spirit shall be removed farre away from the Church Zach. 13 2. Thirdly For the rest of the dayes works of Creation as in them were created the dry-land the Plants the Fishes and Fowls and Animals c. So in this New creation there shall be a perfection of all those then in being for of a resurrection of irrationals I know nothing and they shall be freed and set at liberty from all danger and hardship Isa 11.6 7 8 9. Rom. 8.19 20 21 22. I speak now short to these things because I am not yet come to the qualifications of this future glorious estate into which this Head would sometimes faine draw me but I will not be anticipated ¶ 4 This future glorious estate on earth is a creation in regard of the end viz. that as man was created last of all most perfect in soule and body as the subordinate end next under God for which God made it viz. that man might have the possession and use of all and dominion over all Gen. 1.26 So in this New creation Christ restores all things to their perfection and every beleever to his to that end that all beleevers being raised or changed as afore described may joyntly and co-ordinately rule over the whole world and all things therein next under Christ their Head I say All and not apart onely as some unwarily publish And I say joyntly not one part of the Saints to usurp authority over the rest as many dream And co-ordinately All upon equall tearms not some Saints to rule by Deputies made of the rest of the Saints as the practise of men seem to interpret And all to be true Saints not seeming Thus we read in Dan. 7. verse 14. and 27. And Rev. 20.4 And Chap. 21. verse 24.26 Study the places well and you will easily picke it out CHAP. III. Measuring out the DIMENSIONS of this glorious estate to be on Earth afore the ultimate universal Judgement § 1 HAving done with the Creation of it we come next to the Dimensions Quantity or Extent of the glorious Kingdome of Christ on Earth yet expected viz. That as the other foure Monarchies did over spread all the inhabited world as it is said of Nebuchadnezzars Assyrto-Chaldean Monarchy Dan. 2.37 that he was King of Kings and that WHERESOEVER THE CHILDREN OF MEN DWEâ—T the Beasts of the field and fowles of the Heaven GOD HAD GIVEN INTO HIS HAND and had made him RULER OVER ALL and of Caesars Roman Monarchy Luke 2.1 That there went out a decree from him that ALL THE WORLD should bee taxed So this fifth Monarchy of the Saints reigning on earth under Christ must be as large as those Monarchies as large as the whole world for ample Dominion though not for sincere conversion That is the generality of men in the time of this Kingdome being converted into true Saints they shall rule over all the whole world of men swallowing up the other former Monarchies So that if there be remaining a secret seed of hypocrisie in â—ome which shall at last God so foretelling Rev. 20.8 breake out in the Gogican War at the end of our THOUSAND yeers shall yet mean while all men all the time of the thousand yeers shall be demurely subject to the Dominion of the Saints Touching the latitude and largenesse of this Holy-Kingdome read Dan. 2.34 35. The stone cut out without hands smote the Image on his feet that were of iron and of clay and brake them to peeces Then was the iron the clay the brasse the silver and the gold broken in peeces together and became like the chasse of the Summerthershing floore and the wind carried them away so that NO PLACE WAS FOUND FOR THEM and the stone that smote the Image became a great Mountaine and FILLED THE WHOLE EARTH Dan. 7.26 27 And the judgement shall sit and they shall take away his the preceding Monarchies Dominion c. And the Kingdome and Dominion and the greatnesse of the Kingdome UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN shall be given to the people of the Saints c. And Rev. 10.7 St. John having said In the dayes of the voyce of the seventh Angel when he shall BEGIN to sound the mystery of God shall be finished he goes on in the 11. Chapter verse 15. saying The seventh Angel sounded and there were great voyces in Heaven saying The KINGDOMES of this WORLD are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reigne for ever That is no Monarchy shall ever be on earth after his Adde Isa 2. In the second verse c. whereof yee have the propagation of the Gospel of Christs Kingdome and mens obedience to it In the 11 verse repeated againe verse 17. yee have the Lord Christ exalted and his overthrowing all worldly powers prostrate before him in these words The lofty lookes of man shall be humbled and the haughtinesse of men shall be bowed downe and the LORD ALONE shall be exalted Which words though covertly for feare of provoking worldly Monarchs are alleadged by the Jewes to the same end as you have heard afore at large To the same effect of the largenesse of Christs Kingdome is that notable place in Isa 24. verse 21 22 23. In that day it shall come to passe that the Lord shall punish the Host of the high ones that are on high and the Kings of the earth UPON EARTH and they shall be gathered together as prisoners are gathered in the pit and shall be shut up in the prison and after many dayes they shall be visited Then the Moon shall be confounded and the Sunne ashamed when the Lord of Hosts shall REIGNE IN MOUNT SION and in Jerusalem before his Ancients gloriously His Ancients are his ancient people the Jews And as the material Sunne and Moon shall be then nothing in comparison of the light of Gods presence as afore-shewed so the metaphorical Sunne and Moon for the same Scripture may have two subordinate senses Rev. 17.9 10. I say the metaphorical Sunne and Moon of higher and lower humane Majesties shall be confounded with shame So Jacob a Prince in those times and his wife are called by the name and interpreted to be the meaning of that name of the Sunne and Moon in Josephs dream Gen. 37.9 even as we had but now in that 24 of Isa both name and thing metaphor meaning expressed And by the same rule and proportion we may admit of others annexing a metaphorical sense to that Revelation 21. verse 23 24. that in Christs Kingdome to come upon earth there shall be no need of the Sunne or Moon i. e. of Emperial Royal or Princely Potentates to keep the peace as we have expounded it also in a litteral sense of the obscuring of the glory of all the Stars by the paramount glory of Gods presence For God and the Lambs presence shall be in stead of and more then the Sunne and Moon in both senses One both learned and godly doth likewise to the
