Obs 1. The first Observation is That the Lord Christ shall come in Person and take to himself the Monarchy or Soveraign Dominion over the whole Earth This coming of Christ which is His coming to Reign upon Earth however it is now decryed and spoken against by many yet as I shall anon prove it was the firm and constant belief of almost all the Primitive Church for above three hundred years together after our Saviours time and it is evidently prophecied of not only in this but in several other Scriptures As Isay 9.6.7 opened 1. Isay 9.6.7 The Son who is there said to be given to us i. e. to the Jews The Government likewise is said to be laid upon his Shoulder of which Government there is to be no end and the exercise thereof is to be in a visible way of Administration upon the Throne of David to order and to establish it Which is in effect to say that the Son there prophecied of shall become a King and rule his subjects in a visible manner as David did Unto which Prophecy the Angel in express words alludes Luke 1.32.33 And this was so understood as I have explained it by all those who acknowledg Christ to be the Son of David or The King of Israel as our Saviour is called John 1 49. And that confession of Nathaniel is owned by our Saviour to be an effect of his Faith v. 50. And when our Saviour went up to Jerusalem that solemn acclamation signified no less when the multitude cryed out Blessed is the Kingdom which cometh in the Name of the Lord the Kingdom of our Father David Mark 11.10 whereby they plainly intimate that they did then at that time expect and the Evangelist Luke doth in express words declare so much Luke 19.11 That the Kingdom of God 1. The Kingdom which God had promised to one of the Posterity of David should appear or be made manifest i. be then set up and visibly administred in its Glory which though as to the time it was not so suddenly to be established as they expected yet as to the thing it self they were not at all mistaken for our Saviour doth there intimate that he would come again in person and destroy his enemies Luke 19 27. Which is the first preparatory work to the setting up of his Kingdom and afterwards the Evangelist John doth in a vision see the actual completion of this when upon the sounding of the seventh Trumpet he heard loud voices in Heaven saying the Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdomes of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall Reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 which place comparing it with Rev. 10.7 showes that this was nothing else but a finishing of that Mistery of God which in all the Proceeding Ages he had declared by his Servants the Prophets Hence it is that after his victorious and final subduing of his Enemies John sees the Lord Christ attired with a Tryumphant Robe and upon it this Regal Inscription King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19.16 which is the name that was given to Nebuchadnezzar the Head of the First Monarchy Dan. 2.37 and is afterwards upon a much better Title given to Christ when he hath actually made himself the visible Head of the Fifth and last for which reason it is called a New Name Rev. 3.12 2. Another place wherein the Visible and Personal Reign of Christ Isay 11. is prophecied of is Isay 11. from v 1. to v. 10. Where Christ is called a Rod out of the stemm of Jesse and of him it is said that he should bear Rule over the Nations unto whom they should seek or submit themselves according to that in Gen. 49.10 Unto him shall the obedience of the Nations be The Graces wherewith he should be indued for Government are mentioned v. 2.3 together with his actual Ruling Judging and Governing according to them v. 4. where to smite the earth with the Sword of his Mouth is not as it is commonly understood barely to convince the World by Preaching but to conquer it by Power as it is particularly expressed Rev. 19 13 14 15. Which likewise is principally intended in that excellent Song Ps 45.3.4.5 The Riding Girding on the Sword conquering and subduing of enemies there spoken of being only the Preparatory work unto the setting up of the Kingdom of Christ whereupon it follows v 6. Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever the Scepter of thy Kingdom is a Right Scepter or a Scepter of Equity 1. Ruling in Righteousness which as it was spoken of Christ so it is by the Apostle applyed to him Heb. 1.8.9 Suitable to who it is that Prophecy Is 2.4 He shall judge among the Nations and shall rebuke many people 3. Another Prophecy concerning the reign of Christ is Isa 35 4. Isa 35.4 opened Behold your God shall come with vengeance God with a recompence i. e. Recompensing that mischief which the enemies did his people by returning the same upon them themselves as si threatned Joel 3.4 and he will save you by coming there that a visible Appearance of the Lord himself in Person is meant appears from v. 2. where it is said Carmel and Sharon i. e. All the places of Judea which of old were famous but at that time shall be enriched with an extraordinary fruitfulness as follows in this chapter of Zachary v. 10 11. compared with Is 51.3 and Ezek. 36.35.36 They shall see the Glory of the Lord i. the Lord Christ who is so stiled Is 40.5 and whom to see in his Beauty i. e. when he appears the second time in the lustre of his Majesty without sin i. without the