considerable particulars shewing you that Christ and the Saints Dominion shall be alike and that they shall reign alike they being joynt Heirs of one and the same Kingdom alike only hee in all things shall have the preheminence and so I passe to the first That Christ shall have a Kingdom on earth and in Jerusalem This we may see the Angel did declare or make known unto the Virgin saying For loe thou shalt conceive in thy Wombe and bear a Son and thou shalt call his name Iesus he shall hee great and he called the Son of the most High and the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David and hee shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom shall be no end Luke 1.31 32 33. From hence you may see that the Lord Jesus Christ shall injoy Davids Throne which was not Spiritual and in Heaven but on earth and in Ierusalem even so the Lord Jesus Christ in the same place shall reign Spiritually and Temporally over the very same people the Prophet also affirming the very same thing saith Then shall the Sun be ashamed and the Moon confounded when the Lord of Host shall reign in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem before his antients gloriously for behold the day cometh saith the Lord that I will raise up unto David a righteous branch a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth in his day shall Judah be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the name whereby they shall call him the Lord our righteousnesse Isa. 24.23 Jer. 23.5 6. Thus you may see plainly that the Lord Jesus which is called the Son of David shall possesse the Throne of David Moreover you may see what the Prophet Micha also saith to the proof of this truth In that day saith the Lord I will assemble her that halteth and gather her that is driven out and her that I have afflicted and I will make her that halteth a remnant and her that was cast off a strong Nation and the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Sion for henseforth and for ever and there was given him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him agreeing with the Psalmist which saith Yet will I set my King upon my holy Hill of Sion I will declare the Decree the Lord hath said unto me Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the outmost parts of the earth for thy possession thou shalt break them with a rod of Iron and dash them in peeces like a Potters vessel Psal. 2.6 7 8 9. Dan. 7.14 Micha 4.6 7. For behold I create new Heavens and a new Earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into minde but be you glad and rejoyce in the thing which I create for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her people a joy and I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard in her nor the voyce of crying and he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord and in the Majesty of the name of the Lord his God and they shall abide for now shall he be great to the ends of the earth Isa. 65.17 18 19. Psal. 67.4 Jerem. 3.17 Isa. 62.7 8 9 10 11 12. These Scriptures and many more that might be added to the proof of the first Particular That the Lord Jesus Christ shall reign on the earth in Ierusalem The second thing is to prove That the Saints also shall receive a Kingdom and reign on earth Unto the proof of this I shall begin with the words of our blessed Saviour which saith Yee are they that have continued with me in my temptations I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me that yee may eate and drink at my Table in my Kingdom and sit upon Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Whereunto he adds also another sentence in the Apocalyps very pertinent to the proof of this saying He that overcometh and keepeth my works to the end I will give him power over the Nations and hee shall rule them with a rod of Iron and shall break them like a Potters Vessel even as I have received of my Father Luke 22.28 29 30. Revel. 2.26 27 28. From hence wee may see that as the Lord gave unto his Son Jesus a Kingdom in reference to his Sufferings and his obedience unto him even so Jesus the Christ will give his people a Kingdom in reference to their sufferings and obedience to his will and that this is to be on Eatth I shall give you a plain text even as saith the Spirit of Christ in these words And they sung a new Song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the Seals thereof because thou wast killed and hast redeemed us to God by thy bloud out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation and hast made us to our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the earth Moreover they shall injoy that Sovereignty so long as the Sun and Moon indures for so saith the Lord by his Prophet in these words And in the days of those Kingdoms shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom that shall never be destroyed and this Kingdom shall not be given to another people but it shall break and destroy all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever and the Kingdom and Dominion and Greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heavens shall be given to the Saints of the most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all people shall serve and obey him Dan. 2.44 Cap. 7.27 28. Revel. 5.10 from these Scriptures we may see that the Saints shall injoy a Kingdom in the which they shall reign and rule the Nations with a rod of Iron so that the wicked shall be as ashes under the soals of their feet And this Kingdom also we see is to be held on earth neither can there be any other interpretations given upon these Scriptures without great abuse to the plaine meaning of the Spirit in these Scriptures If it be objected and said That these Scriptures bespeak or fore-shew the flourishing condition of the people of God while they live in this corrupt Tabernacle of flesh I shall deny and make this answer That it is the portion of the Saints nay all of them to suffer in this Life and the nigher the appearance of Jesus Christ the greater shall the suffering be so that through many tribulations they shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Dan. 7.21 2 Thess. 1.9 Acts 14.22 2 Tim. 3.12 Rev 6.9 10 11. and many more Scriptures I might give as to the proof of this for there shall bee such Trials for the godly that should not the days be shortened no flesh would
