should be swallowed up in victory we shall forbear to speak further to the first part of the mistery namely that we shall not all dye The second part is but we shall all be changed All the just or righteous then alive at the coming of the Lord Christ shall be so changed It medleth not with the unjust we shall be changed the consideration of the change it self and wherein it consists we shall refer to the Apostle his following description of it and shall make some enquiry what other Scriptures speak of it and witness to it first that in Paul 3. 21. who shall change to wit the Lord Christ shall at his coming from heaven make that change our vile body or corrupt and sinfull body that it may fashioned like unto his to wit pure spotless and incorrupt glorious body Col. 3. 4. when Christ shall appear then shall we appear with him in glory be like him and see him as he is as holy John saith 1. Joh. 3. 2. this change is wrought by a mighty hand of power and working whereby he namely the Lord Jesus is able to subdue all things unto himself put them under and subject them even sin and death and the grave and all principality and power he is over them all and he is able to do whatever he pleaseth make this change so as is after declared In the next place minde we that in 1. Thes 4. 15. 17. This we say unto you by the word of the Lord that we that are alive and remain So unto the coming of the Lord implying there will be such living then shall not prevent anticipate or get before them that are asleep to wit in their graves for as in vers 16. they shall be awakened with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the trump of God and shall arise first These dead in Christ they will rise first that being their order Then comes these changed ones as it is said then shall we which are alive and remain be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the aire It is premised that they be first changed in a moment before this conjunction and going together to meet the Lord so mounting up like the Eagles with wings Isa 40. 41. these waiters on the Lord Christ shall be so renewed then as to do as is there said this Prophesy seemeth to relate to that very time and to have its fulfilling then We shall then both the raised and changed together meet the Lord so and be for ever with him Blessed and happy souls indeed Further the restoration of all things spoken by all the holy prophets Acts. 3. 21. it doth speak out fully and in a more general way this change and the time of it also man being the principal thing in that blessed restoration The heavens the earth and the Creatures they grone for it Rom. 8. 19. 21. 22. they shall all share in this change and shall be answered unto in their groning They shall all be changed as a vesture folded up and they being old shall be changed Psal 102. 26. and the new heaven and the new earth taking place 2 Pet. 3. 13. all things shall be changed and made new as the Angel said unto John Rev. 21. 5. behold I make all things new even as holy Paul said behold I shew you a mistery we shall not a dye but be changed The holy Apostle vers 52. doth very positiuely the second time assert it we shall all be changed as it is fully asserted by him so it is ncessary to be fully believed by us That which yet further we may minde about this change whither as a part of the mistery or as an appendix or a relate to it I shall not essay to determine That we may take notice of is how sudden and transcient it will be in a moment in the twinkling of an eye very-sudden and expeditious will this change be The coming of the son of man and this as an attendant thereof will be like the lightning that is very quick and transcient Math. 24. 27. sudden in the shining from the East to the West over in a moment of time as sudden as a thought and while they begin to think it will be over in a moment in the twinkling of an eye it will be over and done A very great work in a very little time done and brought to pass by a mighty and wonderful workman the Lord Christ that is able to do all things it is beyond our reason and thoughts but not our faith What our Lord Christ sayd to Thomas may here be said in this matter blessed are they that though their reason cannot reach it nor their thoughts comprehend it yet their faith believes it because it is written so in a moment in the twinkling of an eye in the least of time very transient will this changing be And we shall be changed Then lastly as relating to the time when said to be at the last trumpet for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised up incorruptible of which in order To the dead raised something hath been said before and at that very juncture of time shall the living be changed This saying of the Apostle at the last trump is considerable Whither it be the last of the seven trumpets it 's very likely or some other this rising and changing we are now treating of seems to contemporize in time with the time of our Lord Christ his coming Mat. 24. 31. when that scripture Rev. 11. 15. the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever will have it 's through fulfilling he then having fully taken to himself his great power and reign for which there will be so great thanks giving as in vers 17. we give thee thanks O Lord God almighty c. because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned CHAP. III. Containing the proposal of some things by way of essay from vers 53. and 54. concerning the Apostles further making out the matter wherein this mystery consists with the manner of the effecting of it THe holy Apostle vers 53. 54. further to shew the matter and contents of the mistery of not dying but being changed he likewise sheweth the way and manner of it saying this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortalitie wherein the matter and likewise the manner is held forth of which we shall dilate a little And first for the matter It is by being freed or rid of corruption defilement and all pollution and by being put into a state of perfect rectitude and uprightness and this beyond the highest degree of mortification that is to be attained unto here And on the other part an attayner of holines purity and clearness from sin an estate beyond the highest attainner of sanctification that the happy estate of
is asked where Lord and he tells them in a dark borrowed way of speaking saying wheresoever the body or carcase Math. 24. 28. is thither will the Eagles be gathered together As if he had said where I am thither shall mine to wit the raised and changed saints be gathered together Consider the demand where Lord not where those so taken and left shall be then when they are so taken and left that our Lord declared plainly in the feild and in the bed but where those that are taken away should be when they were so taken from their companions in the feild and in the bed they should be taken and brought to the Lord Christ to meet him in the aire This that in Math. 24. 31. comp with vers 27. 28. seemeth very fully to hold forth When the Lord Christ shall come in the clouds of heaven in power and great glory vers 31. He shall send his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet at which sound those dead shall awake and arise and those living shall be changed in a moment The trumpet shall sound and the dead raised and we shall be changed 1. Cor. 15. 52. the place we are treating of So. 1. Thes. 4. 16. with the trumpet of God And as it followeth he shall send his Angels and they shall gather his elect to wit those so raised and changed from the four windes from one end of heaven to the other A great thing a wonderful gathering this will be at his coming very sudden and transperent as the lightning shining from the east to the west let this be considered with the answer of our Lord in Luke and then we may perceive what those words both there and here do mean and what was the intent of our Lord in them namely where the carcase or body is thither will the Eagles be gathered together The raised and changed shall then as Eagles mount up together to meet the Lord in the Aire 1 Thes. 4. 17. then shall that prophecy of holy Isaiah be fully made good and fulfilled which it is very likely eyeth that day Isa 40. 31. they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles c. as Eagles mount up so shall these changed and changed do then according to the very letter there needs no allegory in the matter The servants of God shall be very agile aierie and spriteful and as the Eagles shall mount up so to meet the Lord Christ Then will be the difference between the righteous and the wicked of which the prophet Malachy speaketh Mal. 3. 18. be greatly made manifest and clear to be known Between the righteous and the wicked when the one shall be taken and the other left when one shall be changed and the other left in their corrupt and mortal state and condition There are many great things that will be attendants of this change As the change will be very great and misterious so will be the things that will concur and go along with it such as we mentioned when we treated of the resurrection as the attendants of that the same in like manner will be at this change we shall forbear to mention them here having done it then This change it will be accompanyed with another even the change of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began Acts. 3. 21. they will be restored into their former good condition renewed refined and made new A new heaven new earth as it is said Psal 102. 26. as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed All shall be changed and made new as at the first making Rev. 21. 5. behold I make all things new A blessed state like that of paradise if not higher this world shall end and cease and with the change the world to come shall begin and take place of which we shall treat a little CHAP. V. Containing something proposed to consideration touching the world to come as being much the same with the New heaven and the New earth spoken of in the Holy Scriptures and that it will contemporsze in time with that and other great things that will take place at the Coming of our Lord Christ The holy scriptures declare Heb. 1. 2. that God by Jesus Christ made the worlds and by faith we understand and believe so Heb. 11. 3. By saith we understand the worlds were framed c. the scriptures make mention of three worlds the old world which began with the creation and continued to the floud and then perished and ended so Peter tells us 2. Pet. 3. 6. This present world so called in scripture and may be so called still it took place with the ceasing of the floud and was peopled by Noah and his sons and it continued and doth yet continue is grown old and is reserved being grown old unto fire and the great burning to come vers 10. at the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men The day of the Lord will come vers 12. and then will be the dissolution and end of this present world The Apostle expresseth it by the heaven and the earth that are now vers 7. As the same thing to wit this world this present evill world There is in the third place the world to come which will begin with the end or ceasing of this present world of which the holy scripture speaks very often so frequent as I shall forbear quotations When that end cometh which will be with the burning spoken of then will begin the world to come of which we are now treating and shall mention a few places Math. 12. 32. Mark 10. 30. Luk. 18. 30. Ephes. 1. 21. Heb. 2. 5. of which we may take notice hereafter the time when and how this will contemporize with other great things that will take place likewise then to wit at the coming of the Lord Christ in power and great glory to them that look for him the second time he will then appear Heb. 9. 28. This third world this world to come it will then begin In the which the Lord Christ will fully take unto himself his great power and will reign very gloriously the dominion power and sovereignty will rest in him and he will then appear on earth as king of kings and Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6. 15. Then in the world to come he will delegate power as he pleaseth to one to be ruler over five cities and to another to be ruler over ten cities they shall rule under him yea then will they rule with him and that be made good in Rev. 5. 10. And hast made us kings and Priests unto our God and we shall reign on the earth it is not said in heaven For the world to come it will be here below on earth and not in heaven above This world to come it will not be subjected under the power of the Angels the scripture expresly
and the coming of his kingdom and reign and all those great things that shall contemporize fall in and take place then of which we have spoken before and are too many to be here set down they shall all have their fulfilling and making good then these of the holy psalmists of Isaiah Ieremiah and Ezekiel of Daniel and the rest of the prophets relating to that time shall then in like manner be fulfilled as they are written We shall particularize a few out of the new testament and draw to a close First that of our Lord Math. 25. 31. With all that followeth to the end of the chapter as it is setdown when the son of man shall come in his glory and all his holy Angels with him then will he sit on the throne of his glory likewise the gathering the nations the setting them on the right hand and on the left the saying as is their spoken and judging and sentencing of them will be fulfilled according as it is written in all the particulars of it As also that Luk. 21. 27. and then shall ye see the son of man come in the clouds with power and great glory Every eye shall see him Rev. 1. 7. As sure as the wise men saw his star and afterwards himself lying in the manger or as they in the time of his humiliation saw him ride on an asse and on a colt the foal of an asse as it was written Zech. 9. 9. Math. 21. 4. 5. Tell ye the daughter of Sion behold thy king cometh unto thee meek and sitting on an asse c. So as sure then when he comes again he shall come in the clouds of heaven in great power and glory and every eye shall see him That Acts. 1. 10. 11. Which the two men in white apparrel to wit Angels told the disciples looking after our Lord being ascended this Jesus whom ye have seen go up into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven it shall then be fulfilled As likewise that Heb. 9. 28. To them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation Then will be fulfilled that which holy Peter and others have told concerning the burning of this world and the taking place of the new a new heaven and a new earth according to the promise of God with tho raising of the dead in Christ out of their graves and the changing of those saints then alive in a moment The restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy Prophets will be fulfilled as sure as those things spoken by them were formerly when he came before Then will that be fulfilled written by holy Paul Rom. 8. concerning the waited for adoption the redemption of the body and the creatures also delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God Then shall Daniel as was told by the Angel stand up in his lot And Abraham and Isaack and Jacob and all the Prophets sit together in the kingdom of God as it is written That which holy Isaiah chap. 60. hath foretold and holy John hath shewed Rev. 21. Rev. 22. concerning Jerusalems glory coming down from heaven and shining gloriously with the pure river of water of life and the trees bearing fruit every moneth which he hath attested to be the true sayings of Almighty God And also that concerning the righteous then that they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more nor suffer pain or death any more for ever nor no more curse the sayings being true and faithfull and will be fulfilled then the righteous shall see the vengence that is written fully made good against their wicked oppressors their wrongs righted their faith and patience rewarded the righteous proceedings of God manifested in punishing them with everlasting destruction from his presence such as sorely afflicted them when they shall have rest together it will be all fulfilled as it is written Great terror and fear will attend the wicked then and they will according as it is written be found saying to the mountains fall on us and to the hills cover us from the presence of him that sitteth on the throne And Gog and Magog the beast and false Prophet the captains and mighty men and all their great numbers be destroyed And the devill that deceived them and death also and the grave or Hell be cast into the lake of sire for ever with very many things of the like kinde which in a prophetical way by way of threatning against the wicked are written it shall then be fulfilled and made good from the faithfulness of the Lord Iehovah that is engaged in it Why should any that believe the the power and faihfulness of God doubt of it why should any think that the things spoken of in the holy Scriptures relating to the Lord Christ his second coming in power and great glory declared by the prophets and holy penmen of the Scriptures that those should not as well be fulfilled and made good as those were fulfilled at his first coming in the state of humiliation and suffering why should any go about to advance unbelief and weak reason into the room and place of faith and conclude that those things of Christs coming and kingdom are divised fables or things impossible ever to come to passe Holy Peter strong in faith and lively in hope saith 2. Pet. 3. 