Prophet Isaiah Thy people also shall be all righteous Isa. 60.21 It is further apparent if we consider Isa. 35. the 10th verse by the ransomed of the Lord I understand either the people of the Jews in general or else every true believer in particular These shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Why Gods bringing of his people now unto Zion it is with weeping and with supplication but in this day when Zion the Mountain of the house of the Lord shall be exalted in the top of the Mountains it shall be with everlasting joy agreeing to that in Jer. 31.12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion But in the 9th verse there is weeping and supplication and in the latter end of the 12th verse they shall not sorrow any more at all Certainly then this will be a time of extraordinary spiritual joy which we expect and wait for and not an outward glorious Jewish Kingdom which some speaking against it say that we look for but let such see their portion it they have a portion in Christ and how gracious Christ will be unto them in this his kingdom in that sweet Prophesie of his reign in Isa. 32.4 The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge I am perswaded that many a gracious heart in the corsideration of that glorious truth of Christs spiritual reign in the hearts of his people over sin Satan and the world hath cried down this his personal reign upon the Throne of his father David as error and Heresie I might cite much in the behalf of this truth from Isa. 65.17 to the end but I shall passe over to Jer. 30.9 And they shall serve the Lord their God and David their King whom I will raise up unto them Now observe the time when they shall serve this King it is when God shall give them to pessesse the land which he gave unto their fathers as you may see plainly in the third verse and before they do thus serve him they shall return and seek him even the Jews that are called the children of Israel Hosea 3.5 O ye Gentile Saints of the most high what room hath God made in your hearts for the poor Jews did they think upon us when we were not a people and shall not we think upon them Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence for he hath said that the Nation and kingdome that will not serve them shall perish yea those Nations shall be utterly destroyed Isa. 60.12 certainly then there is little hopes for England that would not suffer you to dwell amongst us but faithfull is God that hath promised and will accomplish even to set over them that great Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls the Lord Jesus Christ Ezek 34 23. The next plain Scripture is Dan. 7.27 And the kingdom and dominion and the greatnesse of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey him This is a plain Prophesie of Christs personal appearing to rule and reign with his Saints if ye consider the 22th verse there ye have him mentioned Untill the ancient of dayes came agreeing with that his title in the Revelation I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last This is a kingdom and dominion under the whole heaven certainly then it must be on earth and then shall that promise be made good which saith The meek shall inherit the earth We do not doubt as a worthy Preacher lately said of a kingdom in the heavens in that celestial place of glory prepared for us but our God hath promised us a kingdom under the whole heaven wherein Christ shall be King that one Lord both over believing Jews and believing Gentiles This kingdom it is given him by God the Father who is also called the ancient of dayes for as Christ saith I and my father are one you have it in the 13. and 14. verses of Dan. 7. I saw in the night Visions and behold one like the Son of Man came with the Clouds of Heaven agreeing unto Christs words Then shall ye see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great glory I shall plainly lay down my Meditations concerning it and leave it to the judgement of the Christian Reader which were this Christ coming and the Saints bringing of him unto God their father for it is said in the 13th verse They brought him near before him agreeing to that in Isa. 8.18 Behold I and the children which thou hast given me And now being before their father as Christ said I go to my father and to your father to my God and to your God the subject matter of their plea is for a kingdome founded in the sufferings of Christ and so a branch of the new Covenant Isa. 53.12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoyl with the strong because he hath poured out his Soul unto death Now God the father being faithful that promised he gives the kingdom unto the Son agreeing to that in Ps. 72.1 Give the King thy judgements O God and thy righteousnesse unto the Kings Son which is fulfilled in Dan. 7.14 And there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom that all people nations and languages should serve him even him that was despised and rejected of men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief unto whom the Nations have said We will not have this man to reign over us even unto him shall this glory and dominion be given that so that which is written may be fulfilled At the name of Jefus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confesse that he is the Lord for he will be King alone in that day Hosea 13.10 The Prophet Joel is very large in declaring the signs and wonders that shall be before this great day of the Lord agreeing with those in Matth. 24. The Prophet Amos is in the latter end of his Prophesie treating of the restauration of the children of Israel which take in many special circumstances concerning this truth and will require a larger Treatise then this is for there is both heighth and depth and length and breadth in the truths of God But I passe them over and shall onely take notice of Mich. 4.3 And he shall judge among many people and rebuke strong nations afar off vers. 4. They shall sit every man under his Vine and under his Fig-tree and none shall make them afraid It shall be a Solomons kingdom in respect of peace so that in this sense he will come as the desired one of all Nations and this kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem as you may see in vers 8. but more especially in