year of the Lords vengeance and the year of recompence for the controversie of Sion I beheld till the Thrones were cast down and the antient of days did sit whose garment was white as Snow and the hair of his head like unto pure Wool his Throne was like the fiery flame and his Wheels like burning fire a fiery flame issued and came forth from before him thousand thousands ministred unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him the Judgement was set and the Books were opened I beheld then because of the noyse and great words which the Horn spake I beheld even until the Beast was slain and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame let the Heathen be awaked and come down to the valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to judge all the Heathen round about put you in the Sickle for the Harvest is ripe come get you down for the Press is full the fat over-floweth for the wickedness is great multitudes in the valley of Decision for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of Decision and the Angel thrust in his Sickle into the earth and gathered the Vine of the earth and cast it into the great Wine-press of the Wrath of God and the Wine-press was trodden without the City and bloud came out of the Wine-press even to the Horse bridles by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs Isa. 59.16 17 18. Chap. 34.8 Dan. 7.9 10 11. Joel 3.11 12 13 14. Rev. 14.19 20. From hence you may see what great slaughter the Lord will make with that great Antichrist and his Army when hee comes to try Sions Controversie Moreover see from the Prophet Ezekiel Therefore thou Son of Man Prophesie against Gog and say Thus saith the Lord behold I am against thee O Gog the chief Prince of Mesheck and Tubal I will turn thee back and leave but the sixth part of thee and will cause thee to come up from the North parts and will bring thee upon the Mountains of Israel and I will smite thy how out of thy left hand and cause thine Arrow to fall out of thy right hand thou shalt fall upon the Mountains of Israel thou and all thy Bands and the people that is with thee I will give thee unto the ravenous Birds of every sort and unto the Beast of the field to be devoured thou shalt fall upon the open field for I have spoken it saith the Lord And thou Son of Man thus saith the Lord speak unto every fethered Fowl and to every Beast of the Field assemble your selves and come gather your selves on every side to my Sacrifice that I do Sacrifice to you even a great Sacrifice upon the Mountains of Israel that you may eat flesh and drink bloud yee shall eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the bloud of the Princes of the earth of Rams of Lambs and of Goats of Bullocks all of them the fatlings of Bashan and yee shall eat fat till yee be filled and drink bloud till yee be drunken of my Sacrifice which I have Sacrificed for you Ezek. 39.1 2 3 4 5. Compare verse 17 18 19. Isa. 34.5 6. all which Scriptures and many more do shew that great destruction and total fall that the last and great Antichrist shall have upon the Mountains of Israel A word or two to shew that the Jesus the King shall restore their Kingdom into their hands even the Jews He shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord and in the Majesty of the name of his God and they shall abide for now shall he hee great unto the ends of the earth and this man shall be our peace when the Assyrians shall come into our Land and when he shall tread in our Palaces the Lord of Hoast hath sworn saying Surely so shall it come to pass as I have purposed so shall it stand that I will break the Assyrian in my Land and upon my Mountaines tread him under foot then shall his yoke depart from off them and his burden depart from off their shoulders for the Lord will have mercy on Jacob and will yet chuse Israel and set them into their own Land and the strangers shall bee joyned with them and they shall cleave to the House of Jacob and the people shall take them and bring them to their place and the House of Israel shall possesse them in the Land of the Lord for Servants and Hand-maids and they shall take them Captives whose Captives they were and they shall rule over their Oppressors Isa. 14.1 2 3. compare 24 25. verses So we may see that it was no Childish question that Christs Disciples asked him whether he would at that time restore the Kingdom to Israel though it were a matter too inquisitive for them to ask such a question for to know the Times and Seasons but here you may see that there is an appointed time of the Father in the which it should be accomplished and indeed David was a lively Type of Christ which had no sooner dispaced the Jebusites and cast them out of Sion but he made it his own Seat and the place for his Family So likewise it will be with the Lord Jesus that no sooner shall he appear upon the Mountains of Israel but he shall destroy that last and great Jebusite or the Man of Sin or the great and last Amichrist more properly called and give it unto the Jews for a Possession that they may dwell there and have it in possession The seed also of his Servants shall inherite it and they that love his name shall dwell therein Psal. 69.35 36. so that hence I have discovered briefly that great Warre upon the Mountains of Israel with the total ruine of the last and great Antichrist and the restoration of the Kingdom into the hands of Israel and leaving of these few Scriptures for the further proof of this thing I shall passe to the Sixth Particular Isa. 33.1 2 3 4 5. Ezek. 38.18 19 20 21 22. Rev. 11.10 chap. 6.15 The glorious Reign of Christ and his Saints upon Earth a thousand years The Discovery of the glorious Reign of Christ the great King and the Saints upon the Earth and the great peace that shall be in his day Christian Friend here is that the consideration whereof is sufficient to bear up thy spirit in the worst of times it was that which made the Apostle Paul not count his life dear to him that he might finish his course with joy so that hee was contented to suffer with him because he knew he should reign with him but for the better understanding of this glorious reign I shall divide this subject into several parts The first is That Christ shall reign as King on the Earth even in Jerusalem Secondly That the Saints shall have an high Prerogative so as to reign on earth even as Christ And Thirdly I shall put these two together with some other
