dwell and reside with his for a thousand years Rev. 20. 6. Further he saith if I go or though I go and prepare a place for you I will come again good newes and comfortable the Lord Christ gone into heaven will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also Very comfortable and gladding to all his that love him and are sad for the absence of him but shall abundantly rejoyce when they shall see him again Joh. 16. 22. They shall be with him in his kingdom they shall never be severed from him or deprived of his presence any more but be for ever with him 1. Thes. 4. 17. with the which the servants of the Lord Jesus may comfort themselves and one another as the Apostle Paul bids them to do with the considerations of those sayings But where will our Lord Christ be then to wit when he is come from heaven may some ask answer he will be in his kingdom for he is the noble man that is gone into a far countrey to receive for himself a kingdom and to return Luk. 19. 12. And being returned and come again he will send and gather all his elect to himself and they shall then be with him where he is he prayed so to his father afore-hand Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that those that thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which is the same with those words aforemontioned Joh. 14. 3. I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also If it yet be asked where our Lord Christ will be then to wit at his coming we say as before in his kingdom in the new earth where those that are his shall live and reign with him a thousand years Rev. 20. 6. The Lord Christ hath made those that are his kings and Preists unto God the father and they shall reign on the earth Rev. 5. 10. he the Lord Christ when he hath received his kingdom must reign till the end and then deliver up to the father While he stays they stay with him when he goes they go with him a higher and greater attayner of glory they shall proceed unto then they shall have mansion places prepared they shall shine as the sun on the fathers kingdom they shall be still with Christ they shall drink of the fruit of the vine with him in the fathers kingdom be it in heaven or wherever it shall be The father and great Lord of the house that good householder will keep the highest and best enjoyments till the last and so great it will be as the eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man the things which God to wit the father hath prepared for them that love him which they then shall enjoy in his kingdom when they shall shine forth as the sun for ever It is true in respect of the kingdom of the Lord Christ also and the saints enjoyments there it is not manifest what we shall be for happines and blessednes then and there 1. Joh. 3. 2. But higher and greater shall the saints enjoy and be made partakers of in the kingdom of the father when God is all in all This distinction of kingdoms and gradual way of proceed from glory to glory or to higher and higher glory may hapily seem strange to some that think of nothing but stepping into heaven presently when they leave this world but I shall forbear CHAP. IX Something held forth concerning a mixed or interwoven way of speaking in the holy scriptures when the kingdom of God and of the Lord Christ are spoken of FOr the better minding and taking knowledge of this matter I propose how that in sundry prophecies and high sayings in the old and new Testament concerning kingdom and glory to come there seemeth to be an interwoven or mixed way of speaking some part of the matter relating to the Lord Christ his kingdom and glory and some part relating to the kingdom of the father and the high soveraignty and glory when he shall be all in all the matter warily minded it may hapily appear to be so in way of instance we shall propose a place or two That in the 1 Epistle to Timothy Chap. 6. 15. 16. seemeth to be so Paul having layd a charge on Timothy vers 13. as likewise he had done before chap. 5. 21. And this charge it being as is set forth before God or in the sight of God who quickneth all things and before Jesus Christ who before Pontius Pilat witnessed a good confession that thou keep this commandement c. How long it might be asked he answers until the appearing of Jesus Christ vers 15. Which in his times he shall shew to wit them himself in his glory for that is a sure word and shall be made good the Lord Christ shall be manifested and shewn forth in his times to be the only potentate the king of kings and the Lord of Lords the words are Who is the blessed and only potentate the king of kings and Lord of Lords That hath all power in heaven and in earth given unto him of the father Math. 28. 18. He being highly advanced far above all principallitie and power and might and dominion and every name that is named to wit of power and dignity not only in this world but also in that which is to come Ephes. 1. 21. In the world to come will his kingdom and reign be for that will not be subjected to the Angels Heb. 2. 5. but to the Lord Christ and those he shall authorize to rule with him over ten cities and over five cities Luk. 19. 15. 17. 19. When that blessed time shall take place when the kingdom of the Lord Christ shall be come then the Lord Jesus that great potentate king of kings shall rule and reign in his kingdom before his antients groriously Isa 24. 23. That this thus far is spoken of the Lord there is I conceive little doubt or question to be made of it But that which followeth in vers 16. seemeth to be spoken of God the father who in vers 13. of this 1. Tim. 6. is named the quickner of all things who only hath immortallitie c. The Lord Christ he had no Immortality the scriptures do not attribute that to him he dyed he suffered according to the design of heaven he redeemed and purchased the Church with his own bloud Acts. 20. 28. He was humbled to death even the death of the Crosse Phil. 2. 8. and was afterward advanced highly by God the father It followeth dwelling in the light which no man can approch unto whom no man hath seen or can see this seemeth to be spoken of God the father and is true in him and is not applicable to the Lord Christ touching whom it is said we saw his glory as the glory of the only begotten son of the father
plainly appear that many if not most of the exhortations in the new testament to believe to repent to add to faith vertue c. To grow in grace and so all other duties towards God and man are from the consideration of the great glory and happiness that is to be brought to and enjoyed by the saints at the fore mentioned glorious coming and kingdom of Christ here upon earth and not so much from the consideration of the glory of heaven above save only as it is in the last place comprehended therein and to be enjoyed by them to wit after the last judgement here upon the earth is ended and our Lord Christ hath delivered up the kingdom to God the father There are yet other hindrances of which briefly Some say it is a controversie and they do not care to meddle with controversies what doth this signifie at our Lords first coming it was a controversie among the people whether he was the Christ or no some said he was others denied it and said he was a deceiver and those deceived that did own him have any of the rulers or pharises belived on him but this people who know not the law are cursed Joh. 7. 48. 49. John sent to him to know art thou he that should come or do we look for another Indeed so great a thing and of so high concernment as the coming of the Saviour vailed and so much opposed should make men to search and seek into it the more lest haply they be found at a losse when be comes And yet further some say and upon that account look not after it but let it alone namely That the ancient fathers and some add the modern Divines were not for it but rather against our Lord Christ his coming to set up his kingdom and reign here on earth this is taken for granted though very questionable and not likely to be true which if it were what doth it signifie little or nothing at all the high Preist and elders were against Christ and the Gospel do any of the Priests or rulers believe on him They did not then and if they do not now or have not done what doth it avail But notwithstanding all before said of the obstructions the knowledge of it increaseth and is very likely so to do till that be made good that the Gospel of the kingdom and coming again of the Lord Christ to reign be preached to all nations then shall the end come Math. 24. 14. great things will attend that great day and though now it is dark and hidden it will come to be preached on the house top and received and entertained more and more as it begins to be being as the present truth of the day and that which is much on the spirits of many of the good servants of the Lord who look for the return of their Lord and are in great expectation like good old Simeon who waited for the consolation of Israel and was glad and greatly satisfied when he had seen the Saviour as those blessed expectants now will be with the signes of his coming and much more when they shall see him come in the clouds of heaven when they will be changed in a moment and caught up to meet him when he cometh when he cometh Fully to take unto him his great power and to reign at which the nations will then be fully angry Rev. 11. 17. 18. when he cometh to judge the world in righteousness and the people with his truth Psal 96. 13. when he cometh to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in and by all them that believe 2. Thess 1. 10. when he cometh in flaming fire to render vengeance c. as in vers 8. when he cometh to make inquisition for blood Psal 9. 12. to wit the blood of the righteous from Abel to that day shed by cruel and envious ones and wicked oppressers on the earth Rev. 16. 6. Rev. 18. 24. that cry will be a sad tone to the wicked and will make them shake and tremble Psal 96. 13. for he cometh for he cometh to judge the world with righteousness c. as on the other hand it will be gladsom to the Saints they may lift up their heads and hearts with joy for their redeemer their redemption and full blessedness is at the very door If these proposalls and essays come into the hands of the learned their favourable censure is desired and that they would overlook any failer if in want of art and well dressing the matter or over often mentioning of of things called tautologie which could not well be avoided the things relating to Christ his kingdom and coming having so many great things and various attending of them And besides those for whom this principally was intended and made common may not have that acuteness but what they may want that way they have in love and affection in zeal and readiness to receive and embrace the truth at all times In the time of our Lord Christs being here they owned him the poor then received the Gospel when those of higher rank stood at a distance and rather made opposition The Apostles were men of low rank fisher-men and the like yea the women were very forward in the then owning our Lord Christ and great lovers of him and such as our Lord Christ being risen first appeared unto and made them messengers to the Apostles to inform them of that great truth of his being risen again from the dead his way is so to make men humble that they might learn not to dispise the day of small beginnings or things Consult the holy histories and the histories down and since the histories of France Germany the Waldenses and others and it is likely as it hath been so it will be found still not but that sometimes God annoints persons of higher rank and maketh known his mind unto them and makes use of them but it seemeth not to be his ordinary method but the contrary If any advantage by the things proposed come to any either for the furthering of their knowledge or their being encouraged to believe hope and wait for their fulfilling the proposer of them will think himself well appaied read and consider well of what thou readest nothing is imposed on thee try all things hold fast that which is good Farewell P. G. B. CHAP. I. Of the Resurrection in general 1 Cor. 15. THe great doctrine of the resurrection of the dead was a thing that holy Paul the great Apostle of the gentiles had a great insight into as he had also in many other high mysteries which were revealed and made known unto him the which he imparted for the benefit and profit of others That truth looking forward eyeing a future time when it shall be made good but in all times necessary to be made known and believed by all the servants of God whose hope is not in this world This of rising again after death in his proceed on
thing purely Gospel the order mentioned is a great thing also not so mentioned by any other he hath declared unto us the concurrents of the resurrection of the just with Christ our Lord his first appearing and likewise he hath very plainly told us of the end of Christs kingdom and reign He hath given us some short hints but very plain of another time and state that will succeed that of Christs kingdom and reign on earth namely that of the kingdom of the father when God the father shall be all in all He hath shewed a great mistery not mentioned but by him vers 51. Behold I shew you a mistery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye c. to wit all those Saints that shall be alive at the coming of the Lord Christ he hath declared the mode or manner of it a great secret this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality vers 53. a blessed change a putting off old clothing and a putting on of new very rich and of great worth By him was declared the groaning of the creature by reason of the burdens they are under with also their expectation of freedom from them Rom. 8. 19. 21. 22. and how they shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God Unto him the great Apostle of the Gentiles it was revealed that great mistery that was not known in former ages but was hid in God from the beginning of the world Ephes 3. 5. 9. The matter of which mistery was the taking on of the Gentiles great strangers and aliens into onenesse and fellowship with the Jews making them fellow-citizens and of the houshold of God Ephes 2. 19. that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel And likewise the rejection of the Jewes the breaking of them off and grafting the Gentiles on the same stock Rom. 11. a very high matter a great mistery holding forth very rich grace and mercy at which the Apostle very greatly admired and cryed out vers 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisedom and knowledge of God c The Apostle Peter was a man of great knowledge he had visions and revelations He had by a vision made known to him the breaking down of the partition-wall between the Jew and the Gentle Acts. 10. which when he understood he said in vers 34. of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons c. But Paul had the full of the mistery revealed unto him as before is declared Peter had great insight into that great thing of the pouring out of the spirit Acts. 2. and of the holy spirit come down from heaven which things to wit the great things of the Gospel the Angels desire to look into 1. Pet. 1. 12. He had made known unto him the great burning of the world that now is and likewise the new heavens and the new earth that shall be according to the Lords promise wherein dwelleth righteousness 2. Pet. 3. 7. 12. 13. Unto him was made known the times of refreshing that shall be when God shall send again Jesus as likewise the times of the restitution or restoration of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began Acts. 3. 19. 20. 21. Blessed Stephen the first martyr for Jesus he had wonderfull sight or vision Acts. 7. 55. 56. he saw heaven opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God the which he declared and was stoned for so doing vers 58. That good servant of Jesus holy John he had visions and revelations great secrets and misteries declared unto him for him to make known unto the Churches Rev. 1. 1. his book beareth record hereof and is stiled the revelation of Jesus Christ which he sent and signified by his Angel to his servant John Wherein he hath declared many things that were to come and some things concerning the resurrection of the just and the unjust Rev. 20. 4. 5. 6. 12. 13. And the kingdom of Christ and the new Jerusalem state and the Saints reigning with him therein Rev 20. 4. 6. Rev. 21. 1. 2. 3. Rev. 22. 3. 4. 5. And the first and last session of judgement c. Rev. 20. 4. 6. 11. 12. 13. Which are true and faithfull sayings Rev. 21. 5 But the Apostle Paul seemeth to have exceeded in the number and nature of the things that were revealed to him and declared by him he had an abundance of revelations and was the man that was taken up into paradise into the third heaven and heard unspeakable words not lawfull to be uttered to fallen mortalls which he did not speak of till after fourteen years 2. Cor. 12. 2. 3. 4. He hath declared the manner and order and time of the just and unjust their rising again very plainly in express words first Christ then those that are Christs at his coming Only the just that are Christs are then to be raised compared with Luk. 14. 14. Rev. 20. 6. not the unjust then but in an after time according as hath been mentioned before Rev. 20. 5. 13. Where do we find the like He hath made known likewise the beginning and in special the end of the kingdom and reign of our Lord Christ on earth and the delivering up of the kingdom to God the father and becoming subject himself He hath given us some short hints but very full and plain of a state succeeding very glorious where and when God the father shall be all in all and that we may further take knowledge of from the close of those verses of which we shall dilate a little by way of enquirie and essay CHAP. VI. Of the Lord Christ delivering up his kingdom to his father and of God the father becoming all in all where will be a more glorious state ALL things that have a beginning and are measured by time they have had and will have an end only the great Jehovah that hath no beginning nor end but is from everlasting to everlasting and is not measured by time There are many ends mentioned in holy Scripture of which we shall forbear the mentioning This world that now is will have an end and be destroyed by fire as the world before was by water When this world shall have an end then will take place and begin the world to come when will begin and take place that happy time and state of the kingdom and reign of our Lord Christ on earth for a thousand years and after that all the time of the last session of judgment which as hath been mentioned before some apprehend will last neer a thousand years more that also will have an end when the Lord Christ shall deliver up the kingdom to the father that God the father may be all in
