thing with God to recompense Tribulation unto them that trouble you but unto you that are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels He that serves Christ and follows the Lamb here shall hereafter be in the same place and partake of the same honour with him Joh. 12.26 And thus our Saviour prayed for them Father whom thou hast given me I will that where I am they also may be with me that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me Joh. 17 24 part of which glory is that the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by an Eternal Decree hath set or as the Hebrew word signifies Anointed his Son upon his holy hill of Sion And when he returns from Heaven to take possession of that Soveraignty which the Father long since promised him his faithful followers shall enter into his Joy i. e. As our Saviour him self explains that Phrase Luk. 19.17 they shall have command and share the Dominion with him Therefore believers are said to be heirs of God and Co-heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 and Partners with Christ or Partakers of Christ Heb. 3.14 i. e. as Peter expresseth Partakers of the glory which shall be revealed 1 Pet. 5.1 which glory is as to the beginning of it that which I have already mentioned and our Saviour hath fully declared when he saith that In the regeneration they shall sit with him upon Thrones to rule and judge Mat. 19.28 The sum therefore of this second observation is briefly contained in these three propositions which are all evident and clear in Scripture 1. With Christ all the deceased Saints both Patriarch Prophets Apostles and Martyrs shall be raised up and be brought to the Earth to see and share in the Royalty of his Government Rev. 11.18 2. The Saints at that time living upon Earth both Jews and Gentiles but especially the Jews unto whom the first domion and chief Soveraignty is frequently promised as Isa 49.23 and 7 60.11.12 M ch 4.8 shall injoy all that time the greatest security peace and prosperity immaginable doing all the actions of a mortal life but without either sin or sorrow for they shall be all righteous Isa 60.21 And the Lord will then put his Spirit into them without ever withdrawing it any more Ezek. 39 29. and Sathan shall be chained up and hindred from deceiving during the whole Term of a 1000 years Zech. 13.2 Rev. 20 2 4 6. 3. After this state of things and the 1000 years is expired then follows the Insurrection of Gog and Magog and the final judgement as is expressed Rev. 20.7 And then shall the Saints that remain untill that time be changed and death for ever swallowed up in victory and the Reign of Christ and of his Saints hitherto managed upon earth be translated into and consumated in Heaven that God may be all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 If any ask as Nicodemus did our Saviour when he had discoursed to him concerning the great mistery of Regeneration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how can these things be I may reply in our Saviours words art thou a Master or Teacher in Israel and knowest not these things For as the Apostle speaks Heb. 5. handling partly this very Doctrine Whereas ws ought to be teachers for the time considering how long the Light of the Gospel hath shone among us we have still need of Milk sitting down satisfied with the lowest Elements and Beginnings of Christianity such are the Doctrines of Faith in Christ and repentance towards God which the Apostle calls the word of the beginning of Christ Heb. 6.1 But we cannot bear strong meat nor are careful to be carried unto Perfection i. e. unto the height and perfection of our Hope and Holy Profession to the full comprehension belief and avowed owning of which we ought to arrive and leave the solution of all doubts and scruples unto the power of God which is able to the full to effect whatever he hath promised when the Angel had told Mary that the same Person who was the Eternal Son of God should become Man and be conceived in her Womb she asked presently How shall this be But after he had farther revealed that the holy Spirit should come upon her Luke 1. and the power of the most High overshadow her by whose secret and inconceivable acting that great and stupendious mistery should be effected we do not find then that she questioned or doubted any more but in an humble resignation of her seif gave immediately thanks to God Behold saith she the Handmaid of the Lord let it be unto me according to thy word The same should every true believer do in this case for this Temporal glory of Christ and of his Saints is not only promised in every whit as express words but likewise mention is made of the same creating and Almighty power as ingaged to perform it and therefore God speaking of this very state commands his people not to remember former things Isa 43.18 19 Because he was doing a new thing in comparison of which all former acts of power and mercy exepted by God on the behalf of his people should be obscured and darkned as stars are by the brighter glory of the Sun so Isa 65.17 Behold saith God I am creating a new Heaven and a new Earth In which as Peter hath it 2 Pet 3.13 Righteousness is to dwell and which we expect according to his Promise and this is that time of