he is the high Steward and great Dispenser in God's Kingdom All power is given unto him in heaven and in earth Observ 3. That that Prophesie which comes from so sure an Author as Jesus Christ must infallibly be true and come to pass for he is and always was the great Prophet of his Church it was he that gave visions and Prophesies to the Prophets Isaiah Ieremiah Ezekiel Daniel somtimes by his ministring spirits the Angels somtime by himself in the appearance of the likeness of the son of man Ezek. 1. v. 26. And all know that their prophesies stood sure and were accomplished in their respective seasons But as unto the stedfastness and faithfulness of this book of Prophesies see what Christ himself testifies in Rev. 3.7 14. and in ch ult v. 6. These things saith the Son of God who is the faithful and true witness therefore of most sure performance in God's appointed seasons From the words which God gave unto him to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass Observe 1. That Christ's servants are very privie to Gods counsels and knows much of his designes This Christ hath verified First From that ground of union which is between Christ and his members for being once become his members or servants then they in Christ and Christ in them and according to that 1 John 2.20 They have an unction from him that is holy and they know all things so that they that have the Son have the Father also for they both are one in will counsel power and essence John 17.21 22. And the secrets of the Lord are with those that fear him 2. They know much of the mind of God in all the combustions changes and revolutions of this world Many think that they come by chance ill fortune or for want of foresight in management of State affairs but the servants of God know that the hand of God is in all those revolutions and State-shakings and that there can no evil befal unto the City but that there is the providence of God in it directing and over-ruling it unto its end so that they do foresee that this change and that alteration in the world will come too and can rightly conclude that all tend as in a chain of providences to bring about God's great end in the exaltation of Christ's Throne and the pulling down his enemies Observ 2. God reserved the more full revelation of all things concerning the changes and revolutions of the Church and State and the end of all unto the day of Christs exaltation in glory Christ on earth was not so glorious as Christ in heaven he had not so full commission to send out so much of his Spirit while he was on earth as when he was in heaven John 7.39 So in like manner it is no sin to say that God had not communicated unto Christ's manhood whiles here on earth the compleat knowledge of times and seasons and the end of all for he is said to grow in knowledge and therefore according to his manhood whiles here on earth might be ignorant in some things But yet it is clear the Father revealed it to him when he ascended into heaven that he might reveal it to his Church as the due reward of all his sufferings chap. 5. 9. Thou art worthy to take the Book and open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain c. Which must shortly come to pass See vers 3. on these words The time is at hand And he sent and signified it by his Angel unto his servant John From these words you may observe That God reveals these Prophesies not immediately from himself but mediately and by instruments First God gives this Revelation to Christ Christ gives discovery partly himself and partly gives commission to his Angels for the same Thirdly The Angels instruct John Fourthly John directeth the same to the seven Churches And fifthly From the seven Churches they are left to all the Churches of Christ for information unto the end of the world The infinity of God and the finiteness of creatures are not compatible therefore God uses instruments sutable to our capacities for discovery of his mind Observ 2. From the Messenger or Angel by whom partly this prophesie was sent Observe That Christ employs Angels in great services for his Church Angels were the first publishers and preachers of Christs birth an Angel tells the Apostles that Christ should return in that manner they had seen him go up to heaven Acts 1.11 Angels tells Abraham and Lot what God would do to Sodom Christ tells John Rev. 22.16 That he sent his Angels to testifie those things in the Churches The Angels are made ministring spirits for the service of the church and their service is more manifest in these particulars 1. They inform us of God's will and God of our ways they ascend and descend Zac. 1.11 Gen. 18.19 2. They oppose the enemies of Christ and his Church Rev. 12.7 Dan. 10.20 Numb 21.22 3. They execute the judgements of God upon his enemies Exo. 12.23 Gen. 19.11.13 c. Isa 37 36. Rev. 16. throughout 4. They defend the godly both against wicked men wicked spirits and wicked practises Rev 7.1 2 3 c. Psal 34.7 and 91.11 Gen. 32.1 2. 2 King 6.14 15 c. 5. Next after the spirit of Christ they comfort the afflicted in their distresses Luke 1.30 Acts 10.4 and 27.24 Dan. 6.10 11 12. Luke 22.43 6. They are God's reapers and gatherers of God's elect at the end of the world Mat. 24.31 From the person to whom this prophesie was sent and revealed by the Angel under this relation of his servant John what this Iohn was is made fully to appear in the preliminary discourse unto the Title it was Iohn the brother of Iames our Lord's kinsman the beloved disciple a great Pillar and Apostle in the Church of Christ and yet he is here described under the title and relation of servant not only so by right of creation but of redemption special right covenant and service From which observe That to be related to Christ by way of service is a higher priviledge then any outward relation to him Better be Christ's bondman then his kinsman inward priviledges are more honourable then carnal Mary was happier in carrying Christ in her heart then in her womb Iohn glories more to be Christ's servant then his cosin Mat. 12.47 48 c. Christ professeth that they are his kindred who shall do the will of his father and he that is related to Christ in grace and faith is as sure of his love and acceptation as any of his nearest friends or kinsmen Observ 2. It is man's greatest honour to be Christ's servant It was a curse upon Cain Gen. 9. to be a servant of servants but to be Christ's servant is not only free but noble Iohn though he was a great pillar a prophetical Apostle the darling Disciple yet Christ calls him but his servant Paul
same incommunicable properties with the Ancient of days He is here farther described to have eyes as a flame of fire and feet like unto fine brass burning as in a furnace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eyes like a flame of fire signifies either their piercing nature in searching into the secrets of the heart or of wrath and indignation to terrifie his impenitent enemies and indeed Christ is here from head to feet presented in a fiery colour his eyes were as a flame of fire his feet like unto fine brass as if they burned in a furnace Hence Note Observ 2. That when Christ is about executing acts of power and judgement against Kingdoms or Churches he is most terrible in his appearance When he goes about to call to an account the seven Asian Churches he is very intense about it and all of a fiery colour sparkling in the eyes like fire does signifie much anger and indignation feet of burning brass speed and execution Christ is here presented in that fine posture he is brought in Rev. 10.1 with his face shining as the Sun and his feet as pillars of fire whereupon presently followed terrible thunders and dreadful judgements So in chap. 2. v. 18. he is presented with eyes like fire and feet like brass and forthwith goes on with a charge against the Church of Thyatira So in Rev. 19.10 11 12. he is said to have his eyes like a flame of fire and his vesture dipt in blood and presently goes on in executing great wrath against his adversaries The dreadfulness of this fiery Judge when he comes in wrath will better appear if we consider that of the Prophet Malachi 3.2 3. Who shall abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appears for he is like a Refiners fire A Refiners fire is the hottest most terrible and most consuming How terrible he is towards Babylon both literal and mystical consider Jer. 51.25 and Rev. 18.8 9 c. I am against thee oh destroying mountain speaking of Babylon which destroyest all the earth I will stretch out my hand upon thee and rowl thee down from the Rock and will make thee a burnt mountain This was fully executed on old Babylon in the letter And how severe is Christ against Babylon in the mysterie in Rev. 18.8 Her plagues shall come at one day death and sorrow and famine and she shall be burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God which will condemn her Peruse the chapter throughout When Christ goes forth on his red horse to execute judgement and to take peace from the earth neither Kings nor Captains nor the mighty ones of the earth shall be able to stand against this mighty one They shall call for the mountains to fall upon them to hide them from the face of him that sitteth upon the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. And Paul tells us 2 Thes 1.8 of the dreadfulness of this Judge who should come in flames of fire to what end to destroy Antichrist the son of perdition with the brightness of his coming only consider once more Rev. 19.12 13 c. When Christ goeth forth to make war in righteousness his eyes were like a flame of fire and was clothed in a garment dipt in blood and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp sword that with it he should smite the heathen for he shall rule them with a rod of iron for he it is that treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of almighty God All this doth clearly inform that Christ hath another name a strange name that none knoweth but himself Rev. 19.12 that is another nature and disposition to appear in then of a Lamb No man ever thought that have only considered Christ in the state of his humiliation that he had that Lion-like disposition in him All Christ's adversaries shall one day know that he is as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah whose voice shall be terrible unto them as well as a Rock of defence and safeguard to all his chosen ones and as sure as he hath already acted the Lamb-like part in his sufferings here on earth and now doth the same in his Mediators office in heaven so he shall one day come with power and glory to rule the Nations of the earth that would not have him for their Lord and King even with a Scepter of power and judgement and with a rod of iron And to set forth the dreadfulness of this Judge the more he comes with a Lion-like voice roaring as the sound of many waters Hence Note Observ 2. That when Christ comes to judge his enemies he is not only dreadful in his looks and outward appearance but he is dreadful all over even in his words also In verse 10. his voice was as of a Trumpet loud and terrible here like the sound of many waters very terrible to his enemies but rouzing converting and saving to his faithful ones Verse 16. And he had in his right hand seven Stars and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword and his face shone as the Sun shineth in its strength Notwithstanding Christ's dreadful appearance and his intenseness unto judgement yet he had in his right hand seven stars In the right hand is seated the chiefest strength and power of man and so it connotes to us safety and protection and he takes the seven stars into his right hand to preserve and keep them safe under his protection whilst he is executing his judgements upon his impenitent backsliding churches or obstinate enemies The seven stars the Spirit interprets to be the Angels of the seven churches verse 20. of this chapter only what is meant by Angels in that place being mystically represented by the stars in Christ's right hand I think fit to make enquiry here Surely it cannot be meant Angels in a proper sense such as are ministring Spirits the Angels in heaven for John is commanded in the next chapter to write unto those Angels of the church of Ephesus Smyrna c. to write unto the Spirits Angelical all know such a command would not proceed from him that is the wisdom of the Father therefore this must needs be interpreted to be the chief Ministers or Pastors of those Asian churches who should rather be called here the Messengers then the Angels of the churches for the word in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Messenger which we translate Angel when attributed to God's ministring Spirits but when attributed unto man more properly it should be rendered Messenger and not Angel as that of Peter Acts 12. When he came and knocked at the door where the Disciples were they thought it was his Angel and not himself that is his Messenger one coming from him to acquaint them of his deliverance for they could not be so ignorant to conceive that it was an Angel that knocked which could enter without opening the doors wherefore under correction of better Iudgements I shall account this amongst