imputation of sin which before did cloud and eclipse his Beauty to see him then it is reckoned as the sum and perfect on of that happiness which is promised unto those who walk uprightly Isay 33.17 Whereupon Sion is earnestly called upon to behold her God Isa 40 9.10 11. For as the Lord Christ according as is there prophecied came once to save his people by caring and laying down his life for them as a shepherd so shall he hereafter come again and that in the same nature to rule them as a Prince and to deliver them from their enemies And then in the Prophets words how beautiful shall be the Feet of those that can bring such tidings to Sion as to say unto her Thy God Reigneth Then shall the Watchmen lift up the voice and sing for joy of so glorious a spectacle for this shall not be an obscure and hidden thing but eye shall see to eye when God brings back Sion Isay 52.7 8. That Phrase of seeing Eye to Eye is very remarkable it being used but once before and that in Numb 14 14 concerning Gods manifesting of his glory to the Israelites in a cloud and fire that rested upon the Tabernacle and the beholding of this is called a seeing of God Eye to Eye 〈◊〉
their writings and agreeably to what they say in express words was the beleif of almost almost all the Primitive Christians for above three hundred years after our Saviour Thus papias whom Eusebius in one part of of his History calls a learned and eloquent man and who saith of himself that he was an hearer of John the Evangelist writes positively that After the first resurrection the kingdome of Christ shall endure upon earth a thousand years so Justin Martyr in that excellent and by reason of the writings of our learned and judicious Mr. Meed well known dialogue with Trypho the Jew as many saith he as an Orthadox so far was the Church then from judging it an Heresy do expect a Resurrection of the hody which is called the first resurrection and that the Saints thus raised shall live a thousand years in Jerusalem then repaired and beautified to the same purpose Irenaeus who wrote about fifty pears after Justin Martyr and Lactantius asserts positively that at the end of the 6000th year of the world righteousness shall reign a 1000 years then shall Christ obtaine the government of the whole earth and there shall be ha◠which the heathen Poets only dreamed of a golden age Tertullian doth not only assert but thus argues the case in his discourse against Marcion did also confess there is a kingdom promised to us upon canth but before heaven but in another state namely after the resurrection for a 1000 years in Jerusalem a city of divine workmanship let down from heaven which also the Apostle calls our mother that is above which also the Appostle calls our Mother that is above and when he affirms that our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Burgess-ship is in Heaven he doth undoubtedly make it have relation to some Heavenly City This also Ezekiel knew and the Apostle Iohn saw and it was verified lately in the Eastern expedition for it is evident that Heathens also being witnesses that in Judea for 40 days together every Morning a City did hang down from Heaven which as the day grew bright did vanish away with its whole structure this we say is provided to receive the Saints at the Resurrection and to cherish them with plenty of all spiritual good things for a recompence of what in this World we have either despised or lost For it is just and worthy of God that his Servants should reign there where they have been afflicted for his Name This is the account of the Heavenly Kingdom after a thousand years of which within which time is included the resurrection of the Saints according to the merits of those who are to rise some sooner and some later then shall be the destruction of the World and when the judgement of burning is finished we shall be changed in a moment into an Angelical substance and shalt be translated into an Heavenly Kingdom Thus far Tertulliun with whose words as containing the sum of what all the Antients have said I shall conclude my Reasons for proof of the first observation Before I proceed to the second Observation I will a little inquire what might be the Reason that a Doctrine so plain and evident in Scripture and so fully assented to and believed on in the eldest and purest times of the Church came afterwards to be so much spoken against and decryed in satisfaction and answer to which Query though much might be said yet I shall content my self with these few things 1. One Reason might be from that care which in the primitive times many good men had to avoid any partaking with the error of Cerinthus and other gross and sensual Hereticks who taught that the thousand years Reign of the Saints on earth should be spent in all manner of sensual delight and carnal pleasures Which opinion being so monstrous in it srlf so contrary to the purity of the Gospvl and to the very end of our Saviours coming which was to bring in true Righteousness and Holiness Luke 1.75 Many zealous and well meaning men thought they could never sufficiently show their Abhorrence of such an impious conceit and therefore as it is usual in the heat of opposition they rather chose to deny even the truth it self then to imbrace it as it was clogged and sullyed with such impure and vitious mixtures For Dyonisius the most learned of all those who in