THE VISIBLE GLORY OF THE Reign of Christ ON EARTH No ways Repugnant to the Spirituality of his Kingdom Occasion'd By an Epistolary Discourse Intituled THE REIGN of CHRIST among his Saints denying any such OUTWARD and VISIBLE Kingdom For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the POWER and Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were Eye-witnesses of his MAJESTY 2 Pet. 1.16 LONDON Printed in the Year 1677. Just and Charitable Reflections c. SIR THat Man is as weak as his Cause that cannot indure a Free ventilation of what he holds for Truth The Surer he is of Truth the less concern'd will he appear at the Tryal of it If I am Offended it must be at my Self who Vnawares invited you to this trouble when I desired you to give me your thoughts freely of the Book I sent you though I intended you not so great pains nor my self neither You are thought by some that have read you in some places sharp enough against the Cause you oppose though every where full of kind Reflections and Assurances of Respect to the Person you deal with which would shew your Difference from him at Present to be not of Choice but of Necessity And I will assure you Sir I am far from the Vanity of affecting to differ from you or any Sober searchers after truth and therefore shall not seek to make the difference greater then your self State and allow it to be who in Pag. 78. have these words I know of no difference at all depending between you and me about that most blessed estate or happy condition wherein the righteous shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of our Father neither is it the Kingdom of our God and of his Christ in all the Divine glories of it that we radically and fundamentally differ so much about as the time and manner of revealing it If our difference be only in the time and manner of Revealing of this Kingdom which is the Subject about which the little Book I sent you is conversant then I might reasonably have expected you would have considered and weighed the things there offered for the time and manner and given me your Exceptions thereto which you have not done at all but bend your force against the very Hope and Expectation it self for so you deliver your self Pag. 7. That you know not the meaning of that OVTWARD AND VISIBLE Kingdom of Christ which I make the Foundation of my discourse against which you reflect very sharply in that and several other Paragraphs of your Book which I have no delight to Repeat but as necessity shall require to give you occasion to review them I confess Sir I took this for a Postulatum with my hearers and therefore did not apply my self at all to prove it If you can overthrow my Foundation you had reason to save your self the labour of undertaking the rest what was Built upon it will fall of its self if you succeed in this The way you seek to overthrow this is by carrying up the Present State of the Kingdom of God into all the Grandure and Glory of expression that may be so here is KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM or rather one State of the Kingdom and that Inferior and far Short set up against the other which is alone Perfective and Satisfactory Your first Position upon which you thus bear up your self runs thus The Kingdom of God and of his Christ is an inward and invissible Kingdom containing within the large circumference or comprehension of it all the invisible things of God the Summ and Substance whereof is his eternal Power and Godhead And what Sir will you make of all this The Kingdom of God and his Christ is an Inward and Invisible Kingdom Who denys it Have we not an outward and an inward Man a visible and invisible part and may not the Kingdom of God have so to and consist of both If you would have made any thing of your Argument pardon Sir my freedom with you I know you want not Logick though here you thought not good to use it you should have said it is only inward and invisible containing in it only the Invisible things of God But then besides the difficulty you would have found to have proved that your self would be found instead of allowing the large and comprehensive bounds of its content to put the Straight and Narrow Limits of restraint upon it which yet in the close and winding up of this position you do in effect though not in terminis making the Sum and Substance of all these Invisible things of God to be his Eternal Power and God-head Vouching the Apostle Paul for your Author Rom. 1.20 Who will not stand by you in this assertion nor any of the Sacred Pen-men of the Scriptures for in that place he is not speaking of all the invisible things of God but only the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which may be known of God by the light of Nature even to the Heathen and this only so far as to leave them without Excuse Sir though we are Friends yet in this cause as Levi I must not know you nor spare to tell you you build upon a very weak Foundation if all be like this you come to overthrow my Foundation pray look to your own You will make a LARGE KINGDOM of it indeed if it be found among the Heathens in that faint Glimmering light that never saved one of them only serves to come in as witness against them for their corrupting in it and under it but in the mean while you make a very SORRY and WEAK Kingdom of it which was not of force to keep them from so corrupting If this be all the Kingdom of God contains within its large circumference and comprehension I have done But suppose these spiritual and invisible things as large as you will yet unless you prove that the Kingdom of God is only of such your Argument concludes nothing against an outward and visible Kingdom Nor is your next quotation much more to your purpose 2 Cor. 4.17 18. But utterly against you the words are these Our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory while we look not at the things that are seen but at the thing that are not seen for the things that are seen are Temporal but the things that are not seen are Eternal VVhere the Apostle is raising and bearing up himself and his fellows in the Tribulation they endured for the Kingdom of God who by dispensation in their present state and for a glorious end were as those that had an excellent Treasure but in Earthen Vessels that God might appear the more in their support They were troubled on every side Perplexed Persecuted cast down but not Distressed not in Dispair not Forsaken not Destroyed Always bearing about in the Body the dyings of the Lord Jesus always delivered unto Death
he sheweth hard things to his people giving them the wine of Astonishment lifting up the right hand of their Adversaries upon a most excellent Councel and design that must be acknowledged such as will turn to the eminent and superlative advantage of his people and interest and to the repenting of his Enemies and making his judgment more clear and conspicuous upon them for when patience hath had its perfect work then the Lord will not hold his peace He breaks his painful silence Isa 42.13 14 Dan. 7 9 10 He crys out like a Travelling woman he devours he destroys at once His Throne is like the fiery flame and his wheeles as burning fire a fiery stream issues and comes forth before him Dan. 7.9.10 as we had a figurative representation from mount Aetna some few years agoe from which place of Daniel it is probable the Apostle takes the Description of our Saviours appearance 2 Thes 1.7 When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe in that day And this is the proper season of Christ's glorious visible Kingdome which the Book I sent you drives at and this is the proper appearance of Christ and his aspect towards Enemies and therefore called the terrible day of the Lord till then the Kingdome the People the Interest of the Lord Jesus are that stone that is refused by the builders that the Princes and the Prelates fall upon and seek to remove but cannot but instead thereof break themselves upon it it hath borne all the fell blowes of the Roman Empire both Heathen and Papal and all the kindreds of the Earth from the primitive dayes until now but this stone under all its misusage like the Palm-tree shoots the higher as Israel in Egypt multiplyed the more as their oppression grew till it becomes a mountain and then it shall fall upon those that have fallen upon it and grind them to powder Mat. 21.44 3. Though in this day and Kingdom of patience which measures the militant state neither doth the Lord nor must the servant of the Lord strive much less strike nor use the Sword or any violence to propagate Religion or to displace the powers of the world how much soever they suffer under them yet Christ hath all along in a most clean unblemished righteous way of proceeding come upon these his and his Churches Enemies and hath raised up adversaries against them who have avenged the Churches quarrel upon them as he raised Cyrus against Babilon and many times he gives these Namrods up to the invasion of the Civil rights and liberties of men Psal 78.13 whereby they give men a just quarrel against them and thus he divides the waters and makes way for his ransomed ones the earth helps the woman though the earth designs it not Rev. 12.16 and the wicked are snared in the works of their own hands Psal 9.16 as you very well observe and I do but fall in with you in this observation p. 50. then which you say there is not a more pleasant sight in all the world in which admirable judgments of God Mens cause is one but Gods cause is another 4. Though the Spirit of this Kingdom of Christ doth not carry forth the Subjects of it to War or violence for Religion sake that is to avoid personal suffering or to impose their light upon others but they leave God to perswade Japhet and to aveng their injuries of that kind yet it doth not make it unwarrantable or unlawful for them in a cause of civil liberties under lawful powers that shall take up the defence of their Country and their established laws and liberties to use the material Sword for by being the Subjects of a higher Kingdom then this world they are not discharged from the duty they owe their Prince their Country themselves as men in case of unjust invasion or usurpation within or from without but are the fittest and best instructed men to use the Sword aright their civil relation to humane Society being not dissolved but improved by this higher relation and therefore Christ himself disowns not the title of a Warriour but is called Rev. 19 11. The Lord of Hosts and in righteousness doth he judge and make War 5. Though it be none of the praise of the friends and followers of this meek and lowly suffering Lord while he hath patience with his persecuting and oppressing Enemies to anticipate his judgments and to be taking the Sword into this own private hands in their own time and season yet let us exercise that gentleness and moderation as not to cast off all such who are in their judgments too ready too officiously to employ themselves this way in zeal for Christ though not according to knowledge it being an error that may be found in a Disciple as you know it was in Peter who when his Master was apprehended drew his Sword and laid about him and smote off the right ear of Malchus and was but the same spirit that was found in other of the Disciples that would have called for fire from Heaven upon those that would not receive their Master in that tender he made of himself to them and of his inestimable Treasures sufficient is the rebuke which our Saviour gives to such Mat. 26.52 They that take the Sword in this way and without his Warrants shall perish by the Sword 5. Position 5. Position Your fifth and last Position is That the Kingdom of God and of his Christ is an unlimited Kingdom a boundless Prerogative not capable of any restraints or confinements or limitations whatsoever In this Position you necessarily engulph me in great deeps wherein the Lord be our Pilot and bring me off safe Your Position bears an Antithesis or opposition to the glorious and visible manifestation of Christs Kingdom in the end of time while you make it alike through all time as in Eternity I must therefore here first distinguish the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of his Christ and then secondly distinguish the times and seasons of both these Kingdoms for they have one state in Eternity and another state in time and in time there are two states one in suffering and the other in triumph 1. First then I say there is a Kingdom of God and a Kingdom of his Christ and these are distinct Kingdoms You know Sir the glorious persons in the Trinity of the Godhead are rightfully distinguish'd though not to be divided So may the Kingdom of God and of his Christ 2. The Kingdom of God is that which is exercised by the blessed Trinity the Father the Son
