of a hundred yeares old yet in this age of the world I suppose they that die shall rise about the age of the second Adam when he gave his life a ransome for us being the full growth of this age to their full strength and Isay 65. 22. perfection but it was I suppose a hundred yeares in the first age before they came to the stature and full growth of the first Adam in the day of his creation this is also the meaning of the next words For as the dayes of a tree are the dayes of my people that is say the Philosophers an Oake tree is a hundred yeares before it is come to its full growth so was man before the flood then at this age they shall rise againe and long injoy the worke of their hands then Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end for thus saith 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 Isa 45. 18 19. Doe but minde this Text and consider it well and judge thy selfe who ever thou art that readest it whether the lower Heavens and the Earth and all the creatures in them shall be consumed at the day of judgement and become an unpâ—ofitable and uncomfortable Chaos and so remaine for ever No the Lord Reigneth the world shall be established that it shall not be moved Psa 96. 10. One generation goeth and another generation commeth but the earth abideth for ever Eccles 1. 4. The earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof the world and they that dwell therein for he hath founded it upon the Seas and established it upon the floods Psal 24. 1 2 The world also is established that it cannot be moved Psal 93. 1. 2 Peter tels us in the last dayes there shall come scoffers and then sheweth the occasion of their scoffing and that is some promises that were made of the comming of Christ such as these Sing O Daughter of Zion for loe I come and I will dwell in the middest of thee saith the Lord Zach. 3. 10 11 12. 8. 3. 8. Behold I come quickly Revel 22. 12. He that shall come will come Heb. 10. 37. Behold he commeth Rev. 1. 7. Jude 14. But say these scoffers where is the promise of his comming 2 Pet. 3. 3. Another occasion is of his preparation for his comming for saith the Apostle we according to his promise in Isa 65. 17. 66. 22. looke for new Heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse ver 13. But say these scoffers All things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation ver 4. now this is to be understood literally of the Heavens and earth for he blames them of their ignorance how that the Heavens were of old and the earth stood out of the waters and then in the waters for the world that then was was overflowed and perished v. 5 6. But the Heavens and earth that are now are reserved for fire at the day of Judgement then shall the elements melt and the earth and all things in it shall be burnt up v. 7. 10. 12. Then he exhorts them to a holy conversation and godlinesse from this motive that we according to his promise looke for new Heavens and a new Earth after that day wherein dwelleth righteousnesse v. 11. 13. And God made all things for himselfe Prov. 16. 4. And he greatly delighteth in the workes of his hands and although man hath prodigally lost them all by sinne yet God will not lose them so and by Christ all things were made both in heaven and in earth they were all made by him and for him and shall we thinke that Christ will lose them all no he made peace through the blood of his Crosse to reconcile all things unto himselfe both things in earth and things in heaven Col. 1. 16. 20. And God hath made Christ Heire of all things for by him the worlds were made and he upholdeth all things by the word of his power Heb. 1. 2 3. And the children of God are joynt-heires with Christ of the same inheritance and the creatures themselves waite for that day to be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God Rom. 8. 19. 21. And all the
creatures rejoyce at the comming of Christ to Judgement Psal 96. 11 12 13. because then they shall be restored againe to their first perfection by these things I know that what God doth it shall be for ever Eccles 3. 14. Yet I am confident that in this world before the end of it here well bee glorious dayes for the Gospell shall be Preached in many nations together in the last dayes in the times of the Gospell being the third and last age of the World when the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountaines and exalted above the hills that is the Gospell shall Micah 4. 1 2 3. Isa 2. 2 3 4 prevaile against and above all mountaines and hills of opposition and all nations shall flow unto it and many nations shall goe and say come let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob he will teach us of his wayes and we will walke in his paths for out of Zion shall goe forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem and he shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people that is Christ by his Church and people will bridle and curbe and keepe under the power of the enemies but the next words cannot well be fulfilled in this world before the end that is when they shall beate their swords into Ploughshares and their speares into Pruning hookes and learne warres no Vers 4. 2 Cor. 10. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 2 3 4. Mat. 24 7 8 more for all the life of a Christian is but warfare and we must indure hardnesse as a good Souldier and we know by experience what warres hath beene this last age under the Gospell and so they shall continue for Kingdome shall be against Kingdome and there shall be warres and rumours of warres till the comming of Christ to Judgement but after that day when the Saints shall have all things restored to them in their first perfection Mat. 13. 41 42. and all things are taken out of his Kingdome that doe offend and that doe iniquity and are cast into the furnace of fire by the Angels at that day then I suppose the Saints shall dresse the gardens and prune the vineyards as Adam did in his innocency yet for pleasure and recreation not working as a toyle but for delight then shall this be fulfilled there shall be warres no more but in the most glorious times under the Gospell before the end of the world wee shall never be freed from warres as I said before but when Kingdome is against Kingdome and Nation against Mat. 24 6 7. 14. 