the Book given unto the Lamb. We might be 〈◊〉 in many particular Promises to this purpose respecting the 〈◊〉 in that time with many excellenties respecting tha◠〈◊〉 as we have specially shewed how concerning Christs Dividid a Kingdom and people then God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began as is manifest by the third of our 8 Conving Arguments in the Word written And the great designe of the All knowing and All working God in giving such Prophesies to his Church from the beginning concerning such great things to be fulfilled at the end of the world in that said Great Day of Judgment appears to be made manifest by such Divine Chronology first set down by Moses and other Penmen thereof before the Captivities of Israel and Judah but after that are in their discoveries chiefly carried on by those Mystical Prophesies of those two beloved Servants of God and Christ the Prophet Daniel and the Apostle John but chiefly by the last to whom these hidden secrets of God respecting those times wore particularly as we shewed commisted to open Danichs sealed Mysteries to Ch. 19. and from thence to the end the most antient Predictions and Promises c. when God would raise unto David that righteous Branch that King that shall reign and prosper and execute Judgment and Justice in the earth in whose days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely Jer. 23.5 6. when they shall have the Mercies promised to their Forefathers performed to them as Zechary is taught Divinely to sing out and in such a manner he would grant unto them that being delivered from the hand of their enemies they might serve God without fear of them in righteousness and true holiness all the days of then lives Luke 1.7 c. which will be the stability of all the happiness of that state when that New Kingdom of Israel will be restored the Tabernacle of David that was fullen new raised up again for that said righteous Branch which God then said he would then raise unto David for whom with his Bride God will then make New Heavens and a new earth in that new world to come wherein shall be that New great holy and beloved Jerusalem that City that hath foundations whose Maker and Builder is God for those new Inhabitants that came from God out of Heaven and came with Christ to receive their spiritual bodies at the first blessed Resurrection of the Saints where also will be the New Paradise of God Also the converted Jews and Israelites shall then enjoy their New Jerusalem also built upon its own heaps when strangers shall build her Walls as the Prophet foretels upon the return of the Shulamite who instead of Fathers shall have Children whom she may make Princes in all the earth being the Seed then which the Lord hath blessed Esai 61.9 then shall be her new guides and watchmen upon her Walls probably the new raised Saints that shall not hold their peace day nor night new dispensations new peace plenty security new priviledges new pleasures delights in heavenly visions comunion discoveries in the revelation of such things as are appointed then to be known in the restitution of all things promised then to be done as in the forenamed particulars we before set down and the times of these things are chiefly made known in their fit latitudes by Revelation-prophesie for when we read of the coming of Christ at his appearance and Kingdom the times thereof are so set forth as was shewed by Revelation-prophesie We read of the Saints first bodily Resurrection but the time thereof is only deciphered by Revelation Prophesie we heard of raising Davids Tabernacle which was fallen but the time is only pointed out by Revelation prophesie and that the Saints shall receive their sure mercies of David Esa 55.3 but when can only be resolved by Revelation prophesie we read of Gods setting up the Kingdom of the Stone that should destroy all others and it self become a Mountain filling the whole earth but the times and order of his carrying on these great works by Jesus Christ is in the fittest proportion made known to the Church by Revelation-prophesie The Lord said to Davids Lord Sit at my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool which he hath long expected Heb. 10.13 and the Heavens must receive him till the times of the Restitution of all things but the best resolution of both is to be had from Revelation-prophesie Glorious things are spoken saith the Psalmist of the City of God of the new the holy the great the beloved Jerusalem but what and when and where and for whom we are chiefly informed from Revelation-prophesie We read of the ruine of Gog and Magog the Churches greatest enemies before that City Jehovah Shammah shall be set up but when it shall be we chiefly learn from Daniel and Revelation-prophesie Object But did not Christ reprehend his Disciples Acts 1.6 for inquiring the time of his Kingdom c. Ans Though this and such like hath been sufficiently answered yet know it is only whilst God keeps such things in his own power and in the next Verse he said But ye shall be indued with power which was done about ten days after at the Feast of Pentecost and all that wrote after speak something thereof but chiefly the beloved John And though Christ as man then said he knew not the day and hour of his coming which none now pretend to yet in a fit latitude Christ hath revealed the near approach thereof with many things to be done before very useful for the Church to know and wherein all Saints are greatly concerned which are great mercies in many respects to be known and believed in these later days for which there is great cause of thanksgiving but no reason of cavilling with our mercies or the goodness of the Author of them Thus for the Doctrinal part of this Text wherein we have considered this most gracious Divine Declaration of the set time of such its performance with the glorious illustrations and confirmations thereof and shewed from Scripture wherein it doth consist and the many decipherings of the times of the renovation of all things with Scripture evidences accordingly referring thereunto both manifesting the thing and shewing in a latitude the near approach thereof We shall now by Gods gracious assistance endeavour to make some pertinent improvement thereof 1. We may hence be informed of the many mistakes that have been both of this Text and the Context thereof as respecting the matter time and place thereof the matter not the making new these visible Heavens and earth but the Prophetical Heavens and earth as we have shewed For the time not after the last Resurrection and Judgment but in the interim betwixt the first and last wherein the anciently declared and promised mercies are to be performed to the faithful Fathers and their spiritual Seed through the Promised Seed of the
