expresse in this point I would they were cut off that trouble you Gal. 5. 12. I pray do not the fore-named false and lying spirits preach another Gospel another God another Christ and so fall within that rule of Moses Deut. 13. 5. that Prophet and that dreamer of dreames that perswadeth from our true God to a false shall be put to death according to that holy Prophets commission Ezra 7. 26. that whosoever would not do the Law of God and the King execution shall be made upon them whether unto death or unto banishment or confiscation of goods or imprisonment Oh remember Gods own hand against such blasphemous gain-sayers and withstanders of God and man Numb. 6. the earth opened its mouth and buried them alive their tents wives children cattell and all that pertained to them Wherefore give unto God the things that are Gods and to Cesar the things that are Cesars do not build Babel again under pretence of conscience and learn this truth that you must needs be subject to all lawfull rules lawes and orders not only for wrath but also for conscience sake Rom. 13. 5. Now for as much as upon true triall all of you of all sorts that are not born of God are plainly proved to be none of Gods house none of Christs Church nor the Temple of the Holy Ghost therefore that she may more apparently appear to your understanding I shall indevour to make a brief description of her her children The Scripture speaks of her sometimes by the name of a man and sometimes under the name and appellation of a woman and at other times in the Neuter gender either he or she in these words They overcame him with the blood of the Lamb c. They loved not their lives unto the death hee said unto them on his right hand Come yee blessed of my Father c. and abundance the like Scriptures by which terms either sex is to be understood now where the Scriptures set forth unto us the Saints and Church of Christ in the Feminine gender under the name and title of a woman then it notes unto us her fruitfulnesse in bringing forth unto God as well as unto men Jerusalem from above is the mother of us all Gal. 4. 26. Of us all that is of all those that are born of God which birth is spirituall and heavenly as before hath been shewed and in this sense she brings forth fruit unto God also Rom. 7. 4. And to men Gods elected servants shee is a nursing mother with bowels of compassion she hath two breasts full of sincere milk for her little ones that are young and for her strong and elder children shee hath stronger meat she killeth for them her beasts she hath wine and bread she furnishes her table Prov. 9. with a feast of fat things a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow Isa. 25. 6. The fruit of the rightous is a tree of life and they that turn souls unto God are wise Prov. 11. 30. The children of this woman are the children of Wisdome our Lord speaks of who only are they that can testifie to the truth These are the wise that shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and these are they that turn many unto righteousnesse who shall be hereafter as glorious as the stars for ever and ever this is she whom God calls Sion and Jerusalem that bringeth glad tidings even the joyfull voyce the people in whose heart is Gods Law and covenant of life for ever in and by them preserved for they are the keepers of his truth and as they know the truth so they preach it and declare it it is a fountain in them Out of their bellies do flow rivers of water of life so also it is a store-house a magazine of the Lords provision abundance a plenty of things old and new this good man out of the treasury of his good heart bringeth forth that which is good this housholder is the Scribe instructed unto the kingdome of heaven who bringeth forth of his treasury things new and old their fountain is their own and not anothers it is only this spirituall and heavenly woman the Church of Christ who unfoldeth and maketh known to the world the manifold wisdom of God Eph. 3. 10. which woman sometimes according to the grace given her is called a holy woman a pure undefiled chast virgin behold these are my mother saith the Lord himself and sometimes gloriously described there appeared in heaven saith St. John a great wonder a woman clothed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve stars great with child travelling in birth with pain ready to be delivered Rev. 12. 1 2. Observe this woman is continually fruitfull still increasing still big travelling and bringing forth unto God and as she is thus glorious in regard of her graces so in regard of her sorrows and sufferings she is called a barren woman by such harlots as call themselves the wife of Christ who not knowing the low the spirituall the humble penitent poor condition of the true Spouse despise her hate and contemn her as Hagar the bond-māid did her Mistress Sarah the free-woman and report of her that is the Lords love and delight as desolate and forsaken of her husband even a despicable and forlorn widow and shall so be accounted of all that are filthy till her sufferings are ended even as the off-scouring of the earth This holy Church of Christ is also described unto us in the Scripture under the Masculine appellation a man the first-born a man-child Israel saith the Lord by the Prophet is my first-born Deut. 4. 23. Let my son go saith the Lord for Israel is my son my first-born vers. 22. I am a father to Israel saith the Lord and Ephraim is my first-born Jer. 31. 9. where by Israel and Ephraim God means his faithfull chosen people his Church so the first and primitive fruit of the Church under the Gospel is called a man-child Rev. 12. 5. And shee brought forth a man-child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron Now this name or appellation of the Church notes out unto us two things First the honour and dignity of the Church that although now in this life they suffer and go by the worst of all carnall and outward Christians yet in the time to come they shall receive the self-same honour which to their Lord alone and in chief belongeth And as they shall have the same honour with their Lord Mat. 19. Rev. 2. so the Lord is pleased to be called by their title also Psal. 89. 27. I will make him my first-born higher then the Kings of the earth and then he speaks of his Church vers. 29. His seed also will I make to indure for ever and his throne as the dayes of heaven where he will place his Church with himself for evermore Mat. 9. 28. Rev. 2. 27.
