Judge all the Heathen round about None so blind as those that will not see 10. The glorious City from Gods Throne doth glide EXcept by clear Scripture it be disproved I must believe therefore affirm Rev. 21.2 Ioh. 14.1 2 that the City described by Saint John is a material City that the Carpenters Son hath been these 1600 years preparing it for his Saints and that the cleaving of the Mount of Olives producing that wonderful spacious plain already proved is to receive this glorious City of twelve thousand furlongs Rev. 21.16 or one thousand five hundred miles compass wherein his Saints shall raign in glory with this Jehovah our Righteousness as long as the Sun and Moon indureth If it be said by a mistake of Rev. 21.9 10. That the holy City is call'd the Bride I must answer plainly it is not so but on the contrary if the 9. and 10. Verses be compared with the 24. we shall find them manifestly distinguished and it appears plainly that the design of the Spirit is to shew the Apostle the City where the Bride dwelleth Psal 45.14 Isa 65 18. Ezech. 14.11 and if we shall further consult these Scriptures it will be yet more clear that the City is one thing and the Bride the Saints the glorious Inhabitants in that City another thing But if it should be granted that the City is call'd the Bride there would be little gained by it as to the opposite of this Point because it is ordinary in the Scriptures to term the Inhabitants of the City the City it self as Matt. 11.20 21 22 23. sure it will not be affirmed that the buildings of Capernaum c. are threatned to be thrown into Hell Let the Prophet Ezechiel decide this Controversie from the mouth of the Lord Ezech. 37.27 saying My Tabernacle also shall be with them yea and I will be their God and they shall be my people this is that royal Palace into which the Bride with her Virgins shall enter to solace themselves with our King in unconceivable spiritual delights for ever 11. The Nuptial ditty Vshers in the Bride THe Ancient people of the Lord the natural seed of faithful Abraham after their tedious time of divorcement Isai 62 2 3 4 5. Hos 2.19 20. shall not only be espoused as formerly but now in view of all the world marryed with transcendent joy in highest Glory to the King of glory This is the Royal Bride the Gentiles Saints or Churches are the Virgins her Companions All the Angels in Heaven joyn in Consort to celebrate the Nuptials in that triumphant ditty Alleluja Rev. 19.6 7. for the Lord God omnipotent reighneth Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready so shall she be brought unto the King in raiment of needle-work Psal 45.14 15. the Virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee with gladness and rejoycing shall they be brought they shall enter into the Kings Palace There is a great question but of no great importance whether the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in before Israels conversion for my own part I am satisfied in this that in respect of a full conversion the work among the Gentiles shall precede but after the Jews effectual Call so glorious will that dispensation be Isai 60 3. That the Gentiles shall come to their light and Kings to the brightness of their rising Yet when all is known and understood which the word discovers of this wonderful Mystery what a small spark is it to the exceeding unconceivable glory of that day of wonders and who would hazard his interest in the glory thereof for all the bewitching painted seeming glories of this luxurious Age 12. Thus Saints regaining an immortal state HOw miserably are they handled by men of corrupt minds that stand for the honour of Christs Kingdom as though it were carnal delights and earthly pleasures they lookt after if any such there be they will see their vanity and folly perhaps when 't is too late The Saints are of another stamp and are hereby chiefly discerned from hypocrites by seeking holiness rather then happiness it is the pure spiritual immortal glorious state of Christs Kingdom that they believe and profess and expect and that which makes their spirits dance and their souls to leap for joy is the consideration of being fashioned like his glorious body when being free from corruption Phil. 3.21 they shall never sin against God any more not any kinde of pleasure can stand in competition in their pure affections with desire of freedom from sin their King hath taught them and they have learned to know Luk. 20.35 That they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they die any more for they are equal unto the Angels This is that blessed state of immortality that Saints believe Phil. 3.11 1 Cor. 15.54 and with the blessed Apostle press hard after When this corruption shall put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality and death shall be swallowed up of victory Rom. 8.23 This adoption is that redemption of our bodies that now we wait for Luk. 22.30 Isai 62.9 and shall then enjoy when we shall eat and drink at Christs table in this glorious Kingdom There will be eating and drinking but not as now for in this state of mortality other creatures lose their lives to support ours for so is the word * Acts 10.13 Isai 65.21 in the state of immortality the fruit of the Vine the food appointed Adam in Paradise And only the state of Eternity is supported by God himself 13. In glory reigning while the Sun bears date THe Lord Jesus Christ is not now in his own proper and peculiar Throne Rev. 3.21 his present station is at the right hand of the Majesty on High even in his Fathers Throne but the glorious Throne that he hath purchased with his precious bloud he will shortly erect upon this Earth for himself and his beloved Saints then shall he have and enjoy the actual return of that request of his Joh. 17.24 That where I am they may be also and this the Saints in Heaven are wondrously affected with and do therefore exceedingly rejoyce in the consideration of this glory which they with their fellow brethren shall enjoy as an addition to their present glory with Christ in his Throne upon the Earth Rev. 5.9 10. for then and not till then will the glory of our King be compleat when the great voyces of all the heavenly Host shall be heard in the words of the Scripture I am now opening the Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 And