since there hath been a Nation upon the Earth insomuch that if the Lord should not shorten these days and hasten his coming no flesh should be saved Dan. 7.21 cap. 8.31 cap. 11.35 cap. 12.1 10. Matth. 24.21 22. Acts 14.22 2 Tim. 3.12 Rev 6.11 Rev. 12.17 Rev. 13.7 and so I shall leave these Scriptures to be perused and pass to the third Particular The third Particular is That the Earth also shall receive her strength to bring forth as in its Primitive time that is to say before it was Cursed by reason of the transgression of Man as also saith the Prophet Instead of thorns shall come up the Fir-tree and instead of the Brier shall come up the Mirtle-tree and it shall be to the Lord for a name an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off then shall he give thee rain of thy seed that thou shalt sow the ground withall and bread of the increase of the earth and it shall be fat and plentious in that day shall thy Cattel feed in large Pastures the Oxen likewise and the young Asse that ear the ground shall eate clean Provender which hath been winnowed with a Shovel and with Fan and there shall be upon every Mountain and upon every high Hill rivers and streams of water in the day of the great slaughter when the Towers fall Moreover the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be seven-fold as the light of seven days in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people and healeth the stroke of their wounds Isa. 55.13 Chap 30.23 24 25 26. From hence we may see that the earth shal be restored unto her Primitive purity for thus saith the Lord concerning it in the Prophecie of Isaiah in these words For the Lord shall comfort Sion he will comfort her wast places and he will make her Wilderness like Eden and her Desart like the Garden of the Lord and they shall say this Land that was desolate is become like the Garden of Eden and the wast and desolate and ruined Cities are become fenced and as inhabited The Wilderness and the solitary places shall also blossom as the Rose I will open Rivers in high places and Fountains in the middest of the Valley I will make the Wilderness a pool of water and the dry Land springs of water I will plant in the Wilderness the Cedar the Shittah-tree and the Mirtle and the Oyl-tree and I will set in the Desart the Firre-tree and the Pine and the Box-tree together Moreover The Plow-men shall overtake the Reapers and the treaders of Grapes him that soweth Seed and the Mountains shall drop down sweet wine Amos 9.13 Isa. 41.18 19 cap. 35.1 2. Ezek. 36.35 Isa. 51.3 From hence we may see that the earth shall be restored into its Primitive purity Obj. But if it be Objected and said That here is mention made of Plowing and Reaping and therefore cannot be a perfect redemption To the which I answer Ans. First That Adam himself when he was in his Innocency was to dress the Garden and to receive the fruit thereof and whether or no this were not such an imployment as might keep the Garden in such a capacity as whereby he might receive the fruit from it I leave the Reader to judge Gen. 2.15 Secondly As I have already said That there are some that will deprive themselves by their transgressions the which the Prophet saith shall be their Plowmen Isa. 61.5 and Vine-dressers Moreover I say That the strength of their nature shall be such that nothing that they do shall or can be a burden unto them but shall be a pleasure unto them like unto a man walking in his Garden and taking off a degenerate Plant which is no burden unto him but rather his pleasure for in the time of that perfect Redemption there shall be no kinde of weakness or faintness whereby any thing that they shall do will be a burden as saith the Lord In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem and ho that is feeble amongst them at that day shall bee as David and the House of David shall be as God as the Angels of God before him Zech. 12.8 Isa. 40.29 31. And so much to the Objection and to the Eighth Particular and so I shall pass to the Ninth which is the signs of the times of the accomplishment of these Prophecies The Signs of the times of the accomplishment of these Prophecies Doubtless the Lord hath not hid from his Servants those things that he will do in the latter days nor the time when they shall be performed though the day and hour knoweth no man no not the Angels yet the times and seasons may be known by the signs Moreover it is lawful and commendable for the people of God to look into the Signs of the times for as much as we see the Lord Jesus Christ reprove such as do not saying O yee Hypocrites yee can discern the face of the sky but cannot discern the signs of the times Matth. 16.3 therefore I shall briefly give you some few signs that shall be as it were the Item of the Day of Christ or the Morning Watch and so to the First in order The first Sign of the second coming of Christ is the unsetledness of Kingdoms and Nations of the earth the Government sometimes here and sometimes there sometimes in the hands of one and sometimes in the hands of another men much striving for Honour and Kingdoms in the midst of those days shall God set up his Kingdom that shall never be destroyed and that the earth shall be thus unsetled reeling to and fro is clear from the Word of the Lord which saith The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunken man and be removed like a Tent and the iniquity there of shall be heavie upon it so that it shall fall and arise no more then shall the Sun he ashamed and the Moon confounded when the Lord shall reign in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem before his antients gloriously at which time the little stone hewed out of the Mountain without hands shall become a great Mountain and fill the whole earth Dan. 2.35 and ver. 44. Isa. 24.20 compare 23. From whence we may see that the unsetledness of Nations and Kingdoms upon the earth and striving for Honour and change of Governments is a lively sign of the second coming of the Lord Jesus to be near The second Sign of the coming of Christ Is by the abounding of wickedness or iniquity in the World as now we see it in a great height even by such as are worn out in their expectation or waiting for Jesus Christ who did not like that good condition that they were put in but having departed from the Faith and are given up unto all manner of uncleanness O the ungodly Practices and horrid Blasphemies that are now committed in England what