and perfection and the stone that smote the Image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth this is the mountain of Gods holinesse even the greatest power and soveraigne authority that ever was in the world before it And the Text notes out unto us three things the time when it shall be the place where it shall be and the manner how it shall be the manner hath a double consideration first the beginning and weaknesse of this powerfull kingdome expressed as before I have declared in her spirituall estate of renovation or regeneration in these words a stone was cut out without hands and in this first estate and condition of the Church it is said to live and reign to attain victory and overcome Rev. chap. 20. 12. but this victory is by faith this overcoming is by suffering they overcame him that is the Dragons pagancy by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto death and at this battell the armies were great on both sides and the victory glorious on the Saints side Rev. 12. 7. 11. In the second consideration wee are to understand the Church in her glory and perfection and to as far exceed all the Monarchies Kingdoms and Powers that were before it as the body exceeds the shadow the person the picture the circumference the center The Babylonian Monarchy the head of gold was a great power Thou O King saith the Prophet art a King of kings for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdome strength power and glory and wheresoever the children of men dwell beasts of the field and fowles of the heaven hath hee given into thy hand and hath made thee ruler over them all yet all these bounds and dominations are but by way of comparison to the universe the heavens earth and sea which are the bounds of Christs and his Church rule and Lordship Secondly the nature and condition of the kingdomes of this world and the power and greatnesse of Majesty that Christs Kingdome shall have in the world to come differs beyond all comparison For the kingdomes of this world are finfull kingdomes powers and authorities yea this present evill world is corrupted and lies under the cursed condition by reason of sin and as long as this face of the covering is cast over all people and this evill is spread over all nations Isa. 25. 7. even so long death the King of feares the wages of that sin shall raign in it according to the Scriptures Gen. 3. 17. Rom. 5. 17 21. 1 Cor. 15. but when the Lord shall set up his Kingdome hee will create new heavens and a new earth Behold saith he I will do it and the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind but be you glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create For behold I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her people a joy Isa. 65. 17 18. And the Apostle by the same Spirit of Prophecy saith that the heavens and the earth that are now with all these things shall be dissolved And according to Gods promise wee look that is all Gods Saints for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness 2 Pet. 3. And the Apostle John tells us Rev. 21. what this new heaven and new earth is even the holy Church of God the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband and a voyce out of heaven expounds it to him Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and hee will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more paine for the former things are passed away And again saith the Lord Behold I make all things new write for these things are true and faithfull Once again observe the Prophet Daniel in these words and it became a great mountain of which our Saviour gives the meaning in these words The kingdome of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed which is the least of all seeds but when it is grown just as the Prophet it became so our Lord it is the greatest among herbs and became a tree c. both which places as one shews that although the Church be now so little that no man heeds or regards her yet her increase shall be from the least of all seeds to a tree with branches and from a small stone to a huge great mountain even so big as to fill the whole earth Which magnitude excellent glory greatnesse and soveraignty of the Church and Kingdome of God I shall in part discover by considering these eight particulars the King the Kingdome the Throne the Scepter the Lawes the Priviledges the Officers and the Subjects And for the King thereof thus saith the Prophet notwithstanding all the rage and opposition of the Heathens and the vain imaginations of the people Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion saith the Lord Psal. 2. 1. 5. and the title of his Crown is the title of his Cross This is the King of the Jewes Luke 23. 38. and himself testifying a good confession before Pilate saith Thou saist I am a King to this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world Joh. 18. 37. Secondly the Scriptures speake of the Kingdome of Christ above all comparison and calls it the kingdome of the Son of God and that there was given him dominion and glory and a Kingdome c. Dan. 7. 13 14. Now the consideration of these four things will briefly discover to us how this Church and Kingdome of Christ exceeds all other powers or kingdomes whatsoever First in the Majesty of it Secondly in its excellency Thirdly in its universality and Fourthly in its eternity The Majesty sets forth the magnitude and greatnesse of this kingdom the King is great and the Kingdom is great Behold saith the Angel to the Virgin he shall be great and he shall raign over the house of Jacob for ever Luke 1. 32. 33. And the Prophet Daniel describes this greatnesse and what this house of Jacob is in these words and the kingdome and dominion and the greatness of the kingdome under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdome and all dominions rulers and powers shall serve and obey him Dan. 7. 27. The excellency is set forth by the glory splendor and purity of it and in this respect it is in Scripture called the kingdome of God the kingdome of Christ a kingdome of Priests a kingdome of Saints the kingdome of our God the kingdome of glory heavenly countrey city inheritance possession reward all heavenly all glorious all holy there shall be nothing to hurt nor destroy in
