that Faith might not be precarious and built upon his bare affirmation he openly claimed first the Kingdom of Judea as of the Line of David and caused the people to applaud him with Hosanna's But being to Redeem us as a Sacrifice by his Blood and to Conquer Death and confirm his Gospel by Dying and Rising again he oft foretold all this to his Disciples and the rejecting of him by the Jews and their Nations Cities and Temples ruin for it and his purpose to cease the Mosaical Politie and to make his Church more Great and Catholick by the Calling of the Gentiles especially the Roman Empire X. At his Resurrection he took more solemn possession of his Kingly Government And first Commissioned the Twelve Apostles whom he had before made Preachers to the Jews to continue their Ministry to them in a number related to the Twelve Tribes till Persecution should expel them and then to do their best to make all Nations as such his Disciples Baptizing them as the Entrance into his Kingdom into the Name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and there teaching them to observe all his Commands delivered to those Apostles and promising to be with them to the End of the World XI By this and more it appeareth that a great triumphant Kingdom on Earth and National Churches which are nothing but Christian Kingdoms was at first in Christs Intention though the Embrio and Infancy anteceding it was to be first in Execution For he commanded the Discipling of Nations and would have gathered Jerusalem and not cut them off nor taken the Kingdom of God from them but for their unbelief And the number of Twelve was by Matthias to be made up to shew their relation to the Jews National Church State till Persecution drove them to the Gentiles and then Paul and Barnabas were added The Apostles have Successors in all the parts of their Office which is to be continued to the End but not in the parts that were extraordinary peculiar and temporary XII Christ by the Holy Ghost which he promised to send to be his powerful Agent propagated a holy Generation and by his Messengers Preaching his Resurrection and Kingdom especially and the Miracles which they wrought he confirmed his Gospel And Converted quickly many Myriads of the Jews and after far greater numbers of the Gentiles Thus preparing materials or subjects for his more visible Kingdom of Power on Earth Himself reigning over all in Heaven XIII That his Subjects might know the Nature and Terms of his Covenant and Government which was to bring them to a Heavenly Kingdom he not only required their Covenant-Consent to forsake the Flesh and this World and the Devil for that Eternal Life which he had promised them but he was pleased to put them on the actual exercise of this agreement and to try their sincerity by putting them often upon Sufferings and Martyrdom And therein he exercised his Heavenly Power in strengthening them and making them more than Conquerors while they went as Sheep to the slaughter to the honour of their Lord and Faith and the confusion of their Persecutors XIV Yet did he so over-power the Spirits of the Pagan Persecutors that of Forty Emperors there were at most but ten that persecuted them so that in this Captivity and Wilderness state by their liberty their numbers so increased that they became a considerable party in their Dominions and Armies XV. Of all these Persecutors the Cruellest were Nero Domitian Maximinus and Decius but far above all the last who were seven together Dioclesian Max. Herculius Max. Galerius Max. Daya Severus Licinius Maxentius and Constantius not wholly innocent The cruelty of their Tormentors and the great numbers Tormented and Martyred is frightful even to read By all which Christ shewed his Heavenly Power in the terrible punishment of all their Persecutors First in the dreadful destruction of the cursed part of the Jews who were by Vespasian and Titus so destroyed that 110000 of them were killed and about 700000 Captivated And their State City and Temple overthrown and saith Origen and Chrysostom it is certain that they shall never that is the Infidels return to that Land And afterwards by Trajan and Adrian in revenge of the Murders of Barcocheba an Antichrist near as many more were killed which must needs leave the Infidels few in so small a Land when London is supposed not to have near one Million of Inhabitants And as to the great Pagan Empire the greatest that ever the World had Christ rode on the White Horse against them Conquering and executed on them all the Plagues gradually numbered in the Apocalypse the Seals the Trumpets the Vials till he had utterly overcome them and all their Confederates He dealt so severely with them that of Forty Emperors there were scarce ten or seven that died without Murder a natural death But