receive the same Answer 1 Cor. 2.9 10. Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of Man the things that God hath prepared for them that Love him The Original Text to which the Apostle refers is Esa 64.4 where the words runs thus For since the beginning of the World men have not heard nor perceived by the Ear neither hath the eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him VVhere by the context both before and after in the same Chapter and in the next these things that no eye but God hath seen issue expresly into a New Heaven and a new Earth long life Building Planting a long injoying of the works of their Hands their seed and offspring to be blessed and the enmity of all the Creatures to cease All these though things not seen as yet yet are in their own nature visible enough if men have Eyes answering though much exceeding those terrible things which God did when he brought up Israel out of Egypt and came down upon Mount Sinai in a visible glory which the Church mindes the Lord of in the 3. vers of that 64th Chap. Invocateing the Lord to do the like things again yea threatning a greater kindness that the expects from him if he do but consult his own provisions and stores for that is the meaning of the 4th vers as if she had said Thou hast greater things to shew then ever any Eyes besides thy self O God hath seen and yet the Eye that saw Paradice and that state of innocency and that saw Solomons Temple and the prosperity of that time had seen very great glories but the glory of the new Creation of the second Adam of the true Solomon is to be unspeakably greater every way and in every respect both inward and outward else the Precedent and the pattern was very improperly alledged for that was outward as well as inward and here Sir I thank you again for this Text also which being unmuzled and speaking freely is fully for a visible Kingdom which when you consider I hope you will come over to us and be for it too Not will the next verse you take in relieve you at all where the Apostle saith But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit for the Spirit searcheth all things even the deep things of God whereupon you note they are therefore deep profound and mysterious because invisible and could not be so deep c. Were they not the invisible things of God The things whereof we treat even that new State of things which Christ will bring with him at his next coming are deep things and such as without the Revelation of the Spirit we could never have known or had ground to expect and it is called The finishing of the mystery of God but to say there is no mystery but invisible is to deny God manifest in the Flesh to be the mystery of Godliness which I believe you did not consider when you wrote your description of Faith as the evidence of things not seen which you next fall down unto Take it with the former explication viz. That the things not seen are not necessarily all of them things in their own nature simply invisible but with reference to the present time not seen as yet and it hurts me not at all And so we must understand them for whatsoever is the Subject matter of a promise is the Object of our Faith Hope and Expectation which as hath been sufficiently proved and instanced are not only invisible things but also things visible and which shall be seen in their Season But whereas presently hereupon you make the Works of God invisible incomprehensible c. As he himself is How then Sr. can God be made known by them even to natural men as he is said to be Rom. 1. There is I grant a three fold Sence in which the works of God are as you express it Infinite Eternal every way invisible and incomprehensible in all the compleat dimensions of them even as he himself is viz. They are so 1. In the Principle in which they are wrought 2. In the Wisdom and Power by which they are conducted and managed 3. In the end to which they are ordained in which sence Solomon is to be understood That whatsoever God doth it shall be for ever nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it as much as to say there is neither Redundancy nor Deficiency in it But if the Children those highest and best pieces of the works of his hands be pertakers of flesh and blood a caduke faint and weak appearance in the present state and yet the Work of God is perfect and abides forever will it be ever the less perfect or rather will it not appear in its perfection when this vile covering upon the Face the Majesty the glory of God in his works shall be done away This Kingdom of Christ which we expect is that alone which can rend this Vail and uncover the Face of the Glory of God in all his workes and it is the proper work of this Kingdom so to do Esa 25.6 7 8. And to exalt the Lord alone in that day then he that blesseth himself in the Earth shall bless himself in the God of truth and he that Sweareth in the Earth shall Swear by the God of truth Esa 65.16 where we may learn that the Earth and God the Earth and Truth and so Visible and Invisible are not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inconsistent the Earth the lowest part of his ways and works his Footstool yet truth yea the God of Truth found there the Earth not such a vain shadowy empty thing in that day as it hath been hitherto but the God of truth filling the Earth and all the things of the Earth When you see this will not your Heart rejoyce I am perswaded it will as little as you now know the meaning of that outward visible Kingdom of Christ for this is the new Heaven and new Earth that we speak of a state so new that it shall perfectly blot out the remembrance and leave no footsteps of the former Vanity as the Prophet Esay acquaints us in the 17th vers of that 65th Chapter which state of things yet is and must be acknowledged though not simply Invisible yet as far remote from the common sence and understanding of men as you can desire and to have a great depth and mysteriousness in it a Path which the Vultures eye never saw the Tabernacle of God with men grace and nature God and Man the Creator and the Creature Heaven and Earth things visible and invisible like bretheren dwelling together in unity mutually infolding encompassing one another mutually giving and given forth one of another This is that which the Prophet celebrates with that high Elogium in that fore quoted place Eza 64.4 That no Eye besides thee O God hath seen Till I see this I
his appearing and his Kingdom will concern himself about our Bodies to change them and make them like his own glorious Body even as himself hath shewed us the pattern in himself in the transfiguration when his Face shone as the Sun and his Garments were White as the Light whiter then any Fuller or Earth could make them If the Kingdom of Christ be wholly Spiritual and Invisible and concern not it self about the Body nor any of our Visible and sensible concerns how comes it that our Saviour giving an instance and representation of his Kingdom and second coming pitches so improperly on a visible Glory and an Audible Voice And yet after all this the Kingdom of Christ though revealed on Earth and takeing all the things of the Earth into its Charge and under its conduct and management yet is no terrene Earthly Kingdom but wholly and altogether Spiritual and Heavenly and all things in this Kingdom are of God 2 Cor. 5.18 Even our body which we have of him in the present state 1 Cor. 6.19 which shall then be a spiritual body standing in the Spirit as in its principle growing out of the Spirit that quickening Spirit the Lord from Heaven as its root sed and nourished by the Spirit of the Heavenly springing forth in the Image of the Heavenly and bearing the Heavenly fruit of the Spirit unto God and this food this Life this Image this Glory they converse and are entertained with in all their Franchises Priviledges and enjoyments in the Earth as has been observed before upon that Text Esa 65.16 And I hope by this time I need not purge my self of a private interest or design for this is an Universal Monarchy as the Lightening that passes from East to West instantly nor of advocateing for a fleshly Mahumetan paradice for this is the most holy and the People are the Saints of the most high I should now come to your possitive account of this Kingdom against which for the main I have no controversy the Kingdom of God undoubtedly is well and rightly stated by the Apostle in righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost You and I may differ in our notions and expressions about some things relateing to these which being excentriche to the point between us I shall not be diverted by them from our main business only find my self rather the cause I am engaged in concerned in a more then implyed jealousie in drawing forth this inward form and life of the Kingdom against the outward appearance of it as if it were an enemy to it which jealousie manifestly involves this inward Kingdom in an enmity against the outward and then I am sure they are neither of them the Kingdom of Christ but an enemy drest up in the Cloaths of the one or of the other It is for Satans Kingdom to be devided and that not till its fall be near but the Kingdom of Christ is one and that which doth sibi constare both within and without righteousness peace and joy let us consult the place Rom. 14.17 For the Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost We need look no higher nor read no farther the sence is absolute and entire though the whole Chapter is of the subject these are not opposed to the glorious