saith he comfort one another with these words 1 Thes. 4. 18. Blessed and holy is he saith St. John that hath part in the first resurrection for hee alone is the man that lookes for his coming and hath comfort in his appearing the very same saith Daniel Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the 1335. dayes but go thou thy way till the end be for thou shalt rest and stand in the Lot at the end of the dayes Dan. 12. 12 13. which number exceeds the former which comprehended the whole time of Antichrists raign and persecution 45. yeers thereby discovering a deep mystery of high understanding which none but the wise can possibly apprehend as the Prophet declareth vers. 10. which additionall number notes out unto us that little season that shall be between the totall destruction of Antichrist and the finall consummation of this world which our Lord himself signifieth by the word immediately thereby to set forth all the time between the dayes of tribulation and his own glorious appearing and St. John uses the word quickely to set forth all the time likewise between the wofull raign of Antichrist and the wofull ruine of all ungodly men in these words Rev. 11. The second wo is past and behold the third wo cometh quickely and as it is shewed to John that after the thousand yeers should be finished expired and fulfilled which is the whole time of Poperies cruelty and mysterie of Iniquity and the Dragon the Devils liberty which is exprest for the time to be a little season in which Satan shall move and stir up the nations of the four quarters of the earth even Gog and Magog those great and innumerable multitudes to desolate the Saints the Church even the beloved city of God as before I have touched till the very instant of time of the Sonne of mans coming in his white and glorious throne to judgement before whose face the earth and the heavens fled away and there was found no place for them Rev. 20. 7 8 9 10 11. and likewise the 45. additionall yeers of Daniels Chaldee reckoning to be the whole time in which God will accomplish the scattering of the powers of his holy people and between the ending of the time times and half a time and the generall resurrection to have all these things fulfilled and this is cleerly though briefly intimated wherefore I demand of all you learned Monarchists Judaists and Millenarists where in Gods Word you will find any time for the glory of the Churches prosperity in this world Well let a word be enough to the wise and therefore never preach nor print such doctrines hereafter The last thing is the place where the Scriptures speak that Christ and his kingdome shall be in for evermore and that is the earth saith the truth Blessed are the meek for they shall inherite the earth Mat. 5. 5. The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdomes of our Lord and his Christ and he shall raign for ever and ever Rev. 11. 15. even then when the Lord himself shall descend fâ—rom heaven with a shout with the voyce of the Archangel with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first and the Saints living changed before the kingdome be established 2 Thes. 4. 16. which St. John makes to be the voyce of the seventh and last Angel Rev. 10. 7. saying When he shall begin to sound the mystery of God shall be finished and that the earth at that time shall be made the place of Christ and his Churches habitation eternally glorified observe the cleare and unanimous consent of all Scriptures this is the new song of the 24. Elders Rev. 5. 9 10. which sung to the praise of the Lamb of God Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every tongue and people and nation and hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and wee shall raign on the earth And David makes it the song of his delight in the often repetition of it Psal. 37. 9. Evill doers saith he shall be cut off but those that wait upon the Lord shall inherit the earth For yet a little while and the wicked shall not be But the meek shall inherite the earth v. 10. 11. And again Such as are blessed of God shall inherite the earth and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off v. 22. yea the earth hath the Lord given to the children of men Psal. 115. 16. And again The spirituall sons of him that feareth the Lord shall inheritthe earth Psal. 25. 13. Wherefore great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God in the mountain of his holiness beautifull for situation the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion Psal. 48. 1 2. then shall it be that the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the Sea Isa. 11. 9. which cannot be understood here in this world but of the world to come not in this old corruptible heaven and earth but when the whole creation even every creature shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption Rom. 8. 19 20 21 22. in that time when none shall hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain saith the Lord even then when these heavens and earth that now are corruptible shall be dissolved and new heavens and new earth created in which dwelleth righteousnesse then even in the day of the Lords coming 2 Pet. 3. 11 12 13. Isa. 65. 17. and as the glorious Church of Christ shall remain for ever so shall the restitution of all things also Isa. 66. 22. Finally John was shewed the new heavens and the new earth and the renovation of all things Rev. 21. 1. when hee saw new Jerusalem the Church of God even the Lambs wife come down from heaven to the earth so that the Tabernacle of God was with men with whom hee will dwell for ever And this is the heavenly Countrey Church and City with foundations which Abraham Isaac Jacob and all the faithfull people of God have ever expected and looked after that better resurrection which as yet they possesse not for all these died in the faith and received not the promise meaning the hope that was set before them God providing some better things for us that they without us might not be perfect Heb. 11. 13 14. yet seeing the perfection afar off and imbraced it through faith and confessed they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth for they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a Countrey a heavenly Canaan and Paradise of rest And as Gods children have chosen God and his promises for their portion and inheritance so the Lord himselfe hath chosen Sion for his habitation This is my rest for ever saith he here will I dwell for I have desired it Psal. 132. 13 14. Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Rev. 15. 3. The Lord loveth the gates of Sion Glorious things are spoken of thee O thou City of God Psal. 87. 3. The Lord himselfe shall arise and have mercy upon Sion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come Psal. 102. 13. Errata PAge 6. line 17. for same blood read Sons blood p. 9. l. 7. for a yeere r. and a yeere p. 12. l. 25. for N. H. 1. H. N. p. 49. l. 22. for elect r. the elect FINIS