12. seeing so great things are to be done as burning and dissolving this old heaven and earth with the works therein in order to the coming in of the new in the room thereof we should be looking for and hastning to the day of their performance Vers. 13. we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dweleth righteousnes And again vers 14. seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace c. unto those that look for him the second time he will appear Heb. 9. 28. Great good things will attend the righteous hereafter a great change for the better will come when they shall enjoy a flourishing condition and abundance of peace and felicity The blessed morning will come when they will come to have the preheminence The day hasteneth when they as Lazarus had will have the good things and be comforted when the wicked will sadly suffer the righteous being in the height of their enjoyments of blessedness enjoying the presence of God and being for ever with the Lord Christ and having fellowship with just men throughly made perfect and shall live and reign with Christ a thousand years as it is written and will be fulfilled It is impossible that any thing thereof should fail or come short I shall forbear to enlarge The reason and scope of the whole is to infor from what is written as fulfilled of the prophecyes at Christ our Lord his first coming to shew what we may look for and expect at his second coming in like manner remembring holy Peter hath told us we have a more sure word of Prophecy unto which we do well to taken ed Hope we stedfastly therefore for the great grace and blessedness that shall be brought unto us at the revelation of Iesus Christ O come Lord Iesus come quickly Errata PAge line 7. for on reade gone p. 32. l. 2. for on r. in p. 33. l. 27. for had no r. had not l. 22. r. Lord Jesus p. 43. l. 30. for Psalm r. Esa p. 44. for psal r. phil l. 33. for his r. this p. 52. l. 15. for preceher r. preached p. 55. l. 17. for changed r. raised p. 57. l. 36. for world r. word l. 30. r. is come dole which is to come p. 59. l. 22. for many r. man p. 78. l. 13. r. that will attend p. 83. l. 16. for as our Christ r. as our Lord Christ l. 11. r. the regeneration p. 87. l. 12. for must r. might l. 31. for as so great r. is so great p. 91. l. 12. for thee r. him p. 102. dele for a time p. 105. l. 23. for light r. right p. 107. for be r he p. 109. l. 17. for must r. may l. 24. dele save In p. 13. at the close of the 3. chap. some thing intended to have been left out was casually left in concerning a long time after a 1000. years said to be Mr. Archors judgement also p. 16. towards the end these words and as some apprehend will be a 1000 years more Which not being the judgement of the Authour is here intimated FINIS
plainly appear that many if not most of the exhortations in the new testament to believe to repent to add to faith vertue c. To grow in grace and so all other duties towards God and man are from the consideration of the great glory and happiness that is to be brought to and enjoyed by the saints at the fore mentioned glorious coming and kingdom of Christ here upon earth and not so much from the consideration of the glory of heaven above save only as it is in the last place comprehended therein and to be enjoyed by them to wit after the last judgement here upon the earth is ended and our Lord Christ hath delivered up the kingdom to God the father There are yet other hindrances of which briefly Some say it is a controversie and they do not care to meddle with controversies what doth this signifie at our Lords first coming it was a controversie among the people whether he was the Christ or no some said he was others denied it and said he was a deceiver and those deceived that did own him have any of the rulers or pharises belived on him but this people who know not the law are cursed Joh. 7. 48. 49. John sent to him to know art thou he that should come or do we look for another Indeed so great a thing and of so high concernment as the coming of the Saviour vailed and so much opposed should make men to search and seek into it the more lest haply they be found at a losse when be comes And yet further some say and upon that account look not after it but let it alone namely That the ancient fathers and some add the modern Divines were not for it but rather against our Lord Christ his coming to set up his kingdom and reign here on earth this is taken for granted though very questionable and not likely to be true which if it were what doth it signifie little or nothing at all the high Preist and elders were against Christ and the Gospel do any of the Priests or rulers believe on him They did not then and if they do not now or have not done what doth it avail But notwithstanding all before said of the obstructions the knowledge of it increaseth and is very likely so to do till that be made good that the Gospel of the kingdom and coming again of the Lord Christ to reign be preached to all nations then shall the end come Math. 24. 14. great things will attend that great day and though now it is dark and hidden it will come to be preached on the house top and received and entertained more and more as it begins to be being as the present truth of the day and that which is much on the spirits of many of the good servants of the Lord who look for the return of their Lord and are in great expectation like good old Simeon who waited for the consolation of Israel and was glad and greatly satisfied when he had seen the Saviour as those blessed expectants now will be with the signes of his coming and much more when they shall see him come in the clouds of heaven when they will be changed in a moment and caught up to meet him when he cometh when he cometh Fully to take unto him his great power and to reign at which the nations will then be fully angry Rev. 11. 17. 18. when he cometh to judge the world in righteousness and the people with his truth Psal 96. 13. when he cometh to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in and by all them that believe 2. Thess 1. 10. when he cometh in flaming fire to render vengeance c. as in vers 8. when he cometh to make inquisition for blood Psal 9. 12. to wit the blood of the righteous from Abel to that day shed by cruel and envious ones and wicked oppressers on the earth Rev. 16. 6. Rev. 18. 24. that cry will be a sad tone to the wicked and will make them shake and tremble Psal 96. 13. for he cometh for he cometh to judge the world with righteousness c. as on the other hand it will be gladsom to the Saints they may lift up their heads and hearts with joy for their redeemer their redemption and full blessedness is at the very door If these proposalls and essays come into the hands of the learned their favourable censure is desired and that they would overlook any failer if in want of art and well dressing the matter or over often mentioning of of things called tautologie which could not well be avoided the things relating to Christ his kingdom and coming having so many great things and various attending of them And besides those for whom this principally was intended and made common may not have that acuteness but what they may want that way they have in love and affection in zeal and readiness to receive and embrace the truth at all times In the time of our Lord Christs being here they owned him the poor then received the Gospel when those of higher rank stood at a distance and rather made opposition The Apostles were men of low rank fisher-men and the like yea the women were very forward in the then owning our Lord Christ and great lovers of him and such as our Lord Christ being risen first appeared unto and made them messengers to the Apostles to inform them of that great truth of his being risen again from the dead his way is so to make men humble that they might learn not to dispise the day of small beginnings or things Consult the holy histories and the histories down and since the histories of France Germany the Waldenses and others and it is likely as it hath been so it will be found still not but that sometimes God annoints persons of higher rank and maketh known his mind unto them and makes use of them but it seemeth not to be his ordinary method but the contrary If any advantage by the things proposed come to any either for the furthering of their knowledge or their being encouraged to believe hope and wait for their fulfilling the proposer of them will think himself well appaied read and consider well of what thou readest nothing is imposed on thee try all things hold fast that which is good Farewell P. G. B. CHAP. I. Of the Resurrection in general 1 Cor. 15. THe great doctrine of the resurrection of the dead was a thing that holy Paul the great Apostle of the gentiles had a great insight into as he had also in many other high mysteries which were revealed and made known unto him the which he imparted for the benefit and profit of others That truth looking forward eyeing a future time when it shall be made good but in all times necessary to be made known and believed by all the servants of God whose hope is not in this world This of rising again after death in his proceed on
Heb. 2. 14. Enemies there will be in the time of the reign of our Lord Christ to be put down and to be destroyed by him but the last enemie to be destroyed will be death Rev. 20. 14. it is said death hell or the grave were cast into the lake of fire and then presently followeth the end of Christ his kingdom and reign here on earth and a delivering up all to God the father Vers. 27. For he hath put all things under his feet he to wit God the father hath so put all things under the feet of our Lord Christ He hath highly advanced him over all far above all principalities and powers and mights and dominions and every name that is named to wit of power and dignities all God the father put under the feet of Christ as before is more largly held forth But here the Apostle comes in with a caution or reserve for God the father in putting all things under him namely the son he did not subject or put under himself there 's an exception in that there 's a but there so saith the Apostle in the words that follow but when he saith all things are put under him it is manifest he is excepted he is not meant or intended he is not comprehended in this all things but the contrary God that put all things under it is manifest he is excepted so the Apostle that did put all things under him the sum of all seemeth to be this that God the father in the high advance of the Lord Christ did not subject or make lower himself for saith the Apostle it is manifest he is excepted Vers. 28. He goeth on further saying and when all things shall be subdued unto him by the way the words subduing subjecting putting under putting under feet are all of like import and tendenoy when the Lord Christ in the time of his reign hath subdued and actually put down all authority and power when all enemies are put under his feet and the last enemy death destroyed for till then he must reign then shall the son himself be subject unto him namely the father that put all things under him that God may be all in all When the Lord Christ that great and mighty monarch king of kings and Lord of Lords shall have finished his reign and done what he had to do here on earth then shall he deliver up the kingdom to the father of whom he did receive it God the father that so highly advanced him and put all things under him shall have all surrendred and delivered up to him and be all in all An end a final end of that happy kingdom of our Lord Christ here on earth and of our living and reigning with him therein a 1000 years and all the time of the last Session of judgment following the same which is the last and most glorious administration of his kingdom and as worthy Mr. Archer apprehends will last neer a thousand years more which I leave to the day to declare all which is comprehended in Christ's and the Saints reigning together therein though not so particularly expressed and also a mentioning of one to succeed to wit the kingdom of the father Of which something after These being very high and great misteries CHAP. IV. Containing something of the beginning and end of Christ our Lord his kingdom and of such things as will be at the beginning and end of the same TO dilate a little concerning the beginning and end of the kingdom of our Lord Christ so often mentioned to be a thousand years the beginning and end have a medium or middle time to make up the whole so as to suppose if a hundred or if fifty years be reckoned to the beginning in a general way and a like number to the end then the middle or body of the time will be eight or nine hundred years the Apostle speaketh of the beginning at our Lord Christ his coming when will be also the resurrection of the just mentioned Luk. 14. 14. he mentions the end when the Lord hath reigned his time and done or finished his reign what he had to do therein and had received that honour he was to have done him on earth he saith then cometh the end but he speaks little expresly touching the middle time and what shall be done therein only inclusively he saith he must reign till the end untill he hath put down all rule authority and power till his enemies be made his footstool and death the last enemy destroyed But as to the Beginning and likewise as to the end he speaketh of very high and great things that will fall in with and be done in both the one and the other of which we shall dilate a little and first of the things that concur with the beginning First then will be the coming of the Lord Christ in the glory of his father and of all the holy Angells Math. 25. 31. then when he appeareth we shall appear with him in glory Col. 3. 4. When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory then will he fit on the throne of his glory and before him will both the good and the bad the saved and the unsaved nations that are then living be gathered the righteous will have the preheminence then they will be set on the right hand vers 33. then will be the resurrection of the just Luk. 14. 14. to live again and to reign with the Lord Christ a thousand years upon the earth Rev. 20. 4. Rev. 5. 10. no mention is made of the wicked dead rising at that time then will be the redemption of the body and an entertaining again of the soul or spirit Rom. 8. 23. A great thing a high misterie then will actually be made good that great misterie the holy Apostle hath told us of vers 5. We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye and be caught up with the raised saints to meet the Lord Christ together 1 Thes. 14. 17. Then will be the time of our being unclothed and clothed upon when corruption shall put on incorruption and mortallitie put on immortalitie 2. Cor. 5. 4. 1 Cor. 15. 53. Then shall be the refreshing from the presence of the Lord and the restitution or restoration of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began Acts. 3. 19. 20 21. Then shall the new heavens and the new earth wherein righteousness will dwell take place according to the promise of God the father 2. Pet. 3. 13. Then will the new Jerusalem come down from heaven and the bride the lambs wife be richly adorned and exceeding glorious Then will be also the mariage supper of the lamb Rev. 21. 2. 10. Then shall all things be made new as at the beginning For these sayings are faithful and true Rev. 22. 6. then God shall wipe