that he beares unto his people by his Spirit and that is a witness that he holds forth by his Spirit unto their spirits that they are the children of God Rom. 8.16 Secondly he is called the first begotten of the dead as the Apostle argues it in 1 Cor. 15.21 For since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead and in verse 22 he speaks of Christ as being the first fruits agreeing to that in Col. 1.18 where he is called the first born from the dead Thirdly he is called the Prince of the kings of the earth and this very manifest in Scripture he is often called the King of kings and Lord of lords But I shall speak something of that which he delivered to the Pharisees Mat 22.49 If David then call him Lord how is he his son It was the question that Christ put unto the Pharisees What saith he think ye of Christ whose Son is he And they answered him The Son of David How then saith Christ doth David call him Lord as in Psalm 110.1 So that by this it doth appear that Christ is both Davids Lord and Davids Son he is Davids Lord not onely as he is Lord of Heaven and Earth but also as he is King of kings and Lord of lords And thus he is Davids Lord and Davids Prince as well as Nero's Prince or any other wicked Prince that ever was upon the Earth Again he is Davids Lord in respect that he shall sit upon David's Throne and this is that which David by faith did foresee and that which is promised Christ in Luk. 1.31 32 33. Now I hope that there is none that will deny that Christ is the Son of David for taking upon him our sins he must of necessity take upon him our body a body hast thou prepared me And thus he was in all things like unto us sin onely excepted and that the Scripture might be fulfilled he is born of a Virgin Isa. 7.14 compared with Mat. 1.23 I am perswaded in my very conscience that the clearing up of the birth of Jesus Christ with his personal appearance in the flesh to suffer and dye for sinners together with his personal appearance in glory hereafter will be the Doctrine that God will make effectual in order unto the conversion of the Jews for I understand that herein lyeth their blindness which was also in their forefathers an expectation of the Messiah in a state of glory but what saith Christ unto this O fools and slow of heart to believe ought not Christ to have suffered these things and so to have entered into his glory Luk. 24.25 so that the very foundation of Christs exaltation lieth and consisteth in his humiliation because he was despised and rejected of men a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief therefore shall he come in the glory of his Father and in the glory of his holy Angels This Truth is farther confirmed from Rev. 2.26 He that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations even as I have received of my Father Psal. 2.9 The saints as the Scripture speaks are Heirs joynt Heirs yea co-Heirs with Jesus Christ and therefore he having received of God the Father to have power over the Nations he will give the same power over the Nations unto his saints that do overcome and as he did overcome Sin Death Satan and the World and is now set down in his Fathers Throne so also he hath a Throne even the Throne of his father David that he will give his overcoming Saints to sit down upon with him Rev. 3.21 In Rev 11.15 it is thus written And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great Voices in heaven saying The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ from hence it is very plain that they are the Kingdoms of this world which shall be given unto Jesus Christ And the devil that red Dragon that devouring Lyon that old Serpent did know full well of this when he came to tempt Christ for after that he had failed twice he comes in the third temptation with this All the Kingdoms of this world will I give thee and the glory of them so thou wilt but fall down and worship before me Mat. 4.8 9 he knew it with a witness from the very first promise that God gave unto fallen man The seed of the woman shall break the head of the Serpents which is Christ born of the Virgin Mary and manifested to destroy the works of the devil Object Whereas you speak here of a thousand years reign it is said in this verse That he shall reign for ever and ever I answer I do believe that a thousand years is a Type of perfection and therefore we cannot read of any of the sons of Adam that God did suffer to live a thousand yeers to demonstrate unto man that there is no persection here in this life but then see the limitation that this word Ever hath in Scripture in Psal. 72.17 it is for ever as long as the sun But let us take a little notice how the Nations will take this it is said They were angry vers. 18. so that while the Saints are praising and rejoycing before God with great admitation in the enjoyment of this salvation the Nations will be sretting and vexing to see what is come to pass for thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged all Christs implacable impenitent Enemies do but heap up wrath against this day of wrath for this will be a day of Judgement wherein Christ will give to every man according to his works yea God will have an account of the very carth which he hath let out unto the sons and daughters of Adam for it is said He will destroy them which destroy the earth And certainly this is that the Church of Christ is now in pain for and crying travelling to be delivered even of this Man child who shall rule all Nations with a Rod of Iron Rev. 125. and that because of that great joy which they will receive when Christ is exalted for the Saints they are such as love the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 4.8 For when he shall come in flaming fire unto his Enemies he shall be with his people as a Lamb And I looked and lo a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion here is fulfilled that Prophesie in Psal. 2. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion so that he will be both King and Lamb upon mount Zion Mount Zion as it is written shall be exalted above all mountains and the Name of Jesus upon this exalted mountain shall be exalted above every Name and then shall the Saints of God sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb saying Great and marvelous are thy works Lord God Almighty Just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Rev. 15.3