visible state of Christs Kingdom on Earth in the end of the World but to the then antiquated and abrogated usurpation of Meats and Drinks prohibited by the Law which were by some set up for the Kingdom of God If ever we saw Satan transforming himself into an Angel of Light it is here in raising a most unnatural civil Warr in the very bowels of Christs Kingdom yea the Father Son and Spirit brought in to destroy their own Kingdom for so you call this Trinity of all divine Excellencies It is not you Sir but the Enemy hath done this that hath deceived you it is past his skill or power to draw any one of these into the field to appear against this Cause for the Kingdom we contend for is not without these nor all other divine excellencies as I shall shew you particularly 1. Righteousness 2 Pet. 3.13 Nevertheless we according to his promise look for a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness 2. Peace Esa 9.7 Of the encrease of his Government and of peace there shall be no end 3. Joy Esa 35.10 And the Ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Sion with Songs and everlasting Joy shall be upon their Heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and Sorrow and Sighing shall flee away so that they are but the names the notions of these things that are banded against the Life the Vertue the efficacy of them and that with this design I say not by you Sir I hope better things of you as the Apostle saith but by the Enemy to keep in the Kingdom of God from making its appearance in the World to hold it in a suffering state under an unrighteous oppressive World as if there were no passing from under these glorious sufferings but we must fall into the shameful pleasures of Sin a most unsufferable scandal of this pure and holy Kingdom of our Lord Jesus I shall close with this if you carry Righteousness Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost indeed in your banners we will open our files to them and they will I am sure march up with us into this Kingdom of God unto that glorious and open manifestation of themselves there and then let them look to it that stay behind and thus I part with your second Position your third runs thus 3. Posit The Kingdom of God and of his Christ is a free state a Kingdom of much Light and Liberty yea of absolute Perfection and Glory Of much light and liberty and why is not this absolute as well as the Perfection and Glory The one is so as much as the other but I suppose you intend that all this light and liberty is only within Spiritual and Invisible for how else are we delivered in the present state from the World from Death and the Grave to instance in no more if this be all our liberty this is too short an account of the Kingdom of Christ for this is a liberty which the Kingdom of men which allow us you may be as holy as you will and as free in your Conscience as you will so that you keep them to your selves this liberty a man may enjoy in Turky Again this liberty makes no provision for the Creatures which have a promise of liberty nay this liberty so far is it from that that it provides not for all men but only for Saints whereas the Kingdom of Christ will work out a glorious liberty for the whole creation in their order after the manifestation of the Sons of God so that you did prudently avoid the term absolute in this liberty men in absolute liberty do not groan as the
whole Creation doth unto this day Yea we that have the first fruits of the Spirit saith the Apostle even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the adoption viz. the redemption of our body Sir I trust we are not and shall not be found without our mouths filled with praises for this inward Kingdom of God in the Spirit in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost nor for this glorious freedom and liberty in the inward man but yet we groan and are allowed so to do and it is our duty and the Spirit himself assists us in this groaning and assists us with his sighs and groanes which are deeper then ours for the glorious completion of this Kingdom and the manifestation of it In respect whereof and in comparison with which our present state is but a prison and that in two respects the one respecting the inward the other the outward liberty First in respect of the inward this Spiritual inward liberty of which you treat though in respect of the ground and object of it which is Christ and the work of our Redemption wrought by his Death be full and perfect in its self yet in respect of its Application it is neither fully given forth nor but weakly apprehended by us The times of the full giving forth being reserved till Christs second appearance when the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be seven fold as the light of seven days viz. In the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people and healeth the stroak of their wound Esa 30.26 At present though the Object be uncovered in comparison with the times of the Law yet our sight is weak and therefore our weak eyes need a Glass as the Apostle saith 2. In respect of the outward The vision of our peace is as a book that is Sealed The times of this world are the Seales upon it six of them were open'd long since the seventh containing all the Trumpets and Phyalls under it is opened so far that there remains but the last Trumpet and Phyal which sticks but by a little Wax and then the times of this world are ended and the book flies open and then that is written within shall be perfectly manifested Now Sir let me bespeak you in your own words p. 30. Look not awry upon these things neither manifest any manner of dislike or neglect or carelesness Gallio like about them And take not the present in payment for the whole Look into the ancient Types of this Redemption we wait for they were not meerly inward and spiritual but outward also The deliverance of Israel out of Egypt the bringing back of the Babilonish captivity The bringing up of the Christian Church from under the Heathenish persecution These were but in part and shall this glorious Kingdom we expect fall short of these God forbid That measure of outward Liberty we enjoy at this day is by the Prerogative dispensation of this Kingdom of our Lord Jesus which hath set foot in these Nations and will not let go its hold till it hath wrought out a full liberty and deliverance for us I come now to the other part of your third Position that this Kingdom of Christ is of absolute perfection and glory which I readily assent to and the perfection and glory of it to be greater than what you instance or describe but not actual in the present state but only in hope and enjoyed at present only by Faith I say first the perfection and glory of this Kingdom of Christ is greater than what you rest in for the perfection and glory you describe rests in God and in the Person of the Lord Jesus and we are interessed in it only by faith for this is all the evidence you bring or indeed can bring for the absoluteness of this perfection and glory our imperfections manifold testifying against us that we are not actually or manifestly perfect throughout in our whole spirit Soul and Body nor in either part of them and therefore by the convincing evidence of this imperfection you are driven to fly to your Metaphysicks of unum bonum verum vel perfectum p. 44. and to grant that we in our selves and of our selves are still the same only look what we are to God that we are in Him and not in our selves p. 42. and very studiously and industriously you purge your self of placing this perfection in the flesh or in the letter but that it hath its being and foundation wholly and altogether in the life and power and spirit of the Lord Jesus c. p. 47.48 which is so well spoken that I wish those that rejoice in your book as countenancing their dream of perfection may understand it and come to a better understanding by it But is this all the perfection we ever look for in Christs Kingdom an objective perfection shall there be two Men always in us the Old and the New the Flesh and the Spirit shall we be always torn and divided and drawn asunder by two Centers two Laws the Law of our Members rebelling against the Law of our Minds T is most certain our Life our Perfection our Glory shall ever be more objective than subjective even to Eternity that is our happiness our blessedness more properly more truly consists in the Relation we have to God and Christ in the Vnion we have with God and Christ then in any habit qualities or graces that are wrought in us or by infusion imparted or communicated to us and with us else what means the Beatifical Vision But there is a vast difference between the way of apprehending this glorious full and perfect object of all blessedness now in the present infirm state and hereafter We now walk by faith saith the Apostle not by sight but then we shall walk by sight and not by faith while we walk by faith the object is at a distance for faith is the evidence of things not seen the substance of things hoped for now hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for therefore faith is not sight properly though the Apostle calls it a seeing in a sort because it makes a kind of supply of the want of sight yet 't is but a dark but a weak sight and therefore says he we now see through a Glass darkly for the weakness of the sight and the remoteness of the object the glass is needful The Lord Jesus his Person his transactions is in this our present state but as a glass through which we see God and this glass is very remote He is in Heaven and we now see him not as the Apostle Peter says 1 Pet. 1.8 and there will abide till the times of the restitution of all things and we only see him by Faith through the revelation of Scriptures the representation of Ordinances and the spiritual form of himself brought forth