twelfth Verse are called The eyes of the Lord which run too and fro through the whole Earth Now what these seven eyes are may be found out by that means which the Lord Jesus hath appointed viz. searching the Scriptures S. John will tell us that these seven eyes sent forth into all the Earth Rev. 5.6 Rev. 1.4 Rev. 8.2 are the seven Spirits of God which are before his Throne that these thus standing before him are the seven Angels with Trumpets which are none other then the Ministers of the Churches as they are plainly called Rev. 1.20 They are called the seven Spirits because as they are abundantly filled so they are imployed by the Spirit which so mightily over-powers them that they seem many times to be nothing but Spirit taking their denomination from the most noble part in them which is the Spirit as Paul speaks Not 1 1 Cor. 15.10 Act. 15.28 Mat. 5 14. but the grace of God which was with me These seven eyes are the light of the world appointed by the Lord Jesus that corner stone upon which they stand Zechary 3.9 for the building of his Church Eph. 4.11 12 13. Rom. 12.6 c. for the perfecting of his Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ And these seven are thus distinguished in the holy Scriptures those faithful Witnesses of truth 1. Prophets 2. Apostles 3. Evangelists 4. Pastours 5. Teachers 6. Ruling Elders 7. Deacons These are the seven sorts of Officers or seven Pillars that the Lord Jesus Christ the wisdom of the Father Prov. 9.1 Gal. 2 9. hath hewn out for the building of his great house the Church These are his golden Pipes so called by the Spirit of the Lord as conveighing this precious liquor this divine Treasure of the heavenly word for nourishment to the poor Church as well in her Wilderness condition as in all Ages though these blessed instruments of Christ term themselves but earthen Vessels that so the excellency of this heavenly Treasure which is conveighed through them 2 Cor. 4.7 may the more redound to the glory of God yet the Spirit cals them golden Pipes These seven mentioned in the second Verse are more comprehensively reduced unto two golden Pipes vers 12. answerable whereunto those seven sorts of Officers mentioned are comprehended under the two chief Eph. 2.20 that is Apostles and Prophets upon whose foundation we are built Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner Stone And thus I suppose it is evident that I have not presumed without clear warrant from the Law and the Testimony to affirm 1. That the two Olive-trees are the two Testaments or those Witnesses of Christ appointed to feed the Church as in all Ages so through the whole course of Papal Persecution viz. one thousand two hundred and threescore years 2. That the Candlesticks are the Churches of the Saints 3. That the two Olive-branches are Doctrine and Discipline 4. That the golden Pipes are the Ministers of the Churches The fifth Verse And if any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their Enemies and if any man will hurt them he must on this manner be killed The Pope and his Parasites had power enough and did exercise that power to the utmost in killing and spoyling tormenting and harrasing the poor Saints in this time of their exile and therefore the Saints cannot possibly be the Witnesses as some have conceived many a precious servant of Jesus lost his life for the Witnesses sake that is for holding close to the Law to the Testimony those Witnesses of Christ against the Antichristian Tyranny of their bloody persecutors but to the wonder and amazement of the World to the high praises of our God be it for ever acknowledged they had no power to overcome or suppress the Scriptures till toward the end of their prophesie or finishing their testimony in Sackcloth I know many had an earnest desire to destroy them they wanted no will to the work but maugre all their rage and malice though they dig'd as deep as Hell leaving no stone unturnd that might seem to conduce to the support of their Tyrannical Antichristian State yet whether they judged the Scriptures of no weight or slighting them as below the glory of their Babel or whether the terror of the Curse Rev. 22.18 like fire in their bones deterred them or what other secret operation it was I know not but by the mighty power of God these heavenly Witnesses have been wonderfully preserved in this Babylonish Captivity through the whole course of their Prophesie in Sackcloth 1260 years The sixth Verse These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their Prophesie and have power over waters to turn them into bloud and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will While the Saints are in Goshen the Kingdom of Antichrist is smitten with sundry plagues the effects of the Saints prayers but none so dreadful as that universal thick darkness that soon over-spred the whole Land of the Beast Rev. 16.10 while the holy Spouse of Christ troden under-foot enjoys the light of her Beloveds shining face to whom it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God