but the rest of the Dead that is wicked Men and it may be some of the Saints also shall lie still in their Graves 'till the general Judgment when all shall appear Good and Bad before the Judgment Sent of Christ And 't is very like this is the Meaning of that Place 2 Tim. 4.1 where 't is said that Christ shall judge both quick and dead at his appearing and his Kingdom That is to say by judging the Quick that is the Wicked or some of them to a temporal Destruction and the raised Saints to be rewarded with all the Glory that is promised to all Overcomers in the New Jerusalem Rev. 2.7 11 17 27 Chap. 3.12 21 And as an Addition to all the Rest they shall sit with Christ in his Throne even as he overcame and is set down with his Father in his Throne And these are some of the Rewards that are mentioned Rev. 11.18 to be distributed to the Saints of the first Resurrection so that we may say with the Psalmist Verily there is a Reward for the Righteous verily he is a God that judgeth in the Earth Psal 58. ult By This time I hope it is clear that there is a first Resurrection of some before all and that of Saints and Saints only And having shewed before what this first Resurrection is not namely that 't is not Regeneration let us now enquire what it is and whether it be not a Resurrection of the Body and that properly so called And to this End let us consider that 20th Chap. of Rev. a little more John is said there to see the the Souls of them that were beheaded for the Witness of Jesus c. What may we think is meant by Souls Souls in this Place are put for the Dead the Souls of them that were beheaded is the same with the Dead that were beheaded And that is manifest from the opposite Clause or Sentence i.e. the rest of the Dead lived not again ver 5 and therefore the first are considered as dead Again 't is faid they lived and reigned c. What may be meant by this Living and Reigning By the Lives of the Souls of them that were beheaded it seems to me to be no other than the Life of the Body which they did lay down in the Death of the Body and which now in the Resurrection they receive again to die no more To evince the Truth of this let it be considered First That John speaks of the Souls of them that were beheaded that is of those that were slain or dead in Body and he saith that they lived that is they lived again but the dead in Body live not again but by a Resurrection from the Death of the Body The Argument may be thus framed The Resurrection of the Dead in Body is the Resurrec-of the Body 1 Cor. 15.12 13. but the first Resurrection is the Resurrection of the Dead in Body for 't is the Resurrection of those that were beheaded therefore 't is of the Body Secondly The Text speaks of such a Resurrection wherein Men lived a Thousand Years after they be raised which cannot agree to any other Life or Resurrection but the Life and Resurrection of the Body therefore this Resurrection is a bodily Resurrection Thirdly Such a Resurrection is here meant as will be to the rest of the dead after the Thousand Years are ended who lived not again 'till that be finished ver 5 which shall be of the Body ver 12.13 therefore this Resurrection is of the Body also Fourthly The Men that were beheaded must so live during the Thousand Years as the rest of the Dead lived not all that while their Souls were still separated from their Bodies therefore these must live in Souls joined to their Bodies And Lastly These must so live at the first Resurrection as the rest shall live at the second Resurrection and that will be in Bodies and Souls united which cannot be except they be raised from their Graves And thus having written before of the second or next Coming of Christ and of the Thousand Years and of the first Resurrection and the Judgment of the Quick and Dead and other Things coincident we shall write hereafter a little more fully to what hath been only hinted already in this Discourse And First Touching THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST IN THIS WORLD That of John 18.36 being objected against it where Christ saith his Kingdom is not of this World for the better Understanding of this we may take Notice That when Pilate asked Christ if he were a King his Answer was thou sayst that I am a King grants the Thing told him that for that End he was born i. e. to be a King. And Luk. 19 we read that he was proclaimed King by the Multitude and a great Multitude with great Solemnity to the Astonishment of the Spectators All Jerusalem was moved at it Matt. 21.10 and he justified them that did it But it may be said every one will grant this that Christ is a King and that he is King over his Church in which Respect he is called King of Saints Rev. 15.3 King of Sion Joh. 12.15 Psal 2.6 King Jesus Act. 17.7 But CHRIST is not only King of Saints but King of Nations Jer. 10.7 and that not only as GOD equal with the FATHER but as MEDIATOR also And in that Respect he is called God's King Psal 2.6 And all Power in Heaven and Earth is given to him Civil as well as Ecclesiastical And therefore in Luk. 1.32.33 there 't is said that God shall give to him the Throne of his Father David and that he should reign over the House of Jacob and therefore in Mar. 11 the People are said to Cry Hosanna Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord blessed be the Kingdom of our Father David But the Throne and Kingdom of David was Civil Government Again CHRIST is not only a King but a great King Mat. 5,35 in Reference to Jerusalem which is often put for civil State and not only a great King but King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19.16 By all which we may see that Christ is de jure and will be de facto a King and that not only over his Church but over all the Earth and that is next to be considered i. e. THE EXTENT OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM For this see Psal 2. He is to have the utmost Parts of the Earth for his Possession Psal 22.28 he is said there to be Governor among the Nations and Psal 72.8 his Dominion is to the Ends of the Earth ver 13. all Nations shall serve him Daniel also speaking of this Kingdom of Christ says it became a great Mountain and filled the whole Earth Chap. 2.35 But more fully Chap. 7.14 and there was given to him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him I shall add one Scripture more to all these and that is Rev. 11.15 at