we need not fear of want of persecution or tribulations for that is the common lot of all that will live godly in Christ Jesus for Satan is the great contriver and promoter of it Observ 5. From the words And ye shall have tribulation ten days Note That the afflictions of Gods people are but for a definite time and season The tribulation that passed over the Church of Smyrna was but for ten days that is ten prophetical days or years as some will have it But I rather should understand ten days to be ten times of persecution for it is to be observed that days in Prophetical writings do signifie times as well as years as in that of Dan. 4.29 Seven times shall pass over thee and in verse 31. it is rendred And at the end of those days I Nebuchadnezzar lift up mine eyes to heaven Rev. 12.6 compared to vers 14. So that the highest pitch of Tribulation that should happen to the Church at Smyrna should be the ten great days or time of persecution that should befal the Churches of Christ under the Kingdom of the red Dragon the Heathenish Emperours Seventy years were appointed to the Jews captivity of Babylon And the longest day of tribulation that is to pass over Gods church that I read of in Scriptures is but a thousand two hundred and threescore days or two and forty moneths or a time times and half a time therefore the time is certain fixed and determinated in the counsel of God that the godly may have hopes to support their spirits and not faint under tribulations or afflictions for their Deliverer will come and will not tarry Quest But here you may demand why this innocent church of Smyrna wherein the Spirit could find no guil nor had any thing to lay unto her charge but on the contrary was very eminent in graces and sufferings for Christ's name should be so afflicted with so sharp tribulations and how the Justice of God can be vindicated in this particular Answ First I say This doth not at all derogate from the Justice of God for he doth not afflict his children as a Judge de merito for the guilt of sin for that is already done upon the Surety but he does it in wisdom as a loving father would do unto his childe keep him under the rod of correction to prevent him from running into future evils and so God deals here with the Smyrnians that they may be tryed that is refined from their dross and become more purer mettal Secondly God seeth or judgeth not as man judgeth We see nothing publiquely laid to the charge of the church of Smyrna but is set forth as one of the most eminent and fairest of the seven Sister churches both for faith piety and sufferings and worthily too she did deserve it in the eye of all yet God could foresee that she would turn wanton and prodigal as well as the rest and that she had the same heart of corruptions within as the others had and therefore had need of the rod of correction to keep her close to Christ And this in few Ages did appear by their iniquities whereby their candlesticks were removed from amongst them Thirdly When God chastises and afflicts his children it is not to be look'd upon as an act of Justice but of Grace To you it is given to suffer saith Paul to the Philippians 1.29 It is an act of honour and service when we are singled out to be Martyrs for the Truth of Christ before men and Angels And hence the Primitive Saints Acts 5.41 They went away rejoycing that they were accounted worthy to suffer for Christ Yea they think themselves Bastards and not beloved children if God chastens them not It is God's rod as well as staff doth comfort them Fourthly Another reason that God afflicts his most innocent children and the godly is The Truths of Christ are more propagated thereby What though the godly should suffer death that is but gain unto them and the church also gaineth by it for the enemies of Christ seeing their patience and fortitude have been often converted to the Christian faith as Antiquity testifieth Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae Just as an Oak that liveth by its own wounds The more blood of Christians was spilt in the primitive days the more they were multiplyed The church was first founded in the blood of Christ and it thrives best when they fulfil the remainder of the sufferings of Christ in their own bodies Therefore think it not strange nor against the Justice of God when he casts his children into divers tribulations Lastly God does afflict his best children to try them The ordinary strokes of God's providence as losses crosses sicknesses and the like are more properly corrections then tryals Corrections great end is either to mortifie sin or to keep from sin and to that end God often takes the rod of affliction and correction into his hand But Tryals that God sends us by Satan or his Instruments aim chiefly at the discovery and maintenance of our graces and therefore when such befal us they bring more inward comforts and experiences with them then ordinary crosses of Providence according to that of 2 Cor. 1.5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so also consolation aboundeth by Christ These are the two ways that God carries his Saints unto a crown of eternal life They must be first hewen before they will make fit stones for the building of the New Jerusalem Gold must pass thorow the Refiners fire before it come unto its perfection Tryals and the Cross though not meritorious for heaven yet are Antecedents thereunto It is thorow much tribulation that we must enter into the Kingdom of God for we have much dross and sin within us to be clensed from us before we shall be made meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1.12 And this work is much promoted by afflictions which makes us more heavenly and meet for the communion of Saints For before we were afflicted as David we went astray but since we have cleaved close to his commandments Wherefore when we enter into divers tribulations let us not judge that God hath done it in wrath and judgement but rather as a gracious father either to wean us from sin preserve us against sin or to approve and improve our gifts and graces Under Tribulations sincere graces are distinguished from guilded or hypocritical true faith from a feigned faith and the strong from the weak Here is the patience and faith of the Saints in their highest glory and in their greatest fragrancy therefore I conclude in S. James words cap. 1. 2. My Brethren count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations Observ From the words Be thou faithful unto the death and thou shalt have a Crown of life Note The Crown and reward is for him that faithfully persevers under sufferings for Christs sake unto the end He that leaves off half
God of power and strength that shall be set upon them And when will it be but in that day when the new Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven Rev. 21.2 Then the weakest Saint shall be as David and the house of David as Elohim Zach. 12. 2. The second name that is put upon them is that of the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven They shall not only visibly appear to have God's name and nature upon them but they shall also visibly appear to be citizens of that new Jerusalem that comes down from God and if it comes down from God and from heaven then surely it is meant of an estate here on earth and not in the supernal heavens as many dream of concerning this place and that of Rev. 21.2 That Jerusalem which is above and is celestial that abides and is fixed and shall not descend nor come down but this Jerusalem is to come down and to be with men Rev. 21.3 and God will dwell with them it were bâ—t a superfluous promise for God to tell the blessed in heaven he would dwell with them there that was beyond all doubt and therefore it must be here meant That the Tabernacle of God is with men when Christ comes before the last day to the great restauration of his church on earth And this new city and church-state is called by Christ The City of my God because God is the builder of it and it is said to come down from heaven and from God because the rise and dignity thereof shall be so great and wonderful that all shall acknowledge the power of God in the erecting thereof and that his hand did wholly rear it for God will have all the glory of it 3. Christ will write his own new Name upon them and what is that but that name mentioned in Rev. 19.16 King of kings and Lord of lords and this corresponds with that name in Phil. 2.9 which God had given Christ which is above every name at which name every knee should bow of things in heaven things in earth and things under the earth and in Heb. 2.8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet But now we see not yet all things put under him Surely Christ as yet had never this new name put upon him though he is exalted above the heavens into glory But we see not yet all things put in subjection under his feet nor yet every knee on earth to bow unto him or to worship him five parts in six of the world being Pagans or Mahometans that do not so much as take notice of him therefore sure not bow unto him and among professed christians how few do sincerely bow unto him all the godly know Neither as yet hath that new name of Kâ—ng of Kings and Lord of lords been put upon him as Mediator and God-man I grant that by vertue of his death and mediation all Kings in the world reigne and decree justice and as God he is the supreme Lord and King of kings But this is not all he must as Man be King of kings and Lord of lords and he must rule and reigne in another mode and posture then ever hitherto he hath done We have known him hitherto only as a Lamb and as a man of sorrows ruling by his spiritual Laws and Ordinances in and over his Saints only but we shall know him yet again with another new name written on him that no man knew but himself with his head crowned with many crowns and out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword that with it he should smite the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron Rev. 19.12.15 The Nimrods of the world have hitherto reigned and trodden under-foot the holy city of God and Christ hath been hitherto King of the Jews in Title only when Christ came first in the flesh he was only King of the Jews in jure in right and in God's purpose and decrees but never in possession and in esse Christ in his first coming was as an heir under years in the form of a servant though Lord of all which will be compleatly manifested at the accomplishment of his full age at his second coming he was promised and prophesied to be King of the Jews and so acknowledged not only by the three Wise men that offered to him in his swadling clouts Gold Myrrhe and Frankincense but by himself also and by that inscription on his cross though ironically set thereon by Pilate and the Jews yet by divine ordination it was written Jesus of Nazareth King of the Iews And this Kingly power of his shall one day be manifested when he will arise and take the iron Scepter of power and force in his hand to destroy all his enemies and opposers of his kingdom He then will make it appearâ— that he was he that was born King of the Jews and then will become King of Kings and Lord of lords And this new name of his he will write upon his faithful followers As he shall reigne and triumph over all the powers of the world so they shall be compartners and sharers with him in the honour and glory of this Kingdom they shall be taken into the fellowship of this glory and shall sit with him on his Throne as Kings judging the nations of the world Rev. 3.21 From the words Note Observ That God will make his Church most glorious and triumphant here on earth before the end of all He will put his own name upon her she shall be God-like in power strength and glory she shall have the name of the new Ierusalem that cometh down from God written on her that for her strength and glory is described in Rev. 21. To have her walls and gates strong and high and of precious stones built on the foundation of the twelve Apostles and the new name of Christ set upon ber As Christ shall be then King of kings so she shall be the Queen-city of the world Rome or Babylon shall be no longer the Empress of the Universe she shall lye in dust and ashes and become the habitation of Owls and Satyrs whiles this new Ierusalem or new church-state shall become the great city of the living God wherein his glory and light shall more eminently appear then in any other Society ever hitherto in the world All other Monarchies were but partial in respect of this Nebuchadnezzar's and the Persians reached but part of Asia Alexander's but a little further then theirs The Roman Caesars though farther in the West then the former yet not so extensive in the East as theirs The Spanish Mahometan Turkish Persian Tartarian and the rest of the Monarchies that are now a foot in the world the several branches heads or horns of the latter former Roman Beast are but small in respect of this universal Monarchy the church shall enjoy before the end of the world here on earth This mountain shall be set on the top of all other