our Saviour stiles them that shall then be counted worthy of that world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like the Angels of God be manifest to be the Children of God and shall not only be freed from all the evil formerly brought upon them by men shall be made or Devils but also shall by that blessed Resurrection be made capable of all promised good belonging to that state It is very observable how the Spirit of God guided the Apostle Peter to set forth many Divine Doctrines concerning those times in that excellent portion of Scripture Acts 3.19 20 21. first in that apt title he gives them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they are the times of the restitution of all things when God himself saith he will make all things new in this Text by putting them into their due order and frame Secondly they will be times of refreshing Thirdly that their sins will then be blotted out that is one great refreshing But fourthly a greater will be from the presence of the Lord when the Tabernacle of God will be with men and he shall dwell with them Fifthly that God hath spoken of these times by his holy Prophets And sixthly by all his holy Prophets since the world began as we have shewed largely concerning the Kingdom of Christ in the said 12 foundations of the faith thereof and in the Iren and much may be done respecting the Jews and all Gods peoples Priviledges and Mercies belonging to those times which we have or shall farther speak of so that wherever we may find the holy Prophets have spoken any thing tending to break the Serpents head by the promised Seed of the woman his head of Policie or his head of Power which shall in the issue chiefly and fully be performed by him in his execution of the Judgment of the Great Day which was preached to the Old World by Enoch hath been since the great Tradition through alltimes till the Apostle Jude recorded it in his Epistle stiling it as the Spirit of God then taught him the Judgment of the Great Day which since by our Saviour in this most excellent Divine Book is explained to have a first Act or the Matutinum Judicium according to what was long before revealed to Daniel Chap. 7. confirmed also by himself Revel 11.18 and Rev. 19. later end at the ruine of the Beast and false Prophet But the other Act of the Great Day hath fince been by the Father only left to be made known by Christ himself to explain and confirm most fully for the use of his Church concerning the last finishing Act of the said Great Day of Judgment or the Vespertinum Judicium thereof without which his Church had been much in the dark in respect of such great Points of the Doctrine thereof delivered by himself in this most excellent Book which he hath so strongly clearly and exactly done beyond all Parallel in that Divine Table respecting the 1000 years of which and the little space following his Doctrines of the last Act are the boundary as we shewed before and was needful to be explained as being included in Enoch's said Vision or Prophesie thereof which said 1000 years include all those promised Mercies most antiently laid down in the Word of God respecting the Saints in those times either privitively in respect of the evils to be removed or positively in respect of good things to be obtained by them in the particulars beforesaid so unlocked by our Saviours said Divine Key or rather Bunch of Keys as they may be called unlocking the several Cabinets wherein the said Mercies are contained And on the other hand whatsoever of these Mercies for good we find the Prophets have spoken of as to be obtained by Gods people in those times upon any such notion respecting them they are by the Apostle Peter's rule so to be understood with respect thereunto and the words of my Text are a sure Key to open the meaning of them Now since from the fall of the first Adam the Dominion lost by him hath been usurped by the Prince of the Power of the Air that hath all along ever since effectually worked in the Children of disobedience and will not according to the word be fully taken away from him and his Vassels the evil Powers in the world till those two said Acts of Judgment be finished by the said promised Seed the Son of God and since likewise the Word of God gives so manifold evidence of the said promised Seed the Son of God his so taking to himself his great Power and Reigning which Kingdom of David was the highest mercy promised formerly to the Fathers as a Type and from whom Christs Title hath ever since been strongly confirmed and that for the sins of Davids Posterity and people his Tabernacle fell at the Babylonian Captivity so as not to be raised till the time of the Anti-type of Davids said Kingdom come when the Tabernacle of David is said again to be raised as Amos 9.11 so expounded by the Apostle James Acts 15.16 let us from the fall thereof consider what discoveries of the seasons of the raising thereof we can find from the Word of God which are these said times of the restitution of all things spoken of by the Apostle Peter and the renovation of all things spoken of in the Text by God himself Now from the falling of Davids seid Kingdom in the Type to the raising of Christs Davidical Kingdom in the Anti-type we have as Mr. Mede observes a two-fold Calendar in Daniel leading thereunto the great Calendar passeth through all the times of the four Gentile Monarchies set forth by four Mettle Kingdoms Chap. 2. in Nebuchadnezzars Image which he saw and the same again revealed to Daniel by four Beasts destroying each other Chap. 7. so that by these two testimonies both to Jews Gentiles it might be in due time manifest what was there fore-shewed shall in due time ensue both for Christs Kingdom of the Stone or Kingdom of Patience from Christs ascension being that which God set up then Dan. 2.44 to his coming again in which time it should Divinely and powerfully destroy all other Kingdoms at which said second coming it should become the Kingdom of the Mountain or Kingdom of Power filling the whole earth upon Christs taking possession of it Dan. 7.13 14. and there seems to be an exact Table of the times of this great Calendar Chap. 8. of 2300 years and that upon that account ver 17 19. as almost is now by experience explained with the series of Revelation-Prophesie in the 1700 years therein contained the reasons thereof we have set down in our summary of Daniels Visions and for the lesser Calender of the 70 Weeks of years Dan. 9 viz. 490 years the Key of the Times whereof appears to be the 1335 years after the full taking away of Sacrifice Chap. 12. and the setting up of the abomination of desolation most remarkably done by Julian the Apostate
much resistance much depravation much disorder opposition in men and Devils in all the Creatures in it saving that God hath given Christ Power and Authority by degrees aforehand to take it away for which end our Saviour in this excellent Book besides other Scriptures hath much therein set forth the usefulness of Preaching the Crown as well as the Cross though that in the first place but this as a motive to take up the Cross which was formerly of great prevalencie as is storied of the Primitive sufferers that desired Martyrdom that they might reign with Christ in that his Kingdom on earth surely they had much greater faith of these things than is usually found in our days when that world is neer approaching and in this whole Book something is propounded to all the Sufferers in their several times respecting the Jerusalem-state as to the Asian Churches to the Sealed ones Chap. 7. c. for their encouragements as we have shewed in our seventh Convincing Argum. pag. 28 29. But we proceed to some other remarkable portions of Scripture that one way or other point out these times unto us To which purpose we may in a special manner observe that peculiar mark in the the curious Divine contrivance of Revelation-prophesie twice set down therein at the pouring out of the last Vial Chap. 16 17. upon the Air of the Beast probably taking away or binding the Prince of the Power of the Air. Then came a great voice out of the Temple of Heaven from the Throne saying it is done which appears also to be at the time of the sounding of the