elder days did oppose this Doctrine proceeded in his heat and earnestness as positively to deny that the Revelation of John was written by the Evangelist although the Author himself doth expresly affirm it Rev. 1.1.2 and others after him did deny the whole Book to be Canonical and inspired Scripture whereby they endeavoured to rob the Church of as divine and holy a writing and of as much tendency to support the Saints under their sufferings that both Heathenist and Antichristian men were to bring upon them as any in the whole Book of God whatever Unto such desperate and fearful shifts were they heretofore driven who denyed the Visible Kingdom of Christ upon Earth and therein wholy eluded the perspicuity and evidence of that admirable and soul refreshing Prophecy 2. Another cause of the opposition made against this Doctrine might be the reputation which the learned Hierome gained who being a man very expert or indeed rather excellent in his Interpretation of Scripture did by reason of that prepossession and prejudice which the errors of some had occasioned set himself with a great deal of vehemence to censure this opinion and his authority did easily prevail upon the carelessness and credulity of others who were content to take his word without ever making any farther enquiry into the truth themselves Yet even that learned Author himself in his comment upon the 37th of Ezekiel is forced to acknowledge that that prophecy was not yet fulfilled and he confesseth that not only rhe Jews but likewise many Christian writers as Victorinus Severus Tertullian Lactantius who wrote in Latine and Iraeneus Apollinaris Justin Martyr who wrote in Greek together with many others even in his time did all expect that that prophecy was to be fulfilled in the thousand years Reign of which upon that Chapter Hierome speaks very favourably and says it was an opinion not to be reproved Yet he continuing to write against it and the Ages following having the countenance of so learned a man embraced hastily those mistical expositions he gave without any further examining them 3. Another Reason why the Scriptures concerning the Kingdom of Christ were so litle understood in the former ages of the Church might be the usurpation and setting up the Visible Kingdom and temporall Monarchy of Antichrist who as soon as ever he was advanced into and secured in his Throne did presently apply to himself and to his Church all those Prophecies which any way concerned the temporal Dominion and Glory of Christ and his people When Constantine the first Christian Emperour had absolutely defeated all the force and power of the
THE Doctrine OF THE KINGDOM And Personal Reign of CHRIST Asserted and Explained IN An Exposition upon Zach. 14.5.9 By Ed. Bagshaw Printed in the Year 1669. The Preface I Am not Ignorant Christian Reader that the Doctrine of the Personal Reign of Christ with his Saints upon Earth which thou wilt find asserted in the following Treatise is commonly entertained with very great prejudice the Scriptures which in plain terms affirm this and which I have indeavoured to restore unto their true meaning being ordinarily interpreted in a sense quite contrary to their literal import and significancy Which kind of exposition under the notion of being Misterious and Spiritual having held for many Ages and been embraced without any further enquiry by men of the greatest eminence for Holiness and Learning even among those of the Reformed Religion together with the Tragical Disorders occasioned in Germany by such who in words asserted the Reign of Christ but indeed under that pretence indeavoured to set up and establish their own this hath ever since made the True meaning of the Scripture Prophecies in this matter to be suspected either of Novelty or else of some Design to subvert all civil Government which men out of their impatience of subjection being naturally apt to throw off they may be supposed much more easily ready to be incited to it if they shall be brought to think that they do hereby God and his Christ good service in attempting to set up his Kingdom exalting themselves as the Robbers in the Jewish Nation did Dan. 11.14 to establish the Vision In answer to all these exceptions and prejudices which it is not strange that the truth is attended and received with no more then that the Sun doth ordinarily arise in a cloud I have this to say briefly that neither Prescription of time nor authority of Persons nor the Error of unstable Men should so far prepossess and fill our minds as to make us shut them up against the impression and entrance of Divine truth which like the Light shines sometimes more sometimes less according as it receives fainter or more vigorous influences from the Spirit of God its Fountain and it can be nothing at last but a resolved and peremptory Love of Darkness which will deny it admittan e by what imperfect Medium soever it be conveighed The first inquiry therefore by persons sincerely desirous of true knowledge should be to learn whether this state of things which I have undertaken from the Scriptures to demonstrate be indeed Revealed by God or not for then his words in this as well as in other Misteries must be received according to their plainest sense in spight both of our own and others pretendedly rational Contradictions And whoever are impartial and Unbiassed in this enquiry reading the