but the scarlet Strumpet in the midst of all her brags that she is no widdow but the wife of Christ that her eldest son is his Vicar that she is Infallible and cannot be deceived is given up to a spirit of slumber and strong delusions to believe lyes Mark 4.11 that seeing they might see and not perceive and hearing they might hear and not understand lest at any time they should be converted and their sins should be forgiven them No dew of Grace descends upon those cursed Families the waters of the Sanctuary are now by little and little stopt from them at first the great burning Mountain the Beneficence of the great Constantine being cast into the Sea of Rome Rev 8.8 9. a third part presently became blood and the third part of the Ministers in that Church with their adherents departed from the Faith a while after the whole Sea was generally poysoned and became as the bloud of a dead man Rev. 16 3. and so there was an universal revolt from the doctrine of salvation to lying Fables vain Superstitions Miracles Signs and Wonders with all deceivableness of unrighteousness and every living foul that drank this poyson in the Cup of her abominations presently dyed How the fire that proceeded out of the mouthes of the Witnesses hath devoured their Enemies and how they have smote their Enemies with all manner of plagues is very remarkable Multitudes of Examples might be produced of which take a taste Surely the fiery indignation of the Lord hath been wonderfully manifested against these desperate Antichristian Enemies in their cursed Attempts to race deface corrupt or any way to hurt these Divine
his life but none so dangerous as that Arrian gulf wherein the Dragon with the third part of those fallen Stars endeavoured to swallow him From all which cursed designs he was wonderfully and even miraculously preserved by that gratious hand who took him up to his Throne viz. the Royal Thorne of the Empire the highest honor and dignity in the world and to make his glory compleat indeed he was from his former Idolatry caught up to the chast imbraces of the Spouse of the Lord Jesus that blessed holy Throne where the great Jehovah delighted to sit while it continued pure To this and all other Churches of Saints Rev 8.8 Now was that voyce from heaven heard viz. this day is poyson powred forth into the Church for now Christs is death slighted and errors c. prevail abundantly he presently became not only a famous Protector but a most bountifull benefactor heaping mountains of Royal favours upon them in so much as he is supposed through his fervent zeal manifested in wonderfull beneficence to be that burning Mountain cast into the sea upon which the third part of the sea of Rome suddainly became blood that is the third part of her doctrine and discipline was corrupted by the third part of the Stars that the Dragon drew down after him which fallen stars being now at rest and peace this peace producing plenty and that luxury all which beget ambitious designs which having the bounty of a Royal Emperor as a fit object before them they not knowing how to manage such a prosperous estate having been so long pressed down with cruel persecutions and deep afflictions do suck in this liberality with so much greediness that they cease not swelling till they burst with it into such excessive pride pomp state cruelty luxury and all kind of wickedness that they force the poor woman even as soon as she hath but newly brought forth her man-child to flie into the Wilderness Rev. 12.5 6. that is into holes and corners anywhere to enjoy her Beloved in the purity of his Ordinances with which she is fed and nourished by her two Witnesses the holy Scriptures prophesying in Sackcloth with her 1260 yeers And now that an open gap might be made for the man of Sin to be set up in his Chayr of Pestilence the Royal man-child translateth his Imperial Throne from Rome to Constantinople 2 Thes 2.7 Comment of the London Ministers and so the let spoken of by S. Paul being by the judgement of most of the ancient Doctors of the Church the Romane Empire by this removal of Constantine taken out of the way Pope Sylvester taking hold of this opportunity of the Emperours absence laden too heavily with many royal favors layes the foundation of Babel but yet so secretly privily covertly and obscurely that a very curious diligent eye could hardly discern it in these beginnings and indeed had it not wrought so obscurely and almost indiscernably it could not have been the Mystery of Iniquity and therefore the Prophet Daniel though throughly acquainted with this working of the man of Sin is brought in diligently observing and prying very narrowly before he could discern him so secret and obscure were his beginnings Dan. 11.21 Dan. 7.8 hardly suspected of any as being a horn too little at first to be feared but as little as it is it loseth no time to make it self great but partly by flatteries subtile insinuations highly raising the same merit of such as were bountiful and liberal to the Churches vehemently exciting others to the like beneficence till at last he is heightned by obtaining of Kingdoms and Provinces to an open discovery of himself to be that great Antichrist Thus in his Infancy he begins to erect the Chayr of Pestilence for no man denyeth saith Guicciardin that the Translation of the Empire was the first cause of the Popes Authority Hist Trent pag. 833. Hakewil Apol. pag. 473. For now the people of Rome withdrew their obedience from the Emperors by occasion of their absence and it is the confession of the Jesuits themselves that the Empire was not only then translated but even long since dissolved and so the great Let removed