not worshipped the beast nor his Images and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years but afterwards Christ who is the Elder Brother is sole Judge of all and having finished the Judgement he delivers up all into the hands of God the Father then shall the Saints above what they know now know with admiration that the Son and Father are one and they one in them according to Christs prayer Joh. 17.21 24. Now in order unto their reigning with Christ they must be brought forth by the enjoyment of a Resurrection and this I judge to be the first Resurrection which shall be only of the Saints that sleep in Jesus for the dead in Christ shall rise first according to St. Pauls Doctrine 1 Thes. 4.10 and 1 Corin. 15. Christ the first fruits afterwards they that are Christs at his coming I know there are some that will apply this Resurrection to the Resurrection of the Soul out of the grave of sin and corruption Well I shall not much controvert it but whoever I see so risen I do not question his part in the first Resurrection for it is said Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection It doth not speak of sinners but of saints which had not worshipped the Beast neither his Image they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yeers but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand yeers were finished Quest But what are the rest of the dead that have not their part in this first Resurrection Answ. We have them set down in Rev. 21.8 and I am sure there is not a Saint amongst them they are the fearful and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and whoremongers and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all lyars and where shall all these be why these shall be without for without are dogs and sorcerers Rev. 22.15 without that is without this holy City new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven so that they shall not see that transcendent glory which will be manifested in this City a glimpse of which the Lord even now sometimes lets down into the spirits of his people that so they might with the Apostle groan for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of our bodies yea he witnesseth that the whole Creation groans for this even for the manifestation of the sons of God and they that had received the first fruits of the spirit groaned also O then how shall the saints of the latter dayes that are under the great Promise of the Father groan and travel for the accomplishment of these things And surely such that are in some measure delivered into the beauty and spiritualness and glory of this glory cannot but long and desire to be unclothed that they might be cloathed upon John in this chapter saw a new heaven and a new earth which was prophesied of long before in Isa. 65.17 and there you have a description what this new Heaven and new Earth is in the 18 verse For behold I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her people a Joy A new heaven indeed when Jerusalem which now is which is in bondage with her children shall rejoyce with that Jerusalem which is above which is free and is the mother of us all which shall come downe from God out of Heaven there shall also be a new Earth for the Divell being bound up there will not be that Enmity in the hearts of Earthly men neither to the Saints nor amongst themselves but according to the Prophesie in Isa. 65. last The Lyon and the Lamb shall lie down together vers. 2. And I saw the holy City new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband John in the time of all this Revelation was in the spirit Rev. 1.10 I was in the spirit on the Lords day and all that was revealed unto him was spiritual from first to last he that readeth let him understand I saw saith he the holy City for nothing that is unholy can enter in flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God It is a City and it is a holy City and certainly this is the City which Abraham by faith looked for while he was a stranger in the Land of Promise Heb. 11.10 For he looked for a city that hath foundations whose builder and maker is God This City hath Foundations as you may see in the fourteenth verse and God is the Builder and Maker of it for it is of his Creation This holy City this new Jerusalem it is said to come down from God out of heaven doth not this plainly demonstrate unto us that the saints shall come down from heaven according as it is written The Lord thy God shall come and all the Saints with him and in Phil. 3.20 For our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for a Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ this is an expectation of Christ from heaven and I see no difference between this expression and that of Christ's I am the true bread which came down from heaven now see in what manner this holy City doth come down and then consider whether it will be any way a disadvantage unto the Saints to come down from heaven for they come as a bride adorned for her husband O blessed Union all the Saints are Christs Bride the whole general Assembly and Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven they do but make up the Lambs Wife and thus she shall come adorned for her husband that is without sâ—o or wrinkle as will appear if we compare spiritual things with spiritual For here Christ doth by his spirit and word espouse us unto himself 2 Cor. 11.2 O but there is a marriage day Rev. 19.7 and then it shall be granted unto the Bride to be arrayed in fine linen clean and white which is the Righteousness of the Saints Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage-supper of the Lamb Christ he is the Kings son according to Psal. 72 1. and God the Father he will institute a supper for his Sonne which is called The Mariage Supper of the Lamb a Supper that shall begin when all other suppers shall have ended this doth not any way diminish from the souls feeding upon Christ here according unto Christs words My flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed but this is a supper the which all the Saints shall be called unto that they might be married unto Christ who were in this life espoused unto Christ and therefore when ye have the cry at midnight it is said Behold the Bridegroom cometh Christ comes unto his Saints as a Bridegroom in the glory of his Father and of his holy Angels the Saints they meet Christ as the Lambs wife yea as a Bride adorned for the Bridegroom that although he comes at midnight to the ungodly and to the seeming godly foolish Virgins without Christ in the world yet it is the Saints morning-Star