he deciphers his person by the appellation and name of a star vers. 1. thereby signifying hee was a high and great light in the Church even in the rank and course of the Apostles for so are they compared and called Rev. 12. and that this star was great in the outward office of the Church is farther intimated in these words in saying hee fell from heaven that was from the purity of the doctrine of the Saints preached and planted by Christs faithfull Apostles and Evangelists and in that it is said hee fell unto the earth it sheweth that as he fell from the light of the truth so he fell into grosse corrupt hereticall darknesse apostatizing and as opposite to the sincerity of the truth he formerly professed as the cursed polluted earth is to the pure undefiled heavens and as it is said To him was given the key of the bottomless pit it shewes the permissive power that should be granted and given to him that as hee loved lies more then truth so he that is the God of truth should give him up to strong delusions to believe lies and having in himself an adulterous evill heart a fit receptacle for an error so abominable doth with as great a longing desire preach and publish it to corrupt others like himself by all wayes and means whatsoever as first his own thirstie deceit was not satisfied proved in these words vers. 2. And hee opened the bottomless pit and there arose a smoak out of the pit as the smoak of a great furnace declaring hereby the nature of their corrupt doctrines even such as smoak soot and filth compared to the pure air and wofull darknesse to the glorious Sun-light The truth of God whose shining purity was obscured and darkned as it followes in the next words by reason of the smoak of the pit and the Text saith vers. 3. And there came out of the smoak Locusts upon the earth which shewes the great successe and large increase of false doctrines which are no sooner conceived and borne but presently it brings forth abundantly a viperous and wicked brood good for nothing but destruction it self and their great power is to hurt as a Scorpion which is the most cruell and venimous of all creeping things vers. 5. And as they are cruel so they are cunning crafty and unavoidable by which being once bit or stung it is incurable of such dangerous nature was this heresie of Arrius see the cruelty vers. 6. their power cunning and deceit vers. 7 8 9 10 11. The Apostle also by divine inspiration sets down the full and compleat time of this Arrian persecution saying It shall be five moneths that is moneths of yeers accounting as before in the audit of Antichrist thirty dayes to a moneth which multiplied by five amounts in the totall to one hundred and fifty yeers prophetically reckoning a day for a yeere as Ezek. 4. 6. which heresie was grown to such a height of esteem and applause that the then Christian Emperour call'd a generall Councel of all the Bishops in Christendome to confirm and establish this abominable false doctrine by a canon or Ecclesiasticall decree to be an unquestionable verity from which conclusion not any one of the learned Doctors did dissent but only godly Athanasius who by his alone wisdome and great knowledge in the Scriptures did protest and declare against this dark and smoakie error and he managed and maintained the truth so clearly by the authoritie of holy Writ that as Christ was perfect man so hee was truly God God and man our alone Saviour through which his grave and solid arguments raised from the beginning of the Evangelists of St. John and other holy Scriptures he gained the most of the generall Councel to be of his side and judgement whereupon they prevailed with him to make and write that famous and excellent Creed call'd after his own name even the Creed of Athanasius which then and ever since hath been imbraced approved honoured confessed of all Christian Churches although it is now neglected as gold in the dust and pearles by the ignorant Cock in the dunghill and fables in comparison even husks preferred before the verity thereof through the blindnesse of this present generation Heres Although the Popes universall supremacie in and over all persons and causes Ecclesiasticall and civill be an error and also heresie to deny the humane nature of Christ as doth the Familists and as bad in Arrius to deny the divine nature of our Lord and Saviour for I am of Athanasius his mind That hee was God of the substance of the Father begotten before the world were made and man of the substance of the mother born in the world perfect God and perfect man for as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man so God and man is one Christ And also I believe and maintain that every man naturally hath free will to do good as well as free will to do evill and that a Christian mans standing in the grace and favour with God depends upon his obedience in keeping the commandments and that there is no more or other certainty of salvation then that man by his own free good will continues obedient to Gods Word so that a man may be the childe of God to day and the childe of the Devill to morrow Truth You that did last speak shew your self to be an Arminian for although you confesse many truths yet indeed you differ no more from a Papist then Arminius that wicked heretike did and in your false doctrines of free will and falling from grace you agree with the ancient Anabaptists also for you all three are but one in these two errors And first for your tenent of Freewill that all men naturally have as great freedome and power of will to do good as to do evill this is a grosse error and directly opposite to the clear and plain Scriptures for the Apostle saith It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. And the truth speaks thus 2 Cor. 3. 5. Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiencie is of God and this is the faith and confession of the whole Church of God Isa. 26. 12. Lord thou wilt ordain peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our works in us and for us The error of Free will is a carnall opinion and naturally men are inclined to it and the holy Apostle St. James reproves it in his dayes who writing to the scattered Tribes saith you ought to say if the Lord will and not to say as you have affirmed your faith to be Wee will go c. James 2. 13. 15. So that it is plain no man of himself hath freedome of will to do good but there is no question but every man hath freedome of will to do evill as saith the Prophet Jerem. 4. 22. Secondly your doctrine of the uncertainty