and an open door set for the Papal Kingdom to be elevated by degrees to its heigth of impiety which must likewise by degrees come to utter ruine and destruction as the foundation of Babel is now laid upon the translation of the Empire from Rome so the poor woman the true Church of Christ perceiving the Mystery of Iniquity beginning to work not able to side with the pomp pride ambition superstition and all kinde of wickedness that the most are drownd in she flies into the Wilderness which is no other then the few faithful Saints that kept close to the Rule associating together in some private corners even in the midst of Rome the outward Court as also many precious societies of Saints did in London and other places in England and Wales in the late dayes of bloody Antichristian Prelates giving up themselves to the Lord and one to another Even so did this virgin Spouse of Christ keep close to the Faith holding fast to her first love being fed and nourished with the pure lively Oracles these heavenly Witnesses of Christ in these secret corners and retired covert places in the midst of Pergamos where Satans seat was And this is that Wilderness condition and obscure hiding place that God prepared for her and her Witnesses that there she might be securely preserved from the unfaithful Watch men who having learned to lord it over Gods Heritage and to smite their fellow servants and to eat and to drink with the drunken and to abuse this simple Spouse of Christ and take away her vail these and such like actions as these is the treading underfoot the holy City by these degenerate Romish Gen. tiles the outward Court which are now generally infected with the Arrian Heresie and other dreadful abominations Taylor Libert pag. 141. 143. This is the Revelation of our English Prophet Brightman Rev. Apoc. p. 79. who saith that no sooner did some peaceable conditions begin to appear and Heathenish Tyranny cease but straightway did the Bishops begin to be set on fire with spiteful dissentions c. the Bishops of Rome even so early boasting with brags of pride in Peters Chayr and succession from him upon whom they affirm the foundations of the Church is laid and this foolish conceit produced that presumptious Edict that Tertullian who lived in the third Century condemned I hear saith he that there is a peremptory Edict set forth of late Trap. Comment pag. 291. Thus saith the chief Priest the Bishop of Bishops c. I hate saith Basil the pride of that Western Church And thus by this excessive pride of these Romish Gentiles boasting of their external glory and lustre they do plainly declare to the world that they are none of the true Church hid
there were slain of Nobles c. 3000. Revel 11. The great whore of Rome betrays these holy Witnesses into the hands of his Butchers in his Slaughter-house of Trent These cut out their tongues and suffer them not to speak in those known Languages wherein they had wrought wonders These put out the eyes of the Scriptures and so cast them into the streets of their great City These bind the Witnesses with their cursed Decrees of Trent and of Pope Pius the 4. 1564. and then cloyster them up in their Monasteries Convents and there wrest them at their pleasure Apoc. 11.10 And they shal rejoyce over them and make merry c. because these two Prophets tormented them c. And after three years and a half the spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet And the tenth part of the City fell And there were slain of Names of men 7000. Thus run these grand Enemies of Truth exactly parallel in their Actons and are therefore design'd to the like ruine I shal not further enlarge upon this verse save onely on the latter part of it a little and were there no other ground to evince the truth of what hath been delivered this passage would abundantly satisfie that the Witnesses are none other then the holy Scriptures for these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth And what is it that hath power to torment the consciences of wicked men on earth but the Word of God this and only this being the engine of the spirit tormenteth them that dwell on the earth Heb. 4.12 For the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper then any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the hearts No wonder if earthly men rejoyce and make merry at the overthrow of such opposites as these At the hearing of the Word Ananias fell down dead Foelix trembled the Officers that came to apprehend Christ fell backward to the ground and by this Word shall wicked men be judged and therefore no marvel that Antichrist and his Adherents should exalt rejoyce be glad and send gifts one to another when these blessed Witnesses that have so tormented them are overcome and suppressed The eleventh Vers And after three dayes and a half the Spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them that saw them Three years and a half they continued in a dead letter suspended suppressed prohibited by Antichrist and after this in despight of all his Thunderbolts the spirit of life from God entred into them being translated into many common Languages about this time and amongst the rest into English yea the Papists themselves at Rhemes seeing the multitude of people depart from them and embrace the Scriptures were at last constrained to translate them also though in a corrupt manner and with most abominable Annotations upon them yet even from hence did many a precious soul draw life and salvation converting that into Honey which was the bane and poyson of others and it is wonderful to me that at this very exact time both this and many other Translations of the Scriptures should come abroad