speak very favourably of it and very ingeniously call it a harmless opinion not directly or indirectly striking or undermining any the fundamentals of the Faith But to proceed In this last Scripture take notice 1. What therein is promised as a peculiar reward to them that abide temptations with or for Christ and it is a Kingdom Christ's Kingdom my Kingdom vers 30. compare this with Rev. 11.18 and Rev. 20.4 2. Christ appoints unto them a Kingdom as his Father had appointed to him a kingdom but the Father as is on all sides agreed appointed not a particular kingdom for Christ after the ultimate judgement in the supernal heavens for it is affirmed on all hands that Christ then and there shall deliver up the Kingdom the power and ruling into the hands of the Father that God may be all in all according to that of 1 Cor. 15.24 28. Now in a Kingdom there are relations persons to rule and persons ruled to wit Christ and his Saints to rule and unbelievers to be ruled but in the highest heavens there is nothing to be made subject to Christ and his Saints no unbeliever or unclean thing must enter thereinto the blessed Angels the ministring Spirits being only subject to Christ Heb. 1.13 14. Neither can this be meant of Christ's spiritual Kingdom wherein Believers then were and in all ages formerly and therefore cannot be meant of this Kingdom promised and prophesied of in this Scripture Besides the spiritual Kingdom of Christ is called often by John the Kingdom oâ— patience wherein the Saints endure temptations afflictions and tryals which Christ here mentions and so cannot with the least reason signifie the Kingdom of Reward which Christ promiseth as the effects crown result and reward of that enduring and patience 3. Eating drinking and such actions are unsutable actions and expressions to signifie the glory of the highest heavens but very sutable to express Christ's glorious Kingdom here on earth for it is promised as a Paradice and a Tree of life therein Rev. 2.7 22.2 And it is such a high spiritual eating and drinking it being as yet a hidden Manna unto us that we cannot possibly comprehend the excellency thereof but under Types and Figures meet for our capacities 4. The conquering Saints are to sit on Thrones to judge the twelve Tribes of Israel In Christ's spiritual Kingdom this was never yet done but such were rather judged and trampled under foot by the powers of the world and Antichrist and in the supremest ultimate glory there is nothing to be judged neither persons nor things for that is the Father's Throne wherein Christ shall lay down all Authority and himself be also subject unto the Father as that 1 Cor. 15.24 25 28. Therefore this Kingdom here meant which Christ calls My Kingdom and My Throne is yet to come here on earth before the ultimate day of judgement and the Saints highest state of glory in the supreamest heavens which is the Father's Throne Object But some will object That this which is called Christ's Kingdom is also the same with the Father's Kingdom and not distinct from it but one and the same and to this purpose urge that Scripture Matth. 26.29 I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the Vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom Now that which you interpret to be the Son's Kingdom is here called the Father's Kingdom and therefore one and the same Answ I answer 'T is true The Son's Kingdom is called in Scripture the Father's Kingdom for divers reasons 1. Because the Father gives it to Christ and therefore he is called Psal 2.8 His King 2. Because the Father and the Son are one by an unspeakable Union and so the Kingdom of the Son may be called the Kingdom of the Father that is the Kingdom of God for Father is often ascribed in Scripture to the Godhead as that of John 17.3 This is life eternal that they know thee to wit the Father to be the only true God c. And by reason of the union of both natures in one person Christ it is called Eph. 5.5 The Kingdom of Christ and of God and The Throne of God and the Lamb Rev. 22.3 in the holy City the New Jerusalem So that Christ as man as one with the Father or God reigns in this happy millenary Kingdom and so may be also called the Father's Kingdom wherein he will drink his new wine with his faithful ones before the ultimate day of judgement so this makes not at all against the distinct Kingdoms of the Father and Christ which is before asserted and plainly evidenced from divers Scriptures Let the industrious enquiring Reader read more at large in D. Homes M. Maton and M. Mede hereon and vers 12. of this chapter But for a more full explicating and opening the Truth of this point understand That Christ's Kingdom in Scripture hath a diverse acceptation First Christ is King by right of creation Heb. 1.2 and this is his natural Kingdom which he hath as one God with the Father from everlasting Secondly Christ is King by right of Purchase as the first he rules and governs all the Kings and Nations of the world and so is King of Kings But by the second he governs more especially his church and people and this he does as God-man and is properly called Christ's Mediatory Kingdom And this his Mediatory Kingdom hath in it divers periods some more lowly some more exaltant and triumphant Christ was a born King witness the Magi's enquiry after him that was born King of the Jews and their majestique presents of Gold Myrrh and Frankincense but his power was then but obscure and low which appeared afterwards somwhat more radiant in imposing his commands doctrines and ordinances upon his followers and disciples but this was but dark and somwhat lowly also as an Heir in his minority After his Resurrection and Ascension he commands his Agents and Ambassadors to negotiate the great affairs of his Kingdom in his absence by the help and concomitancy of his Spirit with them and this is therefore called Christ's Spiritual or Ministerial Kingdom which is to continue unto his second coming the great work wherein is to preach the Messias and his Doctrine of Faith and his second coming but this is mixed too with a great deal of affliction trouble and obscurity But there is another period of this Mediatory Kingdom of Christ which is most glorious and triumphant and that is at his last appearance when all these low dispensations shall be done away when he shall reigne and none shall let All other periods were mixed with much tears and sorrow but in this they shall be quite wiped off In this last period there is given him not only as God but as man or rather as God-man Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all people Nations and Languages should serve him Dan. 7.14 and Psal 2.8 Ask â—f me and I
shall be for a time times and half And the Son of God in the Revelation 13.14 hath shewed that the Beast and false Prophet shall have power over the Saints for 42. moneths and that the time of the woman in the Wilderness and the time of the witnesses Prophesying in sackcloth to be 1260. dayes These things saith the Amen the faithfull and true witness who would not then believe him Seeing that Antichrists raign and the time of the Saints mourning is in the Eternall decree of God limited and prefixed and that which the Angel and the Son of God do testifie with a great oath we have no reason to doubt of but that they will come to pass in their several periods and appointed seasons Again against the definite demonstration of the last times and seasons and the great changes and revolutions held forth in this Book of the Revelation two Scriptures offers themselves that of our Saviours to his Disciples in Mark 13.32 speaking of the last day and of his second comming But of that day and houre knoweth no man no not the Angels which are in Heaven neither the Son but the Father the other is that of the Act. 1.7 Wherein Christ answereth his Disciples question wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom unto Israel And hee said unto them it is not for you to know the time and the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power so the objection lyes thus If no man no not Christ the Son of Man nor the Angels of Heaven knows the last day but that times and seasons are left alone in the power of the Father how then commeth it to pass that there is a discovery of times and seasons and of the last day it self and end of all made out unto John in this Revelation by Christ himself I answer first we must know that in Christ there was two natures distinct and unconfounded to make up one Person of a mediatour and the property of each nature did remain entire unto each hee was true God and true Man and as hee was Man or the Son of Man it is no derogation at all unto him to affirm that he knew not all things and that according to the understanding of Man to be ignorant of some things and so of the last day But to affirm it as he is God being one in Counsel nature and essence with the Father from all eternity it would be no less then blasphemy to affirm it for shall the Creatour of all things be ignorant of his handy-work 2. It was not the injunction or command of his Father on him whiles he conversed here on earth to discover unto the World what should happen in the latter dayes Of the same comfort is that Scripture Mark 10.40 being an answer to the Sons of Zebedee to sit on his right hand or his left was not his to give yet in Revel 3.21 he promiseth to him that overcommeth that he shall sit down with him in his Throne This Scripture gives a fair light to an interpretation of the former for whiles he was here beneath perfecting the work of our redemption here on earth the Revelation was not given unto him from the Father to discover times and seasons nor to give Thrones Powers and Kingdoms into the hands of his Saints untill after his resurrection when all power was given unto him by the Father and all things were then given into his hand by right of purchase And this is that that is clearly intimated in the Revel 5.9 c. When none was found worthy to open the Book then the 24. elders before the Throne sang a new song saying thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seales thereof for thou wast slain and hath redeemed us to God by thy bloud of every kindred tongue people and Nation The opening of this book being as it were referred to the merit of his death and passion so that it should not seem strange that he knew not the day of his second comming neither having not as yet suffered nor entered into his glory The Revelation of all things being reserved by the Father for Christ unto that day 3. That place of the Acts 1.7 is nothing to the purpose It was not for his Disciples to know then the fittest and most meet time which God thought good at that time not to make known to restore the Kingdom unto