to our purpose Moreover a certaine man AMONG US whose name is JOHN BEING ONE OF THE twelve APOSTLES OF CHRIST in that REVELATION which was shewed to him prophesied that those that beleeve in OVR CHRIST shall accomplish a thousand years mark those that beleeve in Christ shall accomplish a thousand years at Hierusalem and after that the GENERAL and in a word the everlasting resurrection and last judgement of all joyntly together Even that whereof also our Lord spake wherein they shall neither marry nor be given in marriage but shall bee equall with the Angels being made the sonnes of the resurrection of God For the gifts of Prophesie are extant with us even till this time And as hee speakes thus home to our Thesis positively so hee speakes as high against them that are contrary minded negatively denying them to bee true Christians His words are these But contrary-wise I have signified unto thee TRYPHO that MANY WHO ARE NOT ORTHODOX and PIOUS CHRISTIANS DENY THIS § 2 The next of the Greeke Ancients is IRENAEUS who flourished about the yeare 178. after Christ Hee was the chiefe Minister of the Church at LYONS Hee saith hee was the hearer of POLYCARP which POLYCARP was the Disciple of JOHN And IRENAEUS had that Agnomination or post-name for his godly peace making in the Churches He wrote five Bookes against the Heresies of his time which wee have In the second whereof hee testifies That to his time the gifts of casting out Devils and miraculous healing of diseases continued which shewes that hee lived neare the Apostles times which Irenaeus himself intimates in his fifth Booke against Heresies neare the end That JOHN saw his vision of the Revelation almost in his time TERTULLIAN cals him THE MOST CURIOUS TRIER or SEARCHER OUT OF ALL DOCTRINES Of this IRENAEUS the GREAT in Learning and Godlinesse Learned ERASMUS affirmeth in his Argument or Summary of the fifth Booke of Irenaeus against Heresies that HIEROM asserteth him to bee of the same minde with the CHILIASTES that are for the THOUSAND YEERS The truth is whosoever shall read that fifth Booke of Irenaeus against Heres with a piercing eye shall finde that Hierom hath given a right judgement concerning him For Irenaeus there mainly disputing for the Resurrection of the bodies of the Saints urgeth the Prophets for that Resurrection who all speake mainly of the first Resurrection of the bodies of the Saints at the full call of the Jewes And particularly p. 575. Irenaeus urgeth that of Ezekiel Chap. 37. v. 1. to v. 15. for it as before Justin Martyr urged Ezekiel for the one thousand yeares which place is evidently for our position as wee shall see after when wee come to the proofe thereof by Scripture Li. 5. Page 576. Againe he urgeth as Justin Martyr did that in Esa 65.22 For as the dayes of the tree he puts in OF LIFE shall bee the dayes of them which is as plainly as if written with Sunne beames a part of the Prophesie of the Restauration of Israel and the New Jerusalem alleadged by Peter 2 Ep. 3. Cha. and alluded to by John Rev. 21.1 In another to place of the same fifth Booke Pag. 547. Irenaeus speakes much of the Saints after their first life here that they shall inhabit Paradise where Adam was placed at his first Creation And elsewhere speaking of the Saints possessing the Kingdome of heaven alleadgeth that place Matth. 5.5 Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the EARTH which is taken out of Psal 37.10 11. yet a little while and the wicked shall not bee Yea thou shalt diligently consider his place and it shall not bee But the meeke shall inherit the EARTH and shall delight themselves in the ABUNDANCE OF PEACE And verse 28 29. The seed of the wicked shall bee cut off The righteous shall inherit the LAND and dwell therein for EVER Lib. 1. p. 559. One instance more for it would be tedious to you and mee to alleadge all Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdome of God as if one should say saith IRENAEUS The wilde olive tree is not taken into the PARADISE of God § 3 The last of the Greeke Antiquities that we shall alleadge is out of Epiphanius who flourished about the yeer after Christ 365. whose words after mention of Athanasius and Paulinus are to this effect Moreover saith Epiphanius others have affirmed that the OLD MAN should say THAT IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION we shall accomplish a certaine MILLENARY of yeers injoying the same things as now wee doe namely keeping the Law c. By which it appeares that if not Athanasius or Paulinus aforementioned some there were in or afore Epiphanius his time that held the substance of our Thesis Yea it seems to mee that Epiphanius himselfe speakes something favourable of them that held this opinion by his words presently following viz. And that indeed it is written of this sort of MILLENARIES in the Apocalypse of John and that the Booke is received of very many even of them that are godly is manifest with more to the