is lesse glorious and a morning which is much more Glorious but leads to its end as the morning doth to the end of the Day Now because the evening and morning makes one Day and all Christs time for his Monarchy is but as one Day wherefore it is called Christs Day 1 Cor. Therefore that which is to be done in the morning or latter part of the Day is joyned with the evening or beginning of the Day because before this time is ended all such things shall be done thus Dan 12. 2. 3. It is said that at the time in which Michael the great Prince shall stand up for Daniels Prophecy And there shall be a time of trouble such as never was and many that sleepe in the Dust shall awake some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt and they that be wise shall shine aâ— the brightnesse of the Firmament Which things Christ applies to the last generall Judgement which we call the Morning or glory or close of that day of Christ Mat. 25. 46. and 13. 40. 43. Yet it is conjoyned to the Evening and first beginning which is troublous and Darke Dan. 7. 9. 10. The everthrow of things that is former Monarchies and all Kingly power and the innumerable company of Angels and setting the Judgement and opening the Bookes which is not till the last part of the Day of the generall Judgement as Rev. 20 12. 13. c. are joyned together so 2 Tim. 4 1. Christs appearing kingdome judging quicke and dead are conioyned as if all one whereas though at his first appearing he shall iudge some quick and some dead yet the generall iudging all quick and dead shall not be till the latter end of this Day And this is it hath made many mistake as if there had beene no comming of Christ or Judgement but the last and universall Judgement whereas there is another before it more then a thousand Yeares as we shall see hereafter But God in Scripture joyns together things farre distant in time because done in the same day of Christs Monarchy as we sometimes see an hill and see not many miles of low grounds and valleys betweene us and that Hill but thinke the Hill is neere us So God hath made visible some of the most glorious works of Christ in the morning or latter part of this his day and Reigne but more obscurely presented a great deale of the beginning and former part of this his Day and reigne wherfore it hath beene over-looked by most Christians since the first hundred Yeares and nothing hath beene seene but the last generall Iudgement and triumph of Christ which shall be onely at the last Day over all People Now then to open the quality of Christs Kingdome wee must shew and that briefely what it is in both the parts of that Day of his namely what 〈◊〉 in the Evening or first part of it and what it is in the Morning or latter part of 〈◊〉 First What manner of Kingdome Christs shall be in the Evening and first part of it The beginning or first part of Christs Kingdome I call an Evening alluding to the Creation in which every day had first it's Evening and then it's Morning Because compared with the following state and glory of it it is as short of Majesty as the Evening is in glory short of the Morning and time following Now in the evening or beginning and first part of Christs Kingdom as in other Evenings there is first an end or withdrawing and ceasing of the light and glory of the fore-going day this shuts in and the Day enluing tends first to a night So Christs Kingdom shall begin with the withdrawing of Peace and comfort had through the time and Raigne of the fore-going Monarchies and darknesse of night that is great troubles shall begin to arise upon those who shall be Subjects of Christs Monarchy both beleeving Gentiles and Jewes with Israelites or the ten Tribes who shall be all converted and after that be greatly troubled as we shall shew when we open the beginning of his Kingdome which trouble is as the shutting in of a former day but when this trouble is at it's height and full then comes the beginning or setting up of Christ his Kingdome for the opening of which consider we three things First What Christ will do when he sets up at first this his Kingdome Secondly Who shall be the Subjects of this his Kingdome Thirdly What shall be the Priviledges of this Kingdome which is the opening or first part of this his Day First What Christ will doe when he at first sets up this his Kingdome he will come from Heaven visibly Even as he went up thither Act. 1. 11. which comming is not his last comming to the last Judgment but a middle one twix't that and his first comming which hath not been considered For Christ had three commings The first was when he came to take our nature and make satisfaction for sin The second is when he comes to receive his Kingdome for to receive which he went into heaven Luk. 19. 12. 15. which is that I am now speaking of A third is that when he comes to iudge all and end the world the latter comings are two distinct commings not all one as it hath beene thought therefore they are made distinct Mat. 24. 