29 30 36. Nation then shall the Gospell be Preached in all the world for a witnesse unto all Nations and then shall the end come and immediately after the tribulation shall appeare the signe of the Sonne of man in heaven yet the Judgement day knoweth no man nor Angell in heaven But it will be very glorious times when the hearts of Lions Tigers Wolyes Leopards and Cockatrices shall be taken from them and the hearts of Lambes and Children given to them so that they shall not hurt nor destroy in the Isa 11 6 7 8 9 10 11. mountaine of the Lord but the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters that cover the Sea then shall his rest be glorious when his wayes are knowne upon earth and his saving health is come into all Nations and some shall be redeemed out of every Nation every kindred tongue and people Other sheep he hath which are not yet of this fold them also I must bring and they shall heare his voyce and there shall be one fold and one shepherd yet all this in troublous times Dan. 9. 25. The children of Israel shall returne and seeke the Lord their God and David Psal 67 2. Rev. 5. 9. Joh. 10. 16. Hos 3. 5. their King and shall feare the Lord and his goodnesses in the latter dayes Zions righteousnesse shall goe forth as brightnesse and the salvation therof as a lampe that burneth and the Gentiles shall see thy righteousnesse and all Kings thy glory and thou shalt be called by a new name which the Isa 62. 1 2 3. mouth of the Lord shall name thou shalt also be a crowne of glory in the Lord a Royall Diadem in the hand of thy God Arise shine for the light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee for darknesse shall cover Isa 60. 1 2 3 4 5. the earth grosse darknes the people but the Lord shall rise upon thee his glory shall be seen upon thee the gentiles shall come to thy light Kings to the brightnes of thy rising thy sonnes shall come from farre thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side then shalt thou see and flow together and thy heart shall feare and bee enlarged because the abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee and the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee surely these will be glorious times when Jewes and Gentiles so well accord to serve the Lord and this shall bee before the end and I Rev. 31. 13. 18 19. hope it is neare at hand that Antichrist shall downe this Kingdome being the tenth part of the great City which now is falling off and the rest will soone molder away and the Kingdomes of the world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and the Temple of God was opened in heaven and there was seene in his Temple the Arke of his Testament the Nations were angry then what makes the Nations so angry with us how quiet have the Nations been these hundred yeares till now the tenth part of the City fell and the Temple is opened and the Arke and the Testimony are seene that is Christ and the saving doctrines of election and free grace are clearely laid open this makes the Nations angry but we hope in this great Earthquake all the superstition and Idolatry of Antichrist will tumble downe and many of those gracious promises shall be fulfilled But as the destruction of Jerusalem and the destruction of the world foretold in the Gospell are so infolded together that it is hard to distinguish one from the other because that in many things they doe so agree Mat. 24. yet in some things they may be knowne so the restauration of Jerusalem or the calling of the Jewes doth so agree with that restauration of all things to the first perfection and the comming downe of that Jerusalem out of heaven Rev. 21. 2. that it is hard to distinguish the one from the other yet in some things they may be knowne I will here name some places of the Scripture which I suppose the promises are so mixed that they neither can be applyed before nor after but partly before and partly after it is said judgment shall dwell in the Wildernesse
and righteousnesse remaine in the Isa 32. 16 17 18. fruitfull field the worke of righteousnesse shall bee peace and the effect of righteousnesse quietnesse and assurance for ever and my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation sure dwellings and quiet resting places again Isa 33. 5 6. the Lord is exalted for he dwelleth on high he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousnesse and wisedome and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times and strength of salvation the feare of the Lord is his treasure But I suppose these precious promises are not to be fulfilled till after the day of Judgement for which the sinners in Sion are afraid fearefulnesse hath surprised the hypocrite they say who shall dwell with devouring fire who can dwell with everlasting burnings ver 14. the answer is made he that walketh righteously that speaketh uprightly he that despiseth the gaine of oppressions that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes and stoppeth his eares from hearing of blood and shutteth his eyes from seeing of evill he shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the munition of Rockes bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty they shall behold the Land that is very farre off vers 15 16 17. But where is this land which these promises are of looke unto Zion the City of of our solemnities thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation a Tabernacle that shall not bee taken downe nor one of the Stakes thereof shall ever be removed neither shall any of the coards thereof be broken and the inhabitant shall not say I am sicke the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity ver 20. and 24. These things cannot be fulfilled in this world for before the end all Churches are subject to sinne sicknesse and alteration and desolation But is this promise to the Jewes onely I answer No Come neare ye Nations to heare and hearken ye people let the earth heare and all that is therein the world and all things that Isa 34. 1. come forth of it here you see the extent of this promise is to all people and Nations and not onely so but to the earth and all creatures that come forth of it Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every fowle of the ayre and brought them unto Adam All Gen. 2. 19. these have suffered a long time for the sinne of man but here is a promise for them this is the ground of their hope and the earnest expectation Rom. 8. 19. of the creature this makes the heavens and the earth so glad and the Psal 96. 11. 12. 13. field and the trees of the wood to rejoyce when the Lord comes to judge the earth and the world he will then doe all creatures Justice But shall this promise be fullfiled before the day of Judgement I answer No for all the hoast of heaven shall be dissolved and the heavens shall be rouled together as a scroll and all their hoast shall fall downe as the leafe falleth off from the vine and as the falling figge from the figtree for it is the day of the Lords vengeance and the yeare of recompences for the controversie of Zion vers 4. 