same effect SECT 2. De Graecorum Antiquitatibus § 1 GRaecorum qui nostrae accinunt Thesi primus est JUSTINUS MARTYR in Dialogo cum Tryphone Judaeo Eyw 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. i. e. Ego autem si qui sunt per omnia orthodoxae sententiae Christiani carnis resurrectionem futuram novimus MILLE ANNOS in Jerusalem instauratâ exornaâ—â dilatatâ sicut Prophetae Ezechiel Esaias alii promulgant sic namque Esaias de MILLE istorum annorum tempore loquutus est ERIT ENIM CAELUM NOVUM ET TERRA NOVA ET NON RECORDABUNTUR PRIORUM NEQUE EORUM ILLA VENIENT IN CORDA SED LAETITIAM ET EXULTATIONEM INVENIENT IN HIS QUAE EGO CREO QUIA ECCE FACIO JERUSALEM EXULTATIONEM ET POPULUM MEUM LAETITIAM paulo post NAM SECUNDUM DIES LIGNIVITAEDIES POPULI MEI In his verbis inquit MILLE ANNOS arcanè designari intelligimus Ut enim Adae dictum est quo die de ligno comedisset eo die moriturum etiam esse scimus cum mille annos non implevisse Novimus quoque dictum illud quòd DIES DOMINI SIT SICUT MILLE ANNI huc pertinere Et vir apud nos quidam cui Nomen JOHANNES è duodecim Apostolis Christi unus in câ quae illi exhibita est Revelatione Prophetavit Christo credentes nostro Gr. Paris edit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Annos mille Hierosolymis peracturos esse ac postea universalem ut semel dicam sempiternam omnium unanimiter simul resurrectionem Judicium futurum id quod Dominus noster dixit quod NUPTUM NEQUE DATURI NEQUE ACCEPTURI SED ANGELIS AEQUALES FUTVRI SINT utpote filii Dei resurrectionis Apud nos enim huc usque etiam Prophetica extant dona 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. i. e. E contrà verò eorum qui
END and the judgement of the immortal God shall come to mortals then shall come upon men the GREAT JUDGEMENT and the BEGINNING c. as 't is in that Sibyl But saith Lactantius speaking to this of the Sibyl Neverthelesse all universally shall not bee then judged of God but those onely which are verst in the Religion of God The Poets saith Lactantius in the 22. Chap. of the aforesaid Book by Poetical licentiousnesse corrupted that which they had received for in that they fang That men having finished a thousand yeers among the dead they should be restored to life again as Virgil saith When all these soules have turned the wheele at the forgetfull RIVER of death by the space of a thousand yeers God cals forth these unmindfull in a great Troup that they may see againe these places that are upon the convex face of the earth and shall againe begin willingly to return to their bodies Herein their understanding deceived them saith Lactantius That the dead shall rise againe not after a thousand yeers of their death but that being restored to life againe they may REIGNE A THOUSAND YEERS WITH GOD. By God Lactantius meanes Christ as he openly explained himselfe but a little afore Of which Resurrection saith Lactant. Chap. 23. the Philosophers also endeavoured to say something as corruptly as the Poets For Pythagoras disputed that the soules of the deceased did passe into new bodies but foolishly as hee said himselfe was made up of Euphorbus his soule Chrysippus spake better who as Cicero saith established the Porch of the Stoicks he in his books which hee wrote concerning PROVIDENCE speaking of the renovation of the World brings in this Seeing * things are so it appears it is not impossible that we also when we have finished this present life after certain wheelings about of times should bee restored again into this very estate in which we now are And the Sibyl saith thus It is hard indeed to beleeve but when the judgement of the world and of Mortals shall come hee shall send the wicked into darknesse c. but those that imbrace godlinesse SHALL AGAINE LIVE UPON EARTH GOD GIVING THEM BOTH SPIRIT HONOUR and LIFE Chap. 24. Lactantius faith I will adde the rest Therefore saith he the SONNE of the Highest and Greatest God shall come that hee may judge both quicke and dead according to that of the Sibyl Then shall there bee confusion of all mortals of the whole earth and the OMNIPOTENT himselfe shall come upon his Tribunal to judge the soules of quicke and dead and all the world But when hee shall doe that saith Lactantius and shall restore the just that have beene from the beginning unto life hee shall * converse among men a thousand * yeeres and shall rule them with * a most righteous Government Which somewhere the Sibyl proclaimes Hear me O yee men the eternal King doth reigne c. Then saith Lactantius They that shall bee alive in their bodies shall not dye but by the space of those THOUSAND yeeres shall generate an infinite multitude and their off-spring shall bee holy c. And they * that shall bee raised from the * dead shall bee OVER THE DEAD AS JUDGES But the Gentile Nations shall not bee utterly extinguished but some shall bee left for the victory of God that they may bee triumphed over by the just and brought under the yoake of perpetual servitude A little afore that the Prince of Devils the forger of all evil shall bee * bound with chaines and shall * bee in hold all the THOUSAND * yeer es of THECELESTIAL EMPIRE under which righteousnesse shall reign over the world After whose coming the just shall bee gathered together from all parts of the earth c. and the holy Câ—â—IE shall bee placed in the * midst of the earth in which the BUILDER thereof GOD together with his just ones ruling shall ABIDE Which City the * Sibyl thus points out And the City which God made the same hee made brighter then the Sunne Moone or Starres Then all darknesse shall bee taken away c. The Moone shall bee as bright as the Sunne and the Sunne sevenfold brighter then it is c. The earth shall abound with fruitfulnesse c. The whole nature of all