tells us so Heb. 2. 5. as the other were but it will be under the power of the Lord Christ and the saints Then their noble rulers will be of themselves and from among themselves Jer. 30. 21. This and much more that might be mentioned seemeth very plainly to speak forth that that the new heaven and the new earth wherein shall dwell righteousnes and the world to come are much the same and there is very little if any difference at all both beginning and taking place together at the coming of the Lord Christ and both concurring in time with the resurrection of the just and the changing in a moment the then living servants of God and other great things that will be the attendants of that happy day Then will these so raised and changed be caught up together to meet the Lord and they will be for ever with him in the world to come and never severed from him any more When the wicked shall be put from him and bid depart When the righteous shall enjoy great blessednes and felicity then according to that which is a righteous thing with God the wicked shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power even when he shall be glorified in his saints and admired in all them that believe 2. Thes. 1. 6. 9. 10. In the world to come wherein the righteous will be so happy and blessed and the wicked so unhappy and accursed we may a little take notice what the world sayeth and we may begin with that of our Lord Math. 12. 31. 32. where he tells us that blasphemy against the holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven neither in this world nor in that which is come such wicked sinners as despite the spirit of grace here in this world they shall not be forgiven there is no more sacrifice for them Such wicked sinners as shall blaspheme the spirit and being under wrath and punishment blaspeme the God of heaven whose judgments are all just they shall not be forgiven then in the world to come The evangelist Mark chap. 10. 30. He declareth the great reward the loosers for Christ sake here shall receive then in the world to come as they shall also in this present world in the world to come they shall have everlasting life they shall have it with all the good things and great happines that attend that life The evangelist Luke he tells us the same Luk. 18. 30. The Lord Christ will be high then his name highly advanced in the world to come where he will set up his kingdom and reign fully even here below on earth in the new earth among the righteous who shall also reign with him then and there as it is written Rev. 5. 10. And hath made us unto our God kings and Priests and we shall reign on the earth And this when the wicked and unsaved of the nations shall be sent away and bid depart to their doleful places of aboad Mat. 25. 41. 46. That will be made good in the world to come which is mentioned by our Lord in the parable concerning Dives and Lazarus Luk. 16. 19. 20. 22. 25. The wicked for the most part with Dives have their good things in this world and the righteous with poor Lazarus they have affliction and sorrow evill things but then in the world to come it will be otherwise the righteous will have the good things the blessednes and the felicity and the wicked will have then in the world to come the evill things as it is sayd son remember that thou in thy life time received thy good things and likewise Lazarus evill things now he is comforted and thou art tormented The world to come where the righteous shall receive and enjoy everlasting life it will not be in heaven above but it will be here below on earth as the other world The old world was so and so is this present world and so will be the world to come in the earth in the new earth where our Lord Christ will be with his saints when he cometh the second time from heaven where he now is and will be till the times of restitution or restoration of all things Acts. 3. 20. 21. and the new heavens and earth take place and all things made new when and where our Lord Christ will be with his saints reigning with them a thousand years Rev. 20. 4. 6. The new Jerusalem will come down from heaven then and the tabernacle of God as of old will be with men where men will dwell then and God himself will be with them and be their God Rev. 21. 2. 3. and shall afterward be with him in the second and last great session of judgment concluding their judging of wicked men and be judging of Angels Rev. 20. 1. 12. 13. 2. Pet. 2. 9. Jud. ver 6. 1 Cor. 6. 2. 3. as is mentioned before All this and very much more that might be set forth will be in the world to come To understand as some do that by the world to come is meant heaven above sayd in holy scripture to be the residence of the great Jehovah seemeth to be a miss-understanding and a wrong applying of it and the scriptures in all things relating to the world to come To cry heaven heaven as some seem to do in all cases and concerns relating to the world to come as when men dye and are no more here in this world it seemeth very much to dazel and darken the right understanding of the scriptures in order to those blessed promises and prophecys that relate to the future happy condition of the servants of God in the world to come and to be the means of raising an Idea or unknown thing in the mindes of men as if in the world to come men should be Angels or little deities and not men and women as was Adam and Eve and as many should have been if he had continued in his first estate and as men they will be and so converse together in the habitable world to come To make all future things in order to the happyness and blessedness of men in the world to come or new earth then to be either in heaven or hell and so to be meant especially taken properly and restrictively so seemeth to be far from the drift and intent of the scriptures rendring many things in them declared insignificant which do well agree with the habitable world to come but not with heaven properly so understood The world to come of which we have been speaking it will be new peopled with the raised and changed saints wherein Israel the seed of Abraham a nation born in one day will have the preheminence being Gods nation and the gentile saved nations shall walk in their light to wit the light of the new Jerusalem Rev. 21. 24. And then will that be fully fulfilled in Rom. 11. 26. And so all Israel shall be saved as it is
not the things he had been speaking of but a case wherein there should be not dying or rising again but a changing in a marvellous manner in a moment in the twinkling of an eye Let the reader judge CHAP. VII Containing the holding forth that the righteous living and remaining at the coming of the Lord Christ changed in a moment In special the Israelites the seed of Abraham will be the inhabitants of the new earth and habitable world to come with some scriptures discussed that seem plainly to speak it forth THat there will be a new earth and an habitable world to come something hath been sayd before and that the righteous alive at the coming of the Lord then changed in a moment shall be the inhabitants of it not excluding the raised then living in the body again We shall now dilate a little by way of enquirie what the holy scriptures speak and hold forth concerning the same First the Apostle Peter 2. Peter 3. 13. speaking of the hebrews commonly called Jewes who are said to be the first in order Rom. 1. 16. chap. 2. 10. To every man found working good glory honor and peace to the Jew first and also or after to the gentile It was so in regard of the offer of grace and salvation it is very like it will be so then Peter he sayth we according to his promise look for a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness or righteous men and women according as the prophet Isaiah saith Isa 60. 21. 22. Thy people also shall be all righteous they shall inherit the land for ever to wit the land of promise the land of Canaan a little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation a nation born in one day I the Lord will hasten it in his time when the redeemer shall come again to Sion and all Israel shall be saved which shall more fully be fulfilled at the time of their being so changed in a moment as declared by him And on the other side holy John tells us Rev. 21. 27. There shall in no wise enter into it to wit the holy city any thing that defileth or is unclean neither whatsoever worketh abomanation or maketh a lie but they which are written in the lambs book of life those shall dwell in Gods mountain then or his hill Psal 15. 1. namely those raised and changed ones not excluding the children of the resurrection The Lord Christ shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven Mark 13. 27. Very like to be made good in these changed ones not excluding the raised And that this will be made good then see that in the fore going verse And then shall they see the son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory comporting with this And that in a special wise it relates to them take we knowledge of that in Zech. 10. 6. 8. 9. 10. which as to its more full and through fulfilling seems in my apprehension to eye that time This seeing of the son of man at his coming may minde us of that of our Lord Christ Math. 23. 39. Ye shall not see me henceforth till we shall say blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord when every eye shall see him and they also which peirced him Rev. 1. 7. Further we may take notice what Ezekiel holds forth Ezek. 36. Ezek. 37. In the 36th chapter He declares the great displeasure of God against his people the children of Israel and speaks of great calamitie that had been upon them the heathen people being the instruments in Gods hand who dealt cruelly with them and that when God hath pitty upon them and returns to them to take them again to be his people then he would cause his fury against those enemies to break forth and they should bear their shame and punishment this from the 1. to the end of the 7th vers Then followeth very high and great promises vers 8. 9. For behold I am for you and will turn unto you c. vers 10. And I will multiply men upon you all the house of Israel c. vers 11. And I will multiply upon you man and beast and settle you after your old estates and will do better unto you then at your beginnings c. And so goeth on to the 16th verse in a promissary way Where the prophet begins again a further relation of their sin and the wrath that attends and the reason of the stop and staying of their misery namely the pitty and compassion he had to them and the regard he had to the honor of his great name Vers. 24. God speaks of gathering Israel from all countries and bringing them to their own land the iniquity of it being removed in one day And vers 25. and 29. he speaks of full cleansing promised vers 26. a new heart promised and a new spirit to be given the stony heart to be taken away and a heart of flesh given corruption wholly put off and incorruption put on a great change indeed much the same we are treating of vers 27. I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes Verse 28. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers which land shall have the iniquity of it removed in one day And ye shall be my people and I will be your God The fulness of the blessing of the new covenant See what followeth to the end of the chapter and weigh the whole Chapter 37. First we have that of the dry bones set together with flesh and synews and covered with skin and life breathed into them with the interpretation of it vers 11 12 13 14. These bones are the whole house of Israel The opening of graves as to the full or utmost fulfilling of it seemeth to eye the resurrection We have likewise the two sticks made one to wit Israel and Judah made one as vers 17. explained in vers 21. behold I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen whither they be gone and will gather them on every side and bring them into their own land vers 22. And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel and one king shall be king to them all and they shall no more be two nations neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all Then in vers 23. There is the promise of preservation from pollution the promise of full cleansing of full salvation and being kept in that happy condition they were changed into and God to be their God and they his people And as in vers 24. David Gods servant to be king over them and they to have one shepheard Then followeth that very observable and remarkable vers 25. And they shall dwell in the land that I
have given unto Jacob my servant wherein your fathers have dwelt to wit the land of Canaan and they sball dwell therein even they and their children and their childrens children for ever and my servant David shall be their prince for ever We may take knowledge of the great thing in vers 26. and to the end of the chapter as first a covenant of peace God will make with them then for a thousand years only no it shall be everlasting comporting with Psa 72. 7. In his days shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth God will set his sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore And as verse 17. He will have his Tabernacle amongst them as sometime he had of old wherein the glory of God was and a cloud covering of it and as it shall be when the new heavens and the new earth take place which holy John in Rev. 21. 3. holds forth with a behold as a great thing behold the Tabernacle of God is with men relating to the same time a great thing for God to dwell with men on earth as once he did and will do again then and further God be their God and they his people in a very eminent manner which crowns the whole And then as in vers 28. The heathens the unsaved of the nations shall know Gods favour and goodness to Israel and that it is he that doth sanctifie them when his sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore In chap. 36. 11. God sayth he will do better for them then at their beginning when they enjoyed so great things by vertue of his presence with them so as this prophecy clearly relates to the Israelites and by any thing yet appearing it hath never been made good and performed since Ezekiells time There was never such gathering and bringing out of their graves never such uniting as one nation nor have they had since his time one king over them so united David to wit Christ Gods servant hath never been king or prince over them never did they enjoy such an happy and blessed estate never did they and their children and their childrens children dwell in the promised land for ever neither was Gods sanctuary and Tabernacle planted in the midst of them since Ezekiels time to this day All must be fulfilled and made good so declared by Ezekiel without the least fayler And although much of this may be fulfilled before and more especially when the Jewes are returned to their own land and converted yet there is no time so likely for it to have its full and utmost fulfilling as at the coming of the redeemer When all Israel shall be saved at that happy time of the restoration of all things which God hath spoken c. In the time of the new earth the dwelling of the righteous and saved people in the world to come wherein there will be incorruption and immortalitie and everlasting life And if any shall think it may have its fulfilling sooner even in this day and in this world and especially before the time comes of the Jewes return and conversion and shall think to make it out by allegorising and a spiritual meaning and saying that all or most of this is come and done already within them so drawing a vale over this great prophecy it will signifie little for that no happy attainer sooner will any wayes hinder the full and final fulfilling then all other fulfillings falling short of that time in comparison will be imperfect and one jot or title must not fail thereof That in Rev. 7. seemeth very much the same and to comport with what we have been treating of before concerning the changed in a moment and these so sealed as likely to be one and the same and concurring also in the time in order to the things attending the coming of the Lord Christ and in holding forth the first-ship or preheminence of the Israelites the seed of Abraham It is declared that an Angel having the seal of the living God the Apostle Paul tells us what that seal is 2. Tim. 2. 19. this Angel vers 2. he cryeth to the Four Angels appointed to hurt the earth to forbear the doing of it till he had sealed the servants of God in their forheads so as being sealed or marked in their foreheads they thus might be known at least to the Angels that were to hurt the earth The words are hurt not the earth neither the sea nor the trees the words are short but very comprehensive till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads This hurting the earth in my apprehension is likely to relate to that great burning spoken of at the end of the world and the judgements that should attend it before and after it being like the proceed Ezek. 9. 4. of marking the mourners before the going forth of the Angel to destroy And being compared with that in Rev. 22. 4. It will inform us where and when this sealing and marking will be In the earth at the great burning of the then world at the coming of the Lord Christ and the restoration and new earth as before Holy John Vers. 4. Having heard the number declares it to be One hundred and fourty and four thousand in the whole sum of them so sealed or marked to be as before And that number was made up of all the tribes of Israel twelve thousand of every tribe wherein there is much of union one nation then and there is much of equalitle it seemeth to eye that of Ezekiel about the dividing the inheritance by Lot in the holy land to all the tribes as set forth in Ezek. 48. very considerable but dark as yet and also it speaks forth that preheminence will be to Israel Gods nation they as Noah and his family were of the old world and were reserved to be the first inhabitants of this present world so those then sealed and not dying but living are those that shall be the inhabitants of and have preheminence above the gentile believers then living and changed and also partakers thereof in the world to come and so be alive in both as Noah and his family were Not hereby excluding the raised saints from their great interest and share therein then it being sayd vers 9. After this I beheld and to a great multitude which no man could number hapily the gentle believers then changed and all that have slept in Christ since the creation and fall of all nations and kinreds and people and tongues stood before the throne and before the lamb clothed with white Robes they had changed and put off the old robes of corruption and put on new of incorruption and purity and had Palms in their hands Much felicity and abundance of peace Psal 72. 7. and as followeth vers 10. They cryed with a loud voice saying salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb Of the sealed ones