8. then shall the wildernesse and desart Isa 35 1. bee glad for them and the desart shall rejoyce and blossome as a rose it shall blossome abundantly and rejoyce even with joy and singing the glory Ver. 1 2. of Lebanon shall be given unto it the excellency of Carmel and Sharon they shall see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God this may very well be understood to be after the day of Judgement for your God will come with vengeance even God with recompence he will save you vers 4. Then in what manner shall this salvation bee I answer from all bodily infirmities there shall neither be blinde nor lame nor dumbe nor deafe v. 5 6. but this cannot be fulfilled in this world before the end till all the creatures are freed from the corruption that came in with sinne but that cannot be before the day of Judgement for if sinne were removed before the day of Judgement that day should never come for God will not judge and condemne men where no sinne is Againe they are not onely freed from infirmities but from danger without No Lyon shall be there nor any any ravenous beast shall be found there and then the great comfort and fellowship of the Saints none but the redeemed shall walke there the ransomed of the Lord of hoasts shall come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtaine joy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing stall flee away v. 9. 10. I suppose none will thinke to have these things fulfilled in this corrupted world before Acts 3. the restitution of all things to their first perfection at the last day Againe in those dayes and in that time saith the Lord the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and the sinnes of Judah and they shall not be found for I will pardon them whom I reserve but this cannot be understood of Israel and Judah in this world but of them Jer. 50. 20. that are reserved for another yet I grant that single persons in respect of their justification are freed from sinne yet not in respect of sanctification it is there still although it doth not reigne in them but if wee take in all Israel and Judah it must be fulfilled after the day of judgement Againe he hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob nor seene perversenesse in Israel the Num. 3. 21. Lord his God is with him and the shout of a King among them that is God was with them by his Angel that went before them the Arke was a Exod. 23. 20. Micah 7. 18. signe of his presence and by successe and conquest over their enemies and God did passe by their sinnes and as the Apostle saith in the times of ignorance Acts 17. 30 God winked at them that is he did not so exactly marke their iniquities as to punish them but this is chiefly to bee understood after the Psal 130. 3. day of judgement then there shall be no sinne and Christ will live amongst them I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day which can bee Zach. 3. 9. no other but the judgement day againe sing and rejoyce O daughter of Zion for loe I come and I will dwell in the middest of thee saith the Lord and many nations shall bee joyned to the Lord in that day and shall be my people and I will dwell in the middest of thee and the Lord Zach. 2. 10 11 12. shall inherite Judah his portion and shall chuse Jerusalem againe thus saith the Lord I am returned unto Zion and I will dwell in the middest of
Jerusalem and Jerusalem shall be called a Citie of truth the mountaine of the Lord of hoasts the holy mountaine but now I will not bee unto the residue of this people as in the former dayes saith the Lord for the seede shall be prosperous the vine shall give her fruit and the ground shall give her increase and the heavens shall give their dew and I will cause the Zach 3. 3. â—… 12. remnant of this people to possesse all these things I will bring them and they shall dwell in the middest of Jerusalem and they shall bee my people and I will be their God in truth and righteousnesse The Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flocke of his people for they shall bee as the stones of a crowne lifted up as an ensigne upon his land In that day Zach. 9. 16. shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David and the house of David shall be as Zach. 12. 8 9. God as the Angell of the Lord before him And in that day I will destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem and the Lord shall bee King over all the earth in that day there shall be one Lord and his name one and men shall dwell in it and there shall be no more utter destruction but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited And the Lord shall raigne over them in Zach. 14. 9. 11. Micah 4. 7 8. mount Zion from henceforth even for ever and thou O Tower of the flock the strong hold of the daughter of Sion unto thee shall it come even the first dominion in that day shall the branch of the Lord bee beautifull and glorious and the fruit of the earth shall bee excellent and comely for them that are escaped in Israel and it shall come to passe that he that is left in Zion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughter of Zion shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the middest thereof by the spirit of judgement and Isay 4. 3 4 5 6 7. by the spirit of burning and the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion and upon her assemblies a cloud and a smoake by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence and there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heate and for a place of refuge and for a covert from storme and from raine In the valley of Jehosaphat the Lord will sit to judge the heathen round about for the day of the Lord is neare the Sunne and the Moone shall Joel 3. 12. 14 15. 20 21. bee darkened and the starres shall withdraw their shining but Judah shal ldwell for ever and Jerusalem from generation to generation for I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed for the Lord dwelleth in Zion then shall the light of the Moone bee as the light of the Sunne and the light of the Sunne shall be seven fold as the light of seven dayes in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people and healeth Isay 30. 26. the stroake of their wound The Lord most high is terrible hee is a great King over all the earth he shall subdue the people under us and the nations under our feet he shall chuse our inheritance for us the excellency of Jacob whom he loved God is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a Trumpet Sing praises to our God sing praises sing praises to our King sing praises for God is the King of all the earth sing praises Psa 47. with understanding God reigneth over the heathen God sitteth upon the Throne of his Holinesse In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse wil I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer for as the waters of Noah I have sworne shall no more go over the earth so have Isay 54. 