Jacob and his seed shall be in many waters and his King shall be higher then Agag and his Kingdom shall be exalted Jesus Christ shall be higher then all the Agags and Nimrods and Potentates of the Earth For he is the great and onely Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6.15 Moses also did by faith perceive what God would do for his Israel in the last dayes as you may see in Deut. 33.26 27 28 29. Hannah in her sweet song of deliverance prophesies of Christ and of his Kingdom 1 Sam. 2.10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces out of heaven shall he thunder upon them the Lord shall judge the ends of the Earth and he shall give strength unto his King and exalt the horn of his anointed Mark friends the Exaltation of Christ it lieth in the destruction of his implacable enemies Ps. 110.1 The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right hand untill I make thine Enemies thy footstool he shall give strength unto his King Jesus Christ is the King of Gods own appointment a King that God hath given unto his subjects Isa. 9.6 7. For unto us a Childe is born unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his Nme shall be called Wonderful Counseller The mighty God The everlasting Father The Prince of peace Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to stablish it with Judgement and Justice from henceforth even for ever The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this That same Jesus that is the King of his Saints and people that Jesus shall also be the King over all the Nations Rev. 3.21 To him that overcometh will I give to sit with me on my Throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father on his Throne So that here you may see that Jesus Christ hath a Throne which he calls more properly his Throne Now what this overcomer shall do you may see in Rev. 2.26 27. To him will I give power over the Nations agreeing with that Parable that Christ spake of concerning the Lord and his servants to him that had gained ten Talents his Lord saith Be thou ruler over ten Cities and to him that had gained five over five But let us a little consider this sweet Prophecie of the ninth of Isaiah Some Expositors have much reasoned whether they should call Isaiah a Prophet or an Evangelist And truly though all these names that are given unto Christ be sulfilled in respect unto his people in the state of Grace for he is the wonderful Counsellour of his people in all straits and difficulties and he is the mighty God for his own arm hath brought salvation and he is the everlasting Father and he is the Prince of peace for Christ onely is a believers peace but it is said He shall be King upon the Throne of David Now ye know that the Throne of David it was in the Land of Judea over the people of the Jews this is the Throne which Jesus Christ shall have Object How can that be for Jerusalem is destroyed Answ. Though it be yet we have the promise of God for it that it shall be again inhabited Zech. 12.6 And Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place even in Jerusalem Yea we finde that at Christs second personal appearance it is said that his feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem Zech. 14.4 and in the same day you finde that he shall be King over all the earth and there shall be one Lord and his name one in the 9. verse We know also that as Solomon in his succession to the Crown was a sweet Type of Christ so likewise in respect of his peaceable Kingdom and therein Christ shall well be called the Prince of Peace Now it is very much to our purpose to consider with what difficulty Solomon did attain unto the Crown you have the story in the 1. of Kings chap. 1. the whole Chapter is very remarkable you finde that Solomons mother in the 17. verse comes unto King David and she said unto him My Lord thou swarest by the Lord thy God unto thine handmaid saying Assuredly Solomon thy Son shall reign after me and he shall sit upon my Throne the 18. verse and now behold Adonijah reigneth Observe it is the woman that prevailes with David and surely it must be the woman even the Church that must prevail with God for the exaltation of Jesus Christ for she is said to travel with the man-childe in the twelfth of the Revelation and she brings him forth at last in verse 10. Now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ no more accusings then of Satan no no the accuser of the brethren is cast down Now observe how the woman and the Churches and Saints of Christ may agree together in their Petition for as she said My Lord thou swarest that thy Son Solomon should reign so may the Church say Lord thou hast sworn that thy Son Jesus Christ shall reign in the 89th Psalm verse 3 4. Well what follows And now saith she behold Adonijah reigneth This word Behold it is an expression of admiration Behold my servant whom I have chosen speaking of Christ Truely it should be matter of admiration unto the Sons and daughters of Zov that the Lord should have so much patience as to afford the Kings of the earth that time which is allotted unto them but the Lamb shall at last overcome them we finde that when Bathsheba had done then came in also Nathan the Prophet and he comes with the same story certainly the true Prophets of God they will in all generations joyn with the Church in that which concerns the glory of God and hereby we may come to know who are the false Prophets and who are the true The false Prophets they cry up the beast and wonder after the beast but the true Prophets they cry up Jesus Christ and admire at his excellency and are forced to cry out Who would not fear thee O thou King of Nations Jer. 10.7 and as you read in the following Chapters of the miserable end that did follow them that helped to Crown Adonijah so be assured that nothing but misery and destruction will be the end of them that are enemies to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ But as for those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me This will be Christs sentence unto such his enemies at his appearance It is my desire to run through the whole current of Scripture that the Reader may be surnished against all Gainsayers The next Scripture that hints unto this truth is in Job 19 25. For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he