our Saviours and of his Saints Visible Kingdom which will bring a Reformation upon the whole World and when it once doth take place former things shall no more be remembred nor come into mind In that place of Isay the word creating is very remarkable for when the Prophet Jeremy foretold the Birth of Christ he useth the same expressions Jer. 31.22 Behold the Lord createth a new thing a woman shall compass a Man i. e. In other words a Virgin shall conceive a Son Isa 7.14 which thing when it was done was so new that is so strange and extraordinary that the Prophet Isay who foretold it complains Who hath believed our report Isa 53.1 and yet the exact and punctual fulfilling of that which is far greater and less intelligible will not prevail with us to believe the other but when our Lord shall come he will scarcely as to this particular find Faith upon earth Luke 18.8 So little expectation will there be of his A pearance and of his Kingdom which as they are joined by the Apostle so they will be revealed together 2 Tim. 4.1 And all who deny this may receive this answer which our Saviour gave to the Sadduces who denyed the Resurrection They erre not knowing the Scriptures which have clearly promised such a state nor the power of God which is fully able to effect it Here I might end as having fully and as I think to all unprejudiced persons convincingly proved the Truth of
reign of Christ the duration and term of which though it is not their expressed yet in that vision which John afterwards saw we find it is to last a Thousand Years all which time the Saints shall reign on earth with Christ as is particularly and expresly affirmed and the matter Twice repeated to make it more sure Rev. 20 4.6 With that place to the Corinthians agrees what the same Apostle writes to the Thessalonians 1 Thes 4.14 1 Thes 4.14 explained If we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which steep in Jesus will he bring with him and v. 16. The dead in Christ shall rise first Then i. e. after the resurrection and reign shall be what follows concerning the final Judgement for the change of Believers that remain alive till the coming of Christ which is mentioned both there and 1 Cor. 15.51 shall not be done at this first Appearance of our Saviour which we are now discoursing of for then the Saints at that time on Earth shall live and reign too as is plain Deu. 7.18.22 27. But after this Reign is fully finished and the last Judgement begins to be celebrated then shall those Saints that then alive be caught up in the Air and bo for ever with the Lord. The want of distinguishing these two Times which yet is plainly implyed in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then or afterward which doth not always signifie what shall immediately follow no more then the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 presently or immediately Mat. 24.29 But only notes the order and success on in the several event though at great distance of times neglect of observing this hath been none of the least Reasons why this place of the Apostle hath been so much urged against the reign of the Saints before the last Judgement though indeed rightly understood it doth necessarily imply it as containing the very same sense with that other passage in the Epistle to the Corinthians which is not capable of any other interpretation To clear up this a little farther I desire that place may be considered in Isa 24.23 The Sun shall be ashamed and the Moon confounded i. either their light and splendour shall be nothing in comparison of that greater Glory as Isa 60.19 or else it seems to note that general shaking and overthrow of all things which shall immediately preceed as Mat 24.29.30 When the Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem before his anâ—ients or Elder in Glory Where by Antients in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. elders I cannot understand any other then those Elders mentioned Rev. 5.9.10 Who in their Song of Praise to the Lamb thou wast slain say they and hast redeemed us unto God by thy Blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and Nation and hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests ann we shall reign upon earth Which being spoken by the whole Church under the name of Elders and Living Creatures consisting of Officers and Members it evidently shows that such a time will be according to our Saviours promise Rev. 2.26.27 And then all who have now a right of Title by their Faith in Christ to be Kings and Priests as is expressed Rev. 1.5.6 1 Pet. 2.5 9. shall then have reality of possession and behold their King in his beauty Isa 33.17 not at a distance but as a people nigh unto him and sitting with him upon his Throne i. e. Visibly sharing in his Dominion and Glory which state is fully spoke to in Rev. 7. compared with Isa 25. and Rev. 21. compared with Isa 60. and 61. The Reasons why Christ at his coming will bring all his Deceased Saints to live and Reign with him are Reas 1. First Because of that near Relation that is between Christ and his Saints He is their Head their Husband And therefore he thinks not his own Glory compleat without them As in the Body natural every Member shares in the dignities or indignities done to the Head 