all as our Apostle hath declared A very high thing a great secret of which the Scriptures seem most silent and to say little at least the understanding and insight into this great mistery or secret seemeth little in this age holy Paul hints something God shall be all in all then By way of assay we shall propose to consideration some thing that the holy Scripture seemeth to hold forth of that glorious state that shall succeed the surrender of the kingdom of the Lord Christ unto God the father that he may be all in all That God may be all in all seemeth to have much comprehended in it What is not included in all With reference to any matter or thing it seemeth to eye that before spoken of the sovereignty rule and power of the Lord Christ in his kingdom and his giving of it up when he had put down all rule authority and power whatsoever and become subject himself unto the father that gave him that power and put all things under his feet then will God the father be all in all No medium then nor no deligating of power or dominion to any seemeth to be then but God the father to be all in all in power rule and dominion This all in all seemeth a great thing and to contain much but not much seemeth to be revealed at least we understand little for the present but are much in the dark herein More it may be is held forth in the Scriptures then we as yet discern that there shall be such a time and state when God shall be all in all shall have the kingdom of the Lord Christ delivered up to him and the Lord Christ become subject to the Father that he may be all in all that such a state such a kingdom there shall be after the kingdom of our Lord Christ is ended the Apostle Paul seemeth to hold forth as is mentioned before and something there is that seemeth to look that way and to import something of such a state and kingdom of God the father as the last and most glorious By way of assay we shall propose something and leave it to the judgment of the wise in heart That there shall be such a glorious state and kingdom of the father exceeding in glory the kingdom of our Lord Christ wherein as hath been said will be great glory and is the glory that he requested his father that those that he had given him might be with him that they might behold his glory Job 17. 24. and Col. 3. 4. partake of his glory and Rom. 8. 17. be glorified together which glory will be very great but in the kingdom of the father when God shall be all in all then there will be higher and greater glory CHAP. VII Of a higher degree of glory in the kingdom of the father and higher attainers for the Saints then THat in the kingdom of the father when he is all in all then there will be higher and greater glory that of our Lord Math. 13. 43. seemeth to speak out Then shall the righteous shine as the Sunn where In the kingdom of their father It seemeth to hold forth that the father will have a kingdom and that the righteous will shine forth in glory then and there of which we shall dilate a little Our Lord a little before had spoken of his own kingdom he shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire c. He seemeth to wave the further speaking of his own kingdom which will be very neer the end then and speaketh of the kingdom of the father neer at hand and sayeth thus then shall the righteous shine forth in greater luster of glory as the sun the most glorious of all the creatures where shall this be in the kingdom of their father They were glorious before in the kingdom of the son the Lord Christ but then in the kingdom of their father they shall be more glorious then and there for as sayeth our Lord Christ they shall then shine forth as the sun very gloriously In the kingdom of the Lord Christ they shall be very glorious sharing with the Lord Christ and being like him far beyond the glory of the Saints in their highest attainer here or elswhere before that time they shall shine forth and appear with the Lord Christ in glory then holy Daniel Dan. 12. 3. tells us that then they that be wise or have been wise in their day shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament very ferene and they that turn or have turned many to righteousness shall shine as the starrs for ever and ever very bright and shining there will be great glory in the kingdom of Christ But in the kingdom of their father they shall shine forth as the sun the glory of the sun is far greater then that of the starrs or Firmament so faith the Apostle 1. Cor. 15. 41. there is one glory of the sun another of the Moon and another glory of the starrs for one starr differeth from another in glory degrees there are and will be the glory of the sun is the greatest In the kingdom of the Son will be great glory the righteous will shine there as the stars but in the kingdom of the father they shine forth as the sun more gloriously By way of illustration the eye is able to behold the light of the Firmament and the brightness of the stars in their light and brightness but what eye is able to behold the sun in the full glory and brightness of it As the glory of the sun surmounts the glory of the stars and Firmament so will the glory of the kingdom of the father and the attainer of the righteous then and there exceed that of the righteous their attainer in the kingdom of the Lord Christ In the kingdom of the father they shall shine forth as the sun It may be looked upon as a very great thing for raised Saints newly raised out of their graves and reunited body and soul in one again and the changed Saints then in a moment in the twinkling of an eye as it is written in that great mistery shewed by the Apostle vers 51. of the aforesaid 1. Cor. 15. for them to take on and be clothed with immortality and the glory of that happy estate and great glory and not be over-sett over-powerd with it but to take on the glory of the sun in the the kingdom of the father how high a thing is that The wisdom of God the father did foresee and order for that cause it may be a gradual way of proceed from glory to glory from a lesser to a greater and the greatest and highest of all last like the great and good master that kept the greatest and best till last that so the Saints might with the more facility take on the glory of the kingdom
and the kingdom of Christ given him of the father to hold or say that these are all one and the same seemeth to reflect on the spirit by which the holy scriptures were written All scripture being given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. Holy men of God of old spake as they were moved by the holy spirit 2. Pet. 1. 21. Christ our Lord will drink of the fruit of the vine in his fathers kingdom As to that of difference and distinctnes betweeen the kingdoms forenamed that in Ephes. 5. 5. seemeth to hold forth something the Apostle there speaking of several sorts of sinners sayeth know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 9. In like manner that before Ephes. 5. 5. He saith we know that no whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man that is an Idolater hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God to wit God the father's kingdom such wicked sinners they have no part or Inheritance in the kingdom of the Lord Christ they shall in no wise enter there or dwell there Rev. 21. 27. Rev. 22. 15. There will be no way found or entrance provided for them into the Everlasting kingdom of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ 2. Pet. 1. 11. In like manner they shall have nothing to do in the kingdom of God the father more high and glorious when God shall be all in all no wicked sinners shall ascend thither or dwell there this know as it is said the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God the father it will be too high and too glorious In the kingdom of God the creator they have lived and do live as somtime rich Dives did and had his share and part of good things The case will be otherwise then when the kingdom of the father takes place where God shall be all in all that of the psalmist being very prophetical and spoken prayer-wise may be minded as that which will be made good Psal 104. 35. Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth and let the wicked be no more c. The sinners will be consumed out of the earth in the time of the kingdom of Christ in the new earth and before his kingdom be ended See Rev. 19. 17. 18. 21. Rev. 20. 9. see the places and others of the like import but when the kingdom of the father takes place and God the father be all in all then the wicked will be no more Halelujah Our Lord Christ will drink of the fruit of the Vine there and the righteous will shine as the sun there where those wicked sinners shall not come nor be no more then for ever The kingdom of God as the creator of Heaven and earth of which the holy Scriptures speak very much It is a subject so high and comprehensive and so much spoken of it in the holy Scriptures as that I shall only speak a few things in a General way and that by way of essay This kingdom began with the creation wherein soveranity was delegated to Adam and it lasted till the floud when all flesh perished Then from the floud it hath been carried and will be carried on to the great burning to come 2. Pet. 3 6. 7. of the world that now is when the world to come shall take place and the blessed kingdom and Power and dominion of our Lord Christ shall take place and begin he then a king will take to himself his great power and reign and all rule authority and power rest in him Rev. 11. 17. all power and rule being given unto him both in heaven and in earth Math. 28. 18. of the great Jehovah the maker of heaven and earth This kingdom of God the creator as it hath so it shall rule over all Psal 10. 3. 19. he hath set up and pulled down as he pleased and so he doth and will do while this world lasteth as it was said by Daniell to Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 4. 32. Till thou know that the most high ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will as before he had said in vers 25. and says in vers 24. this is the decree of the most high which is come upon my Lord the King By him or under him kings reign and have ruled been set up and pulled down his ordering is so high and of such extent and largness in order to all things as that a sparrow falls not to the ground without his Providence and the very hairs of our head are numbred Math. 10. 29. 30. we may say with the psalmist Psal 8. 9. O Lord our Lord our King our governor how excellent is thy name thy sovereignty and power in all the earth And shall end with that of the Apostle Rom. 11. 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God c. and as in vers 36. for of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen Of the kingdom rule and government of the Lord Jehovah the maker of heaven and earth we may mind it as from the floud how he ruled and gave power to rule under him in his kingdom from Noah to Abraham and the Patriarchs to Moses Joshua and the judges unto the time of Samuel Acts. 13. 20. then they desired a king and God gave them a king Saul of the tribe of Benjamin a goodly person and some way eminent but in that their desire which was condescended to of God God said to Samuel they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them 1. Sam. 8. 7. Saul's reign lasted not but for his disobedience to the king of heaven he was put down and God the great Jehovah and ruler over all chose David and his seed a type of our Lord Christ Touching David it is said the Lord hath found a man after his own heart 1. Sam. 13. 14. and his race according to Gods promise continued Solomon that eminent one for wisdom continued after him and he advanced the kingdom to the greatest height of glory that ever Israel attained unto A breach was made in that kingdom and state not only in the division but in the departing of the Scepter as it hath been for a long time The kingdoms of this world out of the line of Abraham and David in a more general way they have been ordered according to his pleasure The rulers and sovereigns have been set up and taken down according to the pleasure of the great Jehovah from the beginning it hath been so And to particularize a few Those great monarchs and monarchies the Assyrians the Babylonians the Persians the Graecians and the Romans and all others under them and not under them as the ethnich potentates they have been at the ordering of God Almighty maker of heaven and earth though it may be some of them have said and may say as Pharaoh said
of old who is the Lord And as it hath been so it will be his kingdom will rule over all and he shall give the power and dominion to whom he pleaseth for he is God over all blessed for ever Untill the time come that the kingdom of the Lord Christ take place and his dominion and rule begin when he shall take to him his great power and reign and after deliver it to God the father so as God the creator of heaven and earth will be first in kingdom and rule The great Alpha and will be the last in kingdom rule and power the great Omega The middle it will be to the Lord Christ when he takes it on all power in heaven and earth being given unto him and he must reign till the end and then deliver up and God the father be all in all the Alpha and Omega In the kingdom of God Almighty there hath been two great Mediums or two that have been eminent between God and man besides others namely Moses a great Prophet raised up of God of great authority and rule and the Lord Christ sent of the father first to suffer and then to be highly advanced and to reign but I shall forbear to dilate further In the next place we propose that direction of our Lord Christ about prayer Math. 6. from vers 6. to vers 15. which seemeth to speak to the same matter to wit the kingdom of the father and his being all in all after this manner saith our Lord pray ye our father which art in heaven c. thy kingdom come the kingdom of the father we are to pray that it may come implying it was not then come and likewise that it was not that kingdom which had been since the creation then was and now is and also shall be till the kingdom of our Lord Christ takes place but a kingdom that was to come when our Lord Christ shall resign and God the father be all in all and his kingdom shall come and take place and wonderfull shall be the glory of it beyond all conceiving This kingdom we are to pray that it may come I do not here intend the excluding of the kingdom of grace or glory to be comprehended within this desire or prayer the further advance of the kingdom of grace in the increase of the number and the advance of the intrest of God and Christ here may be included in it and likewise the coming of the kingdom of our Lord Christ when he and his kingdom shall appear and come in power and great glory Whatever of God and Christ hath not yet had its time and highest attainer we may pray that it may come as included in this direction of our Lord thy kingdom come But in special as that which was mostly intended by our Lord Christ in this direction was that the kingdom of God the father that it may come being the last and highest in glory when God the father will be all in all in kingdom sovereignty and rule the great Omega This being that it is likely which the voge and spirits of the servants of God in their desires and wishes go out after and that which their dayly expressions are of as the sum of all blessedness to wit heaven and glory and to be with their heavenly father in glory in his kingdom as the uttermost of all their desires The close of our Lords prayer hath much in this his attest for thine is the kingdom the Power and the glory for ever and ever Amen all in all He had in the times and ages of the world delegated and given kingdoms and authorities and powers to others he hath given unto the Lord Christ kingdom power and authority he hath made and appointed him to be king of kings and Lord of Lords 1. Tim. 6. 15 and he shall come and take to him his great power and all nations serve and obey him but when the end of his kingdom is come he will deliver up all unto his father and be subject unto him himself and the father shall take all into his own power and be all in all for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for ever and ever Amen It will be so in an eminent manner then God the father his will be the kingdom and the power and the glory and all in all Holy Paul hath a like close he having spoken of the rejection of the Jewes and taking on the Gentils and the restoring of the Jewes again by the coming of the deliverer out of Sion when all Israel shall be saved high mysteries which he admired and cryed out O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Judgements and his ways past finding out Rom. 11. 33. he closes thus in vers 36. for of him and through him or by him and to him are all things to his glory to him be glory for ever Amen for his is the kingdom the power and the glory for ever and he shall be all in all I further propose as worthy our consideration that consolatory speech of our Lord Christ to his disciples in Joh. 14. 1. 2. 3. they being much troubled at the thoughts of his departure from them he saith to them let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God to wit the father so is the Creed I believe in God the father Almighty c. believe also in me God the son that he spake of God the father the words following show in my fathers house he doth not say in his own house or kingdom but in his fathers house Whether by house here be meant the new heaven and new earth wherein will be several degrees of glory Luk. 19. 15. to 19. 1. Cor. 15. 41 or whether heaven only or whether both together to wit the kingdom of the son and the kingdom of the father so it may seem to be it being a blessed estate they are to be in after Christ at his coming hath received them to himself or whether it be a borrowed way of speaking I shall not determine but leave it to consideration The tendencie is consolatory to the Disciples in my fathers house are many mansion places places of great contentment happy repose and much blessedness I shall not venture to allegorise this saying of our Lord but rather believe it as it is spoken for that our Lord doth attest it saying If it were not so I would have told you There is such provision such blessednes in my fathers house and I go to prepare a place for you A place our Lord tells his disciples he goeth to prepare for them not expressing where it shall be happily in his fathers house very great and spacious like the master of it the great Jehovah I go to prepare a place for you hapily in his own house or kingdom which he is one to receive Luk 19. 12. 15. in the new heaven and the new earth where he will