they were still in Bloody Wars with other Nations and with one another so that The Beast that was and Is not and yet Is became a fit description of their State As notably suited to Domitian at first and to Dioclesian Herculius and their Fellows at last so all along to the ordinary Succession To day there was an Emperor the next day he was kill'd and there was None And yet another presently succeeded him and so there is one again The Soldiers selling the Empire to him that would give most for it or was likest to advance them How dreadful a destruction did Christ by one Constantine bring on the seven Heads and ten Horns at last in a very little time So that Heaven and Earth triumphed with Joyful Praise that Babylon was fallen and the Kingdoms of the World were become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and he had taken to himself his great Power and had reigned and was setting up the New Jerusalem as a Fifth Monarchy the Embrio of the Coelestial Jerusalem in its visible Reigning Power I am none of those that will secure Papal Rome from an answerable Name and Guilt and Fate But he that will convince me that Pagan Rome was not the Babylon there meant or that it is not fallen must first convince me that he is of more credible Authority than the Apocalypse XVI O how great a change was it for poor Christians throughout all the Empire to be brought from Scorn and Torments and the Martyrdom of many Thousands after 294 years Captivity to be suddenly made Freemen to celebrate Christs Worship in the most Solemn Assemblies and to be made Lords of their Persecuting Captivating Idolatrous Enemies lately so great that no Nations could stand before them Who did the Godly desire should be in Power rather their Bishops that came newly out of the Furnace of Tryal O what a change O what a joyful day And shall the success of the Devil that
he begins to reign His Kingdom and the Resurrection of his Saints begin together § 10. I confess this Doctrine well agreeth with Doctor More 's Life of Tryal in the Air and Mr. Mede's Conclusion that our Salvation is not ascertained to us till the Resurrection Indeed it maketh all our Preaching and Religion in this life of little moment in comparison of that which is after both Death and Resurrection For if Christ Reign not till then he maketh no Laws till then He bindeth us to no obedience to him till then He punisheth no sin till then He setteth up no Magistrates till then to be Governing Officers in his Kingdom He executeth no Discipline in the Churches as King O how have Independents and Presbyterians been deceived then who have lamented the neglect or suppression of Christs Kingly Government in the Church It is then under his Thousand years Government that men must obey to secure their Salvation § 11. But the contrary is fully evident by the Effects 1. What new Laws he will make in the Air you must prove But we can prove that he made Laws for Government on Earth 2. Else the World hath had no King or Government of God 3. Nor no authorized Prince or Pastor 4. All Saints can say that he giveth Rewards on Earth to Believers 5. And he is the Protector of his Church 6. He here is known by the Judgments which he executeth and maketh his Enemies his footstool though their final Fall be at the last Did he not in that Kingly glory described by John execute all those Plagues on Pagan Rome and its Beast which are gradually described in the Seals the Trumpets and the Vials till it fell If you say that all this is meant of Papal Rome sure I am it was done first on Pagan Rome And you that tell us how shortly Turk and Pope shall fall sure take it to be before the Resurrection And doth not Christ then make his Enemies his footstool by his Kingly Power 12. What it is for Christ to subdue his Enemies must be known by his Office and Undertaking which is to overcome Satan and to save his People from their sins And did he not conquer Satan as a Tempter and triumph even on the Cross And doth he not conquer the Dominion of sin in all his Members Is he not mortifying them in us day by day And is not this treading down his Enemies And is he not taking off the Curse the fruit of sin These are Christs Enemies because they are ours even the diseases which he came to cure § 13. Is it not unreconcileable self-contradiction for you to extol the Doctrine of Dr. Crisp who saith That we are so fully saved by Christ even before Conversion that we have no sin it being none of ours but his nor can any sin hurt us much less other mens nor any penalty befal us nor any place left for any duty to do us the least good and yet that Christ our Saviour subdueth not his Enemies before the Resurrection Yea your self assert that we are Righteous by Gods Essential Righteousness and that as our only Justification and Holiness And yet doth not Christ tread down his Enemies Hath he trod down in you no Pride no Lust no Errour no Injustice Doth he not tread down greater Enemies than Turkish Swords or Papal Inquisitions in every Soul that he converteth When we fight not against flesh and blood but against Principalities and Powers and spiritual wickedness in high places And when we are but killed and counted as Sheep to the slaughter in all this we are more than Conquerours and need not fear them that kill the body § 14. Rev. 5. 