Thirdly The nations that know the Lord shall be inferiour to the house of Israel serving them in that day Isa 60.12 14. Fourthly That there will be some of the nations in that day that will not come to worship the King the Lord of hosts and upon them shall come great judgments Zach. 14.17 18. Jer. 31.30 Isa 65.20 So there will be in the kingdome of Christ at least some of the time that he raigns on the earth before he delivers up the Kingdome to the father four sorts of people but the Saints that come with Christ shall raign most gloriously over them all So then things being so le ts look back to what hath been said concerning Christ coming to raign namely that the Saints must be in a troubled persecuted afflicted estate until Christ comes and the neerer his coming the more persecution and tribulations Luke 18.7 8. This serves to inform the fifth Monarchy men that the Saints shall not have dominion of the earth neither shall the fifth Monarchy be until Christ comes for the fourth Monarchy or Beast in his Heads and horns raigns until Christ comes and presecutes the Saints Dan. 7.25 26. as hath been shewed Secondly if there will be warr and rumors of warrs and overturning of powers until Christ comes that should teach the Saints not to deceive themselves so as to conclude they shall enjoy long rest and peace here on earth before Christ comes and so to seek great things for themselves I say with the Prophet Jer. Seek them not for that the Lord hath built he will break down and that which he hath planted will he pluck up Chap. 45.4 5. For the nations must drink Jeremies cup them that are wicked to the sword saith the Lord Chap. 25. from the 15. to the 34. Thirdly This should teach us to buy the truth and not to sell it and so to seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness in the first place and to give all diligence to make our calling and election sure redeeming the time that we be not found among those foolish Virgins that let their lamps go out but of those wise that stand with their Loyns girded about with truth and their lights burning as men that wait for their Lord when he shall return to the wedding Mat. 25. Luke 12.35 36 37. Furthermore take notice of some signes that go before Christs coming First observe that the Gospel being preached as it is now and shall be more fully hereafter and many falling away from the truth and the spirit of Antichrist appearing this is a sign of Christs coming 2 Thes 2.3.1 John 2.18 Secondly If we see and hear of warrs and rumors of warrs and false Prophets and false Christs appearing and many run to and fro and knowledge increase and the great Whore of Babylon fallen these things coming to pass are evident signs that the time of Christs coming is neer Mat. 24.5 11. Dan. 12.4 Rev. 14.6 7 8. Thirdly When we shall see false Prophets and false Christs saying loe hear is Christ or loe there working miracles and the Antichrist or man of sin arising or appearing then may we certainly conclude the coming of Christ to be at hand yea if we see the Whore of Babylon fallen and the man of sin arising we may certainly conclude that before that generation shall go down to dust the Lord will appear Mat. 24.23 24.2 Thes 2.9 Rev. 14.9 Luk. 21.32 Fourthly When there shall be famins and pestalence and earth-quakes in divers places and the Jewes return into their own land and the Antichrist or man of sin plant his tabernacle in the holy mount Dan. 11.45 Mat. 24.7 Fifthly When the Man of Sin and the false Prophet shall set up an Image and give the mark of the beast and cause fire to come down from heaven in the sight of men Rev. 13.13 14 15 16. and the sixth vial poured out and that false ministry of the beast go forth and gather the nations to the battel of the great day according to Chap. 16.12 13 14. Joel 3.9 10 11. and the Sun and Moon darkned and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity the Sea and waves roaring in an extraordinary manner Isa 13.10 Ioel 3.15 Luke 21.25 26 When these changes begin to come to pass especially the four last then let us lift up our heads with joy for our redemption draweth nigh verse 28. And when the last appeareth know that the Kingdome of God is neer even at the very doors Mat. 24 33. Now from all these things let every one be perswaded to walk up in all the commandments and Ordinances of the Lord improving all grace so as to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear yea let all the children of God work out their salvation with fear and trembling O let us give heed to the word of the Prophets as a light that shineth in a dark place until the day of Christ dawn and the day Star arise in our hearts that is until Christ who is the bright morning Star he by his spirit we giving heed to the word of the Prophet will cause us to understand the secrets of the Lord yea the signs of his coming as men that walk in the night know the day is neer when they see the day Star arising so the Lord will give us the morning Star that we may know in an excellent measure the time of his coming 2 Pet. â— 19 Rev. 22 16. Chap. 2 28 Psal 25 14. But let no man be deceived so as to account of the coming or receiving of the spirit in the most excellent manner to be the coming of Christ for the Corinths came behind in no gifts yet waited for the coming of the Lord Jesus 1 Cor 1.7 And the Apostle John sheweth that there are but three sorts of Christians the little ones young men and old men in Christ and old ought to wait and did wait for the coming of Christ 1 Iohn 2 28 Chap. 3 2. and then they and we shall be like him Phil. 3 31 O let all these things be laid to heart and let all the children of God receive council of the Lord Jesus so as to watch and pray alwayes that we may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before him acceptably Luke 21.36 FINIS
Rev. 17.16 But the Antichrist is taken alive when the Lord cometh and punished with everlasting deflruction from the presence of the Lord in a lake of fire 2. Thes 1.9 and Rev. 19.20 And so to draw to a conclusion I do desire all men to take heed to the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles for they are able to make men wise unto Salvation and if men speak not according to the Law and Testament it is because they have no light in them Isa 8.20 O give heed to the most sure word of the Prophets as unto a light shining in a dark place until the day of Christ dawn and the day Star arise in your hearts noting diligently all things that are spoken of that must come to pass for when the signs concerning Christs coming are come to pass the day of Christs personal appearing will dawn Secondly is there such a spirit of delusion among men wherein is a mystery of iniquity Then let all take heed that they seek the Lord while he may be found and to kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish in the way O do not neglect to read and search the Scriptures and walk up in that you do know be not deceived God will not be mocked what a man