Chiliasto-mastix redivivus Sive Homesus enervatus A confutation of the MILLENARIAN OPINION Plainly demonstrating that Christ will not Reign Visibly and Personally on earth with the Saints for a thousand yeers either before the day of Judgement in the day of Judgement or after it Where you also have many Texts of Scripture Vindicated from the vain Glosses of one Dr. Homes a great Millenarian and all his Cavils of any consequence refelled and answered With a word to our Fifth Monarch-men whose dangerous practises of late clearly shew that this opinion leads to Schisme and Sedition in Church and State By Tho. Hall B. D. and Pastor of Kingsnorton Jonah 2. 8. They that wait on lying Vanities forsake their own mercy John 18. 36. My Kingdom is not of this world LONDON Printed for John Starkey at the Miter at the West end of Pauls 1697. TO THE CANDID READER HAving finisht my Exposition on 2 Tim. 3. by way of Supplement to Mr. Barlow when I came to the 2 Tim. 4. 1. I perceived that Dr. Homes was tampering with it forcing it to plead his Millenarian cause upon this I encountred him and have Vindicated the Text from the Vain Glosses which he put upon it Afterwards perusing his whole book I found it so jejune and empty and his proofs so grosly wrested and impertinent that I conceived it might be time well spent to Vindicate the Text which he abuseth especially such as have any seeming weight in them as to his purpose which here thou hast now presented to thy view I thought it good to give it thee single by it self and the rather that such as cannot buy the Exposition of those two Chapters yet may have this little Antidote at hand against this Epidemical error which spreads so strangely and hath already brought forth the malignant fruit of Schisme in the Church and Sedition in the State to the hazarding of both as appears in that Seditious Declaration of the Fifth Monarch men who cry down Magistracy and Ministery as that Beast so do these Bruits call them which hindreth the coming of their King Jesus The Apostle tells us of some that despise Government and among the the rest he gives them this Character 2 Pet. 2. 10. that they are self-conceived persons such as love to sing their own song and to get a name they 'l go a strain of their own beyond the Ordinary even to the contradicting and out-facing of the clearest evidence of Scripture and Reason they are so wedded to their own Fancies that they think every thing makes for them and every one pleads their cause Scriptures Fathers Astronomers Sybils Poets Turks Talmuds Targums c. and this is Dr. Homes his case as the ensuing Treatise will shew where you have the Question debated Polemically {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Negative Positive 1. I shew the Weakness and Invalidity of the Drs. Thesis and his proofs 2. I have set down the Truth in an Antithesis proving it by Scripture and Reason with as much brevity as may be And herein I shall be directly opposite to the Doctor for I have used all means to contract my self and have compacted as much matter in as little a compass as possibly I could whereas he doth de Industria use all meanes to swel his book into a Folio and therefore he hath put a great part of it into Latin and English for the credit of the Cause that all the world may see he Lyes in Folio in the mean time forgetting the Proverb {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that a great book especially when stuft with such a cramb bis cocta as the Doctor hath stuft his book withall is a great burden especially to an Ingenious Reader who delights in Laconick brevity and must have much in a little Neither can this displease any sober man if I in the Spirit of Love and Meekness tendring the good of the Land of my Nativity publish a Tract in Octavo in defence of the Ancient common received Truths of Gods Church since Doctor Homes hath publisht a Treatise in Folio against them He must be a man of singular patience that can endure to read over the Doctors book his proofs are so impertinent and ridiculous that the bare rehearsal of most of them is confutation sufficient Surely should the Doctor write a Folium Plaustrale a Volumn big enough to load a Cart yet if he bring no better proofs to maintain his Tenet then I have yet seen I Question who wil believe him For my own particular in this thing I have done nothing out of any spirit of opposition to the Person or parts of any nay I could heartily wish that the Doctor had spent his Operam Oleum his Time and Talents on some better Subject which might have furthered his Account in the Day of the Lord when we must all give an Account of our Stewardships and not to have fed mens fancies with lying Vanities and that in a time when the World surfets with them already I find the Builders of this Babel strangely divided amongst themselves both about the Place where this Raign shall be whether in Heaven or on Earth whether in Ierusalem or in the whole World 2. About the Persons whether the Martyrs only shall Raign this thousand yeers or whether all the Saints shall not Raign with them or whether there shall be no wicked ones mixt amongst them 3. About the manner of their Raign whether it shall be in carnal delight or spiritual or both 4. That they may be sure to disagree in all the principal points they differ in the time when this Raign shall begin some say before the day of judgment others say in the day of judgement others say after it Scarce any of the Chiliasts but hath his peculiar conceits in these points Truth is but one errour is manifold Obj. Whereas some may think this a smal and harmless errour not worth confuting Answ. I answer 1. As no sin simply considered in it self is little because there is no little God that we sin against so no errour in it self is litile because 't is against the same glorious and infinite Majesty 2. As little sins so little errours like little wedges make way for greater and he that makes no conscience of little errours wil when a Temptation comes make no conscience of greater 3. This Tenet is not so harmless and smal as some imagine Is that a smal matter which overthrows the fundamentals of Religion making two bodily distinct Resurrections two dayes of judgment three Ascentions and Descentions of Christ Is that a harmless opinion which breeds Security Sensuality Anarchy Is that a harmless opinion which overthrows Ordinances Magistracy Ministery Is that a little errour which perverts the Creed and wrests the Lords Prayer wracking that Petition Thy Kingdom come to a desire of the coming of their Millenarian Kingdom when the Kingdom we pray for in the Lords Prayer 1.