in the open view of the world Pref. Rhem. Test Sect. 1. Compared with title page Fulk cont Mar. Epist Dedic received and countenanced by many Christian Princes to the great fear and terror of their Enemies who saw them thus raised from the dead But as yet they ascended not into Heaven only they were raised and lived and stood upon their feet that so in every thing they might resemble the Lord Jesus their Fountain who after his Resurrection stood also upon his feet on this Earth fourty days before he ascended up to Heaven so these having stood a proportionable time upon their feet not in that glory they were to have but in expectation of it The twelfth Verse And they heard a great voyce from Heaven saying unto them Come up hither And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud and their enemies beheld them That the two Testaments are the Witnesses and that they were overcome lay dead and rose again as hath been declared I have good ground to be confidently assured of but how long they stood upon their feet before they ascended up into Heaven I am not so clear in yet if I may deliver what my serious thoughts grounded upon fair probabilities prompt me to I shall declare namely the great voyce calling up the Witnesses is this present famous and renowned Parliament of England which I believe for sundry reasons First The Scriptures never appeared in their true lustre splendor and glory since their suppression till now that this blessed voyce hath called them up to the Throne where these Worthies sit Secondly They ascended up to Heaven in a cloud of much trouble wonderfull Commotions and violent oppositions Thirdly Their Enemies beheld them and would gladly have pulled them down which they endeavored by all possible industry policy and violence and to their perpetual shame be it spoken they never beheld them but as Enemies King Prelates Papists and the whole rabble of Cavalliers restless in their spirits from the first ascending of the Witnesses into Heaven to this very day The thirteenth Verse Fourthly And the same hour was there a great earthquake Which certainly cannot be forgotten the whole Land yea the three Nations trembled nay which of the Kingdoms of Europe were free from Commotions so great was the Earthquake this same hour of the Witnesses ascension Fifthly And the tenth part of the City fell Great Brittain the tenth part of Romes Dominions had long before separated from Antichrist in Doctrine but never fell from Rome totally till now we kept close to her detestable Discipline till this happy Parliament the joy of Saints the honour of Christ Now the day breaks and shadows fly away down go Crosses Altars Images away pack Surpless Service-Book Organs and the whole bundle of Popish Superstitious Ceremonies Sixthly And in the Earthquake were slain of names of men seven thousand Arch-bishops Diocesan Bishops Chancellors Commissaries Deans Chapters Arch-deacons Ordinaries Prebends Sumners Choristers Parrators Parsons Vicars Curats Clarks and I know not how many names devised by Antichrist He that shall diligently consider the particular persons in this Land distinguished by these and such like Babylonish Titles will finde no less a number then seven thousand all slain in this terrible Earthquake Seventhly And the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of Heaven The late terrible Earthquake that great Commotion wherein the seven thousand names of men were slain did so affright the rest of the long Robe that they were glad to change their names and their clothes and instead of that of Parson Vicar c. to call themselves Ministers of the Gospel and get into the Parliaments
glory but as an addition to their felicity that they are made Kings and Priests unto God that they may reign with Christ upon the Earth For where they reign Christ shall reign Apoc. 5.10 20.4 where his Throne is erected there they are enthroned To him that overcometh Apoc. 3.21 will I grant to sit with me in my Throne c. Sing and rejoyce O Daughter of Sion Zech. 2.10 for lo I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee the Lord. And the Lord shall inherit Judah Vers 12. his portion in the holy Land And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem Zeeh. 14.4 Vers 9. And the Lord shall be King over all the Earth in that day shall there be one Lord Jer. 30.9.33.15 Ezech. 34.33 34.37.22 24. Dan. 7.14 Mich. 4.7 Zeph. 3 17. Zech. 2.20.6.13 and his name one Many more Scriptures might be produced to confirm this Gospel-truth that the same Lord Jesus Christ who did ascend into Heaven shall come again to reign upon the Earth Luk. 19.12 But if these do not satisfie neither will credit be given if an Angel speak from Heaven or one should rise from the dead to affirm it For my own part I do not know any point of Faith throughout the whole Book of God more clearly proved then this in hand as certain as he ascended and is now receiving his Kingdom Luk. 19.11 12. so sure will he return again to reign in his Kingdom Read Psalm 72. And these and many more Scriptures do superabundantly ratifie this assertion Vse 1. What then remains on our part but first to believe this truth of his coming here to reign we can do him no greater honour then to believe his Word nor no greater disgrace then to reject and refuse so great a cloud of Witnesses of himself his Prophets and Apostles Vse 2. To pray fervently as himself hath taught us Mat. Thy kingdom come for though it is true that neither this nor any other mercy shall be detained from us one minute longer then the appointed season Yet know O house of Israel Ezech. saith the Lord I will for this be enquired of Vse 3. And thrice blessed those