of Life and from the things which are written in this Book Evidently God tyes up his people under Law and Gospel to a strict and sole attendment unto what he hath given forth in the Scriptures And that because V. These are sufficient able and perfect as he affirms of them to instruct and guide us Psal 19.7 The Law of Jehovah is perfect 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure word of Prophesie more sure than what than the voice that came from the excellent Glory when Christ was transfigured upon the Mount whereunto we do well to take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the Day-Star arise in your Hearts The word of Prophesie contain'd in the Scripture is a sure word 't is a light every way sufficient as such to direct us in the way we should take and is carefully to be attended to till the morning of the day of the Son of Man or the Revelation of Jesus 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. Thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are are able to make thee wise unto salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect thorowly furnished unto all good works The sum of what we have been Arguing Proving is this That the Holy Scriptures are our Directory with respect to Worship all then and no more whatsoever Christ hath commanded his people therein Saints are bound to attend and give up to And if so as is clearly demonstrated then Christ having given charges therein touching Saints walking together in the fellowship of the Gospel Worshipping Waiting on him in Gospel-institutions Praying Preaching Baptism breaking Bread is unquestionably the duty of Saints in every generation Quod erat demonstrandum Object T is true these things were once of the institution of Christ but they are now ceased Answ 1. They are the Scriptures of the Lord as we have proved we are solely to attend to both with respect to Doctrine and Worship let but then one syllable tittle be produced there-from that demonstrates the cessation of these Institutions of Christ and the matter is at an issue The honour of our Lord Jesus being so deeply concerned herein no sober Christian except under a great power of temptation will be willing to part with them upon easier terms 'T is not pretensions to Visions Revelations Angelick Appearances that will remove them from their stedfastness to the institutions of Christ those that depart from them upon such pretensions will never answer it in the day of Christ But 2. By the same reason the institutions Ordinances under the Mosaick Ministration might long before the fulness of time for their dissolution have been exploded so all the Authority of God with respect to Worship been rejected To the very time of their passing away by the exhibition of Jesus who was greater than Moses by whom the Law was given John 1.17 greater than Angels whose Ministry was made use of in its solemn Promulgation Act. 7.53 The Lord charges his People to be found in the practice of them Mal. 4.4 And those that were so as corrupt as the then Church-state was were honoured signally blessed by the Lord as Zachary Elizabeth Simeon 3. There 's not the least mention of the freedom exemption of any of the Lords Children from these Institutions till the personal Appearance of Christ but the contrary Object 2. Well then it seems 't will be granted that when Christ doth personally appear on earth there is to be a cessation of and period put to this Church-state with the Institutions and Ordinances thereunto appertaining what if he hath so appeared already Answ 1. As touching the first we very readily grant it upon Christ's next visible glorious appearance there will certainly be a dissolution of this Fabrick But 2. As to the question whatever the pretensions of any are or may be of Christs personal appearance to them it s evidently false and untrue not to be believed heeded or attended to for these Reasons 1. Christ foretels us there shall be such pretenders and charges us not to believe them or go forth after them Mat. 24.26 Therefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desert go not forth Behold he is in the secret chambers believe it not 2. The Scripure mentions but one second coming of the Lord Jesus Heb. 9.28 And unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Upon this pretext there may be must be many comings of Christ 3. The Heavens must receive him till the times of the restitution of all things when and not before God the Father will send him Act. 3.20 21. Of these times there 's nothing appears that bears the least resemblance 4. Christ gives his Church no notice of any such thing which had he designed and for such an end as is pretended viz. to put a period to the present Ministration and to erect a new one send forth new Apostles c. he would certainly have done A total silence herein were there any such thing intended by him is perfectly inconsistent with the Love he bears to his Children 5. 