things shall joy in freedome from dominion of evill All beasts and birds not preying on one another shall bee at peace one with another c. quoting the Poets touching the golden Age shewing their error in this that mistaking the Prophets who for the certainty of things spake of them as past though minded them as to come they thought they were all past Alleadging also the Sibyls that in divers places affirme that men shall live a most quiet and plentiful life and shall reigne together with God and the Kings of the Nations shall come from the bounds of the earth with their gifts and shall adore and honour the great King c. These things saith Lactantius Chap. 25. are those which are spoken by the Prophets that they shall come to passe whose ☞ testimonies and words I deemed not needfullto set downe because it would bee an infinite worke If any aske when those things shall come to passe I but now said above that that * change must needs bee when * SIX THOUSAND YEERS * shall bee compleated and that chiefe day of the last con ☞ clusion of them doth now draw neer Touching the signes you may know them by the Prophets c. when this summe of six thousand yeeres shall bee compleat they teach who have wrote of the quantity of the number of yeers since the Creation according as they have gathered it out of the holy Scriptures and divers Histories which Writers although they vary and the summe of their number differs yet every mans expectation seems to bee not beyond two hundred yeers hence Yea the thing it selfe shews that the fall and ruine of things will bee in a short time * onely the CITY of ROME being now in safety there seems no cause of feare in any such thing But when that head of * the World shall fall and bee * a RUINE instead of ROME * as the Sibylls foretell who * doubts but the end to humane affaires and the whole World is now come Wee said saith Lactantius Chap. 26. a little afore that in the beginning of the holy Kingdome it shall bee that the Prince of Devils shall be bound by God But that same Prince when the one thousand yeers that * is when the 7000 yeers shall * begin to determine hee shall bee loosed againe c. and shall stir up all Nations under the dominion of the just to warre against the holy City whereupon innumerable people shall bee gathered together who shall besiege it Then shall the last wrath of God come upon the Nations and overthrow them unto one man with many terrible shakings c. of the earth and other wonderfull signes c. and infinite
crying c. And lastly the application of v. 21. of this sixtieth of Isaiah is as cleerly applyed to the same purpose Rev. 21. v. 27. And there shal in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie § 3 Now where is the man or book that can say these things have been fulfilled since the time of this Prophesie That the Nations of Jews and Gentiles have conjoyned in matters of Religion as in the first ten verses of this sixtieth of Isaiah When ever did the Nations of the Gentiles bow down to the Jews and those that would not serve them did perish as v. 11.12 When were the Jews made an eternal excellency and the joy of many Nations as it is in 15 v when as v. 21. were the Jews made a righteous people to inherit the Land for ever But as sure as God is true these things must be And upon earth as the circumstances constraine And therefore before the ultimate judgement SECT XXIV § 1 THe fifteenth place in Isaiah is in Chapter 63. first six verses of which in a word Christ comes up as it is revealed to the Prophet from Edom with dyed garments from Bozra red in his apparrel by treading the Wine-presse alone treading downe his enemies in fury til their blood be sprinkled upon his garments § 2 John in the Revelation Chapter 14 v. 19 20 and Chapter 19 v. 11 12 13 14 15 16. applies these in the same phrase and figure to Christs destroying of Antichrist to be fulfilled on earth yet afore the last judgement Another Angel came out from the alâ—ar which cryed to him that had a sharp sickle saying thrust in thy sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth for her grapes are fully ripe And the Angel thrust in his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and cast it into the great Winepresse of the wrath of God And the Winepresse was trodden without the City and blood came out of the Winepresse even unto the horse bridles c. And I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse and he that sate upon him was called FAITHFULL and TRUE and in righteousnesse he doth judge and make war His eyes are as a flame of fire and on his head were many Crownes c. And he was cloathed with a Vesture DIPT IN BLOOD his name is called THE WORD OF GOD. And the Armies which were in Heaven followed him upon white horses c. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword that with it he should smite the Nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron and he TREADETH THE WINE-PRESSE OF THE FIERCENESSE and VVRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD. And hee hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS § 3 These are obvious enough for every one to apply to the point in hand according to our former method so often repeated ## SECT XXV THe sixteenth place in Isaiah is Chapter 65. verse 17 c. to the end of the Chapter Verse 17. Behold I create new Heavens and a new EARTH and the former shall not be remembred c. v. 18. But be you glad and rejoyce FOR EVER in that which I create for behold I creat JERUSALEM a rejoycing and her people a joy v. 19. And I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and the VOYCE OF VVEEPING SHALL BE NO MORE HEARD IN HER NOR THE VOYCE OF CRYING v. 20. There shal be no more thence an infant of dayes nor an old man that