that are counted worthy to be the Lords Remembrancers to watch wait for and constantly expect the coming of this King of Glory Blessed is that servant Mat. whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Isai 30.18 Yea blessed are all they that wait for him Secondly how and in what manner shall this King our Christ come to reign upon the Earth First he shall come in Majesty Power Mat. 24.30 2 Thes 1.9 and great Glory not in the form of a servant not riding upon a Colt the foal of an Ass not to be laid in a Manger abused condemned and crucified but now the voyce is Gird thy Sword upon thy thigh Psal 45.3 4 8. O most mighty with thy glory and thy Majesty and in thy Majesty ride prosperously All Garments smell of Myrrh his Aloes and Cassia out of the Ivory Palaces He shall also have dominion from sea to sea Psal 72.8 and from the River to the ends of the Earth yea all Kings shall fall down before him 11. all Nations shall serve him Secondly 2 Thes 1.7 Mat. 24.31 25 31. Zech. 14.5 Jude 14. He shall come attended with all the Angels in Heaven and all his Saints that ever were now are or ever shall be never such a King never such a train Thirdly Mat. 24.27 1 Cor. 15.52 He shall come swift as the Lightning in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at unawares O dear Christians watch for your lives Fourthly Mat. 24 30 Apoc. 1.7 2 Thes 1.8 1 Cor. 3.13 He shall come in Clouds and flaming fire look carefully to your works actions and conversation for this fire will try every mans work of what sort it is Fifthly Mat. 24 30 Apoc. 1.7 He will come in view of all the world and every eye shall behold him And what wilt thou do or how wilt thou be able to look on his glorious face that canst not now endure the sight of his Saints Sixthly and lastly He will come in person with the same body that was born of the Virgin crucified upon the Cross raised from the dead and ascended into Glory only here 's all the difference it will be a Spirituall Immortal Glorious Body but the same Body If we believe that he was a perfect man and had a real Substantial Body here on earth and that he hath exalted the same Body to the right hand of the Majesty on high then certainly he shall come in person here to reign in the same Body with his Saints for proof hereof many Scriptures might be alledged I shall only produce two and they are very full and clear the first is in the first of the Acts Acts 1.11 vers 11. and it is the Doctrine of Angels which also said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven I am even amazed that men professing godliness should have a vayl so thick upon their hearts and their understanding so wonderfully obscured as to reject the serene brightness of this impregnable Testimony The second Scripture is the first to the Thes 4.16 For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout c. 1 Thes 4.16 there needs no further proof if these two convince not what will If any shall yet continue in darkness and unbelief of this so necessary glorious truth thus measured by the line of the Word and weighed in the ballance of the sanctuary it is because there is no light in them The use that I would have my fellowbrethren to make of the personal Reign of Christ is this if ever we expect to see his face with joy if ever we hope to be sharers in his Glory at his personal coming in his Kingdom let us get a large proportion of his spirit in our hearts his personal presence will be no comfort to us then unless we are filled with his spirituall presence now Gen. 43.5 Ye shall not see my face saith Joseph except your Brother be with you Can we think of entertainment in his Royal Palace without the wedding garment the Lord make us wise betimes Thirdly the next thing to be enquired into is where this King of Glory will establish his Throne at his coming and this hath been proved already in general to be upon the earth but more particularly I affirm because the Word of truth affirms it will be in the Valley of Jehosaphat for so the Prophet Joel speaks in plain words Joel 3.2 I will also gather all Nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehosaphat and
will plead with them there Thither cause thy mighty ones to come O Lord. 11.12 Let the Heathen be wakened and come up to the Valley of Jehosaphat for there will I sit to judge all the Heathen round about the Heathens must come up to the Valley the Saints must come down And it will be worth our labours to consider the rest of this third Chapter of Joel which will give much light to this truth for after the Lords Throne is thus erected in the Valley of Jehosaphat it is said that the Lord will dwell in Zion and that there shall be abundance of rich blessings there 17 18. And that for ever as long as the Moon endureth But because the Valley of Jehosaphat Psal 72. Dan 7.14 as it now is hath not capacity or extent to receive the New Jerusalem therefore the Prophet Zachary tells us that it shall be wonderfully enlarged by the dividing of the Mount of Olives Zech. 14.4 And the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the East and toward the West and there shall be a very great Valley For the valley of the Mountains shall reach unto Azal Vers 5 All the land shall be turned as a Plain from Geba to Rimmon 10. and it shal be inhabited in her place 11. And men shall dwell in it and there shall be no more utter destruction But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited and how should it be otherwise when the Prince of Peace shal reign in Glory in the midst of it This then is the place of which the Lord speaketh Isa 65 10. Rev. 24.4 I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard in her