'T is expresly said he must sit at Jehovah's right Hand till his Enemies are made his Foot-stool Psal 110.1 which as yet we are sure they are not 6. The Work of Intercession now in Heaven where he is constantly to attend it will not admit him to come from thence tell he bring the New Jerusalem down with him For he makes Intercession as God-Man in that Nature Body in which he was Crucified which though a glorious Body yet is limited circumscribed else 't were not a Body 7. The Scripture is express that when he comes from thence he comes visibly as he went away so that every eye shall see him Mat. 24.27 30. For as the lightning cometh out of the East and shineth even unto the West so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven and then shall all the Tribes of the Earth mourn and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory Act. 1.9 10 11. And when he had spoken these things while they beheld he Christ was taken up and a Cloud received him out of their sight And while they looked stedfastly towards Heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in White Apparel which also said Ye men of Galilee Why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall SO COME in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him 8. When Christ comes Satan shall be bound Rev.
pass away The same may be said concerning the sons of men They may 't is true advance against it attempt to shake remove it as they have done and do with all their force and cunning but 't is a Kingdom so far above them so supported strengthned by the King of Heaven that they never succeed in their Attempts Vain ridiculous are their Consultations Aggregations together in order hereunto Can they pull the Stars out of the Firmament Stop the Sun in its Course Turn it into blackness darkness Pull it from the place God hath Ordained for it Are not all Attempts of such a Nature worthy to be scorned derided at as acts of the greatest Folly and desperate Madness Such are the advances of the Anti-Christians against this State Kingdom Whilst God sits in the Heavens he will laugh them to Scorn and have them in Derision There must first be a Power Authority above God's before this Kingdom can be brought to a Dissolution by any save he that Erected it Object But doth not God say that he will create new-Heavens and a new-new-Earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind Isa 65.17 And the Apostle Peter assures us 2 Pet. 3.7 10 12 13. that the Heavens that now are are kept in store reserv'd unto Fire c. that there is a time in which the Heavens shall pass away with a great Noise c. They shall be dissolv'd that the Saints look for New-Heavens Answ 1. Dato non Concesso granting for Disputation's-sake that by Heavens we are to understand a Church-state perhaps somewhat else is intended in the places under considerations viz. the purifying delivering the Creation from that vanity corruption to which 't was subjected by reason of Sin the Introduction of the Restitution of all things by Jesus Act. 3.21 yet 2. It doth not yet appear nor is it in hast like to be proved that by the Heavens that are to pass away more is to be understood than the removing of the Judaic Church-state which indeed passed away and was melted down by fervent heat when the Temple to which 't was affixt was consumed with Fire not long after Peter writ that Epistle The new-New-Heavens spoken of may perhaps signify the Gospel-Church-State there 's not a tittle spoken of their Passing away but the contrary Isa 65.22 But 3. That we may give to this Objection such as it is the greatest weight it 's capable of Let it further be granted that by the Heavens in Peter which shall Pass away is to be understood the Gospel-Church-State and that Isaiah and Peter speak of a New-Church-State which shall succeed that The first Heavens Pass not away till the consuming Fire is kindled nor is it in the Power of man to set Fire to them to cause them to cease to be as the Creation of the New-Heavens is the peculiar Act of God so is the dissolution of the Old Fourthly This Church-State is represented under the Notion of A Kingdom which cannot be shaken moved Heb. 12.27 28. Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved let us have Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear A few things must be inquired into viz. I. What we are to understand by this Kingdom Answ The Gospel-Church-State we are discoursing of This is Evident for 1. 'T is a Kingdom introduced immediately upon the shaking of the Heaven so as to remove the things shaken i. e. upon the putting a period to the Judaic-Church-State with the removing of all the carnal Ordinances thereunto appertaining When God gave forth the Law upon mount Sinai his voice shook the Earth v. 26. But then was the solemn visible beginning or creation of their Heaven or Church-State which now is shaken by the death of Christ so that 't is virtually remov'd and Saints are no longer to be subject to it 2. 'T is a Kingdom introduced by Christ's speaking from Heaven v. 25. or of his establishment as coming from the bosom of the Father and declaring his mind to the Sons of Men. Which can be nothing else but the Gospel-oeconomy or ministration introduced by him 3. 'T is a Kingdom which they the Jews believers at least amongst them were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then receiving or undertaking subjecting to which was the Ministration spoken of And is indeed one part of the design of the Apostle in this Epistle to perswade them fully to embrace or receive with the rejection of Mosaic antiquated observances 4. 'T is a Kingdom with respect to which they are said to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear v. 28. Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which though in the general it denotes to serve in any kind of work or service yet it s special signification as used by the Seventy in the Old Testament and Christ and his Apostles in the New is to worship God in wayes of his own institution and appointment II. In what sense it 's affirm'd concerning this Kingdom and the things appertaining to it that it cannot be shaken moved That those things which cannot be shaken may remain The words are variously rendred That those things may remain which are immovable V.L. Which are not to be moved Ar. Which are not to be shaken Aeth Which are void of motion Syr. The words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to be moved or shaken as with Winds or Tempests as the ship in the Sea with storms The Seventy use it when the earth is said to be moved 2 King 22.16 And the Pillars of it shaken Job 9.6 to be by force removed out of its place 1 Chron. 16.30 Job 41.15 Job 9.28 with respect to which the Gospel-Ministration with the Ordinances of it are said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Immovables things that cannot are not to be removed taken down Storms and Tempests it meets with but it abides firm and immovable under all A Kingdom which cannot be moved which is also diversly rendred an immovable Kingdom V.L. A Kingdom which is not shaken Ar. Which cannot be shaken Aeth The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 immoveable unshaken firm stable that bears up against winds and tydes The most rough winds impetuous storms waves cannot shake sink it The meaning is the Mosaic Ministration the Judaic Church-State was liable to shakings 't was at last so to be shaken as to be utterly removed taken out of the way but this Kingdom the oeconomy of the Gospel the Gospel-Church-State is not such 'T is true it shall at last period but not by any shakings that shall dissolve it as the former to make way for a new and better Ministration It shall continue immoveable till it run into and be swallowed up in the Glorious Visible Kingdom of the Messiah or New Jerusalem-State Fifthly The Church-State is called the Ministration of the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That Ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.7 8. That by the
20.1 2. the dead Saints raised 1 Thes 4.16 1 Cor. 15.23 Antichrist perfectly destroyed 2 Thes 2.8 The Kingdoms of this World become his Dan. 7.13 14. Object But Christ came personally on Earth to Stephen Paul John Answ Nothing more false As to Stephen 't is expresly said concerning him that he saw Jesus in Heaven standing on the right hand of God Act. 7.55 The same line of Interpretation is to be drawn over that sight that Paul had of him 'T was a sight of him not on Earth but in Heaven May be when he was caught up into Paradice John's was evidently visional For 1. He expresly tells us he was in the Spirit in a Prophetick exstasie or rapture Rev. 1.10 taken out of himself when objects are not presented to the outward senses which are not in an extasie capable of seeing or beholding them but to the inward mind 2. He also tells us that he whom he saw was only like unto the Son of Man ver 13. was not really substantially so 3. If it were a real personal appearance then the seven golden Candlesticks must be seven real golden Candlesticks the white Garment down to Christ's feet the golden Girdle girt about the paps the seven Stars in his right hand the sharp two-edged Sword coming out of his Mouth must also be real which is absurd ridiculous to imagine 't were to make Christ a monster 4. 'T is expresly said that he sent and signified the Revelation God gave him by an Angel Rev. 1.1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ every particular the whole of what 's contain'd in this Book which God gave unto him he sent and signified it by his Angel unto his Servant John Repeated again Rev. 22.6 The Lord God of the Holy Prophets sent his Angel to shew unto his Servants the things which must shortly be done John 't is true mistakes him for Christ ver 8. but is quickly rectified ver 9. I am thy Fellow-Servant and of thy Brethren the Prophets and of them which keep the sayings of this Book CHAP. IV. The Book of the Revelaetion containes a Prophetick discovery of the State of the Church from the time of its being given forth to the glorious personal appearance of Christ The continuance of Gospel-Churches prophesied of in this Book to the time of Christ's coming The seven Churches of Asia a Type of Gospel-Churches and their continuation to that time Four signal periods of time mentioned in the Revelation viz. The time of the Roman-Pagan Empire of the Prophesying of the Witnesses of the last Dragon-War of the Witnesses rise and pouring forth of the Vials which periods in the personal coming of Christ The continuation of the Church-state through these several periods of time demonstrated The Womans or Church's flight into the Wilderness and the Witnesses prophesying in sackcloath contemporize Her feeding in the Wilderness what the manner of it An Objection answered The two Witnesses are not two particular Persons proved They are before the last of the last dayes Who meant by the Gentiles Rev. 11.2 Why call'd Gentiles The Court without the Temple and the Holy City the treading under foot of the Holy City the Temple of God the Altar and