hath not his Verbum Domini for what he holds Even the Devil himself when he disputed with our Saviour had his Scriptum est he cited Scripture though corruptly The Dr. cites 51. proofs out of the Old Testament almost all borrowed from Doctor a Alsteed or Dr. Gouge his Treatise of the calling of the Jews p. 9. to 83. I shall set them down in order as the Dr. recites them the bare rehearsall will be confutation to the most of them for either they prophesie of Christs first coming in the flesh 2. Or of the Jews deliverance from Babylonish captivity 3. Or of the calling of the Jews when there shall be a spiritual restauration of the Church or the like To prove that Christ shall reign with the Saints on earth a thousand yeers the Dr. Quotes 1. Gen. 1. 26 27 28. collated with Psal. 8. 2. Gen. 12. 1 2 3 6. and 17. 1. to 9. 3. Gen. 18. 78. and 22. 15 16. 4. Gen. 26. 4. 5. Gen. 48. 19. and 49. 26. 6. Balaams Prophesie Numb. 24. 7. Deut. 30. 1. to 10. 8. Deut. 32. 15. to 19. 9. Neh. 1 8. 10. Psal. 8. and 110. yea the whole Book of Psalms in Three Heads 11. Isay 2. 1. c. 12. Isay 9. 6. 13. Isay 11. per totum 14. Isay 14. 1. c. 15. Isay 24. 23. 16. Isay 25 per totum 17. Isay 33. 20. 21 18. Isay 34. 1. c. 19. Isay 45. 14. c. 20. Isay 49. per totum 21. Isay 54. 11. c. 22. Isay 59. 23. Isay 60. per totum 24. Isay 63. 1. c. 25. Isay 65. 17. c. 26. Isay 66. 5. c. 27. Jer. 16. 14 15. collat. with 23. 3. 28. Jer. 30. 31. 29. Jer. 32. 37. 30. Jer. 50. 17. 31. Ezek. 28. 24 25 26. 32. Ezek. 34. 11. c. 33. Ezek. 37. total 34. Ezek. 37. total 35. Dan. 2. 31. c. 36. Dan. 7. total 37. Dan. 11. 12. 38. Hos. 1. 10. 11. 39. Hos. 3. 4. 5. 40. Joel 2. 28. c. 41. Joel 3. 1. c. 42. Amos 9. 11. collated with Obad 17. 43. Micah 4. total 44. Zoph 3. 9. c. 45. Zach. 2. 6. c. 46. Zach. 6. 12. 47. Zach. 8. 20. c. 48. Zach. 10. 3. c. 49. Zach. 12. total 50. Zach. 14. 3. c. 51. Mal. 4. total If you count these proofs they are many but if you seriously weigh them you will not find one to the purpose Obj. Though none of these Scriptures apart prove the point yet sayes the Dr. lay them all together and then they 'l do it Answ. Lay them and 51. more such proofs together for 't is easie gathering proofs to prove Christs Incarnation the a calling of the Jews Israels deliverance from Babylonish captivity and the Spiritual Glory of Gospel-times and they will never satisfie any sober Reader as to the proof of this point I must confess I seldom smile at my Study yet when I observed the Drs Learned-nonsense and his gross non-sequitors I could not forbear and let any Ingenious Reader take any one of these 51. proofs apart or altogether as the Dr. directs him and put but ergo Christ shall Reign with the Saints on earth a 1000. years and he cannot forbear smiling at least to see how the Drs. proofs hang together like ropes of sand and come as neer together as St. Germans lips which were nine miles asunder The Drs. Arguments for the Millenary fancy are like the Papists for the Popes Supremacy E. g. Peter healed the sick with his shadow ergo he was head of the Church Pauls calls him Cephas ergo he was chief of the Apostles Christ bid him put up his sword ergo the Pope hath right to both swords Or like the Quakers consequences flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven ergo there shall be no Resurrection The Saints shall judge the world here ergo there shall be no other Judgment this is Naylers Logick Obj. The Scripture holds forth that the last dayes shall be glorious dayes ergo Christ shall then Reigne personally on earth a thousand yeers Sol. It follows not for allthough the last dayes shall be glorious in respect of the great light of the Gospel and the glorious Priviledges and Liberty which the Church shall then enjoy yet in respect of the abuse of that Liberty and those Priviledges so the last dayes will be Perilous times a 2 Tim. 3. 1. True in Gospel times the bounds of the Church shall be enlarged Antichrists Kingdom shall decrease and Christs Kingdom will increase the mountain of the Lord shall be exalted in the top of the mountains and the Churches Priviledges will be advanced but that ever the Church should come to that height of happiness on earth as to be free from troubles internal and external and to Raign with Christ here for a thousand yeers in a sin-less sorrow-less temptation-less condition as D. H. phraseth it is a meer dream and hath no ground in Scripture Obj. Though many of these 51 proofs may be impertinent yet some may be pertinent Answ. I shall therefore call out the most pertinent for the bare reading of most of those Texts is confutation sufficient The first great place is Psal. 8. compared with Genesis 2. 26 27 28. which speaks of Adams dominion over the Creature in the state of innocency but the 8. Psal. speaks directly litterally and properly of Christ the second Adam if we will believe the Apostle a Heb 2. 6 7 8. So that the Drs. collating of these places is invalid 'T is true what is here spoken of Christ is proper to the Saints by vertue of their union with Christ the dignities belonging to Christ the head appertain to his mystical body the Church which â—s called Christ 1 Cor. 12. 12. All is theirs because they are Christs Now what do Millenaries gather hence Why 't is this that since Christ is thus exalted and the Saints in him to have dominion over the creatures c. Ergo they shall reign with Christ a thousand years on earth Who sees not the vanity of such Logick Obj. Heb. 2. 5. The Apostle speaks of a world to come ergo he speaks of this thousand yeers raign to come Answ. What a sad thing is to father our vain fancies on the Prophets and Aposties and to make them speak what never so much as came into their thoughts By the world to come is meant the Church of Christ under the Gospel which is called the world to come 1. In relation to the Church that lived before and under the Law who longed to see this world John 8. 56. 1 Pet. 1. 10 11. 2. Because of the restauration of all things by Christ begun already 2 Cor. 5. 17. and shall be finisht hereafter at the Resurrection which is called the time of the restitution of all things â—phes 1. 10. Q. D. O ye Hebrews