Prophesy God shall take away his Part out of the Book of Life Let us enquire what the Scripture speaks to this Point that there shall be a Time in which God will destroy the Wicked of the World and the Enemies of his Church and People and that there shall be a Time of Peace and Freedom from all persecuting Power a Time of great Holiness and Happiness a Time wherein he will pour out his Spirit in great Abundance from on high such a Time as was never yet in the World a Time of refreshing from the Presence of the Lord Times of the Restitution of all Things and those Times have been spoken of by all the holy Prophets since the World began The Truth is it is the Time of the Duration of Christ's Kingdom in this World which is to be given to him after the Destruction of the little Horn as is clear from Daniel 7 and which he is gone to receive for himself and to return Luk. 19.12 And seeing such Times and Things have been spoken of by all the holy Prophets we will enquire what every one of them have spoken to these Things We shall begin with ISAIAH Chap. 2.2 the Prophet tells of a Time when the Mountain of the Lord's House shall be established in the Top of the Mountains and be exalted above the Hills when he shall judge among the Nations and rebuke many People when the lofty Looks of Men shall be humbled c. And when shall this be It shall be in the last Days t is yet future It hath never yet been accomplished 'T is call'd the Day of the Lord ver 12 when he alone shall be exalted a Time of Peace when Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation no more War then ver 4. T is true there will be a bloody World before this Day comes and Distress among Nations foregoing Christ's Coming Luk. 21 Mat. 24 Dan. 12. But afterwards it will be otherwise when they shall not hurt nor destroy in all God's holy Mountain for the Earth will be filled with the Knowledge of the Lord Chap. 11.9 the Light of the Moon shall be as the Light of the Sun and the Light of the Sun seven-fold Chap. 30.26 no more weeping then ver 19. And when shall this be It shall be when Christ shall reign in Righteousness Chap. 32.1 and when his People shall dwell in peaceable Habitations when the Jews shall be called and the Saints raised and live and reign with Christ a Thousand Years Then t is their Eyes shall see the King in his Beauty and see Jerusalem a quiet Habitation and the Lord our Judge our Law-giver and our King Chap. 33.17 20 22. Then t is there shall be such Holiness Chap. 35.8 and everlasting Joy shall be on their Heads and Sorrow and Sighing shall flee away Then and not till then will God create new Heavens Jerusalem a rejoicing and her People a Joy Chap. 65.17 18 21. Then shall the build Houses and inhabit them plant Vineyards and eat the Fruit of them and long enjoy the Works of their Hands None of these Things have yet been accomplished nor will be till that wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and destroy with the Brightness of his Coming 2 Thes 2.8 Neither can these Things be understood to be in or after the general Judgment For then there will be no Building of Houses nor planting of Vineyards nor eating the Fruit of them nor long enjoying the Labour of their Hands It must be after the Calling of the Jews this Promise having special Respect to them and therefore all this and much more will be in the Thousand Years In the beginning of which Christ will come in the Clouds of Heaven visibly as hath been shewed before to judge the Man of Sin and all other Enemies which shall be found in Arms against him And this Thousand Years must be placed between this Appearance of Christ and the general Judgment which will be after the last Resurrection But of this more may be spoken when we come to speak to the third Question when this Time shall begin Those also that hold that the general Judgment will begin at the beginning of the Thousand Years and so continue that whole Term of Time are utterly mistaken For besides what hath been said before as to building and planting the Scripture is clear that even then there will be wicked Men in the World tho' they will be Slaves as the Gibeonites were and chained up as the Devil will be all that while but at last will be so multiplied that they will be as the Sand of the Sea and at last being deceived by the Devil when he is let loose at the End of these Thousand Years they will make an Attempt against the Saints to their own Ruin and that this should be in the Time of the general Judgment is a Thing not to be believed We have already shewed what one Prophet hath spoken but because these are the Times of the Restitution of all Things spoken of by all the holy Prophets which have been since the World began let it be enquired into what the rest of the Prophets have spoken JEREM. 