so SOmething hath been said before concerning the great things that attend the coming of the Lord Christ and come to passe then as the restoration of all things Act. 3. 21. A new heaven and a new earth the raising the dead saints out of their graves the changing the living in a moment the beginning of the world to come with other things very many that have been mentioned before and may be further said after that are held forth in the prophecies and sayings in the holy scriptures relating to the latter day not yet fulfilled nor like to be in the full made good till that happy day in that blessed world to come of which we shall dilate a little In the former chapter we treated of what Ezekiel hath foretold Ezek. 36. Ezek. 37. Of the dry bones and the two stiks with the interpretation of the same The matter relating to Israels restoration and re-union and their full enjoyments of the promises made to Abraham Isaack and Jacob which had not been made good in Ezekiel his time but were after to be fully made good according as he declared which to this day hath not been made good and not very likely so fully to be so in any time yet to come in this world but much more probable to be made good then to the full when that nation shall be so born in one day and be no more two but one nation for ever they and their Childrens children for ever at that blessed day when the world to come shall take place when that of the redeemers coming to Sion and to such as turn or are turned from iniquity in Jacob hath its full fulfilling which is not very like to be till the Lord himself comes for he himself hath said ye shall not see me henceforth till the time come when ye shall say blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Luk. 23. 35. The lambs standing on Mount Sion with the sealed ones having their fathers name written on their foreheads and the singing the new song which none could learn but they that pure virgin state and being without fault before the throne of God it will not I conceive be so fully in this world but in that blessed world to come All those forementioned things will very fully contemporise with that blessed time and state without any allegorie interpretation or framing a spirituall notion to make the matter good for it will be even so in the letter visibly and be made good without the least failer Further that of the Prophet Isaiah is very considerable as to this matter Chap. 65. 17. where the new heaven and the new earth is held forth with a behold a great thing behold I create new heavens and a new earth vers 18. I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her people a joy And therefore in the beginning of the vers it is said be glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create for behold I create a very great thing so he goeth on to the end of chapter In Isa 66. 8. Who hath heard sach a thing shall a nation be born at once in a moment in the twinkling of an eye as those alive at the coming of the Lord shall be changed then As soon as Sion travelled she brought forth see the whole to the 22. vers And that in special in the 14. 15. 16. See if they do not eye the very time of the destroying of this world by fire and the taking place of the blessed world to come when the new heaven and the new earth will take place of which before And the certainty and stableness is confirmed by that vers 22. For as the new heavens and the new earth which I shall make shall remain before me saith the Lord so shall your seed and your name remain This comporteth with that Isa 59. 21. very considerable As for me this is my covenant with them saith the Lord my spirit that is upon thee being changed so and my words which I have put in thy mouth to wit of thanksgiving and praise shall not depart out of them mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed from henceforth and for ever And this I conceive relateth to the coming of the redeemer to Sion when all Israel shall be saved Rom. 11. 26. then as Isa 60. 1. arise and shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Jerusalems happy day will then be come We might mention much more of holy Isaiah for that he had great light in this matter and hath held forth much as in chap. 60. and so to the end of his prophecy which the reader may please to consider As likewise in divers other places which I forbear to mention lest we should be too large All that hath been said as to its full fulfilling seemeth to relate to the time of the world to come and the Israelites the seed of Abraham principally not excluding the gentile Saints from sharing in the blessedness of that day and walking in Jerusalems light when it shall be very great indeed The light of one day being from the sun then as the light of seven dayes Isa 30. 26. that that changing in a moment will effect it to the highest degree of being translated out of darkness into this marvelous light 1. Pet. 2. 9. In the next place we may take notice what the Prophet Ieremiah holds forth Ier. 30. 31. and 32. of which we shall dilate a little Ier. 30. 10. Iacob is bidden not to fear nor Israel to be dismayed for God will save them from afar and their seed from the land of their captivitie and Iacob shall return and be in rest and quiet and none shall make him afraid he goeth on with further promises and threatnings against the wicked then at the same time to wit in the latter days when God will perform the intents of his heart reade on to the 22th verse where he sums up all and they shall be my people and I will be their God very happy will their condition be for blessed is the people whose God is the Lord. Ier. 31. 1. he saith at the same time will I be the God of all the families of Israel and they shall be my people In an eminent wise they shall be so to God and he so to them a very great thing the one hundred forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel those sealed ones with their fathers name written on their foreheads will be so Gods people and God their God so The twelve thousand of every tribe and all Israel when they shall be saved by the coming of the deliverer to Sion and the two sticks according to Ezekiels vision and the interpretation of it one nation and no more two for ever but one born in a day changed in a moment then will God be their God and they his people so at that day So he
life everlasting to be for ever with the Lord in whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. Vers. 4. of Rev. 21. and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain And as Chap. 22. there shall be no more curse c. for the former things are passed away It is not hard to conceive and determine to what time this relateth This world will not afford such full freedom and utter exemption from those bitter things forementioned as it will not afford those high attayners and enjoyments mentioned by holy John it will be in the world to come then will all things be made new as at the beginning sutable to the new heavens and the new earth and the happy restoration of all things of which we shall treat in the following discourse take we knowledge of what he that sat on the throne said further to John Write saith he for these words are true and faithfull and will be made good in their time Alass for those that believe not all is submitted to the wise in heart CHAP. X. Containing the proposal to consideration the great restoration of all things spoken of by the Prophets and the happy change that shall then attend man and the earth and the creatures therein when Jesus Christ shall be sent the second time and the world to come take place With sundry great and high Prophecies set forth that seem to hold forth the same THe blessed restoration of all things Which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began Acts. 3. 20. 21. The first creation and making of all things Gen. 1. may be minded as the Image and figure according to which the restitution or restoration will be a returning again into the same mode and figure state and condition they were in at their first making and framing by God himself liked and testified to be very good which Adam by sin and transgression greatly marred and disfigured sin and the curse following and all manner of woe and misery following as the effect followeth its cause What holy Moses hath writ concerning the creation of man and of the earth and of the creatures therein together with the gathering together of the waters What is said and testified by the Lord almighty the maker of them all concerning the goodness of them and his liking of them the testimony given is very high vers 31. and God saw all that he had made and behold it was very good The weighing and consideratien whereof will be a good coppy to write by a good pattern or sample for us to set before us in order to our better taking knowledge of it Gen. 1. We have a description of the making the world day by day and the making of man as the most principal piece of the earthly creation vers 26. and God said let us make man in our own Image vers 27. so God created man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him male and female created he them And vers 26. God blessed them so made in that marvelous condition and said be fruitfull and multiplie and replenish the earth and subdue it having the grant of power given before vers 26. a very large grant a great charter of power given of God to man in his innocent state before his fall and transgression and the losse he and his posteritie and the whole earthly creation received thereby upon the whole it is said vers 31. and God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good The restoration it will be proportionable and also very good Adam so made was a very choice piece in the Image of God and in the likenes of God of great rectitude marvellous complete and happy by his transgression and disobedience he suffered great losse and damage as did his posterity and the whole earthly creatures and great enmitie attended them and much thraldom and miserie But at the happy time of our Lord Christ being sent from heaven again then there will be a blessed restitution and restoration of all things Then shall many be rechanged in a moment for the better as he was before for the worse then shall that mistery holy Paul hath shewed take place Then this vile body sinfull and corrupt shall be rechanged and made like his glorious body according to that full and clear testimony of holy Paul Phil. 3. 20. 21. from heaven we look for the saviour the Lord Jesus who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body pure serene and glorious without spot or wrinkle or any such thing as he will make his Church then also and this by changing in a moment by putting off and putting on putting off corruption and sin and putting on purity incorruption and holiness as it is written 1. Cor. 15. 53. 54. holy Paul tells us further 1. Thes 4. 16. of the Lord Christ himself in his own person he shall descend from heaven he did ascend as an Angel Acts. 1. 11. told the beholders and lookers after him when he so ascended and said this Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Even the same Jesus Christ as testifieth the Apostle Ephes. 4. 9. he shall again descend when God shall send him again at the time of the restitution of all things and then shall those believers found alive be changed in a moment into their former happy state with some happy additions of blessednes The old man so called which the servants of God are bidden to put off Eph. 4. 22. Which in this day of regeneration believers have been subduing and crucifying by the exercise of mortification and sanctification of the spirit and yet carry it to the grave with them they shall then be wholy rid of it in a moment in the twinking of an eye and shall then put on the new man indeed and be clothed very glorious by being so changed all new then relating to the servants of God as he from the throne said Rev. 21. 5. Behold I make all things new a new heaven a new earth a new Jerusalem come down from heaven a new covenant new bodyes new hearts and spirits new creatures all things new Adams upright and perfect condition as a man and the goodness of the earth and the creatures therein liked by God himself when he viewed them after he had made them is it is likely the standard and pattern according to which the restoration will be as it was at first before mans fall and the entring the curse so it is very like to be in the restoration In regard of man as man the change in a moment will effect it In that happy time when man will not only be as
whole heaven shall be given to the Saints of the most high Our Lord Christ will be then the greatest monarch that ever was on earth 1. Tim. 6. 25. he will be the only potentate the king of kings and Lord of Lords he will be far advanced in power and dignitie beyond and above all principalities and powers and might and dominion and every name of power and dignitie by which the potentates of this world are named that is named in this world and that which is to come far above them all will the Lord Christ be then it will be happy for the Saints then for he is their head and they shall share with him therein they shall reign on earth when he reigneth he will deligate power to them they shall be invested with great authority and shall reign with him on earth He will give power to the faithfull improvers of their trust Luk. 19. 17. 19. to one to be ruler over ten Cityes and to another to be ruler over five Cityes And in like manner it is likely to others to be over nations and countryes according to that Psal 45. 16. thou shalt have children whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth Like to be fully fulfilled and made good then and as it followeth vers 17. I will make thy name to be remembred in all generations therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever the promise to the overcomers in the Church of Thyatira speaks forth much and comports with the psalmist before Rev. 2. 26. 27. he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of Iron c. even as I received of my father to wit power to do it Those alive and believing at the coming of the Lord Christ then changed in a moment will be such overcomers and keepers of his works to the end in an eminent wise and haply may have that power given to them then together with all other overcomers that had been dead before to that time then raised Holy Paul saith 2. Tim. 2. 12. if we suffer we shall also reign with him and saith it is a faithfull saying as it is a blessed word and comfortable Rom. 8. 17. if so be we suffer with him we may be also glorified together The world to come it will not be under the subjection and rule of Angels Heb. 2. 5. he hath not put in subjection unto the Angels the world to come of which we speak haply this present world is so under them but that to come shall not but it will be under the Lord Christ and the Saints they will be made unto God kings and priests and shall reign on the earth at that happy day in the new earth when our Lord is come they shall have full power and reign Jude speaketh of the Lord Christ his coming with ten thousand of his Saints to execute judgement on ungodly sinners whose day will be over then like unto rich Dives Lazarus day will take place then the righteous will have the day then and the preheminence Rev. 20. 4. the martyrs for Christs sake it is said of them by way of eminence as to rule and gevernment above the rest of the dead Saints then also raised and reigning They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years And again vers 6. it is said of all the raised Saints compared with other Scriptures including the changed at that time they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years And we may believe it for these sayings are no fables or insignificant expressions Whither they be believed or no they will be found to be the true sayings of almighty God and shall with the rest of the Prophecyes and sayings concerning good things to come for the righteous be made good and fulfilled to the full whatever fulfilling in a degree they may have had before This also held forth is submitted to the consideration of the wise in heart A Post-script or an Appendix to the whole THere are many great Prophecyes and sayings in the holy Scriptures of the old and new testament that hold forth very great good things and a very blessed and happy time the righteous shall have and enjoy and be made partakers of hereafter when the Lord Christ shall come and his reward with him when the refreshing from the presence of the Lord and the restoration of all things shall take place which are recorded to encourage the servants of God to believe and hope and wait patiently for the appointed time There are very high attestations recorded in the holy Scriptures of the sureness and certainty of them which we shall a little enquire into and set down for encouragement to believe hope on and wait patiently for the great grace and blessed good things that shall be brought unto us and we shall enjoy at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1. Pet. 1. 13. I should tire the reader and as it were hold a candle to the sun to go about to set down what might be gathered out of the holy Scriptures this way two or three places we shall venture to propose and set down and leave the rest In Isa 51. likewise Isa 54. we may see how God himself asserts his faithfullness in his word and promises of good to his people as sure as the waters of Noah the floud that drowned the old world but shall no more do it so sure will he perform his promises of good things to his people As sure as he divided the sea and made it a way for the redeemed to passe over see the places In Jer. 31. 35. 36. 37. See how the Lord setteth forth himself by his greatness in the great works he hath done of old and upholding of them by his mighty power the ordinances of heaven and the foundations of the earth that cannot be measured or searched out so will he be in his word and promises to the seed of Israel his people see the place And consider what the prophet Micha sayth Mich. 7. 20. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob and the mercy to Abraham which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the dayes of old The words of prophecy contained in the holy scriptures they are very sure very stable setled in heaven confirmed by the promise and oath of almighty God it is impossible for him to lye or fail our Lord Christ hath given a high testimony Math. 24. 35. Heaven and earth shall passe away but my words shall not passe away Hath he spoken and shall he not do it hath he promised and shall he not perform it he hath highly engaged himself therein he is faithful he is able he will make it good and perform it There is nothing hard for him he is mighty in power and wonderful in working What he hath declared by his servants the prophets there shall nothing fail thereof but