and to confirm such as are converte Ephes. 4. 11 12. 2 Pet. 1. 12. Matt. 28. 20. 1 Thes. 3. 2. Rom. 10. 14 15. Jer. 3. 15. the best know but in part and have need of teaching here But 2. The words must be taken comparatively as those places are a Jer. 31. 34. and 1 John 2. 17. they shall no more teach every man his neigbour i. e God will so abundantly power out the gifts and graces of his Spirit in those dayes that there shall be almost as much difference between those that lived under the Law and those that live under the Gospel as there is between those that need a Teacher and those that have no Teacher Now the most Commentators do expound this chapter of the Kingdom of Glory yet if any shall take them in this second sense there is no danger Quest But hath the Dr. no other Texts to uphold his opinion Answ. Yes he builds much on 2 Tim. 4. 1. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearance and his Kingdom I must confess this deep-sighted Dr. hath better eyes then must men I know if he can spy his Millenarian Kingdom here But the Dr. is wise in his own conceit and thus he begins The Kingdom of Christ here mentioned cannot be referred to his past government of the Church Answ. Very true who ever questioned it that was well in his wits Yet least this Dr. should be mad without reason he gives you a School-boyes reason to confirm it viz. because 't is in the Future Tense shall come to judgement and so he doth frequently in his Book bid you observe 't is do did have had shall or will as if he were teaching School-boyes and then tells you out of the Rabbins of a time when the universe shall be red with the blood of the slain and the hills white with the fat of their mighty men But these things the Dr. Learnedly observes are not yet fulfilled nor ever will be without a grand Hyperbole with such Learned Nothings is the Drs. Book stuft 2. He tells us how Christ shall have no Kingdom and of two dayes of judgement of a particular day at the beginning of the thousand yeers when Christ shall appear to reward the living and dead Saints and to destroy the then living incorrigible wicked man this is but the Praeludium after saith the Dr. comes the ultimate judgement Christ all that while saith he being busied in executing the first Sentence of Iudicature Here is much said but how is it proved Why from 2 Tim. 4. 1. he would make all this appear from the word Appear Christ shall judge the quick and the dead at his Appearing Ergo he shall have two dayes of judgement wherein to appear 2. He tells us that from the particular to the general day of Judgement shall be a thousand yeers But how doth he prove this Why from Matth. 25. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom i. e. on earth where you shall Reigne with Christ a thousand yeers How else doth he prove it why Rev. 11. 15. 17 18. where the Church rejoyceth in the destruction of bloody persecutors for the destruction of Rome it self follows chapt. 18. and of Antichrist chapt. 19. Now see the Drs. Illogical Logick Because the Church rejoyceth in the enlargement of Christs Kingdom and the downfall of his enemies ergo Christ shall Raigne with the Saints on earth a thousand yeers Obj. The Apostle sets Christs appearing first and his Kingdom after therefore this his Kingdom is not to begin till his appearing Answ. 'T is ignorant and weake arguing from the placing of words in Scripture for that is oft times placed first which in order of Nature is last ergo Mark 1. 4. Repentance is put before faith Mark 1. 4. and glory before grace 2 Pet. 1. 3. Lastly he tells us how Christ is gone into a far country and that he must be a fifth Monarch and for this he quotes Dan. 2. 38 39 40. 45. and 7. 13 14. we read of 4. Monarchies in Daniel viz. the Assyrian Persian Graecian and Roman Monarchies but our fifth Monarch men expect King Jesus to be a fifth Monarch who shall destroy all Magistrates and Ministers that he and the Saints may Reigne on earth alone I see now whence our fifth Monarch men have their New-light viz. from this Tenet of the Millenaries which opens a gap to Anarchy and confusion for under this pretence Libertines may arise and kill Magistrates Ministers and all the ungodly i. e all save themselves and their own party that they may Reigne alone in the earth of this God hath given us a remarkable instance of late in those fifth Monarch men who are now in prison To make way for this their imaginary Kingdom they give out in their Pamphlet called the Standard That the Beast and the false Prophet i. e. Magistrates and Ministers and all earthly Governments must be destroyed by the hands of the Saints and that all yoaks upon the inward and outward man must be destroyed because of the anoynting since the Saints are the Lords Freeman yea they tell us that the Wicked Bloody Antichristian Magistracy Ministery Lawyers c. must be destroyed They be their own words where we see 't is not Magistrates and Ministers but Magistracy and Ministery the very Office it self which these men strike at and that with a profound c. which how far it may extend to what Persons Places Callings and Officers let others judge Quest But when shall this destruction be Answ. They tell you it must be at the time of the restitution of all things i. e when Christ shall reigne a thousand yeers and to make way for that day Magistrates and Ministers must be destroyed Now the better to effect this they animate men to seditions and proclaim a Jubilee and yeer of Liberty from Tythes and Taxes and Imprisonment after have at Rents and Debts and a community of all things Yea the better to incourage men to come in to them like their master the Devil they make large promises but sorry performances of Health Wealth Peace Protection yea they invite you to a Royal Feast where you shall have no worse fare then the flesh of Kings Captains and mighty men Yea they tell you this Kingdom of theirs shall break in pieces all other Kingdoms and eat out all the Monarchies and Glory of the world Yea Rogers one of the Speakers in London to this fifth Monarch crue Preacht it openly that the cause of these fifth Monarch men was good but they did not time it well however they would not desist till they had the Tyrants head from his shoulders and more words to the like purpose This I had from an honest and understanding ear-witness in London 'T is time the Magistrate should awake and restrain these Babel-builders least they bring not only confusion on
