Articles of Faith p. 90 91. of Iren. c. 2. Observe in general that from the varietes of the Discoveries in the said three books were by a special hand of Providence those 8 comprehensive convincing Arguments deduced in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Word Written which as strangly was published as might be shewed whereunto likewise very many upon like account might be added as being in like manner couched in such mysterious Discoveries and observable passages upon many occasions therein contained and many from the 31. Useful observations to understand mystical Prophesies after the Tract on Rev. 22 20. I might here add others from the nature and end of these Doctrines as that they are Homogeneal Harmonious and uniform with all other Christian Doctrines p. 50. to the end not new but only Scriptural explications of the Old Assert eight of the Key and from the end of them viz. the fulfilling of the promised mercies to the Fore-Fathers p. 5 6 7 8 9 10. I have observed 4 places in Scripture Divinity wherein these Doctrines naturally fall in otherwise there will be a Chasme and void place from Scripture grounds observable First the Consideration of the general Execution of Christs 3 Offices is to precede the particular as being the chief part of that well grounded distinction in the 11 and 12. Divine Thesis in p. 5 6. of the Irenicon 2dly Sacred Scripture teacheth that after Christ hath satisfied for sin risen again ascended and sitten the appointed time at the right hand of God on his Fathers Throne till he make his foes his footstool then he will begin to sit on his own Throne at his coming the 2d time without sin only for Salvation to all his People to perform that Adoption to the raised Sts. even the Redemption of their Bodies Rom. 8.23 by freeing them from the corruption of the grave c. And 2dly all those alive from all their enemies both Men and Devils to serve God without so much as fear of them all the dayes of their lives Luke 1 71. Rev. 20 c. and to redeem even the inferiour creatures from the bondage of corruption from Men or other Creatures into the glorious c. viz. in their capacity in that state of the restitution of all things Rom. 8.22 Acts 3.21 See for this in the Everlasting Gospel on Gen. 3.19 p. 8. the 6. particular there 3dly From the Scripture explication of the Lords Prayer that his Name may be then hallowed in earth as it is now and till then in heaven and so his Kingdom may come and will be done in earth then as in heaven now which will be perfectly done upon the coming of that Kingdom by Angels and raised Sts. in that world and by others then alive in a very great measure See p. 90 91. of the Iren. and New Jer. p. 4 15 the first Vse 4thly It is in part the end of that state both of the faith and hope of many of Gods servants who now groundedly both believe and hope for such their interest in that state of the promised mercies to the Fore-Fathers as we shewed largly in our Key being a part of Csts Purchase and of the Sts. inheritance for so long a time of which much is said in Scripture c. See the Key of the covenanted mercies to the Fore-Fathers and their spiritual seed as we here touch but that which in gnneral we shall only here farther set down as to the former Argum. is this one most comprehensive Foundation of Multitudes of particular Arguments in several kinds from several sorts of Subjects considered in the whol work namly That Doctrine is Divine truth which hath not only clear Scriptures for the nature and substance of it and for all useful and profitable parts and branches of it but also for the distinct and clear handling of both it them from Scripture foundations and this farther which is yet of very great waight where the faith thereof is wrought that these Doctrines are only in substance the promised mercies to the Fore-Fathers Ab. Is and Jacob and all their spiritual seed both circumcised and uncircumcised for that state in special through that one Divine seed Christ Gal. 3. to be fulfilled in that world to come Heb. 2.3 Luke 20.35 36. in the time of the New Heavens and New Earth c. which is the time of Christs great day of Judgment and of his Davidical Kingdom which is another strong foundation of the same promised mercies of all the spiritual Sons and Daughters of David through and with Christ himself then in that world I might add many others c. But now for the first said members viz. the substance and main branches of these Doctrines that have clear Scripture grounds that he that runs may read in the whose work but for the 3d which is the distinct handling of those things some may question therefore amongst the many distinctions in our Key whereof many were not before this work observed that I knew of I shall instance in the two New Jerusalems one the immediate work of God to be made by himself their for the Saints raised after Christs appearance or coming Heb 11.10 16. and described gloriuosly Rev. 21. which is not the future glory of heaven as formerly mistaken for fifteen reasons c. See New Jeru◠p. 9 10 11 12 c. The other made by men for the converted Jews and Gentiles as the Prophet Esay saith expresly by Strangers and their Kings Esa 60.9 See New Jerus 6 7. and for the 4th member that for those