12 13. The numberless Host of Heaven cry Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing and is not that a Kingdom and is it not till the Resurrection And every creature which is in Heaven and on the Earth and under the Earth and such as are in the Sea and all that are in them heard I saying Blessing and honour and glory and power be to him that sitteth on the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever This is before the Resurrection § 15. Rev. 12. 7. If Michael be not Christ he is Christs Servant And there was War in Heaven and Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angels and prevailed not neither was there place found any more in Heaven And the great Dragon was cast out that old Serpent called the Devil and Satan who deceiveth the whole World He was cast out into the Earth and his Angels were cast out with him And I heard a voice saying in Heaven Now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God and the Power of his Christ for the accuser of our Brethren is cast down who accused them before our God day and night And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the Death Therefore rejoice ye Heavens and ye that dwell in them Woe to the Inhabitants of the Earth and of the Sea For the Devil is come down to you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time He may make his own Faith that will affirm that this describeth no Kingdom of Christ or no Conquest of his Enemies or that all this is after the Resurrection or yet to come and none of it yet fulfilled § 16. Rev. 14. 7 8. Fear God and give Glory to him for the hour of his Judgment is come Babylon is faln is faln This is a Judgment and a treading down Enemies before the final Judgment And so is the Reaping and the Wine-press mentioned ver 13. to the end § 17. Were all the seven Vials poured out after the Resurrection c. 16. Or were there no treading down of the Enemies of King Jesus Ch. 17. 12 14. The Beast and his ten Kings make war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful This is a Conquest before the Resurrection Ch. 18. Is yet more full herein about all the Fall and Plagues of Babylon Over whom Heaven and Earth are called to rejoyce And it was certainly before the Resurrection that the Kingdoms of the World are said to become the Kingdoms of Christ And the three last Chapters describing the Glory of the delivered Church on Earth as representing the heavenly Glory is yet the fullest proof of all § 18. By all this it is evident that you call that Christs Kingdom as begun which is but his Kingdom in triumph and maturity as if a man were no man till he is at full Age. But it is your not distinguishing the Kingdom of Mediatorial Redemption recovery and acquisition from the Kingdom
men are against the Lutheran Vbiquitarians And shall Christ Preach to them in the Air and his voice be heard throughout the World a thousand times further than the Thunder And how will they know that it is Christ when on Earth they would not know him but imputed his Miracles to Beelzebub And will the bare sight of Christ make millions of ignorant sots presently understand all the Essentials of Religion yea and become eminently wise and holy when we can scarce teach an ignorant one now to understand the Catechism or Creed in many years I doubt many Millenaries have some such Servants and Children in their own houses 2. Some say that Elias shall come and Convert them A Jewish Dream And how will they know that he is Elias As they knew John Baptist to be Elias If you say as Peter did on the Mount I say that was by Inspiration or by Christs telling him that it was Elias Shall they have either of these And where shall Elias preach to them Is he also ubiquitary If he preach in Spain shall they hear him in Portugal Or if in Holland or Rome shall they hear him in England If he preach at Stepney shall they bear him at Westminster at Tarmouth at Norwich and all over the Land and over all the World at once Or must he stay long enough to go over all the Earth If one Man can do so much why have many thousands done so little on the Jews to this day 3. If you say God will raise up and send forth Ministers enough that will be yet a greater Miracle To give so many Skill VVill and Zeal To cause them to speak with all