Worshippers therein Explained The fourty-two Months or 1260 Dayes not ordinary Months or Dayes evinced The Antichrist is long since come The Papal Kingdom is the Antichrist Rev. 12.17 at large explained The Dragon Woman remnant of her Seed who they are to what period of time that Prophesie hath relation The slaughter of the Witnesses not a corporeal slaughter proved The risen Witnesses and the Vial-Angels Contemporize None of the Vials yet poured forth Rev. 15.5 at large opened What 's meant by the Temple Why call'd the Temple of the Testimony What the opening of the Temple signifies Demonstration IV. THroughout the Book of the Revelation we have a plain and full account of a Church-state or Saints Worshipping God in Gospel-Churches till the Personal appearance of Christ Two things must be premised 1. This Book of the Revelation is a discovery from God the Father to Jesus Christ of things especially relating to his Churches that were shortly to come to pass Rev. 1.1 i. e. the accomplishment of some of the things there prophesied of was immediately to take place Yet 2. It containes a prophetick discovery of the State of the Church from that time to the personal coming of the Lord Jesus Rev. 20.1 And I saw an Angel Constantine say some an Arch-Angel so others Christ the Angel of the Covenant so rather come down from Heaven having the Key of the bottomless Pit Christ alone hath so Rev. 1.18 chap. 21.3 The Tabernacle of God is with men And 22.20 He which testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen even so come Lord Jesus So then if we demonstrate that the Continuance of a Church-state or Gospel-Churches is prophesied of throughout this Book the continuation of Gospel-Churches with the Worship Ordinances Institutions peculiar to them cannot be denied A late learned Author and some others before him asserts that by the seven Churches of Asia Rev. 2. 3. the State of the Church of Christ downwards to the end of all things is represented And the truth is with that strength of Arguments that I know not how it can be refelled The Church of Ephesus representing the State of the Church of Christ to the tenth of Nero's raign A.D. 63. Smyrna the State of the Church from 63. tell A.D. 324. when Constantine had subdued the most potent Enemies of the Church and comprises the Ten Presecutions Pergamos the state of the Church from 324. to A.D. 1242. when the Popes Legate Amelin made an end of the Albigensian War with Trancavel Bastard of the Earl of Beziers Thyatira the State of the Church from 1242. till whole Nations fell off from the Papacy Sardis from the rise of the Witnesses to the last Vial. Philadelphia from the time of the Last Vial to the fourth Thunder Laodicea the State of the Church from the fourth and fifth Thunders i. e. from the loosing of Satan to the appearing of Christ's coming to Judgment under the sixth Thunder Now though I have several reasons why I cannot comply with this Learned Author as touching the computation of time yet his Arguments to prove the State of the Church from that time to the Confummation of the World to be represented by the seven Churches of Asia seem unanswerable As 1. The title of the Revelation ver 1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ to shew unto his Servants things which must shortly come to pass The Asiatick Churches then were this Book containes a Revelation of things that were to be 2. John's present saluting of the Seven Churches upon his calling this a Book of Prophesies with this Salutation Grace be unto you and Peace from him which is and which was and which is to come manifests as much 3. The description he gives of Christ which is and which was and
synchronize the effects of the one and the other are the same viz. the total destruction of Antichrist and introduction exaltment of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus But the Stone hath yet not begun to smite for when it begins so to do it shall never cease till the Image be wholly destroyed and it the Stone become a great Mountain filling the whole Earth Dan. 2.34 35. Therefore none of the Vials are yet poured out But of this matter we must not now speak at large That there are particular Churches upon the rise of the Witnesses and the pouring out of the Vials will receive a speedy dispatch 1. Now the Witnesses which we have proved to be particular Churches stand upon their feet Begin openly with their wonted and perhaps greater courage and boldness to assert and give Witness to the Wayes and Institutions of Christ which all the time of their Prophesying they were publickly and in the time of their slaughter they were privately found in the practice of Rev. 11.11 2. Now the Woman that had fled into the Wilderness and was nourisht there all the time of the Witnesses slaughter comes out from thence and shews her self as the true Loyal Spouse of Christ in her visible subjection to him in all his glorious Institutions and Appointments To which time that prophesie seems to have respect Cant. 8.5 3. Now the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Heaven is open'd Rev. 15.5 A few things must be enquired into 1. What we are to understand by the Temple 2. Why 't is call'd The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony 3. In what sense it 's said to be opened 1. By the Temple we are to understand the Gospel-Church-state the Churches Ordinances Institutions of CHRIST which hath been before proved are represented under that notion with the Reasons thereof 2. 