soweth that he shall reap for he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6.7 8. Thirdly is it so that God doth and will give up men to a Spirit of delusion that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Then he exhorted from hence to forsake all unrighteous wayes in conversation and all whorish inventions of men in point of Worship for if Moses Law be abolished which was given to him by the Lord let no man think that he shall be excused if he worship according to mens inventions Fourthly let all the Saints consider and lay to heart what hath been spoken and search the Scriptures that they may be informed what is to come to pass and so according to Christs exhortation in Luke 21.36 Watch ye therefore and pray alwayes that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the son of man Moreover when the Lord thus overthrows Antichrist and his Armies and the Kings of the earth as it hath been shewed before and more plentiously appeareth in Scripture When the whirle wind of the Lord goeth forth with fury a cutting whirle-wind it shall remain with pain upon the head of the wicked the fearce anger of the Lord shall not return until he have performed the intents of his heart At the same time saith the Lord will I be the God of all the families of Israel and they shall be my people For God hath loved them with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindness he will draw them Jer. 30.23 24. Chap. 31.1 2 3. And it shall come to pass in that day that the great Trumpet shall be blown and they shall come that are ready to perish in the land of Assyria and the out-casts in the land of Egypt and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jernsalem Is 27.13 So when the Enemies shall come in like a flood great enemies being gathered by the beast the Antichrist according to Rev. 16.13 14. being mâ—â— according to Joel 3.9 10 11 12 13 14. the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him then even then the redeemer shall come to Sion and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob saith the Lord Isa 59.19 20. compared with Rom. 11 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32. Then at that day the Lord himself which was dead and arose again and is alive for evermore Rev. 1.18 shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voyce of the Archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first 1 Thes 4.14 15 16. compared with Isa 27.13 and so as Zach. saith The Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee and his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem Chap. 14.4 5. then the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of Hosts and Lord of Lords and King of Kings shall raign personally upon the earth in mount Sion and in Jerusalem and before his antients the house of Israel gloriously Isa 24.23 Rev. 17.14 Chap. 19.13 14 15 16. And for the further proof and clearing up of this truth That the Lord Christ shall raign personally on the earth more then a thousand years and all the Saints with him from Adam to his coming which dyed in the faith and are found in the faith at his coming are to raign with him upon earth First consider and mark well what the Scripture saith in the letter of it for the proof of the same the Prophet Jer. saith Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall raign and prosper and execute Judgment and justice in the earth In his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his name the Lord our Righteousness Chap. 23.5 6. Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession Psal 2.8 In his dayes shall the righteous flowrish and abundance of peace shall be so long as the Moon endureth He shall have dominion also from Sea to Sea and from the river unto the end of the earth Yea all Kings shall fall down before him all nations shall serve him Pfal 72.7 8 9 10 11. verse 17. His name shall endure for ever his name shall be continued as long as the Sun and men shall be blessed in him All nations shall call him blessed and the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day shall there be one Lord and his name one Zach. 14.9 Dan. 7.27 And the Kingdome and dominion and the greatness of the Kingdome under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome and all nations or dominions shall serve and obey him and Rev. 5.9 10. saith Thou hast made us unto our God Kings Priests we shall raign on the earth Chap. 11.15 And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voyces in heaven saying the Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall raign for ever and ever Rev. 20. sheweth at large That the Saints shall raign with Christ a thousand years which cannot be understood but to be on the earth So then the letter of the Scripture speaks much that the Lord Christ shall descend from heaven 1 Thes 4.16 Acts. 1.11 and his feet shall stand upon mount
he that is left in Sion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Sion shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of Judgment and by the spirit of burning Isai 4.2 3 4. Then shall health be restored unto Israel and their wounds healed saith the Lord because they called thee an out-cast saying this is Sion whom no man seeketh after Thus saith the Lord behold I will bring again the captivity of Jacobs tents and have mercy on his dwelling place and the City shall be builded upon her own heap and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voyce of them that make merry and I will multiply them and they shall not be few I will also glorifie them and they shall not be small Jer. 30.17 18 19. Again at this time will the Lord make them one Nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel and one King shall be a King to them all and they shall be no more two Nations neither shall they be devided into two kingdoms any more at all Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their Idols nor with their detestable things nor with any of their transgressions but I will save them out of all their dwelling places wherein they have sinned and will cleanse them so shall they be my people and I will be their God Ezekiel 37.22 23. Again Wait yea upon me saith the Lord untill the day that I rise up to gather the Nations that I may Assemble the kingdoms to pour upon them mine Indignation even all my fierce anger for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousie For then will I turn to the people a pure Language that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent At this time I will bring you again even in this time that I gather you for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth when I turn back your captivity before your eyes saith the Lord Zeph. 3.8 9 10. Again Look upon Zion the City of our solemnities thine eye shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed neither shall any of the cords be broken And the Inhabitants shall not say I am sick the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven there iniquity