One hour in heaven will be better then all the pleasures of earth and if the sight of Christs transfiguration in the mount made Peter and Iohn to forget wives children meat drink houses and all desiring to rest there how much more will the sight of Christ in perfect glory ravish our hearts with far greater joy then any we can have on earth unless God should leave heaven to come dwell on earth which we have not the least ground to believe 2. What good or comfort can acrew to the Saints by coming from Heaven to reign a thousand years on earth Is not the glory of Heaven better then all the delights on Earth 3. Or what should glorified Saints do in this new world after they are come from Heaven How should spiritualized bodies delight in earthly pleasures The Apostle tells us that our bodies at the Resurrection shall be incorruptible immortall spiritual powerfull and glorious like to Christs body Philip 3. ult. 1 Cor. 15. 42. Now such bodies cannot live a natural low sensual life in eating drinking marrying Matth. 22. 30. These things may please a Turk and adorn his Paradise but the thoughts of such things are loathsome to a glorified Saint who hath enjoyed immediate communion with Christ in glory And those that confine this their supposed Priviledge to the Martyrs do here by put them into a worse condition then the ordinary Saints for whilst these are beholding the face of God in glory those must be brought down to earth to eat and drink build houses and plant Vineyards c. Thus you see there is no necessity nor comfort in fancying such a raign 2. Then the day of judgement might be known if Christ should come and raign on earth just a thousand yeers in a visible manner before the day of judgment then that day thousand yeers after this raign begins would be the day of judgment But the Scripture expresly tells us that of that day knoweth no man Mark 13. 32. and Christ will come as a thief in the night when men least expect him 2 Pet. 3. 10. A late writer tells us that Rome shall fall 1666. and the world shall have and end 45. yeers after If this be true where then is the thousand yeers raign 3. It opens a gap to Anarchy Sedition and Murder for under this pretence Libertines may arise and kill Magistrates and Ministers and all the ungodly i. e. all but themselve and their party that they may raign alone in the Earth D. Homes tells us that all secular powers which love not the members of Christ shall then be destroyed And with him the late fifth Monarch men concur 4. This fancy makes 3. comings of Christ but we read but of two in all the Scripture 1 His coming in the flesh in a state of Humiliation 2. His coming to judgment in a state of Glorification Matth. 25. 31. 2 Cor. 15. 22. 1 Thessal 4. 16. 2 Tim. 4 1. Revel. 1. 7. We read of his appearing a second but never of a third time Heb. 9. 28. 5. It makes two bodily Resurrections one of the godly to raign with Christ a thousand yeers and another of the ungodly at the end of those thousand yeers But the Scripture expresly joynes the Resurrection of the good and bad together Dan. 12. 2. John 5. 28. Acts 24. 15. Rev. 20. 12. John 6. 39. 6. It makes Christ to have 3. Ascentions when the Scripture never mentions but two viz. 40 dayes after his Resurrection and the other after the General Judgement of the World 7. It makes a double day of judgement the one inchoate a thousand yeers before the other and the other the Ultimate and General Day of Iudgment 8. Whereas the Scripture makes mans age upon earth to be threescore yeers and ten these have enlarged the date they tell us of some that shall live a thousand yeers on earth 9. It makes the ruine of Antichrist to be a thousand yeers or more before the Day of judgement when the Scripture joins them together 2 Thes. 2. 8. Revel. 20. 8 9 10. 10. It makes the Church triumphant when Christ comes contrary to the tenour of the Scripture Matth. 37 38. 2 Tim. 3. 1. 11. 'T is a means to breed security in men when they shall hear that 't is yet above a thousand yeers to the Day of Iudgment whereas the Learned conceive the end of the world to be much nearer And the Apostles thought 'twas not far off in their time 12. Then the Saints and Martyrs should have their reward on earth but the Scripture tells us expresly that their reward is great in Heaven not on Earth Matth. 5. 10. 2 Cor 5. 1. 2 Pet. 4. 8. 1 Pet. 1 4. and Paul a Martyr looked for his reward there 2 Tim. 4. 8. 18. Thus you see if you grant the Devil but one absurdity how many he 'l infer upon you the Devil desires but a little at first he desires you would but tast of his broath for then he 'l quickly bring you to eat of his beef Count no error small many thought this Millinarian opinion to be a very harmless one yet we see what Carnality Heresie Sedition and Schisme it hath brought forth in Church and State Obj If the Raign of Christ on earth be not before the day of judgment yet it may be in and during the day of judgment So saith Mr. Mede this 1000. years raign shall be In durante die Judicii to this opinion D. Tho. Goodwin inclines in his New World to come p. 37. Answ. That the day of judgement shall last a 1000. yeers is grat is dictum 't is said but it can never be proved 't is a very bold and groundless assertion The Text which the Millenaries bring to prove this is 2 Pet. 3. 8. one day with the Lord is AS a thousand yeers and a thousand yeers is AS one day Answ. What is here to prove their Assertion I see very weak grounds will satisfie some men to uphold what pleaseth their fancy The meaning of the Apostle is no more but this whereas some scoft at Christs delay and thought that he would never come to judgement the Apostle tells them they had no reason so to do for one day with the Lord is As a thousand yeers and a thousand yeers As one day God measures not time as we do what seems long to us is short to him Job 10. 5. Psal. 90. 4. He doth not simply say one day is a thousand yeers but is As a thousand yeers 't is onely a comparison q. d. although a thousand yeers seem a long time to you and so the world seems to have continued long yet 't is not so with the Lord to whom all time is short and with whom ten thousand yeers are but as yesterday when compared with his eternity 3. Dr. Alsteed with his New-light goes further then all the rest and tells in that this thousand