Zeph. 3.14 Sing O daughter of Zion shout O Israel be glad and rejoyce with all the heart O daughter of Ierusalem Now see the reason why The Lord hath taken away thy judgements and then thou shalt not see evil any more O how beautiful upon the Mountains should the feet of such publishers be that would say unto Zion Thy God reigneth Isaiah 52.7 Then shall the Saints of the Lord sing that song which none shall learn but onely those who are redeemed from the earth and from amongst men Rev. 14.4 Then shall Mount Zion sing Zech. 2.10 Sing and rejoyce O daughter of Zion for lo I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee saith the Lord And many nations shall be joyned unto the Lord in that day and shall be my people Verse 12. The Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land and shall chuse Jerusalem again There will be such abundance of light in the latter days that the Nations shall be able to see and to distinguish between the Bride and the Whore the false Church and the true Church the house of God and Babylon that shall be made the Cage of every unclean and filthy bird even when the Gentiles shall come to the light of the Jews which shall be as life from the dead Rom. 11.15 for as sure as ever the Lord hath cast them off so surely will he receive them again but Oh the dreadfull work that the Lord must make in the earth before he shall have accomplished his designes unto his people and for this he hath appointed a day and Oh that Saints and Sinners would take notice of it Mal. 4.1 For behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven and all the proud yea and all that do wickedly shall be stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord Agreeing unto this is that Prophesie in Isa. 2.12 For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty and upon every one that is lifted up and he shall be brought low And in vers. 20. In that day a man shall cast his Idols of silver and his Idols of gold which they made to the Moles and to the Bats All which may certifie us of a notable fiery day of Tryal which will come before the great day of Christ And truely here I may justly take up a deep Lamentation in the Consideration of that abundance of pride and wickedness which doth abound not onely amongst the common profane of the world but also amongst Professors themselves this is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation O how few have kept their first love and such as are in the day of their first Espousals if they be not very watchful will be caried away with the stream amongst Professors that have cooled in their first love certainly therefore it is a time for such as fear the Lord to be thinking upon his dishonoured Name for unto such as fear his Name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing under his wings Thus far there hath been onely treated of this Kingdom from the Old Testament Prophesies I shall come now to some New Testament Scriptures wherein it is as clearly affirmed From Mat. 25.31 it is thus written When the Son of man shall come in his glory then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory and in the 34 verse Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand By the man Christ Jesus the Son of David the Son of Abraham God will judge the world yea and so judge them as he is a King or elâ—e what Kingdom shall he have to deliver up unto God the Father Then cometh the end saith the Apostle when he shall have delivered up the kingdom unto the Father that God may be all in all 1 Cor. 15.23 24 25. Mat. 2.2 Mark 13.26 Luk. 1.32 there God makes a promise unto Mary by the Angel that that child Jesus which was in her womb should sit upon the Throne of his Father David which is to rule and reign over the house of Jacob as it followeth in the 33 vers. And in order unto this he shall so come from Heaven as he ascended up into Heaven Now there is none that will deny this but such as will deny Christ and Scripture too that he did ascend with the same body with which he did arise this is his own testimony of his second coming when he saith Then shall ye see the Son of man coming Act. 1.9 10 11 but until that time the Heavens must receive him which will be the time of the restitution of all things Act. 3.21 2 Tim. 4.1 Paul doth charge Timothy upon the account of the appearing and Kingdom of Christ to be faithful in the work of his Ministry so that Christ as he is King and in his Kingdom shall judge both the quick and the dead but when Christ shall give up this Kingdom unto God the Father wch he shall do 1 Cor. 15. then saith Christ to his Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the foundations of the world were laid And thus God the Father shall be all in all the Saints shall come into the Fathers Kingdom Come ye blessed of my Father Luk. 12.32 It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdom and this is a Kingdom which was prepared for them from before the foundations of the world were laid so that the Saints of God besides that Kingdom that they shall have upon the foundation of the world shall have a Kingdom prepared for them from before the foundation of the world was laid which is a house eternal in the Heavens Amongst the twelve chosen Apostles of Jesus Christ John was the beloved Disciple who lay in the bosom of Christ and therefore he did deeply share in afflictions for Christ and being banished into the Isle of Patmos there he had the glorious things that do belong unto this Kingdom opened unto him it is the Revelation which God the Father gave unto Christ and Christ by his Angel revealed unto John I John saith he in the ninth verse who also am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of of us Christ John and the Saints that he did write unto were travelling towards this Kingdom yea and they were in the way too and that was through many tribulations You have in the third verse a blessing pronounced upon him that readeth and they that hear and keep the things which are written in this Prophesie that is keep up the testimony of them and the power of them being manifested in their lives and conversations Now see those sweet Motto's that he gives to Christ in the fifth verse First he is the fathful witness and that in respect of that witness that he did hold forth in the world to his Fithers glory And Secondly in respect of that witness