Scriptures in their own Light and evidence and not viewing them thorough the false Perspectives which customary expositions have made for them I believe they will be forced to confess that they are not capable of any other Interpretation but what the Prophets and Godly Jews before the Disciples in and the Primitive Church for above 300 years after our Saviours time did understand them in What that is I have here faithfully and plainly delivered and as to myself I can say with the Apostle I believed therefore I spake so as to others I thought the truth to be of that importance and withal the time of its accomplishment so near that I was easily prevailed with by Publishing this small Treatise to do my duty in stirring up others to a more severe and strict examining and study of the Scriptures then commonly they are accustomed to I have no more to add but to recommend it to the blessing of God who can make shall and contemptible means instrumental for the effecting of the greatest Works 6th M. 6 1669. THE Doctrine of the Kingdom c. Zech. 14. v. 5. And the Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee or as it is in the Greek with him v. 9. And the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day the Lord shall be One and his Name One. IN the beginning of this Chapter there is a Prophecy that Jerusalem after it is Rebuilt and the People of the Jews restored to it as is promised c. 1. 16. and c. 8. 3 4 5. shall by their enemies be besieged and taken v. 1. Presently after which Desolation the Lord himself will come down from Heaven and destroy those Nations v. 3. and 5. Jehovah of the Lord whose coming is here spoken of is no other then the Lord Christ or God Man the second Person in the Godhead who is called The Branch c. 6. 12. 13. so named either because he sprung from the stock of Jesse as a Branch doth from the Root of a Tree which is intimated Isa 11.1.10 Jer. 23.5 and so used by our Saviour Rev. 22 16. or else the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here translated Branch may be rendred as it is by the Greek Interpreters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Morning rise or Day-spring which very word is used by Zechary in his Prophetick Song concerning our Saviour Luke 1.78 with allusion to which Phrase the Apostle saith Heb. 7.14 It is manifest our Lord sprang Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Arose as light out of Judah To Christ in both these capacities for he is not only The Branch of Righteousness Jer. 33.15 but also The Sun of Righteousness as he is stiled Mal. 4.2 There is a Throne and supreme Dominion promised both in that 6th of Zechary and more expressly in Dan. 7.13 14. Where he is called The Son of Man which Name as I think principally with reference to that Prophecy of Daniel was by our Saviour all the while he convessed upon Earth most commonly used And that we might not doubt but is the same Person who suffered then that is spoken of to come and to Reign here mention is made v. 4. of his descent upon Mount Olivet which was a place where our Saviour whilst he was upon earth did much converse Upon the Mount of Olives He sate when he foretold the Destruction of Jerusalem and his own coming which was to follow after the Dispersion of the Jews was fully accomplished Mark 13.3 Upon this Mount he began his sufferings feeling here that Anguish and Grief of Spirit which made him sweat drops of blood Luke 22.39 From hence he ascended up to Heaven Acts 1.9.12 and hither according to the Angels promise is he to come down in the same manner v. 11. The fulfilling of which Promise and the Glory which shall follow upon it is in this place of Zechary prophecyed of Two observations are clear in the words First That the Lord Christ will come in Person and take to himself the Monarchy or Soveraign Dominion over the whole earth Secondly That when the Lord Christ comes to reign upon Earth all his Saints shall come with him
himself of his Native glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 2. as to dye an accursed death this contains in it so many wonders that before it was done the Prophet complains very few did believe the report of it and yet not a syllable which concerned our Saviours Humiliation and inglorious estate Is 53.1 as Man but was by him fully accomplished for which exactness and care there is the reason given both by our Saviour and the Evangelist All these things were done that the Scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfilled Mat. 29.54.56 And it is very observable that when our Saviour was nailed to the Cross being then even in the Agony and pangs of Death yet that nothing might be omitted which with the least possibility or plea could be urged as a part of his sufferings and calling then to mind that he had not yet drank the Vinegar and Gall which the Psalmist mentions Psal 69.21 He presently cryed out I thirst and having received that bitter potion from one of the soldiers he said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is finished i. All things which the Scriptures have foretold concerning not only my Death but all the manner and circumstances of my dying they are now to a Title accomplished and then in token of thankfulness that his Father had heard and strengthned him hitherto for this difficult and seeming less noble John 19.28.30 Heb. 5.7 part of his work He bowed his