3. and answered dictinctly by distinct signes in that Chapter Now this second comming of Christ which shall be long before his comming to the lâ—â—t Judgement and to end the world â— is that when he beginnes and sets up this his Kingdome for at the setting it up Christ shall come from heaven Dan. 12. 1. Michael shall then stand up that is Christ shall then visibly appeare which is not spoken of the day of the last Judgement For it is the time of the Israelites great trouble after their first conversion to Christianitie as we shall shew hereafter 2 Tim. 4. 1. with Dan. 7. 13. when Christ came to bring his Kingdome he appeared but his comming to his last judgement is to judge and resign his Kingdom therefore this is a former coming at which second comming of Christ when he comes to begin his Kingdome he will come with the same glory as at the last for as it is said of his last comming to judge the world Mat. 25. 31. 34. He comes with a Throne and as a King so shall he come at his second or next comming when he begins his Kingdom Mat. 19 28. which place is the same with Luk. 22. 30. where he expresly speaks of his owne Kingdome which he is to administer in this World whereas that Kingdome in Heaven is the Fathers Mat. 13. 39. 34. Now when Christ with his glory shall come from Heaven he will doe three things First He will raise up the Saints which are dead before this his coming not onely such as have beene martyred as some thinke but all Saints who
and his Saints none shall have Dominion and Greatnesse but he All Rulers shall serve him So Isa. 2. Christs kingdome is expressed First in its spirituall State by the Gospels preaching vers. 2 3. c. thence it shall proceed to bring under it all the earth even the haughtinesse of people that is their Kingly power which is the height and pride of the earth and he alone shall be exalted as Monarch verse 11. 17. c. Isa 24. 21 22. 23. The high ones that is the Kings and their Monarchies shall fall before the Lord and the Sun and Moon that is Majesty of a higher and lower ranke shall vanish before him as Rev. 21. 23. 24. No need of Sun or Moone that is kingly power Christ will be instead of all to it so Chap. 22. 5. 21. 24. Kings bring their glory to it that is lay downe their Honours thâ—re and this he seemes to meane by shaking not earth onely in change of customes with people but Heaven also that is the Kingly power therefore he addes shake Heavens and overthrow Thrones Hag. 2. 21 22. which the Apostle applies to Christ and his Kingdome Hebr. 12 26 27. and shews that he can doe it in that he is so great a King as once shooke the Earth with his voice when he gave the Law and set him up a kingdome of one Nation but he can and will shake Earth and Heaven also when he sets up his full Kingdome and makes the new Heaven and Earth for these words yet once more signifies the removing of old things in Heaven and Earth to make new that is to change all worldly customes and so all kingly glory and set up a new even his owne glory So Zach. 14. 9. Then the Lord shall be King of all the earth and his Name one and the Lord one no more Lords but he as the Monarchies in that time swallowed up all kingly power under them And this Monarchy of Christs comming after all the rest when more of the world is found out will be larger in extent then all the former The name of the Lord Great from East to West as never yet any was Mal. 2. 11. For the better understanding the extent of Christs Kingdome consider that before this Monarchy of Christ shall end and be given up to the Father it shall extend it selfe to all reasonable creatures Angels Devils and all tongues Phil. 2. 10. 11. so that every creature reasonable shall acknowledge Christ to be Lord and King but this generall extent of it shall not be till towards its consummation He shall put all under his feet and then resigne 1. Cor. 15. 24. and by Paul Rom. 14â— 10. 11. this universall subjection is referred to the last and generall Judgement so that of this I now speake not but of the generality of all that live on earth under Christ his Scepter and Monarchy in its first rise and continuance this is the extent of Christs Kingdome Secondly the quality of this Kingdome of Christ for the opening of which we must know That the day of Judgement is taken sometimes more strictly sometimes more largely in Scripture Strictly it is taken for a partiall Judgement when some are judged but not all many both Saints and sinners shall be judged and that with great terror and solemnity but all Devils and all the generation of Man-kind from Adam to the last that shall be born shall not be judged in this partial and more strict day of Judgement But more largely is taken for that generall day when all men and Devils shall be judged as Matth. 25. 31. to the end and Phil. 2. 10. 11. and now it is not usuall by the day of judgement to mean onely this large and generall Judgement but the Scripture speaks of a day of Judgement more partiall and more strict wherein not all but yet a world of Saints and sinners shall be judged and that long before the last and great judgement as Dan. 7. 9. 10. and 2 Tim. 4. 1. and 2 Pet. 3. 7. and Rev. 11. 15. 18. which cannot be meant of the last generall Judgement because after that Christ resignes his Kingdome as is shewed formerly 1 Cor. 15. 