in our hearts by the Spirit this is another glass that conveys the eye-beams to the glass of his Person and to his Blood which he hath carried into the holy place and to his Glory that as our Forerunner he is there entered into for us so here is glass upon glass or one glass serving to another but all this while we see not the Face of God but as in a glass but our Lord Jesus in his second appearance will then be no longer a glass but the very face of God unto us then we shall not converse with him through the forementioned glasses of Scriptures of Ordinances of Graces or his spiritual Form begotten in our hearts but shall see face to face and know as we are known the Person of the Lord Jesus shall then give forth unto us the very Face the very Image the very Life the very glory of God therefore it is said he shall come in the glory of the Father this was that he said to Maâ—y Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father and this was that he said to his Disciples I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of this Vine until that day when I drink it now with you in my Fathers Kingdom Mat. 26.29 And when we shall thus immediately converse with this ever blessed and full object God our Father shining forth giving forth himself nakedly immediately fully through the Person of our Lord Jesus his essential Image how great must the fruit of such a sight of such a converse with God needs be how unspeakably great must that glory be that shall then be revealed in us Christ is in full glory already in himself but he hath not his full glory in us nay how small a portion hath he of it did not the Scriptures so abundantly testify of our imperfection our meanness were not our infirmity so great a part of Scripture Revelation our own sense and feeling our own experience might suffice to acquaint us with it but so utterly imperfect are we that we are not capable of our own imperfection without Scripture Revelation nay without Spirit Revelation and is this to be boasted as a state of perfection I will be bold to say The greatest perfection now is to know our imperfection They are the most perfect men that see most of their imperfection But shall we never attain a further perfection then a sence of imperfection Is this all the glory to be revealed in us the revelation of our shame no nor the covering of it neither by a Robe of imputation That Kingdom of God that is in us now in suffering must be in Reign in Triumph in Victory Isa 25.8 There is a victory in Faith in the present time that stays the Soul but the victory of Faith ends not the Battle but looks to this victory of that day of glory Isa 42.1 3. when the judgment that was given for us in Christs death or rather in his Resurrection shall be brought forth unto victory when our right shall be acknowledged and all our Rights Priviledges Immunities all the glorious Acquest of our great Captain the Lord Jesus shall be given forth paid in and performed to us All the promises all our hopes the hope of righteousness by saith Gal. 5 5. that Believers through the Spirit have waited for all along to that day when all the work that Sin hath made all the works of the Devil 1 Joh 3 8. All this dark scene of wrath and trouble that came in by Sin All these waters of the curse that have covered the face of the Earth since the Fall shall all be dryed up and pass away for ever This and not any thing short of this is the absolute perfection and glory of Christs Kingdom You will not say that this is actual and present it neither is nor can be so 1 Pet. 1.13 because it is that grace that is to be brought unto us at the Revelation of Jesus Christ as the Scriptures abundantly acquaint us It is so appointed by the Father It is his good pleasure which is enough to stop any further enquiry God is Love and as free as we can desire hath given us all things pertaining to life and godliness 2 Pet. 1.13 1 Joh. 5.11.12 but 't is through the knowledge of him even our Lord Jesus Christ He hath given us Eternal life but this Life is in his Son He that hath the Son hath Life He that hath not the Son hath not Life All his communications to us are by and through his Son and he hath cut out his work for him Joh. 12.49 50. ch 14.31 Act. 17.31 both for his first and second appearance and Christ takes it and finishes it up as his Father gives him command He hath appointed the day when he shall judge the world and when he shall save his people and that is at his second appearance Heb. 9. last And this work of Salvation can no more be performed so as God will have it be for his full glory and our full joy without Christs personal appearance the second time in glory then the work of reconciliation by his death could be without his coming in our infirmity the first time and therefore the Apostle in Gods behalf engages that God shall send him again Acts 3. and he shall bring him again into the world saith the Author to the Hebr. ch 1.6 Indeed the Salvation the Change the glory is too great for any hand to bring but Jesus Christ in Person But of this we may have occasion to speak more ere we have done I come to your fourth Position 4. Position That the Kingdom of God and of his Christ is a Kingdom of much meekness and gentleness and goodness and heavenly moderation in all the various appearances or administrations of it This position and all that stands under it is of so Mild so Humane so Generous so Christian an aspect that I shall desire even to be found peacably and amicably comporting with it and I thought to have passed it in silence without a word more but yet to prevent any misunderstanding and that I be not by this Applaudatory Testimony involved in any Concession prejudicial to my Cause give me leave to subjoyne these two or three Animadversions following 1. That though Christs Kingdome be a Kingdom of much meekness and gentleness and goodness c. Yet that Christ is a Lyon as well as a Lamb and that this Lamb hath his Wrath as well as his Meekness Rev. 5.5 and chap. 6.16 And that his Enemies must expect to feel the one as his subjects servants and friends shall find the other 2. That both the Gentleness and the wrath of the Lamb have their times and their seasons and each is beautiful in its season the present time or the times of the militant state are times while the gentleness the patience the long-suffering of God waits upon his Enemies and all that time
whom God shall bring with his Son at his next appearing and then there were Peter James and John as representing the whole number of Disciples or Surviveing Saints and there was between both these departed and Christ and between Christ and his Disciples familiar converse and discourse in and during that Scene of Glory Now such as the earnest is such must the full payment be in the same Coyn it were a grand Soletism to state a glorious Kingdome of Christ with out Christ appearing in glory in that Kingdom and therefore David in the prophetical view he takes of this day Psal 68.17 Sees the Lord among them as in Sinai in the holy place and the Prophet Micah when he sees by the same spirit the full reduction of Israel sees their King passing before them and Lord on the head of them Mich. 2. last But Secondly how can it be otherwise but that the Lord must appear from Heaven in this glorious state of his Kingdom because of the great the Stupendiously great and ineffable works that are then to be done the ministry and effecting whereof is committed to Christ and to this his glorious appearing so that here is a complex argument the things to be done are singular rare extraordinary effects and they are such as will yeild to no power but that of the Lord Jesus in person as the raising of the dead and the judgment of the quick and dead and the changing of the surviving Saints there is no man in his wits will say these are the works of every time nor of any times but Christ's being reserved to those times for the glory of Christ and of his appearance as it was his voice that shook the earth at the giving of the Law so it is his voice that must now shake Heaven and Earth both Heb. 12. last It is his Voice must raise the dead Joh. 5.28 Not only the Mystical dead in Sins and Trespasses by his mistical or Spiritual voice put forth in the Ministry of the Gospel of which he may be understood to speak ver 25. in manifest difference from his way of speaking here but the dead properly and therefore whereas of the other he had said ver 25. The hour is coming and now is He saith not so of this hour ver 28. that it now is but that it is coming which is meant of his personal voice even as by his personal voice he raised Lazarus This is indeed marvelous in comparison wherewith the other though very marvelous yet hath no marvel in it and therefore out Saviour says marvel not at this yet Christ having said it who shall dare to question it So likewise Christ in person is to be Judge of all men Christ appearing as man in that forementioned 17th of Acts. though this man is God also So also the times of refreshing depend or derive themselves from the presence of the Lord they issue and now from that Bosom Act. 3.19 and that we might not put it off with a spiritual presence the next words shew it is personal and he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you not Christ shall send the comforter but the Father shall send Jesus again whom the Heavens must receive untill the times of the restitution of all things what violence must be offered to these and 20 other Scriptures if we allow not these times of refreshing and this restitution of all things to be not of all times but special times and to come in with the revelation of Christ's glorious person from Heaven therefore he is called in Malachy the Sun of righteousness who with his chearing warming enlivening rayes and influence shall both enlighten and quicken his own dead body first through them all things in their just order I confess they that state the utmost glory of Christs Kingdom to lie in the reformation of the old state of things to a better degree only are not obliged by that their judgment to expect Christ's personal appearance in the work his spiritual appearance or the power of his spirit in the way of Faith having already succeeded in that work and done much and being able to do more but it is not a higher or better degree of what now is that will answer the heart and design of this Love nor the grounded hopes and expectations of the Saints but a new state of things an old thing is but an old thing still be it repaired never so firmly and so is an old state the new state hath a new root and springs up in a new Image But these are but Terms let us attend the thing the Root of this new state is the person of the Lord Jesus called the Lord from Heaven the Lord that spirit that quickening spirit and such as he is such must the state be that is brought forth by him as is the Heavenly such must they then appear to be when he shall appear for he shall then appear in glory in the glory of the Father in the glory of a quickening spirit he is a quickening spirit now and we are now the Sons of God but it doth not yet appear but is hid in God his appearing is when he shall appear in us in changing us we mistake Christ's appearance if we look on it only us an objective appearance as a glorious object that shall affect our natural sences though he is and will then be a most glorious object but if we be not furnished with Spiritual sences to take in his glory we shall be confounded by it as all his enemies on whom he shall let it forth will be but if Christ should do no more but set himself in the eye of his people as a glorious object this were not to appear as a quickening spirit to appear as a quicknening spirit is to appear in a work of transformaâ—ion throughout to the transforming of Soul and body therefore it is said when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is that is we shall see him as a quickening spirit by the power whereof our very Bodies shall be changed and made like unto his glorious body and this he shall do in an instant in the twinkling of an eye for that is the working of a spirit much more of this quickning spirit therefore ir is said his reward is with him and his work before him a quickening spirit carries his own effect in his own efficiency certainty presently at once and in an an instant It works not long and leisurely gradually and successively that is the difference between the present state and that how long are we getting Victory over corruption but no soone shall Christ appear as a quickening spirit but sin shall be so utterly annihilated as if it had never been neither root nor Branch of it left to them that look for him shall he appear 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex secundo the second time without sin unto salvation But this is