the Languages of the Nations When the Jesuits at Japan Congo and China after many years Learning their Tongues do but set the Nations in a Laughter to hear their mispronunciation as Maffeius Varenlus and others tell us And who will furnish so many Thousand new inspired Preachers with Money to carry them through all the VVorld And procure them free passage through Enemies Lands 4. But the last answer I expect is that nothing is difficult where God will work and Grace shall make one sight of Christ to Convert them all I answer If you lay all on the Miraculous Inspirations of God that can do it without seeing Christ and without preaching As God made the World with a Word He can so make every Infant a Doctor that they not stay as Christ to encrease in Stature and Wisdom But if you feign him to purpose or promise this take heed lest he will not hold you guiltless for taking his Name in vain This Creating Inspiration of sudden Wisdom Faith and Holiness into so many Thousands over the World at once will be a greater Miracle yea Millions of Miracles than ever Christ did And is quite contrary to the Word of God § 22. 6. The feigned Exaltation of them by a Jerusalem Monarchy is also a devised Miracle That these scattered people by such means should get to Jerusalem and become a Grand Monarchy and that in a place so uncapable and that never was such no not in David's days § 23. XI Another reason against this Jewish Monarchy at Jerusalem is that instead of an Exaltation it would be a Banishment to the Jews Judea being like our Wales or not so big as half England and a Countrey though flowing with Milk and Honey in comparison of the Arabian Wilderness yet very full of Mountains Rocks and Deserts and oft infested with Famines So that could they bear their charges thither I believe that the Jews in Portugal Constantinople Rome and Thessalonica alone would take it for as sad a Banishment to be sent to Judea as all England would do to be sent to Jamaica yea or Barbadoes If you say that God can feed them by Manna or by Angels or Ravens or make all the Neighbours Countreys Egypt Mesopotamia c. feed them take heed of imposing upon God § 24. XII God in Scripture hath given us another description of the Two New Jerusalems the Infantile and the Perfect that on Earth and that on Heaven more Glorious and Desireable than the Jewish feigned one Therefore we should not obscure the Glory of them by such a Fiction As Satan fighteth against the Spirit by a false Spirit and against the Church by a false Church and against the Ministry by a false Ministry and against Unity by false Unity so doth he against the Kingdom of Christ and the New Jerusalem by a Counterfeit 1. As the Assyrian Persian Grecian and Roman Monarchies were the four mentioned in Daniel so there have been since a fifth and a sixth By a Monarchy now is meant only the Greatest on Earth known to the Church The fifth was the Christian Empire whose Chief Seat was Constantinople called New Rome and New Sion I am not ignorant what is said against this by Heddeggerus and many others That is not to be disputed in this narrow Room The sixth Monarchy visibly is the Turks with the Tartarian Unity Gog and Magog The seventh the Sabbatical and Perfect Monarchy is that of Christ in the New Heaven and New Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness after the Burning of this World By debasing Fiction confined to a Thousand years and Christs own Kingdom also so confined whereas this wicked World hath already lasted Six Thousand years within Three Hundred and Ten. This vilifying of Christs Glorious Kingdom is by blind Zeal now made the exalting of it by many deceived and deceiving Men. Chap. IX Of the New Earth § 25. COncerning the New Earth we must content our selves with what God hath revealed and not search into the unrevealed things 1. It is revealed that it will be the Restitution of all things that in it shall dwell Righteousness that the whole Creation groaneth to be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God that it will be a Paradise State that Christ shall Reign over it that no Glorified Saints shall lose any of their part in Heaven by it that there will be no death nor misery Therefore there will be no Gog and Magog and numberless Armies of the wicked For there entereth nothing that is defiled It will be a State of Communion with Heaven Angels and Men will have familiar Converse Christ shall be joyfully known among them as their Saviour and King Neither Christ nor the Saints will lay by the Humane Nature or Body but their Bodies will be so far refined as shall be suitable to the condition of the New refined World This much is certain But these things following are uncertain 1. How much of the Old Earth God will use in the constitution of the New Whether only the Surface of the Earth shall be Burnt and the Things and Works thereon or also the Interiour parts dissolved into a Chaos As it is uncertain to us whether the Chaos at the present Earths Creation was the Relicks of a former World