Vessels of honour and yet some hee made Vessels of dishonour To that I anwser It is very true that hee did make some of that Lump Vessels of honour but they were such as were pricked in their heart for their sins * and did purifie their heart through beleeving and obeying the truth and so Christ became the Author of their eternal Salvation Heb. 5.9 1 Pet. 1. vers. 22. for it was that which the Lord hath promised Souls that did purge themselves from the unbeleef in their hearts as you may see 2 Tim. 2.20 But in a great House there are not only Vessels of Gold and of Silver but also of Wood and of Earth and some to honour and some to dishonour vers. 21. if a man therefore purge himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honour sanctified and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work And now I shall give you a brief review of those words that the Apostle Paul makes use of Rom. 9. they are the words of the Prophet Ieremy Jer. 18.1 to 17. and so onwards And the Word of the Lord came unto me saying Go down to the Potters house and there will I cause thee to hear my words and I went down to the Potters House and behold he wrought a work on the wheel and the vessel that he made with clay was marred in the hands of the Potter and he made another Vessel as seemed the Potter good to make it then the Word of the Lord came unto me saying O House of Israel can I not do with you as this Potter saith the Lord Behold as the clay is in the Potters hands so are yee in my hands O House of Israel At what instant I speak concerning a Nation or Kingdom to pluck up or destroy If that Nation turn from their evil I will repent of the evil I thought to do unto them but in what instant I speak concerning a Nation or Kingdom to build or to plant it if they do evil in my sight then will I repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit them now therefore go speak to the men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem saying thus saith the Lord Behold I frame evil against you and devise a device against you return every one of you from his evil way and make your ways and your doings good but they said there is no hope but we wil waâ—â—â— after our own devices c. and in vers 17. he threatens to shew them his back and not the face in the day of their Calamity the which wee may see the Lord brought upon them and yet he was just when he judged and thus you see the Apostle answereth the Objection and shews the Jews Rom. 9. what the Lord had determined concerning them and also made known by the Prophet Jeremy that hee could according to the truth of his Justice if they remained obstinate in doing evil in his sight make them a dishonourable Vessel as well as the Potter could make that Clay which was not yeelding and conformable to his hands a vessel of dishonour Thus I have shewed you the words of the Prophet and the meaning of the Apostle that he doth not stop the mouthes of those persons that say the Lord of the whole earth cannot do unrighteousness and therefore cannot Condemn the Childe and cast it into Hell for the Fathers sin neither can he Reprobate any but for their actual sin but hee stops the mouthes of those Jews and all such as they are who do question why God might finde fault although they before have given him just cause of offence Mal. 3.8 The next thing you affirm is not true wherein you said I did affirm That that fire which Saint Jude calls eternal fire was meant only consuming fire though it was consuming indeed yet I did not affirm that to bee the only meaning of it but you may remember I said by the word eternal fire was meant such a fire as was not kindled by man neither did it happen in the City by accident but it issued forth from God being not kindled by man and so was as eternal as himself for the breath of the Lord was ever a fire to his enemies Dan. 7.10 From hence it is said of him in Hebr. 11.29 Our God is a consuming fire the which fire did destroy the Natural bodies of the Sodomites and that eternal fire was not Hell as you blindly conceive but it was such fire as the Prophet commanded to come down from Heaven to destroy the Captains and their Fifties which was as eternal as that of Sodom being without kindling by man or without end and it came not out of Hell but from Heaven and so you may see it Gen. 19.24 in these words Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and sire from the Lord out of Heaven and this was for the destruction of no more but their Natural bodies for it is not Gods way to afflict the punishment of Hell before he hath tried Souls at the general Judgement which shall not be till after the Resurrection for the Sentence against the first sin and the punishment thereof which was the first death was not inflicted upon Adam till after God had legally tried him and Sir let me tell you that the very Devils are not yet in Hell but their punishment is reserved until the Day of Judgement Iude vers. 6. Matth. 8.29 Why art thou come to torment us before the time Which sheweth plainly that the punishment of reprobate Angels and reprobate Men is not yet inflicted but hath reference to time and Sir if I should ask you where Hell were what answer would you give me you would happily tell mee it was where the Wrath of God was and then I shall conclude that Hell were under your Coat for Christ saith Ioh. 3.36 That he that beleeveth not the wrath of God abideth on him for ever And truly Sir if your faith should be tried by your works as Iames saith it must be then doubtless you would be found altogether unbeleeving and if so then according to the former words of our blessed Saviour That the wrath of God abides on such so that if you do conclude Hell to bee in all places where the Wrath of God is though I do indeed conclude that there shall be a material place of Hell where the Wrath of God shall remain perpetually then Hell must of necessity be at the place aforesaid And if you do conclude it to bee on the Earth or under the Earth as some foolishly have conceived then it is most evident that the Devils are not yet in Hell for he is called the Prince of the Air and hence it comes to pass that the Devil is many times cast down by the Judgements of God so that if you have any reason to prove Hell to be yet in being then you might have some better ground to say the