9 10 c. I sworne that I would not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee behold the mountaines shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace bee removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee O thou afflicted tossed with tempests and not comforted behold I will lay thy stones with faire colours and lay the foundations with saphires and windowes of agates and thy gates of carbuncles and all thy borders of pleasant stones and all thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy children in righteousnesse shalt thou be established thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not feare and from terrour for it shall not come unto thee and whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemne this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousnesse is of me saith the Lord Great is the Lord and greatly to bee praysed in the Citie of our God in the mountaine of his holinesse beautifull for situation Psal 48. 1 2. the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion God is knowne in her palaces Vers 3. 8. 11 12 13 14. for a refuge as we have heard so have we seene in the Citie of the Lord of Hoast in the Citie of our God God will establish it for ever Selah Let mount Zion rejoyce let the daughters of Judah be glad because of thy judgements walke about Zion goe round abour her and tell the towers thereof marke well her Bulwarkes for this God is our God for ever and ever these things are mixed together concerning the calling of the Jewes to their Jerusalem and the comming downe of Jerusalem out of heaven that it is hard to distinguish them yet many of these things cannot be fulfilled before the restitution of all things for Christ must bee in heaven till then so that these things must be fulfilled afterward againe at the day of judgement Christ shall come from heaven with his mighty Angels 2 Thess 1. 7 10. when he shall come to bee glorified in his Saints for behold the Lord commeth with ten thousand of his Saints to execute judgement upon all Jude 14 15 but if Christ and his Saints should come and live here a thousand yeares before 1 Thess 3. 13. how could it be said he and all the Saints shall come downe from heaven at that day but you see that to be true And wee which are alive and remaine here shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord
in the ayre 1 Thess 4. 17. then I conclude that the Saints departed are in heaven with Christ neither shall they come againe before with him nor without him till the day of judgement for as Adam had the world prepared for him before his creation so shall the Saints departed have the world purged from all the corruption of it before they shall have it restored to them againe and this shall be a great happinesse to them to have it in the first perfection for ever yet I grant from the creation of the world to the end of it that Christ as a King rules by his power and providence over all kingdomes peoples and creatures he upholds all things by the word of his power Heb. 1. 3. he saith By me kings raigne and Princes decree justice by me princes rule and nobles even all the Judges of the earth Prov. 8. 15 16. our God is in heaven and hath done whatsoever he pleased his counsell shall stand and the thoughts of his heart to all generations Psal 115. 3. 135. 6. 33. 10 11. Secondly Christ rules his Church in an especiall manner ordering all the affaires of it he hath made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in himselfe who worketh all things after the counsell of his owne will hee worketh in us both to will and to doe of his owne good pleasure Ephe. 1. 9. 11. thus Christ rules now and shall to the end of the world and no otherwise Phil. 2. 13. And to say that Christ shall rule and governe as earthly monarches have done over this corrupted world before the day of judgement in a worldly visible and earthly glory is but a fancy and cannot bee grounded upon the word of God and the author of that booke that goes in the name of Mr. Archer grants himselfe Page 5. that there is a world to come to bee put in subjection to Christ of which Adam in his Innocency was a type in many respects first as hee damned all mankind this was a type and figure of Christ saving all the elect Rom 5. 14. and his marriage to the woman was a type of the conjunction of Christ to his Church Ephe. 5. 30 31 32. and his soverainty over this present world was a figure of the subjection of the world to come to Christ these things I grant yet not before the day of judgement because the good and the bad are mixed together and shall bee so till the day of judgement Ioh 15. 15. and because all the creatures are corrupted by the sinne of man The heavens are not cleare in his sight and God looked upon the earth and behold it was corrupt Gen 6. 2. for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth this came by the sinne of man and shall not be purged but by fire at the judgement day But they object this cannot bee after the day of judgement because then Object 1 Cor. 15. 24. Luke 19. 11 12. 2 Tim. 4. ◠Christ resignes up his Kingdome but Christ in that parable of the noble man is gone into a farre country to receive for himselfe a kingdome and to returne and saith the Apostle at the appearance of Christ and his kingdome from these places they would prove that Christ shall come a thousand yeares to raigne here before his last comming to judgement To these things I answer that it is not meant that Christ shall render up his kingdome out of his owne hand but to render up the manner of government he shall then render up his mediatorship he need make intercession no longer when his people are in full possession of all that happinesse that is promised to them neither need Christ to make use of earthly things as his deputies or Isay 49. 23 Dan. 7. 9. 1 Cor. 15. Vers 28. Heb 7. 25. Mark 13. 3 John 8. 29 4. 34. vicegerents to be noursing fathers to his Churches all these thrones shall be cast downe when the ancient of dayes doth sit and though it may be said then the Sonne shall be subject to him that put all things under him that God may be all in all this is to be understood the humanity of Christ shall be subject to the deity and so it is now for he now makes intercession for his people and as man he knoweth not when the day of judgement shall be and saith he the Father hath not left me alone for I doe alwayes those things that please him Jesus said unto them my meat is to doe the will of him that sent me and to finish his worke but his mediatorship is not yet finished Matth. 22. 44. till all his enemies are made his footstoole then will his glory be farre greater then now it is when the Devils and wicked men and all things that offend and that doe iniquity shall by the Angels be cast out of his kingdome and cast into Matth. 