Isa 33.20 24. Again Hear the word of the Lord O ye Nations and declare it in the Isles afare of and say he that scattered Israel will gather him and keep him as a sheepheard doth his stock For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger then he Therefore they shall come and sing in the hight of Zion and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord for Wheat and for Wine and for Oyle and for the young of the flock and of the heard and their souls shall be as a watered Garden and they shall not sorrow any more at all Jer. 31.10 11 12. Yea in that day shall that song be sung by the house of Israel that is in the 12. of Isai Yea they shall cry out and shout for joy for great is the holy one of Israel in the midst of them verse the 6. Zeph. 3.15 They shall not see evil any more then that in the 35. of Isai shall be made good and that in Isai 60. and many other places which speak very clearly to these things search and see for Paul would not have us Ignorant of this mystery Rom. 11.25 Moreover be not mistaken though it be so that the fulness of the Gentiles under this dispensation shall come in before Christ come in person and many shall be given up to blindness and be destroyed at his appearing as it hath been shewed before yet them that are left of the Nations shall fall in with the people of Israel and say Come let us go up to the mountains of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his wayes and we will walk in his pathes For out of Sion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem Isai 2.2 3. Micah 4.1 2 3. Yea many people and strong Nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to pray before the Lord Thus saith the Lord of hosts in those dayes it shall come to pass that ten men shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew saying we will go with you for we have heard that God is with you Zach. 8.22 23. yea Zach. saith that when the Lord cometh and all the Saints with him even then the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day shall there be one Lord and his name one and then it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the Nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King the Lord of hosts and to keep the feast of Tabernacles Chap. 14.9 14. and this as I understand was signified under the Law when the males came up to Jerusalem to keep there feast so the Nations shall come up from one new Moon to another and from year to year to worship before the Lord Isai 66.23 for then the Gentiles shall be Converted to the house of Israel Isai 60.5 For the house of Israel that are brought back and are called when Christ come shall then be chief among the Nations according to this Scripture Isai 19.24 25. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria even a blessing in the midst of the land whom the Lord of Host shall bless saying blessed be Egypt my people and Assyria the work of my hands Israel mine Inheritance so in that day the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea Isa 11.9 So in that day when Christ raigns gloriously on the earth there will be first all them that dyed in the faith are found in the faith at his coming made immortal and shall raign with Christ over the whole earth Dan. 7.27 injoying perfection in knowledge and purity 1 Cor. 13.10 11 12. Ephes 5.27 and be made free from all manner of imperfections yea as David saith They shall be abundantly satisfied with the Fatness of thy house and thou shalt make them drink of the River of thy pleasures Psal 36.8 So they shall be compleatly happy injoying fulness of joy for ever and ever Secondly the house of Israel that is called when Christ appeareth as hath been shewed shall be under them and governed and judged by them Obad. 21. Mat. 19.28 Luke 22.28 29 30.
for a time return to the dust and afterwards be raised up again from the dust and so cast into Hell torments which is the second death which imagination is very strange and besides it presupposeth a Resurrection without Christ or else you must imagine that God intended in his saying to Adam Thou shalt die that his soul should go into hell torment the second death and his body to the dust the first death which Dagon-like Image shamefully falls before the Ark of truth First because it renders the coming of Christ the greatest of Gods gifts to man-kind who come not to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saved Iohn 3.17 I say it renders the coming of Christ to be the only cause of a horrible Judgement without the least mixture of mercy upon the bodies of those men whose souls were cast into hell for Adams sin that is to say Christ by his coming raises their bodies from the grave where they were without the fence of any misery and casts them without any cause into everlasting torments Secondly the imagination falls upon the account of Pauls words Rom. 5.12 shewing that that death which came by that one man Adams sin passed upon all wherefore it cannot be meant an eternal death upon the souls of men for that passed not upon the souls of the holy Fathers as aforesaid And thus you may see that neither of these imaginations can stand either according to Scripture or Reason and therefore the truth only remains before you as clearly proved by these considerations namely That Adams sin brought but the first death as hath been shewed and that mens loving darkness rather then the light is the cause of a second death and this may not be rejected because Christ himself saith This is the condemnation Iohn 3.19 Fourthly that Adams sin brought but the first death as aforesaid also appeareth from the Apostles words 1 Cor. 15.21 22. wherein is plainly held forth that Christ will bring all men to a resurrection from that death which comes upon all men by the first Adams sin wherefore it cannot possibly be the second death which he speaks of as brought by Adam for then it supposes all men brought to a resurrection from the second death or Hell torment and so preaches general salvation which is folly to conceive so then with the Prophet I conclude that the Son shall not die eternally for the iniquity of the Father But the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him that is to say upon him alone and not his child so as to bring it to eternal life And the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him that is upon him alone and not his child so as to bring it to eternall death Ezek. 18.20 Well then by this time 't is necessary to mind again our Question namely That if Christ died for all men How is it that all are not saved First by what hath been said you may see in what state man was in by his first Transgression even out of Gods favour and in a state of misery condemned to the first death But God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to taste death for every man Heb. 2.9 Rom. 5.18 and so destroyes him that hath the power of death that is the devil And thus there is purchased by Christ a resurrection for all men from the first