3.14 God tells them there that he would bring them to Sion and at that Time they should call Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord and all Nations should be gathered to it ver 17. And Chap. 30.3.9 the Prophet tells them the Days should come that God would bring again the Captivity both of Israel and Judah and they should serve the Lord their God and David their King. Jer. 31 the whole Chap. throughout speaks fully to the Point in Hand The Prophet EZEKIEL also Chap. 36 tells us of a Time when God would gather them i. e. the Jews out of all Countries and bring them to their own Land and cleanse them from their Filthiness pour out his Spirit on them and they should be his People and he would be their God all which is yet future Yea the last nine Chapters speak in a mystical Way of the State of the Gospel Church in the Thousand Years Let us see further what DANIEL speaks He tells us what shall be in the latter Days that is in the latter End of the 4th Kingdom viz. the Roman which is now on his last Legs if it hath any Leggs left We are sure he hath Feet upon which the Stone cut out of the Mountain without Hand shall fall and break the whole Image to Pieces from the Head to the Feet Why then and not till then shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed nor pass over to another People but stand forever and become a great Mountain and fill the whole Earth what else is this but the Mountain of the Lord's House exalted above the Hills or any other Mountain than this cannot be meant of a spiritual Kingdom for that doth not break other Kingdoms to
this Man that hath been a Cripple this 38 Years he tells them that the Hour was Coming when the Dead should hear his Voice and live and not many Hours after Christ did raise up dead Lazarus and the Jews did see it Nay not long after that many dead Bodies of Saints arose by the Power of Christ and appeared to many and for ought I know to some of these Jews Mat. 27.52 53 So that this was fulfilled according to the Letter Further we must know that the Word Hour in Scripture is seldom taken for an Hour properly so called but mostly for a longer Time and sometimes for Periods of Time as in Mat. 20. mention is made of the third sixth ninth and eleventh Hour and sometimes t is taken for a very long Time even to Years and Ages The Hour of Temptation which shall come upon all the World Rev. 3.10 is a long Hour And I have heard that the same Word which is translated Hour in this Text is in the 1 Joh. 2.18 translated Time viz. the last Time and if there be nothing in this fifth of John repugnant to such a Translation why should we not as well read it viz. the Time is coming as well as the Hour is coming But upon a Supposition that this former Exposition be not the Meaning of this 25th Verse why then may we not understand the Meaning of it to be the Time cometh when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live viz. shall rise and live and so be the Saints of the first Resurrection called the Resurrection of the Just Luk. 14.14 when God will give Rewards which is at the Sounding of the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11.15.18 For then there is a Resurrection when the Kingdoms of this World shall be the Kingdoms of our Lord and when he shall take to himself his great Power and reign And why may not these be the Saints of the first Resurrection Or if neither of these should be the Saints of the first Resurrection let us see if we can find it in ver 28. Christ in this ver tells the Jews they should not marvel at what he had spoken before about raising the Dead and the Execution of Judgment but tells them the Hour or Time was Coming in which ALL that are in Graves should hear his Voice and come forth c. I think all Men that believe any Thing about a Resurrection do understand that Christ in this Verse speaks of a Bodily Resurrection But most take it for a single Resurrection viz. of all Men Good and Bad at one Time at the last Judgment and do utterly deny any first or other Resurrection at all And I confess I should be ready to think so too had not the same Apostle Rev. 20. told us in so many Words that there is a first Resurrection ver 5 when some lived and some did not live and if there be a first Resurrection I am sure there must be a last and therefore in ver 13 a Thousand Years after the first Resurrection we read of another Resurrection to the general Judgment when the Sea gave up the Dead that was in it and Death and Hell gave up the Dead that were in them and they were judged according to their Works at the last Judgment Some there be that think that there is a first and last Resurrection comprehended in this Verse and expound the Words thus the Time is Coming in which i. e. within the Compass whereof ALL that are in Graves shall hear his Voice and come forth they that have done Good to the Resurrection of Life at the beginning of the Thousand Years and they that have done Evil to the Resurrection of Damnation when those Years are ended at the general Judgment But whether so or no I shall not determine But I cannot see any Reason to persuade me to believe that Christ in the 25th ver of this Chap. did intend Regeneration or a spiritual Resurrection when the Sum of his Discourse was about the Resurrection of the Body and of Judgment to come and to speak of Generation as a Thing future which hath been ever since the World began I do not understand and where they may seem to be a double Meaning or doubtful Sense of any Scripture It is to be understood according to the subject Matter spoken of and the Scope of the Context Now I am sure that Christ speaks here of