seventh Trumpet when the Kingdoms of the world become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 which shews their coincidence about the same time and likewise that this great work of Gods renovation concurs in truth with both for the binding of Satan and the Reign of Christ with his raised Saints are fully contemporaries So it is added in the words next following this Text as being here again spoken by him that sat upon the Throne And he said unto me It is done which declares the same time that Satan is bound and Christ reigns this great work will be effected and therefore is another evidence that all things contained in Chap. 21. and 22. belong to the time and state of the said 1000 years of Christs Reign with his raised Saints in his said Davidical Kingdom upon earth But the Question here may be moved What is that that then will be done Ans In General many great enemies and workers of iniquity shall be destroyed but more especially it seems to have respect unto that great Divine Oracle fore-named The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool Psal 110.1 at which time likewise Christ receives his Kingdom for his enemies ruine is the beginning of Christs Reign so that in respect of both God himself saith It is done viz. what he himself had promised unto David's Lord before and this time and day seems to be set forth very emphatically upon occasion of the destruction of Gog the Turk then likewise and there also the Holy Ghost seems to use the same Watch-word for the time thereof as here was at the Beasts ruine and that with a great deal of Divine illustration Behold it is come and it is done saith the Lord God this is the day whereof I have spoken Ezek. 39.8 the said Text appears to be of great weight N. B. Quest But how doth it appear that the Turk shall then also be destroyed Answ By Daniels last great Vision Chap. 10.11.12 in Chap. 11. having spoken something briefly of the Persian and more of the Greek Monarchy he comes to the Roman ver 36. and of the Roman Antichrist ver 37 38 39. and then he proceeds to speak of the two Ruiners of the Roman Monarchy viz. the two Woe-trumpets Rev. 9. that is the Saracens and Turkish Mahumitans the first stiled the King of the South the last the King of the North whose History is set down as almost accomplished ver 41 42 43 44 45. as Mr. Mede judiciously applied it except the last his setting his Tabernacle of his Palace in the Holy Land when he comes to his end and none shall help him and then immediately follows then stood up Michael the Prince of Daniels people and in that troublous time delivers them at his appearance probably when his feet shall stand upon Mount Olivet Zec. 14. and that mourning be Zec. 12.10 and ruine of both the first Gog and Magog as well as the last is prophesied very neer together c. And this mark of destruction of both It is done c. seems the more to be observed besides divers others both in Ezech. 38. and 39. and in the Revel because as the Apostle shews Heb. 10.13 Christ had sitten to that time above 1600 years expecting till such his foes should be made his footstool Therefore how fitly is it by God himself so punctually declared both to the Jews and Gentiles that he is not unmindful of his promise to his Son Jesus Christ but as he promised so at that set time It is done as if he should say my Beloved Son hath many hundred years sitten at my right hand expecting this particular season for my fulfilling such my promise to him and now that time is come and it is done this is the day whereof I have spoken Hence also the Holy Spirit directed the Apostle Peter to assert the same thing for time The Heavens must receive him saith he till the times of the restitution of things Acts 3.21 as we shewed formerly more fully and remarkably And since Christ hath left the Book of the Revelation to open Daniels before shut up and sealed Mysteries until the times of the end whilst the Roman Monarchy should continue after God had set up the Kingdom of the Stone from Christs first coming in the 19 first Chapters of that Divine Book unto his second coming Chap. 20. and hath also given the remainder of that Book as a Divine Key or Bunch of Keys to open also the Mysteries of the most ancient promised Mercies and Covenants to the Fathers as we have shewed which are to have their completing from his said second coming in that state of the 1000 years and those times of the restitution of all things in my Text. What pity is it that such matters of so great concernment to all Saints now near approaching are no more considered or understood or duly prized or improved and now indeed is the proper and seasonable time to publish them and make them known when Gods wonderful Grace and Goodness therein w th his Truth Faithfulness in the performance of them shall shortly be beheld with admiration and adoration as in the Text Behold I c. Another remarkable deciphering of these times is the finishing of the Mystery of God when the seventh Angel begins
the end of the World Mat. last and last So that as he needs no such so he ordained no such Officer as shortly he will be taught to know and all the deluded part of the world that follow him to their cost But if that had been this tenth part of the City I conceive it would have been past before this time But it seems there will be some good and peaceable times in that Plateia at the fall of this tenth part of the City in the West though though the 2d Woe continue longer in the East because at the end thereof before the 7th Angel begin to sound it is said the 3d Woe cometh quickly no remarkable occurrents then and there said to intervene for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quickly or swiftly is in this book to be understood in the due order of accomplishment whereby Christ hath inseparably linked together the first and last things of neer 1700 years distance hence he saith in the beginning Rev. 1.1 that they are things which must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shortly or swiftly come to pass viz. in the said-determined order which due order N. B. is in this Book Doctrinal being the Divine purpose of setting it so down c. and likewise it is again said Behold I come quickly or swiftly the same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being used about the end of 1700 years after in the end of the last ch the most of which said 1700 years from Christs birth is contained in the 19 first chap. of this most Divine Book before the 1000 years being chap. 20. but is not said to come presently or immediately and the ending of the great Earthquake before the fall of the said tenth part of the City with the 100 slain in the West and that glory then to be rendred unto God by that said remnant there all which imply the compleating of the said ascention of the finishing Witnesses and therewith some respite from former sufferings before the 7th Trumpet called by some the Woe joy Trumpet shall actually begin to sound besides the time of that coming quickly not presently may be considerable there for when that sounded ver 15. great Voices of Joy were heard in Heaven saying the Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and at the beginning thereof as we shewed from chap. 19.9 11 c. Christ will destroy the Beast and false Prophet the interim before which after the said fall of the tenth part of the City when the second Woe ended v. 14. seems I say to import some intermission of the Churches trouble in the West before that time oppressed by the Beast there though some of those Sealed ones in the East chap. 7. may continue that interim under the pressures of the Turk during the second Woe there c. Which brings in also the good times of the 2d Table which we spake of in chap. 20. wherein is contained Satans binding Christs and his Saints Reign so exactly strongly and clearly asserted by Christ to be 1000 years with its Contemporaries first before it chap. 19. viz. the coming of the Marriage of the Lamb and his wifes making her self ready ver 7. and after it also chap. 21. 