1 Cor. 12.26.27 So it is in the body Mistical of Christ the Church which is his Body is said to be his fulness or complement Eph. 1.22.23 i. e. That which makes him to be a compleat Head which without his Church his Body he could not be Hence is that Solicitous and compassionate care which our Lord shews towards his suffering Saints while they live upon Earth In all their affliction he is afflicted Isa 63 9. which made him as one that is sensibly wounded cryes out for ease to call aloud from Heaven and to rebuke Paul for persecuting him Act. 9 4 5. This care our Saviour will be so far from putting off that rather it will be more fully manifested when he comes in his Glory which is the time not only of our Lord Christs but of all his Saints and Followers Revelation as their Reign on Earth is stiled Rom. 8.19 For saith the Apostle when Christ who is our life shall appear 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then shall we also appear or be made manifest with him in Glory Col. 3.4 And to this purpose may be applyed that excellent consolatory promise Isa 26.19 Thy dead men shall live my dead Carkass for so the Hebrew word should be rendred they shall arise awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust for thy Dew is the Dew of Herbs and the Land of the Gyants i. e. of all the great and Mighty in the Earth thou shalt overthrow 1. Thou shalt utterly subdue all thy enemies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how great and mighty soever According to that of the Psalmist The righteous shall have dominion over them in the Morning or in that Morning namely that of the first Resurrection For then they shall tread down the wicked and they shall be as Ashes under the soles of their Feet Mal. 4.3 Psal 49.14 And that because of their near Relation unto Christ who hath loved them and conveyed this power to them Rev. 2.26.27 Secondly Another reason why Christ will bring his deceased R. 2. Saints to Reign with him may be taken from that proportion which God observes in the distribution of rewards unto his people For though the reward it self in general is of grace yet God is pleased to observe this order and method in the dispensing it that it should be some way answerable unto his peoples sufferings and actings for him Thus the Apostle 2 Tim 2.11.12 This is a faithful saying If we suffer with Christ we shall also reign with him And as I have already urged the words of Tertullian so doth the Apostle argue in his second Epistle to the Thessalonians 2 Thes 1.4.7 after he had said that the persecutions and tribulations which the Christians then indured were permitted to be laid upon them by God that they might be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which they suffered He gives this as a Reason Because it is a righteous
of Christs patience Rev. 3.10 But in nothing is patience more necessary then in watching for our Lords appearance and therefore with the work of Faith and labour of Love is joyned the patience of the Hope of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 1.3 i. e. the patient waiting for and expecting him from Heaven as it is explained v. 10. So 2 Thes 3.5 the Apostle prays that God would direct their hearts unto the Love of God patience of Christ where patience as also the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Patient expectation for what faith believes and prayer solicites that patience waits for Rom. 8 24 25 Of which saith the Apostle to the believing Hebrews ye have need Hab. 10.36 For because our Lord not delays in the sense we usually take delay 2 Pet. 3 9. but forbears his coming till the proper time of it which is not yet fully come because that all things that are to preceed it are not yet accomplished therefore we had need be armed with patience or else our hast and impatience may undo us As that wicked servant who relaxed his watch and fell to fleshly pleasures lost thereby all the benefit of his former vigilance so will it also fare with us unless by patient perseverance in well doing we seek for Glory Honour and Immortality Rom 2.8 like rubbish by Fire and a new Theatre or Throne of Glory erected for men of another Nature and spirit to converse in How greatly then should we rejoyce to drink of our Lords Cup and to taste of the same sufferings since for ought we know the Death and Martyrdom of a few more may compleat the number and bring our Lord from Heaven to avenge their quarrel and then our Tears will be rewarded by having them forever wiped away and each drop of blood that hath been shed in this illustrious cause will add a Glory and a Wreath unto our Crown Then shall we in the Prophets words cry out and say Lo this is our God we have waited for him and he have saved us This is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation Isa 25.9 In which place this very Time and Reign is spoken of Lastly we should learn from hence to make a diligent inquiry into Use 3. our Saintsship for since when our Lord come none but his Saints shall come with him we ought to make a careful search whither we be indeed Saints or not least in that day of Tryal which will be revealed with fire we be found deceivers of our selves and so be put to shame by him at his Appearance 1 John 2 28 Many