his right hand This is done by the Lord Christ he reigning on earth and being come the second time unto the earth and having taken to himself his great power and reign Rev. 11. 17. And he must reign till his enemies be made his footstool That 's but enemies in a general way of expression and may refer to and be meant only of some enemies but this here is of all enemies even the last even death it self That of the 110. Psalm seemeth to be an investing of the Lord Christ with power and a deligating to him soveraigntie or rule over all things in heaven and earth as it is said 1 Pet. 3. 22. Angels authorities and powers being made subject unto him But this of the Apostle here is of acting and exercising that power and putting it in execution putting down and under him all rule authoritie and power and his enemies under his feet actually Lastly That in the 110 Psalm so often mentioned in the holy scriptures is of a prophetical promisary nature and was made good unto our Lord Christ by God the father when he had performed his so low humiliation then and therefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a name above every name Phil. 2. 9 10 11. That at the name to wit the soveraigntie and power of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord to the glory of God the father that so highly exalted Jesus our Lord. He is exalted far above all principallitie and power and might and dominion and every name that is named to wit of dignity honor and power he hath a name above all whether in this world or that which is to come and hath put all things under his feet c. Ephes. 1. 21. 22. God the father hath advanced our Lord Jesus above them all and put all things under his feet Our Lord Christ he is above above them all higher and greater and over them all And they all below and under his feet the Apostle Peter sayth he is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God Angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him 1 Pet. 3. 22. So as upon the whole to say no more there is no need of our Lord his stay in heaven upon that account his enemies not being made his footstool and subjected under him that being done already he need not stay but to the appointed time As in the appointed time or the fullness of time Gal. 4. 4. he came before in the state of humiliation so he will in the appointed time come the second time in power and great glory then he will take unto him his great power and rule in the middest of his enemies when he taketh to him his great power and reign then all nations shall serve and obey him and all kings shall fall down before him Psalm 72. 11. And his kingdom and reign shall be outward and visible on earth as his converse and humiliation was in the days of his being here on earth when he shall come the second time in power and great glory The holy Apostle seemeth fully to speak unto that before declared Heb. 2. 8. Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet for in that he put all things under him he left nothing that is not put in subjection under him c. And this according to his soveraignty and greatness of power so he is highly advanced over all But according to his dominion kingdom and reign he hath not entred upon it yet he hath not yet taken unto him his great power he hath not yet subjected and put down all rule authority and power as the Apostle tells us and we may say as he said we see not yet all things put under him When he comes he must reign till he hath put them under his feet even death that great and last enemie to be destroyed as then when the Apostle did write he did not then see all things subdued under him so now we may say the great and opposite powers and rulers they remain in dignity and power The Ethnick and Infidell Monarchs and Potentates the Mahumetans the antichristians do yet keep up their authoritie with other enemies not a few And sin and the last enemy death all these remaining doth speak out this fully we see not yet all things put under him the Lord Christ Though we see the Lord Christ that was made low by the suffering of death highly advanced and crowned with honour and glory in which the promise Psalm 110. which is prophetical is fully made good by the father and as before was said is no lett of his coming the second time till his enemies be made his footstool first So as that untill Psalm 110. and the rest differ from this untill the one relating to the time of his taking upon him his great power and reign as a mighty monarch here on earth unto whom all shall stoop serve and obey and till then he must reign even till death it self the last enemy be conquered subdued and destroyed by him that mighty conquerer that shall cause death to be swallowed up in victory vers 54. that triumphing may be made O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory vers 55. and thanks given to God for the same vers 57. thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ that great and mighty conqueror Further there will be enemies in the time of Christ our Lord his reign on earth which he must subdue and put down all rule authority and power wherein there is enmity gog and magog with all their confederates and company whose numbers will be as the sand of the sea Rev. 20. 8. and these enemies must by him be all destroyed before the end of Christ our Lord his kingdom and reign for that death also that last enemy must likewise be destroyed as it is written Rev. 20. 14. and death and hell or the grave were cast into the lake of fire gog and magog and all other enemies must be first destroyed for that the last enemy that is to be destroyed is death Vers. 26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death of death being the last enemy somthing hath by occasion been often said it shall therefore be waved here but death as an enemy we shall minde a little Death it is an old and common enemie an enemie to all the sons of Adam an enemy to the Lord Christ himself an enemy to those that are Christs to the promised seed few have escaped him death as an enemy it seized on the Lord Christ and had power over him but could not keep it for it was not possible that he should be holden of it Acts. 2. 24. He tryumphed over it on the Cross and by death overcame him that had the power of death
thing purely Gospel the order mentioned is a great thing also not so mentioned by any other he hath declared unto us the concurrents of the resurrection of the just with Christ our Lord his first appearing and likewise he hath very plainly told us of the end of Christs kingdom and reign He hath given us some short hints but very plain of another time and state that will succeed that of Christs kingdom and reign on earth namely that of the kingdom of the father when God the father shall be all in all He hath shewed a great mistery not mentioned but by him vers 51. Behold I shew you a mistery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye c. to wit all those Saints that shall be alive at the coming of the Lord Christ he hath declared the mode or manner of it a great secret this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality vers 53. a blessed change a putting off old clothing and a putting on of new very rich and of great worth By him was declared the groaning of the creature by reason of the burdens they are under with also their expectation of freedom from them Rom. 8. 19. 21. 22. and how they shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God Unto him the great Apostle of the Gentiles it was revealed that great mistery that was not known in former ages but was hid in God from the beginning of the world Ephes 3. 5. 9. The matter of which mistery was the taking on of the Gentiles great strangers and aliens into onenesse and fellowship with the Jews making them fellow-citizens and of the houshold of God Ephes 2. 19. that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel And likewise the rejection of the Jewes the breaking of them off and grafting the Gentiles on the same stock Rom. 11. a very high matter a great mistery holding forth very rich grace and mercy at which the Apostle very greatly admired and cryed out vers 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisedom and knowledge of God c The Apostle Peter was a man of great knowledge he had visions and revelations He had by a vision made known to him the breaking down of the partition-wall between the Jew and the Gentle Acts. 10. which when he understood he said in vers 34. of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons c. But Paul had the full of the mistery revealed unto him as before is declared Peter had great insight into that great thing of the pouring out of the spirit Acts. 2. and of the holy spirit come down from heaven which things to wit the great things of the Gospel the Angels desire to look into 1. Pet. 1. 12. He had made known unto him the great burning of the world that now is and likewise the new heavens and the new earth that shall be according to the Lords promise wherein dwelleth righteousness 2. Pet. 3. 7. 12. 13. Unto him was made known the times of refreshing that shall be when God shall send again Jesus as likewise the times of the restitution or restoration of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began Acts. 3. 19. 20. 21. Blessed Stephen the first martyr for Jesus he had wonderfull sight or vision Acts. 7. 55. 56. he saw heaven opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God the which he declared and was stoned for so doing vers 58. That good servant of Jesus holy John he had visions and revelations great secrets and misteries declared unto him for him to make known unto the Churches Rev. 1. 1. his book beareth record hereof and is stiled the revelation of Jesus Christ which he sent and signified by his Angel to his servant John Wherein he hath declared many things that were to come and some things concerning the resurrection of the just and the unjust Rev. 20. 4. 5. 6. 12. 13. And the kingdom of Christ and the new Jerusalem state and the Saints reigning with him therein Rev 20. 4. 6. Rev. 21. 1. 2. 3. Rev. 22. 3. 4. 5. And the first and last session of judgement c. Rev. 20. 4. 6. 11. 12. 13. Which are true and faithfull sayings Rev. 21. 5 But the Apostle Paul seemeth to have exceeded in the number and nature of the things that were revealed to him and declared by him he had an abundance of revelations and was the man that was taken up into paradise into the third heaven and heard unspeakable words not lawfull to be uttered to fallen mortalls which he did not speak of till after fourteen years 2. Cor. 12. 2. 3. 4. He hath declared the manner and order and time of the just and unjust their rising again very plainly in express words first Christ then those that are Christs at his coming Only the just that are Christs are then to be raised compared with Luk. 14. 14. Rev. 20. 6. not the unjust then but in an after time according as hath been mentioned before Rev. 20. 5. 13. Where do we find the like He hath made known likewise the beginning and in special the end of the kingdom and reign of our Lord Christ on earth and the delivering up of the kingdom to God the father and becoming subject himself He hath given us some short hints but very full and plain of a state succeeding very glorious where and when God the father shall be all in all and that we may further take knowledge of from the close of those verses of which we shall dilate a little by way of enquirie and essay CHAP. VI. Of the Lord Christ delivering up his kingdom to his father and of God the father becoming all in all where will be a more glorious state ALL things that have a beginning and are measured by time they have had and will have an end only the great Jehovah that hath no beginning nor end but is from everlasting to everlasting and is not measured by time There are many ends mentioned in holy Scripture of which we shall forbear the mentioning This world that now is will have an end and be destroyed by fire as the world before was by water When this world shall have an end then will take place and begin the world to come when will begin and take place that happy time and state of the kingdom and reign of our Lord Christ on earth for a thousand years and after that all the time of the last session of judgment which as hath been mentioned before some apprehend will last neer a thousand years more that also will have an end when the Lord Christ shall deliver up the kingdom to the father that God the father may be all in
of old who is the Lord And as it hath been so it will be his kingdom will rule over all and he shall give the power and dominion to whom he pleaseth for he is God over all blessed for ever Untill the time come that the kingdom of the Lord Christ take place and his dominion and rule begin when he shall take to him his great power and reign and after deliver it to God the father so as God the creator of heaven and earth will be first in kingdom and rule The great Alpha and will be the last in kingdom rule and power the great Omega The middle it will be to the Lord Christ when he takes it on all power in heaven and earth being given unto him and he must reign till the end and then deliver up and God the father be all in all the Alpha and Omega In the kingdom of God Almighty there hath been two great Mediums or two that have been eminent between God and man besides others namely Moses a great Prophet raised up of God of great authority and rule and the Lord Christ sent of the father first to suffer and then to be highly advanced and to reign but I shall forbear to dilate further In the next place we propose that direction of our Lord Christ about prayer Math. 6. from vers 6. to vers 15. which seemeth to speak to the same matter to wit the kingdom of the father and his being all in all after this manner saith our Lord pray ye our father which art in heaven c. thy kingdom come the kingdom of the father we are to pray that it may come implying it was not then come and likewise that it was not that kingdom which had been since the creation then was and now is and also shall be till the kingdom of our Lord Christ takes place but a kingdom that was to come when our Lord Christ shall resign and God the father be all in all and his kingdom shall come and take place and wonderfull shall be the glory of it beyond all conceiving This kingdom we are to pray that it may come I do not here intend the excluding of the kingdom of grace or glory to be comprehended within this desire or prayer the further advance of the kingdom of grace in the increase of the number and the advance of the intrest of God and Christ here may be included in it and likewise the coming of the kingdom of our Lord Christ when he and his kingdom shall appear and come in power and great glory Whatever of God and Christ hath not yet had its time and highest attainer we may pray that it may come as included in this direction of our Lord thy kingdom come But in special as that which was mostly intended by our Lord Christ in this direction was that the kingdom of God the father that it may come being the last and highest in glory when God the father will be all in all in kingdom sovereignty and rule the great Omega This being that it is likely which the voge and spirits of the servants of God in their desires and wishes go out after and that which their dayly expressions are of as the sum of all blessedness to wit heaven and glory and to be with their heavenly father in glory in his kingdom as the uttermost of all their desires The close of our Lords prayer hath much in this his attest for thine is the kingdom the Power and the glory for ever and ever Amen all in all He had in the times and ages of the world delegated and given kingdoms and authorities and powers to others he hath given unto the Lord Christ kingdom power and authority he hath made and appointed him to be king of kings and Lord of Lords 1. Tim. 6. 15 and he shall come and take to him his great power and all nations serve and obey him but when the end of his kingdom is come he will deliver up all unto his father and be subject unto him himself and the father shall take all into his own power and be all in all for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for ever and ever Amen It will be so in an eminent manner then God the father his will be the kingdom and the power and the glory and all in all Holy Paul hath a like close he having spoken of the rejection of the Jewes and taking on the Gentils and the restoring of the Jewes again by the coming of the deliverer out of Sion when all Israel shall be saved high mysteries which he admired and cryed out O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Judgements and his ways past finding out Rom. 11. 33. he closes thus in vers 36. for of him and through him or by him and to him are all things to his glory to him be glory for ever Amen for his is the kingdom the power and the glory for ever and he shall be all in all I further propose as worthy our consideration that consolatory speech of our Lord Christ to his disciples in Joh. 14. 1. 2. 3. they being much troubled at the thoughts of his departure from them he saith to them let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God to wit the father so is the Creed I believe in God the father Almighty c. believe also in me God the son that he spake of God the father the words following show in my fathers house he doth not say in his own house or kingdom but in his fathers house Whether by house here be meant the new heaven and new earth wherein will be several degrees of glory Luk. 19. 15. to 19. 1. Cor. 15. 41 or whether heaven only or whether both together to wit the kingdom of the son and the kingdom of the father so it may seem to be it being a blessed estate they are to be in after Christ at his coming hath received them to himself or whether it be a borrowed way of speaking I shall not determine but leave it to consideration The tendencie is consolatory to the Disciples in my fathers house are many mansion places places of great contentment happy repose and much blessedness I shall not venture to allegorise this saying of our Lord but rather believe it as it is spoken for that our Lord doth attest it saying If it were not so I would have told you There is such provision such blessednes in my fathers house and I go to prepare a place for you A place our Lord tells his disciples he goeth to prepare for them not expressing where it shall be happily in his fathers house very great and spacious like the master of it the great Jehovah I go to prepare a place for you hapily in his own house or kingdom which he is one to receive Luk 19. 12. 15. in the new heaven and the new earth where he will