death with the gift of God which is eternal life and hence it is that children dying in Infancy cannot be condemned at the last day for of such is the kingdome of God Mat. 19.14 But now men having a being here through Christ come to rebell against God and going out of the way so as there is none righteous no not one Rom. 3.12 they become the children of wrath but such is the love of God that he followes the creature with mercy commanding the Gospel to be preached to every creature which Gospel men not believing the wrath of God abideth on them John 3.36 the light of eternal life and remission of sins in Jesus is held forth but men loves darkness rather then light the prize of glory is put into their hands but they like fooles have no heart to it and so whereas the Objector asketh how it is that all are not saved if Christ dyed for all the answer is in Christs words This is thecondemnation John 3.19 that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are evill Thus I judge that the seeming show of the objection vanisheth and that the truth remaineth in its power and plainness namely That Christ died for all men and so setteth all men in a way in which they may come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved The truth of which will appear if you shall take a view of the Scriptures speaking of the Generations from the beginning as first in the very day that Adam fell Christ was promised by God saying The seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head and it is said of Abell That by faith he offered a more excellent sacrifice then Cain Heb. 11.4 Shewing plainly that Abell was enlightened touching the promised seed to wit Christ the true Sacrifice in whom he believing his sacrifice became more acceptable then that of Cain also it is said of Enoch that by faith he was translated that he should not see death and before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God and not only so but himself being enlightned touching Christ we find that he Prophesieth also of the coming of Christ with his faints to Judgement Jude 14. And so he was a preacher of the Gospel to others in his and following Generations In like manner we find Noah declared to be a preacher of Righteousness and by Faith preparedan Ark whereby he Condemned the World and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith 1 Pet. 3.18 19 20. 2 Pet. 2.5 Heb. 11.7 All which shewes that Noah was such an eminent light in his Generation that the whole world then in being was so taught and instructed by him he being a Preacher of Righteousness as that they being disobedient thereunto are said thereby to be condemned Also we find very cleerly that the Gospel was Preached to Abraham saying In thee shall all Nations be blessed Gal. 3.8 And afterwards unto his seed the children of Israel in the wilderness as appeareth Heb. 4.2 Among which people God shewed such mighty and wonderful power in saving and delivering them and destroying their enemies as that thereby he declared to all the World that he was Israels God and approved of their Faith and Worship as to instance some of many The Angel smote of the Campe of the Assyrians an hundred four score and five thousand 2 King 19.35 Also God delivering Shadrach Meshach and Abednigo from the fiery Furnace as also Daniel being delivered from the Lions den decrees were made that Every
People Nation and language should tremble and fear before their God and that his Kingdome shall never have an end Dan. 3.29.6.26 Moreover the Lord bringing his people out of the captivity of Babylon stirred up the spirit of Cyrus King of Persia to make Proclamation in all the Kingdomes of the earth that he was to build him the only true God a house at Jerusalem Ezek. 1.1 2. Besides all such kinds of preaching there was among them a continual Ministry of the holy Prophets whose words saith Paul went unto the ends of the world Rom. 10.18 by which means some of every Nation under heaven were proselyted devoutly worshiping the true God Acts 2.5.9 10 11. And as God was present with the house of Israel in power and might as aforesaid so also in giving great and wonderful wisdome so that the Queen of the South came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdome of Solomon Mat. 12.42 yea and all the Kings of the earth sought his presence to hear the wisdome that God had put in his heart 2 Chro. 9.23 By this cloud of witnesses 't is manifest that the Gospel was made known to all people in all Generations down to the Apostles in whose Generation Christ commanded the Gospel to be preached to every creature and saith the Apostle it was preached to every creature under Heaven Col. 1.23 And so it is evident that God set all men at all times in a way by the Gospel that they might come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved Object Though it be true that the Gospel was preached among the Nations yet we cannot judge that they all had or that all people now have a sufficiency of means whereby to believe Answ That all men had and have a sufficiency of means so as to beleeve and be saved is evident and to you will appear if you keep well in your minds the agreement of Gods Attributes so as that they may sweetly meet and kiss each other in all that you beleeve for you know the Scriptures holds forth That God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance yea and sweareth by himself that he desires not the death of the wicked but rather that he turn c. 2 Pet. 3.19 Ezek. 33.11 Now all the means of Repentance and Faith and the grace to keep men from perishing is from God as you also confess for him therefore to with-hold the means of Salvation from the poor creatures whereby 't is altogether impossible for them ever to miss eternally perishing yet nevertheless to say that he is long-suffering and not willing that Any should perish yea and to swear that he desires not the death of the wicked affectionately saying to them Turn yee turn yee for why will yee dye Whenas himself with-holds the means without which they cannot return and live I say for God thus to say and swear is altogether incredible being that which calls in question the Attributes of the Almighty and indeed is proper only to an unjust deceitful man and not to God so then 't is plain that as God desireth the Salvation of men and sweareth that he wills not their condemnation so he affordeth a sufficiency of means in order thereunto Secondly That there is a sufficiency of means for all appears because Christ charges persons not coming to him so as to beleeve in him upon the obstinacy of their wills and not upon the want of means as appeareth by these Scriptures Joh. 5.40 Yee will not come unto me that ye might have life Mat. 23.37 Oh Jerusalem How oft would I have gathered thy Children but ye would not Joh. 4.48 Except ye see signs and wonders ye will not beleeve Thirdly It appears also to be so because those who are said to perish shall be lest without excuse or claok for their sin Rom. 1.20 Joh. 