Israel he doth not answer them that he will not restore the Kingdom unto Israel But it was not now fit for them to know the time and season thereof Christ here speaks of de tempore Tempestivo of the opportune and fit time and seasons which the Father does reserve in his own power and will not reveale unto his people 4. I answer that in this essay I do consider the time of the rise progresse and period of Antichrist and other the great events Syncronizing with the same in an Indefinite and more general way not in an exact definite precise day and hour here I only consider the years in a more general way which now the Father hath not reserved as a secret in his own power but revealed them to us by his Son in this of the Revelation and other books of God Lastly accounting it as labour lost to answer the vain interpretations and glosses of the allegorizing and Chymical Scripturists to wit the Familistical Notionists who can extract quidlibet ex quolibet and so make the Revelation indeed a mistery and book sealed to the wisest Christian therefore I shall not at all meddle with them when as they interpret according to the mistical fanâ—ies of their own confused brains and not according to the least measure of sound knowledge For indeed if this book be not opened according to the Prophetical visions with their peculiar characters rightly applied to their several times and seasons we shall not know what tollerable sence or exposition to set upon it It is well that the Spirit of God it self doth clearly discover and demonstrate in the 17. Chap. the beast with seven heads and ten horns to be a government or Empire that should arise under ten Kings And that mistery of Babylon the great and the woman sitting upon many waters to be that great City scituated upon seven hils and which doth raign over the Kings of the earth Now if the Spirit of God it self hath holpen us with this key to unshut in part the misteries of the Revelation it should not be accounted presumption in us to fall on the same method in opening the rest of the Prophetical representations and figures of this book when as the Spirit of God hath given us some first fruits thereof it self as sure footsteps to tread in From which discovery of the Spirit we may as from a watch-tower take a full veiw of the rest of the Revelation and so a scanding of the whole book otherwise in it self inaccessible And that thy Servant O Christ who
both small and great Rev. 19.18 and this is to be executed by the sword that proceeded out of his mouth v. 21. and how this can be effected by the word of his mouth I know not otherwise then by moving and working powerfully on the hearts of such instruments as God shall command and employ to take the material sword in hand for the ruine of antichrist and to effect this work of wrath and judgement Collate to this the Notes on the two precedent verses 14 15. And his face shone as the Sun shineth in his strength This shows farther the resplendency of this vision His face is likened to the Sun in his glory There was much and great glory in this vision and yet all this is but like the Sun in his glory If it were the glory of ten thousand Suns united in one yet would be short of the essential glory of the Son of God it is neither expressible nor comprehensible by any of all the creatures but here is presented by things beneath its excellency that according to man's weakness we may perceive a little of his glory for no man yet ever could see the glory of God and live Hence Note That the execution of Justice and Judgement is a glorious administration Christ's face shone as the Sun in his strength when he was about to call his delinquent and offending churches to an account for their backslidings in chap. 10. v. 1. 3. his face was as it were the Sun in that appearance also but then presently followed thunders and voices as when a Lion roareth to denote unto us when Christ was going forth with terrible judgements upon the world his carriage and appearance therein was most glorious and it is said in Exod. 15.6 upon the destruction of Pharaoh and his host in the red Sea Thy right hand O God is become glorious in power thy right hand hath dashed in pieces the enemy and in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee The acts of God's power and justice do shine so clearly in the world that they dazle mens eyes and hearts and makes them tremble before God So likewise it is amongst the children of men not any Magistrates Commonweals or Nations are more honourable shining and dreadful to their enemies then such as keep close to the rules of Justice and judgement against offenders Never was Solomon more glorious in all his reigne then when he executed justice between the two Harlots and called for the Sword to decide the controversie How honourable was Phineas and what a high reward he got for executing justice and judgement It was an old saying Fiat Justitia ruat Coelum If our chief Magistrates keep close to Justice in our Land and Common-weal our Nation will shine as the Sun in its strength none of the Nations round about will be able to look us in the face for the power and glory of the Lord will be upon us Verse 17. And when I saw him I fell at his feet as dead then he laid his right hand upon me saying unto me fear not I am the first and the last Verse 18. And I am alive but I was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen And I have the Keys of hell and death When John had taken a view of this appearance of the Son of man and of that great and dreadful Majesty and Glory that he appeared in it struck him as dead at his feet Hence Note That the sight of Divine glory is the most effectually and humbling sight When the Prophet Isaiah had a sight of this glory he could cry out I am a man undone and of unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of hosts Isa 6.5 When a soul comes to see this glory it brings him to a true sight of his own worthlesness and to an abhorrency in his own eyes There is no greater or more efficacious way to take off our hearts from the creature then to behold the vast disproportion between the glory of God and our poor selves All flesh is as grass and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field Isa 40.5 6. and why Because the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together And when Job had a sight of this glory he cryed out Job 42.5 Now mine eyes see thee I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes Observ 2 That Revelations of Divine glory are dreadfully glorious They struck John as dead There did but Angels appear in an inferiour glory unto Gideon and Manoah and made those Worthies quake Judg. 16. 13. Apparitions of glory works strongly upon the spirits and quickly overwhelms them And if the glory of the creatures is so resplendent how is the glory of God to be born who dwells in the light which no man can approach unto 1 Tim. 6.16 Paul could not behold that glorious light that shined about him Acts 9. but was strucken to the ground and blinded with it In the Earth Heavens and World we may behold the glory of God in part and as in a glass but his essential glory as it is himself wherein he makes his habitation is that light which no man can approach to or comprehend and live and therefore when it is but left out to appear but in some likeness or similitude of man Fire or the like it works such terrible effects upon the beholders of it Abraham fell to the ground when he had this glory appeared to him Gen. 17.3 The three Disciples when they had but a taste of this glory at the Transfiguration in the Mount they fell upon their faces to the earth Now the reasons that the appearance of Divine glory is so dreadful are First Because the Majesty of God is partly in those visions and the luster that accompanies it is too high and burdensom for mortal eye Secondly That it may breed an awe and reverence in us of and unto the Divine Majesty When Israel saw the lightning and heard the Thunder in the Mount all the people in the Camp trembled Exod. 19.16 Thirdly It is to prepare a soul for entertainment of what God hath to speak unto it Our souls are quite out of temper by reason of lusts cares fears and the world to have converse with God This prepares them for this Divine communion Quest Here a question may be made whether the blessed heavenly Spirits Angels or blessed Souls or glorified persons after the resurrection shall or do see the essential glory of God Though it were granted mortal eye cannot see this glory yet those blessed glorified creatures may I answer That I am swayed for the negative My reasons are Because God's essential glory is himself and God is invisible and that glory inaccessible and no farther and in no other way to be seen and comprehended by any created being then himself thinks good to propound it in and this hath
hitherto from the beginning been God's method in the representations of himself under shapes figures and similitudes fitted to the capacity of the creature 't is true I confess Saints in heaven and Angels have a greater manifestation of the Glory of God then Saints on earth by reason of their glorified Organs fitted to receive that high measure of glory to compleat their vessels with all true and perfect blessedness but still remember they are creatures and will be still so though glorified and immortal ones Now how a finite creature can see or comprehend an infinite Glory or Majesty I know not otherwise then by condescensions to their capacities and finite natures If a finite creature as Angel or glorified Saint could see and comprehend an infinite then what is seen or comprehended it were not infinite and if an infinite could be comprehended of the finite the finite would it self become infinite Neither can infinite be seen in parts for it is not possible therefore not to be seen at all Therefore I am of opinion that God and his essential glory is seen of Angels and glorified Saints not as in himself infinitely glorious but by way of condescension in some resemblance likeness figure or representation above our reach to consider But I conceive the glory of God will be most eminently seen to glorified Saints in the face of Jesus Christ God did always appear in the likeness of the Son of man when he did appear to his Prophets before the Incarnation of Christ the Saints saw God in the face of Jesus Christ when he was on earth for he was the express Image of his Father And they that hope to see God and his glory at the resurrection shall see him most gloriously and most eminently in the face of the Son of man Rev. 22.3 4. The Throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him and they shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads Object But some may say Do not the Angels behold always the face of the Father in heaven Matth. 