We are not certain whether there was any former World Though to conjecturing Reason it seems improbable that God who delighteth in his Works and will continue a VVorld to Eternity should from all Eternity have nothing but Himself till Six days ago Six Thousand years But this will infer Aristotle's Eternity of the Universe except mutations of alterable compositions that the VVorld is an Eternal Effect of an Eternal Cause and Gassendus his Indefiniteness he meaneth Infiniteness of the VVorld and the old Opinion that God and the VVorld are but One as Soul and Body By which they resolve the Grand difficulties that God is not Pars Entitatis which were to be Imperfect and so no God the Entity of the World and God being more than of either alone if the VVorld have any real Entity 2. It is uncertain how God will people this New Earth Some think as he did this Earth by Adam and Eve Some think by a Creation of many at once Some think by a Transplantation from some other Orb Some think as Dr. H. More that except a few rare Saints or Martyrs all go hence but into an Aerial Vehicle and may thence without loss be made Inhabitants of the New Earth And some think that those that are found alive shall live in the Fire and after and some that they shall be caught up from the Fire and Judg'd and sent hither again 3. It is uncertain whether there shall be any Generation on the New Earth Mr. Beverley saith They shall multiply so as to compensate with a much more for the Jewness of the saved under the first Adam and each shall live the Thousand years But Christ saith that the Children of the Resurrection neither Marry nor are given in Marriage but are like the Angels and die no more The doubt is then whether he call only those in Heaven and not those on the New Earth the Children of the Resurrection 4. It is uncertain whether there shall be any stated visible presence of Christ here or that only he shall appear as in Heaven as the Sun doth by its Light or only sometimes be seen as he was after his Resurrection And so of the Angels 5. Itâ—s uncertain whether the New Earth shall have any End or Change or shall be Everlasting It 's certain that the Thousand years Rev. 20. are before it in this Life but of its Duration God hath said nothing to us 6. It 's uncertain how much of the Old Heaven shall be Burnt Though it's likely it will be only so much as was Cursed for Sin 7. It 's uncertain whether there will be any removal to a higher VVorld and each Person live his Thousand years and then as Henoch and Elias be translated and so on to following Generations or each Person continue here for ever 8. It 's uncertain whether Devils shall be permitted here to be Tempters or all Temptations be cast out § 26. It will be no disparagement to Christ to Rule the Restored Earth as well as Heaven Nor to Saints or Angels to be Governours under him VVere the Sun Intellectual it would be no grief to it to be a Benefactor by its Influence to Earth For it is no dishonour to God Himself to Communicate all to the Creature that it hath There may be here such Subjects as God promised Apostles and Saints that they shall Judge If by Faith in Christ God dwell in us by Love and we in Him and we have in us that Kingdom of Grace we shall have our Part in the future Kingdom though we understand not many difficulties about it For Christ is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Decemb. 10. 1690. A Catalogue of Books Printed for and Sold by Tho. Parkburst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chapel CAtholick Theology Folio The Saints Everlasting Rest or a Treatise of the Blessed State of the Saints in their Enjoyment of God in Glory 4to The English Nonconformity as under King Charles II. and King James II. Truly Stated and Argued 4to The Life of Faith in every State 4to Alderman 〈◊〉 Funeral Sermon 4to A Key for Catholicks to open the Juglings of the Jesuits The first part of answering all their common Sophisms The second against the Soveraignty and necessity of General Councils 4to Naked Popery Answering Mr. Hutchinson 4to Which is the True Church A full Answer to his Reply proving that the General Councils and the Popes Primacy were but in one Empire 4to The History of Bishops and their Councils abridged and of the Popes 4to A full Treatise of Episcopacy shewing what Episcopacy we own and what is in the English Diocesan frame for which we dare not swear never to endeavour any alteration of it in our places 4to A Search for the English Schismatick comparing the Canoneers and Nonconformists 4to An Answer