hath not filled his dayes c. And they shall build houses and inhabit them c. And plant vineyards c. Before they call I will answer c. The woolf and the lamb shall feed together c. § 1 This will every one say that marks what he reads must signifie a state of the Church upon earth to bee before the ultimate judgement ## § 2 And there is no man or monument can be produced that ever this was so fulfilled since it was prophesied Therefore it must signifie a state on earth yet to come according to the Prophesies of the Apostles and their applications of the aforesaid Prophesie of Isaiah So doth Peter and John apply the 17. verse Peter in 2 Ep. chap. 3. v. 12. and 13. comforts the Jews to whom he wrote 1 Pet. 1.1 that before the ultimate judgement there should be new Heavens and a new EARTH wherein dwels righteousnesse according to Gods promise meaning this of Isaiah 65.17 And John in Revel chap. 21. refers this same place of Isaiah to the time of the glorious state of the Church on earth immediately after the fall of Antichrist In Rev. 19. the three last verses is Antichrists fall Chap. 20. the Devill is bound and the Saints reign Chapter 21. is their glorious estate described and in part by these words of the Prophet Isaiah I saw saith John a new Heaven and a new Earth and the first heaven and the first earth were passed away And addes in verse 17. Nothing that defileth enters therein In like manner the 18. and 19. verses of this 65 of Isaiah are referred and applied by St. John in Rev. 21. the first five verses to the glorious state of the Church yet to come after the fall of Antichrist Behold I make all things new new Heavens and new Earth and new Jerusalem which is all one as to say he creats And wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more sorrow c. I need say no more of this place to an understanding Reader of which Mr. Mead comparing it with 2 Pet. 3.13 and Peter with it saith Miror c. I wonder how any man can understand this of a state in the highest heavens SECT XXVI THe seventeenth and last place in Isaiah is Chapter 66. v. 5. c. to the end of the Chapter * This place of Isa 66. from the fifth verse c. Justin Martyr in his Dialog cum Tryph. p. 312. doth testifie to belong to the Kingdome of Christ that is to be at his second coming In which words saith he commending this place of Isa is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mastery of our being againe generated or made new at the Resurrection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and absolutely of all who expect Christ shall appear at Jerusalem and by well doing study to please him Thus Just Mart. with which Mr. Mead is much taken and understands him in those words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to mean the Resurrection of the godly § 1 The Prophet in the fifth verse directs his speech to them that in an holy manner trembled at Gods word The effect of his speech there is that though their false brethren hated them and cast them out for Gods name sake saying Let the Lord be glorified that is we have done well in casting them out or let God appeare in his
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood and without shedding of blood no remission It was necessary therefore that the patterns of things in the Heavens should be purified with these but the HEAVENLY THINGS THEMSELVES with BETTER SACRIFICES then THESE Heb. 13.19 But to doe good and to communicate forget not for with such SACRIFICES God is well pleased Phil. 2.17 If I be offered upon the SACRIFICE and service of your faith I joy Rev. 8.3 And another Angel came and stood at the ALTAR having a golden CENSER and there was given to him much INCENSE that hee should OFFER IT with the prayers of all Saints upon the golden ALTAR which was before the Throne Thus you see how the tenth verse sets forth the conversion of the Iews which is further amplified in the eleventh verse thus In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings wherein thou hast transgressed against me For then will I take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoyce in thy pride and thou shalt be no more haughty because of my holy mount Which is also most evidently spoken of the Jews and their conversion in that the Lord promiseth to take away their sins and in particular their pride of the Temple of which they had been formerly very sinfully proud Jer. 7.4 and that swelling was not quite down in our Saviours time Mat. 24.1 And therefore then this text was not fulfilled But when their sins shall be taken away then the judgement viz. their shame shall be taken away neither shall they be only negatively good but also positively I will saith the next verse leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poore people and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. This last clause of trusting in the name of the Lord containes the very life and power of godlinesse As for the first clause whoever can well weigh the Hebrew * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and will duly consider the precedent verse and propheticall purpose of this place touching the conversion of the Jewes cannot but confesse that these words may as well and in some respect better be rendered I will cause to remaine in thee a people that is humble and meeke or poore in spirit as Arias the Septuagint and the Syriack and Arabick render it this and the rest of this verse aptly answers and stands over against as a contrary to their pride in the former verse and is the ready way to that which followes in the thirteenth verse The remnant of Israel that is all the converted as well of the ten Tribes as of the two shall not doe iniquity nor speake lyes nor shall a deceitfull tongue be found in their mouth for they shall feed and lye downe and none shall make them afraid That is they shall there abide because there shall be no danger and they shall be so holy because they shall have grace within and no temptation from without For the second part of the Jewes restitution namely their reversion into their owne Country in a glorious Church-state wee have it in the sixteen seventeen eighteen and twentieth verses thus ver 16. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem feare thou not and to Zion let not thy hands be slack or faint Ver. 17. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy he will REST IN HIS LOVE an high and glorious expression he will joy over thee with singing Ver. 18. I will GATHER them that are sorrowfull for THE SOLEMNE ASSEMBLY who are of thee to whom the reproach of it was a burthen Ver. 20. At that time I will BRING YOV AGAINE even in the time that I GATHER YOV For I will make you a name and apraise among all people of the earth when I TVRNE BACKE YOVR CAPTIVITY before your eyes saith the Lord. In which words you have the expression of their reversion into their owne Country in capitall letters as well in sence as writing And the Lords being amidst them more then in his generall presence over the earth and his rejoycing over them with joy yea with great joy as in singing and resting in his LOVE and gathering them into the solemne assembly and to make them a name and a praise among all people of the earth can signifie no lesse then a glorious visible Church-state making them a LOVE or SPOVSE unto their LORD CHRIST For the second generall head the vocation of the Gentiles both unto an effectuall conversion unto God and a most harmonious union with the rest of the Church we have it all and in full in verse the ninth For then will I turne to the people a pure Language that they may call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent Close to the Hebrew thus I will convert in the peoples a pure lip that they may call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one shoulder I stand not to dispute it from terme to terme because they that know well the Originall and well minde the sence of the place will ease me of that labour * Junius Mutab◠in populis labium ut purum sit quo invocent omnes nomen Jehova colendo cum humero uno Hieron old Latin Reddam populis labium electum ut invocent omnes nomen Domini serviant ei humero une The Chalde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. i. e. I will so convert in all nations one choyse speech that all may pray in the name of the Lord that they may serve him with one shoulder The Syriack Then will I restore unto the Gentiles an elect or choyse lippe that all may call upon the name of the Lord and worship him in an equall yoke but rather I will speake a word to the opening It is expresse that the Peoples Nations or Gentiles are here spoken of who upon their conversion should be exempted from the ruine on Nations in the eighth verse and should returne with the dispersed Jewes in the tenth verse and their prophane lips should be purified and their Idolatrous and blasphemous words before their false gods should be turned into holy prayers to Jehovah and they should serve him not only with one consent of minde but with one way of practise as when many lift as with one shoulder to move a thing the same way or draw equally in the same yokes fastened to the same chaine or traces § 5 The third generall the destruction of the enemies of the Church and so of the Jewes converted you have in the fourteenth fifteenth and nineteenth verses very fully You your selves who heed what you read doe perceive these three heads interchangeably interwoven to signifie that the whole of all this visible glory comes together Vers 14. Sing O Daughter of ZION shout O ISRAEL be glad and rejoyce with all thy heart O daughter of JERUSALEM Vers 15. The Lord hath
taken away thy judgement he hath cast out THINE ENEMY The King of ISRAEL is in the midst of thee even the LORD you shall not see EVILL ANY MORE Vers 19. Behold at that time I WIL UNDOE ALL THAT AFFLICT THEE and will save her that halteth and gather her that was driven out and I will get them a praise and fame in every Land where they have been put to shame Thus you see the full extent and intent of the text insomuch as never to this day can be found a capacious and adequate space of place and time wherein to lodge the fulfilling thereof and therfore waites for its turne to be performed by our God that cannot lye before the ultimate Day of Doome See for this in the first place what others hint I may say afore they are aware because the streame of their opinion runs a contrary way Doctor Mayer thus I will turne to the people a pure Language intimating the conversion of the Gentiles but least when Judgements should come upon all peoples by Nebuchadnezzar they should despaire of any such worke to be wrought among them he saith My determination is to gather the Nations to poure out mine indignation upon them as meaning that great destructions should BEFORE THIS passe through all Countries by the Chaldes then by the Persians after that by the Grecians and finally by the Romans last of all which should the conversion of the Nations to the Gospel follow Thus he Now the destructions by the Romans is not yet at an end that Empire so much of it as is left still making great destructions both spirituall and temporall in Spaine France Portugall Germany Italy c. and much more the three Hornes of the Turkish dominions broken off from that Roman enslaving the fifth part * See the account cast up afore in Sect. 40. S. 2. P. 2. or thereabout of all the world and therefore by Doctor Mayers words this generall