18.10 I answer It is true they are in the special presence of God and have a most high and eminent fruition and communion with God but the manner unutterable and inexpressible for in this sense you must understand it and not literally for God hath not a face in heaven and consider as before they are creatures and the Father is infinite and invisible Object 2. But did not Moses and Jacob see God and talked with him face to face and mouth to mouth Exod. 33.11 Gen. 32. Numb 12 8. I answer Those Prophets and Patriarchs did see God but how Not essentially but under divers resemblances for in his own nature he is invisible as that of 1 Tim. 6.16 Whom no man hath seen or can see and that of John 1.18 is downright No man hath seen God at any time either by corporeal vision or by intellectual natural vision for they are weak and imperfect and cannot comprehend that which is most infinitely perfect in it self And for this reason also the blessed celestial Spirits cannot comprehensively see God by reason of their imperfection comparatively to that most perfect Divine Being who only is able to comprehend himself unto perfection Secondly I answer Moses nor Jacob never saw the Divine Essence nor any other Because that is pure unmixt and always alike but that of God they saw was under some resemblance somtimes of a cloud somtimes of the likeness of fire somtimes of man c. that under the exhibition of those visible and sensible figures they might perceive God who was invisibly represented to the understanding by these visible glories Thirdly and lastly To see God face to face in Scripture imports only two things First a familiar converse as that of Exod. 33.1 Deut. 5.4 the Lord speaks to Moses face to face and mouth to mouth as a friend speaks with his friend Secondly it signifies a more clear sight of God with greater perspicuity and clearness Some saw God in Dreams and Visions which were in dark resemblances but Moses had more clear and illustrious visions of God To this purpose is that of 1 Cor. 13.12 Then shall we see face to face that is in heaven we shall enjoy and see God more perfectly and more fully then here on earth and then we shall see God in like manner or in some such way as the life of man is now seen by the bodily eyes by the intervention of somthing else and so do become sensible and perceivable to the understanding Jesus Christ will be the great and special mirrour wherein glorified Saints will see the Deity and the Father Object 3. But do not all Divines hold that in heaven we shall enjoy the beatifical vision And doth not that of 1 John 3.2 import so much We shall see him as he is I answer first The highest Saint in glory will not be able to see all of God in eternal life though to see and know this little of God that we see here is life eternal Secondly I answer It is true in heaven we shall see God in that manner and thorow those mediums he is pleased to manifest himself in And that we shall see him as he is that is as he is to be seen in a new and unexpressible way of glory We see now the Sun beams and we sensibly perceive the light efficacy and vertue of the Sun yet we cannot possibly behold the nature of it In like manner in heaven the blessed souls shall see the beams and rays of the glory of God and shall live in the light and power thereof but shall never comprehend the nature of it O Lord grant that we may so live here to thy glory that in the world to come we may be partakers of thy self and glory who will then resolve us of all our doubts and will also unvail so much of thy self unto us as will make us most perfectly blessed When John was in this humbled state and consternation as dead at the feet of the glorious apparition of Christ in the likeness of the Son of man then he laid his right hand upon me saying unto me Fear not I am the first and the last The hand of the Lord hath divers senses in Scripture First for judgment or punishment The hand of the Lord shall be upon thee and thou shalt be blind saith Paul to Elymas Acts 13.11 Secondly It is taken for prophesie When God stirred up the sons of men to prophesie then it is said That the hand of the Lord was upon them as Ezek. 1.3 And the hand of the Lord was upon me that is God stirred up mightily on my Spirit to Prophesie Thirdly It is taken for the Spirit of God as the hand and especially the right hand is the symbole of the strength of man so the Spirit is the strength and power of the most High In these two latter senses Christ lays his
only indeed was temporary and necessary alone for the first plantation of the Christian faith it will as well follow that Pastors Teachers and Elders are defunct because some of their first primitive and extraordinary gifts are ceased also But secondly I am of opinion that what is necessarily essential to denominate an Apostle did not consist solely in being eye-witnesses of Christ's life death and resurrection or of power of miracles for others of the Disciples might be partakers in those gifts and were so equally with themselves and yet no Apostles and Paul that wanted much of the accomodation of witnessing unto the life death and resurrection of Christ though supplyed by a miraculous sight from heaven none can deny but was the great Apostle and light unto the Gentiles Lastly In the affirmative I assert the true essentials of an Apostle does consist in his Call and Commission to that work and function Christ calls the first twelve Matth. 10.1.5 which were only denominated Disciples and from their mission unto the lost sheep of Israel they were then first baptized into the name of Apostles and so having taken their names from their office as men sent it soon became their proper appellations Now I say it is a right mission and commission that gives a being and essentially unto an Apostle Christ he was the first author that commissionated unto this office in that of Matth. 10. his commission was more strict and of narrower jurisdiction but in Matth. 28.19 it was much enlarged for in the first they were only to go to the lost sheep of Israel and not in the way of the Gentiles but in the second they were commanded to go and Disciple all Nations and to preach the Gospel to every creature Now as they were sent on this great Embassie for Christ and by Christ so they send others to go on with the same work Matthias was the first we read of Acts 1. that they chose into the place of Judas After that Paul and Barnabas Acte 13.2 3. were chosen and separated unto this work and sent unto the Gentiles and so might be truly called the Apostles of the Gentiles They again with the rest of the Apostles in their several Provinces went about gathering and constituting churches and ordaining Elders and officers in every church and those political churches made up of Officers and Elders and Members were the true Delegates of the Apostles and the center of all just power and authority and they again from this delegated power commissionates others and sends them forth as the Apostles of Christ by vertue of that power committed unto them to disciple the Gentiles and unconverted Nations abroad in the world for this was the then practise unless we affirm that all churches were planted and all Nations converted by the Apostles themselves in their days that we read of in history were afterward converted to the faith and became famous churches The Apostles were men but of one generation and to ascribe to them that work were to make them eviternal Though their Doctrine continue yet their persons are translated and gone to their Fathers and this propagation of the faith and work of conversion must be carried on from generation to generation till all the Elect be called in and we all come to a perfect man and unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ and this must necessarily be done by Apostolical men and officers For I would have the ingenious to consider that the offices of Elders Pastors Teachers Helps and Governments are but relative Functions and have their being only dependant and limited to their relations and churches they are neither Elders Pastors nor Governents without their own churches therefore it is very necessary that there must be other officers universally commissionated to preach the Gospel to the unconverted Gentiles and these are properly called Apostles of Christ authorized by the church of Christ unto this service Joseph of Arimethea as antiquity testifies was our English Apostle which was sent by the church unto our Nations conversion Dionisius Areopagita was the Apostle unto France James unto Spain Anthony unto Italy Thomas unto Italy and so others unto other Nations And when christianity was almost lost and obliterated here in England by the incursions of barbarous Nations Gregory the Bishop of Rome not yet Antichistianized some centuries of years after sent here Austin as an Apostle and a Restorer of their almost lost faith and christian profession So likewise when our churches send men to convert the Gentile Nations of America and elsewhere as private Disciples they cannot go for how can they preach unless they be sent as Officers to wit as Pastors Elders Teachers or Governents they cannot for they are relations only to their own churches therefore they must go as Apostles which is only sutable to so general and universal work And if it be objected That if the Apostolical offices must continue as necessary to do the full work of Christ and his church why not the gifts of healings miracles tongues c. I answer There is no necssity for it for they were only added because of unbelief and to confirm the truth of that doctrine which was first delivered unto the Saints Secondly I am not sensible what great inconveniencies will follow upon it if it were admitted that such gifts of miracles healings c. are still continued by Christ unto his church though not so clear and ordinary as in the first churches I have read of Tertullian and after him Cyprian about the second century who provokes their adversaries to the tryal of the truth of their profession by miracles by bringing persons possessed with divels into their assemblies which if they should not be effected and made to confess themselves to be divels and Christ to be the Son of God then they were content to suffer M. Baxter gives us a farther account out of Athanasiâ— Austin and many of the Fathers that there was a continuation of miracles in their days and attested to by so many and honest witnesses that they were credible to reason page 63. upon that question in his book of Infidelity and in that part of the book of the sin against the holy Ghost page 15. speaking of casting out divels Of which sort saith he some think that really they did so by the power of God as we may do now by fasting and prayer somtimes To this purpose consider what the prayers and appeals of God's people have strangely and miraculously perfected and produced at the hands of God of late and within our memories in divers examples which is now too long to rehearse Some have been restored to health and miraculously recovered when there was no hope others dispossessed of evil spirits that had palpably vexed and possessed them and that only by the prayers of faith of somg odly persons I shall only give one instance I heard it related by a faithful messenger of Christ in a publique
have right to the Tree of life must go farther then overcome the assaults and temptations of Satan as unto the breach of moral duties but to denominate him a compleat Conquerour he ought to have a special eye and regard unto Satan's more spiritual and refined designs and assaults which lies as it were against the very life of a christian which he ushers in by false doctrines and abominable heresies which he lays as a stumbling block in the ways of God's children as wicked Balaam did set a snare of Idolatry and Adultery to make the children of Israel fall that God might be wroth against them and so judge them in his displeasure So Satan sets up his standard under the heresies of the Nicolaitans anti-Trinitarians anti-Scripturists idolatrizing Antichristians c. that if possibly he can draw the faithful ones of Christ to comply with them and to receive their marks in their hands and foreheads then he hath the accomplishment of his designe for be sure destruction followeth speedily as the consequence of such doctrines So that he that overcometh the assaults of Satan not only respecting life but in doctrine also is a compleat christian and conquerour and shall eat of the Tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God Hence ariseth a Note Observ To overcome is the Christians crown Or otherwise Perseverance is a christians great duty It is not him that hath begun well that will obtain the Palm but holds out his course in faithfulness Vincenti dabitur Many have begun in the Spirit and ended in the flesh and so lost their reward In a Race he that leaves off at the first stage have no hopes to obtain the Lawrel But that Traveller or way faring man that endures patiently the hardships of a long journey with all the dangers difficulties and extremities that ways weather and other accidents may offer will at last doubtless attain to his much complacent place and period whiles the lazie one is deterr'd with the difficulty and if not in the first days journey yet in the mid-way is resty and tyred It is not sufficient for us to endure and repulse a flash or two of Satans assaults who is as a roaring Lion night and day going about seeking whom he may devour As he is restless in his temptations so we must be restless in our defensive Guards and Repulses our life is a constant warfare and one errour committed in warfare is remediless and irrecoverable And though I am far from asserting with the Novatians That the errours or slips of the faithful are irreparable and though the errours of humane wars admits of no repentance yet the errours of our christian warfare