to the lively hope of he tells us in the words following it is to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away it is safe and in sure hands it is reserved in heaven for believers they are kept by the power of God through faith for that great salvation ready to be revealed and it is kept for them and shall be brought unto them they shall not need to go to fetch it but when will it be at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1. Pet. 1. 3. 4. 5. He wills the servants of God to hope on for that great grace that shall be brought unto them at the revelation of Iesus Christ vers 13. Then will Abraham and Isaack and Iacob be chief among the holy ones as it is said many shall come from the east and from the west and shall sit down with Abraham Isaack and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven Math. 8. 11. This seemeth to eye that in Isa 25. 6. The feast the Lord will make unto all people in his holy mountain a feast of fat things and wine well refined full of marrow and fat things see the place it eyeth in a likely way as to its full fulfilling such a time when Abraham and Isaack and Iacob and the holy prophets and Apostles c. shall feast together in the kingdom of Christ It looketh beyond the spiritual feast of the gospel to a time as vers 8. When death shall be swallowed up in victory Which the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 15. 54. Relateth to a very far time for the making of it good and fulfilling of it even the time of the kingdom of the Lord Christ in the world to come When corruption shall have put on incorruption and mortality immortalitie And as it followeth agreeing with and speaking out that to be the time all tears will the Lord wipe away from the faces of his people and the rebuke of his people shall be taken away from off all the earth This world will not as to the full fulfilling of it afford such a happy day the waited for salvation of the people of God shall then be fully enjoyed and great shall be their joy and rejoycing Redemption from the captivity of sin and satan from death and the grave sore enemies and cruel tyrants believers have redemption from them all in the bloud of Christ and may reckon and account themselves virtually ransomed and delivered by their redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ and that they are redemed ones by the price of his most precious bloud but this is only virtually and in the first fruits in the sure promise in the earnest to wit the spirit the redeemer shall fully come to Sion then shall the great redemption and deliverance take place Rom. 11. 26. the deliverer shall come to Sion and shall turn away ungodlynesse from Iacob or as holy Isaiah expresseth it the redeemer shall come to Sion and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob. It is good and true in both readings those believers that have turned to God by faith and repentance he shall come to them and coming he shall take their iniquities quite away I conceive by chainging them in a moment in the twinkling of an eye putting off their corruption and putting on incorruption so he shall come to the turned and likewise turn away their iniquitie The redemption of the body shall be then from the prison and power of the grave Rom. 8. 23. A great thing which believers have in the promise and in the earnest to wit the spirit they shall have then in the enjoyment of it the whole man Body and spirit with all the parts and faculties of both united in one full and perfect and it will be eternal redemption which the redeemer the Lord Christ hath obtained for his Heb. 9. 12. No more slavery then to sin or death or the grave Christ our blessed redeemer hath fully subdued it then and will set us fully free so as instead of saying as sometime holy Paul did who shall deliver us from this sinful body of death to wit subject to sin death and the grave those great tyrants we by faith may say according to our present interest and hope what shall then be sayd and sung aloud in the full posession and enjoyment of it by way of praise to their redeemer Rev. 5. 9. Thou art worthy c. For thou wast slain and hast redeemeed us by thy bloud out of every kinred and tongue and people and nation and hast made us unto our God kings and Priests and we shall reign on the earth then followeth that great thanksgiving of that great number in the three following verses in praise of the redeemer The time this relateth unto when it will be made good and fulfilled it is very likely it will be then when our Lord cometh the second time when the raised from the dead and the then living changed shall take place when they shall meet the Lord Christ and come with him to the new earth where he will fully set up his kingdom and throne then will that be fully made good Isa 35. 10. Isa 51. 11. The ransomed of the Lord or the redeemed shall come to Sion with joy and songs and everlasting joy shall be on their heads they shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and mourning shall flee away Their rejoycing and felicitie then shall not be of the length of a kings reign as to instance in Solomon in whose dayes there was great felicity but it lasted not beyond his dayes but this shall be everlasting as long as the sun and moon endureth Psal 72. 7. This world affords it not nor never will it is likely as to the fulness of it Trouble and sorrow and disquiet hath been and is at the present the portion and lot of the righteous here in this world our Lord hath told us so Ioh. 16. 20. Ye to wit the righteous shall weep and lament that is their condition here for a season what shall the men of the world do but the world shall rejoyce it is their day ye namely the righteous shall be sorrowful oh but when that time comes they shall then rejoyce your sorrow shall be turned into joy and their joy shall none take from them As to the fulnes of it it 's the time when sorrow and tears and pain and death shall be no more we know what time that is it is Jerusalems happy day in the new earth in the world to come then it will be so and all made good and fulfilled in the fulness and length of time Of neere affinity with redemption is salvation or being saved which we shall dilate on a little Not after the way of a theam or common place but only as salvation by Jesus Christ the blessed saviour of such as believe in him The beginning of it and first fruits here in regeneration in this world and the full harvest and perfection in the world to come at that
be given to the saints for they shall reign with him Rev. 20. 4. 6. of which more after But to proceed in a gradual way and take knowledge of what the holy scripture holds forth as relating to and eyeing that happy time before mentioned we may take knowledge of father Jacobs blessing of Judah his son Gen. 49. 8. His hand should be on the neck of his enemies his fathers children should bow before him Vers. 10. The scepter shall not depart from Judah c. We may also take notice of Balaams prophecy Numb 24. 7. 8. see the place the height and fulness is like to be then see like wise vers 17. 18. 19. All held forth which I forbear to set down relateth to a time afarr off and not nigh Vers. 17. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have the dominion a wonderfull time it relateth unto for as vers 23. Who shall live when God doth this he will he will do it Then in the dayes of the dominion and reign of the Lord Christ shall that be fulfilled Psal 15. acknowledged and stiled a Psalm of Christs kingdom vers 14. In stead of thy fathers thou shalt have or there shall be children whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth to wit fully so in the new earth I will make thy name to be remembred in all generations therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever Psal 49. 14. Eyeing the resurrection when death feedeth on the wicked in the grave the righteous shall arise and have the day the dominion in that very morning likewise will that be made good then Psal 149. 9. To have power to execute the vengeance that is written it is sayd this honour have all the saints to share with the Lord Christ their blessed saviour and redeemer their king and governor sure enough to be true and made good then In the next place take we knowledge of what holy Isaiah sayth Isa 60. 12. The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee to wit Isrnel shall perish yea those nations shall be utterly wasted vers 14. The sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet and shall call thee the city of the Lord. That this relateth to the time of Christ and his kingdom few deny We shall proceed to that eminent place Dan. 7. It is after the fourth kingdom or monarchy see what is sayd vers 18. But the saints of the most high to wit the Israelites especially shall take and possesse the kingdom for ever even for ever and ever very great durations not yet begun it is likely but will fully be fulfilled at the restoration when our Lord Christ shall be sent the second time then the saints shall fully take and possesse the kingdom Vers. 22. And the ancient of days came and judgement was given to the saints of the most high And the time came that the Paints possessed the kingdom Some build the fifth Monarchy or kingdom of the stone on this and other the like scriptures apprehending it will be in this world before the restoration and change we have treated of which I leave to the day to declare whether it will be so or no but what holy Daniel hath foretold will surely be made good even that vers 27. And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the most high whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey him that is their governour There can be nothing more full and plain only the time is to be waited for and very like it will be fully fulfilled when our Lord Christ fully takes to him his power and reigns at the happy restoration of all things I shall mention no more out of the old testament Our Lord Christ in the new hath told us that his kingdom is not of this world Joh. 18. 36. neither as I apprehend is or to be in this world save in a spiritual consideration as the gospel and gospel dispensations as the spirit and word and the fruits of the spirit righteousness peace and joy with faith and love c. though some apprehend from those words in the latter part of that verse but now is my kingdom not from hence or then to be set up in this world the emphasis of the words as they conceive lying in the word but now that his kingdom will begin to be set up in this world before his personal coming but I leave it as not being the subject matter of this discourse but that is clear another thing that we are treating of from his kingdom in a spiritual consideration only It is dominion kingdom and power outward and visible which our treaty is of this our Lord hath not taken to him as yet he hath not taken to him his great power and kingdom he is gone to fetch it when he comes he will bring it with him Luk. 19. 12. 15. 2. Tim. 4. 7. And then he will fully set it up and reign gloriously in the midst of his enemies It is much in my apprehension that any should think the saints of the most high should reign and have kingdom and power and dominion before the Lord Christ that would answer the prophecyes in the holy Scriptures and be a fulfilling of them but I conceive though some so think and say yet most of them that judge Christs kingdom will begin to be set up in this world before his personal coming do not apprehend that the prophecyes on that account will have their full fulfilling therein nor will be so fulfilled till he so comes Our Lord Christ tels his followers that continued with him in his temptations Luk. 22. 28 29. 30. And I appoint unto you a kingdom as my father hath appointed unto me that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom when it comes and he reigns in it and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel Minde we that in Math. 25. 24. come ye blessed of my father inherit the kingdom prepared for you c. When will this be when he shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him and shall fit on the throne of his glory it will be then that the Saints of the most high God will be so advanced and dignified so impowered to judge know ye not saith the Apostle 1. Cor. 6. 2. that the Saints shall judge the world yea and Angels also vers 3. the world have judged and wrongfully many times condemned them and they have been for Christs sake killed all the day long Rom. 8. 36. it will be otherwise then they shall judge them that injuriously condemned them then the Saints shall have the day and what Daniell hath told shall come to passe that the dominion and greatness of the kingdom under the
GOOD THINGS TO COME OR A Setting forth some of the Great Things that will Contemporize and take place when our Lord Christ shall come again mentioned in the holy Scriptures I. As the resurrection and raising of the dead to live again with the order of it II. The reign of our Lord Christ here on earth and for how long namely till he hath subjected all his enemies and put them under his feet III. The resigning and delivering up the kingdom by the Lord Christ unto the father of whom he received it IV. Of God the Father then becoming all in all in Dominion power and rule the great Omega V. Of the kingdome of the father Succeeding that surrender and giving up by the Lord Christ and something the holy Scriptures intimate concerning the same with sundry other things treated of by way of essay from 1 Cor. 15. The Second Part. Containing the proposing of that great Mystery shewed by holy Paul 1. Cor. 15. 53. That the Saints then alive shall not die but be changed with something concerning the Restoration and world to come and New Earth which at the coming again of our Lord will take place By P. G. B 1 Cor. 2. 9. Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him Joh. 16. 22. But I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you 1 Thess 5. 21. Prove all things hold fast that which is good LONDON Printed in the Year 1675. To the READER HEre is offered to thy view and consideration some of those great good things to come which will take place at the coming of the Lord Christ in power and great glory the certaintie of them is great the faithfulness of God is engaged to make them good and his power none can question for encouragement to hope and wait patiently until the appointed time come of their fulfilling they were collected together and set forth also and likewise that the further knowledge and understanding of them might take place and the vails removed that hinders the breaking forth of the light thereof The time hasteneth the day draweth nigh some further light would be very comfortable to the blessed expectances of his coming It is expected that the making of it publike will be differently resented some it may be will dislike it or something in it as fabulous some haply will decry it as holding forth something erroneous some that those things are not so necessary for these times others it is likely may be well pleased and glad of them and being such things as they have not thought of will consider soberly of them and it may be some fruit may follow for the further advancing the knowledge of the coming of the Lord Christ and his kingdom and all those great things spoken of in the scriptures of truth that shall come and take place at that happy day Though there seems much in the spirits of some against it yet notwithstanding the further knowledge of these things gets ground and is much on the spirits and hearts of many of the good servants of God and lovers of the Lord Jesus whom nothing pleaseth more and maketh their hearts glad and joyful then to hear of the coming of their dear saviour again and it is likely it will be so more and more as the day thereof draweth nigh something of the good spirits of God in the bride will cause this desire and cause it to grow higher and higher the spirit and the bride will say come oh come Lord Jesus come quickly this matter was much on the spirits of the blessed servants of God of old as the Apostle Peter tells us in 1. Pet. 1. 10. 11. who comprehensively speaking of the great salvation not only in the beginnings but also in the full and final compleating of it sayth Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently c. Searching what or what manner of time c. They searched what about the sufferings and glory and what manner of time 1st In regard of his coming in the state of humiliation to suffer And 2ly His coming in glory to reign the spirit of Christ in them did signifie declare and show aforehand the sufferings of the Lord Christ which they also declared afore hand and they came all to passe and the glory that should follow after which is yet to come and looked for by the servants of God and shall be made good as the others were when our Lord shall come in the glory of his father and of all the holy Angels And as the prophets of God in the old testament and the Apostle Peter since in the new as in the last mentioned scripture and in Acts 3. 18. to 21. 1 Pet. 4. 13. chap. 5. 4. 2. 13. 14. have spoken of and looked for his great salvation so the Apostle Paul and John have therein likewise told of the great things that will attend and take place at the time of that glorious coming of our Lord when he appeareth we also shall appear with him in glory Col. 3. 4. Be like him and see him as he is John 3. 2. shall not only behold his glory and admire him but be also glorifyed and admired in them 2 The. 1. 10. shall be ever with him 1 The. 4. 17. His tabernanacle with them and he dwelling amongst them they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God Rev. 21. 3. And being made kings and Preists unto God by Christ shall reign with him upon the earth Rev. 5. 10. Rev. 20. 4. 5. 6. The blessed Restoration or restitution of all things a new heaven and a new earth very heavenly and all things made new Acts. 3. 19. 20. 21. Rev. 21. 1. 5. True and faithful sayings in the general or for the matter of them foretold and confirmed by our Lord himself before his death as in several places in the four Evangelists and also more particularly and plainly since his resurrection and ascention as in this book of the Revelation which is his Rev. 1. 1. and given him by God the father to communicate to his servants for their joy and comfort likewise then and there that blessed potentate king of kings and Lord of Lords the Lord Jesus shall reign gloriously and the kingdom and dominion and greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall come into the hands of the saints of the most high God as Daniel hath foretold Dan. 7. 27. Dan. 2. 44. also Christ himself and John as is before mentioned In the world to come after the burning and destroying of this 2. Pet. 3. 7. to 13. will this it is very likely take place when the righteous will flourish indeed and be happy as now they may comfortably rejoyce in hope of the glory of God for then there will be no more curse neither in respect