not forth the full glory of his spiritual body to the surviveing Saints that are to carry on the encrease of the new world as he doth to the raised Saints And again though in the increase of Christs government new Nations and people shall come in successively till there be none left that have not submitted yet this no way impeaches or is inconsistent with this Article of Christs personal appearance to lay the Foundation stone of this glorious state of his Kingdom for these reasons First If there be one glory of the Sun another of the Moon another of the Stars one star differing from another Star in glory in that state as the Apostle saith there shall then doth not Christ let forth equal glory upon all and if it differ in degree then may it likewise differ in order of time one before another there is such an order in the resurrection every one saith the Apostle in his own order Christ the first fruits afterwards they that are Christs at his coming then cometh the end where there are three differing and long distant times for the resurrection so in this Kingdom or this glorious state of the Kingdom There are some to whom the first dominion shall come Mich. 4.8 And that is to the Tower of the flock to the daughter of Jerusalem at least in respect of those Barbarous Nations for I cannot think the believing Gentiles that have carried up the Buklers against Antichrist shall be postponed in that day but those Heathen Nations that pass under the Name of Sodom and Samaria as Egypt and Assiria c. which shall be given to Jerusalem as daughters though not by her covenant as the Prophet Ezekiel saith ch 16.61 And the Prophet Esay intimates there will be nations that have not heard of the fame of Christ nor seen his glory Esa 66. to whom those that escape of the terrible judgments to be executed in the beginning of this Kingdom shall go to the Nations a far off to Tarshish Pul and Lud that draw the bow to Tubal and Javan and the Isles a far off for it is probable the judgment will begin and so the first seat of Christ's Kingdom in that part of the earth that hath been the seat of the fourth Monarchy If this be thought to clash with what I have before asserted that Christ being a quickening Spirit and acting as such act 's not gradually but in an instant The answer is ready that where he appears and puts forth himself he carries his effect immediately irresistably but it doth not engage his appearance to be universally and at once imparted to the whole Earth though in process of time it shall spread over all which suits with that in the 9th of Esa of the encrease of his Government and of peace there shall be no end But if we should wave this Article of Christs personal appearance and not concern it in the beginning of this Kingdom or at least not his abiding residence which yet I do not forego yet our argument depends not on it for whether Christ personally appear or no till the very last hour of judgment yet it is universally agreed by all that make Christ Kingdom on earth an Article of their Faith that the glorious state of Christs Kingdom is not of any of every time but hath its own times to be revealed and that is in the last days as the Prophets unanimously declare and if we will believe the Prophets and Apostles we must be all of that mind The places are so many and so obvious that I shall not spend time to name them In the days of these Kings saith Daniel shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom In the last days saith Esay shall the Mountain of the Lords house be set up in the Top of the Mountains Can any thing be more plain is the new Jerusalem come down from God out of Heaven is the new Heaven and the new Earth come is the Earth full of the knowledg of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea Is the Lord King over all the Earth is the Lord one and his Name one throughout the world How then can you say this Kingdom of Christ or rather this state of Christ Kingdom of which we enquire is of all times one as well one as much as another and is to receive no accession of glory in the end of this old corrupt world more then it hath had already when the Prophet Esay from the mouth of God saith that Christ himself shall shine forth in a seven fold greater glory then he hath yet appeared in to men or to Saints and the Church shall take a degree proportionable for the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be seven-fold as the light of seven days in the day when the Lord shall bind up the breach of his people and heal the stroke of their wound Esa 30.26 But to remove as much as in me is any stumbling block that may yet hinder your closing with me I shall open my selfe yet farther touching the personal appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ distinguishing it from those many powerful comings that are mentioned of him in the Scripture which though attended with glorious and powerful effects yet are not this Personal coming whereof we enquire There are many powerful and spiritual comings of Christ but there are but two Personal comings This I prove from that Text Heb. 9. last As it is appointed to all men once to dye and after that the judgment so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and to them that look for him shall he appear 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex secundo THE SECOND TIME without sin unto salvation there are but his first and his second appearance Personal there are many comings mentioned without this specification ex secundo This therefore being here added distinguishes it from those and shews it to be of the same kind and in the same rank with his first coming in respect of Personality though in a far differing way in respect of glory His second personal appearance is also expresly distinguished from his other comings Acts 1.11 By two of the Angels who in the form of men stood by the Apostles as they were looking after him at the ascention in white apparrel who said unto them 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 the same Jesus and in the same manner that is visibly and bodily not spiritually only Now these characteristical notes of distinction in these places do distinguish his coming there spoken of from his coming mentioned in other places without them Though I grant in other places his Personal coming is many times mentioned without these and only in such Terms and Phrases
the Children to the Fathers 3. If all these places of Scripture might be solved and answered with a vertual and effectual presence and appearance of Christ yet the Faith and desires of the spouse cannot be satisfied without the Personal presence and enjoyment of her glorious Head and Bride-groom who is more to her then all whom having not seen she loves in whom though she see him not yet believing she rejoyces with joy unspeakable and full of glory and what hath she an eye for but to see him and why did he take our Nature and Form but to be so contemplated and enjoyed by his people especially when we take in this that in every line in every feature of that all-glorious face and person we shall see Divinity sparkling forth and if we could entertain our selves here with his good things without his person yet he cannot so satisfie himself to withhold himself in the most full and perfect way of enjoyment from us He that left the Fathers bosome to die for us will he refuse to drink the fruit of the vine the wine of joy with us in the Kingdom of his Father If there were no other reason that I confess sticks with me and is of it self alone sufficient that our Saviour saith Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory will Christ then send them from his presence to the earth and not accompany them thither if the Scriptures had said nothing of it or will he come down with them and not continue with them there while they continue there How can we ever be with the Lord as from the change it is said we shall if Christ keep in Heaven and we be upon the Earth How did it animate Stephen when the stones were about his Eares Act. 7 5◠with what sweetness did it fill his spirit when the Heavens opened upon him and he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God How will it animate how will it raise and influence the whole Body mystical to see Christ with his Heaven and all his glory to come down and dwell in the midst of them which is no more then the spirit affirms shall be for behold the Tabernacle of God which is the person of the Lord Jesus and that not without his humanity for that properly is the Tabernacle of God is with men for so it is said of his incarnation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He Tabernacled in the midst of us as the Tabernacle of old was pitcht in the midst of the Tribes in their encamping in the wilderness But besides this there are many other reasons as well as Scriptures to induce to believe this Article of Christ's personal glorious appearance and residence with his people in that glorious state of his Kingdom as being that point to which the eye of our Faith and expectation is constantly directed both as the necessary produceing and conserving cause of all that felicity It is the center into which all the lines from the whole circumference do strike and wherein they meet It is the Crown and perfection of all the antecedent and inchoate Salvations without which they would be but Embrio's and abortives To Philalethes Himself SIR I Have now done with your argument my greatest task behind is to address a few lines to your selfe a task so great that I can truly say by the difficulty I laboured under in the prospect of it I was hindered from putting Pen to Paper longer then the Angel was withstood by the Prince of Persia Dan. 10.13 The difficulty arose from a twofold ground first the common and general nature of opposition and controversie which as is observed of War is a sluttish thing and requires more than ordinary skill and circumspection that we wound not our friends instead of releiving them against their mistakes 2. From the peculiar nature of your cause and your singular way of mannaging it your cause carrying spirituality in its banners and your way of mannaging it with reference to my self being with all christian candor and friendly respect and that not only in your Epistle Dedicatory but through all the parts of your discourse How I have comported with the spirituality of your design I must leave to your self and the impartial Reader to judge I can truly say I heartily desired and endeavoured to be found in a full compliance with it being sorry for nothing more then to find so fair so lovely an Image of your mind engaged in so unhappy an opposition and dismembred from it self And sure no other then the Enemy hath done this for as the Woman is not without the Man nor the Man without the Woman in the Lord so neither is Letter without