promised mercies to the said Fore-Fathers and David will then be accomplished to all the Elect that have lived before or suffered with or for Christ before that his 2d coming in the clouds of Heaven and that they shall have their rest with the Apostles 2 Thes 1.7 and be rewarded then Rev. 11.18 19. and all such have their part in all that promised mercy in that state our grounds of those covenanted mercies after the preparatorie 21 assertions laid down in the Key may sufficiently if well considered I conceive satisfie all serious unprejudiced understanding Christians which I doubt not to such may much more be made evident from divine Authority and these things would be greatly enquired into if Christians but compently knew and believed such their own mercy and interest in that state with Christ in that long continued excellent holy and happy condition which he hath purchased for them and gives them interest in with himself being joynt heirs thereof with himself A large volume might be written and to good effect on these 3 Articles to this end 1. of Christs coming to that first judicial act of Judgm Dan. 7. above 1000. years before the last trump and raising of the wicked suddainly as probable after the faithful that departed in the 1000 years as Esa 65.20 2dly of the communion of Sts. both raised and living 3dly of the resurrection of the just only
overthrow burial saving the sixth part c. as at large set down in ch 38. 39. But of the last Gog and Magog see Rev. 20.9 10. about the general rapture and change of all the Saints 1 Cor. 15 52 53. 20. That the General Rapture and Change of all the Saints about the last Trumpet will be I conceive of them in a three-fold state or condition first in the natural life to be changed in stead of dying 2dly of Saints before raised twice said to be alive and remain 1 Thes 4.15 17. 3dly of the dead in the 1000. years then to rise first before the wicked as others did in the said time v. 16. which Interpretation the Revelation seems to point out 21. As Christ our Saviour should not finish that work of Redempt in the world which he is appointed to by his Fathers Commission manifest Rev. 5. according to his former decreed and promised grace Gen. 3.15 c. often since renewed to the fore-fathers when receiving as the Angel said Luke 1.31 32 33. his Davidical Kingdom he shall return from his Fathers right hand in the clouds of Heaven in his own glory and of his Father and his holy Angels then making his great enemies eminently his footstool and bind Satan for the 1000. years So taking to himself his great power to reign and so also temporally outwardly and visibly to deliver his people from the hands of all their enemies to serve him without fear of them c. Luk. 1.71 72 73 74 which seems to be the possessing of the Gate of their enemies Gen. 22.27 at his next coming as well as he wrought their spiritual Redemption at the first that none of his should be lost and to be then the glory of his people Israel as he hath since that been a Light to Lighten the Gentiles Luke 2.72 all which are grounds of that truth So neither should God without his doing of these things perform those promised mercies to the fore-fathers to those excellent purposes in the time of his said Visible and Glorious Kingdome in the world at several times made unto them as in divers particulars ensuing is observable as first that to Adam and Eve Secondly to Noah Thirdly to Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Fourthly to David will clearly manifest Of Gods great Promised Mercies to the Fore-Fathers made in the Old Testament through Christ to be fulfilled by him in the World to come in the time of his glorious Kingdom therein 1. THat all the great Promises and Covenants of God made to men under the Old Testament when the first Adam had lost his own and his natural Seeds interest were to be fulfilled by Christ whom as the Apostle saith Heb. 1. God had appointed him Heir for all things v. 2 3. from a three-fold Title to be compleated in the time of his Kingdom on earth First God having by him Created the world 2dly he hath since purged his peoples sins by his own bloud so procuring to them all grace and gracious interest therein And 3dly Upholding all things by his word of Divine power and so disposing them that they then with him should be Heirs even joynt Heirs with Christ saith that Apostle Rom. 8.17 who was Rapt up to Paradise to learn Divine Mysteries after Christ had gloriously appeared to him at his Conversion and as Christ by that beloved and so Divinely taught Disciple John more fully promises to all Overcomers that they shall sit with Christ on his Throne viz. of his Mediatory Kingdom even as he having overcome is now set down with his Father on his Throne Rev. 3.21 and that he will give him then power over the Nations to break them c. Rev. 2.27 but he further adds from Christs Warrant also Rev. 21.7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my Son Which will be obtained from Christ in the compleating of the Redemption of the purchased possession of the said inheritance by our great Messiah the second Adam in the time of his said Kingdom whereof they are now become with him joynt heirs and then with him shall become possessors in