evil 2. Cor. 5. 10. all must be judged and be either acquited or else condemned the whole race and posterity of Adam in whom all dyed CHAP. II. Containing something concerning the order of rising again and the Lord Christ the first in that order BUt now to prevent mistakes lest any should think that all shall rise together to wit the just and unjust to give information touching the thing in hand the Apostle discovereth a great thing of which very little had been declared before in the holy Scripture though much had been said touching the resurrection he in vers 23. tells of an order in which all these shall rise but every man in his own order This order is very considerable a great thing a great discovery first in regard of the persons rising secondly in regard of the time when they shall rise for all shall not rise at one and the same time and together but every one in his own time according to order it is by the Apostle laid down thus first Christ the Lord that was over and past then those that are Christs when at his coming that 's their turn or order and also is the time of their judgment blotting out of their sins pronouncing them blessed and holy and their inheriting the kingdom Acts. 3. 19. Rev. 20. 6. Math. 25. 34. Then after the thousand years Reign is ended in the interval between that and coming of the end to wit of his kingdom and his delivering of it up to God the father the unjust shall arise to judgment that 's their turn or order and the time of their judgment for they shall not live again untill the end of the thousand years Rev. 23. 5. and then shall be the resurrection and judgment of the unjust Rev. 20. 12. 13. of which more hereafter An order there is and will be so the Apostle hath declared but every man in his own order they shall arise and stand forth as it was said to Daniell thou shalt stand up in thy lot or order at the end of the days Dan. 12. 13. when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in Glory Col. 3. 4. that's our lot or order Touching this of order our Lord Christ was the first the leading and preheminence it did belong to him he arose and was the first fruits of those that rose from sleep so in vers 20. of this 1. Cor. 15. He did rise again according te the Scriptures Two Angells told the women that prepared spices and oyntment and went to the Sepulchre to look for him He is not here but is risen Luk. 24. 6. 7. being risen he was seen of many first of the women then of Peter after of the two Disciples going to Emaus Luk. 24. he was seen of five hundred brethren at once then of James then of all the Apostles after of Paul himself 1. Cor. 15. 5. to 8. who though he spake low of himself was a high a great witnesse and asserter of this truth of Christ being risen It is a part of the Gospel a great truth Preached and witnessed by many faithfull witnesses and accordingly believed by the servants of God in the ages since to this day and were it not so the servants of God and more especially the Martyrs and great sufferers for Christ were of all men the most miserable but Christ is risen and is the first fruits of them that rise and it was his order The next order or lot declared by the Apostle it is to the just as it is said afterwards they that are Christs they shall be raised and shall enjoy the redemption of the body from the power of the grave it shall no longer have dominion over them they shall come forth to the resurrection and judgment of life and as in the first place it relates to them is the true understanding of what is spoken on that account in Joh. 5. 28 29. So sure as Christ the Lord is risen and ascended so surely shall they rise in their order and time they with Daniell shall stand up in their lott together all the servants of God that have fallen asleep in the several ages of the world and have for a long time slept in Jesus they shall awake arise and meet the Lord when he cometh 1. Thes 4. 14. 16. 17. God that raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also by Jesus 2. Cor. 4. 14. he will raise us by his own power 1. Cor. 6. 14. and an exceeding great and mighty power it is worthy our knowledge and our desire to know Eph. 1. 19. 20. The dead in Christ shall rise first it is their order their lot next after the Lord Christ 1. Thes 4. 16. the Lord Christ is risen and ascended sitteth at the right hand of God it is now sixteen hundred seventy four years since he will come again to them that look for him he will appear the second time without sin unto salvation Heb. 9. 28. and then at his coming shall their order and turn be when the Lord Jesus shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first 1. Thes 4. 16. at his coming the Apostle tells us it will be two great things will then concur and be together Christ our Lord his coming and the righteous their rising again and meeting with him The next order or lott is to the wicked or unjust of which the Apostle saith little only then cometh the end not hereby meaning that Christs kingdom would be at an end and delivered up to God the father presently upon his coming and raising the just for there are many and great things to be done before he therefore therein secretly comprehends and includes the resurrection of the unjust to wit between the resurrection of the just and coming of the end of his kingdom when he is to deliver it up and before the same then shall the unjust arise in their order and turn a thousand years after the rising of the just touching whom it is said Rev. 20. 4. and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years vers 5. but the rest of the dead to wit the unjust or wicked dead they lived not again untill the thousand years were finished In the blessed morning of the resurrection the just will have the dominion they will have the preheminence then Psal 49. 14. A rising again of the unjust there will be so the Scripture holdeth forth it was the confession and belief of holy Paul Acts. 24. 15. and have hope towards God that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust But as to the time or order of raising the unjust he saith no more but then cometh the end strongly implying that towards the end of Christs kingdom and before he delivers it up they also shall arise and come to judgment Christ our Lord
the first fruits then a long time since not yet come after those that are Christs expresly declared to be at his coming then cometh the end implying as before neer that time they shall arise and not before towards the end a little before the last session neer a thousand years after the rising of the just as before Then cometh the end the end of time or of a state it may be considered as in a more General way as holding out the latter end of a state or of time as a day year or years neer accomplished is said to be the end of that day year or years as was said by the Lord himself to Noah Gen. 6 13. the end of all flesb is come c. It is at hand It is but a little while and the floud will come and sweep away all it only stays while Noah builds the Ark but the end was come Yet further when the floud was come all were not drowned presently haply some might live twenty thirty or forty days after the floud was come and begun and it is said that the end of all flesh was come But secondly the end may be taken strictly for the utter end of time or being of a thing as the utter end of a day year or years the filling or full finishing thereof nothing remaining an end an utter end According to such an end as was come upon the old world when the floud was at hand so it may be minded and taken here as in order to the rising of the unjust and wicked to judgment towards the end of Christs kingdom and reign on earth a little before he resigns before the utter end be come shall the rising of the unjust and wicked be to judgment And as in the last place it relates to them is the true understanding of what is spoken on that account in John 5. 28. 29. for sutable to the several resurrection both of the just and unjust so also is their judgment to be and also what is spoken in Math. 25 34. concerning the judgment and salvation of the just and in vers 41. of the judgment and destruction of the unjust is thus to be understood and will be found to be truth in the day thereof CHAP. III. Containing sundry things of the reign of our Lord Christ of his putting down all his enemies and how long his reign will be THe Apostle in his proceed seemeth to make a digression from the matter in hand namely the resurrection which he returns unto and speaks largely of afterward but here having mentioned the coming of the end he falls on speaking of very high and great things that shall attend the end in order to our Lord Christ his kingdom and reign and having put down all enemies his then delivering up his kingdom and God the father becoming all in all he waves the mentioning of the resurrection of the unjust and speaks no otherwise then thus then cometh the end and so takes on another thing that shall be at the end also Vers. 24 Then cometh the end when he shall have put down all rule and all Authority and power that which is first set down is the last thing that will be done at the utmost end when all things relating to the reign and dominion are finished then he shall deliver up the kingdom to God the father when all power and authorities are put down all enemies under his feet then he shall deliver up the kingdom to God the father of whom he received it Then all that are under our Lord Christ then shall give up their power also and God the father shall be all in all When he shall have put down all rule and authority and power Great kings and monarchs use to have all rule authority and power derived from them by all that are under them and what they meet with in their dominions that is not so derived they put down and suppresse Our Lord Christ a mighty king and monarch then will do in like manner put down all rule and authority not derived from him all that make opposition his enemies that would not have him reign over them that will not subject themselves the princes and rulers of the unsaved Nations Gog and Magog and the captains and mighty men with all that excercise rule and power they will then by our Lord Christ he utterly dispossessed of their power and put down The prophecy of Malachi will then in the reign of our Lord Christ be made good to the life they shall be so burnt up as there shall be left neither root nor branch there will be none to succeed them to take their dominions and thrones after them as now the son succeeding the father but it will not be so then their places will be no more sound for ever All authoritie and power and rule in the time of the kingdom and reign of our Lord Jesus in the thousand yeers he will subject and put down all that have enmity in them sooner or later he will put them under his feet This is one of the great things to be done before the utter end come the putting down all rule authoritie and power in an active visible way and until then he must reign and his kingdome continue for so it is said expresly in vers 25. He must reign until he himself hath put all his enemies under his feet All his enemies great and small high and low one and all by what name or title soever they be named or called he shall subdue them and as a mighty mighty Monarch shall subject them under his feet and put them down all that have enmity in them against him sin and death and the grave they shall all be destroyed by him the last enemy that shall be destroyed will be death as after is exprest the Apostle layes great stresse upon it he must he must reign until then This until seemeth not to be the same with that in the 110. Psalm mentioned by our Lord Math. 22. 44. Also by the Apostle Heb. 1. 13. Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool Which scriptures some urge against the personal coming of our Lord Christ the second time and his reigning here on earth saying thus he must stay in heaven until all be done here his enemies made his footstool So as if all the scriptures that speak of his kingdome and reign shall be made good in a virtual way and that 's all To dilate the matter a little First that in the 110. Psalm and the other alledged scriptures is done by God the father himself he said to the son the Lord Christ as those places do shew but this is done by the Lord Christ himself he must reign until he hath made c. Again that 's done by God the father in heaven this is done by the Lord Christ himself on earth That 's done by the father in heaven where the Lord Christ is sitting at
Heb. 2. 14. Enemies there will be in the time of the reign of our Lord Christ to be put down and to be destroyed by him but the last enemie to be destroyed will be death Rev. 20. 14. it is said death hell or the grave were cast into the lake of fire and then presently followeth the end of Christ his kingdom and reign here on earth and a delivering up all to God the father Vers. 27. For he hath put all things under his feet he to wit God the father hath so put all things under the feet of our Lord Christ He hath highly advanced him over all far above all principalities and powers and mights and dominions and every name that is named to wit of power and dignities all God the father put under the feet of Christ as before is more largly held forth But here the Apostle comes in with a caution or reserve for God the father in putting all things under him namely the son he did not subject or put under himself there 's an exception in that there 's a but there so saith the Apostle in the words that follow but when he saith all things are put under him it is manifest he is excepted he is not meant or intended he is not comprehended in this all things but the contrary God that put all things under it is manifest he is excepted so the Apostle that did put all things under him the sum of all seemeth to be this that God the father in the high advance of the Lord Christ did not subject or make lower himself for saith the Apostle it is manifest he is excepted Vers. 28. He goeth on further saying and when all things shall be subdued unto him by the way the words subduing subjecting putting under putting under feet are all of like import and tendenoy when the Lord Christ in the time of his reign hath subdued and actually put down all authority and power when all enemies are put under his feet and the last enemy death destroyed for till then he must reign then shall the son himself be subject unto him namely the father that put all things under him that God may be all in all When the Lord Christ that great and mighty monarch king of kings and Lord of Lords shall have finished his reign and done what he had to do here on earth then shall he deliver up the kingdom to the father of whom he did receive it God the father that so highly advanced him and put all things under him shall have all surrendred and delivered up to him and be all in all An end a final end of that happy kingdom of our Lord Christ here on earth and of our living and reigning with him therein a 1000 years and all the time of the last Session of judgment following the same which is the last and most glorious administration of his kingdom and as worthy Mr. Archer apprehends will last neer a thousand years more which I leave to the day to declare all which is comprehended in Christ's and the Saints reigning together therein though not so particularly expressed and also a mentioning of one to succeed to wit the kingdom of the father Of which something after These being very high and great misteries CHAP. IV. Containing something of the beginning and end of Christ our Lord his kingdom and of such things as will be at the beginning and end of the same TO dilate a little concerning the beginning and end of the kingdom of our Lord Christ so often mentioned to be a thousand years the beginning and end have a medium or middle time to make up the whole so as to suppose if a hundred or if fifty years be reckoned to the beginning in a general way and a like number to the end then the middle or body of the time will be eight or nine hundred years the Apostle speaketh of the beginning at our Lord Christ his coming when will be also the resurrection of the just mentioned Luk. 14. 14. he mentions the end when the Lord hath reigned his time and done or finished his reign what he had to do therein and had received that honour he was to have done him on earth he saith then cometh the end but he speaks little expresly touching the middle time and what shall be done therein only inclusively he saith he must reign till the end untill he hath put down all rule authority and power till his enemies be made his footstool and death the last enemy destroyed But as to the Beginning and likewise as to the end he speaketh of very high and great things that will fall in with and be done in both the one and the other of which we shall dilate a little and first of the things that concur with the beginning First then will be the coming of the Lord Christ in the glory of his father and of all the holy Angells Math. 25. 31. then when he appeareth we shall appear with him in glory Col. 3. 4. When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory then will he fit on the throne of his glory and before him will both the good and the bad the saved and the unsaved nations that are then living be gathered the righteous will have the preheminence then they will be set on the right hand vers 33. then will be the resurrection of the just Luk. 14. 14. to live again and to reign with the Lord Christ a thousand years upon the earth Rev. 20. 4. Rev. 5. 10. no mention is made of the wicked dead rising at that time then will be the redemption of the body and an entertaining again of the soul or spirit Rom. 8. 23. A great thing a high misterie then will actually be made good that great misterie the holy Apostle hath told us of vers 5. We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye and be caught up with the raised saints to meet the Lord Christ together 1 Thes. 14. 17. Then will be the time of our being unclothed and clothed upon when corruption shall put on incorruption and mortallitie put on immortalitie 2. Cor. 5. 4. 1 Cor. 15. 53. Then shall be the refreshing from the presence of the Lord and the restitution or restoration of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began Acts. 3. 19. 20 21. Then shall the new heavens and the new earth wherein righteousness will dwell take place according to the promise of God the father 2. Pet. 3. 13. Then will the new Jerusalem come down from heaven and the bride the lambs wife be richly adorned and exceeding glorious Then will be also the mariage supper of the lamb Rev. 21. 2. 10. Then shall all things be made new as at the beginning For these sayings are faithful and true Rev. 22. 6. then God shall wipe