to Mr. Dodwell and Dr. Sherlock consisting an Vniversal-Humane Church Soveraignty Aristocratical and Monarchical as Church-Tyranny and Popery and defending Dr. Iz. Barrows excellent Treatise 4to Catholick Communion defended against both Extremes Moral Prognostications what shall befal the Church till their Concord c. Full and easie satisfaction which is the True Religion Transubstantiation shamed 8vo All 〈◊〉 by Mr. R. Baxter A Hundred Select Sermons on several Texts of Fifty on the Old Testament and Fifty on the New Folio The True Prophecies and Prognostications of Michael Nostrodamus Physician to Henry the Second Francis the Second and Charles the Ninth Kings of France and one of the Best Astronomers that ever were Folio Sixty one Sermons Preached mostly on publick occasions whereof five formerly Printed by Adam Littleton D. D. Rector of Chelsea in Middlesex Folio A Discourse of the Saving Grace of God by the late Reverend and Learned David Clarkson Minister of the Gospel 8vo The Vision of the Wheels seen by the Prophet Ezekiel Opened and Applied Partly at the Merchants Lecture in Broadstreet and partly at Stepney on January 31. 1689 being the Day of Solemn Thanksgiving to God for the great Deliverance of this Kingdom from Popery and Slavery by his then Highness the most Illustrious Prince of Orange Whom God raised up to be the glorious Instrument thereof By Matth. Mead Pastor of a Church of Christ at Stepney 8vo FINIS Gen. 1. 26 27. 9. 6. 1 Cor. 11. 7. Col. 3. 10. Gen. 3. 13 14 15 16. Eccles 7. 29. Hos 13. 9. Exod. 34. 7. Psal 86. 5. Mat. 28. 19. Deut. 29. 29. Joh. 3. 5 6 7. This is written with relation to the Writings of Mr. Sterry Dr. More Mr. â— Turner Mr. Beverley c. which I would not be too peremptory in my opposing Rom. 11. 33. Joâ— 5. 9. 40 41. 42. 〈…〉 of the World Exod. 34. 6 7 8. Gen. 3. 15. Prov. 1. 3. 8. Rom. 2. 4 7. Heb. 11. 26. Gen. 9. Gen. 22. 15. 26. 5 24. Rom. 4. 3 9. Gal. 3. 8 24. Heb. 11. 8 17. Jam. 2. 23. Moses the Prophets and Christ Mat. 5. attest all this Mat. 3. 15. 5. 17. Gal. 4. 4 5. Heb. 4. 15. 9. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 19. Phil. 2. 7 8 9 10. Mat. 28. 19. John 17. 3 4. John 5. 22 23 26 27. Luke 19. 34. Jo. 18. 37. Rev. 17. 14. Jo. 1. 49. Col. 1. 13. Mat. 12. 28. 21. 43. Mar. 1. 15. Luke 7. 28. 9. 27. 10. 9. 11. 20. 13. 18 19 c. 17. 20 21. 21. 31. 22. 16 18. Rom. 14. 17 18. Rev. 12. 10. Mat. 10. 7. Mat. 28. 19. Mark 16. 16 17. Mat. 23. 37. Rom. 11. 20 23 24 25 26. Rev. 11. 15. Rev. 11. 17. 19. 6. Acts 1. 25. Mar. 28. 20. John 14. 16 26. 15. 26. 16. 17. Acts 2. 37 38. 21. 20. Rev. 7. Luke 14. Rom. 8. 29. Rom. 8. 17. 1 Thes 2. 5. 2 Thes 1. 6. 11. 2 Tim. 2. 12. 3. 12. Rev. 2. 10. The Roman History is the full proof of this The Revelation and the Roman History compared prove this and expound each other Read Eusibius Eccl. Hist L. 8. Rev. 14 15 16 17 18 19. And the Prophets that proclaim it a great deliverance to the Israelites to have their Mountains again Inhabited and their Cities Built Mr. Potter and many Protestant expositors 〈◊〉 Rev. 20. 21 22. to speak of the Church on Earth Rev. 20. 5 6 7 9. 2 Pet. 3. 7 8 9 10 11. Rom. 8. 19 20 21. Fully proved after Mat. 25. Rev. 14. â—
are like the Angels And you say on Earth they shall be getting Children abundantly a Thousand years if you take that for no note of imperfection it seems Christ did Principle V. Answered § 1. What could you have said more strongly against your self Death is subdued or swallowed up in Victory when the Redeemed die no more None of them die after Christs first day of Judgment at his appearing Are they dying all the Thousand years I cannot imagine what reasonable answer you can give to this Text and Argument If you say that there are Devils and wicked Men to be put to death all the Thousand years can you prove that they were the Redeemed that Christ came to deliver from death or yet that some of them are damned in the beginning and some not till the end of the Thousand years Or if their death shall endure no longer than the Thousand years If you say that the Saints on Earth have Natures Mortal though they shall not die I answer you have written that they are in the Kingdom of Glory and equal in Love and Grace and perfect as those above And if death be not subdued when Men are secured from it by Christ and the possession of promised Immortality it s a doubt whether it be overcome at all For none are above a posse mori but God because the Being of all Creatures dependeth meerly on his will The suspension of his support would end all Created Being In which sense it is that Arnobius cont Gentes asserteth the Souls Mortality If Christ must be the Conqueror of Death when will he Conquer if not when Men die no more Is it after he hath given up his Power and Kingdom Principle VI. Answered § 1. This is but your further owning your own full Confutation Principle VII Answered § 1. This poor shift is answered above Do you not say Those alive are in the same Glorious Kingdom and that none are perfect till all are perfect And have those in the Air any more assurance that they shall not die than Gods Love and Will and Promise and their Union in Christ 2. But why is not at least the Heavenly or Airy Kingdom given up at first 3. Was not death Conquered to the Person of Christ after his Resurrection though he was at his Ascension to be taken up And is not death Conquered to those on Earth that have the foresaid security to ascend and never to die This shifting is meer violence to the Text. 4. But I will prove that the Apostle tells us that the Catching up will be presently And your words of Christ first and then those that sleep in him have no more strength than this Inference If Paul telling us of the difference in Order of time between Christs Resurrection and the End of the World be signified by that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after then we may suppose that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth no sudden change of the living at the Coming of Christ Ans I deny the Consequence The matter of fact tells us of a sixteen hundred years distance in one and the Text proveth a suddenness in the other The distance between Christs Rising and his Coming to Judgment are so notoriously revealed that Paul need not say It will not be the same moment But here if you believe not your self instead of Gods Word the contrary is so plain as confuteth all your devised frame § 2. I. Supposing that I need not confute to you the two false readings reproved by Jerom Augustine c. 1 Cor. 15. 51. saith We shall all be changed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what could be spoken plainer At the Change joyned with the Resurrection it will be in a moment in the twinkling of an Eye and which is unanswerable at the last Trumpet That the said Trumpets sound is at Christs Coming is evident Matth. 24. 30 31. They shall see the Son of Man Coming in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet and they shall gather together his Elect from the four winds from one end of Heaven to the other And 1 Thes 4. 16. The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the Trump of God c. If you will feign two Trumps one at the beginning and the other at the end of the Thousand years you will do it by so gross an addition and contradiction of Gods Word as that I hope few will believe you Nor yet if you feign that the Trumpet will not sound till the end of the Thousand years For the Trumpet soundeth at the same time that Christ Cometh with his Angels and that the dead are raised and the Elect gathered At this sound will be the change in a moment § 3. II. The Text saith expresly that we shall be caught up together with them And that none may feign it to speak but of a simultas of Company and not of Time the words are placed so as to confute it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we shall with them be caught up Not a Thousand years after them § 4. III. The Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rapiemur suddenly caught up as by force seemeth purposely put to signifie the simultaneous speed § 5. IV. The end of this Rapture is not at a Thousand years end to go dwell in the Air or with the Lord but to meet the Lord in the Air which is supposed to be at his Coming 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The whole context 1 Thes 4. and 1 Cor. 15. implyeth this meeting him to be at his Coming § 6. V. It is said to be to meet him in the Air. But no Bible but yours doth say that Christ shall dwell a Thousand years in the Air. And you your self say that at the end of the Thousand years he shall give up his Airy Humane Kingdom And when he hath removed his dwelling the Inhabitants of the Earthly Paradise will come too late § 7. VI. It is said that when we meet him we shall for ever be with the Lord That is The same Lord that we meet which is Christ God and Man and in the State and Kingdom where we meet him and not only come to him at a Thousand years end when he hath changed his Humanity Kingdom and Place § 8. VII Ver. 15. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we are left as reserved to the Coming of the Lord plainly imply that we are kept for that time to meet him at his Coming and not only a Thousand years after § 9. VIII 1 Cor. 15. 52. Again expresly joineth the sound of the Trumpet the Resurrection and our Change together For the Trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed that is when the Trumpet soundeth and the dead are raised § 10. IX Matth 24. Christ tells us that He will gather his Elect from the four Winds