be saved but the Lord shall cut the work short in righteousness so that when his people are in great trouble then he shall stand up as a Deliverer Dan. 11.1 Matth. 24.21.22 View well these Scriptures and you shal see that that opinion is false that affirmeth That the Saints shall flourish in such a condition before mentioned while they live in this corrupted Tabernacle of flesh and so I pass to the Third Particular shewing you how Christ and the Saints shall reign together in the Kingdom and shall begin with the words of the Apostle which saith that the Saints are joynt-heirs with Jesus Christ in these words If Sons then Heirs Heirs of God and Joynt-heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may bee glorified together Rom. 8.16 17. Now we know a Joynt-heir is an equal sharer or when two are made alike in the injoyment of one thing for so faith the Apostle Now are we the Sons of God but it doth not appear what we shall be but when he shall appear wee shall be made like him 1 Joh. 3.1 2 3 4. they shall be like him in Glory in Majesty in Honour in a word every way like him only he in all things shall have the preheminence Moreover I shall adde a plain text of Scripture in the which we shall see that the Saints and Christ shall reign together in these words Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection for on such the second Death shall have no power but they shall be the Priests of God and of Christ and reign with him a thousand years The which also agreeth with the words of the Prophet that saith A King shall reign in Righteousness and Princes shall decree Judgement and Saviours shall come up of Mount Sion and judge the Mount of Esau and the Kingdoms shall be the Lords Revel. 20.6 Isa. 32.1 Obadiah 21. therefore let the Saints be joyful in glory let them sing aloud upon their beds let the high praise of God be in their mouthes and a two-edged sword in their hands to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishment upon the people to bind the Kings in chains and the Nobles in fetters of Iron that they may execute upon them the Indgement that is written this honour have all the Saints praise yee the Lord so that it is a faithful saying if we suffer with him we shall also reign with him Psal. 149.5 6 7 8 9. 2 Tim. 2 12. So having shewed that Christ and the Saints shall reign together unanimously I shall also shew you that excellent peace that there shall be in the time of his reign throughout the Earth as saith the Prophet The whole Earth is at rest and quiet they shall break forth into singing the Mountains and Hills shall bring peace unto the people by Justice hee shall judge the poor of the people and he shall save the Children of the needy and subdue the Oppressors they shall fear thee so long as the Sun and Moon indureth from generation to generation he shall come down like the raine upon the new-mowen Grasse and as the showers that water the earth in his days shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the Moon indureth his Dominion shall be from sea to sea and from the rivers to the ends of the earth and they that dwell in the Wilderness shall kneel before him and his enemies shall lick up the dust in that day it shall be said wee have a strong City salvation hath the Lord appointed for Walls and Bulworks open yee the Gate that the righteous Nation that keepeth the truth may enter in thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose minde is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee Isa. 14.7 Psal. 72.3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Isa. 26.1 2 3. From hence wee may see what great peace there shall be in the term of Christs reign there is good reason why there shall be such great peace upon these two accounts the first is Because the Devil shall be bound and shall not stirre up Nations to Warre which is his practise when he is loose The second Reason is Because that at the great destruction of God the Great Antichrist all the Weapons of Warre shall be burnt and those that remain which were not brought up to Warre upon the Mountains of Israel shall bee converted into other service namely Their Swords shall be beat into Plow-shares and their Spears into pruning-hooks for Nation shall not rise up against Nation neither shall they learn warre any more Ezek. 39.9 10. Isa. 2.4 Mich. 4.3 Revel. 20.3 From hence it comes to pass that the people in that day shall be led forth in peace and the Mountains shall break forth before them into singing then shall the Law go forth out of Sion and the Word of the Lord out of thy Jerusalem then shall the saying be made good that is written All thy Children shall be taught of God and great shall be the peace of thy Children So that be will extend peace to her like a River and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream Isa. 2.3 cap. 54.13 cap. 55.12 Isa. 66.10 11 12 13 14. Psal. 127.7 and 125.5 Nah. 1.15 and so I shall leave these Scriptures and the Fourth and pass to the Fifth thing in order which is to shew you the people whom Christ and the Saints shall thus rule with a rod of Iron and that is the ungodly even such as have afflicted the people of God and the Sons of them who have afflicted the people of God for so saith the Prophet The Sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and all they that despised thee shall fall down at the soals of thy feet and they shall call thee the City of the Lord the Sion of the holy one of Israel Agreeing with that of Malachy To you that fear my Name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing under his wings and yee shall grow forth like Calves in the shall and yee shall tread down the wicked for they shall be like dust under the soals of your feet for thus saith the Lord after this glory hath he sent me unto the Nations which spoyled you for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye for behold I will lift up my hands upon them and they shall be a spoyl to their Servants and yee shall know that the Lord of Host hath sent me Sing and rejoyce O Daughter of Sion for I will come and dwell in the midst of thee faith the Lord Mal. 4.2 3 4. Zech. 2.8 9 10. Hence you may see that the enemies of God and his people shall be subdued by Christ and the Saints like as the Aegyptians of old were spoyled by the Israelites when they came out of Aegypt so shall all the ungodly Aegyptians be spoyled at the last as you may see Exod. 3.22 Cap. 11.2 Isa.