Spirit nor Spirit without Letter the outward form without the inward nor the inward without the outward in the Lord no more than the Soul is without the Body or the Body without the Soul in living man The outward form in Christs Kingdom being as the Woman the Letter the Body which is the image and glory of the Man i. e. of the inward form and spirit It is so in the Lord. There is indeed a state wherein they are not found together and thence arises your disgust because in Anti-christs kingdom you find the letter without the Spirit and not only form without power but the outward form exalting it self and behaving it self uncomely against the inward spirit and life denying it laying it by setting up it self in the room of it and this not only among the Papists but those that call themselves Reformed yea what form what judgment what perswasion can wash their hands of this guilt more or less how few even among our purest Churches but have defiled their garments this way But Sir let us remember It is not so in the Lord nor will it be so in his day and Kingdom While things are thus carried it is Antichrists day not Christs day It will then be otherwise This makes us look and long for his appearing I confess if we must have but the one the Spirit or inward glory were by infinite degrees to be preferred before the outward form and glory by all that have tasted that the Lord is gracious for he is a living Stone that puts life into all that are joyned to him There is no life and peace but in the Spirit Rom. 8.6 To such a one To be carnally minded is death If we seek an outward kingdom an outward glory that shall not be all Spirit It is as the stretching out our hands to a strange God Psal 44.20 and forgetting the name of the Lord our God and will not God search this out But on the other hand consider what the Spirit himself saith not only as before The Man is not without the Woman in the Lord 1 Cor. 6.13 but the body is for the Lord and the Lordfor the body the Spirit and the inward glory
it hath nothing in it of any Worldly Concernment I must to that according to your own expression put a Siste gradum I should have hoped that you did not intend that this Kingdom is not conversant about worldly concernments to Govern Order and Regulate them but for two or three passages I meet with in the same and next Page where you say That this Kingdom was never ordained or appointed Digito monstrari dicier hic est to be looked at with a carnal Eye and pointed at and that neither the VVorld it self nor any of its concerns can have any abode or being in this Kingdom and that it hath no relation to the things of the VVorld that are momentary and Fading Which passages I know not how far they may be stretched to the denying the visibility of this Kingdom and all conversancy of it about visible and worldly things though in never so holy a way and upon never so noble and divine an account But let us first weigh and consider your proof Jeh 18.36 My Kingdom is not of this World This is that Text you ground upon for the exclusion of all worldly Concernments out of this Kingdom let us therefore first open the import of this saying and there are four respects in which we shall agree that Christs Kingdom is not of this VVorld 1. It rises not out of this World it is not of a Worldly Extraction or Original This is clear in Daniel Dan. 2.44 It is set up by the God of Heaven not by any agreement of Men Rev. 21.10 as the Procatartick cause It Descends from God out of Heaven 2. It is not maintained by the Power or force of the men of this World this our Saviour expresly reflects on My Kingdom is not of this World Joh. 18.36 for then would my Servants Fight VVorldly weapons and fighting neither founds nor conserves this Empire Not by might nor by Power Zech. 4.6 but by my Spirit Saith the Lord not by Bow nor by Sword nor by Battel nor by Horses nor by Horse-men will I save them Hos 1.7 Though God may use all these yet the work is not done by these Principally 3. For its Nature and Spirit it is not of this VVorld The Spirit the glory of it is as its Root and Extraction Divine and Heavenly Therefore called the Heavenly Jerusalem having also a Divine Image and appearance having the Glory of God Rev. 21. which is that you mean when you say it hath no affinity with the men of this World 4. It doth not stand or consist in Worldly Priviledges or advantages such as are amplitude of dominion afluence and abundance of all things outward So far you go to which I will add a fifth that it consists not in the exercise of a Worldly Religion which is that I take that Scripture you quote principally to intend the Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink The first Tabernacle the Apostle saith stood only in Meats and Drinks and divers washings and carnal ordinances imposed till the times of Reformation the Kingdom of Christ is so far from standing in these that it stands not in the forbearing of them neither in circumcision nor uncircumcision but in the true liberty and glory of the Spirit in righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost that Trinity of all divine excellency as you call it distributing it accordingly to the three glorious Persons in the divine Essence which I quarrel not at all believing it to be as you say innocently designed as to the main only reserving my self not to be concluded by every passage in the managing of it thus far we agree in excluding this world But all this excludes not this Kingdom from a conversancy about the things of this VVorld For 1. Though it be not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this World yet it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this world though it grow not it arises not out of this World yet the stone that grows to a Mountain grows in this World and the new Jerusalem comes down from God out of Heaven into this World And as Christ to perform his Priestly office by sacrifice came into this World so when God brings again his first begotten to administer his Kingly Office it is into this world that he brings him Therefore his Kingdom being not of this world doth not deny it to be set up shewed and mannaged in this world 2. Though Christs Kingdom be not of this world yet The Kingdoms of this world are to be the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and this with an express Notation of the time at the sounding of the 7th Trumpet Rev. 11. 3. Though this Kingdom is no terrene earthly Kingdom yet there is an Earth in this Kingdom as well as a Heaven a New Heaven and Earth and they that shall reign in this Kingdom as all the redeemed ones shall do are said to reign Revel 5.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the Earth Therefore also this Kingdom hath the name of a world the world to come by which we have been taught to understand Heaven but that place Heb. 2.5 compared with c. 1.6 will over-rule such a sense that it must needs be of this world made new which is yet said to be to come in respect not of the matter but the form of it and may help us to understand many other Texts as particularly that where the sin against the Holy Ghost is said to have no forgiveness neither in this world where a great deal of grace is manifested through Christs Death nor in the world to come when more abundantly it shall be manifested at Christs second coming 4. Though the Kingdom of Christ doth not stand nor consist in outward priviledges and advantages yet it consists with them and they shall be added unto it and shall serve and minister in it First I say it consists with them This you will not deny else we must not look for the Kingdom of God while we are here in the body in the use of these things and then how shall the Kingdom of God be of all times as your fifth Position affirms but I mean not only the present low Estate of this Kingdom but the most glorious state of it in the earth consists with eating and drinking and building and planting and propagation and the affluence and abundance of all things And for this I shall give you but two proofs out of the old Testament the one is of Enoch a Type of the life that the Saints shall live in this Kingdom of whom it is said Gen. 5.22 That he walked with God after he begat Methuselah 300 years and begat Sons and Daughters The second is of the 70 Elders of Israel that went up with Moses into the Mount Exod. 24.9 They saw the God of Israel and did eat and drink Mount Sinai and that appearance you know was a Figurative and shadowy Glory of Mount Sion for the Majesty of
is a Kingdom Daniel 7.27 And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High This promise comes in upon the dissolution of the fourth and last Monarchy both East and West The little Horn that riseth after the Ten being the Turk and therefore did not the very express terms and circumstances in the Text decide it the Time the Place the order of Succession would carry it to be a vissible and powerful Kingdom to be exercised here on Earth The very notion of a Kingdom imports a collection a panoplia of all delights but when it is said the Kingdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yea the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven it imports an Vniversal Monarchy or the Monarchy of the Universe whereof the four precedent Monarchies were but improperly so called by a Synecdoche and this Universal Monarchy to be most absolute most full most perfect for all felicity and abundance otherwise it could not invite and unite all the Earth as it shall do for the Kings shall bring their glory into it it shall be set in the top of the Mountains many Nations shall say come let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord and they shall find themselves at rest here and therefore is the reign of the Lord Jesus celebrated with such joy by the Spirit of Prophesy Psal 96. The heavens and the earth and the Sea and the Fields and the Trees of the Wood are called upon to rejoyce and sing and so in the next Psal 97. The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoyce let the multitude of the Isles be glad thereof so that as there shall be Righteousness Peace and Joy Heavenly and Divine within which is the whole substratum of your model of Christs Kingdom so over above and besides this shall righteousness likewise dwell in this new earth and shall fill all the administrations of this new World and the Kingdoms thereof and Peace as the work of this righteousness and Joy as the fruit of all these are the Mystical flowers and fruits that shall adorn this new state of things when the Winter of the Militant and suffering state is over and gone 4. This Kingdom contains in it and under it All the Kingdoms of this World Rev. 11.15 Possibly not all at first but only the Kingdoms of the fourth Monarchy both East and West but in the process of it it shall reap and gather in all the rest for the Nation and Kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish Esa 60.12 Yea those Nations shall be utterly wasted the whole Chapter is of it and in the last Chapter of that Prophesy we are made acquainted with one means how this shall be brought about vers 19. where the Lord saith I will