that infallible signe of day unto them In the third verse And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men Heaven it self will witness unto this truth Behold where-ever we have this word it speaks out something of admiration that his people might know the certainty of that which is promised you have it in Isa. 52.15 Behold my servant shall deal prudently he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high Christ Jesus the Son of the Eternal God though equal with God yet he took upon him the form of a servant My Servant shall be extolled yea and as it follows the kings shall shut their mouthes at him c. It is said of this new Jerusalem in the fourth verse And the kings of the Earth do bring their glory and honour into it In the fourth verse And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away Here are the Saints in their perfect state a sinless state for surely if there shall be no more crying there shall be no more sinning when a Saint sins God will take care to bring him unto Godly sorrow O but this is a state without sorrow Sin is a way of pain but the former things shall be passed away A Saints grief is either first for himself or else secondly for the sins of others why in both these respects sorrow and sighing shall flee away if it be in himself it is from a body of sin a Law in his members warring against the Law of his minde O but this vile body shall be changed and as it is written made like unto his glorious body Secondly sin in others is that which doth often grieve the gracious heart as it tends unto the dishonour of Christ but in this state the Saints shall have no such cause of grief for Christ alone shall be exalted and admired in them that believe I might cite much more in the behalf of this truth from divers other verses in this chapter but I pass by them all unto the last verse And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lye but they which are written in the Lambs book of life though it hath twelve gates of enterance yet at these gates there are twelve Angels There is such a glory of God in the new Jerusalem as would even torment a poor sinner to be in the presence of it as you may see in the eleventh verse As they see not here into that kingdom of grace set up in the heart of a believer which consists in peace and joy in the holy Ghost so they shall not see into that Kingdom of glory that the believer shall be possess'd of and shall be revealed in him No no it is the Saints onely that can give the description of both Psal. 145.10 And thy Saints shall blesse thee they shall speak of the glory of thy Kingdom and talk of thy power to make known unto the Sons of men his mighty acts and the glorious Majesty of his Kingdom I come now to Rev. 22.3 And there shall be no more curse but the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve Him Vers 4. And they shall see His face and His Name shall be in their foreheads And there shall be no night there and they need no Candle neither light of the Sun for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reign for ever and ever Such as shall be brought unto this state of glory shall never more know what belongs unto the curse for they being redeemed from the curse of the Law Christ being made a curse for them they shall also be delivered from death into a state of immortality and therefore they are said to reign for ever and ever here the Saints shall see that beatifical vision and be perfected in that glory which in some measure was here revealed in them according as the Apostle saith he revealeth them unto us by his Spirit they shall see his face and his name shall be in their forehead this name is that name which Jesus Christ shall write upon him that overcometh even the name of my God and the name of the Citie of my God which is new Jerusalem which cometh down out of Heaven from my God and I will write upon him my new name witnessed in Rev. 3.12 agreeable unto this is that Prophesie in Isa. 65.5 For the Lord God shall slay thee and call his servants by another name but this in the time of this new Jerusalem state as you may see in vers 17. whereas formerly men blessed themselves in the abundance of their enjoyments there shall be no such Generation here but he that blesseth himself in the earth shall blesse himself in the God of truth and whereas formerly the Land hath mourned because of Oaths now he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth And there shall be no night there and they need no Gandle neither light of the Sun for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reign for ever and ever It hath been night long enough but now the day shall dawn and the shadow shall flee away and it shall be such a day as night shall never follow it yea such a day as shall not need the light of the Sun if by the Sun we may understand as also by the Moon to be held foâ—â—h unto us the Ordinances of the Gospel in this respect in this respect there will be no need of these because we shall no more see darkly as through a glasse though much glory is so manifested but we shall see him as he is Isa. 60.19 20. Now here I would speak a word unto such who professing themselves to have gone through all and do look upon others as Carnalists Legalists that walk in the practise of Ordinances Certainly if in this state there is no need of these we may safely conclude that untill this state there is need of them and that it is the will of God that his people should walk in them according as it is written in Isaiah Thou meetest him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousnesse and remembreth thee in thy wayes We are so frail and to apt to be taken in the snare of iniquity that we have need to be instructed in many things as the Apostle saith though we know them already and if Satan can but once finde us in that sin of spiritual pride then it is to be feared that he will beguile us as once he beguiled Eve For it is the Lords revealed method to discover himself in love and mercy in and through his own appointments but I would not limit the holy One of Israel neither yet would I set up the Ordinances as to the