reference whereunto all the said Promises were made to the Fathers in their order and times 1. First that made to Adam and Eve upon their fall and sentence Gen. 3.15 The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents head Which he hath been doing ever since as we shewed in due order and manner appointed by the Eather and still doth and will so doe but upon his receiving of his Kingdom will do it more eminently until he make his Foes even the stoutest of them his Footstool Ps 110.1 even till the last enemy death shall be destroyed 1 Cor. 15. which will be as Scripture witnesseth at the compleating of his said 1000. years reign For he must reign saith the Apostle v. 25. until he hath put all his enemies under his feet when death the last enemy shall be destroyed v. 26. and when all his overcomers that reigned with him before in the 1000. years shall be rapt up with all Saints in their several states then to meet him in the Aire and thenceforth ever be with him the Lord in a glorious and blessed condition upon the said compleat breaking the Serpent Satans head See our Thes Prodrom p. 10 11 12 13. and this largely handled in our Everlasting Gospel on Gen. 3.15 to which I refer the Reader 2. That Promise and Covenant that God made to Noah through him whose Type he was in saving his own house or family in the Arke at the drowning of the Old World as Christ will also be his Sts. safe Arke both at his next appearance when as our Saviour saith The Eagles will be gathered to the Carkass Luke 17.38 and also from the last destruction of the World by fire at the said gener rapture of all the Sts. above a 1000. years after Now he giveth by that Covenant with Noah for himself men and beasts present and future the largest and and strongest Assurance of preservation of the Earth from any like destruction upon Noahs offering Sacrifices of the clean beasts and fowls preserved with him in the Arke Whereupon the Lord smelled a sweet savour viz. through the said Antetype of Noah And the Lord said in his heart I will not again any more curse the ground for mans sake And the freeness of his grace more gloriously appeared by his following reason which had a contrary effect before ch 6.5 6. but now he will not destroy it for the imagination saith he Gen. 8.21 22. of mans heart is evil from his youth nor will I any more smite every living thing as I have done And all this is further inlarged and illustrated with an ample affirmative Charter While saith the Lord Jehovah or yet all the dayes of the earth as in Heb. Seed time and Harvest cold and heat summer and winter day and night shall not cease But what was a
Being without a Blessing but misery Therefore in chap. 9. he largly distributes his Blessings to Noah his Sons to the beasts cattle and creeping thing fish fowls and every plant or green herb and subjects all to man only forbidding cruelty as appears by that expression Flesh with the life thereof that is the blood thereof shall ye not eat and again repeats his blessing v. 7. And then God largly establisheth his Covenant with all creatures and men again in v. 8 9 10 11 12. and then confirms it with the token of the Rainbow from v. 13. with a great deal of very gracious inlargment and improvement when they shall see that token to v. 17 Hence Gods Throne is compassed with the Rainbow Ez. 1. Rev. 4. where he gives an excellent Epephonema of his said grace as I may say And God said unto Noah this is the token of the Covenant which I have established between me and all flesh which is upon the earth Now as the earth with its fruitfulness and varieties of creatures is made the stage and accommodation too for all actings of promised and purposed grace from thence to the end of the world so the chief and greatest performances of fruitfulness are reserved for the time of Christs said reign as Psal 67. twice Then shall the earth bring forth her increase and God even our God shall give us his blessings And hence so many and great promises of those kindes upon the great Restauration of the Jews and Israelites and for both Davids house and Abrabrahams Isaacs and Jacobs then to have the Dominion See from this Covenant a strong assurance made thereof twice together almost yet in two Visions of the Prophet Jeremiah ch 33. v. 20 21. If saith God ye can break my Covenant of the day and my Covenant of the night c. Then may also my Covenant be broken with David my servant that he should not have a Son to reign upon his Throne c. that is Christ shall most certainly reign as the Son of David to the end of the world and what man shall dare to deny this and make any other meaning thereof And again v. 25 26. If my Covenant be not with day and night and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob and David my servant so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham Isaac and Jacob for I will cause their captivity to return and have mercy on them Many other places may here be produced to like purpose but this in brief at present 3. That all those Promises and Covenanted Mercies made and given to and with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and to their spiritual seed by that one Divine seed Christ for a thousand Generations which is a frequent expression