may be reinforced and redeemed by a returning unto a more strict and diligent watch upon our hearts and judgements yet notwithstanding this we may lose much of our comfort in the way and be accounted but as dastard souldiers by our Captain General in that we have not kept close unto our Colours and diligent and constant in all extremities in opposing the assaults and inrodes of the adversaries for to that very end Christ our Captain hath set weapons into our hands which are spiritual and mighty to oppose and overcome all the assaults stratagems and underminings of Satan Besides he hath laid it on us as our duty Strive to enter into the strait gate And The Kingdom of heaven suffers violence and 't is the violent not the lazie dormant one takes it by force So in this place To him that overcometh to him is given to eat of the Tree of life as his crown and reward which is in the midst of the Paradice of God In Rev. 22.2 There is described as an additament of the glory of the New Jerusalem that new heavenly City or church estate that came down from God That in the midst of the street thereof and of either side of the River there was the Tree of life which had twelve manner of fruits and yeilded her fruit every moneth and the leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the Nations Those that overcome the spiritual assaults of Satan are promised to eat of this Tree which is placed in this Paradice of God As Paradice was the blessed habitation of Adam in his innocent and sinless condition so it is put typically and figuratively both for that blessed estate that the Saints enjoy now in heaven This day saith Christ unto the penitent Thief thou shalt be with me in Paradice Luke 23.43 that is thou shalt be in a blessed state and glory Paul when he was rapt up in spirit into the third heaven 2 Cor. 12.4 he says how that he was caught up into Paradice that is into an incomparable glory So that Paradice may very fitly signifie and represent figuratively unto us any state of glory either in the supernal heavens or that that is reserved for all God's faithful ones after the re-union and resurrection of their souls and bodies at the last day for God does make things known unto us by such things as we partly already know and understand Now we know Paradice was presented unto Adam full of all delicacy and ornaments that the heart of man or his curiosity could wish for and how it was replenished with all goodly fruits not only pleasant to the eye but very savoury unto the taste also by sensible things God makes known his hidden mysteries and spiritual delicacy as unto the children of men But here lies the difference between the first and second Paradice The first Paradice had not only the Tree of life in it as a reward and a confirming Sacrament of Adam's eternal felicity if he had continued obedient to the command of God but it had also the Tree of knowledge of good and evil a Tree that when he should taste thereof and make a breach of his obedience towards his God and his Creator he should sadly experience for himself and whole posterity the bitterness of the fruits thereof and so should come to know by the sad event what was good and what was evil how he had wronged by disobedience the chiefest good and as his due reward and merit is become liable and obnoxious to mortality death and all miseries that an infinite divine Justice can inflict upon him for his disobedience Now in this second or last Paradice there is no fear of eating the bitter fruits of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil for there is no such Tree therein this last is guarded with a surer Angel then that that guarded with a flaming sword at the entrance of the Garden of Eden The Lamb in this last is the light and the glory thereof The first Adam the possessor of the first Paradice was of the earth earthly but the second Adam is the possessor of this whose Throne is in the midst thereof and is of heaven heavenly Here are no conditions of life and death put upon eating or not eating here is only the Tree
inferiour measure The same oyl that was poured on Aarons head ran down to the skirts of his garments so the same unction of the Spirit that was poured on Christ is in some measure poured on all his inferiour members and therefore most dear and beloved to him Omne simile gaudet simili Thirdly By reason of Union Christ and his Members beiâ— one by a mystical and spiritual union they must needs be most dear and precious to him Fourthly and lastly the great reason that Christ's Saints and churches are most dear unto him is In that he hath laid down his own most precious life for them for greater love then this was never shown in that he died for us even whiles we were fighters against God and enemies by evil works Observ 2. Another Note is That though the world looks upon the faithful distressed churches of Christ as a broken poor and forsaken people both in outward estates and intellectuals also yet God sets another rate upon them and accounts them rich wise mighty comly beautiful and as the most accomplished people in the world Is not this a strange Paradox to the infatuated worldling But it is not so strange as true Christ here calls his poor afflicted Smyrna rich for she was rich indeed with spiritual graces that their persecuting adversaries were ignorant of she was rich in immortible Treasures laid up for her service in heaven above where moth could not corrupt or thiâ—â—â—reak thorow and steal which her blaspheming enemies never dream'd of what wise worldling does think a poor afflicted christian wise He looks upon him so far beneath himself that from his Machiavilian plots and counsels he tells the wise and prudent christian soul Procul hinc proculate prophani Yet God tells them plainly That the wise of the world are taken in their own snare whilst true wisdom is justified of her children And God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty c. 1 Cor. 1.27 28 29. The wise of the world think themselves a wise politique and highly contriving Statists when they have brought the Saints of God and the whole world under their feet and subjection but the Saints of God know no such wisdom but that wisdom which is of God the eternal Word and Christ who of God is made to us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that no flesh should glory in his presence The great Potentates of the world think with their Alexandrian Armies as a Torrent to carry all before them Alas they are deceived there are others more mighty then they the poor afflicted churches of Christ can do more with their prayers and using their interest with God then all the Armies in the world they can pray for legions of Angels and they are ready at their commands Witness the host of Sennacherib destroyed by an Angel at the prayers of Hezekiah and Isaiah the Son of Amos 2 Chron. 32.20 How many heathen Armies do we read of in Histories were defeated by the faithful prayers of the godly or at least their force diverted another way A poor despised chriâ— David with a sling and pebble can do more by the prayers of faith then Goliah with his spear Oh! how happy and fortunate were the Captains and Armies of this our Nation whiles the prayers of the faithful in the land continued fervent for them The Bowe and Sword of the mighty had then no power to destroy for the presence of our God was in the midst of them for a defence unto them in all their warlike undertakings Oh therefore ye soveraign Governours take heed how ye offend these little ones of Christ that they may not avert their prayers from you make good your interest with Christ and his Saints and be one with them in faith and prayers then never fear the boisterous storms or waves that are emitted from the Pillars of Hercules to our Albion shores which will prove but as the daylie surges that washes our rocks and clifts and so dash themselves into froth and vanish Next the gaudy Gallant of the times thinks himself the most fair and comly of all God's creatures and looks upon a sober and prudent christian as a despicable creature in respect of his gay Worship whiles God himself sets another character upon both The one is clothed with the white garments of Christ's righteousness and is all fair with the beauties of holiness whiles the other is only covered and â—â—â—hed with the excremental extravagancies and menstruosities of small earthy brutish and despicable creatures and at best do serve but in the room of Fig leaves to be somwhat more honourable badges of their sin and misery it is a shame to glory in that which are the ever-living Ensignes of their sin and shame and seeing the Lillies of the field do exceed even Solomon in his bravery little reason to glory in those rags of ours Next the Glutton that makes his belly his god and fareth deliciously every day conceives he hath a heaven on earth and that the poor afflicted christian comes far short of his happiness in that he hath not that fulness every day in the varieties of Viands and Festivals that he enjoys But alas this wretched Dives never considered that a poor christian hath other food to eat then he ever knew of he hath spiritual Manna bread from heaven and the wine of Paradice that he is quite ignorant of that he that eateth thereof shall never hunger or thirst more Lastly the wisdom of the world looks upon the distressed disciples of Christ as fools wittols and maâ— men and thinks them to be so indeed But on the contrary the judicious christian knows the wisdom of the world to be foolishness and madness to purpose for who but fools and mad-men would perversly run on in the ways of destruction as the wisdom of the world does prompt unto Whilst Christ's faithful ones though suppressed and broken by afflictions and tribulations yet do walk in the way of life and shine as Stars in the Firmament of their Churches and Graces Observ 3. That the sharpest persecution comes from such as are the highest pretenders to truth and godliness The Jews were such that boasted much of their divâ—â—â—cles and priviledges from Abraham Luke 3.8 yet â—ere the most inveterate and bitter adversaries to the Gospel of Christ and to the primitive Apostolical churches of any persons in the world Witness their reproachful blasphemies which consisted not only against Christ himself but against his members also They reproached him that he had a divel and that by Beelzobub he did his miracles and cast out divels yea their malice was not only to him living but reached him after his crucifiction and resurrection that if possibly they could destroy or weaken the faith of his disciples and withal hinder the promulgation of the truth and to that