away all teares from the eyes of his then will no more be death nor sorrow nor crying nor pain there to the servants of God for ever Rev. 21. 4. Then shall sathan be bound or chained that he hinder not the saved nations in their great felicity Rev. 20. 2. To say no more although much more might be mentioned relating to the beginning and first coming of the Lord Christ into the kingdom and reign on earth We shall in the next place take notice of some things relating to and contemporizing with the end First of all soon after the end of the thousand years reign and some short time before the last session of judgement beginneth will sathan be let loose for a little season and will deceive the unsaved of the nations who had been chained up with him till then to their total ruine and destruction then will Gag and Magog and their number as the sand of the sea gather together and compasse the camp of the saints about and the beloved city then will fire come down from God out of heaven and destroy them Rev. 20. 7. 8. 9. Then shall the devil that deceived them be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false prophet as being more wicked and abominable in the sight of God then he had been cast whilest alive above a thousand years before Rev. 20. 10. Rev. 19. 20. Soon after then will be the resurrection of the unjust and wicked sinners they shall then arise to judgment for then will be the second and last great session of judicature to that end mentioned Rev. 20. 11. 12. Then shall they be judged condemned and cast into the lake of fire called the second death Rev. 20. 12. 13. 15. Which as it is the last time or concluding act of the saints judging the world 1 Cor. 6. 2. So there being nothing as to the time mentioned before and they being reserved to the judgment of that great day and to be judged by the saints so is it also the time of their judging of Angels 1 Cor. 6. 3. 2. Pet. 2. 4. Jude vers 6. Then the last enemie death and hell or the grave shall be cast into the lake of fire Rev. 20. 14. Death the last enemie will be then destroyed All enemies will then be totally subdued and destroyed and put under his feet actually to the through fulfilling of 1 Cor. 15. 16. Then shall be an end of all rule authoritie and power then will the Lord Christ deliver up the kingdom unto God the father of whom he received it then will he become subject himself unto the father and God even the father become all in all these are some of the great things that will attend the end We may here in a general way a little take notice what will be in the middle or body of that time of the thousand years of Christ his kingdom and reign on earth according to what the scriptures hold forth as to the great blessedness of the servants of God and their long continuance in that happines and high enjoyments for ever once begun ever continued Those great things mentioned as relating to the beginning are not many of them to be minded exclusively but inclusively as continuing to the very end The things the righteous shall enjoy and be made partakers of the eye hath not seen the ear hath not heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive The psalmist admires it as may we Psal 31. 19. Oh how great is thy goodnesse which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men It is said in 1 Joh. 3. 2. Now are we the sons of God a great thing and it doth not yet appear what we shall be to wit how happy how blessed and glorious but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him and see him as he is A great thing indeed And we shall be for ever with him and never severed from him more 1 Thes. 4. 17. And in his presence will be fulnes of joy at his right hand there are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. The holy scriptures of the old and new testament speak much of the happines of that day to the righteous in particular holy Peter Paul and John The psalmist David Psal 72. 7. speaking of Solomon in the tipe but of our Solomon in the antitype the Lord Jesus sayth in his dayes to wit in the time of his kingdom and reign the righteous shall flourish and abundance of peace shall be in the earth so long as the Moon endureth This will be and continue the whole thousand years reign and also all the time of the last session of judgment which as hath been said before is the last and most glorious part and administration of Christs kingdom and as some apprehend will last neer a thousand years more until he deliver up the kingdom to God the father and God the father become all in all That gathering of Gog and Magog at the end of the thousand years Rev. 20. 8. will be little or none interruption thereunto for it will be very short and is only to give the Lord an opportunity to destroy all the wicked that are left in order to the speedy resurrection of the whole that had been dead from Cain to that time to come to judgment and is to usher in the same which kingdom of our Lord Christ in all the parts and administrations thereof being ended and delivered up by him to God the father and God the father become all in all the Saints shall then receive and enjoy higher and greater glory and shall go and be with the Lord Christ for ever in the kingdom of the father a particular setting down of things we shall forbear for fear of tiring the reader CHAP. V. Of the great wisdom and understanding of the Apostle Paul and his high knowledge in the heavenly misteries and the many revelations he had IN the next place upon the whole of those verses forenamed we may minde the great wisdom and understanding that holy Paul was endued withall the many revelations he had and the high misteries that were unfolded and made known unto him which he hath declared for the good and benefit of others being made an instrument in the hand of God for that purpose He had high discoveries and an abundance of revelations and yet was kept humble Gods grace being sufficient 2. Cor. 12. 7. 9. holy Paul had much made known unto him of very high and great secrets he had a great insight into the high misteries of Christ Ephes 3. 3. 4. they were declared by him such high misteries as are not declared and held forth so particularly by any other as namely the order that will be in the resurrection and when the just shall arise in their order and when the unjust The resurrection is a great
of the father having been a long while before in the kingdom of the son the Lord Christ there enjoying that great glory they with the more facility may take on that greater and higher glory of shining as the sun in the kingdom of the father Our Lord addeth in that verse he that hath an ear to hear let him hear not with the hearing of the outward ear of the body only but with the ear of the minde and understanding by conceiving and understanding the greatness of the thing a high thing a great mistery which few do understand or are able to apprehend or conceive of I know the Lord Christ in Isaiah 9. 6. is called the everlasting father and so minded as he is God coequal with the father God blessed for ever in the unity of the three in one and so he and the father are one Joh. 10. 30. Joh. 17. 22. I and my father are one weigh but the places and the difference between father and son will appear CHAP. VIII Of the mistery of God and the father and of Christ so in like manner the kingdom of God the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of the father BUt there is also a different count and consideration and likewise a different denomination betwixt God the father the creator of all things and God the son the redeemer the mighty God sent of the father sent of the father the first time in the state of humiliation and will be sent again the second time in power and great glory Great is the mistery of God manifested in the flesh the consideration of minding the matter so is so necessary as to deny it or decry it as an errour hath very ill consequences attending of it of which more hereafter Here I say only this let the context be minded and the close be weighed that of the Lord Christ the son delivering up his kingdom that God the father may be all in all the righteous shining as the stars in the kingdom of the son and shining as the sun in the kingdom of the father succeeding the delivering up of the kingdom of the son to the father that so the father may be all in all I say let it be minded and see if it doth not hold forth the distinction as betwixt the father and the son so betwix that of the kingdom of the son and that of the father succeeding that God the father may be all in all And it may be taken notice of that the Lord Christ speaketh very often of the father and of his father and ours but no where doth he call himself father but stiles himself the son of man very often and sometimes the son of God also Many in a general way seem without any distinction at all or putting any difference between the kingdom of God the creator of heaven and earth the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of God the father and accordingly they speak and apply but how rightly they do in so understanding and applying the Scriptures so may be considered Further in the 26th of Mathew we have something that seems to look that way our Lord Christ having eat and drank with his disciples says to them in vers 29. I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine untill that day when I drink it new with you in my fathers kingdom The father will have a kingdom as the son will have a kingdom these seem to be distinctly spoken of in the holy scriptures The son will have a kingdom in the which he will reign and which he will deliver up to the father and the father become all in all the end of the one to wit that of the sons being the beginning of the fathers when he shall be all in all As there is the kingdom of Christ spoken of very plainly expressed and the righteous there shining as the stars so there is the kingdom of God the father spoken of and the righteous there shining as the sun as is before set forth and these seem to be very distinctly set forth in the scriptures As the son is not the father nor the father is the son even so it seemeth to be in regard of the kingdom of the son given him of the father and the kingdom of the father When he shall be all in all The son will have a kingdom which the father hath appointed him Luke 22. 29. And he is gone to receive it Luk. 19. 12. He will come again and his kingdom will come with him vers 15. 2. Tim. 4. 1. In his kingdom he will reign to the end and then deliver it up to the Father and the Father be all in all In his kingdom when and where our Lord Christ will drink with his of the fruit of the vine in his fathers kingdom Our Lord Christ Luk. 22. 30. speaketh of eating and drinking in his own kingdom in expresse words and very distinctly that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom c. But in the 26th of Mathew he saith I will not henceforth drink of this fruit of the vine till I drink it now with you in my fathers kingdom We reade of the father and the son and take them distinctly and do not take them as on Ephes 5. 5. This we know that no whoremonger c. hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God to wit God the father and not that the kingdom of Christ and of God there is all one kingdom as some apprehend We cannot without offering losse to the scripture and counting it a kind of tautologie but count them as distinct kingdoms We read Col. 2. 2. The Apostles prayer unto God in the behalf of the Colossians was that the eyes of their understanding might be opened to the acknowledgment of what of the mystery of God and the father and of Christ Very distinct the three in one is a great mystery the three distinct are three great mysteries The mystery of God to wit the creator of heaven and earth a great mysterie the mysterie of God the father reconciling the world unto himself to believers by Jesus Christ our blessed redeemer and Saviour 2 Cor. 5. 9. a great mysterie the mystery also of God manifested in the flesh 1 Tim. 3. 16. is a great mysterie As we reade of the mysterie of God the father and of Christ so we reade of the kingdom of God and of the father and of Christ very distinctly held forth in the holy scriptures and to be able to understand them aright seemeth a great attayner To take them and make them all one and the same seemeth to be an offering of loss to the holy scriptures as if they had spoken in vain To say that the mysterie of God and the mysterie of the father and the mysterie of Christ are one and the same thing without any difference at all and so in like manner to say the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the father
Joh. 1. 14. Holy Stephen he saw heaven opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God Acts. 7. 55. Paul likewise saw him and it is said When he cometh in the clouds every eye shall see him Rev. 1. 7. But God the father the great Jehovah told Moses he could not see him and in great condescension shewed him his back parts He is the invisible God Col. 1. 15. The holy scripture tells us that no man hath seen God to wit the father at any time 1. Joh. 4. 12. 20. His brightness is so serene where he dwelleth that no mortal no created eye is able to approch unto it or to abide the beholding of it But the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Image of the invisible God as we have seen him as before is said so we shall see him and behold him in his glory and be with him for ever as he made it his prayer unto his father that it might be so When he shall again appear we shall then appear with him in glory and as holy John saith When he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Joh. 3. 2. The close of that scripture seemeth to relate to God the father likewise to whom be honour and power everlasting Amen the great Omega That is and will be all in all Further that of Daniel 7. Is of like consideration vers 9. likewise vers 22. It speaketh of the ancient of days God the father very high things are spoken of him that in vers 13. One like the son of man seemeth clearly to be meant of the Lord Jesus Christ Much the same seemeth that to be in Rev. 20. 11. I saw a great white throne and him that sate thereon from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away and there was found no place for them and I saw the dead small and great stand before God to wit God the father it seemeth to be spoken of him but that which follows in that verse relating to the judgment it is very likely to be meant of the Lord Christ to whom all judgment is committed all judgment is given to the son by the father and as Peter sayth 1. Pet. 4. 5. That he is ready to judge the quick and the dead all must appear before his tribunal and be judged by him this of judicature to the end of that 20. chapter relateth in a tacit way to the Lord Christ That in the second Psalm seemeth to be of like consideration and other scriptures that I shall forbear to name being of an interwoven way and manner of speaking of the power and dominion of the father and likewise of the son the Lord Christ I shall end these essays with that prophetical Psalm of the kingly prophet David in Psal 72. speaking to his son Solomon as the type but chiefly relating to a higher and greater Solomon in the antitype namely the Lord Jesus Christ very high and great things are spoken of in that Psalm concerning the kingdom of our Lord Christ how that in his days as in vers 7. The righteous shall flourish and abundance of peace shall be so long as the Moon endureth vers 8. he shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth Then he speaketh of the submission of kings and of their bringing of gifts saying vers 11. Yea all kings shall fall down before him all nations shall serve him Then he speaketh of his great kindnes to the poor and needy and of how high esteem they shall be in his sight and how he shall take care of them and do for them for which he shall be dayly praised Vers. 17. It is said His name shall be continued for ever his name shall endure as long as the sun and men shall be blessed in him And all nations shall call him blessed Great will be the glory of our Lord Christ in his kingdom and when he shall come in his glory and reign in his kingdom of which there seemeth little doubt but that this Psalm treateth of it and blessed will they be that shall enjoy their share therein But towards the end of the Psalm the prophet seemeth to turn and addresse himself to the Author and giver of all this glory and blessedness namely God the father with the which he closeth the Psalm and in the two last verses sayeth thus Blessed be the Lord God the God of Israel who only doth wondrous things and blessed be his glorious name for ever and let the whole earth be filled with his glory Amen and Amen With the which he closes as I shall also these essayes referring the whole to the serious consideration of the wise in heart A MYSTERY I. Shewed by holy Paul That the Saints alive at the Coming of the Lord Christ shall not then die but be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye II. Something treated of concerning that change wherein it will consist and the Standard or Measure of it III. That many of the great Prophecies in the Holy Scriptures do eye that Time and those Changed People and state for their Great Fullfilling IV. Something held forth concerning the Restoration of all things and the world to come that shall take place when our Lord Christ shall come again V. Of the Great Happiness of that day and the Flourishing Estate the Righteous shall then Enjoy Proposed to consideration With sundry other things occasionally Discussed By P. G. B Joh. 11. 