set a * And what difference between a Signo Digito monstrari dicier hic est Sign among them and I will send those that escape of them unto the Nations to Tarshish Pul and Lud that draw the Bow to Tubal and Javan and to the Isles afar off that have not heard my Fame neither have seen my Glory and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles He had said before vers 15. Behold the Lord will come with fire and with his Chariots like a whirlwind to render his anger with fury and his rebuke with flames of fire for by fire and by his Sword will the Lord plead with all flesh and the slain of the Lord shall be many Then they that escape of these judgments shall be sent to the Nations who shall be armed and instructed not only with the Gospel of tydings of Christs first appearance but with the tydings of his second appearance and shall declare unto them what Christ hath done to the fourth Monarchy utterly consuming it and making it as the chaff of the Summer threshing floor to be carried away with the wind for ever for there will the judgment begin and this Embassy will prevail with many and those that stand out must expect the like severity and to be broken in pieces with the Rod of Iron as a Potters Vessel is broken to Shivers This is no mystical business no more then the destruction of Jerusalem was of old by Titus and Vespatian nor then the destruction of Heathenism was under the Sixth Seal Now if Christs Kingdom shall do all this and yet not concern it self with the world I much marvel 5. But this will be yet more clear if we consider in the next place that this time of Christ's coming is called the times of refreshing and Restitution of all things and if all things shall be restored then as the Apostle argues on the like universal Term. There is nothing excepted there is a dissolution is first to pass and that is upon an all too seeing all these things shall be dissolved saith the Apostle Peter but the work of Christ rests not there for nevertheless we according to his promise look for a new Heaven and a new Earth the restitution shall be as larg a restitution of all things where by the way we may learn that the new Heavens and Earth are the same Heaven and Earth new cast as I may say to which the word dissolution doth point as Plate that is melted down and cast in a new Mould and takes a new form and therefore it is called a restitution to its Pristine beauty integrity and innocency though I conceive the pattern to which it shall be restored is the pattern in a higher mount than Paradice even that mount where corruption never entred nor can enter for it is said as is the Earthly such are they that are Earthly and as is the Heavenly such are they also that are Heavenly and as we have born the Image of the Earthly we shall also bear the Image of the Heavenly 1 Cor. 15.48.49 Which is a glory far superior to the glory of the terrestrial Adam and that state of things which was Mutable and corruptible at the best and therefore if this renovation were but the restoring all things to that state it could not properly be said That it were new for Solomon saith nothing is new that hath been of time before Now when and how this great change shall be the Apostle tells us ver 53. when this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality 6. That which yet farther strengthens this is The Redemption of our Body which the Apostle saith the most spiritual Believers even notwithstanding their being possest of the first fruits of the Spirit yet even they groaning within themselves do wait for Rom. 8.23 and this the Apostle calls the Adoption Adoption is of Strangers whereby the Apostle intimates that till the body be redeemed we are as Strangers or in a Strange form and appearance not like the Sons of God as John saith 1 Joh. 3.1.2 Therefore we see Christ at
and the Holy Ghost entirely within themselves in the unity of the God-head where God and his Kingdom God and all his works are one This is the Original Kingdom the head of all here both God and his Kingdom are properly invisible to any created Eye 1 Kings 8.12 or understanding dwelling in thick darkness as Solomon saith possessing all entirely to and within himself in an incommunicable glory this is properly the Kingdom of the Father The Kingdom of Christ is the Mediatory Kingdom wherein Christ as God-man is set up from everlasting in Heaven in a heavenly state and glory to make forth to created understanding the invisible glories of God and of his Kingdom as a living Image and representation thereof Of this state of Christs Person and Kingdom before the world Solomon speaks by the Spirit in a most high and divine strain Prov. 8. from v. 12. to v. 32. and our Saviour himself recognizeth it in those expressions of the Son of Man in Heaven and in that Prayer Joh. 17. Joh. 3.13 Glorâ— thou me with the glory I had with thee before the world was And the Apostle Paul Phil. 2. saith He was in the form of God Both these Kingdoms which are one though distinguished are eternal from eternity and to eternity suffering no dammage or diminution by time or any the chances changes or injuries of time In both which known to God and known to Christ Act. 15.18 are all their works from the foundations of the world In the Kingdom of God there Christ as a Mystery and all things else created and increated lay in the Bosom of the Father In the Kingdom of Christ in this Heavenly state The world and all the times of it lay in the Mediatory bosom before they were brought forth into actual existence in themselves So the Apostle saith We were chosen in him before the foundations of the world Eph. 1.4 and he is before all things Col. 1.17 and in him all things consist and stand in a most harmonious frame and he is the head of the body the Church 1 Cor. 11.3 Rev. 5.5.20.16 who is the beginning and the head of every man the head of this world In this state is Christ properly the rooâ— of David and of all things which lay eternally as a Mystery hid in him and there lay his own humanity which in time he was to take up of the Virgin as He and all his Mediatory Kingdom and glory was a mystery hid in God Eph. 3.9 But now in the second place there is a state of this glorious Mediator and of his Kingdom revealed on earth which is properly the Subject of our debate that the will of God may be done on Earth by the Son of Man on earth and in the state of his Kingdom on earth as it is done in Heaven in and by the Son of man in Heaven and in the heavenly state of his Kingdom there which is the second Petition that follows in that Doctrine of Prayer which our Saviour instructs us in immediately following upon the first Thy Kingdom come Now this Kingdom of Christ may also be considered in a twofold state viz. In a state of exercise and suffering and this state lasts from the fall of man who being set in honour continued not and runs down through all the times of this degenerate world till Christs second and glorious appearance 1 Rev. 9. and is called by John in his Revelation the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ The other state of Christs Kingdom is the Victory and Triumph Esa 25.8 when he even his Father who hitherto worketh with the Son Joh. 5.17 and the Son worketh also shall have put all Enemies under his Feet 1 Cor. 15.24 27. and shall put down all Rule Authority and Power as it is inimical or contrary to him and this state of the Kingdom is called Peace Esa 9.7 and rest ch 11.10 his rest shall be glorious and this properly is that Kingdom whereof we enquire Now Sir having premised this distinction of the Kingdom of God and his Christ let us apply it This state of Christs Kingdom in peace in rest and victory in the visible manifestation of it to every created understanding and eye you can by no means say was from everlasting nor hath been all the times of this world but hath its proper times to be exhibited and those in the end of this old corrupt degenerated world by its appearing it will make all things anew and will be the restitution of all things That which may be a vail before our eyes in discerning this Truth is the glorious things that are spoken of this present state of the City of God and the Kingdom of Christ in the present state of it in Faith in which it is truly a Kingdom though a suffering Kingdom and gets the better of all its opposers though not without blows and blood and it gives rest and peace to all the subjects of it mystical inward and spiritual rest and peace Heb. 4.3 1 Pet. 1.8 Isa 26.3 Philip. 4.7 Psal 110.2 in the midst of enemies and troubles for we which have believed do enter into rest and rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory and our minds are kept in perfect peace even with a peace which passeth all understanding and so Christ rules in the midst of his Enemies and God hath given us the Victory 1 Cor. 15.57 through our Lord Jesus Christ yea we are come to Mount Sion Heb. 12.22 the city of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem Eph 2.6 1 Joh. 5.4 Joh. 12.31.16.17 and are set down with Christ in heavenly places having overcome the world by Faith and the Prince of this World is judged and cast out and we inherit all things But we must remember all this glory is in death and suffering and under the Cross both inwardly and outwardly and all the life and glory that we feel and experience is but to carry us up under the Cross and dying of the Lord Jesus as the Apostle at large discourses 2 Cor. 4 from the 7. verse to the 15. and in that refreshing Ordinance of the Supper we shew forth the Lords Deaâ—h till he come which death being the gate of life all Believers in their successive generations are passing through and will or must be so till the Lord come This is the gate to the City Rev. 22.14 call'd there Gates because through many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God and as Christs suffering was his great Obedience called obedience unto Death and is that which is meant by that phrase Lo I come to do thy will O God So this is the doing of Gods will and commandments by Believers the presenting their Bodies a living Sacrifice thereby proving by experience the good and acceptable and perfect will of God This is the way to the City which the fool that is drunken with the Spirit of