murther rather then cure and save alive Object But you will object How is the justice of God vindicated if he smites both godly and ungodly together for the sins of the wicked among them I answer If the godly in a church do connive freely tolerate or wink at the sins of the wicked they are come partakers with them also therein so also justly in their judgments and miseries The churches and faithfull in Pergamus and Thyatira were justly visited by God for suffering the doctrines of Balaam Nicolaitans and Iezabel among them and righteously wrapt up in one common calamity with the Balaamites and Nicolaitans But secondly if the faithful in a Church do protest declare against and endeavour as much as in them lies and by all lawful means for the purging out of the evil and erroneous persons and doctrines among them they have done their duty towards God and delivered their souls from guilt Though the common calamity and judgment of God on the wicked may reach these too without any derogation to divine justice for it toucheth not them as a judgment but as tryals and for other good ends of God Jeremiah Daniel Ezekiel and other faithful servants of God suffered very much in the Caldean captivity yet not as for their own sins but for other especial ends of God But very often God doth and will save his faithful ones as wheat amongst the chaff by a temporal salvation in the midst of judgments and destruction of wicked ones round about God will call out righteous Lot from Sodom and will provide Noah an Ark when he comes with flames of fire or flouds of desolating waters on the wicked world did not God's persevering providence and special mark of grace appear in this Nation in preserving and keeping many precious graines of Wheat amongst all our chaff in this late day of our winowing and tribulation And many whereof as it were were taken by the hand by God as righteous Lot and Noah and Arks provided for them by God to pass from Sodome and the wicked world over the flouds into a land of rest the Mountains of Ararat I mean the wildernesses of America And so indeed the faithful witnesses of Christ by the Dragon 's powring out of flouds of persecution after them fled into the wilderness and were there preserved for some times until the day of wrath was over Therefore when you see your faithful Lots Noahs c. fly from you or called by God to places of security look then for desolating times Isa 26.20 21. When our Halcâ—â—n birds as Swallows c. fly from us it is a signe of approaching winter So when good and godly men are removed out of their places or driven into corners then observe it as a true Prognostick Judgment and Indignation is nigh at hand Observ 5. When God is wrath with a people he turns his sweetest mercies into the most terrible judgments The word of God's mouth which is the staff and comfort of his people he can turn unto the voyce of Trumpets and as the roaring of many waters for terribleness When we keep close unto Christ then all things are ours Friends Servants Riches children and our Tables are mercies to us But when we are become enemies to Christ by evil works then Friends Servants Riches Children our Tables and all are become snares unto us When the King frowns on us all his Courtiers and Nobles will do it also Whilst God is our Friend all the whole creation will serve us freely but if he frowns all will conspire and rebel against us His Angels whom he formerly commanded for our safety to pitch their Tents about us will then be commanded to come with slaughter weapons against us When a mans wayes please the Lord hee maketh his enemies to be at peace with him Prov. 16.7 Babylon could never have hurt Zion till Zion had offended When Pergamus Thyatira and the rest of the offending Asian churches forsaked God instead of the powerful sword of Christ's mouth or word of grace in convincing them of sin and mortifying their corruptions or speaking comfortably to them he sends forth another word a word of judgment and indignation commanding their adversaries to go forth with their destroying weapons either of War Pestilence or Famine to sweep them off from the land of the living that their place should be no more found O therefore let us be sure to keep God our friend Vers 17. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna and will give him a white Stone and in the Stone a new name writen which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it He that is wise and hath an understanding heart amongst you let him consider those premonitions which I have so often inculcated lest the judgments threatned for your sins overtake you and therefore hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna as if Christ had said although I will come against the wicked ones in the church of Pergamus and fight against them with the sword of my mouth yet to him that overcometh that is that opposeth and escapeth the temptations of those pernicious doctrines amongst them and keep themselves undefiled therein to them will I give to eat of the hidden Manna Here some difficulty or interpretation offers what is meant by this hidden Manna many assert it to be Christ which is that invisible food received by faith according to John 6.32 33 34. which cometh down from Heaven and there typified forth by Manna but saving due reverence to the learned that goes that way I cannot joyn with them singly in that Interpretation for First It is here called hidden Manna or strange Manna not as yet undiscovered now Christ was the known and manifest spiritual food and Manna unto all believers and so that of John 6.3 is brought thereby to verifie it and allude therunto Secondly Every believer hath Christ already as his spiritual food and Manna and therefore it is but a surplusage and tautologie to promise that as a crown and reward to the conquering faithful ones which they enjoy already even from their first day or in their lowest state of faith therefore surely it must be somwhat more then Christ spiritually eaten by faith Manna was the food that came down from Heaven that God gave to his children of Israel in the wilderness Exod. 16.14 15. c. And as Antiquity and Iewish Rabbies testifie in the eating thereof is represented all sorts of meat to the taste that the appetite or curiosity could wish for and therefore it was a fit Type for to represent Christ by who was the true bread of life that could fill and answer all our necessities and that he that should eat thereof should never hunger more but this is a hidden Manna a strange secret bread of life not yet
the faithful and therefore David because he would have God's vengeance against these wicked ones plainly manifested desireth the Lord to discover them that they have no portion right or part in the book of the living nor worthy to be written or numbred among the righteous but that all might sensibly discern them to be but reprobates And thus far David's prayer is imitable as unto us Quest But by the way I shall put a question Whether it is lawful or consonant to the will of God for any of the Saints of God to pray to God as Moses did Exod. 32.32 I pray thee raze me out of the book which thou hast written and as Paul wished To be separated from Christ for his brethren according to the flesh Rom. 9.3 Or secondly To pray that other mens names though wicked may be blotted out of the book of the living as David in Psal 69.28 prayed against the enemies of God and himself Answ 1. It is not lawful to pray for any thing contrary to the known will of God for there are no commands or promises annexed to such a prayer but abundantly to the contrary therefore surely such prayer must be most vain and sinful for neither Moses nor Paul were bound to prefer the good of their brethren before the fruition of God and their own salvation Moses nor Paul did pray so absolute but conditionally like to that of Christ Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me so they if it would stand with God's will and be approved by him could desire and wish to be razed out and anathematized from the roll of God's church and from life itself so that they could deliver their lost brethren of Israel from the curse and damnation that hung over them for their infidelity and impenitency this they did desire under the loss of their own salvation had it been possible But whether Moses or Paul had so an eye and respect in these particular prayers to the will of God is uncertain for I think it is no sin to say that either Moses or Paul might be carried aside by an over mis-led zeal to their brethren the Jews for In many things we sin all saith the Apostle James cap. 3. 2. 3. Lastly if David did pray unto God absolutely that the names of the ungodly might be put out of the book of the living I think it not warrantable nor Imitable in us David being a Prophet and having the spirit of prophesie he well knew against whom he prayed prophesied and imprecated and so his prayers and imprecations to this effect were but as so many prophetical denunciations and predictions of God's judgements against his impenitent enemies which are no patterns or examples to us for we are commanded to pray for all men even for the conversion of the most vilest persons in the world as long as there is hope of their returning But secondly Though we may not pray absolutely yet we may conditionally with submission to God's will against all his and our antichristian enemies that God would either convert them or bring them to shame and ruine that his glory and the Saints peace and comforts may be more enlarged and multiplyed thereby But to proceed I will confess his name before my Father and before his Angels Christ having assured the overcoming Saints of Sardis that they should participate of his glory and be clothed with majesty in the other world and having undoubtedly assured them the confirmation and continuance of their blessed estate and their right thereunto in not blotting out their names out of his blessed roll and register of the book of life and having promised not only to do all this good for them but will also acknowledg them confess them to be his by name before God and his holy Angels that is as if Christ had said Those whom I present before thee O Father and thy holy ministring Spirits clothed in white rayment in innocency and majesty and which are from eternity registred in thy book I avouch and acknowledge them to be of my own name members of my own body anointed with the same unction and Spirit that I am of truly christians faithful followers of me and my doctrine thorow their whole course of regeneration and new life which they have led unto this present day Hence Note Observ That Christ will not be ashamed but will publiquely own and acknowledge his faithful ones at the last day before God his Father and all his holy Angels This he promises Mat. 10.32 to confess and own them before his Father in heaven who shall faithfully confess and own him here on earth Christ calls such here his sheep his friends his brethren his members yea himself by his own name Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 and therefore Christ tells them John 20.17 I ascend to your Father and my Father to my God and your God And seeing God and Christ are not ashamed to be called their God and their Christ in this life surely in the life to come they will not be ashamed of them but will acknowledge them to be the the godly or God-like christians that faithfully owned God and Christ in their several generations This is a great motive and encouragement unto us boldly and with constancy in the worst of times and under the greatest defections to confess and own so worthy a Lord and Master as Christ and his ways seeing we shall be no losers by it but rather great gainers for before God and his Angels he will not spare by name to confess us and to honour us as his own before so glorious a presence although of our selves we be most unworthy creatures Who ever truly honoured God and Christ in an open sincere profession and following of their ways of truth and was not honoured both by God and Christ Them that honour me I will honour saith God and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed 1 Sam. 2.30 If we only lose our honour among men for our profession and among the basest and vilest sort for all scornful ungodly ones are so to be accounted be they never otherwise in the eye of the world so great rich mighty or honourable and win honour with God if we be vilified on earth and among earthly minded men and be accepted in heaven we have no cause to be discouraged or murmure at our loss When Christ owned Stephen from heaven in the midst of his enemies it was more then a sufficient recompence for his stoning Acts 7. What loss did the three children sustain when they kept their consciences undefiled by not obeying Nebuchadnezzar's command in worshipping his golden Image but openly professing and praying with their windows open to the God of Israel Dan. 3. Did not the Lord for this their faithful honouring of him honour them with his presence with safety and deliverance and made them ever-living examples to all that truly fear God to trust in him for help in all extremities that fall on