26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me to wit in Christ at his coming shall never die believest thou this Psa 31. 19. O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast prepared for them that trust in thee before the sons of men Joh. 20. 29. Blessed are they that have not seen me yet have believed Printed in the Year 1675. To the READER THou hast here offered to thy view and consideration that which few haply have much minded though it be a very great thing a mistery no less and that which it is likely will be found as a key that will help to open divers great prophecies and high sayings in the holy Scriptures which some have been very ready to allegorize and put some notion of a spiritual meaning on them as if that were all whereby they have drawn a veil over them rendring them another thing This mistery it relateth to the very time of the second coming of the Lord Christ when those servants of God believing in Jesus shall be changed in a moment without dying they shall put off corruption and mortallity and put on incorruption immortality and everlasting life and be rechanged into their former state as man was before his fall and it is very likely they will be the blessed inhabitants of the world to come and such as shall inherit and dwell in the new earth Consider of it and what is offered about it it
should be swallowed up in victory we shall forbear to speak further to the first part of the mistery namely that we shall not all dye The second part is but we shall all be changed All the just or righteous then alive at the coming of the Lord Christ shall be so changed It medleth not with the unjust we shall be changed the consideration of the change it self and wherein it consists we shall refer to the Apostle his following description of it and shall make some enquiry what other Scriptures speak of it and witness to it first that in Paul 3. 21. who shall change to wit the Lord Christ shall at his coming from heaven make that change our vile body or corrupt and sinfull body that it may fashioned like unto his to wit pure spotless and incorrupt glorious body Col. 3. 4. when Christ shall appear then shall we appear with him in glory be like him and see him as he is as holy John saith 1. Joh. 3. 2. this change is wrought by a mighty hand of power and working whereby he namely the Lord Jesus is able to subdue all things unto himself put them under and subject them even sin and death and the grave and all principality and power he is over them all and he is able to do whatever he pleaseth make this change so as is after declared In the next place minde we that in 1. Thes 4. 15. 17. This we say unto you by the word of the Lord that we that are alive and remain So unto the coming of the Lord implying there will be such living then shall not prevent anticipate or get before them that are asleep to wit in their graves for as in vers 16. they shall be awakened with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the trump of God and shall arise first These dead in Christ they will rise first that being their order Then comes these changed ones as it is said then shall we which are alive and remain be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the aire It is premised that they be first changed in a moment before this conjunction and going together to meet the Lord so mounting up like the Eagles with wings Isa 40. 41. these waiters on the Lord Christ shall be so renewed then as to do as is there said this Prophesy seemeth to relate to that very time and to have its fulfilling then We shall then both the raised and changed together meet the Lord so and be for ever with him Blessed and happy souls indeed Further the restoration of all things spoken by all the holy prophets Acts. 3. 21. it doth speak out fully and in a more general way this change and the time of it also man being the principal thing in that blessed restoration The heavens the earth and the Creatures they grone for it Rom. 8. 19. 21. 22. they shall all share in this change and shall be answered unto in their groning They shall all be changed as a vesture folded up and they being old shall be changed Psal 102. 26. and the new heaven and the new earth taking place 2 Pet. 3. 13. all things shall be changed and made new as the Angel said unto John Rev. 21. 5. behold I make all things new even as holy Paul said behold I shew you a mistery we shall not a dye but be changed The holy Apostle vers 52. doth very positiuely the second time assert it we shall all be changed as it is fully asserted by him so it is ncessary to be fully believed by us That which yet further we may minde about this change whither as a part of the mistery or as an appendix or a relate to it I shall not essay to determine That we may take notice of is how sudden and transcient it will be in a moment in the twinkling of an eye very-sudden and expeditious will this change be The coming of the son of man and this as an attendant thereof will be like the lightning that is very quick and transcient Math. 24. 27. sudden in the shining from the East to the West over in a moment of time as sudden as a thought and while they begin to think it will be over in a moment in the twinkling of an eye it will be over and done A very great work in a very little time done and brought to pass by a mighty and wonderful workman the Lord Christ that is able to do all things it is beyond our reason and thoughts but not our faith What our Lord Christ sayd to Thomas may here be said in this matter blessed are they that though their reason cannot reach it nor their thoughts comprehend it yet their faith believes it because it is written so in a moment in the twinkling of an eye in the least of time very transient will this changing be And we shall be changed Then lastly as relating to the time when said to be at the last trumpet for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised up incorruptible of which in order To the dead raised something hath been said before and at that very juncture of time shall the living be changed This saying of the Apostle at the last trump is considerable Whither it be the last of the seven trumpets it 's very likely or some other this rising and changing we are now treating of seems to contemporize in time with the time of our Lord Christ his coming Mat. 24. 31. when that scripture Rev. 11. 15. the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever will have it 's through fulfilling he then having fully taken to himself his great power and reign for which there will be so great thanks giving as in vers 17. we give thee thanks O Lord God almighty c. because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned CHAP. III. Containing the proposal of some things by way of essay from vers 53. and 54. concerning the Apostles further making out the matter wherein this mystery consists with the manner of the effecting of it THe holy Apostle vers 53. 54. further to shew the matter and contents of the mistery of not dying but being changed he likewise sheweth the way and manner of it saying this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortalitie wherein the matter and likewise the manner is held forth of which we shall dilate a little And first for the matter It is by being freed or rid of corruption defilement and all pollution and by being put into a state of perfect rectitude and uprightness and this beyond the highest degree of mortification that is to be attained unto here And on the other part an attayner of holines purity and clearness from sin an estate beyond the highest attainner of sanctification that the happy estate of
remove in one day Never yet done and though much of it may be done before yet is it not likely to be so fully and throughly to be done till that day of the restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began Acts. 3. 21. and the time of the glorious manifestation of the sons of God which the creature grons for Rom. 8. 19. when the Lord Jehovah shall bring forth again his servant the branch this will then be fully performed and then according to his promise we shall have a new heaven and a new earth wherein shall dwell righteousness 2. Pet. 3. 13. In the which iniquity will not be found In 2. Cor. 5. The like we may finde not only something of the matter before treated of but of the manner we know saith the Apostle that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands c. If our mortal bodies dye and perish we have better provided we shall have such hereafter And therefore as in vers 2. we grone earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven with more pure incorruptible and immortal clothing with glory and honour and immortality and life eternal Rom. 2. 7. the condition then will not be righteousness imputed as now but righteousness in us perfect rectitude in our own persons we shall be like the Lord Christ The attainer then it will be sure beyond that of the attainer in the state of regeneration and that of imputation it is likely will cease The clothing with our house from heaven as it will be very pure so it will be lasting and durable and therefore we groan or desire to be clothed with it to be in that state that condition vers 3. if so be that being so clothed with it we shall not be found naked as Adam and Eve were when they had sinned eating the forbidden fruit they were stripped of that clothing of the Image of God righteousness and holyness in the which they were made Gen. 1. 27. it is said they were naked sin and shame entred together Adam made garments of figtree leaves because of shame and being naked as in like manner his posterity have done and yet do make garments upon that account In vers 4. the holy Apostle speaks further we groan being burdened with our heavy clothing of sin corruption and mortality not for that we would be unclothed namely dye and be dissolved that the Apostle denyeth to be the tendency of the creature or man such as have the first fruits of the spirit to groan for death or dying it being as an instinct in every creature as well as man to preserve life by all means whatever they can attain death is an enemy to life and is as an enemy shunned That 's a rare case and a kindly spirit indeed that is so disposed as to desire to be unclothed so which the Apostle denyes not that we would be unclothed but be clothed upon with a better clothing to be changed for a better and a more durable clothing incorruption immortality and life eternal when and where we shall not be found naked that is the tendency and earnest desire which the servants of God goes out after and the creatures also Vers. 54. of this 1. Cor. 15. the Apostle adds further when this corruptible hath put on incorruption and this mortal hath put on immortality as it will at the time of the raising and changing of the servants of God then will be brought to passe accomplished and done fully that which is written Isay 25. 8. death is swallowed up in victorie as mortalitie shall likewise be of life to wit life everlasting compared 2. Cor. 5. 4. then the conquest and victory over death will be brought to passe and the righteous freed from being under his dominion any more for ever for then they can dye no more but be immortal and live for evermore There are very many great things as well as this victory over death that do attend this time very many great and high prophecyes contained in the scriptures relating to that time will then be fulfilled and made good of which something shall be said hereafter yea many of the prophecyes of holy Isaiah little minded or understood in this day will then be brought to passe and made good seem they never so strange It was so at our Lord his first coming as the holy scriptures do hold out unto us as Math. 1. 22. Mat. 2. 17. Math. 4. 14. Luk. 24. 44. with very many the like which I shall forbear to set down That of Luke is the saying of our Lord Christ very full that all things that are written concerning me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled not one jot or tittle of the word of prophecy as to things relating to the Lord Christ and his kingdom but it must all be fulfilled As it was in relation to his first coming so it will be also as to his second coming when he shall come in power and great glory seem the things never so strange or unlikely the power and faithfulness of the Lord Jehovah whose word it is will make them good of which more hereafter But for a close take we knowledge of one place more in holy Isaiah because it is of like tone with what we have treated of concerning clothing and garments and putting on and off Isa 52. 1. Awake awake put on thy strength O Zion put on thy beautiful garments O Jerusalem c. It seems as to the last and full fulfilling of it to look at this blessed state and day we are treating of when the mariage of the lamb is come and the bride the lambs wife is made ready Rev. 19. 7. Likewise that of Isa 60. 1. Arise and shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee All of like tendency and import all prophetical and eyeing a time not yet come and though it may in a great measure have its fulfilling before and more especially when the Jewes are returned to their own land and converted yet no time so likely to have its full fulfilling as then when the Lord Christ shall come again and the dead in him raised and live again and the then living saints changed in a moment corruption and all defilement done away and glory and honour purity and holyness immortality and eternal life put on with beautiful and precious clothing For Zion sball then put on her beautiful garments and shall shine very gloriously indeed being so richly adorned as a bride prepared for the bridegroom the Lord Jesus rich and pure clothing then without spot or wrinckle and that will be found true eminently to the very life thou art all fair my love and there is no spot in thee cant 4. 7. And then also will it
land is like to fare well and to be the chief the center of that happy change and restoration of the earth and making of it new Psal 105. 8. He hath remembred his covenant for ever the word he commanded to a thousand generations Not yet compleated it is likely but that it will extend to that time of the restoration Vers. 9. 10. Which he confirmed by covenant and oath vers 11. The thing is declared to thee will I give the land of Canaan the lot of your inheritance c. If God will remember his covenant for ever to a thousand generations it will fare well with that land then as likewise with the lands and dwellings of the saved nations that shall walk in Ierusalems light and share with them in all their blessedness and glory then that speaks out much and is very high Zech. 3. 9. And I will remove the iniquitie of that land in one day to wit that happy day of the restoration Ier. 50. 20. In those dayes and in that time sayth the Lord the iniquitie of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and the sins of Iudah and they shall not be found c. Then will there be no more curse Rev. 22. 3. For that will be gone and be no more found there Then will that be made good and fully fulfilled Mal. 3. 2. And all nations shall call you blessed for ye shall be a delightfull land sayeth the Lord of hosts It was prophesyed of old by Noah that God should enlarge Iaphet and he should dwell in the Tents of shem likely to be made good to the full then The strangers of Iaphet Ezek. 47. 22 23. The strangers cleaving to the God of Israel shall share with Israel dwelling among them at that day The prophecy is dark as yet but the day will declare it but for Canaan and Ham his father that servant of servants under the curse of Noah there seemeth to be no mention of any grace or favour for him or for his lands or dwellings at that happy day but the contrary of which I shall not now discourse As for the interest of the creature and their sharing according to their capabilitie in the blessedness of that happy day see what is said in Rom. 8. 