22. when will be the New Heavens and the New Earth the New Jerusalem with the Nations saved walking in the light thereof also the pure River and Tree of Life in the middest of the street of the City all to continue that said 1000 years in the world until Satans loosing which are after expounded c. 21 22. as depending on c. 19.7 it is agreeable as was said to that Antient Prophesie Deut. 32.41 42. of the beginning of Revenges upon the Whore and Beast before Jews and Gentiles then rejoice together c. when many Halelujahs will be Sung upon those accounts in the beginning of chap. 19. to ver 7. when the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth So then these two excellent Tables have their distinct considerations in the said Divine contrivance for divers excellent purposes and the said boundaries of the times of each are not to be taken into them as set in their proper order and place so as what follows must needs therefore be after them in time It was not so in the experience of the former Table and it will not be so in the latter which being well understood with what we have here said upon that occasion may accordingly be as we desire and endeavour whilst time and opportunity serveth to give light to this part of this most Divine Book and the rather being of late very sensible of the Infirmities of old Age now fast incroaching upon us and this more especially because the very Cream and Marrow of all faithful Christians Interest included in these mystical parts of the Gospel of Christ may hereby be made more conspicuous and comfortable unto them which also we hope by resolving other following Questions may farther appear and hereunto Mr. Medes judicious Synchronisms are very subservient as in our Scheme of the whole Revelation may be observed but the main business is there set down in this last table viz. the reign of Christ with his raised Saints for which Reign their said bodily Resurrection makes way as was shewed being the chief thing in reference whereunto all that are after explained chap. 21 22. to belong to that state as to their time are determined by Christ to be to continue 1000 years and from thence he sets down Satans loosing with the last Gogs Magogs destruction leading in the last judgment which seemed necessary to be so explained according to our Saviours Divine Wisdom as the most full Revelation of what should be useful to be known by his Church for the most full explication of Enochs Prophesie or Vision of the great day of Judgment as Jude speaks of which Daniel chap. 7. seems only to explain the first act or matutinum judicium at the destruction of the Beast above 1000 years before but by this Divine Table we are directly brought in this order of Prophesie to the last act or Vespertinum judiâ—ium of all sorts good and bad much more clearly than was revealed before in sundry particulars c. but he then returns back to the predictions of the Propheâ—â— concerning the said 1000 years reign of Christ with his said Saints or times of Gods making all things New as the Context before and after manifest And this will appear in that which concerns the first particular viz. of the New Heavens and New Earth Esa 65. from ver 20 21 22. where many things are nam'd respecting those in the natural life as is observable for antient Prophesies are the Foundatiocs of them all c. But 2dly if it were supposed they were after the general Judgment it might then be enquired what use in reason they could be conceived to serve for since Scripture gives no ground for any such matter but contrarily resolves
us the world will then be dissolved chap. 20.11 all Creatures destroyed or removed the Saints rapt in a moment to meet Christ before and all be changed and thenceforth ever to be with him the Lord the Devil cast into the Lake of Fire and wicked men sent into Hell c. What use can be then of the New Heavens and New Earth after the great day of Judgment But these Heavens will not be the making a new frame of the material Heavens when the old are passed away as after may be shewed but will be Prophetical Heavens grounded upon Gods Word both for the Nature Times and Use of them when as follows there will be no Sea viz. such an unsteady state of things as the seven headed and ten horned Beast rose out of when the Barbarous Nations had broken the Western Empire in pieces to make way for the ten Crowned Horns or such Waters as the Whore sate on ever since unsteady rolling Wayes No such Mystical Sea will have room then in that Kingdom of Christ and his Saints that cannot be moved or shaken Heb. 12.9 as the frustrating of Satans attempt with his last Gog and Magog will certainly manifest But the New Heavens will be those Heavenly Creatures coming with Christ when he removes his Court from Heaven into this World for the time of his great day of Judgment which were formerly the Inhabitants thereof in which sence our Saviour upon the Whoren destruction calls upon the Heaven of Saints to rejoyce Rev. 18.20 Rejoyce over her thou Heaven then to manifest what Heaven he meant he adds and ye Apostles and Prophets which shall be Inhabitants of the New Jerusalem chap. 21. v. 2. So also the Heaven of Angels that comes thâ—n with Christ to attend on him in his Davidical Kingdome when the Tabernacle of God will be with men And where Christ will then be there Heaven must needs be And there will also then be such a Prophetical New Earth too wherein will dwell Righteousness as the Apostle Peter speaks 1 Pet. 3. for a King shall then Rule in Righteousness as the Prophet speaks and Princes in Judgment Esa 30.1 among the Nations of them that shall then be saved their Rulers shall be Peace and their Exactors Righteousness Esa 60.17 which will be the stability of Christs Throne then and such Heavens and Earth appear to be the Object of this Holy Apostles Vision ver 1. and the 2d verse confirmes the same I John saw the Holy City descending c. as we may have occasion afterwards more fully to shew and the Tabernacle of God is then said to be with men and he to dwell with them viz. for that said 1000 years reign in his personal presence in that body which God gave him Heb. 10.5 which was typified by the Tabernacle of old wherein the then acceptable services of God were performed and that body whereby at Christs death all acceptable Sacrifice for sin was wholly fulfilled to which purpose is that expression of this holy Evangelist John 1.14 of Christs living but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little while here lower than the Angels as Heb. 2. that he Tabernacled amongst us as the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do properly signifie Now that Tabernacle of his body in the Type and Antitype being perfected in glory at the Fathers right hand in this said state and time personally comes in the Clouds of Heaven in his own glory and of the Fathers and of all his holy Angels and that is the blessed Tabernacle