24. but this is when he takes his Kingdom as all the places shew and much is to be done by Christ and his Saints after this and it is said expresly that the second death instantly followeth the last generall Judgement Rev. 20. 4. but of this Judgement it is said the Temple was opened and great things done after it Rev. 11. 15. 18. 19. and in 2 Pet. 3. 7. 13. it is said There shall be a new Heaven whereas the highest Heavens are not made new into which the Saints enter after the last Judgement and a new earth in which dwelleth righteousnesse but the Saints after the last Judgement enter the highest Heavens and dwell not on earth Matth. 25. 34. that is the Kingdome prepared ever since the foundation of the world and they go into eternall life vers. 46. that is the highest Heavens above the Sun and time so that no righteous men shall be left upon the earth and this is applyed to the new Ierusalem Revel. 21. that former things passe away and all things are made new vers 4. 5. Now this Jerusalem is not heaven for it comes downe from God out of Heaven vers. 2. therefore it must be meant of a change which shall be in this world on earth before the Generall Judgement which he cals by the name of the day of Judgement vers. 7. And it is fitly so called for it shall be First a generall Judging though not to the second death of all the ungodly in the world at least of all that will not stoope to Christ his Scepter being indeed that Judging Luk. 19. 27. as Noahs flood was from whence he fetched his argument 2 Pet. 3. 6. That as once by water God destroyed all people except such as were in the Arke but did not then end the world but gave time and ages after it So will he once againe destroy all ungodly ones on earth but give thereby a Reformation not an end to the world Secondly this shall be a judging to the Saints alive Many that are dead and killed shall be raised up and justified before men and they that are alive shall be blamed as we shall shew anon So that this time is fitly called a day of Judgement now these two times and degrees of Judgement begin and end Christs Kingdome or Monarchy wherefore all the time of Christs Kingdome may fitly be called a day of Judgement it being a rewarding of his Servants and punishing the wicked And as in a naturall day there is the beginning or evening and progresse to its end or morning of it which is the best time of it So is there in this day of Judgement or time of Christs Monarchy an evening or beginning which
of which Christ makes a signification of this Kingdome of his in which they shall rule as he in a kinde of equality yea in his stead Luk. 22. 27. 29 30. This Sacrament is but to last till the next comming of Christ 1 Cor. 11. 26 that is till he come to set up this his Kingdome the Priviledges of which it seals to us in a fellow-like gesture of sitting at a Table together and serving but till he come â—nd give us this Kingdome it implies that it shall then cease and with it all other Ordinances but immediately feed from God in Christ Now what commeth immediately from God is not subject to change or decay as the highest Heavens and that Earth which was without forme called a Chaos created in the beginning of the first day and also the Soule of man these things made out of nothing immediately from God decay not at all whereas all other things created out of something else are subject to change wherâ—fore since there shall be the Throne of God and of the Lambe they shall all serve him Rev. 22. 3. And Christ will hold them up in fulnesse of grace though not in full perfection of any grace till the last generall Judgement and their translation into Heaven which translation of theirs shall not be from a delivered estate but from an estate of greatest holinesse that ever was upon Earth for therefore is that Holy and Glorious estate provided for them on Earth to prepare them for Heaven therefore they must not be delivered from it when Christ comes to fetch them to Heaven at the last Judgement And as there shall be a fulnesse of Holinesse so there shall be a full and present answer to all their prayers Isa. 65. 24. In that there is no sinne to keepe good things from them or to seperate betweene their God and them Secondly whence followeth that there shall be all fulnesse of all temporall blessings as peace safety riches health long life and whatsoever else was enjoyed under any Monarchy or can be had in this world Rev 21. 7. They that shall enjoy this Kingdom which is described from vers 1. to 7. are called over-commers and that which they shall enjoy in it is the inheritance of all things that is what ever can be had in this world â—hat may make their lives comfortable they shall have for them and their children for ever and that with a peculiar sweetning for through them they shall have God for their God and they be his children also Isa. 33. 16. to 23. where fulnesse of peace and quietnesse is promised to the Subjects of this Kingdome vers. 24. and exemption from all bodily troubles which also with aboundance of all things is promised Isa 35. throughout the chapter and Isa 60. throughout so Isa. 65. 