the Lord hath set before thine eyes such a Kingdom and such an Immortal Crown of Life be exhorted to run with patience the race that is set before you What if though troubles do beset a Christian life yet these light afflictions which are but for a moment work in us a farre more and exceeding weight of glory Dear Christian be of the minde of the worthy Apostle that counted all things as dung and dross in comparison of the excellent knowledge of his Christ reckoning that the sufferings of this present time were not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed See thy blessed Saviour hath led thee an example of sufferings Who for the joy that was set before him indured the Cross despised the Shame and is nowset down at the right hand of the Father I say consider him who indured such Buffetings such Crowning with Thorns nay such spitting on and yet turned not away his back from the smiter nor his cheek from him that plucked off the hair Isa. 50.6 2 Cor. 4.26 27 28. Rom. 8.17 18. Heb. 12.2 3. Again in the second place let me exhort thee to stand always upon thy watch for the Day of Christ or the day of thy Dissolution is a very uncertain day for as it was in the dissolution of the old World so shall it be in the coming of Christ for the day before the Floud they are they drank they married and gave in Marriage until the Floud came and took them all away Even so was it with the Sodomites they continued in their security until the wrath of the Almighty broke out and there was no remedy Moreover when Lot fore-warned his Sons in Law of the Wrath of God upon the City he seemed to them as one that mocked Gen. 19.14 Matth. 24.37 38 39 40. Moreover the Apostle saith That the Day of the Lord shall so come as a Thief in the night that when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travel upon a Woman with Childe and they shall not escape 1 Thess. 5.1 2 3. So forasmuch as the Day of the Lord is so uncertain let us labour for a watchful Spirit for it is a duty of a very high concernment both from the example of the Saints that have gone before and from a command of our blessed Saviour and his Apostles as you may see from these Scriptures Psal. 102.7 Psal. 103.6 Isa. 21.5 Hab. 2.1 Mat. 24.42 Cap. 25.13 Mar. 13.33 34 37. Acts 10.31 1 Cor. 16.13 1 Thess. 5.6 The Apostle also gives two maine Reasons to urge Christians to thar duty of watchfulness the first is from this consideration That the end of all things is at hand in these words saying The end of all things is at hand watch and be sober 1 Pet. 4.7 The second Reason is because saith he your Adversary the Devil like a roaring Lion runs about seeking whom he may devour whom resist be stedfast in the faith 1 Pet. 5.8 the Spirit of God lays down the danger that will follow security and saith If thou shalt not watch I will come upon thee as a Thief and thou shalt not know whenever I will some upon thee Revel. 3.3 therefore blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his Garment lest he walk naked and they see his shame Revel. 16.15 Therefore for as much as it is a duty of such concernment let us labour to watch to the end we may know the Signs of the times so as that they overtake us not as a Snare whereby we be deprived of that glorious Crown that is set before us And so I pass to the second Use Secondly Be informed Christian Reader of the vanity or emptiness of all injoyments unless such injoyments as shall be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ at that day under these two considerations The first is The instability or breviousness of their continuance Secondly from the little peace or Soul-satisfaction they speak to a Soul when they do injoy them and so to the first thing considerable which is the instability or breviousness or short continuance of the injoyments of all things below that inheritance We shall take notice first of the Wise-mans words that saith Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that that is not verily riches make themselves wings and fly towards Heaven riches are not for ever and the crown of them doth not indure to every Generation for as we brought nothing into the World so it is certain we shall carry nothing out so that every man walketh in a vain show getting goods knowing not who shall injoy them and thus spending their days in wealth in a moment go down to the Grave and his bones being full of the Sins of his youth which shall lye down with him in the dust Job 20.11 Cap. 21.13 Psal. 39.6 1 Tim. 6.7 Job 1.21 Prov. 23.5 Cap. 27.24 From hence we may see that we have no continuing City here but all our in joyments are very brevious and full of frugality so that we are like unto Dreaming men that dream they injoy much and wake and behold they have nothing So it is with all men that have not assurance of that Kingdom to come that Riches and Honour before mentioned although they may have much riches in this world yet when the Lord saith Return you children of men they return to dust and be as if they had not been and all the riches that they have injoyed is but to them a Dream as the Psalmist saith How are they brought to desolation as at a moment they are utterly consumed with terror as a Dream when one awaketh so Lord when thou awakest thou wilt despise their Image Psal. 73.19 20. Heb. 13.13 Psal. 90.3 4 5 6. Again wilt thou set thy heart upon honor that is as vain as the former for men of high degree are vanity and men of low degree are alike when they are put in a ballance they are altogether lighter than vanity their inward thoughts is that their houses should continue for ever and their dwelling pleces unto all generations they call their Lands after their own names neverthelesse man being in honor abideth not but is like the beast that perisheth this their way is their folly yet their posterity approve their sayings like Sheep they are laid in the grave Death shall feed on them and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning and their beauty shall consume in their graves from their dwellings though while he live he bless himself and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thy self he shall go to the generation of his Fathers and never see light the man that is in honor and understandeth not is like the beast that perisheth Psal. 49. 11 12 13 14. compared with 18. Again wilt thou set thy heart on pleasure that is vain and but for a moment therefore Moyses did choose rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God than