'T is call'd The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony because the presence of God his Laws Statutes Ordinances were with them amongst them in a special peculiar manner The Tabernacle of Old was a Type of his special presence with his people then Exod. 25.8 and 29.45 46. Levit. 26.11 12. Therefore God is said to dwell in the Tabernacle it s call'd his Habitation 2 Sam. 15.25 There he promised to meet with and speak to his People Exod. 29.42 43. This Tabernacle is call'd the Tabernacle of Testimony Exod. 38.21 Acts 7.44 because in it was the Ark wherein was the Law or Testimony 'T was at last brought into the Temple at Jerusalem 1 Chron. 8.4 2 Chron. 5.5 This here is said to be in Heaven or appertaining to the Gospel-Ministration perhaps on purpose to obviate any mistake the Jews might have of the restitution of their Temple-Worship q. d. Though I speak of the Temple of the Tabernacle of Testimony don't think that I intend that which was built by Moses Solomon and that your Old-Worship thereto affixed shall be restored no I am treating of another kind of Temple under another Ministration viz. an Heavenly which he that speaks from Heaven hath introduced To which appertains the Testimony Laws Institutions he hath given forth wherein he hath promised to meet his People bless them fill them with his Company Presence Glory 3. By the Opening of the Temple of the Tabernacle in Heaven we are not to understand the introduction of a New-Gospel-Ministration The vanity emptiness ridicule of such an interpretation is from hence manifest that John saith not that there shall be a New-Temple built but only that the Temple shall be opened i. e. the Old Temple of the Tabernacle that was standing all the times of the Pagan-Antichristian persecutions And this very Scripture is of it self evidence sufficient that at least all the times of Antichrist there was an abiding Temple or Gospel-Church-state Worship Worshippers therein For at the rise of Antichrist we find a Temple Rev. 11.1 and now at the going forth of the Vial-Angels this very Temple is open'd not the least tittle syllable of the constituting a new one but the opening the old The word is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to build no nor so much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to restore or repair but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to open that which was already built and sufficiently beautified by the Lord. The words are perhaps an allusion to 2 Chron. 28.24 29.3 The first Scripture tells us that Ahaz had shut up the doors of the House of the Lord the latter that good Hezekiah open'd them 'T was the same House the same doors not others that was shut up and opened The meaning is Gospel-Churches that a little before were Worshipping more retiredly privately are now again brought to publick view returned from their Wilderness retired-state to an open profession owning of the Laws Wayes of JESVS 4. The Vial-Angels come out of this Temple thus opened Rev. 15.6 For they are some of the most Spiritual principal of the Temple-Worshippers or members of these Churches as is evident from their Priestly-array they are clothed in pure and White-linnen having their breasts girded with Golden-Girdles The attire of the Priests Exod. 28.6 8. Temple-Worshippers are a Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2.9 5. During the whole time of the pouring out of the Vials at the close of which as is generally granted Christ comes we find the continuance of this Temple ver 8. And the Temple was filled with Smoak from the Glory of God and from his Power i. e. there was a more than ordinary presence of God with these Temple-Worshippers and no man was able to enter into the Temple viz. to interrupt disturb the Worshippers there as formerly they had done till the seven Plagues of the seven-Angels were fulfilled i. e. till they were all pour'd out Antichrist by them perfectly destroyed the Glorious Kingdom of our LORD and SAVIOVR introduced CHAP. V. Gospel-Churches part of that Ministration set on foot by Christ The whole of that Ministration permanent to continue to the end of the World Mat. 28.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.26 Explained An Objection Answered 1 Tim. 6.13 14. Explained Heb. 1.1 2. Considered opened The Excellency of the discovery God the Father made of his Will by his Son above all other discoveries he had before made nothing new to be added to it Dan. 9.24 Explained The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who Vision and Prophesie what it is The sealing it up what it imports There 's no ground left for any New-Ministration or any alteration in that set on foot by Christ The reasons of the alteration of the Old Testament-Ministration with the Institutions thereto belonging The Gospel-Ministration Ordinances must continue except a greater than Christ come Demonstration V. THe Gospel-Church-state with the Churches Institutions Ordinances thereunto belonging is part of that Ministration that was set on foot by the Lord Jesus when he Tabernacled amongst men as hath already been demonstrated Now the whole of that Ministration that was then set on foot by him is permanent and