13. to the end it is meant of this Kingdome for he saith that vers 17. which is applyed to this Kingdome onely 2 Pet. 3. 13. Rev. 21 4 5. of making new Heavens and Earth and in this Kingdom shall be long life an hundred yeares shall every one have and no infant or any other shall dye sooner they shall last long as a Tree vers. 20. 23. and there shall be no sicknesse or griefe or trouble to consume their strength and thus it shall passe from Father to Sonne unto many generations that is many hundred yeares vers. 21 22 23. but the wicked amongst them though they live long shall be cursed ver. 20. Zach. 14. 11. Rev. 21. 4. There shall be no more death that is not an exemption from a naturall but there shall be no violent or untimely death by any griefe sicknes and trouble therefore when David was to have the Temple settled in his sonne Salomon it is promised the People should have a place of their owne and not wonder or be afflicted any more 2 Sam. 7. 10. 12 13. in reference to which it is said of this Kingdom of Christs which was to come under the Seventh Trumpet Rev. 11 15. I say it is said of this Kingdome and that with an Oath to assure us of it That there shall be time no longer Rev. 10. 5 6. that is no longer time for sinne misery and sinners to sway in the world For of this it is principally meant that old things are passed away and all things are become new Rev. 21 4 5. wherefore in the time and dayes of this Kingdom it shall be as in Salomons time 1 King 4. 2. The People of Iudath and Israel were many as the sand of the Sea eating and drinking and making merry In this time they shall Plant build marry beget children from generation to generation in perfect peace and though they shall dye at last yet it shall be in a full old age but their Children shall grow up in their roome for all the wicked in the world shall either be ruined or enslaved and Sathan wholly restrained from tempting them to sinne or others to trouble them and originall corruption shall be kept in as not to break forth in any grosse way therefore no affliction shall break forth upon them but as sinne shall so dwell in them as they shall neede Christs righteousnesse to justifie both them and their works So that as they shall be lively sinners though greatly sanctified so shall death though no other affliction before death seize upon them This shall be the glory of the estate of Christs Kingdome a middle state betwixt the state of ordinary Christians in heaven which must take for heaven for heaven is so high above our capacities that we cannot conceive it till we have enjoyed this of Christs Kingdome and of this Kingdome there is almost all that wee have said recorded by way of Prophecie together in Psal. 97. which Psalme the Apostle shewes is meant of Christ Heb. 1. 6. because he applies to Christ what is said in this Psalme Worship him all yee Gods or Angels for if Princes be called Gods then much more may Angels be so called who are Thrones and Dominions and the Psalâ—â— it selfe sheâ—eth its intent is the Kingdome of Christ and so that in the Hebrewes shewes for chap. 1. 5. he hath spoken of Christs birth now of his eternall generation of his Person This day have I begotten thee and the birth of his humane nature in the fulnesse of time I will be to him a Father and he my son then hee proceeds and saith when he brings him into the world that is not at his birth of which hee had spoken before but at his bringing him to reigne for so the Psalme quoted carries it Christ shall come with his Fathers glory and by his power into the world to reigne then shall the Angels worship him for they shall wait on him as his servants his dominion shall be over the earth that is the continent and multitude of Iles Psal. 97. 1. And its said he reigneth
they rejected all literall sense of them whereas besides their spirituall sense they had a sense literall respecting this time of Christs Kingdome And it is clear that beyond the first Age even an hundred years after Christ it is recorded by one who lived in the dayes of the Apostle John who was the last Apostle it was the joynt opinion of all beleevers that Christ should have a Kingdome on earth which should after it was come to perfection endure a thousand yeares And this is the time which I call the evening or first part of Christs day and its duration besides the time of its imperfection or embryonie before it be settled Now there was not any of the foregoing Monarchies of the world which in full state strength endured so long The first Monarchy the Babylonian was but 70. yeares the Grandfather Father and Child and so we might shew of the rest that they were much short of this of Christs continuance Yea that of Israel which fore-shewed this of Christs rose but up in Saul David was perfect in Solomon and declined in the next in Reâ—oâ—oam Now when these thousand yeares are expired there shall be a little interruption for a while Rev. 20. 3. by the letting loose of Satan and his stirring up Gog Mâ—gog to disturbe this Kingdome Rev. 20. 