suos gubernot sine Ministerio creaturâ—rum Hîc nos servat mediis ibi his non erit opus q. Deus erit omnia i e pro quo is medio conservatio is quo nunc utitur in hac vita vario Aretius 1 Regnum naturale 2 Regnum Oeconomicum Dicitur Christus tradere regnum Deo Patri non respectu Divinitatis it a enim regnum habet aeternum cum Patre neque regnum Potentiae quod in omnes creaturas habet illud enim nunquam deficiet sed Regnum Gratiae in Ecclesia Baldwin in locum a V D. Reynolds in Psal. 110. 1. p. 7. and p. 78 79. Non separantur Pater Filius regnat Pater in Filio regnabit Filius in Patre Qualit as tantùm regni mutabitur Muscul. Est fellacia à dicto secundum quid ad dictum simpliciter Christus enim dicitur traâ—iturus regnum Patri non simpliciter sed {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} respectu formae administrationis Subjicitur Patri non abdicatione naturae aut Potentiae divinae sed depositione officii Mediatoris Legationis commissae Paraeus a Pag. 166. I mention these things the rather that they may see their folly who have cryed up this book as unanswerable A particularâ— ad universale non valâ—t consequentia a Mr. Brightman Mâ— Forbes and Mr. Stevens go this way Locus hic Spiritualâ—ter est intelligendus ut aliqui volunt pro pulchritudine dignitate Ecclesiae vel ut plurimi interpretantur pro gloria caelestis mansionis ubi nec Sol nec Luna nec Templnm erit Walaeus Loc. com p. 558. a See more in the L rge Annotat of the Bible V. D. Homes p. 95. Haec opinio fanatica potius Magistratuum edictis armis quà m Argumentis est refutanda Walaeus Loc. com p. 538. Haec ipsissima sedes est hujus controversiae è quâ primùm â—rta est Wendelin Valdè lubrica est Tropica Locutio ad incertum dogma stabilendum D. Prideaux Locus omnium totius Scripturae Propheticae abstrusissimus maximeque admirandus Mede Vidi Christum Angeli specie deâ— coelo descendentem ut Satanam ligaret i. e. ut opera Diaboli destrueret praecipuè Idolomaniam cultus Diabolicas Paraeus a Comparatively for Popery stood not in its heigth above 500. yeers and then vanisht graduelly So Christ is said to come quickly comparatively yet 't is 1600. yeers ago since Rev. 22. 20. a They were not the same individual persons that had formerly been slain no more then the dead Apostatizing Christians can be thought to live again numerically after the end of the thousand yeers when they are said to be revived V. 5. But 't is meant only of a succession of such as those were The Church being considered as a Transient body such as a River which always runs in a succession of parts one following the other in a perpetual motion and mutation D. Hammonâ— a Regnabant cum Christo sed non dicit regnabunt in terra nec terreno more imò animarum solùm meminit earum solarum beatitudinem praeâ—icat Walaeus b So the witnesses that were slain are said to live again not in their own persons but in their Successors Rev. 11. 11. as John Baptist came in the Spirit of Elijah a Homo multorum nominum non boni nominis Annus Millesimus praecisè incidit in scelerati illius Hildebrandi tempora qui Gregorius 7. dictus est Necromantae Magi perditissimi quo instrumento usus est Diabolus cum è vinculis esset solutus ut sanctos atrocissimis persecutionibus mundum verò totum disâ—idiis bellis â—ruentissimis deinceps infestaret Junius in Apocalyp Ego a Christi incarnatione mille annos ordine simplicissimum esse duco That these 1000 years are already past M. Hayne hath sufficiently proved in a set Treatise against the Millenaries See more in B. Halls Revel. unrevealed p. 44 45 D. Prideaux Lect. 13. pag. 202. Mr Hayne against the Millen pag. 86. c. D. Alâ—ted himself confesseth that Satan was bound anno 70. but not in that manner and measure as he shall be bound for the 1000 years Non tam arctè praecisè ligationem Satanae hic esse sumendam ac si pro toto isto captivitatis suae millenario nil potuit moliri aut tentare Non sic restringit contextus ubi v. 3. ita tantum clauditur non ut nihil ageret vel nullo modo no eret sed non ut seduceret amplius sicut antea fecisset Gentes i. e. Paganos Hostes Ecclesiae vel dementando Idololatriae prodigiosae superstitionis philtris vel irritando immissis aestris ut Tyranniâ—è vi aperta sicut in decimis primis persecutionibus exprimerent Ecclesiam D. Paideaux Non seducet viz. seductione illâ publicâatque violentâ quâ tentaverat supra cap. 12. quam post hos mille annos Proh dolor in Christiano orbe potentissimè procuravit Junius in loc. V. D. Homes l. 7. c. 1 2 3 c. Pag. 562. This is Dr. Alsteeds Argument p. 37. a 'T is well if it be not sensual b Lo two days of Judgement So Matton makes Christ to appear twice to Judge the quick and the dead viz. a former and inchoate Judgement when the Saints shall rise to Raign with Christ 2. The Ultimate day when all shall arise Theologia Symbolica non est argumentativa Aquinas See my Schools Guard rule 17. Quot verba tot misteria Chiliastae hanc prophetiam corruptè ad literam non ad analogiam fidei intelligentes Judaicam inde fabulam commenti sunt Paraeus Martiribus data est praerogativa quaedam resurrectionis nec dilata est illorum gloria ad judicium usque universale Grotius in locum Cum ratione insanit Ter. Quid aliud est hoc nisi {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} incunda potius quà m vera loqui Pag. 470. a Pag. 185. Regnaturus est per verbum in Sanctis Spiritus Sancti internum ductum non in Jerusalem sed in cordibus Sanctorum Nec somnianda est alia Martyrum Resurrectio ante ultimum judicium quam in successoribus â—emine Spirituali D. Prideaux Prima Resurrectio est inchoata Sanctificatio Paraeus Dicitur Prima q. debetpraecedere Resurrectionem secundam qu ae erit resurrectio corporum ad gloriam Idem a Magog accipio pro Turcica Tyrannide aperto hoste Gog est Pontificia carnificina opertus hostis Aretius See more in B. Hals Revelat. Unrev p. 145. a See more in my Comment on that Text Usque in diem judicii quo Deus hominem lapsum in peccatum aerumnas mortem Deo Gloriae immortalitate restituet a Lap. See my observations on that Text What an high presumption is it in flesh and blood to send the Son of God from heaven to earth and from earth to heaven upon an errand of their own making B. Hall Nugae hae sunt verè Mahumeticae siquidem Regunm Christi non est esca potus c. Romae ruinâ—â— If any list to see more absurdities let him peruse that elaborate Treatise of B. Hall his Revelation Unrevealed Sect. 12. p. 109 to 188. Chimaera chimaerissima Numerus certus rotundus ponitur pro incerto infinito Figmentum Chiliasticum Vid. Grotius in Apocal. 20. 4. D. Owen in his serm. on Dan. 7. 15. pag. 13 14.