Joh. 1. 14. Holy Stephen he saw heaven opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God Acts. 7. 55. Paul likewise saw him and it is said When he cometh in the clouds every eye shall see him Rev. 1. 7. But God the father the great Jehovah told Moses he could not see him and in great condescension shewed him his back parts He is the invisible God Col. 1. 15. The holy scripture tells us that no man hath seen God to wit the father at any time 1. Joh. 4. 12. 20. His brightness is so serene where he dwelleth that no mortal no created eye is able to approch unto it or to abide the beholding of it But the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Image of the invisible God as we have seen him as before is said so we shall see him and behold him in his glory and be with him for ever as he made it his prayer unto his father that it might be so When he shall again appear we shall then appear with him in glory and as holy John saith When he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Joh. 3. 2. The close of that scripture seemeth to relate to God the father likewise to whom be honour and power everlasting Amen the great Omega That is and will be all in all Further that of Daniel 7. Is of like consideration vers 9. likewise vers 22. It speaketh of the ancient of days God the father very high things are spoken of him that in vers 13. One like the son of man seemeth clearly to be meant of the Lord Jesus Christ Much the same seemeth that to be in Rev. 20. 11. I saw a great white throne and him that sate thereon from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away and there was found no place for them and I saw the dead small and great stand before God to wit God the father it seemeth to be spoken of him but that which follows in that verse relating to the judgment it is very likely to be meant of the Lord Christ to whom all judgment is committed all judgment is given to the son by the father and as Peter sayth 1. Pet. 4. 5. That he is ready to judge the quick and the dead all must appear before his tribunal and be judged by him this of judicature to the end of that 20. chapter relateth in a tacit way to the Lord Christ That in the second Psalm seemeth to be of like consideration and other scriptures that I shall forbear to name being of an interwoven way and manner of speaking of the power and dominion of the father and likewise of the son the Lord Christ I shall end these essays with that prophetical Psalm of the kingly prophet David in Psal 72. speaking to his son Solomon as the type but chiefly relating to a higher and greater Solomon in the antitype namely the Lord Jesus Christ very high and great things are spoken of in that Psalm concerning the kingdom of our Lord Christ how that in his days as in vers 7. The righteous shall flourish and abundance of peace shall be so long as the Moon endureth vers 8. he shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth Then he speaketh of the submission of kings and of their bringing of gifts saying vers 11. Yea all kings shall fall down before him all nations shall serve him Then he speaketh of his great kindnes to the poor and needy and of how high esteem they shall be in his sight and how he shall take care of them and do for them for which he shall be dayly praised Vers. 17. It is said His name shall be continued for ever his name shall endure as long as the sun and men shall be blessed in him And all nations shall call him blessed Great will be the glory of our Lord Christ in his kingdom and when he shall come in his glory and reign in his kingdom of which there seemeth little doubt but that this Psalm treateth of it and blessed will they be that shall enjoy their share therein But towards the end of the Psalm the prophet seemeth to turn and addresse himself to the Author and giver of all this glory and blessedness namely God the father with the which he closeth the Psalm and in the two last verses sayeth thus Blessed be the Lord God the God of Israel who only doth wondrous things and blessed be his glorious name for ever and let the whole earth be filled with his glory Amen and Amen With the which he closes as I shall also these essayes referring the whole to the serious consideration of the wise in heart A MYSTERY I. Shewed by holy Paul That the Saints alive at the Coming of the Lord Christ shall not then die but be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye II. Something treated of concerning that change wherein it will consist and the Standard or Measure of it III. That many of the great Prophecies in the Holy Scriptures do eye that Time and those Changed People and state for their Great Fullfilling IV. Something held forth concerning the Restoration of all things and the world to come that shall take place when our Lord Christ shall come again V. Of the Great Happiness of that day and the Flourishing Estate the Righteous shall then Enjoy Proposed to consideration With sundry other things occasionally Discussed By P. G. B Joh. 11. 26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me to wit in Christ at his coming shall never die believest thou this Psa 31. 19. O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast prepared for them that trust in thee before the sons of men Joh. 20. 29. Blessed are they that have not seen me yet have believed Printed in the Year 1675. To the READER THou hast here offered to thy view and consideration that which few haply have much minded though it be a very great thing a mistery no less and that which it is likely will be found as a key that will help to open divers great prophecies and high sayings in the holy Scriptures which some have been very ready to allegorize and put some notion of a spiritual meaning on them as if that were all whereby they have drawn a veil over them rendring them another thing This mistery it relateth to the very time of the second coming of the Lord Christ when those servants of God believing in Jesus shall be changed in a moment without dying they shall put off corruption and mortallity and put on incorruption immortality and everlasting life and be rechanged into their former state as man was before his fall and it is very likely they will be the blessed inhabitants of the world to come and such as shall inherit and dwell in the new earth Consider of it and what is offered about it it
be that the Lord Christ will present the Church the bride the lambs wife the new Jerusalem to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but holy and without blemish Ephes. 5. 27. she namely the Church is accepted in the beloved now and fair and precious as being clothed with his purity and righteousness All now in the state of regeneration and living by faith is by imputation of his righteousness and as we are in him the reckoning and account stands good on the behalf of the servants of God but then that pure white linnen said to be the righteousnes of the saints their own so given unto them for their clothing at their raising and changing Rev. 10. 8. It was granted to the lambs wife that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white for so is it sayd the fine linnen is the righteousness of saints they shall be like him when he appears Their bodyes that were vile shall be made like his glorious body very glorious and shining upon the whole we may well say with the spirit and the bride O come Lord Jesus come quickly CHAP. IV. Containing something further in a general way proposed concerning the mistery of all not dying but being changed in a moment In which some things neer relating to it with some scriptures of like tendency are discussed in way of essay THe holy Apostle Peter tells us Acts. 3. 20. 21. of a very happy time a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord when God the father shall send Jesus Christ our Lord he that before was preached unto them that came in his humiliation dyed for our sins rose again for our justification ascended into heaven and is at the right hand of God in glory whom the heavens must contain be the place of his stay and abode till then namely till that time of refreshing come and the time of the restitution or restoration of all things that God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began This scripture comporteth in the tendency of it with that of Rom. 8. 23. being for matter and time much the same As in like manner this of the changing in a moment the desire and groaning of the creature as well as the servants of God that have the first fruits of the spirit as the earnest of it to wit that happy day when they shall possess it even their inheritance prepared for them 1. Pet. 1. 4. This groaning and desire after restoration this desire of freedom and the liberty of the sons of God seemeth to imply a former happy estate and condition which they would be at and enjoy again to wit that which Adam was created in He was created in the Image of God a perfect man in perfect freedom from sin sorrow miserie and death in full felicity he sinned he fell lost his happy condition and in him all his posteritie and the creatures also as this they groan under and desire to be rid of so shall they according to their expectation be restored to their former estate with some addition of blessedness at that day of restoration forementioned Two wayes this is attayned unto as the holy scriptures do hold out unto us the one is by dying and after lying a time in the grave rising again or being raised out of the prison of the grave at the sounding of the trumpet of God when they shall hear awake and rise The other way is by not dying but being changed in a moment at the very same time the dead are raised This change is a mistery a secret not much taken notice of These both at the same time at the coming and appearing of the Lord Christ will be raised and changed and caught up together in the clouds to meet him in the air not then to go up to heaven with him but to attend him in his coming to the earth and so will be ever after with him 1. Thes. 4. 17. These shall not prevent one another by getting before one the other the raised shall not so do by the changed nor shall they be occasioned to stay for them for they shall be changed in a moment in the twinckling of an eye and caught up together Very aierie and spriteful shall they be then This change or being changed To is a great thing indeed The change of regeneration or being born again which Nicodemus made so strange and impossible a matter to be effected to be born again to put off the old man with the affections and lusts and to put on the new man Ephes. 4. 22. 24. Col. 3. 8. 9. 10. The new man being after God created in righteousness and true holiness It 's a being quite another person A very great change that hath much of mistery in it But the changing is a higher mistery a greater thing the putting off sin and corruption and mortality at once in a moment in the twinkling of an eye That of regeneration when begun by the spirit of Christ it is carryed on and advanced in a gradual way by the exercise of mortification and sanctification and by fresh supplies of the spirit of Christ while we are in this world till death or this change take place As we may by that before take some notice of this change so we may also of the neer affinitie it hath with the resurrection of the just and how in sundry things they concur and agree together in order to the righteous and saved people who then shall the one be raised the other changed at the same time together They shall both be rid and freed of corruption and mortality together They shall both be caught up together to meet the Lord in the aire they shall be with the Lord Christ together they shall enjoy glory and honor and eternal life together and the blessednes of that happy day for ever The unjust and wicked sinners they shall not share at all in the glory and blessedness of that happy day for as they shall not rise then that not being their order or time of rising so such of them as are then living shall not be changed then but shall be left in their old clothing of corruption and mortalitie they shall have no share or be concerned in the blessedness of this mistery of being changed so for then that of our Lord Christ Math. 24. 40. Luk. 17. 34. 35. 36. will be made good and fulfilled at the coming of the son of man then two shall be in the feild the one shall be taken the other left Two women shall be grinding together at the Mill one shall be taken the other left The evangelist Luke holds it forth more largely thus I tell you in that night there shall be two men in one bed the one shall be taken the other shall be left And as it follows Two grinding at the Mill and two in the feild so taken and left Vers. 37. Our Lord
share beyond all earthly things or creatures whatsoever The eyeing and well minding what man was before his sin and fall may give some light in the case in hand Adam and Eve were perfect man and perfect woman so made of God little inferiour to the Angels Heb. 2. 7. man and woman at the first making consisted of flesh and bloud bones and sinewes made up of several parts and members with several senses and faculties of soule and body which the posteritie of Adam have and do enjoy unto this day only they have lost the rectitude and have by transgression been clothed with corruption and mortalitie being deprived of the glory of God his Image holyness and righteousnes wherein at first they were created and into which they shall be restored by being so changed The regeneration in this world it hath a tendency unto this but this changing in a moment will fully effect it and at that day in the world to come it will be so fully and perfectly so as Adam and Eve changed for the worse and yet lived in the body as they were made so those of the servants of God which live and remain at the coming of the Lord shall be changed for the better and restored again to their first happy and perfect condition of body and soul parts and members senses and faculties as Adam then had and his posteritie yet have This mistery of not dying but being changed living in the body it is a great thing in it self and great things not much minded will necessarily follow As namely that this change and restoration are different and distinct things and not one and the same with the resurrection but also that there will be it is very likely a difference in condition and estate betwixt them and that those of the resurrection will be of a higher degree then those so changed The Apostle tells us of a difference in the celestial bodyes and there will be also a difference in degree among the caelestial the sun the moon and the stars are different in glory yea the stars differ in glory so is the resurrection vers 42. And it is very probable there will be difference between the raised and the changed and that they will be different in degrees of Glory The raised will be as the Angels of God as our Lord sayth Math. 22. 30. but the changed like to Adam and Eve will be as the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty as they were in the regeneration and as Adam and Eve were before the fall And these changed so and restored to their first condition without dying and living again as the raised it is likely that as they will be restored to what Adam was and likewise Eve at their first making so they will do the things which they did or might have done and enjoy the things which they did or lawfully might do in their innocent condition before corruption seized on them of which we may treat something afterward the raised being restricted not in a condition so to do And because some take no notice of the mistery of this not dying but being changed alive reckoning it as the same thing with the resurrection without any difference or distinction and seem to ground it on that of our Lord his answer to the question made to him whose wife the woman that had had seven husbands whose wife she should be at the resurrection Seven having had her Math. 22. 