13 41 42. John 17. 2 Ephe. 1. 2 4. 13. Dan 7. 1◠18. 27. Revel 22. ◅ Revel 21. ◅ Luke 19. ◅ 11 12. Heb. 12. 2◠24. 2 Tim 4. ◠1 Thess 3◠3 13. 2 Thess 1◠the furnace of fire all his Saints shall be where he is to behold his glory this is called the fulnesse of Christ when all his Saints are glorified with him his dominion is everlasting which shall not passe away his kingdome shall not be destroyed but when the curse is taken from the earth the throne of God and of the Lambe shall be in it and his servants shall serve him as naturall members of his body when the Saints shall inherit all things And whereas it is said that Christ went to receive a kingdome and to returne I answer that he is gone to heaven to receive that kingdome for us and the soules of just men made perfect doe enjoy it and from that other place spoken of his appearing and his kingdome this is at the day of judgement when he comes to judge both the quicke and dead at his appearing and his kingdome and then shall Christ have another kingdome when he comes from heaven with all his Saints when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels all these earthly things shall then be purified by fire and restored againe to him and his Saints in their first perfection and unto them that looke for him he shall appeare the second time without sin unto salvation then if salvation be at his second cōming in my judgement there needs Heb. 9. 2◠not a third neither can his second comming be understood of his living here in this corrupted world a thousand yeares but after the day of judgement in that new world to all eternity The Prophet Isay after hee hath spoken of the comming of Christ in the flesh Chap. 11. from the first verse to the eleventh then hee speakes of his comming to judgement
liberty of the Sonnes of God For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travelleth in paine together untill now and not onely they but we our selves also which have the first fruites of the Spirit even we our selves waite for the adoption to wit the redemption of our bodies and then man shall inherit all things both 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. in heaven and in the earth things present and things to come All are yours and you are Christs and Christ is Gods He that spared not his owne Son but delivered him up to death for us all how shall he not with him freely give us all things Godlinesse Rom. 8. 32. 1 Tim. 4. 8. is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come The reason why man after the day of Judgement shall inherit all things is this because the second Adam hath restored againe all that the first Adam lost for he is mighty to save he is a Rocke and his worke is perfect he Isa 63. 1. Deut 32. 4. Joh. 17. 4. 19. 30. Heb. 7. 25. hath not done his worke by the halves he saith I have finished the worke that thou gavest me to doe he said It is finished wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost so that all which the first Adam had is restored by the second but the first Adam was the Master-peece of the whole creation therefore man was the last that was made and all the rest were but prepared for him and when man was to be made the Lord did it with much deliberation and called a Councell the whole Trinity seemed to consult about his creation saying Let us make man in our likenesse in our image and let him Gen. 1. 26. have dominion over the fish of the Sea and over the fowle of the Aire and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every thing that creepeth upon the earth And man is an Epitome or an Abridgement of all the creatures he hath a vegetative or a growing life answerable to the plants and the Herbes and grasse of the earth and he hath a sensitive life answerable to the beasts and fowles and fishes and he hath a reasonable life answerable to that of Anges thus all the creatures are to be seene in man he hath a soule so glorious fit to associate it selfe with the glorious Angels in Heaven and he hath a body compounded of the foure elements fit to communicate with and to governe the creatures here below and when he was made God blessed them and said unto them Be fruitfull and replenish the earth and subdue it and Gen. 1. 28. have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowle of the aire and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth And when the Lord had formed all Gen. 2. 19 20. the beasts of the Field and fowles of the ayre he brought them all to Adam as to their Lord to see what he would call them and whatsoever Adam called every creature that was the name thereof and he gave names to all Cattle and to the fowle of the aire and to every beast of the field thus they tendered their duty to him and were at unity among themselves But now since Adam fell from God the creatures are disobedient to man saith the Lord to Job out of the whirlewinde Will the Vnicorne be willing to Job 39 9 10 11 12 27. serve thee will he harrow the valley after thee wilt thou trust him because his strength is great or wilt thou leave thy labour to him wilt thou beleeve that he will bring home thy seed and gather it into thy Barne or doth the Eagle flye at thy command no we find the creatures disobedience to us since our first disobedience to the Lord. But to our comfort the second Adam hath restored to us againe all that the first Adam lost and although we have not that duty and service from the creatures as Adam had at the first by reason of their corruption that came by our sinne yet after the day of Judgement when they are freed from this bondage under which they groane and shall be restored to their first perfection then they will freely doe their duty unto man as they ought to doe but this will not be till the restitution of all things for he that sate upon the Throne said Behold I make all things new then shall that saying Rev. 24. 5. be fulfilled Old things are passed away behold all things are become new 2 Cor. 5. 17. And saith the Lord Behold I doe a new thing now it shall spring forth and shall ye not know it I will make a way in the wildernesse and rivers in the desart Isa 43. 19. and what followes the beasts of the field shall honour me even the unlikeliest of all the creatures Dragons and Owles at that day The reason why the creatures as the Heavens and the earth and all sorts of creatures in them shall be restored to their first perfection is because they with man since the fall at their best estate are but vanity Psal 39. 5. so Vanity of vanities all is vanity saith the Preacher Eccles 1. 1. For the creature was made subject to vanity not willingly but by reason of him who subdued the same but yet in hope and expectation to be delivered for the whole creation groaneth in paine untill now and not onely they but we our selves also which have received the first fruites of the Spirit even we our selves groane waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our bodies Rom. 8. 