a bodily Resurrection but I am not sure that he speaks of Regeneration For further Proof of this Point we shall propound one Scripture more to Consideration and that is Rev. 11.15 At the Sounding of the seventh Trumpet when the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord Jesus Christ there is mention made of a Judgment ver 18 and of giving Rewards to his Prophets and Saints and this is called there the Time of the Dead that they should be judged small and great And this doth necessarily imply a Resurrection at least of some For they are not judged and rewarded before they are raised from the dead But it may be some may say this is to be understood of the Resurrection at the last Day and that the seventh Trumpet here is meant the last Trumpet to summon the whole World together to the general Judgment But I say no That Trumpet is called the Trump of God 1 Thes 4.16 so is not this Again that is called the last Trump 1 Cor. 15 so as after it none was to sound so is not this Again at the Sounding of the seventh Trumpet the Thousand Years of Christ's Kingdom in this World is to begin as hath been proved before but at the Sounding of the last Trumpet or Trump of God it ends for then the World ends So that except we will deny the Doctrine of the Thousand Years it must be granted that the seventh Trumpet is not the last Trump and so that this Resurrection is not the last Resurrection but the first For after this many Things were to be done and 't is said the Nations were angry And therefore not to be understood of the last Judgment For then 't will be a vain Thing to be angry Hitherto or to this Time may be referred that in Psa 2 When Christ should be set as King in Sion there would be much Anger when he shall have the utmost Parts of the Earth for his Possession and such of his Enemies as would not that he should reign over them be bro't forth and slain before him and broken in Pieces with a Rod of Iron like a Potter's Vessel and destroy them that destroy the Earth and give Rewards to his Servants small and great This is called the Resurrection of the Just Luk. 14.14 So that we may gather from hence that there is a partial or first Resurrection and that of Saints only because they that have Part in the first Resurrection on them the second Death hath no Power
pieces as this doth and such a Kingdom is not now to be set up But it may be said what 's this to the Point in Hand viz. to the Coming of Christ or the Thousand Years Let us therefore further enquire and we shall see that Daniel speaks up to the Case Chap. 7.13 14 I saw saith he in the Night Visions and one like the Son of Man came with the Clouds of Heaven and came to the antient of Days and they brought him near before him and there was given to him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion that shall not pass away and his Kingdom that shall not be destroyed But when shall this Coming of the Son of Man be It shall be when the little Horn viz. the Beast is slain and his Body destroyed and given to the burning Flames agreeing directly with Rev. 19.20 where t is said the Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet and cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone And answerable to this is that clear Text 2 Thes 2.8 whom he shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and destroy with the Brightness of his Coming which is generally understood especially by the learned to be a personal Coming for so much doth the Word in the original import and is no other than his Coming with Clouds above-mentioned and that of Mat. 24 and elsewhere And this must of Necessity be granted except we shall say t is at the End of the Thousand Years which is not yet begun as may be shewed hereafter when Christ comes to the general Judgment which no Man in his right Understanding will affirm and so it will enforce a Coming of Christ personally before the End of the World. And this is further hinted to us Dan. 12.1 at that Time viz. when the Turk shall be destroyed and come to his End Chap. 11.45 shall Michael stand up the great Prince which standeth for the Children of thy People and at that Time shall they be delivered and not long after is that happy Time which he is blessed that waiteth for it and cometh to it ver 12 which is no other then the Thousand Years HOSEA also speaks of the same Thing and of the same Time above-mentioned Chap. 1. ult when the Children of Judah and the Children of Israel should be gathered together and appoint themselves one Head in that great Day of Jezreel and Chap. 14. throughout JOEL also tells us of a Time when Jerusalem should be holy and no Stranger pass through her any more Chap. 3.17 AMOS also speaks of a Day when God will raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen and close up the Breaches thereof and raise up his Ruins and build it as in the Days of old Chap. 9. from ver 11. to the End. OBADIAH also to the same Purpose that upon Mount Sion shall be Deliverance and there shall be Holiness ver 17 and Saviours shall come upon Mount Sion and the Kingdom shall be the Lord's JONAH is a History no Prophesy MICAH 4.1 2 3 but in the last Days it shall come to pass the same with Isai 2. NAHUM speaks of a Time when the Wicked should be among the People of God no more but be utterly cut off Chap. 1.15 HABAKKUK Chap. 2.14 the Earth shall be filled with the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea. ZEPHANIAH Chap. 3 9-20 I will turn to the People a pure Language that they may call on the Name of the Lord and serve him with one consent in that Day it shall be said to Jerusalem