3 7 8 9. but it shall be but a little while only a Combination and an Attempt but no hurt but fatall ruine to the enemy but till the thousand years be expired there shall not be any attempt against the Kingdome And when this interruption of cloud is blowne away there shall arise the Morning or latter part and most glorious time of Christs Day and Kingdome that which we call the last judgement which shall last a great while indeed the Scripture sets not downe the time how long this shall last but it is evident it must last a long while First I know not but it may last a thousand yeares as the other is to do because this is the time in which Gods Mercy Iustice Truth Power c. is to be gloriously revealed before all Mankind and Devills and the Truth of every Title of Scripture cleared and the Reason and Righteousnesse of all Gods administrations to Men and Devils revealed Rom. 2. 5. So that every sinner is to be silenced in his reasonings or convinced that he said and thought amisse Iud. 14 15. Now this must require much time Secondly This is the time in which Iesus Christ is to triumph and Lord it over all reasonable creatures to be worshipped and acknowledged by every one in Heaven Earth and under the Earth Phil. 2. 10 11. which is referred to this time Rom. 14. 10 11. For during the other part of Christ his Kingly Raigne in the thousand yeares he is not alwayes visible but if he were yet they under the Earth the dead Reprobates from Cain to them that were slain when he set up his Kingdome do not bow to him and with their tongues confesse him and the devils then are chained up but they do not bow to him But at this time shall Christ sit on the Throne of his Glory and every knee shall bow to him and every tongue shall confesse him Lord therefore surely it shall be no short time In all the time he is to have when he resigns the Kingdome and People are divided according to Election and Reprobation wherefore this being all the time surely it will be a long time This is the reward of his great suffering a Reward having respect to all Creatures though in respect of the Elect he hath another reward Phil. 2. 10 11. Therefore God hath given him this Name Of this God hath much spoken of to him Ps. 110. 1. and to his enemies and people and Christ hath sitten waiting till it is done ever since his Ascension Heb. 10. 12 13. Therefore surely God will not huddle it over in a small or short time God hath given a long time to every worke to Satan to Antichrist and will he straiten Christ in this his time when workes in which God is glorified but by accident have a long day shall not Christs day be long in which God is so directly glorified Phil. 2. 11. There can be no worke besides Heavens glory so pleasing to God and all Saints and so comely in it selfe as this for Christ to sit on the Throne and all knees bow to him Therefore as we do with workes comely and very pleasing God will draw it out and lengthen its time Thirdly Because the solemnity of it were to little purpose if it were not to last long as we deride great preparations and pompe for a short shew the whole Creation groanes for the liberty and Glory of this time Rom. 8. 19 22. For this place as was before shewed is necessarily meant of this last and generall Judgement and onely of it every Creature in specie or kind shall be eased of the vanity which Mans sin and Gods curse hath loaded it withall and shall have its primitive glory which it waits for and it shall last but till this day of Judgement lasts Now to what purpose were that omnipotent restitution of all things and that large expence of rich Majesty and Bounty to cloath all Creatures with glory if it were to be but for a little season surely this is all the time in which Sinners and Saints good and bad Angels shall be in one place and in which mankind shall behold the glory of this visible world made for them and subjected to them in the Creation therefore the time shall be long But if this time be so long the Saints shall be kept long from Heaven First I answer God that hath eternity for them in heaven may lengthen out their time in this world and yet recompense them Secondly This is a Heaven a Paradise and fit and next preparative for Heaven who can lose by being kept from heaven by beholding Christ his most glorious Triumph over all Creatures What shall be done to take up so much time All Gods attributes shall be set open before us as he hath declared them in the Word by Creation Providence Redemption and Christ his highest Kingly glory shall be shewed us on which alone one might gaze a thousand yeares with great joy the whole Scripture in every Tittle of it shall be shewed to be fulfilled how every act of God in the world is according to it in riding the world by the Word and by it he made it and according to this word shall be shewed to us the reason of every dealing of God with Saints and sinners and all the works of Angels Devils which are infinitely more and greater than Mankind because they have ever wrought since the world began and are mighty in wit and spirit and all the world of mankind shall be revealed to us all yea the ends intents