20. 22 23. The bondage which makes the creatures groane are many from which in time they shall be delivered I meane at the restauration of all things after the day of Judgement First They are fraile and subject to corruption and putrefaction which came by the sinne of man this is a sore bondage Secondly They are subject to confusions and inconstancy in any one condition as by the many mutations and alterations appeares dayly being compounded of the foure elements and the many confusions from the same foure elements from this bondage they groane to be delivered Thirdly They are forced to serve wicked men The Sunne shines on the just and unjust and the heavens make fruitfull with their showers the field of the wickâ—d as well as the field of the just Mat. 5 45. and the earth is forced to feede and to receive into her bowels the ungodly as well as the godly this is a sore bondage Fourthly The visible creatures of God proclaime as in a booke the invisible things of God as his eternall power and God-head to vaine men Rom. 1. 20. that will not learne This is a sore bondage for which they groane Fifthly The creature is many times made the subject of mans punishment for mans sinne as when the heaven is made Brasse
feare them that kill the body but cannot Mar. 22. 32. Mat. 10. 28 Luke 2. 29. kill the soule the soule cannot dye with the body but it departs away from it Then I conclude that if the Soule assoone as it leaves the body goes immediately to Paradise the third heaven there is neither purgatory nor place of residence after death but as the tree falleth so it lies after death to Judgement a particular sentence is passed immediately upon them for heaven or hell and there is no place of abode for Abrahams children till they come into his bosome with him in Heaven for ever But thirdly which is the maine objection to all my former discourse if the soule of Abraham be in Heaven and when he was here he desired a better Country than this world which is a heavenly then they say after the day of Judgement the Saints shall not inherit all these things here below in this world because the Saints did alwayes set a low value of them To this I answer that the Soule is of a Heavenly substance and when it Rom. 6. 7. leaves the body then it hath ceased from sinne therefore no place between this and Paradise is fit to receive it Therefore saith the Prophet Arise ye and depart for this is not your rest because it is polluted and after the Heb. 12. 23. day of Judgement the Angels shall abide in Heaven being a place for such glorious Spirits and the soules of men made perfect being of the same nature with them shall abide in Heaven also till the body shall rise againe for as the soules of men are now confin'd in Heaven Luk. 16. 26. and the Angels have businesse both in the Heavens and in the Earth so after the day of Judgement when they have finished their worke in this world they shall rest and I suppose shall be confined in Heaven for ever and when our bodies Eccle 21. 7. are risen and united to our soules then shall we inherit all things here in their first perfection and also we shall have sweet communion with Angels in Heaven for as I said before man consists of two parts body and soule so he shall have two worlds answerable to his two natures to delight himselfe in that he may have fulnesse of joy for whom all things were made 1 Tim 4. 8. for godlinesse is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come and the meane time that the body lies in the grave the soule is gone to take possession of the kingdome of heaven and when the body riseth againe it shall then have this world bestowed upon it and as the soule brought nothing with it so it shall take nothing out with it no not his owne body but leaves it here in the earth till it comes againe and so the body goes to the grave and takes nothing with it but weeping and mourning yet when it comes againe having had the pretious seeds of grace in it shall doubtlesse come againe with rejoycing and Psal 126. 6. bring his sheaves with him so then after the day of judgement when all things are purified by fire and restored to their first perfection then I say man shall inherit all things both in this world and in the world to come then shall the meeke inherit the earth and delight themselves in the abundance Psal 37. 11. Joh. 16. 20. 33. Esay 49. 8. Matth. 10. 16. of peace but this cannot be before the day of judgment for saith Christ In this world you shall have tribulation Christ was given for a covenant of the people to establish the earth to cause to inherite the desolate heritages but for the present the Saints are as sheep among wolves so that these things shall not be restored to the Saints till themselves are in their first perfection then they shall be given us againe perfect as they were to Adam at the first And although mans body shall put on immortalitie and shall be made so firme and permanent as to endure for ever eternally yet his body shall not be turned into a spirit it shall be a body still with flesh and bones as Luke 24. 39 49. the body of Christ was after his resurrection saith he Handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as yee see me have And he did eate and drinke with his disciples after his resurrection they gave him a peece of a Luke 24. 42 43 30. Joh. 21. 9. 12. 13. Acts 10. 41 Matth. 26. 29. Rom. 14. 17 Joh. 18. 36. broyled fish and of an hony combe and he tooke it and did eate before them so it is likely man may after his resurrection for saith Christ I will henceforth drinke no more of the fruit of the vine till I drinke it new in my Fathers Kingdome this cannot bee meant presently after his ascension for wee never read that hee dranke wine in all that fortie dayes and his kingdome doth not consist in drinking wine but in righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost My kingdome is not of this world saith hee then I conclude that Christ will not drinke of the fruit of the vine till he hath rendered up the kingdome to 1 Cor. 15. 24. his Father then will Christ amongst the Saints drinke it new not as though he desired to drinke new wine rather then old for he himself saith that no man having old wine desireth new for hee saith the old is better Luke 5. 39. then the meaning is when the vine is made now and all the trees and creatures restored to their first perfection then will he drinke with them in his Psal 96. 11 12 13. Fathers kingdome then shall the heavens rejoyce and the earth be glad the fields shall be joyfull and all the trees of the wood shall rejoyce before the Lord when hee commeth to judge the earth Hee shall judge the world with righteousnesse and his people with his truth then here you see the world every creature the very trees shall have righteousnesse as they have suffered by the sinne of man so shall they have benefit in mans deliverance from his sinne this is that which the whole creation groaneth and traveleth in paine together untill now but the creature it selfe shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children Rom. 8. 21. 22. of God but it is observable when all the creatures in heaven and earth rejoyce at the comming of Christ to judgement at the same time the Sea Psa 96. 11. roares and the fulnesse thereof because it is said there shall be no more Sea Revel 21. 1. then shall man enjoy all the creatures that were given him at the first as he did in his innocency so that he may eate of all the trees for his pleasure and yet not feele the perill of hunger and although our bodies shall