fear not and to Sion let not thy Hands be slack the Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty c. HAGGAI 2.7 The Prophet speaks of a Time when God would shake the Heaven and the Earth and shake all Nations and ver 22 that he would overthrow the Thrones of Kingdoms and the Desire of all Nations should come T is true this hath been in Part fulfilled at the first Coming of Christ when the legal Dispensation was taken away and so much the Apostle implies Heb. 12 but that Shaking did not overthrow the Thrones of Kingdoms as this Shaking shall The Apostle who wrote after the legal Dispensation was shaken to Pieces tells us of another Shaking which God had promised which was future And when may this be It may be 't is when the Desire of all Nations shall come the second Time to sit up his own Kingdom then when the Beast shall be slain and his Body destroyed and given to the burning Flames when the Ancient of Days shall sit then and not 'till then will these Thrones be cast down Dan. 7.9 And that Time will be a shaking Time indeed when not only the Earth but the Power of Heaven shall be shaken also Mat. 24. Luk. 21. And these Heavens and Earth so shaken must be removed and a new Heaven and Earth created that shall remain before the Lord Isai 66.22 And so the Apostle tells us Heb. 12 of a Kingdom that cannot be shaken by which we must understand the whole Kingdom of Christ and not only his spiritual Kingdom but his external also which he is gone to receive which is an ever lasting Kingdom and shall never pass away to another People which must remain when those Things that are shaken must be removed See also what the Prophet ZECHARIAH speaks Chap. 8.3 The Lord saith I am returned to Sion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and Jerusalem shall be called a City of Truth the Mountain of the Lord of Hosts the holy Mountain See ver 4 5 6 7 8 Chap. 12 13 14. The Prophet speaks of little else but the Glory and Holiness of the Jewish Church after their Conversion to Christ There is yet one Prophet more who is yet to speak and that is MALACHI and he speaks of the Day of the Lord that shall burn as an Oven and all that do Wickedly shall be stubble and the Day that cometh shall burn them up and ye shall tread them down for they shall be Ashes under the Soles of your Feet But it may be thought that this Burning shall be at the last Judgment T is true there will then be the greatest Destruction by Fire that ever was or shall be for then they will be destroyed all Rev. 20.9 but t is likely it will be otherwise now consisting only of such as are actually in Arms against Christ But that there will be a great Destruction by Fire at this Time the Scripture is clear Isai 66.15.16 For behold the Lord will come with Fire and render his Rebukes with Flames of Fire for by Fire and Sword will be Lord plead with all Flesh and the Slain of the Lord shall be many See Ezekiel 38.22 Words to the same Purpose And when this Burning shall be the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his Wings
was in the Days of Noah and as it was in the Days of Lott Eating and Drinking Marrying Building and planting and knew nothing 'till the Flood came even thus shall it be when the Son of Man shull be revealed ver 26 27 30. And Luk. 19.11 There were some that thought that the Kingdom of God should immediately appear but Christ gives them to understand otherwise and represents himself as a certain noble Man that went into a far Country to receive for himself a Kingdom and to return And ver 15 when he was returned having received the Kingdom then he calls his Servants to account and passes Sentence on them Hence he is said to judge quick and dead at his Appearance and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 And therefore when he come to set up his Kingdom at the Sounding of the Seventh Trumpet at the Time he is said to Judge and to give Rewards to his Servants Rev. 11 15 18. So that at his Return will be the Time when this Kingdom of Christ shall appear and the Thousand Years begin But to enquire a little further concerning THE TIME and see what the Scripture speaks to it and we shall find Rev. 10.5 6 7 that under the sixth Trumpet which is the second Woe Trumpet Chap. 9.12 the Angel which is CHRIST who sets his right Foot on the Sea his left Foot on the Earth and lifteth up his Hand to Heaven and sweareth by him that liveth for ever and ever that there should be Time no longer but in the Days of the Voice of the seventh Angel when he shall begin to sound the Mystery of God should be finished as he hath declared to his Servants the Prophets What Should the World be now at an End that Time should be no longer when the seventh Angel sounded No not so but then Time should be no longer to the Beast and other Enemies of Christ and then the Mystery of God should be finished But what may this Mystery which must be finished after the Sound of the seventh Trumpet be which is the last Trumpet after which none shall Sound but the Trump of God at the last Judgment 1 Cor. 15.52 at the Resurrection of the Dead And this the Apostle calls a Mystery but this is not the Mystery of God here meant for God had not declared this to his Servants the Prophets Much less is it the Mystery of Iniquity 2 Thes 2.7 for that is not the Mystery of God but of the Devil There is yet another Mystery of which the Apostle speaks Rev. 11.25 and that is the Calling of the Jews And this Mystery hath been declared to all the Prophets as hath been shewed before And this Mystery of God is to be finished under the seventh Trumpet and at the pouring out