nor the voyce of crying here Lord let my soul flourish with thee and thy Saints according to thy Word Rev. 3.21 Fourthly the fourth thing to be discovered is when this Lord of Glory and King of Saints will come to reign in this his Kingdom on Earth and first it is plain that it was not in the dayes of his humiliation for as he is answering his Disciples question about his coming to Judgement Mat. 24.25.6 he tells them the time of it is then when all the Virgins seeing the signs and hearing the voyce or cry Go forth to meet him coming as a Bridegroom to marry his Church that is the whole body of his Saints which will be then compleated and brought together into one place Mat. 24.28 Joh 10.16 where in the view of all the world the Marriage will be gloriously solemnized And secondly it is as plain that this Glorious Reign cannot be after the day of Judgement for then there would be a change in Heaven 1 Cor. 15.24 since it is clear that after Christs Reign and subduing of all his enemies he must give up the Kingdome to his Father Then thirdly it cannot be the spirituall Reign of Christ in that way as most dream which they conceive is now in being and that Christ will never come to Reign any other way save onely in greater purity then he doth now by his Spirit Which fond imaginations as they have not the least substantial Pillar from the word of Truth to support them so the contrary is plain and evident from the clear current of that pure fountain namely that the Lord Jesus Christ will come then and not till then to take to himself his great Power and Reign when all the signs that are to precede his coming are visibly discovered which I am sure are not yet as shall be shewed in its place Again the Spirit was given in a most glorious eminent manner far exceeding present dispensations when the Apostles Generally and Saint John more particularly waited for Act. 3.20 21. Rom. 8.23 1 Thes 4.17 Rev. 1 7. and yet expected this Glorious Personal Reign of Christ as abundance of unerring Witnesses do testifie but in special the present Scripture that I am now opening namely Rev. 11.15 which plainly declareth that the Personal * See Rev. 1.7 Reign of Christ is to begin when the seventh Trumpet is sounding at that time and not before when the seventh Trumpet begins to sound Rev. 10.7 shall this great Mystery be accomplished And certain I am that the Spirituall Kingdome of Christ was gloriously eminent before any of the seven Angels began to sound and therefore it cannot be only the spiritual Kingdom of Christ that is here spoken of and so the time is not yet in being of this Reign of Christ As therefore we must not cast off our expectation of nor our diligent constant watching waiting for this Personal Glorious manifestation on the one hand saying with that evil servant My Lord delayeth his coming and so split our selves upon the desperate rock of carnal security Neither must we run upon that other shelf of a vain ungrounded conceit that he is already come Mat. 24.23 24 25 26 27. whereof our Lord himself hath given us fair warning the Lord give us hearts to receive and embrace it It is not then the spiritual Reign which we now enjoy but the personal glorious truly spiritual Reign which we shall shortly enjoy that is the Life and Crown and Hope and Comfort of many precious enlightned Saints who have found such sweet support succour and solace from this sure Pillar of divine truth that all the delusions of Sathan in this luxurious giddy Age hath not been able to shake The ignorance of this soul-ravishing Gospel-truth is that horrible Gulph that hath swallowed up thousands who finding in the words of truth such glorious things spoken of this day of the Lord but through ignorance in this Mystery and the cunning slights of Sathan who transforms himself to an Angel of Light are deluded in their sence and all their intellectuals beleeving that Christ is come already and doth Reign already whereupon they conclude to throw away all Ordinances for say they Christ hath commanded us to use them till his coming and no longer Do this till I come hold fast till I come Occupy till I come Nay so far hath this restless spirit of error prevailed with some as to beleeve that Christ hath already Reigned that he hath already given up the Kingdom to his Father and that now God is all in all that they live in God that they are God c. And now this Prince of darkness hath plaid his part to purpose now he hath possessed them not only with a distast of Ordinances and slighting of them but now away go Scriptures Christ and all they are a lye an Allegory he a shadow a Type c. and now Sathan hath his will having deceived them so far as to deny the Lord that bought them for he well knows that there is no other name given under heaven to bring salvation but this Christ whom they thus reject and now he is cock sure of them and now they are ripe