there said to be with men c. as we have many wayes proved namely that that coming will be personal his appearance to the Jews personal his feet standing on Mount Olivet personally his bringing his Saints with him his personal act his command to slay his Enemies before him personally his raising the said Saints his peculiar personal act his sitting on Davids Throne as the Son of David personally and the many great things wherein he will be admired of his Saints then in all his said great day of Judgment will be all personal 2 Thes 1.10 Se farther Assert 7. of our Key for his Personal Appearance and Reign A second Question may be Why the Reign of Christ in his Davidical Kingdome with his raised Saints being the last promised to the Posterity of Shem Abraham and David is here the first spoken of as performed in the 1000 years Answ It is the chief thing promised to Christ as the Son of David And the Promise of Canaan made to Abraham and his spiritual Seed before wherein the Holy City Jerusalem is said to be prepared for the Fore-fathers was also contained therein as Heb. 11.16 and hence the state of his people in Canaan did by degrees grow up into a Kingdome as the Scripture manifests as the main thing intended for after the Promise to Abraham both he Isaac and Jacob were Pilgrims and Strangers in the world a long time and their natural race long after in bondage in Aegypt 400 years in their Wilderness condition and when they possessed Canaan they were under many oppressors above 400 years in the times of the Judges but at last they grew up into a Kingdome in Davids and Solomons time c. but when their Posterity had forfeited both Land and City c. they have since remained in bondage all the times of the Gentiles Monarchies almost 2300 years and so must probably do till Davids Tabernacle as the Apostle James speaks from Amos 9.11 shall be raised up again for Christ with his raised Sts. at the times of Restitut of all things that therefore being the last chief thing promised and the rest seem to make up the glory happiness thereof it is therefore here first spoken of again in the table of the good times So that where God left off before in fulfilling Antient Promises to the Fathers for the sins of their natural Race in that chief Mercy of the Kingdome there likewise he here in revealing his Restauration for the comfort of their spiritual Race begins with again in that said glorious Kingdome of Christ to come in both which respects it being the chief thing promised and also shortly now to be performed for Christ and his Saints it may appear very meet and congruous that it should here be set in the Table of these good times in the first place as the measure of all the rest that follow which do all but make up the happiness of that Kingdome as Christ reckoned his Sufferers and two Witnesses chief in the bad times Rev. 11. which times also are chiefly measured by the 1260 dayes of years during their Prophesying in Sackcloth So in the Renovation God seems to begin chap. 20. where in their natural Race by reason of their sins he had left and in chap. 21 and 22. proceeds backward to speak of the rest and lastly of the Paradise of God the first lost and last to be restored by Christ the second
Adam in that state in the world 2. And for the bringing on of this Kingdome of Christ the Son of David with his raised Saints God hath ever since the fall of that Tabernacle overturned all the Gentiles States and Kingdoms successively in their orders as in Nebuchadnezzars Image Dan. 2. and Daniels Visions of the four Beasts destroying each other Dan. 7. was signified and will still do so till the God of Heaven set up this Kingdom as the top of these Mercies that should never be destroyed but as the Kingdome of the Stone should destroy all others in the world till it became a Mountain filling the whole Earth which Christ hath now almost fulfilled and which will be that state thereof in the 1000 years of the reign of Christ with his Raised Saints for which the said Restitution of all things will be accomplished which was spiritually and powerfully begun at Christs first coming upon his Resurrection and Asoention when he led Captivity Captive tryumphing gloriously over all the powers of Darkness Col. 3.15 and though ever since the Prince of the power of the Aire that ruleth effectually in the Children of Disobedience hath prevailed in all the suffering times under the Dragon and Beast now almost for 1700 years to bring on Persecutions and Sufferings of the Saints who notwithstanding by Christs Divine and Powerful Grace have been carryed on to suffer with him or for him yet in that state approaching he will not only free them from all such Miseries and Evils now in the world through Sin but bring them into that happy state of Reigning in the world with himself as his Spouse that with him shall then in her it all things with their sure Mercies of David in this Univer salo and perpetual Kingdome in the world in reserence unto which the Renovation of all things will then be made by God himself as in the Text. The third Question But how doth it appear that such a coming and Kingdome of Christ shall be above 1000 years in the world before the last general Judgment when he will descend with a shout c. 1 Thes 4.16 Answ It will most manifestly appear not only from our Saviours Table of the good times which we spake of but now and from the litteral sense of the 1000 years which we spake sufficiently of pag. 38. of the Saints bodily Resurrection which is constantly granted by all sound Expositors to be litterally so understood neither is it other vise taken in the Beasts 42 months nor are the Prophetical dayes of the two Witnesses Rev. 11. or Sons of Oyl Zech. 4. standing before the Lord of the whole Earth ver 14. to which that Prophesie seems chiefly to have reference c. understood otherwise than for 1260 dayes of years and there is much less reason to pervert Christs words of his own and his said Saints Reign from their litteral sense when he most plainly saith they are 1000 years and where are any numbers of years in Scripture to be found but for that individual number they are set for the lives of all Antients Patriarks and Fathers the times of Judges Reigns of Kings continuance of States are set down by their peculiar number of years without which nothing could be resolved of and in ch 20. as Mr. Mede observed that Christ set down things more plainly there than in all that book before because men have been averse to think so of these last parts there have come up many mistaken conceits of anticipating Satans binding in the primative times of Persecution the Saints reigning under their greatest sufferings but not in the sence here intended which will also be performed and the taking the New Jerusulem state for the Kingdom of Heaven and the New Heavens and New Earth to be after the last Judgment and the like which being resolved by the Scripture Foundations to which this part of the Revel hath particular referonce they will upon due consideration appear very evidently to belong to this set time of the 1000 years us by our 15 Reasons why they shall be in the world may also be manifest and by our first Convincing Arg. of 36 Particulars to be according to Scripture before in after the said 1000 years and by our many distinctions of Christs appearance or coming at Antichrists destruction and of his descending above 1000 years after with a shout and the voice of an Arch-angel and the Trump of God at