15.22 Which cannot be in case they alwayes wanted means or ability to beleeve for of all cloaks or excuses that possibly can be what is a greater or safer excuse then an impossibility to do the thing required Yea surely it will be a fair plea before the Just and Righteous God but God will judge all men according to their works therefore no such excuse or piea Fourthly The Scriptures saith that Christ marvelled at the unbelief of some as hath been shewed and also pronounceth condemnation to the unbeleever because he beleeveth not c. Which may clearly prove to them that honour God in all his Attributes that he allowes a sufficiency of means to every man to do the thing which he requireth unless it may be safe to conceive that Christ the wisdome of God did marvel at known impossibilites and also that he will plunge men into hell for ever for not doing that which himself only worketh in the creature as you conceive but God forbid such horrible blindness Fifthly Christ commands men to beleeve in the Light while they have the Light that they may be the children of Light Joh. 12.36 Now for a man to be exhorted to beleeve in the Light that he may be a child of the Light and he in such darkness as was the Egyptians and as unable to help himself out of it as they were would be a most unwise vain and deceitful Exhortation unwise and vain it being known he could never beleeve deceitful in pretending that he might be the Child of Light it being altogether unpossible wherefore still I conclude that Christs words are pure and unfained and so men every way made able through grace to beleeve and do the things which they are exhored unto Christ the Lord whom we serve being no hard Master Sixtly while men are treating about what means God doth allow in order to the doing his will himself comes in and pleads What could I have done More that I have not done And yet will any man dare to say that he had done Nothing in order to their Salvation as he had not if he never made them able to beleeve Oh do not say so for in so doing you will grievously sin against God who allowed such a sufficiency of means as that in his wisdome he looked for that to be done which he commanded What did he look for that which could not be and also enter into judgment with them laying them wast and giving them up to blinded eyes and hardned hearts Isa 5.4 6 7. Isa 6.10 as a recompence unto them Rom. 11.9 From all which I conclude that Jesus Christ tasted death for every man and that All men Every Where may repent as they are commanded by him who is no hard Master and that All men might beleeve as in plain words is written Joh. 1.7 Moreover as 't is conceived that the one part of mankind have not a sufficiency of means to beleeve and so perish so also the other part of mankind have an irresistible means making them to beleeve and so they are saved The latter
of harlots so she going a whoring after her own inventions she hath made all Nations drunk with the wine of the wrath of herfornication Rev. 2.5 and so according to that in Isa 24.5 The earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof because they have transgressed the lawes changed the ordinance broken the everlasting covenant and therefore she shall be destroyed Rev. 17.16 And the curse of the Lord God Almighty will devour the earth Isa 24.6 19 20. wrath shall come upon the Gentile nations to the uttermost as it did upon the Jewes yea the Lord will make a full end of the Gentile nations Jer. 30.11 O that men would lay these things to heart and hear and obey the Lord according to the Gospel walking up orderly according to the new Testament in all things in sincerity of heart that they might escape the things that shall come to passe and to stand in Judgement before the Son of man Luke 21.36 And that ye may be sons and daughters of God according to the New Testament in order and so stand before the Lord with acceptance observe well that the first Principle of the doctrine of Christ is Repentance from dead works Heb. 6.1 For the Gospel is to be preached to all as it hath been shewed before that men may repent of all their dead works now repentance is a change of the mind from all that which is evill to all that which is good it hath in it a hearty sorrow for sin and a confession of sin and therefore John the Baptist preaching Repentance they came confessing their sins Math. 3. Repentance is such a thing as changes the man from an evil conversation to that which is very good and also from all false whorish wayes of Worship to the pure Worship of God it hath in it these seven things As first it bringeth forth a continual care as not to commit evil nor to omit good yea a readiness to every good work secondly clearing the matter of fact if it be in wrong done to any man by a wise just restitution if able Luke 19.8 and by doing so no more what ever sin it be confessing it to God with brokenness of heart turning from it Thirdly an inward indignation against all sin Fourthly the sear of God which teacheth a man to depart siom evil and to have a singular respect to all the Commandements of the Lord so as to do them Fiftly a vehement hungring thirsting desire after Righteousness Sixtly a zealous continuing in every good work Seventhly a holy revenge in bringing the body under subjection by fasting esteeming the Commandements of the Lord more then necessary food 2 Cor. 7.11 And so it is repentance or a change of the whole Man from dead works for the wages of sin is death Furthermore that men may do works acceptably in the sight of God the next Principle or teaching of Christ unseparably joyned with Repentance is Faith towards God and that is to beleeve that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that dilligently seek him and that Christ died for our sins and that he was buryed and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures and that the blood of Christ is the Blood of the New Testament Shed for the remission of sins and that there is everlasting life and a most glorious Kingdome for all them that beleeve and walk according to the Gospel or New Testament and so Faith is the substance or ground of things which are hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 6.1 Cor. 15.1 2 3 4.1 John 2.4 6. yea this faith is of a purifying nature for every one that hath this hope purifyeth himself as Chirst is pure Chap. 3.3 Acts 15.9 The next Principle of the Doctrine of Christ is the Doctrine of Baptismes it is said to be Baptismes because there is a Baptisme of afflictions in a comparative sence in the which Chirstians are dipped into so as the waves goes over them yet are raised out of it by the Lord it is not every affliction but some great affliction and yet this is common to Christians Mat. 20.22 23. Luke 12.50 Psal 42.7 John 16.33 There is also Baptisme or Dipping in Water which is the one Baptisme in a litterall sence which all Believers ought to practice I say it is Dipping in Water because the word in the Greek holds forth a washing by dipping