of the last Vial For then 't is said It is done What is that which is done Then the Mystery of Gods is fulfilled Chap. 10.7 And at the pouring out of this Vial which is contemporary with the seventh Trumpet there will be Voices and Thunderings and Lightnings to strike Terror into the Minds of Men and there will be a great Earthquake such as was not since Men were upon the Earth so mighty and Earthquake and so great It will shake all the Kingdoms of this World shake the Heavens and shake the Earth the Lord will shake all the World by it and Things so shaken must be removed that what cannot be shaken may remain but of his something hath been spoken before But what may this Earthquake be which shall thus shake the whole World and such as never was since Men lived upon Earth I do not understand it of an Earthquake properly so called but so as it represents to us great Changes in the World and Distrese of Nations with Perplexity Mens Hearts failing them for Fear and for looking after those Things which are coming on the Earth For the Powers of Heaven shall be shaken Luk. 21.25 26. We read of a great Earthquake Rev. 6 at the Opening of the sixth Seal And it was so great that it shook the Pagan Roman Empire for so Interpretors understand that Place the whole Pagan Emperial World Sun Moon and Stars thereof and this introduced a blessed Change for the present So that we see such Earthquakes signify great Changes and affrighting Judgments by Wars and otherwise and such will be at the Sounding of the seventh Trumpet and the pouring out of the last Vial. Rev. 16.14 we read of the Kings of the Earth and of the whole World gathered together to the BATTLE of the GREAT DAY of GOD ALMIGHTY And it is the same Battle spoken of by the Prophet Ezekiel Chap. 38. 39 for that was to be in the latter Day ver 16 And it must be at or after the return of the Jews to their own Land which is yet future And the Prophet Joel also speaks of the same Battle Chap. 3.2 For behold in those Days and in that Time when I shall bring again the Captivity of Judah and Jerusalem I will gather all Nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat and plead with them there A more general War-like Assembly was never known in the World and by Means whereof there will be such an Earthquake as was never heard of since the World began And this will be all at the same Time ' the Calling of the Jews at the same Place Judea Ezek. 39.4 upon the Mountains of Israel Joel 3.2 in the Valley of Jehoshaphat Rev. 16.16 at Armageddon To this Time the Prophet Isaiah refers Chap. 63.1 2 3 c. where Christ is represented as treading the Wine-press treading his Enemies in Anger trampling on them in Fury Garments stained with their Blood Just the same with Rev. 14.15 20. Thrust in thy Sickle into the Earth and gather the Vine of the Earth and the Angel thrust in his Sickle and gathered the Vine of the Earth and cast in into the great Wine-press of the Wrath of God. But more of this when we come to speak of the great Battle of GOD and MAGOG Joel also speaks to the same Purpose and the same Time then will Men go into the Clefts of the Rocks and into the Tops of the ragged Rocks for Fear of the Lord and for the Glory of his Majesty when he ariseth terribly to shake the Earth By this little above-written we may partly judge what this Earthquake is like to be and to do which is so great as was not since Men lived upon Earth For now the old World will be at an End and the new World will begin which the Apostle calls the World to come Heb. 2.5 Thus much may suffice for Answer to the third Question proposed to be spoken to i.e. when the Thousand Years will begin and all the Kingdoms of this World become the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and he to reign for ever and ever And this is one of the most remarkable Periods which hath been
the Sound of the 7th Trumpet t is said then that the Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ By this Time you will understand what Christ meant John 18 when he said his Kingdom was not of this World and indeed he himself tells us in the following Words but NOW is my Kingdom not from hence as if Christ should say I am a King and shall have a Kingdom but not now not in this World but in the World to come For we must know that there are more Worlds then one there was the old World which was drowned and there is this present evil World and as the old World was drowned and the Wicked in it were generally tho' not universally destroyed by Water so will this present World and the Wicked that are therein tho' not all be destroyed by Fire 2 Pet. 3.7 as hereafter we shall endeavour to shew After which there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness a new Face of Things a new World and this is called by the Apostle Heb. 2.5 the World to come when all Things must be put in Subjection to Christ ver 8. And this is the World in which will be or which is Christ's Kingdom And now to speak a little to this Point about THE END OF THIS WORLD and the BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO COME and see what the Scripture speaks to it In 2 Pet. 3.7 the Apostle tells us that the Heavens the Earth which are NOW are reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment or as some render it a Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly Men. And this cannot be meant of the ultimate Judgment because after this there will not only be a new Heaven but a new Earth also wherein dwelleth Righteousness that is righteous Men and that they shall build Houses and plant Vineyards and eat the Fruit of