Kings Priests and Judges Yea the name of God of Christ and the new Jerusalem is written upon them and therefore sure most honourable Little do the high ones of this present generation with their counterfeit and mock-honour think that the now poor despicable Saints of Christ whom they so much scorn and trample under-foot are those for whose sakes the world is preserved from flaming fires and that one day shall become the only Kings Rulers and Princes thereof maugre all the malice of Satan and all their antichristian enemies in the world to the contrary If the great and honourable persons of the world did but verily believe that the Saints of Christ should one day become so honourable in the presence of the whole world they would more esteem them then they do as Heirs born unto so great a Kingdom It is the common and not unwise practise of politique courtiers when their old Soveraign or Prince is upon declining they adore and worship the next Heir or reputed Successor as the rising Sun as the nearest step to their preferments And will ye not be so wise ye sons of men to make good your interest with the rising Heirs and children of this great ensuing Monarch Three of the great Monarchs of the world are dead and we have seen their graves the fourth is sick with age if not even at deaths door having one foot in his grave already for his weakness and infirmity being but as an Image of the first Beast or of himself when he was in his youth under his Caesarian Heads and Empire And the fifth is drawing nigh having already poured out many Vials of ruine upon the fourth to make way for the appearance of himself this heavenly one And think ye is it not good and honest policy to come under the skirts of the câ—â—rtiers of this great and heavenly Prince to become one in faith manners discipline and interest with them that when he appeareth ye may joyntly reigne with him and them in his new and heavenly Kingdom It will be the first step unto honour and your rising to become one in interest with the now despicable and vilified Saints of Christ for though at present they differ nothing from servants yet know they will be one day heirs of all Observ 2. That Christ's new restored Church-state new Temple new Ierusalem that comes down from heaven shall never perish but be established for ever Though some would have these words to be made pillars in the Temple of God and to go out no more to signifie the stability of the faith of the elect whereunto I cannot wholly assent for though I grant that the faithful as Philadelphia are made pillars for their stability in the faith and strength of grace in the Temple of God and their faith is so confirmed to them that they never need to fear of utter failing or perishing yet there is more promised in this verse then a meer confirmation of the elect from non-falling away for the next coherent words do connote so much when Christ promises to write the name of the new Jerusalem and the new name of Christ upon them to be made pillars in the faith and to be established therein was always a continued promise and always performed to the church in all ages but the name of the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven and the new name of Christ which are annexed hereunto were never yet made good unto the church but hath reference unto a more glorious future church-state on earth spoken of Rev. 21 1. I saw a new heaven and a new earth which in vers 10. is called the great City the holy Ierusalem descending out of heaven from God which on the subsequent words of this verse shall more evidently be explained But to return This new church-state new Temple is to continue to perpetuity yea for everlasting they that enter thereinto are made firm as pillars not to be removed they that enter into the gates of the present visible Temple may again be removed ejected and lose their station for being not rooted in the faith yea and the Temple it self as those seven Asian Temples removed overthrown and extirpated for their iniquities But they that enter into this holy new Temple that comes down from heaven they are made pillars therein and shall never go forth more until Christ lays down his Kingdom unto the Father and God shall be all in all Not as some vainly object against the expectant tryumphing Saints That they shall reign for the term of a thousand years and then their kingdom shall cease But the truth is that when Gog and Magog shall be destroyed and all Christ's open enemies cast into the bottomless Lake of fire about the end of the Saints tryumphant thousand years Rev. 20.10 then that Kingdom which Christ during all that former happy millenary ruled and reigned in as Mediator and God-man which properly is called his Throne and his Kingdom shall be devolved and swallowed up by a more glorious Kingdom and the Saints translated in the highest heavenly glory which for the most excellent and God-like properties thereof is called in 1 Cor. 15.24 The Kingdom of God even the Father and wherein all Ordinances shall cease for Iohn in Rev. 21.22 saith And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it and in chap. 22. v. 5. describing further this glorious state he saith And there shall be no night there and they need no candle neither light of the Sun that is those ordinances or the like thereunto we now enjoy for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reigne forâ—ver and ever They do therefore vainly cavil that say That Christ shall utterly and altogether cease to reigne in his Headship over his church tryumphant from that of 1 Cor. 15.24 where it is said When he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father when he shall have put down all Rule and all Authority and power And in v. 28. And when all things shall be subdued unto him then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be all in all Now the Apostles meaning was not that Christ should cease to be Head of his church and so ever or at any time to cease to rule over them as the members of his body mystical whereof he himself is Head but when all his enemies are put under his feet and all Rules Powers and Authorities in the world are by him utterly vanquished and put down and when the last enemy death shall be destroyed and death and hell cast into the Lake of fire Rev. 20.14 after the general and last judgment of the dead then I say Christ shall deliver up to God even the Father his former Mediatory and Judiciary Kingdom whereby he ruled and reigned not only over his holy faithful ones by his Laws and ordinances but also
mouth for this their sin hath not God done the very same thing with us here in England here of late for this hermaphrodical religion that was professed amongst us half popish half reformed half rotten half sound even spewed it out root and branch never to be licked up more Is it not also to be feared that the same mongrel luke-warm condition is creeping in upon us again What meaneth else the many vindications that are set forth of late of the lawfulness of their practises doctrines missions calls hyerarchical superintendencies national churches and maintenancies and the like If Christ have vomited them out as unholy things he will not return again to take them up they are loathed of him for their mongrel temper and therefore spewed out and if you will know who they are that endeavours to lick them up again They are dogs I mean whelps of Rome that desire to return to their vomit They are Sows I mean unclean worldlings that make their belly their God that desire to return to wallow in the myre of Antichristian fooleries I shall say no more but this If Reformation according to Gospel pattern be the way be zealous in it burn in it walk in it stoutly couragiously as children of light but if Rome be the way to the new Jerusalem take her mark follow her and be not ashamed of her for Christ will not endure a middle temperature between both either be all Romish or all Reformed there is no medium between heaven and hell neither between true christian and antichristian either be the one or the other for because thou art neither hot nor cold it will come to pass to thee as it did to Laodicea Christ will spew thee out of his mouth Be wise therefore ye children of light Hold fast the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free Have not your faces or thoughts towards the onyons and flesh pots of Egypt again but let your faces be to Zion-wards to build up the breaches thereof and be hot zealous fervent therein and that according to knowledge and then doubtless God will be with you and lead you into Goshen into a land of peace and rest Vers 17. Because thou sayest I am rich and encreased with goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blinde and naked Laodiceas sin of luke-warmness had a two-fold ground or rise 1. Proceeding from a false perswasion of her own worthiness 2. From the ignorance of her own misery Her vain perswasion of her own worth proceeds from the consideration and conceit of her great wealth and riches not only spiritual which she wanted and Christ adviseth her to buy of him in the next verse but temporal and worldly she boasts her self not only to be rich and abounding in riches of both sorts but also to want nothing she had such a fulness that her contentation was compleat Many persons may abound and be rich and yet want much of fulness of satisfaction and contentation but the church of Laodicea it seemed abounded to contentation in her own conceit which is the highest pitch of riches for she had need of nothing and hence grew that sin of hers luke-warmness and half christianity From hence Note Observ 1. That the most rich and abounding wealthy churches are aptest to become the more remiss moderate indifferent and luke-warm christians In the primitive times when the churches were poor and low in the world they were purest more zealous and eminent for truth and martyrdom but when the church was indulged and lull'd in the lap of Constantine the great she grew more remiss and as riches and preferments were heaped on her she grew dayly more luke-warm till at the last she became key-cold as unto the truth as it is in Jesus and so shortly became purely Antichristian when the great preferments of Episcopal Lordships Deanries Arch-deanries Prebendaries c. were on foot among us Christ's Pastors became silken Priests and where was then true zeal for the truth That was driven into corners among some poor Puritans Brownists Anabaptists so scornfully called and the like but for the rest they were but half christians a medley of moral civilians half Romish half Reformed and this proceeds from the nature of riches and prosperity which is apter to choke the seed of grace then adversity and to bring a forgetfulness of God and a luke-warmness upon the hearts of those that do abound therein and therefore the children of God are so often warned in the Word that they take heed to themselves lest when they are full and cloyed with God's blessings through over-fulness they should forget the Lord. Thou sayest thou art rich c. And knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable c. The other cause of Laodiceas sin is the ignorance of her misery which she could not see and perceive by reason she was blinded by her outward prosperity and riches From whence Observe Observ 2. That the most ignorant and wretchedly miserable Church is the most boasting and highest pretending to spiritual riches and graces Doth not the church of Rome this day vaunt that she is the only rich one increased with goods and have need of nothing And 't is true if she only meant of worldly goods she is most pompous and replete therein but that is not all she vaunts too of her spiritual riches she calls her self Roma sancta the only Mother church the holy catholique church and no salvation without her pales the only Keeper of the Treasures of the Spirit and dispenseth them where she pleaseth and yet notwithstanding this high claim and pretence who more truly wretched miserable blinde ignorant naked and destitute of all true graces then she Laodicea was so vain-glorious that she could boast of her riches and yet she was the poorest of the seven of all the Reformed churches Our English under Episcopacy was wont to bear the Bell for outward splendour and glorying not only in her external riches but also of the magnificence of her worship beyond all others and yet among them all who nearer and dearer to her Sister Rome then she She was then looked upon as the first returning daughter to her Mother Harlot as the Apostate Bayly in his Epistle to the Reader of his book called End to Controversie testifies page 67. where he says That there were no other difference between them but that the Tapers upon their Altars wanted light and their Altars Priests and their Ceremonies purpose But the Lord since hath made a wider breach his name be praised for it and rendered her more irreconcileable to Rome then ever heretofore and we trust never more to be made up between them For further describing the wretchedness of the highly pretending church of Rome which may be truly parallell'd to the church of Laodicea in this particular of vain-glorying and boasting she hath here five degrees ascribed to her The two first are as common