Professors like the foolish Virgins and those who boasted of their prophecying in the Name of Christ Mat. 7.21.23 will be found mistaken and instead of partaking of the Resurrection of the Righteous to whom alone the reward is promised Luke 14.14 will be raized up to shame and everlasting contempt Dan. 12.1 with Isa 66 24 beholding the glory of others who formerly were much inferiour to themsel es but see themselves excluded which will increase their misery Luke 13.28 29. and occasion that inward anguish which is expressed by Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth Ps 112.10 Thus the Psalmist speaking of the happiness of the righteous The wicked saith he shall see it and be grieved he shall gnash his Teeth and melt away The coming of Christ though it be a time of Refreshing as it is called Acts 3 19. to his distressed and persecuted Servant yet to others it will be very terrible which makes the Prophet inquire who can abide the day of his coming or who can stand when he apprars Mal. 3.4 For he will come as fire to chaff to burn the wicked out of the earth Mal. 4.1 And therefore we had need ask whether we can like Gold indure his refining and continue unscorched in the midst of such everlasting burning Isa 33.14 Christ comes from Heaven to take vengeance on his enemies 2 Pet. 3.7 Jude v. 14.15 as well as to be glorified in his Saints and admired in them that beleive 2 Thes 1.7.10 And therefore we have the Great and Rich men of the Earth calling out to the Rocks to fall upon them and to the Hills to cover them Rev. 6.16.17 because truth of Holiness and nothing else will be of any avail at that day which should make us very serious in examining our selves about it Among many other signs which may be given of our Saints-ship I shall content my self with mentioning only two because they do in an especial manner relate to the matter in hand Sign 1. First What love have we for the Appearance of Christ and how are we affected with the thoughts and hopes of his coming Abraham rejoyced in Hope to see that day and when he saw it by an eye of Faith he was glad John 8.56 The same disposition should be in all Believers who are the Children of Abraham and so much the rather because now Christ is to appear without sin i. e. in his full Beauty for lustre of Majesty without any Cloud of imputed sin to eclipse and to hide his Comeliness as formerly there was Is 53.2 and this he will do for salvation unto them who expect him Heb. 9.28 This the Apostle Paul makes a certain sign of the Corinthians conversion to the Faith that they did expect the Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1.7 for he cannot be a true Disciple of Christ a child of the Bride-chamber who doth not inwardly grieve and mourn for the absence of the Bridegroom Mat 9.15 which Mourning must necessarily be accompanied with earnest longing to see one of his dayes Luke 17.22 And therefore the Apostle speaking of the great work that was wrought by the spirit of God upon the Thessalonians he makes the summe and height of it to be this They were turned from Idols to serve the living and the true God and to wait for his Son from Heaven 1 Thes 1.10 And again in his Epistle to Timothy he saith The Crown of Righteousness was laid up not for himself alone Comp. Tit. 2.13 Jam. 1.12 but for all those that loved our Lords appearance 2 Tim. 4.8 So that to have a love for Christ and a longing earnestness that his Name may be glorified and his Kingdom set up in the Earth it is an undoubted sign of the truth of Faith and that the spirit of Christ hath taken possession of us For the Spirit and Bride say come and every one that heareth or readeth let him say Come Yea O come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev. 22.17 20. Secondly What care have we to walk worthy of Christ This is Sign 2. that which the Apostle very often earnestly presseth We testifie saith he that you walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thes 2.12 and having said 2 Thes 2.14
the Doctrine I undertook to deliver but because one Argument commonly urged against it is a supposal that this Doctrine hath little or no influence upon our present Practice but rather tends to unsettle the World which was the Outcry raised against it of old Luke 23 2 5. and Acts 17.6 7. Then to build up any in true Holiness I shall therefore briefly insist upon a few practical inferences wh ch follow hence and so conclude Use 1. First This Doctrine concerning the Kingdom of Christ upon earth serves to inform us what we should continually pray unto God for and make one of our most earnest and importunate Petitions namely this Thy Kingdom come That God in mercy to his People and in zeal for his own Glory would hasten the time of setting up this Kingdom that so the wickedness of the wicked Psal 7.9 and the sufferings of the righteous may come to a full end For when God reigns the wicked shall be destroyed out of â—â—s earth Psal 10.16 comp Ps 104.35 and thus as our Saviour himself speaks in the Parable The Son of Man shall send his Angels and they shall gather all the scandals and such as commit iniquity out of his Kingdom Mat. 13.41 But to bring this to pass it must be the work of Fervent prayer God the Father did not promise to give the