them Isai 65.21 yea and worship God with external Worship from one Sabbath to another and that not for a little While but these new Heavens and new Earth are to remain Chap. 66.22 But what then may we think will become of the old Heaven and the old Earth Will they not still have a Being For answer hereunto we must understand that the Apostle in the forementioned Chap doth make a Parallel between the Destruction of the old world and the World that now is that as the old World was destroyed by Water so will this World be by Fire properly so called as to that which is to be destroyed For as in the old World there was not an Annihilation of any Thing nor were all Men nor all the Brute-Creatures Destroyed nor were the empyrean or starry Heavens then touched and therefore t is only the aerial Heavens with what is contained in them which are the Furniture of them or what moves in the Air that will be the Subject of this Burning and it may be that which the Apostle means by Elements melting with fervent Heat which distinguisheth from the Heavens for it cannot be that the Elements properly so called should melt with fervent Heat the Water not being capable of burning or melting the Fire is that which burns all Things and therefore not to be burned and for the Earth as it was not destroyed by the Flood tho' much defaced so neither will it be destroyed by Fire so as not to be but this Fire shall rather be for the Restoration of it than the Destruction of it as a Vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed Psal 102.6 But that the Earth shall have a habitable Being after the End of the Thousand Years is clear from Rev. 20.8 the Devil shall go forth to deceive the Nations that are in the four Quarters of the Earth and ver 9 they went accordingly upon the Breadth of the Earth but it may be some may think that this Burning of the World will be at or after the general Judgment but for ought I know it may be otherwise for then the Heaven and the Earth is said to fly away from the Face of him that sat on the Throne to judge the World and it hath been before shewed that after this Burning there will be a new Earth as well as a new Heaven And who can tell but that this may be the Time when that shall be fulfilled Act. 2.19 20 when there shall be Blood and Fire and Vapours of Smoak so as the Sun shall be darkened with it and the Moon appear as Blood as we have lately seen in this Country Vapours of Smoak have caused them so to appear for that was to be in the last Days and we do not know that ever this hath been accomplished and that this is not at the general Judgment but before is clear out of Joel 2.32 For at this very Time when this shall come to pass and the World shall be burned some shall be delivered for in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem shall be Deliverance and the Lord hath said it ver 32. The Sum is that at the beginning of the Thousand Years there will be a great Destruction of the Wicked of the World as hath been before shewed and this will be by Fire as the Wicked of the old World were destroyed by Water and the Apostle Peter saith expresly this Fire is for the Perdition of ungodly Men. Paul also tells us that Christ will be revealed from Heaven in flaming Fire to take Vengeance on wicked Men 2 Thes 1.8 But more clear Isai 66.15 For behold the Lord will come with Fire and render his Anger with Fury and his Rebukes with Flames of Fire for by Fire and by Sword will the Lord plead with all Flesh and the Slain of the Lord shall be many But what then may we think will become of good Men and the irrational Creatures at this Time when the world shall be in a Flame how shall they be saved Indeed this is a Question too hard for me or any Man else to determine neither do I know that it is revealed in the Scripture yet for Resolution of this I propound to Consideration First That when the World was destroyed by Water t is possible some good Men might perish in that Destruction who seeing that Deluge coming on the World might repent and so have their Souls saved and if so why may not some good Men be taken away in this general Destruction by Fire as to their Bodies and be raised to Heaven as Elias was in fiery Chariots and their Souls be saved But Secondly tho' we do not know how they shall be saved yet the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of Temptation when the Unjust shall be reserved to the Day of Judgment to be punished 2 Pet. 2.9 and we know that Faith hath quenched the Violence of Fire Heb. 11.34 and that the Fire that burnt up the most mighty Men that were in Nebuchadnezzar's Army Dan. 3.20 had no Power over
Blameless at his Appearing and be like good Servants having our Loins girt and our Lights burning waiting for the Coming of their Lord and looking for that blessed Hope and the glorious Appearnce of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ and blessed is that Servant whom when his Lord cometh he shall find so doing I likewise propose to Consideration that it is a great Duty incumbent on all Christians at all Times not only to wait but to watch Hardly any Duty more prest in Scripture than this Christ foreseeing that wise Virgins as well as foolish would be apt to slumber and sleep when he should come This watching is that which is in direct Opposition to carnal Security we shall give a few Instances The Apostle 1 Thes 5.6 speaking of the Day of the Lord Coming as a Thief he warns them to watch and be sober Luk. 21.36 Christ upon the same Consideration gives the like Council watch pray that ye may be counted worthy to stand before the Son of Man And Mark 