conversion of the Gentiles is not yet come so as to convert them as he carries on the sence that are beyond the river of Ethiopia c. Calvin and our New Annotations say that This Prophesie is extended unto the time of the Gospel when not only the Gentiles shall come into the Church but also the Jewes shall returne into their owne Country that they may make one BODY with the converted Gentiles Thus they Which when it hath been ever fulfilled since the time of the Gospel let them prove that will undertake to assert it for we shall by and by give many strong reasons to the contrary and therefore according to their supposition or grant this is yet to be fulfilled Alapide saith Christ took away their pride mentioned vers 11. when having overthrowne their materiall Temple by Titus and the Romans he erected his Church in Sion transferring beleevers from that Judaicall Temple unto the Church in which as in a Schoole of humility hee teacheth the Jewes lowlinesse of minde and humbly together with the Gentiles to submit to the grace of Christ Now when ever since the overthrow of the Temple by Titus the Romane which was about forty years after the Passion of Christ did the Lord Christ erect a Church in Zion and translated the beleeving JEWES and GENTILES into it teaching the Jewes there lowlinesse of minde and together with the Gentiles humbly to submit to the grace of Christ Surely as in the thirteenth of the Acts we have it in the generall asserted from History of Divine authority that the Jewes generally refused the Gospel whereupon it was transferred to the Gentiles and there it hath continued according to Rom. 11. downe to these times leaving the Jewes in blindnesse so we have it illustrated by particulars from all the most famous Histories and Chronologies that long after Titus his ruining of the Temple the Jewes persisted in their Leviticall Sacrifices offered in the City upon the rubbish of the Temple untill Adrians overthrow of the City and his expelling the Jewes thence in the yeare after Christs Incarnation one hundred thirty foure And againe for many yeares after that being thence expulsed they persisted in Jewish sacrificing at Mamre where formerly God appeared to Abraham and so continued untill Constantine the Great who began to bee sole Emperour about the yeare of Christ three hundred and twelve overthrew their Altar there and built in the roome a Church-place of worship for the Christians And after that Julian the Apostata encouraged the Jewes out of his hatred to the Christians to rebuild the Temple of Salomon in the yeare of Christ saith Bucholcerus three hundred sixty three God wonderfully destroyed their worke by fire from Heaven And from that time to this they have been seen and heard in all Countries where they are permitted their Synagogues to worship God after the manner of the Jewish Liturgy in singing the Psalmes of David according to our Hebrew Text and reading the Law and the Prophets with tripudiations c. and doe professe as I have had it by Letters from their learned Rabbins that they hope to be saved by the Law of Moses all which doe sufficiently demonstrate that they are not yet translated into the Church erected in Sion since Titus his devastation of Salomons Temple so that this Scripture of Zephanie remaines yet to be fulfilled which I make thus to appeare ¶ 1. Observe how many Parties are here mentioned that must have a share in the fulfilling of this Prophesie when ever it be fulfilled viz. First The Gentiles ver 9. Secondly the two Tribes of the Jewes called Juda expressed in the words Zion and Jerusalem ver 14. 16. Thirdly The ten Tribes of the Jewes called by their name Israel ver 14. but all these three parties have not yet joyntly shared in the mercies prophesied to them in this Text therefore it remaines yet to be fulfilled ¶ 2. Observe the parts or things to be shared among those Parties viz. conversion unto the true God congregating of them into a christian Church and destruction of all that hate them as you have heard Now when did the Gentiles the people of Judah and the Tribes of Israel ever joyntly injoy these three mercies For ¶ 3. Observe all these must at the great time of fulfilling them be extant at once together for though in the discusse I distinguished them into parts according to their nature and sence yet the Prophet according to place and order of sentences did interweave and windingly wreath them one within another to the intent that no man might separate what God had joyned together but might behold them as a goodly Coine that though there be a distinction of the parts of the impressions upon it yet all make but one Image of Caesar All those parts are but the severall sculptures of one and the same entire character of the glorious time of the Church yet before the end of the world for hitherto the said three parties never enjoyed the afore-mentioned three parts