the Saints General Rapture and Resurrection of the wicked peruse them seriously they have Scripture warrant c. And as Mr. Mede observed it to be the usual Errour of the Jews to confound the first and second coming of Christ overlooking the Humility of the first which was not often before clearly distinguished except by Daniel and in some few places so Christians do much in these times over look the Mercy of the Jews at Christs second coming little regarding Christs irrefragable resolutions of many things of the last times which were given to him alone by the Father to instruct his Church in yea though they be founded upon many other parts of Scripture and refer unseasonably to what concerns both Jews and all promised Mercies to the raised Saints to the times of the last General Judgment above 1000 years most evidently after their set times Object But many Learned men have conceived that gloriouss City decyphered Rev. 21. and the Paradise of God to be the Kingdome of Glory in the highest Heavens Answ Besides our former said approved Reasons that it will be in the World the Apostle Paul Gal. 4. calls that the Jerusalem that is now above the Mother of all Saints being the peculiar Mansion at present of all the Spirits of Just men made perfect where they remain in happy Security Peace and Blessedness in their present state expecting the time of the said first Resurrection of their bodies which when Christ comes and brings them with him to raise and unite their Spiritual Bodies with them will be the Jerusalem here said then to come down from God out of Heaven which glorious place and City is prepared by God for the Fathers then and all such as the Apostle teacheth Heb. 11.16 40. that without us shall not be made perfect or perfect in one as our Saviour prayed John 17. which are called the Lambs Wife of the solemnity of whose Marriage the Kingly Prophet David foretold Psal 45. when that Bride instead of Fathers shall then have Children whom she may make Princes in all Lands and as Solomon in his most excellent Song in the book of Canticles divinely illustrateth it of the return of the Shulamite and the like which will be the fulfilling of the Covenant to Abraham and his Spiritual Seed by that one Divine Seed Christ in that state and time and for the Paradise of God annexed to that state which Christ will then restore instead of that lost before in the world by the first Adam it will
them at those times of restitution of all things Acts 3. viz. upon Christ the Lamb and his Bride then which I conceive is taken for both sorts of Saints both then raised and in the natural life though then in their proper different states yet by gracious dispensation will probably be both of one Communion which we are taught to believe according to Gods Word sutable to that of Christ and his Disciples forty days after he rose from the dead Secondly The Positive part is included in the same declaration Gen. 13.15 after explained by many gradual Promises and Covenants We shall begin with the last at first in this Divine Key of our Saviours viz. the Kingdom promised to David and his Seed for ever which is the main thing here spoken of that Christ with his Saints should enjoy in that state comprehending all the rest which all the other tend unto and are to be conferred with it before the enjoyment of which the raised Saints have their spiritual bodies then whereby they are put into a capacity to enjoy all the happiness of that time and state and the Jews Israelites and Gentiles shall be converted and united into one sheepfold c. This Kingdom was foretold by Jacob Gen. 49. and by Balaam Numb 24. and often prophesied of by David confirmed in Nathan's Message seen in Vision by Daniel at what time Christ should receive it over all Nations under the whole Heavens Dan. 7.27 with many other confirmations by the Prophets and declared by Christ that it was his Fathers pleasure to give it to his little little flock Luke 12.32 that they suffering with Christ should reign with him which in the 1000 years they are said to do Rev. 20.4 of which more is said in our twelve foundations of the faith thereof and in the Word written and elsewhere from Scripture-Authority For this great King are the New Heavens and earth to be made without such a mystical moveable Sea out of which the Beast arose in the times of the Barbarous Nations Cmmotions the Whore hath sitten upon those many troubled waters ever since but this Kingdom that Christ with his Saints shall receive is such as cannot be shaken or moved Heb. 12.28 this said Kingdom is the first and main thing here spoken of by Christ though the last promised to David and his Divine spiritual Seed which the Apostles expected should be restored Acts 1.6 and will be at that time of the raising up of Davids Tabernacle which had been fallen in his natural Race 2300 years probably before Acts 15.16 Amos 9.11 The next thing belonging to this Kingdom for which the integral parts thereof the New Heavens and the New Earth are then to be be made as Rev. 21.1 is that which is contained in the Covenant to Abraham and his Seed respecting the promised Land as the Mother City thereof typified by that Jerusalem of old which is now in bondage with her Children Gal. 4. And is now above till the time of the descending of it from God out of Heaven when Christ comes in the Clouds of Heaven and brings all his Saints with him till the Marriage of the Lamb spoken of Rev. 19. and 21. which is called the great and holy and beloved Jerusalem that City with foundations that Abraham expected and is said to be prepared for the forefathers and all the faithful since Heb. 11.16.40 whose Maker and Builder is God which appears to be in great part the New Heavens as Rev. 18.20 as we in part shewed before with the Heaven of the glorious Angels coming to attend on Christ when his Tabernacle of his bodily presence will be with men not for a little time as Heb. 2. at his first coming but he will dwell with them the space of the 1000 years Then will also be according to many Promises to the Saints in the natural life of all the Nations that shall then be saved the New Earth wherein will dwell righteousness when Christ that great King shall reign in righteousness and Princes shall rule in judgment Esa 32.1 whose Officers shall be peace and whose Exactors shall be righteousness Esa 60.17 when Christ sits upon the Throne of David to order it and to establish it with Judgment and with Justice from thencforth and for ever viz. unto the end of the world Esa 9.7 the Prophesies and Promises which respect that state of Gods peoples mercies benefits and Priviledges therein are exceeding great and manifold that would require a large Volume to explain them respecting Saints then in the natural life both in being greatly freed from the evils we now spoke of with the manifold enjoyments of good but especially in regard of their large measure of Grace then promised as in the New Covenant first made in their Book of Deuteronomy after the first Tables had been brok on remarkably set down Deut. 30. to ver 11. for circumcising the heart of that people and their Seed after all their great dispersions who shall be setled in their own Land then and remove no more as 2 Sam. 7. and Gods Sanctuary shall be with them for evermore Ezek. 37.28 when God will pour his Spirit on them generally Joel 3. as he did upon his Disciples and some few at his first coming and those expressions of the New Covenant Jer. 31.33 34. and 32.39 