in holy Scripture Jer. 32.18 Ezek. 34.7 Deut. 5.10 and particularly applyed to the promise and Covenant of the Land of Canaan and sung out by David at the bringing home the Arke to his Tent provided for it 1 Chr. 16.8 and again recorded Ps 105.8 c. in the last place said to be the Covenant which God remembred for ever and the word commanded for a thousand Generations c. as largly there set down to all three who in the grace they received resembled the Trinity Abraham as the fountain of mercy to his seed invested in himself Isaac as the conveyer thereof in thy seed alone not in thee Jacob as the immediate dispenser to the twelve Tribes to Ishmael his natural seed but in conjunction with Christ that what was wanting in Jacob should be made up in Christ therefore saies God to him in thee and in thy seed Christ shall all the families of the earth be blessed and God often stiles himself the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob in reference to the Promise yet to be fulfilled to them personally in their inheriting the promise of Canaan called the Lot of their Inheritance Psal 105.11 in the time of Christs Kingdom on earth but the 1000. generations seems to contain 7000. years from the giving the first promise Gen. 3.15 to the end of the world Which Promise contained in the bowels of it all the great Promises made to the Fathers afterwards and as from that Conduit head God hath disposed through those water pipes of future Promises his mercies to this or that person family or nation as he pleased ever since a generation being usually reckoned 7 years as 21 years is 3 lives suitable to Davids old age of 70 years which few of very many attain to in the intermediat 4000. years of the world for the ages of the old world and of the world to come differ for distinct reasons so the other seems to be the standard and the said Promise or Covenant seems be to here said to be remembred for ever and the other drawn from that for the residue of 1000. generations by Abraham Isaac and Jacob to their spiritual seed at the Resurrection of the just c. untill as Job saith The heavens shall be no more and the earth with all upon it become ve Tohu ve Bohu i. e. become again without form and void for ever c. or a perpetual prison Come we first to Abraham that Pater excelsus the Father of the faithful to whom the said grace was dispensed in a 7 sold gradation Gen. 12.2 3. and so forward c. Whereupon his ready obedience to Gods call he made a large comprehensive Promise of that land and all other mercies to himself alone personally as Gen. 1â— 18 through the Divine one seed Christ conceived then and afterwards so by faith in Abrahams soul that as our Saviour said John 8.56 Abraham saw my day and was glad yea and his future day also of injoyment a far of with Isaac Jacob and Sarah Heb. 11. at the said Resurrection represented in the deadness of Abrahams body and Sarahs womb and Isaacs saving from death in a figure c. 2. Upon his coming to Sichem God appeared to him and promised that land unto his natural seed v. 7. as it is expounded c. 15.13 14. whereof Abraham in person was to have no part v. 15. nor Isaac nor Jacob who all died long before the 400. years ended 3. When he was severed from Lot God said to him c 13 14 15 16 17. View all the coasts East West c. For I will give it to thee and to thy seed for ever namely to his one most Divine seed Christ Gal. 3.16 who should continue for ever and would retain his right and maintain Abrahams Proprietie which he hath purchased for him and all his and God bids him walk through that land then for saith he again I will give it unto thee 4. When upon Gods great incouragement Abraham represents his Age and Childless estate unto God c. Thereupon he bids him look up to Heaven and tell the Stars
so divinely learned Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 2.7 to the end of that chap. which may be counted amongst his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Saint Peter speaks of See Foundat 7th I shall only here beloved Christians advertise you all of these three particulars 1. That the 21. said brief assertions c. if duly weighed by Gods word may afford you sufficient satisfaction as to these Doctrines of Christs said reign the 1000. years upon earth 2. That both all Gods said general mercies promised to mankind Gen. 3.15 that Christ should eminently then break the serpents head as Ps 110.1 and also all that said promised and covenanted preservation and fruitfulness to and with Noah and the New world c. Gen. 8 9 c. are all then chiefly and finally to be accomplished also 3. That those more particular and special promised and covenanted mercies to Abraham Isaac and Jacob and to all their faithful seed both Israelites and Gentiles and also all those glorious promised and covenanted sure mercies of David and his spiritual seed shall all have their real true yea only future litteral fulfillings in the said Kind of Christ on earth But as for their larger explications being too large for the intended compass of this Key I must at present refer them to some future opportunity 22th The Doctrine of Christs glorious Kingdom or the New Jerusalem State now shortly approaching is exceeding comfortable and very advantageous