ground for this see Isa. 61.1 Paul the chiefest of the Apostles glorieth in this that he was the servant of Jesus Christ Rom. 1.1 and when once thou art the servant of Jesus Christ it will no longer then be thy complement unto men Your Servant Sir for Saints are bought with a price that they might not be the servants of men 1 Cor. 7.23 Another it may be will say I have been an Enemie unto Christ and to his Wayes and to his People truly this is a very bad condition yet Christ makes Friends of Enemies all sinners are Enemies but God commended his love unto us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us therefore it is high time for thee to see that thou lovest aright and hatest aright if thou lovest rightly thou lovest God if thou hatest rightly thou hatest the world See what James saith Jam. 4.4 Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity to God whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God And John saith Love not the world nor the things of the world If any man love the world either the lusts of the flesh or the pride of life or the lust of the eyes the love of the Father is not in him Saints do not thus learn Christ who hath said If any man will be my Disciple let him take up his Cross and follow me Of a vagabond stranger thou mayst be an adopted Son of a Begger a King and therefore seek not after the Kingdoms of this world but rather profess as once the Captain of our Salvation did before Pilat My Kingdom is not of this world I shall conclude all that I have to say with that good word of the Apostle Peter in Act. 2.36 Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ Peter so preached Christ that he got three thousand souls at that time in the Net of the Gospel a good example for the Ministers of the Word to take pattern by And we shall finde that he preached unto them of the visible Kingdom of Christ as you may see vers. 30. Knowing that God had sworn with an Oath to him that of the fruit of his loynes according to the flâ—sh he would raise up Christ to sit on his Throne A Scripture it is so full to the truth that neither all the Sathan-like transformed Angelical light on the one side or all Political Philosophical light on the other side shall be able to deceive the truly-enlightened Soul Now therefore I intreat you unto whom this shall come that ye receive it in the love of it and marvail noâ— that ye cannot hear these things from the Great Doctors and Rabbies and Clergy men of this our age for it is the Fathers good pleasure to hide these things from the wife and from the prudent But wo unto them for their judgment is at band as it is written The wisdom of their wise men shall perish And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid Isa. 29 14. The Lord give thee an understanding heart to try whether these things be so or no AMEN I would now willingly also commend something unto such as are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints even unto as many as are preserved in Christ Jesus which have received the White Stone which none knowes but he that receiveth it That you would shew forth the Vertues of Him that hath called you and hath translâ—â—ed you out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of his marvellous light I cannot but cry out with the Apostle What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy câ—nversations and Godliness O it becomes us that look for Christ from heaven to have our conversation in heaven certainly the knowledg of this truth should makeus to trample upon the world the glory thereof as base contemptible and to content our selves in the worst of conditions in the quiet hope patient waiting of our Lord from heaven Surely the coming of Christ cannot but yield very much comfort unto the soul that is assured of its interest in Christ Are Saints the Stewards of Christ then let them know that their Lord and Master will return and call them to an account and blessed is the servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall finde so doing Are Saints the Spouse of Christ the Bride of that blessed Bridegroom then let them know that whatever their afflictions may be in this world yet their loving husband will return from his long journey and put an end to all and let not the Saints expect their full deliverance until he come but rather persecution and suffering while the world stands for he hath said In the world re shall have trouble and through many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom and therefore it is our duty to arm our selves with the same minde For if we suffer with him we shall also reign with him Christ Himself hath shewn us the way and we are called by His Name O let u follow his footsteps And surely it doth highly concern us to look to it that as Christ fore warn'd us we be not overtaken with surseiting and druâ—kenness and cares of this life and so that day come upon us unawares we shall hardly win the race if our hearts be loaded with the things of this world and they will so lull us asleep that we shall endanger our selves to be found sleeping at Christs coming and therefore how doth it become the Saints at this day to be provoking one another to love and to good works exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching O let us consider that our Lord is a Person of such Highness and Excellency that he deserves our waiting for Him for he is the King of kings and Lord of lords It is but bring faithful unto the death and enduring unto the end the battel is but once to be sought and the race is but once to be run but yet the Lord knows that without his sufficient grace we shall not overcome and therefore how doth it concern us to take the oyl of the grace and spirit of God into out Lamps lest when the bridegroom cometh we should be found wanting but rather to shine as lights set upon an hill and as Bees sucking Honey from this precious flowery Truth from which so many spiders have suck'd poison as if History may be believed some out of a notion of this Kingdom to be but meer earthly and for sensual delights have run out into all manner of licentiousness and the devil hath made great use of it against the truth and no doubt but he will do still but what faith the Apostle We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth but truly with shame let it be confessed we do much in these dayes against the truth