be made perfect and glorious like unto the body of Christ yet with flesh and bones as he had after his resurrection and as our soules shall be renewed Phil. 3. 21. Luke 24. 39 40. in all the faculties so shall the bodies bee perfect in all the senses and they shall be abundantly satisfied for ever in the world to come If any shall aske me what the bodies of Christ and Enoch and Elias now doe feede upon I answer when they were here they lived upon food as others doe now Yet as God was able to make Christ and Elias and Moses to faste forty dayes and forty nights so he is able to make them live there without food yet I will not contend whether our bodies shall eate for necessity yet I suppose when the new Jerusalem shall come downe from heaven and the Saints shall inherit all things that then they shall eate and Revel 21. 7 drinke although not for hunger and thirst but onely for pleasure sake and although those bodies that are in heaven want earthly food yet they have soules like Angels and they amongst them are content with the joy of Angels as here sometimes inward comfort satisfies a Christian when he wants outward comfort so are they with heavenly food at this time in the want of earthly food yet their fulnesse or joy is not till they injoy all things both in heaven and earth answerable to both parts of body and soule But it may be they will say it is absurd to say that the bodies of Enoâ—h and Elias are in heaven or at the least that they were there before the body of Christ because Christ is become the first fruits of them that slept 1 Cor. 15. 20. and all shall be made alive every man in his owne order Christ the first fruits and afterward they that are in Christ ver 23. To this I answer That there were many both in the Old Testament and the new that were raised from a corporall death to a corporall life and all before Christ but they died againe 1 Kings 7. 22. 2 Kings 4. Joh. 11. 44. and it is said expressely that Eliah went up in a whirlewind into heaven 2 Kings 2. 11. but he died not and Enoch was translated that he should not see death and God tooke him Heb. 11. 5. Gen. 5. 24. here you see some arose under the Law and under the Gospell to confirme their resurrection yet died againe and some ascended into heaven before the Law and under the Law to confirme their hopes after death yet Christ was the first that did both arise from the dead and died no more but ascended into heaven and there he is with the soules of all the Saints departed and there is the body of Enoch and of Elias and it is no absurd thing to beleeve it And because the soules of all the elect when they leave the earth ascend up to heaven therefore it is called Jerusalem which is above the mother of us all it is called the mount Sion the Citie of the living God the heavenly Gal. 4. 26. Jerusalem the generall assembly and Church of the first-borne where the spirits of just men are made perfect but at the day of judgement when Heb. 12. 22. 23. their bodies shall rise spirituall bodies and in their first perfection Then Jerusalem which is above shall come downe from God out of heaven Revel 21. 3 4 as a bride adorned for her husband then the Tabernacle of God shall be 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 then shall the bride be glad and rejoyce and give honour to Christ for the marriage of the Lambe is come and the bride hath made her selfe ready we were espoused Revel 19. 7 Isay 54. 4. Ier. 3. 14. Hose 2. 19 20. Ephe. 5. 31. 32. Revel 15. 3 2 Thes 1. 10. Revel 19. 8 Luk. 2. 36 37. Reve. 7. 14 15. Reve. 19. 9. or betrothed unto Christ in our convesion but the great solemnity of the marriage is when the King of Saints shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired of all them that beleeve then to his bride shall be granted that she shall be arrayed in fine linnen cleane and white for the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of the Saints these are they which have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambe they served God in the temple with fasting and prayer night and day therefore they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple and he that sitteth on the throne will dwell amongst them when this great solemnity is kept Blessed are they which are called to the marriage Supper of the Lambe these are the true sayings of God The Angell said unto John come hither and I will shew thee the bride the Lambes wife and he carried me in the spirit to a great mountaine and shewed me the great Citie the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God Revel 21. 9 10 11 12 14 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27. and in it was the glory of God shining like a stone most pretious it had a wall great and high and twelve gates to it and twelve foundations the Citie was fouresquare the length and the breadth and heighth they are all equall twelve thousand furlongs every way the wall was a hundred forty foure foure cubits in thicknesse and the wall was built of Jasper stone the Citie was pure gold like unto pure glasse the foundations of the wal of the Citie was garnished with all manner of pretious stones the twelve gates were of twelve pearles and the streets of the Citie were of pure gold as it were transparent glasse I saw no temple in it for the Lord God Almighty the Lambe are the temple of it and the Citie had no need of the Sun or Moone to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lambe is the light of it and the nations of them that are saved shall walke in the light of it and the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honour into it and the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day for there shall bee no night there and there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth or whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie but onely they which are written in the Lambes booke of life this is the glorious Citie the new Jerusalem the Lambs wife And he shewed me a pure River of water of life cleare as crystall proceeding Revel 22. out of the Throne of God and of the Lambe in the midst of the street of it and of either side of the River was there the tree of life which bare twelve manner of fruits and yeelded her fruits every moneth and the leaves