and not sprinkling for it cannot be shewed in the Lexicons as the learned confesse and John Baptised in the River of Jordan Mark 1.5 and Christ when he was Baptized came up out of the water of the river of Jordan Mat. 3.13.16 and Philip and the Eunuch went down both into the water and he baptized him in the water Acts 8.38 39. Baptisme in Water holdeth forth in a likeness a buriall with Christ Rom. 6.3 4. All which declareth that Baptisme is Dipping the whole person in Water and this learned Perkins freely conffesseth in his Golden Chaine Furthermore penitent Men and Women are the only Subjects of Baptisme and not Infants That such as professe faith as aforesaid are to be Baptized and not Infants will appeare because the Lord commands his servants to Go teach all Nations Baptizing them that learn the Gospel so as to believe the same but Infants cannot learn the Gospel by teaching for they know neither good nor evil Deut. 1.39 Therefore it is not lawful to Baptize them That Christ commands such to be Baptized as believe through teaching or preaching is evident from Mat. 28.19 in these words Go and teach all Nations Baptizing them c. That is Them of the Nations that believe for they might not Baptize unbelieving Jewes nor heathens therefore Mark saith being the same with that of Matthew That Christ commands the Gospel to be preached to every creature and He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved so then the Gospel is to be preached to all for this end that all may believe but all do not but they that hear so as to believe the Gospel are to be Baptized and no other are in the Commission or Commandenent of Christ for baptisme it is plain so then they that Baptize Infants do that which they have no Law of Christ for nay it is against the Law of Christ because they cannot beleeve through preaching and so they have not faith for there is but one faith and that comes by hearing Ephes 4.5 Rom. 10.14.17 Object But some say That Infants are apart of the Nations and Nations are to be baptized therefore Infants Answ So are unbeleeving Jewes and Heathens part of the Nations yet are not to be Baptized and so it is plain that Nations are not to be Baptized as such but beleeving men and women as hath been shewed before therefore not Infants Object But some men say That Infants do beleeve from that Scripture Mat. 18. in these words But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which beleeve in
lively set it forth for the corn doth not bring forth except it die that is be changed for so the word die holds it forth so the natural body cannot be made a spiritual body except it die or be changed and so God giveth it another body as it pleaseth him for he maketh that natural body a spiritual body and so it puts on immortality at the resurrection day and so the same flesh and blood as it is a corruptible body cannot inherit the kingdome of God as the Apostle saith flesh and bloud cannot inherit the kingdome of God but that corruptible body of flesh shall be an incorruptible body of flesh for it shall be flesh and bones after the Resurrection for Christs body was so after he was risen Luke 24.39 So then it is the same body that dyeth that shall be raised only it shall be made incorruptible and in all perfection for this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality 1 Cor. 15.53 So it cannot dye nor go down to death any more and therefore when it riseth from the grave or the dead it triumpheth over death and the grave as it appeareth at large 1 Cor. 15. from vers 35. to 57. And to this agreeth very sweetly that in Hosea 13.14 I will ransome them from the power of the grave I will redeem them from death O death I will be thy death O grave I will be thy destruction repentance shall be hid from mine eyes God is not as man that he should repent he will make good his promise his name is Jehovah making good his promises note also I pray that in Isa 25.8 He will swallow up death in victory and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from all the earth for the Lord hath spoken it Thirdly regeneration or the knowledge of God in the highest degree that can be attained on this side the grave is no where in Scripture called a Resurrection therefore I conclude that that is no Resurrection and that this is good reasoning it appeareth plainly Heb. 1.8 and if we note the Scripture we may see this only is a resurrection which is the rising from the grave or from the dead after the breath is departed because Job saith that he shall See God in his flesh and them very eyes and no other shall behold him for him Job 19.25 26. Note that he saith he shall see God in his flesh which sheweth that the same flesh shall rise again and be made incorrupti ble yea immortall and then shall see Godface to face yea in his glory Rev. 22.4 Fourthly that the dead shall rise at the comming of Christ is shewn by many examples we read of in the Scriptures how the dead were raised 1 Kings 17. Elijah raised the widdowes Son and in 2 Kings 4. Elisha raised the Shunamites child from the dead and chap. 32.21 Math. 27.52 53. The graves were opened and bodies of the Saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into the holy city appeared unto many note the bodies of the Saints arose therefore the bodies of the children of God shall rife from the dead and so the Lord Jesus raised Lazarus his body from the grave when he had been dead four dayes Jo. 11.39 44. Act. 9.37 41. Peter raised Tabitha so then the dead were raised in the time of the law and by Christ and his Apostles to the glory of God which teacheth us that it is not a thing incredible that God should raise again the dead yea seeing Christ the first fruits is raised afterward they that are Christs at his coming 1 Cor. 15.23 Fifthly Christ proves the resurrection by that which was written by Moses after Abraham Isaac and Jacob was dead that God was a God to them though they were dead yet God is not a God to the dead but to the living for all live unto him therefore Abraham Isaac and Jacob must rise again Luke 20.37 38. so many shall come from the East West North and South and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdome of God Luk. 13.28 29. so if the Scriptures be true the dead must rise but heaven and earth must pass away but not one jot or tittle of his word shall not faile Mat. 5.18 Ch. 24.39 Therefore the resurrection is certaine and a blessed truth Sixtly that the just and unjust shall rise from the dead is plain in that Christ saith John the 5.28 29. Marvaile not at this for the hour shall come in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voyce and they shall come forth that have done good unto the resurrection of life but they that have done evil unto the resurrectiof condemnation And Paul makes it the great Article of his faith when he was accused of the Jewes Act. 24.14 freely confessing unto the Governour that after the way which they call heresie so worshiped he the God of his Fathers beleeving all