proving this his abomination and whorish power from Gods divine Oracles in these words To execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishment upon the people to bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron This honour have all the Saints Psa. 149 8 9. avouching this Scripture to be fulfilled in the holy Church of Rome and that they were the Saints which by this prophesie were foretold of to depose and disthrone Kings and to cloak colour their covetousnesse which set all their trickes awork as Bulls and Pardons at all rates and prices whereby their coffers were filled with gold and silver from all countries and people And this hee affirmed was prophesied for his filthy holinesse maintenance and ungodly revenue in these words The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts yea all Kings shall fall down before him all nations shall serve him Psal. 72. 10. And notwithstanding their grosse abusing the Scriptures and false claims to Titles as Holy Father and holy Mother the Church time hath now proved him to be Antichrist the Man of sinne and capitall enemy to the truth of God And indeed this conceit that the Church of God should enjoy temporall peace and outward glory and authority hath been alwayes the opinion of carnall Christians and the Jewes to this day cannot see otherwise then when their still lookt-for Messiah should come that then they shall bee gathered to be a great people againe and made a worldly Monarchy to rule over all Nations as now all Nations rule over them But their groundlesse hope will prove but as the Spiders web and so it will be with all others of their mind for see how the Scripture resolves the question that the Saints the Church of God shall still suffer to the worlds end the question is made with a loud voyce saying How long O Lord holy and true dost thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth And the answer from heaven saith that they should rest yet a little season untill their fellow servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled Rev. 6. 10. And the clad and washed with the righteousnesse of Christ and the blood of the Lamb are those that goe through great tribulations Rev. 7. 13 14. Finally of this doctrine we have a double witnesse two brethren and Apostles whose praise is in all the Churches Acts 14. 22. who both as one man conclude this truth as a Decree for ever That such as continue in the faith must through many tribulations enter into the Kingdome of God which Kingdome is that which all the Prophets and Apostles in all times have spoken of which in its due place I shall briefly unfold Heresie I pray you give us leave to speak Have we not clear Scripture for the glorious reigne of Christ upon the earth and that all the Martyrs and holy Prophets shall rise from the dead and reigne with Christ a thousand yeares in all prosperity peace riches plenty wealth and glory with such supreme power and Majesty as never any Monarch in this world had before nor ever shall have after for when the thousand yeares are expired then comes the generall resurrection Rev. 20. Truth Your confession shewes you to be a Millenarian which error as it hath been ancient so of late as of many other errors there is a reviving of this amongst the rest And as you say the summe of it is that now or they know not when Christ shall descend personally from heaven and then cause all the bodies of the Saints that have suffered martyrdome from the beginning of the world to be raised and Christ and his Saints to live in this cursed earth and corruptible world in the enioyment of riches wealth power and authority majesty and Emporality as no heathen nor Christian Monarchy ever had in this world before and you ground your mistake on Rev. 20. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Now I answer that the whole position is directly against the Scripture you alledge rightly understood for the Apostle Peter affirmeth it plainly that the heavens must containe and receive Christ personally untill the time of the restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began Acts 2. 21. Here are such witnesses as cannot be excepted against even all his holy Prophets and then and not sooner shall the Lord Jesus come which before was preached unto you verse 20. And the place you instance Rev. 20. proves no more the Millenary fancie as you describe it then it proves a new world in the Moon or that men may plow the floods of the Sea to sow and plant on them And because the true understanding of that Scripture will overthrow this error at once wee will shew you that the resurrection there spoken of is the spirituall and first resurrection which our Saviour Christ clearly layes down both in nature and order John 5. 25. And because it is a mystery therefore his expression is more then ordinary Verily verily twice affirming it I say unto you the houre is comming and now is when the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God and they that heare it shall live This is the spirituall resurrection from sin through the grace of regeneration and these are they only that live and reigne with Christ having sought and gained the Kingdome of heaven and the righteousnesse thereof Matth. 6. 33. And those only that are risen with Christ through regeneration are born of God and those that are born of God through faith are victors and overcome all opposition even the whole world and the Prince and King thereof 1 John 5. 4. and in this sense they reigne with Christ in their estate of temptation and regeneration who in their teares and sorrow are happy in the enjoyment of their Comforter who anointeth them with the unction of truth and teacheth and instructeth them so sufficiently that all the powers and thrones of Antichrist the subtilties crafts and deceits of him and all his learned Clerks who have endevoured and used all means possible to couzen and cheat the people of God for almost the space of this thousand two hundred and fourty yeares here expressed by the Millenary number onely because it shall not exceed more thousands then one in which cloudy and dark day the holy Ghost hath so led and guided the sonnes of truth that all the Jugglers at Rome and Babylon could not make them to mistake the mark of the Beast for the mark of the Lamb nor to worship the Beast and his image in stead of the Lord and his Christ yea rather then they would defile themselves with the adultery of the Whore they would die a thousand deaths for so saith the Text they lost their lives and their heads for the witnesse of Jesus for the pure worship