Nations for the inheritance of his son but upon the condition of his asking it ask of me saith he and I will give the Nations for thine Inheritance Psal 2 7 8. So when God by the Prophet Ezekiel had promised the people of Israel that he would not only pardon their sins but put his Spirit into them and then give them a lasting and peaceable possession of their Land he adds yet for this I will be inquired of by the House of Israel to do it for them Ezek. 36 37. For Gods Promises though never so absolute in the letter and expression of them yet are so far from excluding Prayer that they are given as Motives to quicken us in it since in them God hath graciously afforded us so many Arguments by which our Faith may be supported and incouraged to plead with him Thus our Saviour having foretold the coming of his Kingdom for of that he speaks Luke 21.31 And given several signs that were to be the Tokens and Fore-runners of its approach he concludes Watch ye therefore and pray always v. 36. For the performance of which duty besides the command obliging to it we have this great incouragement That the more the Hearts of Gods people are drawn out in earnest expectation of-and vehement longing for the Kingdom of Christ they may be assured the nearer it is Thus the Psalmist praying that God would restore his people concludes confidently Psal 112 13 14. Thou wil arise thou wilt have mercy upon Zion for the time to favour her yea the set time of which God had spoken Isa 60.22 I the Lord will hasten it in its time is come Of which peremptory assertion he gives this Reason For thy people take pleasure in her stones and they favour the dust thereof As if he had said the desires of thy people are now more then ordinarily raised up and carried out in hope of a sudden restauration notwithstanding the present visible difficulties which may hinder such an expectation by seeing the Rubbish and Ruines of Sion and therefore I conclude that the time of her deliverance is nigh For this we must take for granted that a Spirit of Prayer which is the Spirit of God in Believers Rom. 8 14.26 27. is never given out but there is a willingness and propensity in the Heart of God at that time to grant the very thing which he is prayed to for Thus the Psalmist Psal 10.17 joyns together Gods preparing the Heart of his People and the inclining of his own ear to hear Thus it was in the Church of the Jews at our Saviours first coming there was then almost a general expectation raised of him Joseph of Arimathea is said to be one of those that waited for the Kingdom of God Mark 15 43. Simeon Anna and many others did look for the consolation and redemption of Israel as the coming of the Messiah is called Luke 2 25 28. And not only they but even the generality of the Jews were then expecting that Christ should come Luke 3.15 And as they expected and believed so it was indeed though the mean appearance which our Saviour then manifested himself in kept the greatest part of them from believing in him What the Church of God did at our Saviours first we should think it our duty to do in reference to his Second coming namely Be expecting and hastning it as Peters expression is 2 Pet. 3.12 i. e. By heads lifted up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be looking intently for it and by arms stretched out in Prayer be earnestly requesting it For if the Virgins slumber it is no wonder if the Bridegroom tarries And if his people do not desire him to hasten how can we expect but our Lord will delay his coming This therefore we should with all manner of religious importunity incessanly beg for and offer a kind of Holy violence to God giving him do rest as the expression is Isa 62.1 6 7 Till he doth establish his word and send us our Promised Lord and King from Heaven that we may be Kings and Priests with him and share in all his Royal Glories Use 2. Secondly we may learn from hence as to pray so to wait with patience for our Lords coming For he hath onely withdrawn his residence from earth for a time till all things be made fit for his return and then he will not delay when a few changes more are past he will come from Heaven and by bringing in everlasting righteousness the effect of which is stability and peace he will put a full end to all future Mutation We should therefore as our Saviour advised his Apostles Luk. 21.19 In patience possess our souls that is as James speaks Let patience have its perfect work in us Jam. 1.4 that we may be perfect and intire wanting nothing or in nothing a little patience and for a little time will not serve our turn for Christian patience hath no bound to it but is to be terminated only in the coming of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therefore the exhortation runs Be ye patient Brethren unto the com ng of our Lord Jam. 5.7 8. This grace is requisite in all the actions which we do as Christians in Heaâ—ing to retain the Seed and to br ng forth answerable Fruit which is brought forth with patience Luke 8.15 In Praying that we be not dicouraged and for want of a present answer be tempted to give it over Luke 18 1. In sufferings that we faint not but resolutely hold out our Race Heb. 12.1 And therefore the Gospel which so much enjoyns and requires it is called the Word