I will fill their treasure So that those that seek first the kingdom of Heaven and the righteousnesse thereof and seek it as hidden treasure that is to say above all things in the world without doubt the Lord will rise and rain everlasting righteousness upon such souls Hosea 10.12 Prov. 2.3 4 5. 1 Chron. 28.9 Mat. 9.33 So much to the first means in order to the attainment of this inheritance The second way to attain to this inheritance may be observed from the wise Merchant man who when he had found the Pearl of great price sold all that he had to gain that price so also must thou when thou seest an excellency in Jesus Christ thou must break off thy sins by righteousnesse and part with all that is near and dear unto thee for he that comes to Christ and hates not Father and Mother Wife and Children Lands and living nay and his own life cannot be his Disciple not that I mean that thou shouldst hate the person of thy Father or thy Mother or Wife or Children and the like neither did Christ mean so in that speech of his but to cast them out of their affections when they come in competition with Christ but still to honour and respect their persons though slight their counsel Luk. 14.26 27. Mat. 10.34 35 36 37 38. so that this is the second way to attain this Heavenly inheritance or Pearl of great price Thirdly as thou must forsake all and break off thy sins by righteousnesle so thou must increase in thy piety and virtues thou must not stand still but thou must add to thy Faith Virtue Knowledge Temperance Patience and Godlinesse for so an entrance shall be administred into his heavenly Kingdom 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9 10 11. so that from hence thou mayst see that the way or means to enter into that heavenly inheritance is to grow in grace not to stand still not be luke-warm not to have a name to live and be dead but to excel in virtue The fourth and lastly as thou must seek that inheritance above and before all things and as thou must forsake all things for the attainment of that precious inheritance when thou hast found it so as to part with all and break off thy sins by righteousnesse and as thou must also grow in Graces adding to thy Faith Virtue and so forth So in the fourth and last place thou must goe on and persevere till death not turn back or be weary or faint in thy mind for that is the way to inherit that glorious inheritance even that immortal crown of life and to sit down with Christ in his Throne where thou shalt abide for ever and ever 2 Tim. 4.4 5 6 7 8. Jam. 1.12 Rev. 2.10 cap. 3. v. 9. compar'd with 12. v. 2.7 cap. 21.7 And so I shall passe unto the sixth use The sixth use is a use of inducement to win thee or move thee to prise that Kingdom which is to be at the Revelation of Jesus Christ for then the Tabernacle of God shall be with men he shall dwell with them as also saith Iohn in these words I heard a great voice from Heaven saying the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and he will be their God and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away and the redeemed of the Lord shall come to Sion with Songs and everlasting Joy shall be unto them and the great King of the whole earth who is the Son of the most high and the great Bridegroom of the Bride shall gird himselfe and make them sit down at meat and they shall raign with him as long as the Sun and Moon endureth Luk. 12.37 Rev. 21.3 4 5. Esa. 35 10. these privileges in that kingdom shall be above Angels for not unto the Angels hath he put into subjection the world to come whereof we speak but that he hath put it into subjection to the Saints is clear as you may see from these Scriptures Psal. 149.6 7 8 9. Obedi 21. Mal. 4.3 4 5. Rev. 2.26 27. from hence we may see the great gainers Saints will be if it be so that they lose all the enjoyments of this life provided they doe but attain that inheritance 1 Tim. 4.8 cap. 6. ver. 6. 1 Cor. 3.22 But on the other hand if thou shouldest lose that inheritance and the glorious presence of that infinite glory which was so glorious that when Peter and John saw but a glimpse of it they said It is good for us to be here I say if thou shouldest loose chis enjoyment although by it thou maist gain all the friendship in the world the riches and quintessence thereof yet thou wouldest be a great loser Matt. 17.4 Mark 8.36 Christian Reader thou art not travelling to an earthly Kingdom or Inheritance but unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem to an innumerable company of Angels to the General Assembly and Church of the first born which are written in Heaven and unto God the Judge of all things and the Spirits of Just men made perfect where thou shalt enjoy the presence of God in whose presence there is fullnesse of Joy and at his right hand pleasure for evermore Psal. 16.11 Heb. 12.22 23. The second inducement is from the Freeness of the giver of this Inheritance that whether thou art rich or poor high or low noble or ignoble thou maist attain to this Inheritance for the Lord commands his Messengers to offer it freely to every Creature Mar. 16.15 Rev. 22.17 Moreover he proclaims this his loving kindnesse by the Prophet saying Oh every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no mony come buy Wine without money and without price why do you lay out your money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which profits not Esay 55.1 2. From hence we may take notice of these two things First how the Lord exhibiteth himself freely to every Creature and blames such as are contented with Husks when they may have the Bread of Life freely The third Inducement or Motive to move thee or incourage thee to seek after this Inheritance is from the consideration of thy condition when the Lord is pleased to cast his eye of pity upon thee it is not at that time when thou appearest amiable or lovely by reason of thy virtues and graces which is in thee but when thou wast a deformed Creature by reason of lying in the blood of the pollution of thy Sin and it was also when no eye pittied thee neither could Angels or men do thee any good In this appeared the love of God indeed as saith the Apostle We know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he were