13.33 Christ gives Caution to take Heed watch and pray for ye know not when the Time is and ver 35 watch ye therefore for ye know not when the Master of the House cometh Again Mat. 24.42 watch therefore for ye know not what Hour your Lord doth come all which implieth that Christ would come in such a Time when the World would be asleep at Midnight was the Cry made behold the Bridegroom cometh in a Time wherein he is not looked for and in a Time of general Security when Men shall say Peace and Safety and as a Snare that Day will come on all them that dwell on the Earth God hath made every Man a Watchman Mark 13.37 That which I say unto you I say unto all WATCH but some are so in a special Manner by Office and t is very dangerous for those to sleep and cause others so to do by their Example the evil Servant did not say in his Heat that his Lord would never come but he thought as many good Servants now do that it would be a great While first not till the general Judgment and then he knew he would come Oh let none of Christ's good Servants say as he did my Lord delays his Coming and smite your fellow Servants who are in Expectation of him You should be always ready or your Lord will come in an Hour ye think not of And this Coming is not meant only by Death or in any other Way of common Providence for so he is always Coming and ever hath been tho' this may be also intended but there is a Coming of his in an extraordinary Way I mean a personal Coming when he will not come alone but bring all his Saints with him and he hath told us so Zec. 4.5 and told us also why he will come and what he will do at his Coming that t is for the Perdition of ungodly Men 2 Pet. 3.7 and to execute Judgment on them all Jude 15 and to set up his Kingdom which he is gone to receive and to return These are some of the great Businesses about which he comes and this being over I do not know but that he may withdraw his bodily Presence and leave the Government of his Kingdom to his Saints for I see no Scripture Grounds for his personal Presence any longer Sure I am that when he comes to the general Judgment he will come from Heaven and this is that Kingdom the Jews are in Expectation of and which is so little too little taken Notice of by Christians But some may say what doth this concern us we are never like to live to see this Coming of Christ To them I say as Christ did long ago of that Day and Hour knoweth no Man. And now what Matter of Joy and Rejoicing is this to all those that love the Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity Tho' they have never seen him with their bodily Eyes yet believing rejoice with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory who now see him but darkly in the Glass of the Gospel what Joy and Rejoicing may we think there will be when we shall see him Face to Face when he shall appear we shall be like him and see him as he is 1 John 3.2 see him in all his glorious Excellencies and Perfections see him Coming in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory the second Time without Sin to our Salvation see him that hath loved us and shed his Blood for us borne the Curse and Wrath of God for us and is now appearing as an Advocate with the Father for us Oh what a Heart-ravishing Sight will this be to every sincere Soul Abraham saw but a little in Comparison of this and that afar of and he rejoiced and was glad Joh. 8.56 And how did Job comfort himself in this in the midst of all his Misery that he knew his REDEEMER lived and that he should stand in the latter Day upon the Earth and that in his Flesh he should see GOD and that his Eyes should behold him and not another Job 19.25.26 How were the Disciples ravished with but a Glimpse of his Glory which they were Eye Witnesses of when they were with him in the Holy Mount 2 Pet. 1 Mat. 17.4 And good old Simeon was so transported with the Sight of him in the Days of his Flesh and when a Child that he desired to live no longer And t is but a little While before he that shall come will come and will not tarry Oh then all ye his Saints lift up your Heads for your Redemption draweth nigh and comfort yourselves with these Words And now to conclude what remains but that we pray with greatest Instancy and Importunity and that continually for the Accomplishment of all these Things pray that CHRIST'S Kingdom may come that his Will may be done in Earth as it is in Heaven pray for the Peace of Jerusalem keep not Silence Day nor Night give the Lord no Rest till he make Jerusalem a Praise in the Earth pray for the Coming of the new Jerusalem down from Heaven pray for the Destruction of the Kingdom of Darkness pray for the bringing in both of Jews and Gentiles to the Obedience of the Gospel that there may be one Sheep-fold under one Shepherd JESUS CHRIST to this End pray that the Spirit may be poured out from on High pray that the Times of refreshing may come from the Presence of the Lord when God will send JESUS pray for the Times of the Restitution of all Things Act. 3.21 pray for the Accomplishment of all Promises and for fulfilling of all Prophesies pray for the Coming of CHRIST let the Spirit and Bride say come Let him that heareth say come I add Let him that readeth this say come Rev. 22.17 and the Answer will be Behold I come quickly ver 7 and behold I come quickly ver 12 and my Reward is with me surely I come quickly ver 20 quickly quickly quickly AMEN veni Domine JESU veni Cito So Prays thy poor unworthy Creature The Author of this Discourse Written with his own Hand In the Seventy Ninth Year of his Age And in the Year of our LORD 1687. FINIS