themselves but also on them that tolerate them As for that Text in 2 Tim. 4. 1. 't is so plain that any man except such as are wilfully blind and are wedded to their fancies like the Donatists Quod volumus Sanctum est all is holy that they hold be it never so unholy may see that it speaks not of any coming of Christ to raigne on earth but of his coming to judge the quick and the dead in great power and glory And we shall oft find in Scripture that the appearing of Christ in glory and his coming to judgment are joyned together as being one and the self same thing at the same time Matth. 24. 30. 2 Tim. 4. 8. Colos. 3. 4. So that this appearance of Christ in his Kingdom is nothing elss but a more full and clear manifestation of his glory when he shall come to judge the world We read but of two signal comings of Christ viz. one in the flesh 1 Tim. 2. 16. and his second appearing to judgement Heb. 9. 28. He shall appear the second time for the salvation of his Elect. But if Christ should come to Raigne a thousand yeers then it should have been said he will come the third time for your salvation But the Scripture never mentions but two comings of Christ corporally viz. once to merit salvation and at the last day to perfect it for ever Thus we have seen the Drs. vanity We have a saying as the Fool thinks so the Bell clinks As Dr. Homes thinks so the Scripture clinks Doth he read of an appearance of Christ Oh 't is his appearance to reigne a thousand yeers Doth he read of a Kingdom Oh 't is an earthly visible Kingdom c. The last and chiefest place which this Millenarian Dr. cites is Revel. 20. 1. to 7. And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and they lived and raigned with Christ a thousand yeers but the rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand yeers were finished this is the first Resurrection This Text is the master prop in this building overthrow this and you overthrow all Vindicate this Text from their vain glosses and you vindicate all There is no Text that seemingly speaks more for them yet upon due search we shall find that the Text hath much against them 'T is true the Dr. the better to insinuate himself and make way for this his beloved Tenet highly extols the 20. chapter of the Revelations calling it a Golden Key to unlock the Bible we had need of a better hand then the Drs. to turn it especially the Old Testament 'T is true one place of Scripture helps to illustrate another but how this 20. of the Revelation should be such a Key as to make us understand the whole Bible the better especially the Old Testament shews plainly that the Dr. is led as his whole book shews him to be by Fancy and not by judgment Yet the Dr. having some skill as it seems in the Mathematicks tells us that he will pitch the foot of his Compass on Revel. 20. and so draw a right circle about it as if he meant to conjure us into his opinion I have but little skill in the Mathematicks yet I shall endeavour to get the Dr. out of his circle and doubt not but to make it appear to any unprejudiced Reader that his Clavis aurea as to his intent and purpose est planè plumbea The Dr. is hard put to it when his best refuge is an allegorical mistical Text one of the darkest difficultest Texts in all the Bible containing in it almost as many Mysteries as Words and hath almost as many interpretations as there be Interpreters 1. Therefore I shall forgive you the plain and genuin sense of the place 2. I shall shew you the vanity of the Drs. glosses and how inconsistent they be with the very letter and meaning of the Text V. 1 And I saw an Angel come down from Heaven c. q. d. Whereas I John in my former Vision had seen the Dragon persecuting the Church under the Tyrannical rule of the Heathen Emperors now I saw an a Angel come down from Heaven having power and commission from God to chain up and imprison the Dragon that old Serpent the Devil and to restrain his power for the space of a thousand yeers after Constantines restoring Peace to the Church which Angel did restrain him from his open rage and slaughtering of the Saints as he had done before by the Heathen Emperours and from his prevalent seducing and deceiving of the Nations by his Sorceries and Oracles until the thousand yeers be finisht for then he must be let loose for a a short time for some further exercise of Gods children and the harding of the wicked Vers 4. And now I saw such Glory and Majesty put upon the Faithful in the time that Satan was shut up as that they sate upon Thrones and the power of Judgement was committed to them to manage the affaires of Gods Church and to execute due censures upon offenders And I saw those Faithful and Holy Martyrs which were ready to lay down their lives for the Testimony of Jesus and his Gospel and abhorred the Idolatry of the times these lived and reigned a successively with Christ in a spiritual sanctified and comfortable estate here upon earth all this time of the thousand yeers of Satans restraint In which time some truth remained in the Churches as touching the main points of Christian Doctrine Vers 5. But the rest which lay dead in their sins did not at all recover this spiritual life nor attain to the saving knowledge of the truth nor did they witness against Antichrist This which we now speak off viz. the abandoning of the corruptions of the times and attaining to the saving knowledge of the Truth is the first Resurrection Vers 6. Blessed and Holy is he that hath part in it for on such the second death which is eternal destruction shall have no power But they shall be wholly consecrated to the service of God and his Christ and shall a reign with him here on earth b successively in their several ages for the space of a thousand yeers when they shall rejoyce in God and in the peace of a good conscience whilest the rest of the world lyes in spiritual slavery and misery V. 7. 8. But when these thousand yeers are expired Satan shall be let loose again and suffered to raise great troubles in the Church raising up secret and open enemies to molest it as he did about the yeer 1000. after Christ as the Histories of those times do testifie when Pope Sylvester the 2. arose who gave his soul to the Devil for the Popedom and not long after him succeeded Pope Hildebrand that brand of Hell about the yeer 1070. a alias Pope Gregory the 7. he was notoriously vile a Monster of men a