rich yet for your sakes he became poor that you through his poverty might be made rich thus the Lord Jesus made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and became obedient to death even the death of the crosse and as the Apostle Paul saith this his great love did extend it self to us when we by Nature were the Children of wrath as well as others scarcely for a righteous man will one dye yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to dye but God commendeth his love to us in that while we were Sinners Christ died for us Rom. 5.7 8. 2 Cor. 8.9 Phil. 2.6 7 8. Ezek. 16.4 5 6 7 8. So that hence we may see the time when the Lord was pleased in his mercy and pity to look upon us and offer unto us this rich inheritance Fourthly and lastly be moved above all things to seek this kingdom because of the indurablenesse of it for it will never fail chee but will remain with thee for ever and ever as saith the Psalmist The Lord knoweth the days of the upright and his inheritance shall be for ever The Apostle Peter also to confirm this saying saith Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in the Heaven for you wherefore gird up the loyns of your mind and be sober and hope to the end for the grace that shall be brought to you at the revolation of Iesus Christ the which shall be an ample recompence of reward for all the sufferings that thou shalt meet with for the profession of his name in this life Psal. 37.18 1 Pet. 1.3 4. comp. 13 v. Rev. 21.6 Rev. 22.12 Heb. 11 16 The seventh use is to set forth the misery and terror that will fall upon all such as sin against such great mercy were there no more but a deprivation of them from the presence of the glorious God and that Heavenly Ierusalem it might be sufficient to be a Worm never dying and a fire never quenched but there is also Tophet prepared of old he hath made it deep and large the pile thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a stream of brimston doth kindle it Isa. 30.33 Agreeing with the words of the Apostle that saith Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous Judgement of God Rom. 2.4 5. 2 Thess. 1.7 8. What a forlorn condition will that Soul be in whoever he be that hath slighted the means of Grace and cast behind his back all those sweet invitations of the Gospel when the Lord Jesus Christ shall come forth to summon all to appear before the Judgement Seat to give an account before the Tribunal Seat Will not such Souls call for the Mountains to fall upon them to hide them from the presence of God Surely they will and all such faces shall gather blackness for thou that hast hated knowledge and hast not chosen the fear of the Lord but hast chosen Pleasure and all that thy heart hath lusted after here below and hast set greater account of the praise of Men than of the praise of God this shalt thou have at the Lords hands thou shalt lye down in sorrow where there shall be weeping and wayling and gnashing of teeth therefore labour to be wise whilst thou maist be happy and in this thy day consider the things that belong to thy peace lest it be hid from thine eyes for ever and thou mourn when it be too late Prov. 1.24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32. Cap. 5.11 Luke 19.42 The Eighth and last Use shall be for comfort and consolation to all those that shall be Heirs of that Kingdom Blessed are all they who are found watching when the Lord Jesus Christ shall come he will gird himself and make them sit down at meat and he will come forth and serve them Therefore be glad and rejoyce for the Lord Omnipotent will reign Blessed are all they that are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lambt for they shall enter into that glorious City even that heavenly Jerusalem which I have given you a glimps of where there shall bee singing praises by the Saints where there shall be everlasting joy and substantial or perfect felicity therefore I say Blessed are all the Dead that dye in the Lord for they shall be glorified at his appearance Even so Amen Come Lord Jesus come quickly FINIS Errata PAge 68. line the 20. read obtain for owned p. 72. l. 24. r understanding for wisdom p. 77. l. 11. r. Ore Chase for out those p. 78. l. 6. r. Sword for Lord p 94. l. 24. r. that for but p. 96. l. 23. r. to for of p 124. l. 7. r. their wickedness for the wickedness l. 8. r. great multitudes twice p. 126. l. 9. for is King r. their King p. 127. l. 21. for dispaced r. displaced p. 137. l. 2. r. upon for up of p. 139. l. 21. r. of Jerusalem for of thy Jerusalem p. 140. l. 24. r. the Lord of Hosts after the glory p. 150. l. 3. r. from God p. 174. l. 28. for when ever r. what hour Baptizo signifies to plunge or overwhelm Rantizo to sprinkle or scatter * Adams sin brought not Condemnation to Hell on his Posterity but death of the Body with Sickness Sorrow c. Adams Sin brought no pollution or disability on the Spiritual part of Mankinde Man is not made uncapable to act good by Adams sin The Fathers iniquity makes not the Childe liable to the second death Esau not hated before hee was born Disobedience the cause that men become Vessels of dishonour * Act. 2.37 Sodom not suffering punishment in Hell fire Reprobate Angels and reprobate men not yet in punishment Parables prove not things Hell not in being till the coming of the Lord God not changeable in his Decrees God doth not change his Decree but doth decree to change his Dispensation according to the actions of the Creature Adams sin being only against the first Covenant brings not Condemnation to Hell Punishment in Hell only for transgression against the second Covenant Adam and all his injoyments before he fell were but earthly The affirming that Adamsâ—â— brought the second Death justifies the Devil to speak truth and makes God a Lyar 1 Character 2 Char. 3 Char. 4 Char. 5 Char. 6 Char. 7 Char. 8 Char. 9 Char. 10 Char. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. That the Cities of Judah shal be built as in the former days A Prophecie of the return of the Ten Tribes that there may bee one sheepfold on the Mountains of Israel Meaning that their Children and riches shall bee brought back from the Land of their enemies as aforetime 1 Three Reasons why the Temple shall be built again The Jews shall not be converted by a Gospel preaching The work of the Witnesses to prove the Man of Sin to be the Antichrist and not the Messiah that they look for The manner of the Man of Sins arising The Man of Sin proved not to be the Romish Babylon by Reasons followfng Use 2. 3 Use 4 Use 6 Use 7 Use