19. The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God How glorious they will appear then when they shall be restored and changed so vers 20. They are now subject and they greatly groan to be freed and delivered they groan under hope a great word hope in the creature that groaneth and travelleth in pain together untill now vers 22. But that which is a most clear testimony in the case of restoration vers 21. Because the creature it self shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God which they shall at the coming of the saviour be restored unto at that happy day of the restoration of all things Alas for them that do not believe it and hope for it the whole matter proposed and held forth is submitted to the judgment of the ingenious and intelligent reader CHAP XI Containing the proposal of some other prophecyes that speak of a blessed and flourishing condition and great prosperitie peace and the enjoyment of great blessings the righteous shall then enjoy when our Lord Christ comes and the blessed restoration takes place and the freedom from all want woe and misery then THere are other prophesies besides those that speak of seed off-spring children and posteritie that speak of great prosperitie the righteous shall enjoy then at the restoration and coming of the Lord namely of the enjoyment of inheritance and posessions vineyard and olive yards of planting and sowing and reaping the fruit of eating and drinking building houses and dwelling in them of sitting under their own vines and figtrees and none making them afraid of flourishing and enjoying abundance of all good things all which are looked on as low carnal things by some incompatible with the happiness of the blessed state and condition of the righteous in the world to come which they count and would have to be heaven it self and therefore those aforesaid things are passed over and little notice taken of them or they are referred to times short of that happy day for their being made good or otherwise they are allegorized and have some spiritual meaning put upon them but however notwithstanding it is very likely that all those things in the fulness according as they are expressed in the holy writ as foretold by the prophets shall be made good and take place and there hath no such time been yet it is probable nor short of that happy time of the restoration and change is there like to be the full performance and making good the same I do conceive that I cannot without the attracting consure and suffering losse and being cryed out on as being erronious at the least propose these things to consideration the spirits of some are so keen and their thoughts so high set the other way that they will cry carnal carnal at the least if not far worse however I shall bear it and go on And shall premise as a copy to write by and as a standard to measure by the condition and state of Adam and the earth as it was at the first when God created it before mans fall and the curse that entered thereupon the restoration and change will be into the same estate and condition with some blessed advantages to the enjoyers of it at that happy day Upon the serious-minding whereof something haply may appear not thought of for as God neither made nor ordained any thing in vain so he hath foretold or promised nothing that is insignificant useless and unsuitable to the state and condition of man Adam and Eve were man and woman the changed alive in a moment in the twinkling of an eye will be the like We propose in the first place Psal 72. It is spoken of Solomon in the type but of the Lord Christ the great Solomon in the antitype Weigh the Psalm in the whole as speaking of the happy day of Christs kingdom to be brief consider vers 7. In his days to wit the Lord Christ the righteous shall flourish and abundance of peace with the enjoying of all good things as long as the moon endureth See also vers 16. A handfull of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon and they of the city shall flourish like the grasse of the earth There was in Solomons time a very happy time and an high attainer the highest that ever Israel attayned unto at any time or that for a time they are like to attain unto in this world of peace plenty and prosperity but alase it lasted not but went off with him And besides it is short of what is spoken of in the Psalm and in
lastingness no comparison for that shall abide as long as the moon endureth When the Lord Christ reigneth there shall be great honour and subjection given to him by the great ones and it will fare well with the poor vers 12. 13. 14. also vers 2 4 6. of this 72. Psalm then shall that be fulfilled and made good Psal 67. 3. 4. 6. 7. Let the people praise thee O God let all the people praise thee O let the nations be glad and sing for joy for thou shalt judge the people righteously and govern the nations upon earth Let the people praise thee As they will do then they will sing Hallelujans and prayse to the lamb what followeth then then shall the earth yeeld her encrease very fruitful times then and God even our own God shall blesse us and all the ends of the earth shall fear him It will be so eminently then In the next place take we knowledge of that very eminent place Isa 65. It is the prophecy where the new heaven and the new earth are spoken of and promised see what is said in vers 13. Therefore thus sayeth the Lord behold my servants shall eat but ye shall be hungry to wit the wicked and unsaved nations and people behold my servants shall drink but ye shall be thirsty behold all with a behold very observable my servants shall rejoyce but ye shall be ashamed vers 14. Behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart and howl for vexation of spirit vers 15. And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen for the Lord God shall slay thee and call his servants by another a new name a great difference then like that of Dives and Lazarus we see here is eating and drinking then for so did Adam and Eve and so did our Lord Christ in the day of his being here both before his death and after his resurrection Luk. 24. 42. 43. And so very likely will those changed alive then do for they will be men and women It followeth as a reason and that with a behold also vers 17. For behold I create a new heaven and a new earth The old will be done away and forgotten vers 18. They are bidden to rejoyce for the great blessednes and glory Jerusalem will be in God will create them so a rejoycing a praise Vers. 19. The voice of weeping shall no more be heard in her nor the voice of crying It is easy to see to what time and state that belongs this world affords no such exemption from weeping and crying only it will as to the full fulfilling be in the blessed world to come Vers. 21. They shall build houses and inhabit them they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them Vers. 22. They shall not build and another inhabit they shall not plant and another eat it fares so in this world many times but it will not then for as the dayes of a tree which are many so shall be the dayes of Gods people It followeth and mine elect shall long injoy the work of their hands their building and planting c. vers 23. They shall not labour in vain as many do in this world nor bring forth for trouble of which we made mention before For they are the blessed of the Lord and their off-spring with them Vers. 25. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together The same with that in Isa 11. of which before It is not hard to conceive what time this relateth unto it relateth to and is a prophecy of the new earth that God will create when there shall be the restoration of all things When it shall all come to passe and be so as is declared whether we believe it or no. The prophet Jeremiah declareth something to the like effect Ier. 33. 6. 7. 8. 9. I will bring them health I will cause their captivitie to return I will cleanse them from all their iniquitie and it shall be to me a name of joy and praise before all the people of the earth For the great prosperitie God will procure unto it And vers 11. The voice of joy and the voice of gladness the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride c. For he will cause their captivitie to return And so he goeth on in a promisary way of good things to the end of the 16th verse See the prophecy at large I spare to set it down for fear or being over-large And consider to what time it relateth for its full fulfilling at the time of the branch of righteousness growing up to David in the land it will be We may also minde that Ier. 50. 19. 20. When Israels captivitie shall be returned c. and the iniquity of Israel and Judah sought for and not be found for there shall be none we spake of it before Hosea the prophet mentioned by holy Paul Rom. 9. Eyeing the time of their great return and Gods gracious return to them Hos 2. 18. In that day to wit of the restoration I will make a covenant with them and with the beasts of the feild and with the fowls of heaven and with the creeping things of the ground and I will break the bow and the sword and the battel out of the earth I will make them lie down safely It may easily be minded what day this relateth unto it being the same with Isa 11. mentioned before when the hurtful nature of the creature will cease and mans enmitye also and wars cease to the ends of the earth and the restoration of all things and the peaceable kingdom of the Lord Christ takes place then it will be so and it is not like to be before Vers. 19. I will betroth thee to me for ever The marriage of the lamb will be nigh then yea I will betroth thee to me in righteousness c. vers 21. And it shall come to passe in that day I will hear the heavens and they shall hear the earth and the earth shall hear the corn and the wine and the oyl and they shall hear Iezreel and I will sow her to me in the earth to wit the new earth as to the fulfilling of it it is not sayd in heaven but in the earth Further see what the prophet Ioel sayth chap. 3. 18. And it shall come to passe when Ierusalem shall be holy and no stranger passe through her any more as they shall in no wise then Rev. 21. 27. at that day then at that day the mountains shall drop down new wiue and the hills shall flow with milk and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord and shall water the valley of Chittim It will go ill with Egypt then vers 20. But Judah shall dwell for ever and Jerusalem from generation to generation for God will then cleanse so as never before I conceive by changing of
them in a moment for the Lord dwelleth in Sion and his tabernacle will then be with men Rev. 21. 3. And he will dwell with men In the next place see what the prophet Micha sayth also in the matter Mich. 4. 1. It shall come to passe in the last dayes not yet made good that the mountain of the Lords house shall be exalted and established c see the place vers 3. And he to wit the Lord Christ when he cometh especially shall rebuke strong nations and judge many people And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning-hooks nation shall not lift up a sword against nation neither learn war any more a blessed peaceable time then Vers. 4. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his figtree and none shall make them afraid though they have no defensive arms for there will be no need of them sure enough to be made true and good for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Then at that day will be the peaceable kingdom of the Lord Christ and he as vers 7. The Lord shall reign over them in mount Sion from henceforth and for ever See what the prophet Zechariah sayth also Zech. 3. 9. 10. And I will remove the iniquity of that land to wit the land of Canaan chiefly in one day namely the day of the restoration and when it shall be so then they shall call every one his neighbor under the vine and under the figtree The prophet Malachy speaketh of the blessedness of that day even upon the same account Mal. 3. 12. And ye shall be a delightfull land sayth the Lord God There are other high prophecyes in Isaiah as that Isa 49. from vers 5. to vers 13. and from thence to vers 24. See what great things of like importance are said which I shall forbear to dilate on So Isa 52. Isa 54. Isa 55. 11. 12. There are prophecyes in the holy scriptures that speak of inheritances and possessions of Lot and sharing by Lot that seem as to their full fulfilling to relate to that happy day of the restoration and the new earth promised taking place As some time of old the land of Canaan was by promise given Israel for an inheritance by the Lord was after a long time divided to them by Lot and accordingly possessed by them in a way of particular propriety for they had not only a general light in the whole land as so given them of God but they had a particular interest in a part of it as it fell unto them by Lot where the Lord himself was the determiner as Solomon sayth Prov. 16. 33. The Lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord whither that land so promised and after a long time possessed and divided by Lot was not a type of the new earth promised and expected and of some higher division and sharing at the restoration of all things may be considered and the rather because of what Ezekiel hath declared which will have its fulfilling and making good though as yet we understand it not it is very probable it is not yet fulfilled but will sure enough which the day will declare fully though to us it is dark and we understand little Every tribe as well as the whole people will have their share and Lot and the strangers will share with them where his dwelling is with them then Ezek. 47. 22. 23. very considerable The twelve tribes they are to have every one their share or Lot and the prince his and he must not take any of the peoples share from them to drive them out of their possession see Ezek. 46. 18. The twelve tribes will have interest in the city and every one a gate called by their name and the name of the city from that day very probable to be the day of the restoration will be the Lord is there He will be so in the new earth Rev. 21. 3. The prophet Obadiah hath something to the same effect vers 17. But in mount Sion there shall be deliverance and there shall be holyness and the house of Jacob shall possesse their possessions Vers. 19. And they of the south shall possesse the mount of Esau and they of the plain the philistins and they shall possesse the feilds of Ephraim and the feilds of Samaria and Benjamin shall possesse Gilead vers 20. And the captivitie of the host of Israel shall possesse that of the Canaanites even unto Zarephath and the captivity of Jerusalem which is in Sepharad shall possesse the cities of the south Vers. 21. And saviours or judges and disposers shall come upon the mount Sion to judge the mount of Esau And this it will be when the kingdom shall be the Lords for as yet it hath not been nor is it likely so fully to be till that happy time takes place The rather is that considerable because of what the new testament holds forth this way Eph. 1. 10. In the fulnes of times in the Lord Christ he should gather together in one the things in heaven and the things in the earth even in him restore them make them new all good and holy as at first Vers. 11. In whom we have obtained an inheritance or Lot Vers. 13. 14. The spirit of promise is sayd to be the earnest of our inheritance to wit of our interest and right unto it and that we shall in time possesse it we have for the present the earnest we shall have in the appointed time the full purchase it will be redeemed and settled on those it is redeemed and purchased for to the praise of the glory of him that hath done it for his Ephes. 5. 5. It is spoken of by the Apostle as a known thing that no wicked unclean person hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ or of God to wit in that kingdom to come Col. 1. 12. the Apostle speaketh of giving thanks unto the father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light The saints will then have inheritance given unto them at that time when Jerusalems light is come and the glory of the Lord riseth upon her Isa 60. 1. when she will sine gloriously holy Peter in like manner 1. Pet. 1. 4. blesseth God for the lively hope the servants of God are begotten again unto by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance the description of it suiteth with the restoration and change it is incorruptible and undefiled it will be so when it falls in with that time when the iniquity of that land is removed and the curse taken from the earth and it made new in the inheritance then and there then will be no corruption or defilement for there shall in no wise enter any that defileth Rev. 21. 27. it is said further that it fadeth not away as many times in this world mens inheritances do but it will