the heavens rejoyce and the earth is glad the field is joyfull and all that is therein and all the trees of the wood will rejoyce before the Lord when he commeth to judge the earth Then shall they see the Sonne of man comming in a cloud with power and great glory when these things begin to come to passe then looke Luke 21. 27 28. Revel 19. 7 Luke 2. 25. 26. up and lift up your heads for your redemption draneth nigh Let us rejoyce and be glad and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lambe is come and his bride hath made herselfe ready because it was revealed to old Simeon that hee should not see death till he had seene the Lords Christ therefore he waited for the consolation of Israel be patient therefore brethren unto the comming of our Lord behold the husbandman waiteth for the fruite of the earth be yee also patient establish your heart for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh saith Micah James 5. 7 8. Micah 7. 7. I will waite for the God of my salvation and Paul commends the Corinthians for this thing for saith he yee come behind in no gift wayting for the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall confirme you unto the end that ye may be blamelesse in the day of our Lord for saith he our conversation 1 Cor. 1. 7. 8. is in heaven from whence also we looke for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile bodies and make them like unto his Phil 3 20 21. glorious body according to the working whereby hee is able to subdue all things unto himselfe Blessed is hee that waiteth and commeth to the 1335. dayes saith the Angel to Daniel but go thou thy way thou shalt rest till the end Dan. 12. 12 13. be and then stand in thy lot in the end of the dayes when all things are restored to their first perfection then Daniel shall have his lot among other Saints therefore waite I say on the Lord I will waite for the Lord my soule doth waite in his word doe I waite My soule doth waite for the Lord more then they that watch for the morning I say more then they that watch for Psal 130. the morning let Israel hope in the Lord watch therefore for ye know not at what houre your Lord doth come therefore be yee ready for in such an Matth. 24. 42. 44. 46. 47. houre as yee thinke not of the Sonne of man commeth blessed is that servant whom his Lord when hee commeth shall finde so doing verily I say unto you hee will make him ruler over all his goods now what are those goods that the Saints shall bee made Rulers over at the day of judgement but those creatures that were given to the first Adam and hee by his sinne lost this Lordship over them and the second Adam hath restored to him all againe in their first perfection and saith Luke hee will make him ruler over his Luke 12. 42. 44. household and over all that he hath now saith Paul I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in heaven and Ephe. 3 14. 15. earth is named what other meaning can this have but this after the day of judgement to be made Lords and Rulers over all the creatures here below and as I take it in some degree also above the Angels in heaven howsoever here is sufficient to answer a question sometimes moved which is this whether Quest shall the Saints or Angels have the highest degree of glory after the day of judgment I answer the Saints for as the beasts shall be confined to the earth so Answ the Angels shall be confined in heaven but man shall inherit all things all things I say both in earth and heaven and as man shall have more glory on earth then any beast or fowle can have so I suppose he shall have more glory in heaven then any Angel there because that he is the master piece of all and as it were a modell of all the creation being the last that was made all the rest being but made for him the Elders were with Christ on the throne and the Angels standing round about it read Revel 7. 11. therefore in more glory Revel 5. 11 7. 11. then the Angels Secondly Vse may teach us admiration with David and say O how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laid up for them that feare thee which thou Psal 31. 19. hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sonnes of men First Looke backe upon sinne and see the cursed nature of it and admire at the filthy contagion of it that hath defiled the lower heavens and the earth Iob 15. 15. Gen 6. 12. and all creatures in them and spoyled the glory and beauty of them all Secondly This may teach us to admire at the great mercy and goodnesse Psal 136. 23. 72. 12. Psal 63. 5. of our God who remembred us in our low estate how he delivered us when we had no helper he looked and there was none to helpe then his owne Arme brought salvation Thirdly Here we may admire at the folly of Adam that would hazzard such a glorious world of creatures and lose them all for a bit of an Apple Fourthly we may admire at their happy and permanent condition under the second Adam when as they shall bee established for ever and see how fickle and mutable they were under the first Adam O then happy is he that is not under the first but under the second Adam who hath restored againe what the first lost Fiftly here we may admire at the great price of our redemption the worth and value of the blood of Christ when we had spoyled and ruined the whole 1 Pet. 1. 19 creation all the glorious workes of God by our sinnes that the blood of Christ should purchase redemption for mankind and establishment to the Angels that had not sinned and purification to the creatures here below and establishment to all Sixtly here we may see and admire at the justice of God to all that creatures that have suffered punishment not for their owne sins but for ours now they shall not onely be delivered after so long a time but established in an unchangable condition for ever which will make amends for their great losse they had by the sinne of man Seventhly admire at the wisedome of God that could finde out such a way to satisfie his owne justice and yet to save his creatures Eighthly this may teach us to admire at the power of God that is able to doe all these things which in all mens judgement was a greater worke to renew the ruins of the old world then it was at the first to make it of nothing he travelled in the greatnesse of his strength and is mighty to save he layd Isay 63. 1. Psal 89.