Socerer and dealt with the divil he was the first that excommunicated the Emperour and assumed to himself the power of placing and displacing the Emperour He condemned Ministers marriages which yet St. Paul allowes off Now follows Transubstantiation Sacrifices Ceremonies Jubilees Indulgences and Idols in abundance Now the Turk that open and profest enemy of Christ comes in and acts his part destroying many flourishing Churches 'T is true the Pope and Turk did molest the Church some ages past but they were restrained and they broke not forth in that outragious manner as now they did Quest The question then will be Whether these thousand years of Christ's reign here mentioned be yet to come or be already past Answ. They are already past for when Christ came into the world he bound the strong man and made his Kingdom fall like lightning from heaven before the preaching of his Apostles which was spread over all the world Rom. 15. 19. Col. 1. 6. Acts 1. 8. Christ is that Angel that descended from heaven who by his death destroyed him who had power over death and by his almighty power bound him so that he could not deceive the Nations as formerly Insomuch that for the space of a thousand years after Christ's time many were called and converted many lived and reigned with Christ and sealed the Truth which was held forth in some good measure until near the end of the thousand years about which time there began to be a declining with their dearest blood Object You should tell us the express day and year when those thousand years began and when they ended Answ. 'T is a vain curiosity to desire such a thing 't is sufficient that we make it out in general that this reign began about the time of Christ's incarnation when the Divel's Oracles were cast down and himself cast out by Christ and the Gospel was publish'd to the world and ended about a thousand years after Christ 'T is true there is variety of opinions amongst the learned touching this but no contrariety for all the Orthodox do unanimously agree and conclude that those thousand years are already past and gone Some begin these thousand years at the destruction of the Temple Anno 73. and then it ends in Pope Hildebrand so Paraeus and Mr Dent who came to the Popedom 1073. Others begin it at the birth of Christ and then it ends in Pope Sylvester a Sorcerer 2. Others begin at Constantine Anno 300. and end in Boniface the eighth who is said to have entred like a Fox reigned like a Lion and died like a Dog So that you see all agree that about 1000. years after Christ this reign began and now is past So says Marlirate Christus natus est uti prohibent Beda cum aliis Anno a Mundo condito 5199. rostabant igitur de sexto illi Millenario anni 801. atque illos per Synecdochen hic dici mille annos in quibus Ecclesia legato Satana sub Apostolicis viris sanctis Patribus ad justum promoverit incrementum So that this opinion is grounded on a false Hypothesis for they suppose those thousand years are yet to come when 't is clear they are already past so that by this we see where we are to fetch the Epocha or beginning of this account of the thousand years Object But Christ never yet personally appeared on earth to reign with the Saints nor was Satan ever yet so bound but that he seduced many from Christ Answ. We have no promise of any personal appearing of Christ till he come to judgment Acts 3. 22. 2. 'T is true Satan is never so bound but that he doth and will deceive many and therefore this binding must not be understood absolutely as if he should not hurt the Church at all but restrictively to the cause expressed in the Text Rev. 20. 3. So that he should not deceive the Nations with his Oracles and Delusions as formerly but the Gospel should spread and as it prevailed so Satan should be bound faster and faster The Millenaries will not have these thousand years to begin till Antichrist be totally destroyed of whom St John had treated in the precedent chapter But 't is more probable that Antichrists utter downfal will not be till the last day for then 't is that the Beast and false Prophet are cast into the Lake Rev. 19. And Christ is said to destroy that son of perdition with his glorious coming viz. to judgement 2 Thes. 2. 8 Quest But when saith Dr. Homes shall this golden age begin Answ. The Doctor here leaves you with a lubricus est hic locus this is a ticklish point and therefore the better to avoid the carps of a Momus and the censures of a Cato and to stave off blows it seems the Doctor was afraid his Plush might be cudgell'd he 's resolved to shelter himself under the shield of some learned Achilles telling you what they say that if they err you may cudgel them insteed of him Quest But what do these learned men say Answ. Why they write doubtfully they cannot agree of the place of this reigne one says it shall be in heaven another on earth another in Jerusalem a corner of the earth 2. They differ about the persons whether the Martyrs only shall rise or all the Saints 3. They differ about the time when this Reigne shall be whether Before the day of Judgement In the day of Judgement or After it they are divided amongst themselves yet the Dr. will tell you what some men say 1. Some say these thousand year shall begin 1617. so Cotterius then it would follow that Satan is now bound which we have little reason to believe if we consider the blasphemies and heresies that abound 2. The Doctor tells you that in the year 1655. we must expect the calling of the Jews yea and before their Call the Fall of Antichrist p. 562 To this opinion you see the Doctor inclines his book was printed 1653. and he conceited that two yeers after both Rome should down and the Jews be called which is as true as all the rest of his book If I were worthy to be of the Drs. Counsel the next time that I Prophesied I would be sure to set the time far enough off that so people might laugh at me as they have done at some others when I were dead and not whilst I lived And therefore others a little wiser then their fellows tells us that it shall begin about 27. yeers hence Others say about 41. yeers hence Others about 83. yeers hence Alsteed puts the beginning of these thousand yeers to 1694. Others put it to the yeer 1859. about 200 yeers hence But the Dr. thinks this time too long to be kept out of his Mahumetan Paradise and therefore he will temper this and some other accounts which remove their Periods so far off and this he doth by tampering with the Chronologers telling you