things which are witten in the law and the Prophets and had hope towards God that the resurrection of the dead which they themselves look for also shall be both of just and unjust and so I conclude the just mans body shall be raised from the grave or be changed and the unjust also The next Principle of the Doctrine of Christ is the Eternal Judgment and that is this That every man shall be judged according to his works done in the flesh be they good or evil Math. 16.27 for the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels and then shall he give to every man according to his deeds Mat. 25.31 32. When the Son of man cometh in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the Throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall seperate them one from another as a shepheard seperateth the Sheep from the Goats For we must all appear before the judgment Seat of Christ that every man may receive the things which are done in his body according to that he hath done whether they be good or evil So that the Saints must give an account of all that they have done at the day of Judgment after they are raised from the dead or changed being made immortal For God will bring every work unto judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or evil Eccl. 12.14 And to this Christ speaks very fully Mat. 12.26 That of every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account at the day of judgment For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned So Paul saith We shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ Rom. 14.10 so that God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to the Gospel Rom. 2.16 but Saints sins
their first works he would remove their candlestick and John exhorts the Elect Lady and her children to look to themselves that they lose not those things they have gained but that they receive a full reward 2 John 8. And so he that continues in the faith to the end he shall be saved for the just shall live by faith Heb. 10.38 But if any draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him Object But it is impossible to deceive the very Elect therefore men cannot fall from the true faith Mat. 24.24 Answ Christ speaks of such as make their calling and election sure by adding to their faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience c. abounding in the bringing forth of fruit giving all diligence to continue therein according to 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9 10 11. they that do so shall never fall for the Lord God will give grace and deliver them from the evil of temptation making a way to escape that they may be able to bear it and so there is no condemnation to them that walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit and so none can lay any thing to those that so through Grace persevere to the end God justifieth them who can condemn them yea an entrance shall be ministred unto them abundantly into the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord Psal 84.11 1 Cor. 10.13 Rom. 8. But Further observe that such as have believed the Truth and do run well are called The elect of God 1 John 1.8 and are written for Heaven in the Book of Life which is the New Testament if they go on adding as aforesaid but if they turn again to folly and so turn from the holy Commandement and so come to be dead yea twice dead their names are blotted out of the Book of Life Gal. 5.7 Exod. 32.33 Rev. 3.5 chap. 22.19 and this will be fulfilled upon many in these last dayes for Christ saith That false Christs and false Prophets shall arise and deceive many Matth. 24.5 11. Now if they were not in the way to life they could not be deceived for they cannot be deceived and led out of the way which were never in it so then this is the way of the new Covenant they that through grace walk up after it are written for life and them that do not abide in the truth of it are written for death for the Lord will be with men while they be with him but if they forsake him he will forsake them 2 Chron. 15.2 John 15.2 10. So men are elected in Christ through believing the truth but they that depart from the faith depart from their election and choice for God hath chosen the godly man for himself not persons simply but godly persons and decreed to save them that so make use of his Grace so as to hold fast their confidence to the end Hebr. 3.6 and no other Object But the gifts and calling of God are without repentance Rom. 11.29 Answ It is true For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3.16 And while we were yet sinners Christ died for us Rom. 5.8 So that God gave his Son freely for the world and so he cals men freely to believe that Christ died for them and gives time and space to all to hear and repent and this he doth whether men believe and repent or no so it is Christs death that makes the peace with God but it is made out by Faith Rom. 4.16 And so eternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord for in and through Christs death comes forth the glad tydings of Peace and so by him are all things 1 Cor. 8.6 for in him we live and move and have our being and by Christs death we are saved alive and are made able to believe so that justification is not of works but meerly of grace yet understand that Scripture in Rom. 11.29 speaks of the house of Israel how that the Lord God hath decreed to call the Jews and the whole House of Israel and make them one Nation and a glorious People and of this he will not repent But for the clearing up of this understand that when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in then the Deliverer shall come to Sion and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob Isai 59.20 Rom. 11.26 Christ the Redeemer shall come and gather the out-cast of Israel and the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth Isai 11.12 And make the two Nations of Israel one Nation neither shall they be divided into two Kingdomes any more at all Ezek. 37.22 And perform the good thing to Israel even the new Covenant according to that in Jer. 31. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the Land of Egypt which my Covenant they brake although I was an Husband unto them saith the Lord But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people and they shall not teach every man his neighbor and every man his brother saying know the Lord for all shall know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more And so a Nation even all them that remain of Israel shall be born at once and so all Israel shall be saved Isai 66.8 9 10. Rom. 11.26 27 28 29 30 31 32. Object But if any should say That these Scriptures were made good unto Israel when they returned from the Captivity of Babylon Answ That cannot be because both the Houses of Israel returned not at that time and so could not be made one Nation but when these Promises are made good the two Nations are made one and shall abide so forever and shall be moved no more at all out of their own Land Jer. 31.40 Consider well the 37. of Ezekiel especially from the 16. verse to the end Also it cannot be that these Scriptures can be fulfilled in the conversion of the Gentiles they being so made Jews for these Promises are made to the House of Israel and the House of Judah and the converted Gentiles are not called the House of Israel and the House of Judah in no place of Scripture Thirdly These things that are here promised to Israel and Judah cannot be made good to the Gentiles because the fulness of the Gentiles is to be come in when these things shall be made good to Israel Rom. 11.25