Earth and of the whole World cannot be understood of any but of him that writes himselfe God of Gods and King of Kings and Emperour of the Universe the whole world who giveth for his Ensigne the Moon the very Embleme of the world Observe how the Holy Ghost hath deciphered him for his reigne and residence the East for his religion the earth earthly and sensuall even the idle fancy and corrupt deceit of Mahomet himself mingled and composed of the parings out-side and offall of the profession of Christians Jewes and Heathens and lastly his unparalleld power and jurisdiction to be no lesse then the force and strength of the whole world Now me thinks the meaning of our Lords words doth agree with his servant Johns for by the term Sun our Lord doth mean himselfe the Sun of righteousnesse the truth of the Gospel and it must be a great power that must so oppose the doctrine of the Gospel in Christendome as to turn our light that is the light of men into the darknesse of Mahometisme and that that Egyptian darknesse that hath overspread the greatest part of the world where the Turk hath dominion should darken Christendome also that is the Land of Goshen if the true light should thus be made dark then the Moon that hath no light but from the Sun shall not give her light in our Saviours words and in his meaning also men that are inlightened by him as the Moon is by the Sun shall not give their light for how can they possibly when Christ which is their light is darkened and when the Sun and Moon thus fail then must needs the Stars whether Ministers or Professors all such as are not the faithfull indeed shall fall from heaven to the earth that is from the truth to Mahometisme and in this great storm the powers of Heaven elect and faithfull from which condition it is impossible they should fall yet saith the Text these shall be shaken with the terrible storm which compared with Rev. 6. 12. makes it more cleare for the Sun became as sackcloth of haire saith the Apostle and the Moon became as blood and the Stars of heaven fell unto the earth even as a Fig-tree casteth her untimely figs when shee is shaken with a mighty wind here the Apostle is cleare in understanding the Stars to be not true born Christians but untimely and as St. Jude speaks and calls them wandering stars to whom is reserved the blacknesse of darknesse for ever vers. 13. But blessed be God for ever that hath bounded and limited this last and great storm that shall fall upon his Church so as the very powers thereof shall be shaken with these comfortable words immediately quickely it shall be over it shall continue but a little season Heres For the opinion of the Millenaries the truth is there is no shew of ground for it in the Scriptures but wee have of late gathered our selves into a Church communion and fellowship and walk together in that order that Christs Word holds out to us finding in our practice the Scriptures true that as Moses was faithfull in all his house as a servant so Christ as a son is faithfull in his house so that we order all things according to the Word and advance Christs Kingdom his Scepter and Law in the purity as the Scriptures do declare believing also that every congregation is independent and that none but Christ hath power to command each congregation and that none ought to be constrained or in the least measure opposed or punished as touching their consciences but every man ought and should live as the light of his conscience leads him Truth By what you express you should be an Independent as some call you and as some of your judgement call or term themselves wherefore I demand of you all that would have generall liberty for every mans opinion whom I mean by Independent where you find it written in Gods Word that you should gather or congregate your selves in that manner as you do you that have been Ministers to leave your pastorall charges and others to forsake their fellow-member-ship in each Congregation for as much as the Law of this Christian Church as touching matters for publike worship and meeting doth incorporate every Congregation or Parish and of many members makes them but one body and yet you from this body schisme and rent your selves and so of divers torn pieces remnants and broken members to patch up a body or congregation of your own invention contrary to the publike order the Statute lawes and ordinances of this Christian Church and against the meaning of the holy Scriptures also and when you your selves have made a body of your own making then to have peculiar priviledges to do what you please with the consent of your members and whatsoever you shall do to be beyond all power or magistracy whatsoever to either question you or punish you although by the rule of Gods Word there be cause and all that all of you have done yet is but outward and externall Now I demand if there be precept or president for any or all these things you do if there be then shew it if you can shew none for so I am sure you cannot then how can you clear your selves but that your practice is of your own inventions For this is your doctrine that those rules and orders which are prescribed by men for the publique worship and service of God being not plainly expressed in Gods Word such lawes and directions are Idolatry and yet will you devise rules and order 〈◊〉 practise them your selves of your own ordaining for which you can bring no expresse word nor true consequence I pray see the conclusion therefore your way of Religion is a wil-worship and therefore Idolatrous and aggravated because it is against the lawfull demands of Christian authority Here I would not be mistaken by what I have said to oppose the private spirituall communion of the Saints according to the Apostles practice and the Holy Ghosts direction Hebr. 10. 25. But you say this Text proves your Church-way Hebrews Chap. 3. Vers 1 2 3 4 5 6. the substance of which Scripture is this that as Moses was faithfull in all his house as a servant so Christ as a son is faithfull over his house you making Moses his faithfulnesse to consist in those prescripts and rules he gave for the Temple or Tabernacle in the form and structure for Priests and their habits for the time of incense sacrifices divine services in the Oracles and Ordinances of God even all the externall form and manner of Gods publike worship and you say that Christs faithfulnesse in his house under the Gospel is not inferiour to Moses under the Law in all externall lawes rules and directions in every particular for as much as Christ is the Son of his own house and as Moses had a word for every thing so Christ hath left a word for every thing It