because we do not walk as becomes the truth but God hath promised and we do believe it that the Redeemer shall come out of Zion and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob Rom. 11.26 And then the inhabitants shall not say I am sick for the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their inquity Isa. 33.24 Oh how greatly now is Unity to be desired amongst the Saints Truly I have for a long time been running to and fro and now I will give you the report of all but I may truly say All seek their own and none the things of Jesus Christ yea even the Saints themselves in their several Forms are so zealous about shadows and are not so careful in the substantial commands of Jesus Christ that as for poor Way-faring souls they may cry out and say Lord where are thy Disciples which are to be known by their love one to another but may also come upon Jesus Christ again and say Tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest VVell let the way-faring man be encouraged and let the lambs of Jesus Christ be comforted for yet a little while and there shall be but one Shepherd andone sheepsold and in the mean time see that ye are walking in the way that ye should go even in the way of holiness wherein the way-faring-man though a fool shall not err but be seeking the way to Zion with their faces thitherward And Oh that the Lord would put it into the hearts of his people according to that Isa. 57.14 Cast ye up cast ye up prepare the way take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people Surely if ye did but know how the mouths of the wicked are opened against you all you would quickly shut your mouths that ye have so opened one against another There are many I fear that are ready to say with the fool in his heart There is no God but it were to be wished that the people of God would continually remember this that whatever comes to pass it is that the Scripture might be fulfilled if a Judas betray Christ it is because the Scripture might be fulfilled Act. 1.16 compared with Psa. 44.9 If perillous times come wherein men shall be lovers of themselves covetous and the like if because iniquiâ—y shall abound the love of many shall wax cold or if we should see one servant smiting his fellow-servant or eating and drinking building and planting which so abound in our dayes in the excess of them come what will come we may say of all The Scriptures must needs be fulfilled and herein is to be admired the faithfulness truth of Him who is Truth it self who hath fore-told us all things that shall come to pass unto his second coming If many should come in His Name saying I am Christ it is that the Scripture might be fulfilled but believe it Christian whoever thou art no true Christ comes until Jesus comes who shall come in the glory of his Father and of his holy Angels So that thou shalt not need to follow Lo here or lo there for if thou art indeed a Christian one that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God thou shalt appear with him in glory Col. 3.4 Again it is written That he shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather together his Elect from the four windes that so the prayer of Jesus Christ may be fulfilled upon all his servants Father I will that they also which thou hast given me be with me where I am Joh. 27.24 Wherefore as the Apostle faith comfort one another with these words and certainly hereby will the saints be distinguished in the latter dayes from all others Because that when such as are but men shall have their hearts fail them in the sight of those Judgements Earthquakes Famines and Pestilences which shall come upon the earth then shall the Saints of the most High lift up their heâ—ds as knowing that their Redemption draweth nigh Unto which duty I will also resolve in the strength and Spirit of the Lord with the Prophet In Isa. 61.10 11. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath cloathed me with the garments of salvation he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness as a Bridegroom decketh himself with Ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her self with jewels For as the earth bringeth forth her bud and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth so the Lord will cause Righteousness and Praise to spring forth before all the Nations HOSANNA unto David's Son The Lords anointed One Who shall have the Dominion Upon his Father's Throne Triumph and shout O heavens high And let the earth rejoyce For why with Might and Majesty He shall lift up his voyce O let the Bride prepare her self Against this Marriage-day When Christ shall bring his saving health Unto his Saints for aye Let Sinners come and now fall down And worship at his feet For he alone shall have the Crown When his with him shall meet Before his golden Scepter fall Then know assuredly His Iron Red you shall not feel With grief and misery His bleeding wounds out-stretched arms And yearning bowels sure Run towards you that from all harms You might alwayes endure He is the sure Foundation-stone JEHOVAH'S Treasury He is the choice and lovely One Unto the faithful eye He is true Wisdom for the fool The sure and certain way Meat Drink and Cloathing to the Soul That trusts in him alway He is the first and eke the last Was dead and is alive And lives for aye O then to Christ All honour glory give If to the Father thou wouldst go He is the onely door O strive to enter in why so Few shall then strive the more If unto God an Offering Thou wouldst put up for sin It 's Christ our Priest hath done the thing Our sins were laid on him A Prophet to his Saints is he A King to Rule and Reign King Priest and Prophet thou may'st be Thy Title hee 'l maintain Acquaint thy self now with the Lord His Name and dwelling Place Be guided by his Spirit and Word Till thou hast run thy Race O Virgins know both Fools and Wise The Bridegroom is at hand He comes he comes let this suffice But who with him may stand It 's he that walketh rightecusly And speaketh full upright As for deceit he sets it by From evil shuts his sight His dwelling place shall be on high His bread and water sure His eyes shall see the Kings glory Injoy for to endure What blameless ones ought we to be That know he will appear From worldly cares Lord set us free Remaining in thy fear O let the glory of this day So dwell upon our Minde That we may forward press alway Forgetting what 's behinde And let the Nations Know O Lord Thou wilt thy right maintain Unto the Heathen send this word That JESUS