Olives which is before Jerusalem Zach. 14.4 and that he shall raign on the earth with his Saints And that it may not appear a strange thing observe well how the Scriptures were taken in the letter that spake of Christ to come in the flesh and his sufferings as A virgin shall conceive and bear a son Isa 7.14 Christ the King of Jerusalem and Lord of Lords and King of Kings riding upon an Ass and upon a coult the foal of an Ass Zach. 9.9 Mat. 21.5 of their giving him vineger to drink Psal 69.21 Mat. 27.48 again the selling of Christ the Lord of life and glory for thirty pieces of silver Zach. 11.12.13 Mat. 27.9 Much more might be said to shew that strange things were fore-told by the Prophesies in the Scripture concerning the coming of Christ in the flesh and his suffering and rising from the dead plainly declared in the letter yea men hardly believed them until they were fulfilled So then the Scriptures speaking plainly also of the Lord Christ descending from heaven to the earth and to raign on the earth with his Saints as it hath been shewed before why should it be thought to be uncredible Again there is a stream of Scriptures that declareth that the Saints shall suffer persecution and be in tribulation until the coming of Christ John 16.33 2 Tim. 3.12 Luke 14.2 27. Acts. 14.22 Yea the neerer the coming of Christ the greater trouble to the Saints 2 Tim. 3.1 2 13 Dan. 7.25 Luke 18.7 8. Rev. 7.14 Also the Scriptures declare plentiously that the Saints shall raign on the earth and flourish exceedingly and that a long time Psal 72.7 Isai 65.21 22 23. Daniel 7.27 Psal 149. Mat. 5.5 Rev. 2.26 27. Chap. 5.10 Chap. 11.15 Now observe it well how can this stand or consist that the Saints must from Christ coming in the flesh to his coming to Judgment suffer persecution and tribulation and yet must have a long time to raign and flourish seeing reigning over the earth and flourishing is inconsistant for men cannot be at one time in a persecuted troubled afflicted condition and in a raigning flourishing state therefore I say that Christ must reign on the earth and appoint his people a kingdome Luke 22.29 30. and so they shall reign with him on the earth Again there is a stream of Scriptures that declareth that there should be warrs and rumors of warrs in the last dayes Mat. 24.6 7. Mark 13.7 8. Dan. 2.40 Chap. 8. Chap. 11. Rev. 13. Chap. 17. Yea the fourth Monarchy which is the Roman power which did begin to raign before Christ came in the flesh and hath raigned in the sixth Head and will raign in the seventh and eighth which is of the seventh of that Roman power untill Christ come as hath been shewed before hath all a long brought in warrs and doth and will to the coming of Christ for the Scriptures shew that this fourth power will break in peeces and subdue all and stamp the residue with the feet of it Dan. 2.40 Chap. 7.7 So there hath been no long peace but devision and warrs and is and will be more and more untill the coming of Christ Dan. 2.42 43. Chap. 7.24 25. Joel 3.9 10. Exek 38. Chap. 39. Revel 16.14 Chap. 19.17 18 19. So then by the Scripture it appeareth from the coming of Christ in the flesh to the coming of Christ from heaven to judge the quick and the dead there hath and will be warr and to this Histories agree also that there hath not been no long peace in the world since the Jewes captivity in Babylon but very much warr But the Scripture sheweth plentiously also that there shall be a long peace in the whole world Psal 72.7 8. in his dayes shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the Moon endureth Zach. 9.10 Isai 14.7 The whole world is at rest and is quiet they break forth into singing Mich. 4.3 4. And he shall judge among many people and rebuke strong Nations after off and they shall beat there swords into plow-shares and their spears into pruning hooks Nation shall not lift up a sword against Nation neither shall they learne Warr any More But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig-tree and none shall make them afraid for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it Isa 2.4 So then there hath been and will be warr untill Christ comes yet there must be a long time of peace and this peace never was nor cannot be untill Christ comes as the Scriptures of truth witnesse and then if the earth be utterly destroyed as some say then that peace cannot be But I say with the Prophet that that peace must be and it cannot be untill Christ comes therefore Christ will raign with all his Saints on the earth personally and then he will make warr to cease unto the ends of the earth he breaketh the bow and cutteth the spear asunder he burneth the Chariot in the fire saying Be still and know that Lam God I will be exalted among the heathen I will be exalted in the earth Psal 46.9 10. Again the whole house of Israel after the flesh shall be called as it hath been shewed before which cannot be untill the fulness of the Gentiles be come in and the appearing of Christ and this will appear evidently if you well observe what Isa saith 59.20 21. compared with Rom. 11.25 26 27. for the Apostle sheweth when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in then the deliverer shall come to Sion and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob For this is my Covenant unto them when I shall take away there sins And that you may see the Apostle speaks of the whole house of Israel that remains on the earth when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in note well the 25. verse and so to the 33. And also what hath been said before concerning this thing So then the whole house of Israel shall be called to a glorious state here on earth when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in and then the deliverer the Lord Jesus Christ shall come to Sion then shall they look upon him whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his onely Son Zach. 12.10 So then from all this and much more might be said it clearlly followeth that the Lord shall reign personaly on the earth and so the Lord God shall give him the Throne of his Father David and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdome there shall be no end Luke 1.33.33 Now in the next place take notice further of some of the excellent things that the Lord will do in that day for the house of Israel In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel And it shall come to pass that