coals thereof are coals of fire which hath a most vehement flame and it contemns all manner of substance to purchase it it is no way to be attained but by the gift of God I will put my lawes in their inward parts and write them in their hearts saith the Lord Jer. 31. 33. This glorious kingdome are all such as are made of God Kings and Priests these are the Levits to whom God hath given the Law and Covenant of life to this commandement of peace and salvation Mal. 2. 4 5 6. which hath comforted his people here and for ever doth guide and regulate them in the perfection the glorious and everlasting kingdome of Christ hereafter Which Law of Gods kingdome is called in Scriptures a holy law a royall law a law of life a law of libertie a perfect law and such like James 1. 25. Chap. 2. 8. 12. The sixt thing considerable is the priviledges of this kingdome of glory which are so great and many that I shall rather obscure then discover them their priviledge of power and Authoritie is exceeding much and abundantly set forth in the Scriptures for when the Lord shall exalt Jerusalem this his own kingdome then shall the Lord breake the staffe of the wicked and the scepter of the rulers Isa. 14. 5. Behold saith the Lord I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan which say they are Jewes and are not but doe lye Behold saith he the second time againe to his Church I will make them come to worship before thy feete and to know that I have loved thee Rev. 3. 9. This is such a dignitie and priviledge as the Lord himselfe with a twofold word of audience affirmeth to take them captives whose captives they were and to rule over their oppressors Isa. 14. 2. with the praises of God in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hands to execute vengeance punishment upon heathenish people to binde their Kings with chaines their Nobles with fetters of iron this honour or priviledge have all the Saints Psal. 149. And so saith the Prophet The sonnes of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and all that despised thee shall how themselves downe at the soles of thy feete and they shall call thee the Citie of the Lord the Sion of the holy One of Israel whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated so that no man went through thee or delighted in thy company I will make thee an eternall excellency a joy of many generations Isa. 60. 14 15. So also their priviledge of freedome and libertie doth set forth their glory Jerusalem which is above is free which is the mother of us all Gal. 4. 26. They are all free-borne so begotten and born by the Word it selfe for all the whole Kingdome are children of the truth and the truth it was that which made them free Joh. 8. 32. Now the Word and the truth are the Sonne and those that the Sonne makes free are free indeed ver. 36. and from all manner of bondage free from sinne free from death free from sorrow free from the grave free from corruption free from oppression free from suffering inlarged and set at libertie for ever to injoy immortalitie these are the people that possesse and injoy the glorious libertie or freedome of the sonnes or children of God Rom. 8. 21. Also the company and associates that are in this heavenly kingdome doe exceedingly declare the glory of it to have and injoy the presence of God of Christ and the holy Ghost the company of all the holy Angels the company and societie of all the holy Patriarks Prophets and Saints with the comfortable delight and excellency of the restitution and perfection of all creatures both in the heavens the earth and the sea and all that is within them as shall be shewed hereafter in the point of universall subjection In Gods presence saith the Prophet is fulnesse of joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Psal. 16. 11. You saith the Lord speaking to his Saints I appoint unto you a kingdome and yee shall eate and drinke with mee at my table in my kingdome Luk. 22. 30. And as the Angels are ministring spirits here in the Saints sufferings Heb. 1. 7. so in the world to come with the presence of God wee shall have the company presence of the Angels about the throne saith the text Rev. 7. 11. And there shall wee see Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all the holy Prophets in the kingdome of God and have heavenly sweet societie and company with them Luk. 13. 28. Now as the priviledges of the kingdome excell so also its Officers exceed all others I will saith the Lord make thy Officers peace and thine exactors righteousnesse violence shall no more be heard in thy land wasting and destruction within thy borders but thou shalt call thy walls salvation and thy gates praise Isa. 60. 18 19. Then shall mercy and truth meet together righteousnesse and peace shall kisse each other Psal. 85. 10. And this is the seventh consideration the eight followeth which are the subjects of this great King and Kingdome And the Apostle is so generall and universall in these that he excepts none neither in heaven nor in earth not sea nor under the earth even none that can be named but God the Father onely that subdued all under his Sons feet which is the King of this Kingdom for so saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 27. For he hath put all things under his feete for when he saith all things are put under him it is manifest that he is excepted who did put all things under him so then it is cleare that Angels and men and all other creatures are the subjects of this great Kingdome He hath put all things in subjection under his feete saith the Apostle Heb. 2. 8. And this is the Prophets witnesse I have sworne by my selfe saith the Lord the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousnesse and shall not returne that unto me every knee shall how every tongue shall sweare Isa. 45. 23. And againe The nations and kingdomes that will not serve thee shall perish yea those nations shall be utterly wasted Chap. 60. 12. And of the Angels saith the Apostle Let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1. 6. And the Apostle expounds the Oath of the Lord for this universall subjection and saith It is written as I live saith the Lord every knee shall how to mee and every tongue shall confesse to God Rom. 14. 11. And againe he saith At the name of Jesus every knee shall how of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth and every tongue shall confesse that Jesus is Lord and King to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2. 10 11. And yet the holy Ghost is more particular to prove that all things in all places are subject to Christ Rev. 5. 13. And every creature saith he which is