40. and Ezek. 36.25 26 27 c. do chiefly belong to that people and such as are united to them in the natural life in those times that shall then walk in the light of the said beloved Jerusalem Rev. 21. though we Gentiles have now our share in them through faith in some degree but they then in the times of Restitution much more by far and this will then be that special great foundation of all other temporal enjoyments as the strong entail that Christ will make them of all promised good And to all Saints in those times it is probable will arise that great enlargement of Joy for the inlarging Christs Kingdom with praise to God in Christ for it by the powerful operation of the Holy Spirit in that together with the inheriting of all promised mercies to themselves they will see and know then the great confluence of saved Souls then abundantly coming in upon the like foundations from the Word of God when all Nations shall see the salvation of the God of Israel and the Heathen shall be given to Christ God 's King then set upon his holy hill of Sion for his inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for his possession Psalm 2. for if the Angels in Heaven rejoyce at one sinners conversion now how will both Angels and Saints then rejoyce when so many thousands and millions which will then be saved in the prolonging of Christs days when he shall see his numerous seed as promised to the Fathers and the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Esa 53. and his City prepared will be large enough to contain all raised
Emperor the Epoca whereof was about 365. or as Learned Bishop Vsher conceives 363. to which the said 1335. being added probably makes up the times of the great restauration of Jews and Israelites at Christs appearance when the Turk is destroyed Dan. 11.45 and Chap. 12.1 2. which is further explained by the 1700 years of Revelation-prophesie until that time viz. about 320 years under the six first Seals until Constantine the Great cast Satan from his Heaven to the earth by abandoning his Heathenish Idolatries of his Sun Moon and Stars worshipping his Jupiter Mars Mercury c. with the Pagan Worshippers and Promoters thereof unto which sueceeded the other Christian Emperors for their short space spoken of Rev. 17.10 viz. about 80 or 90 years till the Dragons flood about the Womans the true Churches entring into her wilderness condition and from thence under the four first Trumpets proceeding out of the seventh Seal when began the sealed Judgments of the Trumpets which carry on the ruine of the Roman Civil state for their Persecution of the Saints in the Primitive times which four first are conceived to take up about 200 years more wherein the barbarous Nations by degrees broke in many pieces the Western Roman Empire giving opportunity for the Crowning of the ten Horns turning the Provinces thereof into so many Kingdoms whose Power hath since been given to the Beast But for the 2 first woe Trumpets of the Locust Mahumetans first under the Saracens in the East from their beginning about An. Dom. 600. to the beginning of the Turkish Mahomitans in the Ottoman family about 1300 which was 700 more and the Turks day and hour and month and year since prevailing over the Easterm Empire which by computation are 396 years more altogether will make up the whole account of about 1700 years till the seventh Trumpet begin to sound when the Kingdoms of the world will become the Kingdoms of our God and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 And the same 1700 years of Revelation Prophesie may also be computed by the Table of the suffering times under the Dragon and the Beast as they were pointed out before from Rev. 11. to ver 13. viz. the regular Primitive times Chap. 11.1 contained about 320. when was the Battle betwixt Michael and the Dragon and their Angels Chap. 12. whereupon the Dragons flood was poured out but dried up by the earth at the womans entrance into her Wilderness-condition about 90 years when with her time times and half a time begins the Beast to trample under foot the holy City for his 42 months and also during the two witnesses time of 1260 days of years for all these 3 are contemporaries and end with the second Woe ver 14. when it is said the third Woe cometh quickly at the end of the last Gentile Monarchy the first of which Monarchies viz. the Caldean by Scripture is reckoned to continue 70 years the Mede or Persian computed in Chronologie about 230 years the Grecian about 280. until about 48 years before Christs birth saith Helvicus or according to our former Computations of them in our Parallel of the ruine of the Roman Empire in the Caldean 70 about 70 or 80 more in the Persian Monarchies to Daniels weeks which are 490 years more in all 640. to the end of the last week An. Dom. 5.38 years after Christs birth which last 38 years are to be deducted on our usual account in which Parallel consider well that conjecture of 1666. to the ruine of Antichrist from Christs ascension though as Bishop Vsher conceives we have lost therein four years c. See there also our four mystical numbers leading to the Jews deliverance Dan. 12.1 and the great Enemies ruine at the end of the 4 Monarchie all which have their periods about Ann. Dom. 1700. But as there were different conjectures 1. about eleven years or more as before said of the Jews deliverance from Babylon so should some like latitude be allowed to probable conjectures now Thus having set down a scantling of these times by which it may appear upon these and many other accounts that the times of the restitution of all things cannot be far off which should make all men be careful to prepare for them thereupon to be engaged the more to fight against their spiritual enemies the flesh the wold and the Devil and as Christ upon that account exhorts to exercise Christian watchfulness that their hearts be not overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness and cares of this life lest these times come upon them unawares Luke 21.34 35 36. and the rather because as he tells us they will come as a snare upon them that are in the whole earth See to this purpose the 9 Uses after the Tract on Rev. 22.20 Now as God created the world at first as the Apostle speaks by Jesus Christ the Spirit moving upon the face of the Waters Gen. 1.2 And as God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself 2 Cor. 5.12 and also upon Christs Resurrection from the dead whereby he was declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the Spirit of holiness Rom. 1.4 hath committed all power to Jesus Christ and accordingly afterwards gave him the Book with seven Seals Rev. 5. to open and execute the contents thereof to the end of the world and last Judgment So at the times of this New State God creates this New World for and gives it to his Son as a boon or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for doing all his Wills as was said of David and to his spiritual Seed with him as joynt-heirs thereof which will also be their sure Mercies of David Esai 55.3 and therefore it is said at his coming in the Clouds Dan. 7.13 14. there was given to him viz. by the Father Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all Nations People and Languages should serve him and therefore he also saith John 17.24 that the Glory he hath therein his Father hath given him and upon this great account also he bids his little flock not fear for it is his Fathers pleasure to give them the Kingdom and in reference unto both will all things then be made new for as God hath appointed him heir of all things so then he shall actually possess them as also ver 7. he promiseth to his overcomers that they shall inherit all things and the Apostle teacheth 2 Tim. 2.12 that those that suffer with him shall reign with him So that New State and Kingdom then is first and chiefly given to Christ which comprehends all the rest and is then prepared for Christ and those he then brings with him as his Spouse or Bride the Lambs Wife as her dowry at that great solemnity of the 1000 years And this the Fathers New Creation as it is deciphered Esai 65. will be a greater work than the first as the making of the spiritual New Creature is 2 Cor. 5.17 because here is a great incapacity in the world