the enemies of Gods Church which are in all the Regions of the Earth both Scythians Turks and unbelieving Christians and shall gather them to battle against the Church of Christ Here we see the people of God are in a worse condition then they were before now it cannot be imagined that Christ should come down for a thousand yeers amongst us and then leave us in a worse condition then he found us and after the Church had been sinless and sorrowless as Dr. Homes affirms then that it should be again deceived by Satan and besieged by his Instruments who can believe this So that this Text makes much against the Millenarian opinion I shall therefore shut up all with this Argument That Exposition of a Text which contradicts the whole current of Scripture is contrary to all Analogy of Faith to the Scope of the Text to Piety of Life to the comfort of the Saints and to the concurrent Judgment of Gods Church that Exposition is not right But such is the Millenarian Exposition of this Text as will appear in the following Arguments ergo Let us now sum up all and then we shall easily see the folly of these mens arguing from this Mystical Text 1. St. John speaks of the Saints living with Christ ergo 't is a corporal living 2. He speaks of their raigning with Christ ergo 't is a corporal and visible raigning 3. He mentions a Resurrection ergo t is a corporal Resurrection 4. He speaks of the first Resurrection ergo there shall be two bodily Resurrections 5. The Saints shall Reign a thousand yeers on earth ergo it shall be the same numerical Saints and not a succession of Holy men in their several ages Est fallacia consequentis The very repetition of those things is confutation sufficient Against the Doctors Thesis I shall set down this Antithesis THat Christ shall not Reign personally with the Saints or Martyrs here on earth for a thousand yeers neither before the Day of Judgement in the Day of Judgement nor after it If ever there be such a Raigne it must be in one of those times But 't is in neither 1. It cannot be before the Day of Iudgement for these reasons 1. Because the last dayes will be perilous not pleasant dayes a 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3. they will be full of security sensuality and iniquity insomuch that when Christ comes he shall scarce find any faith on earth Luke 18. 8. Matth. 24. 37 38. wickedness will most abound towards the end of the world 2. If the Church of Christ on earth be a mixt Society consisting of good and bad to the end of the world then it cannot subsist for a thousand yeers only of good men But the Churh of Christ on earth to the end of the world is a mixt society consisting of tares and wheat good and bad a Gog and Magog to molest the Saints to the end of the world Matth. 13. 40. Rev. 20. 7 8. 2. If Christ remain in heaven till the day of judgement then he cannot reign corporally a thousand years on earth before that day But the antecedent is true and therefore the consequent Acts 3. 21. John 14. 3. Whom the heaven must contain till the time that all things be restored i. e. until the time of his coming to judgment when he shall appear again for the full consummation of the glory of his elect and perfect accomplishment of his Kingdom then all shall be repaired which sin hath disordered and the creature be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God Rom. 8. 21. 't is from heaven and not from earth saith our Creed that Christ shall come to judge the quick and the dead 3. If Gods Church whilst in this world must look for afflictions tentations persecutions then this imaginary reign without sin or sorrow cannot be expected here But Gods Church whilst on earth must look for afflictions tentations and persecutions here 2 Tim. 3. 12. All Christs disciples must take up their cross daylie though they be righteous yet must they look for many troubles Psal. 34. 19. Acts 14. 22. 4. Christs kingdom is not of this world John 18. 36. And therefore when the Iews would have made him a King he conveighed himself from amongst them John 6. 15. His Kingdom in this world is spiritual not carnal 't is without any worldly pomp neither doth it consist in meat drink or marriage Matth. 22. 30. 1 Cor. 6. 13. Rom. 14. 17. A wo is denounced against those that have their carnal delights and their portion of pleasures here Luke 6. 25. Iames 5. 5. 5. That tenet which is contrary to the judgement of all the Churches of Christ ought to be suspected by us for the judgement and practise of the Churches of God ought to have great weight with us as you may see 1 Cor. 11. 16. 22. and we should fear to offend them 1 Cor. 10. 22. especially by broaching such tenets as are contrary to the analogie of faith as this is true Churches may err but not so soon as a particular person two are better then one and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety Solitary birds are birds of prey Affectation of singularity is the high way to heresie it savours of pride for a particular person to broach new tenets which are directly contrary to the old received Truths of the Churches of Christ 6. Ab absurdo many absurdities follow this fancy I shall produce twelve 1. It derogates much from the honour of Christ for him who is head of his Church and hath all power given to him to come down from heaven the place of happiness where all is in subjection to him to come live in a corner of the earth in the new Ierusalem of the Millenaries inventing 't is a debafing of Christ The wiser sort of Millenaries fore-seeing this folly labour to avoid it by deâ—ying in a sort any personal reigne of Christ on earth yea Dr Homes boggles at it and therefore he comes in with his peradventure Christ will appear to the Saints at the beginning and ending of this thousand years But how doth the Doctor prove this Why Ipse dixit Dr Homes says so Ergo 't is so Christ must come go ascend and descend as Doctor Homes would have him 2. As there is no necessity of such a reigne on Christs part so neither on the Saints part they are Denizens of heaven their birth is from above and thither they aspire the Church ascends out of this wilderness like pillars of smoke Paul though a martyr yet desires to be dissolved and to be with Christ in heaven he knew nothing of this 1000. years reigne on earth Phil. 1 23. and 3. 20. and tells us that he looks for a dwelling in heaven and not on earth 2 Cor. 5. 1. 6. and that when Christ appears they shall appear with him in eternal glory Colos. 3. 4.