the enemies of the Church in the Gogican War which Papisme the 19. of the Revel concluded as extinct Wee answer to this objection that it is of no consequence whether it be granted or denyed We doe not raise Papisme nor do I know any that doe And though S. John concludes the utter down-fall of Antichrist Rev. 19. that he shall never reigne more yet Chapter 20.9 hee shews that secret hypocrisie of all Nations shall breake out and indeavour to beset the Church and then comes the ultimate day of judgement CHAP. II. Answering Doctor Pareus THus of your Dr. Prideaux his Arguments against our point in answer of whom with the same labour we have answered the maine Arguments of Pareus on Revelation 20. verse 4. For the Doctor did follow and take much out of Pareus Those wee have not spoken to that are most material that the Doctor did not touch upon them we will now touch SECT I. First Objection Rev. 20.5 THat that Resurrection is not a corporall Resurrection but a spirituall And that because it is called the First Resurrection For this cannot bee the first corporal Resurrection because before this there arose corporally the Sonne of the widow of Sarepta raised by the Prophet Elijah 1 King 17.22 The Sonne of the Sunamitish widow by Elisha 2 King 4.35 The Sonne of the widow of Naim raised by Christ Luke 7.11 12. c. The daughter of Jairus raised by Christ Luke 8.55 of Lazarus raised by Christ John 11.44 Those at Christs Passion Matth. 27. Tabitha by Peter Act. 9.41 Eâ—tichus by Paul Act. 20.10 Answer to this thus First by this argument Christ shall not bee the first-fruits of them that sleep Secondly by this argument the opinion of a spiritual Resurrection from Antichristianisme cannot bee here admitted because by the same reason that cannot bee called the First resurrection because many of them afore-mentioned were raised afore Antichristianisme was in being Thirdly that raising of them was no generall Resurrection of any sort of godly or ungodly But this in the Revelation is general of all Saints Fourthly the T. intends that risen they shall reigne and reigne a thousand yeers But the other mentioned by Pareus soon died and did not reigne in Johns sense Fifthly John had marked these out verse 3 that they had had a spirituall Resurrection already SECT II. Second Argument of Pareus TO the First Resurrection is opposed First death But the First death was spirituall viz. Sinne Rom. 5. therefore the first Resurrection meant here is spiritual Answer first spirituall death and life are sinne and grace But these not expressed here but first and second Resurrection living and dying againe The first death is when all dye corporally some naturally some violently as the godly by Antichrists persecution So in Rev. 6.9 the soules under the altar and the beheaded in this 20. Chapter verse 4. And wicked by Gods judgements Rev. 19. two last Now the first Resurrection is of Saints Rev. 20. is here in ver 4. Second of wicked in verse 12. which is their second death as S. John calls it verse 14. The rest of Pareus his objections to this point are upon a false supposition that onely the Martyrs shall rise therefore need no answer Beside we have given much in answer to him afore in the end of the first Book Thus of Pareus next of Mr. Bayly CHAP. III. MR. Bayly his Arguments come next for I put the best disputant first who being answered wee shall have lesse reason to spend time upon the weaker SECT I. Mr. Baylies first Argument HE that remaines in the Heaven unto the last judgement comes not downe to the earth a thousand yeers before the last judgement But Christ remaines in the Heavens unto the last judgement Therefore Christ comes not downe to the earth for a thousand yeers before the last judgement The major saith hee is unquestionable The minor is proved First from the Article of the Creed from that he sitteth at the right hand of God from thence hee shall come to judge the quick and the dead Secondly from Act. 3.21 Thirdly from John 14.2.3 We answer first to the major First we have not yet asserted that Christ shall come downe on the earth But we have shewed out of several texts a very great probability that Christ will at least appear in the clouds that men and especially the Jews may look upon him c. as Zac. 12.10 2 At the beginning of the 1000. yeers is the beginning of the last judgement as we shewed afore 2. To the minor where Mr. B. affirms that Christ shall remaine in the Heavens unto the last day of judgement We answer it is false For after hee was ascended up to the right hand of God he is so neer to Paul that he calls to him saying Paul Paul c. And Paul replies Who art thou Lord And Christ replies I am Jesus whom thou persecutest And Paul replies Lo what wilt thou have me to do And the Lord replies Arise go into the City and it shall be told thee Act. 9.4 5 6. And verse 10. Christ in a vision speaks to Ananias to goe to Paul Ananias objects and Christ replies At last hee goes and verse 17. speaks to Saul thus putting his hand upon him Brother Saul the Lord even Jesus that APPEARED unto thee in the way Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sâ—en of thee And 1 Cor. 15.5 6 7 8. As SEEN of Câ—phas and the twelve c. after the Resurrection so after the Ascension seen of Paul v. 8. Now by the same reason he may appeare againe to convert the Jews for that must be some sudden businesse Isa 66.8 as a Nation borne at once c. before the ultimate day of judgement And Pauls conversion by Christs appearance in the clouds was the first-fruits how Christ would convert the Jews as is Mr. Medes note on 1 Tim. 1.16 Read the place ¶ 1 To the first proof of the minor from that Article of the Creed First we say that Article doth not prove Mr. Baylies intent in that it doth not assert that there Christ shall fixedly sit for ever untill the last judgement but onely that thence he shall come to judge which he may doe if mean while he descends on weighty occasions which finished hee ascends againe and there hee abides till hee descends to the last judgement Secondly we have shewed afore that the day of judgement begins at this one thousand yeers and continues to the end The beginning is the morning of the day of judgement the end the evening of the day of judgement And all the same day of judgement as it is in Peter 2 Epist 3. Chap. And we have also shewed how in this time all the parts of a day of judgement are acted The last day of which thousand yeers wee all along have called it the ultimate day of judgement And how long this ultimate day may be this evening of the Millenary day wee cannot