to sound Rev. 10.7 as he hath declared to his Servants the Prophets so that the Prophets are here alledged as the foundation of what ever should be fulfilled from the sounding of the last mystical Trumpet and therefore I conceive this finishing of the Mystery is not only applicaple to the Jews conversion though to that in special yet to all others then to be fulfilled in their their time I rather conceive it includes the completing of all the parts of the great Mystery of Godliness which the Apostle Paul sets forth so particularly in order concerning Christ 1 Tim. 3.16 And without controversie great is the Mystery of Godliness God manifested in the flesh c. he concludes with his receiving up into Glory as signifying that when that state of Christs session at his Fathers right hand was ended all such Scripture Mysteries would end be finished c. the times of Revelation of all things would follow thereupon as well as the times of the restitution of all things when the Temple of God will be open in Heaven and there shall be seen in his Temple the Ark of his Testament Rev. 11. â—9 and saith that same Apostle We know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 John 3.2 and it seems upon Christs sitting there he had the Book of Revelation in due time to be made known by his Servant John to the Churches containing the order and temper of all the times ever since to his second coming when this Mystery of God will be finished which the same Apostle there briefly recounteth in order which we shall a little touch upon particularly First God was manifest in the flesh at his first coming which was 4000 years in fulfilling saith Bishop Vsher from the first promise made to Adam and Eve at the fall and carried on all along that time by many confirmations and explications thereof by many Types Prophesies Promises Services and Sacraments till that great accomplishment of them all at his said first coming whereof that late many ways eminent and Reverend person Bishop Brownrig speaketh acurately upon that Text as follows All the Prophets saith he from Samuel and those that followed after as many as have spoken have foretold his coming Acts 3.24 Of this Salvation all the Prophets have enquired and searched diligently He is Abrahams promised Seed Moses his Great Prophet Jacobs Shilo Esays Immanuel Jeremie's Man compassed by a woman Ezechiels Shepherd Daniels Holy One Zechariah's Branch Solomons Lilly David's Lord Malachy's Angel all that prophesied looked at him he is the end and body and substance of all their Rites and Ceremonies He was Abels Sacrifice Abraham's first Fruits Isaac's Ram Jacobs Ladder Moses his Passeover Aarons Rod The Israelites Rock The Patriarchs Manna Davids Tabernacle Solomons Temple all Types and Representations of his Incarnation all their Kings were Figures of this Great King all their Deliverers and Judges Types of this great Saviour all their Priests were Ushers to bring in this High Priest of our Profession all the Mysteries in Scripture serviceable to this Mystery So the time of his coming the place of his birth the Tribe the Progenitors the Person of whom he was born with all things that mainly concerned the excellencie of his Person or the greatness of his humiliation were foretold by the Prophets yea and his exaltation too though the greatest part remains to be fulfilled in his 1000 years reign afterwards Again 2ly Justified saith the Apostle in the Spirit he was powerfully with him from his birth continued with him in his life in his increasing in wisdom and favour with God and men which was observably by his disputing with the Doctors in the Temple at 12 years of age and in the Spirits descending upon him in the shape of a Dove and sitting upon him at his Baptism In his Tentations in the wilderness 40 days in his holy and gracious conversation in his whole life-time in his Divine Doctrine which he taught in his many wonderful Miracles that he wrought in both powerfully declaring him to be the Son of God in fulfilling the whole Law and Prophesies of himself in satisfying fully by his sufferings for mans sin in powerfully raising him from the dead in instructing his Disciples in the forty days after in the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God c. 3ly Seen of Angels proclaimed by them to be the Saviour of all people at his birth attended on by them all his life honoured by them at his Resurrection testifying his coming again at his Ascention Acts 1. And shall also be worshipped by all those Elohim at at his second coming again Heb. 1.6 Psal 97.7 Fourthly Preached unto the Gentiles at their first calling upon the rejection of the Jews when as said the Apostle the sound thereof went into all parts of the world c. which hath been continued for almost 1700 years and will till they that pierced him shall penitently behold him as is hopeful Rev. 1.7 Zech. 12.10 Fifthly Believed on in that world by all Nations none excluded according to his Command to his Apostles to preach the Gospel to every Creature capable of the Grace of God by him therein to be so offered unto all Mark 16.15 And lastly received up into Glory wherein Gods said great Mistery was to be perfected at his coming again viz. when those Mysteries in the Revel will be accomplished that are to precede it and all the other said revealed Mercies then to be fulfilled in their seasons as the Prophets have foretold respecting those times as we said which the Angel Christ there declares should then be finished when the seventh Angel begins to sound c. Chap. 10.7 accordingly the raising up the Tabernacle of David also points out those times prophesied of Amos 9.11 and applied Acts 15.16 remarkably to these very times pointing out Christs Davidical Kingdom in due time to come whereby the great fulness of the Gentiles will come in at the Jews second call when Jews Gentiles will both rejoyce together Upon which we may observe how the Spirit of God inspired the holy Apostle to deliver that greatly useful Divine truths known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world as if especially he would teach that glorious Kingdom of Christ which was to be set up in the end of the world was Gods designe from the beginning for then the Serpents head will be eminently broken and that till then God fills up all times with all his foreknown works because to every purpose there is time and judgment c. as Eccles 8.6 7. whence we should labour to have our thoughts words and actings regular for he hath shewed us what is good Mic. 6.8 then we may be sure the issues of Providence will be good to us which will be a good improvement of that Divine truth and of that occasion of delivering it The threefold consideration of