to all faithfull Christians is manifest by the Key and this whole Work and by the ensuing Paraenesis or Monitory Exhortation may further appear Anno Dom. 1672. ANd now dear Christian Bretheren allow me a little freedom in this office of love you I mean who are partakers of the grace of God purchased by Jesus Christ and by the spirit of sanctification wrought in your souls whether Episcopal so called Presbyterian or Independent with sundry others upon the same foundation First for Vnitie many of which through Gods especial mercy have evidently obtained like precious grace to you all I speak as such Why do you still stand at distance one from another Consider I pray you That one Heaven as ye all believe shall hereafter contain you all when ye shall be made perfect in one yea moreouer I am well assured that one Glorious Kingdom of Christ to come will satiate all your souls as such a long time before you can obtain the other viz. both souls and bodies all whose degrees of blessedness is only to be expected in Gods best order and time and manner revealed in his word whether men take cognizance of it more particularly or less Es 64.4 Ps 31.19 And after that great day of Judgment is finished the expectation of all Saints to attain Those things which eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor hath entered into the heart of man to conceive besides thee O God saith the Evangelical Prophet Esa And O how great things saith holy David hath God prepared c. But the state of things in Christs said Kingdom is not altogether such in the interim though very glorious and excellent and blessed and suitable to that condition then when Judgment shall be given to the Saints in the world long before the finishing of the last Judgment And most of you if not all are one in the things at present that are counted essentially necessary ad esse Ecclesiae for the being of the Church of Christ how should all sorts agreeing in the main then also endeavour to be one in things that pertain ad bene esse to the well being of the same also And I am strongly from Gods word assured that it will not be long before the Lord in that great day which he hath foretold will be one and his name one even in respect of such usual dissentments of men in our dayes and his people shall then serve him with one shoulder how then should all faithful Christians what in them is endeavour by all good means for Unity with the bond of peace as well as Truth though that especially and so to meet their mercy by the way and if it might be anticipate it by so hastning its coming how well would Christ then take it at all your hands Whereas if any should so be found short of this that they will from such dissentments be smiting their Bretheren though it be but with the tongue when they can do no more how will they expose themselves at that day to Christs objurgation before Angels and Men c. Unite therefore Bretheren I say Unite Unite in one in these matters also at least in your spirits and the actings of them that may be the way where God may supply what you are wanting in to bring about the business which you so rightly and really endeavour by granting his Fiat in the case Let each sort cast off their peculiar obstacles and any-wayes-thwarting interests Complying fully with Gods Rules that should fully guide us all therein and They I humbly conceive are very few but sufficient only men must beware they mistake them not that they pervert them not in their use and mannagment The first is that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 14.26 Let all things be done to edifying viz. of the souls of Gods people and this is a comprehensive and forcible rule and direction which in every constitution and counsel of men ought much to sway the matter is the thing pleasing or profitable or creditable c. that may be somewhat in some cases but the great Question in matters of such nature as men may order is But is it so for edifying If they will not advance that end in Gods Church what should they do there but if they will hinder it why should they be suffered in it And then a second follows v. 40. Let all things be done decently and in order which two rightly applyed like our Saviours first and second law of love containing all the other So may these being rightly mannaged in all such cases regulate the counsels and actings of men in Church affairs but as love was the matter of both these laws though fixt upon distinct octjects so edifying is the substance and the end of both though the latter for the manner ought often more necessarily to be applyed with the other as being subordinate thereunto in sundry respects of nature matter use and end c. The Apostles instances which occasioned this second Rule seems to teach us the right use of it the one case of decency whether women should speak in the Church That by the Apostle authoritatively was once and for all times ordered negatively as being specially guided by Gods spirit Let not your women speak saith he c. The other was a profitable orderly settling the way of their prophesieing that it might more tend to edifycation and contrary confusion be avoyded that would hinder the same And the Apostle seems so to subordinate the latter to the first as if no plea of