28. 29. we shall a little treat of it To the question so made our Lord answereth first saying they erred not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Then further ver 30. he saith in the resurrection not in the changed they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels of God in heaven and so goeth on in a restricted way as to the resurrection but as touching the resurrection so as in Mathew there is nothing that includes the mistery of the change the evangelist Luke hath it more largely Luk. 20. 34. the children of this world marry and are given in Marriage vers 35. but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world to wit the world to come and the resurrection from the dead the saying is restricted to them neither marry nor are given in marriage vers 6. neither can they dye any more having dyed once which I conceive cannot be mean tas including the changed that shall not dye at all for they are equal to the Angels and are the children of God being the children of the resurrection he doth not say of the changed and further he saith vers 37. now that the dead are raised which doth not relate to the living that shall not dye at all This answer of our Lord declared by both these evangelists holds forth much but seemeth to have nothing that relateth to those alive at the coming of the Lord who shall not dye but be changed So as the mistery holds it forth clearly to be another thing then the resurrection of which the Apostle having spoken largely saith behold I shew you a mistery we shall not all dye but be changed He holds it forth as another distinct thing though something like it and related to it in speciall in time when they shall both be That in Mathew and likewise in Luke relate to the resurrection and the raised people it wholy speaks of them and so it answereth the question whose wife shall she be first our Lord tells them they erre not understanding the scriptures then further he tells them that in the resurrerection they marry not nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels and so goeth on in that of the resurrection Luke hath marrying and giving in marriage in this world but denyeth it to those in the world to come for then they shall not do so but be as Angels of God he saith neither can they die any more Which the changed never did and having put on immortality can never do He goeth on further concerning the resurrection Luk. 20. 37. see the place and nothing will appear in a probable way that doth conclude the mistery of the changed people as if it were one and the same And that they are two and not one and differ greatly as hath been sayd let that of the Apostle be considered 1. Thes. 4. 15. We that are alive shall not prevent them which are asleep or dead he speaks so as of two distinct people one dead the other alive and that they shall not prevent one another as some time it is found as Jacob prevented Esau but as in vers 17. they shall be caught up together as two different and distinct people though as we said very like I shall end this chapter and the essays therein proposed how largely the holy Apostle having treated of the doctrine of the resurrection and the order of it and yet after all sayd therein sayth behold I shew you a mistery a rare secret
himself a kingdom and to come again Luk. 19. 12. There are many virgins that wait with oyl in their lamps for the bridegrooms coming Math. 25. To them that look for him the second time he will appear to their great joy and consolation the spirit and the bride say come O come Lord Jesus come quickly Further in the new covenant spoken of by holy Ieremiah it is said I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sins no more so forgiven and so forgotten as never before no further need of an advocate then in case of sin for that will be fully made good then in Ier 50. 20. In those dayes and at that time the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and the sins of Iudah and they shall not be found c. Then will be the time when the Church will be presented glorious without spot or blemish or wrinckle or any such thing Ephes. 5. 27. And that true really without imputation Thou art fair thou art fair my love and there is no spot in thee Cant. 4. 1. 7. Lastly in this new covenant or testament as that which makes good all it is said and I will be their God and they shall be my people In a very high and eminent wise it will be so then beyond what before a very great and blessed thing this is still mentioned as the close to have God in a special wise to be their God and for a people to be so related to God as to be his people in a peculiar way is a great thing and that which renders them considerable and happy and blessed indeed Psal 144. 15. Those sealed ones having their fathers name written on their foreheads I conceive comporting in time and being the same with those Rev. 22. 4. His servants shall serve him and see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads He that sitteth on the throne sayeth these words are true and faithful that it relates to that blessed time in order to the high and full fulfilling of it we may minde that in Rev. 21. where the new heaven and the new earth is spoken of as vers 1. Iohn saw a new heaven and a new earth Vers. 2. He saw the new Jerusalem come down from heaven very glorious As he saw so he heard also vers 3. A great voice out of heaven it is with a behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God And as vers 4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes all sorrow and pain and death it self shall be done away and be no more and all things shall be made new and Iohn is bidden to write for that these sayings are faithful and true vers 5. In Ier. 32. vers 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. The prophet speaketh again of the Lord his gathering of them out of all countryes and bringing them again comporting as to the full fulfilling of it with the Angels gathering the elect from the four windes Math. 24. 31. And making an everlasting covenant with them and doing great things for them and that he will be their God and they shall be his people And that he will plant them in their own land assuredly and do it with his whole heart and soul as before he spake of the fureness of his covenant as sure as the ordinances of heaven their abiding stable to wit the sun and moon and the stars See the places at large I shall adde a few testimonies out of the following prophets that are of the like import and tendency with what hath been held forth before and shall begin with Daniel chap. 12. 1. At that time shall Michael stand up the great prince very likely to be the Lord Christ the prince of peace when he appeareth again great things will take place he will stand for Daniels people the Israelites the seed of Abraham unto whom he came before but they received him not at that time there will be such trouble as never was before and at that time Daniels people shall be delivered they shall be delivered by the great deliverer when he shall come to Sion Rom. 11. 26. As before is mentioned The Lord Christ sball send forth his Angels and they shall gather his elect from the four windes Math. 24. 31. They shall be delivered every one of them not one left behinde of those that shall be found written in the book of life it is like it is meant The lamb the Lord Christ hath a book of life wherein is written the names of his from the foundation of the world Rev. 17. 8. Much comporting with the promise Rev. 3. 5. 12. To those that are overcommers And it shews further what time this relates unto Rev. 22. 3. 4. It will be when there shall be no more curse but the throne of God and of the lamb and his servants shall serve him and see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads when they shall reign for ever vers 5. At that time when the Lord Christ cometh and the dead are raised and the living saints changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye it shall be fully made good and it is likely not before Further in vers 2. of this Dan. 12. He speaketh of the resurrection saying many that sleep in the dust to wit in their graves shall arise some to everlasting life to wit of felicity and enjoying God and Christ c. their names being in the book of life and some to shame and everlasting contempt As it is said elsewhere To everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord into everlasting punishment everlasting there is in order to both according to that of the Apostle 1. Cor. 15. Then will be great glory and happyness to the just and great woe and misery to the wicked The parable of Dives and Lazarus speaks forth this very plainly the righteous will then shine gloriously though now they are made black with reproach Good Daniel was inquisitive about this and the time when it should be he is bidden as in the last verse by the Angel to go his way till the end I conceive of this world as if he should have said then it shall be and in a promissary way it is said thou shalt rest to wit in his grave as in a bed and stand up in thy lot to wit be raised again in the end of the days to enjoy his lot or share of glory then much the same with that in 1. Cor. 15. 23. 24. Every man in his own order first Christ then those that are Christs at his coming The wicked dead in their order or time a thousand years after In the next place take we notice what the prophet Hosea sayth Hosea 1. 7. where the Lord sayeth he will save Iudah not by bow or sword c. but by
to the lively hope of he tells us in the words following it is to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away it is safe and in sure hands it is reserved in heaven for believers they are kept by the power of God through faith for that great salvation ready to be revealed and it is kept for them and shall be brought unto them they shall not need to go to fetch it but when will it be at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1. Pet. 1. 3. 4. 5. He wills the servants of God to hope on for that great grace that shall be brought unto them at the revelation of Iesus Christ vers 13. Then will Abraham and Isaack and Iacob be chief among the holy ones as it is said many shall come from the east and from the west and shall sit down with Abraham Isaack and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven Math. 8. 11. This seemeth to eye that in Isa 25. 6. The feast the Lord will make unto all people in his holy mountain a feast of fat things and wine well refined full of marrow and fat things see the place it eyeth in a likely way as to its full fulfilling such a time when Abraham and Isaack and Iacob and the holy prophets and Apostles c. shall feast together in the kingdom of Christ It looketh beyond the spiritual feast of the gospel to a time as vers 8. When death shall be swallowed up in victory Which the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 15. 54. Relateth to a very far time for the making of it good and fulfilling of it even the time of the kingdom of the Lord Christ in the world to come When corruption shall have put on incorruption and mortality immortalitie And as it followeth agreeing with and speaking out that to be the time all tears will the Lord wipe away from the faces of his people and the rebuke of his people shall be taken away from off all the earth This world will not as to the full fulfilling of it afford such a happy day the waited for salvation of the people of God shall then be fully enjoyed and great shall be their joy and rejoycing Redemption from the captivity of sin and satan from death and the grave sore enemies and cruel tyrants believers have redemption from them all in the bloud of Christ and may reckon and account themselves virtually ransomed and delivered by their redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ and that they are redemed ones by the price of his most precious bloud but this is only virtually and in the first fruits in the sure promise in the earnest to wit the spirit the redeemer shall fully come to Sion then shall the great redemption and deliverance take place Rom. 11. 26. the deliverer shall come to Sion and shall turn away ungodlynesse from Iacob or as holy Isaiah expresseth it the redeemer shall come to Sion and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob. It is good and true in both readings those believers that have turned to God by faith and repentance he shall come to them and coming he shall take their iniquities quite away I conceive by chainging them in a moment in the twinkling of an eye putting off their corruption and putting on incorruption so he shall come to the turned and likewise turn away their iniquitie The redemption of the body shall be then from the prison and power of the grave Rom. 8. 23. A great thing which believers have in the promise and in the earnest to wit the spirit they shall have then in the enjoyment of it the whole man Body and spirit with all the parts and faculties of both united in one full and perfect and it will be eternal redemption which the redeemer the Lord Christ hath obtained for his Heb. 9. 12. No more slavery then to sin or death or the grave Christ our blessed redeemer hath fully subdued it then and will set us fully free so as instead of saying as sometime holy Paul did who shall deliver us from this sinful body of death to wit subject to sin death and the grave those great tyrants we by faith may say according to our present interest and hope what shall then be sayd and sung aloud in the full posession and enjoyment of it by way of praise to their redeemer Rev. 5. 9. Thou art worthy c. For thou wast slain and hast redeemeed us by thy bloud out of every kinred and tongue and people and nation and hast made us unto our God kings and Priests and we shall reign on the earth then followeth that great thanksgiving of that great number in the three following verses in praise of the redeemer The time this relateth unto when it will be made good and fulfilled it is very likely it will be then when our Lord cometh the second time when the raised from the dead and the then living changed shall take place when they shall meet the Lord Christ and come with him to the new earth where he will fully set up his kingdom and throne then will that be fully made good Isa 35. 10. Isa 51. 11. The ransomed of the Lord or the redeemed shall come to Sion with joy and songs and everlasting joy shall be on their heads they shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and mourning shall flee away Their rejoycing and felicitie then shall not be of the length of a kings reign as to instance in Solomon in whose dayes there was great felicity but it lasted not beyond his dayes but this shall be everlasting as long as the sun and moon endureth Psal 72. 7. This world affords it not nor never will it is likely as to the fulness of it Trouble and sorrow and disquiet hath been and is at the present the portion and lot of the righteous here in this world our Lord hath told us so Ioh. 16. 20. Ye to wit the righteous shall weep and lament that is their condition here for a season what shall the men of the world do but the world shall rejoyce it is their day ye namely the righteous shall be sorrowful oh but when that time comes they shall then rejoyce your sorrow shall be turned into joy and their joy shall none take from them As to the fulnes of it it 's the time when sorrow and tears and pain and death shall be no more we know what time that is it is Jerusalems happy day in the new earth in the world to come then it will be so and all made good and fulfilled in the fulness and length of time Of neere affinity with redemption is salvation or being saved which we shall dilate on a little Not after the way of a theam or common place but only as salvation by Jesus Christ the blessed saviour of such as believe in him The beginning of it and first fruits here in regeneration in this world and the full harvest and perfection in the world to come at that