head and contentedly gave up the Ghost from which exactness it is easie to gather that the same truth and faithfulness which our Lord manifested in coming into and going out of the World he doth intend to show by hastening this return and in a litteral fulfilling of those promises which concern his Kingdome and Exaltation and for any to read them by a limited and restrained sense it is neither to deale faithfully with the Scripture of which every Jota and Title must be fulfilled nor honorably with our Lord Christ who certainly hath merited so much by the punctualness as well as the greatness of his sufferings that his inheritance of ruling all Nations should not be abridged or curtailed since he did not when he suffered mince the matter nor ease himself by a distinction but did Totum sesum exsipere Take the whole Chap without shedding a drop or abating the rigour of the smallest circumstance which did but seem to reflect upon him why should we then imagine but those many promises concerning his actual Reign and soveraignty over the world will be made good in the most clear and comprehensive Latitude of Scripture language especially since beside the truth and faithfulness of God which doth engage him to perform it this last doth in a more eminent and signal manner advance the honour of our Saviour then the former which the Father who loves the Son and hath given all th ngs into his hands will not at his request deny him Psal 2.8.9 2. Another Prophecy the fulfiling of which is an Argument that Christ will come and reign upon earth in the same visible manner as is prophecied of him is that concerning the rise and reign of Anti-Christ that Christian Religion which is so directly contrary to mens natural appetites and likewise met with such fierce opposiition from enraged and cruel men should notwithstanding all this prevaile over the world had in it Miracle and strangeness enough but after this Religion was planted and almost an universal obedience was paid unto it that a company of Impostors as they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 John v 7. should rise up and make use of this very Religion to destroy it's self and wrest it's Doctrine quite contrary to it's true intent and meaning that any should be so impiously daring as to perswade the world which Christ came to enlighten John 12.35.36 that to be Ignorant and Blind i. e. To be willing to be deceived and seduced was the next way to be Christs Disciples and that they were most likely to serve God and to obey his commands best who studyed his word least this is too prodigious and amazing an Impiety that one might have said of it in former ages what the Apostle speaks concerning the Revelation of the Gospel 1 Tim. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thes 2. Rev. 13. It could never enter into the heart of man to conceive it but yet such gross delusions were exactly foretold 2 Thes 2.1.10 1. Tim. 4.1.2.3.4 2 Pet 2. Revel 13. And we have lived to see them in their most amazing and stupendious particulars literally accomplished since then that Doctrine is taught concerning the forbidding of Marriage and the abstaining from Meats which the Spirit of God hath already called the Doctrine of Divils since there is a lawless man who now actually sits in the Temple or Church of God challenging to himself Divine power and honour since that Beast who kills all that will not worship his Image and receive his mark i. e. Who will not testifie their Communion with him by some visible and outward Act of Conformity is not only Rasen long since but reigning in Rome Rev. 17. the Citty with seven Hills which is adorned with Gold and pretious stones and makes all the Nations of the World drunk with the wine of her Fornication i. e. Which hath a specious glittering and Pompous Religion whereby she doth bewitch the Credulous World and makes his poysonous pills of Idolatry and Will-worship securely swallowed In a word since Anti-Christ is come in his full proportion and according to those Lineaments wherein he was before deceived why then should we doubt but our Lord Christ will also come to Reign in the very same manner as is prophecied concerning him can we think that God will be more exact in fulfiling the Prophecies which concern the advancement of his Enemy then in accomplishing those which make for the Ezaltation and Honour of his Son shall the Kingdome of Anti-Christ for thus many hundred of Years be an universal extent that the Scriptures about him might be fulfiled and shall not the kingdome of Christ in order to the accomplishment of the same Scriptures be much more large and comprehensive I cannot see the least pretence of solid Reason why we should so much as once doubt of it for the same Spirit of Truth who said Anti-Christ should come hath foretold likewise that he should be destroyed whom Christ shall abolish by the brightness of his appearance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 7. i. e. by the setting up of his kingdome as they are joyned 2 Tim. 5.1 And in the ruine of that great Impostour erect unto himself upon Earth a durable Throne of Glory then will he put an end to all those Cheats and Divelish Delusions whereby the face of Christianity hath hitherto been disfi ured and according as Zechary here prophecies make the Name of the Lord i. e. his Worship one as the Lord himself is in his Nature