over in our Popish Liturgy this heavenly Doctrine which to this day we understand not Psal 67 4. O let the Nations be glad and sing for joy for thou shalt judge the people righteously and govern the Nations upon Earth Selah Mark that but now Saints have experience of this blessed Mystery Jer. 35.5 that at the same time when this King shall reign and prosper and execute judgement and justice in the earth Ezech. 34.23.24 then shall the earth bring forth her encrease when David the great Prince shall reign here in highest glory then and not till then shall the whole Creation brought into this glorious Liberty of the Sons of God fill the Universe with abundance of all rich blessings I have little to say to those who knowing nothing of this wonderful Mystery of the glorious Reign of our King and know as little of the meaning of Rom. 8.19 c. Yet because they must say something are pleased in their grave wisdoms to affirm that this glorious liberty with the children of God which the whole Creation shall enjoy is nothing but the annihilation of the creature as if all Creatures which in their kinde do wonderfully endeavor the preservation of themselves should yet groan and earnestly long to be made nothing what is this but to speak daggers and introduce a secret Atheism 8. And every Nation flourishes with Peace HOw can it be otherwise when the Kingdoms of the world are ruled and governed by the Prince of Peace what the glorious Peace of the Saints shall be hath been in part and shall be more fully declared But there will be universal peace over all the earth for all the wicked of the world shall as earnestly seek peace as ever the Gibeonites sought it of the Israelites when the great seducer of mankind is shut up in prison his Vassals will neither have skil nor courage to stand in opposition against the Saints for he that hath the disposing of all hearts will so mould their spirits that they shall be glad to crouch for safety at the Saints feet and blessed be the Name of our exalted King he hath already given his people in this Land a taste hereof when in many places the proudest enemie thinks himself in a safe condition that can obtain the favor of a child of God to serve himself and his forfeited estate But in this glorious Reign of Christ it will be universally so Psal 72.8 for when his Domiminion shall reach from sea to sea even to the ends of the earth then they that dwell in the Wilderness shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust The Kings of Tarshish and of the Iles shall bring Presents 10. the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts 11. yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him This is that blessed time when the Righteous shall flourish and abundance of Peace so long as the Moon endureth Mic. 4.3 Isai 11.6 7 8 9. then and not till then shall they beat their Swords into Plowshares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks no more contention no more war for ever 9. The Mount asunder cleaves t' enlarge the Plain IF all the Prophesies that are fulfilled already concerning Christ were performed in the very Letter Psal 8.2 Ps 22.18 Isai 7.14 Zech. 9.9 I desire any man to show a substantial Reason why those that are yet unacccomplisht should belookt upon in a mysterious obscure way till such a reason be given I must look upon this as upon all other Prophesies to be fulfilled in the same way as others have been and therefore must expect according to the Word that this day of Wonders will produce this Wonder amongst the rest that the Mount of Olives that stands over the Valley of Jehosaphat shall cleave indeed Zech 14.4 to enlarge that Vale to a sufficient capacity for the reception of the New Jerusalem it is clear Ver. 10. that it shall reach from Geba to Rimmon but of what extent that will be is I think unknown only this it seems to extend over the whole Land of Palestina Psal 60.6 what else means the Royal Psalmist I will divide Shechem Vers 8. and mete out the Valley of Succoth Moab is my washpot Psal 87.3 4. and 108 7 8 9. over Edom will I cast out my shooe Philistia triumph thou because of me and that of the Prophet In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is faln Amos 9.11 12. that they may possess the remnant of Edom and of all the Heathen they shall possess the Mount of Esau Obad. 19.20 21. and they of the Plain Philistia c. And Saviours shall come upon Mount Sion to judge the Mount of Esau Isai 10.29 c. and the Kingdom shall be the Lords All which compared makes good the word of Zechariah That the dividing of this Mount of Olives shall produce a very great Valley Zech. 14.4 till which Valley appear in its lustre and beauty not any of the notions of Giddy brains shall stagger my faith to conceit That my Lord is already come to Reign That Vale of Wonder where the Lord must Reign AS once the eyes of Elisha's servant were opened to see the Mountains full of Horses and Chariots of fire 2 Kings 6.17 so certainly were the eyes of this Prophet in a wonderful manner enlightened to see the glory of the Lords Day Joel 3.14 the Day of his great Power in this mighty Valley of Jehosaphat at which glorious apparition he raiseth up his voyce as one transported with this heavenly rapture Multitudes multitudes in the Valley of Decision for the Day of the Lord is neer in the Valley of Decision but what will the transcendent joy of this Prophet be with all the blessed Prophets and Saints of Christ when this Day of the Lord is come in the Valley of Dicision when we shal see all the heavenly Host gathered together in this spacious Mount-dividing Valley Psal 45. Matth 25.31 Jude 14. 2 Thes 4.14 Joel 3 2. the Lord of Glory riding in his Glory and Majesty attended with all the holy Angels in heaven and all those Myriades of Saints that sleep in Jesus this mighty Potentate How unconceiveably glorious how wonderfully spacious will this Valley of Jehosaphat then be which must contain all the Saints and Angels in heaven with all both good and bad that are found living upon the earth this is no private fancy but the express words of the Spirit of God I will also gather all Nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehosaphat Verse 11. and will plead with them there Assemble your selves and come all ye Heathen and gather your selves together round about thither cause thy mighty Ones to come down O Lord Let the Heathen be wakened and come up to the Valley of Jehosaphat 12. for there will I sit to