at his first creating but enjoy some blessed additions to his happy estate namely stability therein immortalitie and life everlasting the high enjoyment of the presence of God and the Lord Christ high interest in the new covenant and more of the spirit and grace of the saviour then Adam ever had and that for evermore But there is something further considerable man was made male and female in the image of God they were created so And was made with seed in him whereby to propagate posteritie he had a wise given him of God for that it was not good for him to be alone A woman or female suitable unto him was formed out of him in a wonderful wise and they were bidden to multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and God made nothing in vain He had no question in his innocent estate if he had continued in it and not fell from it generated and replenished the earth as he did after in his fallen condition being bidden to do so before in order to what will be at the restoration and change in that moment at our Lord his coming the scripture seemeth silent in it and so I shall be likewise till time discover further or that day it self declare I shall only intimate to prevent prejudice that I do not in the least intend the including of the raised ones or children of the resurrection in the case before spoken of their condition seeming much to differ from that of the changed alive then it is said by our Lord Math. 22. 30. That in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels of God in heaven but the changed alive will be men and women as Adam and Eve were in their first estate such by whom that happy world to come will be begun and peopled as that first world would have been if Adam had not fell The old world was so after Adams fall and how the new world to come will be some way or how it will be it is likely I shall say no more Further it is intimated that the seperate condition of man is not in the least medled with but man intire as he will be at his being changed at the restoration of all things Having made this digression I premise one or two things more namely that the restoration and changing in a moment it will be here below on earth it will be from this old corrupt earth under the curse to that new which God will create wherein will dwell blessing which we according to the promise look for at that happy day And that by the world to come spoken of in the holy scriptures in which this restoration will take place is not meant of heaven above but a state here below on earth and that to take it for heaven properly or understand it so is to offer losse to the holy scriptures and that which in effect renders insignificant and makes void what is said in them concerning the restoration of all things the change in a moment the new earth with all things made new by him sitting on the throne with very many other things that might be mentioned And lastly I premise that the Israelites the seed of Abraham Isaack and Jacob will be the people highly concerned and cheif in this restoration and change the twelve thousand of every tribe of Israel and that their land the land of promise will share in a principal wise in that happy restoration and change and in a likely way be the center of the new earth We shall now return to the matter we had under consideration before namely man considered according to propagation and off-spring How acceptable to some the proposing of it will be I know not but it will be some way necessary in order to the better minding and taking knowledge of sundrie high prophecies that seem to look that way and to relate to that day First that Isa 59. 20. 21. the coming of the redeemer to Sion of which we treated before it relateth as to the full fulfilling of it to that happy day of the changing in a moment and the blessed restoration of all things then See what followeth vers 21. as for me this is my covenant with them saith the Lord to wit with the Israelites the seed of Abraham my spirit that is upon thee it is not said in thee but upon thee a very glorious unnoynting then like that Zech. 4. 14. such a kind of annoynting it is likely will be then on the changed people it followeth and the words I have put in thy mouth Whether Gods law in their hearts or the joyfull tone of the Gospel and tidings of great joy or the new Song of praise and thanksgiving to the lamb for the great grace and blessedness enjoyed Psal 40. 3. it may be considered the latter very likely Rev. 5. 12. 13. it followeth nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed from henceforth As I conceive from the time of the redeemers coming the second time and from henceforth as to the fulness of is and for ever Of great duration when once begun Whither this be the same Covenant with that Ier. 31. 31. may be considered Or whether it will be another that will take place with that happy day and so forward for ever I will make no assay to declare but that it relateth as to the utmost fulfilling of it to that blessed time of the restoration and that it implieth seed and generation then and seeds seed for ever seemeth very likely and that it may probably relate to the changed people of whom we have spoken and the rather if we minde that that followeth in Isa 60. being the very same prophecy carried on where Israel is bidden to arise and shine when Gods spirit or annoynting is upon them they will then shine gloriously as Moses shined when he had been in the mount with God Then their light will be fully come and the glory of the Lord will be risen upon them and the gentiles will see it c. For great will be their glory see the whole chapter and that in the close where it is said a little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation hapily by generation for then will be no conversion to increase so further Chap. 61. 8. 9. The Lord sayeth I will make an everlasting Covenant with them and their seed shall be known among the people all that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the seed that the Lord hath blessed What time this eyeth as to its full fulfilling consult the 2d and 3d. verses minde the whole and in particular the two last verses it eyeing that time when the Lord Christ shall appear and his shall appear with him in glory Col. 3. 4. Chap. 65. Where the New Heaven and the new earth are foretold and promised vers 17. for behold I create a new heaven and a new earth the old shall passe
not be so then it is in sure hands in safe keeping it is laid up in heaven for you to wit for the servants of God It may be asked by some how we shall come to have it how we shall get to heaven to receive it take no care there is no need of absconding for vers 13. holy Peter tells us it shall be brought unto us And telleth when also at the revelation of Jesus Christ when the Lord Christ shall be revealed from heaven and the dead raised and the living saints then changed it will be brought unto the servants of God from heaven We have now the earnest of it as before and we have the promise Heb. 9. 15. then the called shall receive that eternal inheritance according to the promise which faith and hope are now exercised about for the good of the servants of God but shall then give place when the thing it self is possessed and enjoyed The new testament seemeth to speak sparingly concerning good things in a particular way Our Lord tells his Ioh. 14. of mansion places or houses he is gone to prepare for his that he would come again and receive them to himself and that where he is there they should be also We are told that in his presence is fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore Psal 10. 10. holy Paul tells us 1. Cor. 2. 9. that the eye hath not seen nor the ear heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive what good things God hath prepared for them that love him Holy Iohn tells us 1. Ioh. 3. 2. now we are the sons of God but it doth not yet appear or is not manifest what we shall be how fully happy and blessed in our enjoyments only we shall be for ever with the Lord that may satisfy us The Scriptures of the new testament they tell us rather of what we shall be freed from what we shall not suffer and undergo then and that hath the contrary included as implyed It tells us we shall hunger no more nor thirst no more there will be then no cause neither shall the sun light on them so as to scorch them nor any heat so as to annoy them the lamb shall lead them to the living ountains of water for their refreshing and shall seed them also and God shall wipe all tears from their eyes Rev. 7. 17. Rev. 21. 3. the tabernacle of God is said to be with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God and as vers 4. shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death we may easily guess when and where that will be neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away all those former evil things the bitter fruit of the curse vers 5. he that sate on the throne said behold I make all things new and he said unto me write for these words are true and faithfull And vers 6. he said it is done I am Alpha and Omega It is sure there will be no failer in it Rev. 22. 3. there shall be no more curse the sad effect of Adams transgression will be no more then but all good blessedness and felicity for ever The throne of God and the lamb the new Ierusalem a pure river of water of life on either side of the river the tree of life which bare twelve manner of fruits and yeilded her fruit every month for food it is likely for God made nothing in vain nor caused any thing to bring forth fruit of no use and the leaves of the tree will be good for healing to the nations And again it is said vers 6. these sayings are faithfull and true and must shortly be done For behold the Lord Christ comes quickly vers 7. the whole matter thus held forth is left to the consideration of the Reader CHAP XII Containing the proposing to consideration some things which the holy scritures hold forth concerning dominion and power soveraigntie and rule which the changed people the Israelites especially are likely to have at the restoration in the world to come under the Lord Christ being then come and reigning with some eminent Scriptures ascertaining the sureness of the making all good so foretold and declared MAn at his first making was ordered by the great creator to have dominion and rule over the creatures Gen. 1. 28. It was said in that state have thou dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowls of the air and over every thing that moveth on the earth Man having sinned and lost himself the curse it entred and therewith enmitie not only among the creatures but rebellion many times against man himself by some of the creatures God of his great goodness and compassion so ordered and provided for a number of fallen man amongst whom the enmitie entred and took place to a great degree according to his purpose and pleasure Gen. 3. 15. I will put enmitie not only among the creatures and man and the creature but between men among themselves these chosen and those rejected Jacob and Esau the seed and the seed a great mistery I shall not treat of it I only mention the thing in order to our better proceed in the matter proposed The enmity it began and brake forth betimes witness that of Cain Gen. 4. 8. That Cain rose up and slew his brother righteous Abel This seed of Abraham yea Israel as a nation and the line of David had not only the promise of dominion and rule but had the thing it self haply it may be a type of some greater thing to come hereafter for save now and then for a little space the seed of the serpent and not the seed of the woman hath had the dominion in the old and in this present world for the most part Consult the holy histories and others it will plainly appear and the state of this day will witness to the truth of it The time is not yet come for the seed of the woman but it hasteneth our Lord Christ will take to himself his great power and reign but he will save then will be the time in the mean time the enmitie will continue and grow great Dives will have the day and the womans seed under the Hatches as was Lazarus then but the day will change the time of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord and Jesus Christ will be sent and come again and a happy morning for the righteous when they shall have the full dominion then will that be made good Psa 49. 14. The righteous shall have dominion over them in the morning that blessed morning of the raising and changing the righteous they shall have the dominion their day will be when the Lord Christ comes and fully taketh to him his great power and reign then shall great power and dominion
dwell and reside with his for a thousand years Rev. 20. 6. Further he saith if I go or though I go and prepare a place for you I will come again good newes and comfortable the Lord Christ gone into heaven will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also Very comfortable and gladding to all his that love him and are sad for the absence of him but shall abundantly rejoyce when they shall see him again Joh. 16. 22. They shall be with him in his kingdom they shall never be severed from him or deprived of his presence any more but be for ever with him 1. Thes. 4. 17. with the which the servants of the Lord Jesus may comfort themselves and one another as the Apostle Paul bids them to do with the considerations of those sayings But where will our Lord Christ be then to wit when he is come from heaven may some ask answer he will be in his kingdom for he is the noble man that is gone into a far countrey to receive for himself a kingdom and to return Luk. 19. 12. And being returned and come again he will send and gather all his elect to himself and they shall then be with him where he is he prayed so to his father afore-hand Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that those that thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which is the same with those words aforemontioned Joh. 14. 3. I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also If it yet be asked where our Lord Christ will be then to wit at his coming we say as before in his kingdom in the new earth where those that are his shall live and reign with him a thousand years Rev. 20. 6. The Lord Christ hath made those that are his kings and Preists unto God the father and they shall reign on the earth Rev. 5. 10. he the Lord Christ when he hath received his kingdom must reign till the end and then deliver up to the father While he stays they stay with him when he goes they go with him a higher and greater attayner of glory they shall proceed unto then they shall have mansion places prepared they shall shine as the sun on the fathers kingdom they shall be still with Christ they shall drink of the fruit of the vine with him in the fathers kingdom be it in heaven or wherever it shall be The father and great Lord of the house that good householder will keep the highest and best enjoyments till the last and so great it will be as the eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man the things which God to wit the father hath prepared for them that love him which they then shall enjoy in his kingdom when they shall shine forth as the sun for ever It is true in respect of the kingdom of the Lord Christ also and the saints enjoyments there it is not manifest what we shall be for happines and blessednes then and there 1. Joh. 3. 2. But higher and greater shall the saints enjoy and be made partakers of in the kingdom of the father when God is all in all This distinction of kingdoms and gradual way of proceed from glory to glory or to higher and higher glory may hapily seem strange to some that think of nothing but stepping into heaven presently when they leave this world but I shall forbear CHAP. IX Something held forth concerning a mixed or interwoven way of speaking in the holy scriptures when the kingdom of God and of the Lord Christ are spoken of FOr the better minding and taking knowledge of this matter I propose how that in sundry prophecies and high sayings in the old and new Testament concerning kingdom and glory to come there seemeth to be an interwoven or mixed way of speaking some part of the matter relating to the Lord Christ his kingdom and glory and some part relating to the kingdom of the father and the high soveraignty and glory when he shall be all in all the matter warily minded it may hapily appear to be so in way of instance we shall propose a place or two That in the 1 Epistle to Timothy Chap. 6. 15. 16. seemeth to be so Paul having layd a charge on Timothy vers 13. as likewise he had done before chap. 5. 21. And this charge it being as is set forth before God or in the sight of God who quickneth all things and before Jesus Christ who before Pontius Pilat witnessed a good confession that thou keep this commandement c. How long it might be asked he answers until the appearing of Jesus Christ vers 15. Which in his times he shall shew to wit them himself in his glory for that is a sure word and shall be made good the Lord Christ shall be manifested and shewn forth in his times to be the only potentate the king of kings and the Lord of Lords the words are Who is the blessed and only potentate the king of kings and Lord of Lords That hath all power in heaven and in earth given unto him of the father Math. 28. 18. He being highly advanced far above all principallitie and power and might and dominion and every name that is named to wit of power and dignity not only in this world but also in that which is to come Ephes. 1. 21. In the world to come will his kingdom and reign be for that will not be subjected to the Angels Heb. 2. 5. but to the Lord Christ and those he shall authorize to rule with him over ten cities and over five cities Luk. 19. 15. 17. 19. When that blessed time shall take place when the kingdom of the Lord Christ shall be come then the Lord Jesus that great potentate king of kings shall rule and reign in his kingdom before his antients groriously Isa 24. 23. That this thus far is spoken of the Lord there is I conceive little doubt or question to be made of it But that which followeth in vers 16. seemeth to be spoken of God the father who in vers 13. of this 1. Tim. 6. is named the quickner of all things who only hath immortallitie c. The Lord Christ he had no Immortality the scriptures do not attribute that to him he dyed he suffered according to the design of heaven he redeemed and purchased the Church with his own bloud Acts. 20. 28. He was humbled to death even the death of the Crosse Phil. 2. 8. and was afterward advanced highly by God the father It followeth dwelling in the light which no man can approch unto whom no man hath seen or can see this seemeth to be spoken of God the father and is true in him and is not applicable to the Lord Christ touching whom it is said we saw his glory as the glory of the only begotten son of the father