whole heaven shall be given to the Saints of the most high Our Lord Christ will be then the greatest monarch that ever was on earth 1. Tim. 6. 25. he will be the only potentate the king of kings and Lord of Lords he will be far advanced in power and dignitie beyond and above all principalities and powers and might and dominion and every name of power and dignitie by which the potentates of this world are named that is named in this world and that which is to come far above them all will the Lord Christ be then it will be happy for the Saints then for he is their head and they shall share with him therein they shall reign on earth when he reigneth he will deligate power to them they shall be invested with great authority and shall reign with him on earth He will give power to the faithfull improvers of their trust Luk. 19. 17. 19. to one to be ruler over ten Cityes and to another to be ruler over five Cityes And in like manner it is likely to others to be over nations and countryes according to that Psal 45. 16. thou shalt have children whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth Like to be fully fulfilled and made good then and as it followeth vers 17. I will make thy name to be remembred in all generations therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever the promise to the overcomers in the Church of Thyatira speaks forth much and comports with the psalmist before Rev. 2. 26. 27. he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of Iron c. even as I received of my father to wit power to do it Those alive and believing at the coming of the Lord Christ then changed in a moment will be such overcomers and keepers of his works to the end in an eminent wise and haply may have that power given to them then together with all other overcomers that had been dead before to that time then raised Holy Paul saith 2. Tim. 2. 12. if we suffer we shall also reign with him and saith it is a faithfull saying as it is a blessed word and comfortable Rom. 8. 17. if so be we suffer with him we may be also glorified together The world to come it will not be under the subjection and rule of Angels Heb. 2. 5. he hath not put in subjection unto the Angels the world to come of which we speak haply this present world is so under them but that to come shall not but it will be under the Lord Christ and the Saints they will be made unto God kings and priests and shall reign on the earth at that happy day in the new earth when our Lord is come they shall have full power and reign Jude speaketh of the Lord Christ his coming with ten thousand of his Saints to execute judgement on ungodly sinners whose day will be over then like unto rich Dives Lazarus day will take place then the righteous will have the day then and the preheminence Rev. 20. 4. the martyrs for Christs sake it is said of them by way of eminence as to rule and gevernment above the rest of the dead Saints then also raised and reigning They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years And again vers 6. it is said of all the raised Saints compared with other Scriptures including the changed at that time they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years And we may believe it for these sayings are no fables or insignificant expressions Whither they be believed or no they will be found to be the true sayings of almighty God and shall with the rest of the Prophecyes and sayings concerning good things to come for the righteous be made good and fulfilled to the full whatever fulfilling in a degree they may have had before This also held forth is submitted to the consideration of the wise in heart A Post-script or an Appendix to the whole THere are many great Prophecyes and sayings in the holy Scriptures of the old and new testament that hold forth very great good things and a very blessed and happy time the righteous shall have and enjoy and be made partakers of hereafter when the Lord Christ shall come and his reward with him when the refreshing from the presence of the Lord and the restoration of all things shall take place which are recorded to encourage the servants of God to believe and hope and wait patiently for the appointed time There are very high attestations recorded in the holy Scriptures of the sureness and certainty of them which we shall a little enquire into and set down for encouragement to believe hope on and wait patiently for the great grace and blessed good things that shall be brought unto us and we shall enjoy at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1. Pet. 1. 13. I should tire the reader and as it were hold a candle to the sun to go about to set down what might be gathered out of the holy Scriptures this way two or three places we shall venture to propose and set down and leave the rest In Isa 51. likewise Isa 54. we may see how God himself asserts his faithfullness in his word and promises of good to his people as sure as the waters of Noah the floud that drowned the old world but shall no more do it so sure will he perform his promises of good things to his people As sure as he divided the sea and made it a way for the redeemed to passe over see the places In Jer. 31. 35. 36. 37. See how the Lord setteth forth himself by his greatness in the great works he hath done of old and upholding of them by his mighty power the ordinances of heaven and the foundations of the earth that cannot be measured or searched out so will he be in his word and promises to the seed of Israel his people see the place And consider what the prophet Micha sayth Mich. 7. 20. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob and the mercy to Abraham which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the dayes of old The words of prophecy contained in the holy scriptures they are very sure very stable setled in heaven confirmed by the promise and oath of almighty God it is impossible for him to lye or fail our Lord Christ hath given a high testimony Math. 24. 35. Heaven and earth shall passe away but my words shall not passe away Hath he spoken and shall he not do it hath he promised and shall he not perform it he hath highly engaged himself therein he is faithful he is able he will make it good and perform it There is nothing hard for him he is mighty in power and wonderful in working What he hath declared by his servants the prophets there shall nothing fail thereof but
be made good in its time The testimony of holy Peter 2. Pet. 1. 16. Is very considerable he tells us that the things concerning the kingdom and coming of the Lord Christ are no cunning devised fables but true and real things first that they were eye witnesses of his majesty to wit of the Lord Christs shewn forth at the transfiguration on the holy mount Math. 17. 1. What honor and glory he received when there came a voice to him from that excellent glory this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased This voice they heard from heaven namely Peter James and John being with him in the holy mount where Moses and Elias were also present Here were three good and authentique witnesses that both heard and saw themselves against the validness of their testimony no exception could be made They had it not by hear-say but saw and heard themselves yet he good humble servant of Jesus Christ prefers prophecy before it Pet. 1. 19 We have a more sure word of prophecy to the which we shall do well to take heed A very high and blessed testimony in the behalf of what the holy prophets have spoken concerning the power and coming of the Lord Christ and he encourageth the servants of God to take heed unto it as to a light that shineth in a dark place But it may be asked how long are we so to do He tells us until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts The blessed day when Jerusalems light shall be fully come and the day-star arise in the heart and to the heart when there will be light within and without great light as the light of seven dayes put together When all the prophecyes which concern Christ our Lord his coming in power and great glory and the coming of his kingdom with all the things relating to that happy day shall have their full fulfilling and making good as those former promises relating to his first coming and the day of his humiliation and sufferings had then their fulfilling and making good Of which we shall speak a little in a paralel way with much assurance that it will be even so without any the least failer at all There is mention in the holy Evangelists of many prophecyes fulfilled at the first coming of our Lord Christ observed and written and not in vain God he is the same and his word is the same and the promises relating to his coming again his second coming will have the same fulfilling and making good whether we believe it or not They are all true and faithful they are all yea and Amen touching those in his humiliation there were some of them at his very first coming and some of them were fulfilled at the end and finishing of his suffering In like manner there be prophecyes and high sayings relating to the beginning of his coming in power and great glory and the coming of his kingdom and the things relating thereunto And some prophecyes relating to the latter end of his kingdom and reign which will accordingly take place and be accomplished Take we knowledge of those relating to our Lord Christ his first coming the very beginning thereof Math. 1. 22. His incarnation is sayd to be on that account that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet to wit Ifaiah chap. 7. 14 behold a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel A very unlikely thing and hard to be believed if reason had been consulted yet was fulfilled and made good Our Lord Christ was born in Bethleem so it was written Mich. 5. 2. see Math. 2. 5. Herods enquirie where Christ should be born our Lord Christ being carryed into Egypt and brought thence was that it might be fulfilled which was written Out of Egypt have I called my son Hos 11. 1. This had been fulfilled before in Israel's being brought out of Egyps so the prophet speaketh of it yet it had an eye to annother fulfilling which it had here in our Lord Christ Math. 2. 15. Vers. 17. Herods cruel murthering the innocent children was the fulfilling of a prophecy then was fulfilled that of Jeremie the prophet Jer. 31. 15. In Rama was a voice heard Lamentation and bitter weeping Rachel weeping for her children c. When our Lord came out of Egypt he went and dwelt in a citie called Nazareth that it might be fulfilled that was spoken by the prophet he shall be called a Nazarene Our Lord leaving Nazareth came and dwelt in Capernaum in the border of Zebulon and Napthalie Math. 4. 13. 14. 15. That it might be fulfilled Isa 9. 1. The Land of Zebulon c. The people that sate in darknes have seen great light c. See the places and consider them At the latter end also when he was finishing his sufferings and humiliation Judas his taking of money thirty peeces of silver of the chief preists to betray his master Matth. 27. 9. was the fulfilling of a prophecy then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Zechariah the ptophet Zech. 11. 12. 13. Likewise the parting of his garments and casting lots for his vesture Math. 27. 35. It was that it might be fulfilled that is written Psal 22. 18. His crucifying between two theives was that the scripture might be fulfilled that sayth He was numbred with the transgressors Isa 53. 12. Mark 15. 28. That very remarkable place we may see in Joh. 19. 28. 29. 30. When his suffering was neer over he being then in the very last part of it and knowing that all things were accomplished only one little thing as some might be apt to think that the scriptures Psal 69. 21. might be fulfilled he sayd I thirst and they filled a spunge with vinegar and put it upon hysop and put it to his mouth which when he had received the vinegar he said it was finished to wit fully that being the very last thing and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost So as we see what great stresse lay upon it our Lord could not die till it was done and then he sayd it was finished and gave up the ghost The like stresse was on those other things before mentioned as the parting of his rayment and casting lots for his vesture his going to Nazareth and Capernaum and the like recorded and fulfilled in the very letter of the scripture without any allegorie or spiritual meaning which many are apt to be putting on prophecyes Besides these there are many more recorded in the holy scriptures and are not written in vain which for brevity I forbear to set down In like manner and in way of proportion and paralel we may reckon account and believe that all the prophecyes and sayings of the holy prophets and of our Lord Christ himself and the holy Apostles written by inspiration by the holy pen-men and writers of the holy scriptures relating to Christ our Lord his coming again in power and great glory
and the coming of his kingdom and reign and all those great things that shall contemporize fall in and take place then of which we have spoken before and are too many to be here set down they shall all have their fulfilling and making good then these of the holy psalmists of Isaiah Ieremiah and Ezekiel of Daniel and the rest of the prophets relating to that time shall then in like manner be fulfilled as they are written We shall particularize a few out of the new testament and draw to a close First that of our Lord Math. 25. 31. With all that followeth to the end of the chapter as it is setdown when the son of man shall come in his glory and all his holy Angels with him then will he sit on the throne of his glory likewise the gathering the nations the setting them on the right hand and on the left the saying as is their spoken and judging and sentencing of them will be fulfilled according as it is written in all the particulars of it As also that Luk. 21. 27. and then shall ye see the son of man come in the clouds with power and great glory Every eye shall see him Rev. 1. 7. As sure as the wise men saw his star and afterwards himself lying in the manger or as they in the time of his humiliation saw him ride on an asse and on a colt the foal of an asse as it was written Zech. 9. 9. Math. 21. 4. 5. Tell ye the daughter of Sion behold thy king cometh unto thee meek and sitting on an asse c. So as sure then when he comes again he shall come in the clouds of heaven in great power and glory and every eye shall see him That Acts. 1. 10. 11. Which the two men in white apparrel to wit Angels told the disciples looking after our Lord being ascended this Jesus whom ye have seen go up into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven it shall then be fulfilled As likewise that Heb. 9. 28. To them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation Then will be fulfilled that which holy Peter and others have told concerning the burning of this world and the taking place of the new a new heaven and a new earth according to the promise of God with tho raising of the dead in Christ out of their graves and the changing of those saints then alive in a moment The restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy Prophets will be fulfilled as sure as those things spoken by them were formerly when he came before Then will that be fulfilled written by holy Paul Rom. 8. concerning the waited for adoption the redemption of the body and the creatures also delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God Then shall Daniel as was told by the Angel stand up in his lot And Abraham and Isaack and Jacob and all the Prophets sit together in the kingdom of God as it is written That which holy Isaiah chap. 60. hath foretold and holy John hath shewed Rev. 21. Rev. 22. concerning Jerusalems glory coming down from heaven and shining gloriously with the pure river of water of life and the trees bearing fruit every moneth which he hath attested to be the true sayings of Almighty God And also that concerning the righteous then that they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more nor suffer pain or death any more for ever nor no more curse the sayings being true and faithfull and will be fulfilled then the righteous shall see the vengence that is written fully made good against their wicked oppressors their wrongs righted their faith and patience rewarded the righteous proceedings of God manifested in punishing them with everlasting destruction from his presence such as sorely afflicted them when they shall have rest together it will be all fulfilled as it is written Great terror and fear will attend the wicked then and they will according as it is written be found saying to the mountains fall on us and to the hills cover us from the presence of him that sitteth on the throne And Gog and Magog the beast and false Prophet the captains and mighty men and all their great numbers be destroyed And the devill that deceived them and death also and the grave or Hell be cast into the lake of sire for ever with very many things of the like kinde which in a prophetical way by way of threatning against the wicked are written it shall then be fulfilled and made good from the faithfulness of the Lord Iehovah that is engaged in it Why should any that believe the the power and faihfulness of God doubt of it why should any think that the things spoken of in the holy Scriptures relating to the Lord Christ his second coming in power and great glory declared by the prophets and holy penmen of the Scriptures that those should not as well be fulfilled and made good as those were fulfilled at his first coming in the state of humiliation and suffering why should any go about to advance unbelief and weak reason into the room and place of faith and conclude that those things of Christs coming and kingdom are divised fables or things impossible ever to come to passe Holy Peter strong in faith and lively in hope saith 2. Pet. 3. 12. seeing so great things are to be done as burning and dissolving this old heaven and earth with the works therein in order to the coming in of the new in the room thereof we should be looking for and hastning to the day of their performance Vers. 13. we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dweleth righteousnes And again vers 14. seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace c. unto those that look for him the second time he will appear Heb. 9. 28. Great good things will attend the righteous hereafter a great change for the better will come when they shall enjoy a flourishing condition and abundance of peace and felicity The blessed morning will come when they will come to have the preheminence The day hasteneth when they as Lazarus had will have the good things and be comforted when the wicked will sadly suffer the righteous being in the height of their enjoyments of blessedness enjoying the presence of God and being for ever with the Lord Christ and having fellowship with just men throughly made perfect and shall live and reign with Christ a thousand years as it is written and will be fulfilled It is impossible that any thing thereof should fail or come short I shall forbear to enlarge The reason and scope of the whole is to infor from what is written as fulfilled of the prophecyes at Christ our Lord his first coming to shew what we may look for and expect at his second coming in like manner remembring holy Peter hath told us we have a more sure word of Prophecy unto which we do well to taken ed Hope we stedfastly therefore for the great grace and blessedness that shall be brought unto us at the revelation of Iesus Christ O come Lord Iesus come quickly Errata PAge line 7. for on reade gone p. 32. l. 2. for on r. in p. 33. l. 27. for had no r. had not l. 22. r. Lord Jesus p. 43. l. 30. for Psalm r. Esa p. 44. for psal r. phil l. 33. for his r. this p. 52. l. 15. for preceher r. preached p. 55. l. 17. for changed r. raised p. 57. l. 36. for world r. word l. 30. r. is come dole which is to come p. 59. l. 22. for many r. man p. 78. l. 13. r. that will attend p. 83. l. 16. for as our Christ r. as our Lord Christ l. 11. r. the regeneration p. 87. l. 12. for must r. might l. 31. for as so great r. is so great p. 91. l. 12. for thee r. him p. 102. dele for a time p. 105. l. 23. for light r. right p. 107. for be r he p. 109. l. 17. for must r. may l. 24. dele save In p. 13. at the close of the 3. chap. some thing intended to have been left out was casually left in concerning a long time after a 1000. years said to be Mr. Archors judgement also p. 16. towards the end these words and as some apprehend will be a 1000 years more Which not being the judgement of the Authour is here intimated FINIS