with him in his throne yea in his owne throne In the second place this Masculine title notes out unto us the birth-right and inheritance that by right belongs unto the Church of God that as the first-born man-child is the heir apparent both by Scripture and nature so the Lords first-born is the apparent heir of the purchased inheritance and to this truth doth the Apostle witnesse in these words Rom. 8. 17. If children then heirs heirs with God and joynt heirs with Christ heirs of salvation Heb. 1. 14. Heirs according to the promise Gal. 3. 29. Heirs according to the hope of eternall life Tit. 3. 7. Heirs of the kingdome which hee hath promised to them that love him James 2. 5. Oh how sweet and comfortable are the words I could alwayes be mindfull of them yea of this word heirs of the kingdome which hee hath promised c. which now calls me to mind of my promise at first to describe in its due place the stone that was cut out without hands which smote the Image upon his feet which became a great mountain and filled the whole earth c. This term Mountain in the Scriptures sets forth unto us often literally the hils or highest parts of the earth but figuratively the greatest powers that are in this world or that to come and sometimes by mountain we are to understand such carnall and naturall men as have high thoughts and great esteem of themselves and therefore as it is prophesied of John the Baptist Isa. 40. 3 4. so it was fulfilled by him Luke 3. 4. who by the great gifts given him of God to work repentance whereby he prepared the Lords way and turned the disobedient to the wisdome of the just and of the operation of his Ministerie it is said Every mountain and hill was brought low c. meaning that the hearts of disobedient naturall men were made penitent and their high thoughts humbled Also by the term mountain wee are to understand all those great powers dignities and authorities that have risen up and born sway in this world ever since the creation thereof and amongst the rest those Monarchies especially at the beginning of our Discourse particularly named and with them all nations and Religions Papists and others as well Christians as Pagans that have at all times hated persecuted and destroyed the Saints the Church of Christ and with this truth the Prophet Jeremiah was well acquainted in saying in the name of the Lord that hee would render unto Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evill that they had done to Sion Behold I am against thee O destroying mountain saith the Lord which destroyedst all the earth c. Jer. 51. 24 25. and again Who art thou O great mountain thou shalt be made a plain Zac. 4 7. And for this cause even for the great oppression of his servants and people will the Lord shortly go forth as a mighty man he shall stir up jealousie like a man of war hee shall cry yea roare hee shall prevail against his enemies mightily and although he have been long silent and held his peace and restrained himself all this world long and hath suffered his own wife and little children to be afflicted with judgement from all the powers and authorities that have ruled in the earth yet now it is neer at hand that he that shall come will come and will not tarry but will destroy and devour at once all the mountains and hils that have desolated his own little holy hill of Sion Isa. 42. 13 14 15. Psal. 2. 6. And this holy hill of Sion which David speaks of is the small stone cut out of the mountain without hands that Daniel so long before saw in a Vision which became so great a mountain that it brake to pieces the gold the silver the brasse the iron the clay that no place was found for them for ever hereafter Now the holy Scribe Ezra is shewed what the mountain cut out without hands is 2 Ezr. 13. 35. that it is Sion the Church of God and her King the Son of God standing on the top of this mount Sion a posture of Majesty belonging only to a King and that this King should without sword or lifting up his hand or any instrument of war destroy the multitudes that came out to fight against him with a blast of fire sent out of his mouth and out of his lips a flaming breath and sparkles and tempest cast out with his tongue vers. 10. and the torments are like to a flame and their destruction shall be with the law that is like unto fire v. 38. And the peaceable multitude are the ten Tribes carried away by Salmaneser king of Assyria now both their carrying into captivity past long ago and their return which is not yet brought to passe are a lively type of the Saints captivity both of Jewes and Gentiles in the Churches pressures and sufferings and of their deliverance and salvation also as likewise the set-time to be in the day of the Lord Jesus his coming and revealing v. 28. to the 50. compared with 2 King 17. And farther it filled the whole earth saith the Text Dan. 2. 34. Observe the Prophets expression that the holy mountain of the Lord at the first was seen to be a stone cut out without hands which cleerly deciphereth unto us the true nature of the Church of Christ in her first and suffering condition the ten Tribes captivity in their estate of regeneration by which shee is made a holy living spirituall stone-house and so made or fashioned not by mans hands or any humane power as all the fleshly Synagogues of this world are but cut out and made without hands as that Tabernacle which God doth build and not man which is the true Church or Tabernacle Heb. 8. 2. And as I have often touched before continually all this life long suffers under those that are evill and malignant truly so called wherefore the Lord by the Prophet comforts this holy Church and mother of truth for a moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee in a little wrath have I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer And again Oh thou afflicted and tossed with tempest I will speak it again â—ossed with tempest here 's a word that sets out the suffering of truth with her children to the full even so tossed with the storme and tempest of affliction as a ship is tossed with the roaring and raging waves of the seas or as a ball is tossed and beaten up and down both by hand and foot Isa. 54. Now as the Prophet Daniel by the dreame of the King did understand the day of small things concerning the Churches condition in her estate of regeneration so also he saw the great and glorious power and soveraignty its dominion and magnitude in its deliverance