Apostles and Evangelists and Pastors and Teachers might all with one voice cry out and complain we have laboured in vain nor what follows of Christs ascending and giving gifts to men for the perfecting of the Saints for faith and vision must eternally remain distinct saith was never ordain'd to give forth that perfection that is reserved to vision faith is perfect in its kind that is it carries us up to Christ to enjoy a relative perfection there and the Prophets and Apostles as to that have not lost their labour but it doth not subjectively reveal or bring forth perfection upon us that is reserved for vision I know there are that fancy and imagine themselves to have attained or at least do assert it in Theâ—i that some have and that more may attain that perfection but come to the Hypothesis Have they themselves attain'd it I have not met with that confidence in any to assert it nor should I ever the sooner believe them if they should For this perfection is a Feast that is not to be opened till the guests are all come and the house of God is full nor till Christ the Feast-maker is present among them visibly and gloriously For as much as this point of the time of Christs glorious Kingdom on Earth is of so main consequence as that which will strike so great a stroak in the controversie depending between us I shall therefore according to the evidence that shines forth unto me in the Scriptures clear this up more particularly with the grounds of it 1. And my first ground is that for all the works of God done under the Sun his works of Salvation as well as judgment there is an appointed time as Solomon shews at large Eccl. 3.1 and so on Therefore the Church dealing with God about her deliverance urges it upon this ground Thou wilt or thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Sion for the time to favour her even the set time is come Psal 102.13 The instances are so copious and known for this that it were loss of time to insist on them Israels deliverance out of Egypt was set for the time and God kept his time to a day when the 430. years were expired the very same day did God bring them forth by their Armies Gen. 15.13 Exod. 12. last their deliverance from the Babilonish Captivity was set and promised after 70. years and was punctually observed so for our Saviours Incarnation it was in the fulness of time and when he entred upon his Ministry he makes this way for himself to be received by them Mark 1.15 The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand Repent ye and believe the Gospel what can be plainer than this that there is a time and season for every season and manifestation of the Kingdom of God This was the time for Christs first appearance there are times also proper times for his second coming and his illustrious appearance 1 Tim. 6.14.15 which in his times or in its own or proper times 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he shall shew if it were not so if the issuings forth of all Gods counsels and purposes were not tymed what mean all those times that are set in Daniel and the Revelations Indeed the time is not always reveal'd to us but it is always appointed with God and therefore sometimes the Spirit speaks only in general as Dan. 11.35.36 and Habaâ— 2.3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time And of that day and hour knoweth no man faith our Saviour Mark 13.32 which yet shews the day and hour is set for his second coming And though this Scripture may seem to dash our confidence of knowing it because it is said no not the Angels which are in Heaven neither the Son but the Father The answer is ready that as we could not know it without the Son or till it was reveal'd to him so he having received the knowledge of it as he did of the whole Systemâ— of the revelation after his ascention we are upon those advantages now that Christ himself was not in the days of his flesh when this was spoken Christ in his humiliation was in all things like to us but now all things are naked and open to him and he sent and signified his revelations by his Angel to his Servant John to shew to his Servants the things which must shortly come to pass and John according to command hath left them on Record for us and blessed is he that readeth c. for the time is at hand So that it is clear as the Sun that though God hath his foreknowledge of all things in Eternity and though Christ was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world yet in the making forth and exhibition of the works and wonders of God to men there is a time set and appointed for every purpose orderly to appear and give forth its voice and particularly expresly and eminently the Apostle saith of this day for as much as he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained Acts 17.31 2. The time for the exhibition of the glorious state of this Kingdom is the second the visible the illustrious appearance of Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 4 1. Who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom where his appearing and his Kingdom are joyned together as contemporating and commencing together at the same time not his first appearance which was then past but his second appearance speaking of it as to come and therefore saith shall judge in the future tense For the furthur clearing of this let any one that is in good earnest set himself to consider how probable or likely it may be that the glorious state of Christs Kingdom can be exhibited without the personal revelation of the Lord Jesus in Glory appearing in it I am sure in that foretast given of it in the Transfiguration our Saviour's Person bare the great eminent part according as in the intimation he gave of it before hand by his words might be concluded and expected for though Mark who wrote to Greekes and in the Greek Tongue say only there are some standing here who shall not tast of Death till they see the Kingdome of God come with power yet Matthew who wrote to the Jews and pend his Gospel in Hebrew dilivers our Saviours intimation with this Accuracy of his person to appear in it Mat. 16. ult Till they see the Son of man comeing in his Kingdom That action was a little Model or draught of Christs Kingdom and therefore whatever was there we may conclude will be in Christ's Kingdom though there to be expected in a larger figure Now in the transfiguration there was the person of Christ in a Glory beyond what the Disciples could well bear and that not only on his countenance but his Garments Then Secondly there were Moses and Elias in glory representing the Saints departed
not all though this is a great change the first Adam was without sin and was holy but spirituality of holiness shall be the product of this glorious appearance of the second Adam and as he was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead so shall his brethren his members in their proportion be by the removing of sin shall the hurtfulness be taken away that is in all the Creatures but by this spirit or spirituality of holiness shall a spiritual glory break forth upon all the Creatures whom in that day we shall see to be all of God as the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 5.50 That holiness in that day shall be universally diffused displayed upon all things all employments all enjoyments Zeck 14.20.21 Every Pot in Jerusalem holiness to the Lord. Holiness writ upon the Bridles and Bells of the Horses this is the spirituality of that day it will turn all into spirit a conversation in Heaven a walking in the truth not in a vain shew the truth filling all things and exhibiting it self in every Shadowy form so filling it and making it substantial this is the inside as I may say of the appearing of Jesus Christ his appearing is the appearing of power the appearing of life when Christ Joh. 6.63 who is our life shall appear and he is all life his words were spirit and life his very body now is life and spirit It is a great vail before our eyes the Nature of a Body framing the conceptions and taking in the notion of it from the bodies that we know which are only natural but a spiritual body is another thing though a real body still and another vail is Time that Christ's appearance should depend on time or be governed and ruled by time looking on time in an abstract notion from its work whereas Christ and his times are one Hitherto the Father worketh and I work when the work of Faith is finished when patience hath had its perfect work when the sins of the Amorites are full and when the measure of the sufferings of Christ are fil'd up in his body mistical which are all set and numbered and time doth but serve to measure those or rather is measured by these Christ doth not turn up vain hour-glasses and sit idle till so much time be run out but when his work is done when God hath glorified himself in the tryed Faith Joh. 10.12 and patience of the Church when God hath wrought out that peice of glory he designes in and under the suffering state then enters the blessed hope which is but one peice with the other and shall receive illustration from it Of this state I have many things to say and those hard to be understood we are so carnal and dull of hearing and indeed De Deo nil nisi in Deo of God and his Kingdom nothing can be worthily spoken but in the spirit of that Kingdom and therefore we may well apply that of the Apostle here The day shall declare it in this day was John when he had the vision of it this was the Lords day undoubtedly he there meant a day that will knock off from this world Rev. 1.10 and the concernes thereof in that carnal sinful way that we now incumber our selves about them which this appearance of Christ as hath been expected inward and powerful as well as visibly glorious will only prove sufficient for by giving us in exchange such entertainment of another kind as will teach us the right use of all things Then indeed shall the Saints be Spiritual persons strangers shall stand feed your flocks and the Sons of the Alien shall be your Plow-men and Vine dressers but ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord men shall call you the Ministers of our God Esa 61.6 So that though they may have the use of flocks and fields and Vines yet they shall not encumber themselves with them and their use of them shall be highly Spiritual Indeed their whole course and time shall be as a continued Feast of Tabernacles as we read Zach. 14.16 to the 19. Now Sir if you say all this may be effected by a powerful and spiritual appearance of the Lord Jesus though his person keep still in Heaven as in the primitive times when by the falling down of the spirit upon believers they sold their possessions and laid them down at the Apostles feet and no man said any thing was his own but they had all things common I shall not deny but if this were all that were to be done it might be done so without the appearance of Christ's visible person Though yet 〈◊〉 â—uestion is not of what may possibly be done but of 〈◊〉 way and meanes God hath ordain'd and appointed this new state of things to be ministred into the world by whether he hath not consign'd this honour peculiarly to Christ to bring in these times of refreshing and this restitution of all things as when he wrought reconciliation for us he appear'd in flesh so now that he brings Salvation to appear in glory I am sure the scripture speaks in such a stile as to favour yea to prompt us to such an understanding saying the Lord shall send Jesus and bring again the first begotten into the world and these times of refreshing they are said to be from the presence of the Lord. But this inward worke is not The All that is to be done in that day but the dead are to be raised and as I conceive at the very erection of the glorious estate of this Kingdom else the Surviving Saints should prevent them which the Apostle saith must not be and the surviving Saints must be changed at the same time or else it would be a disadvantage to survive to Christ's coming Now if the dead be raised in the beginning of this Kingdom then Christ must appear from Heaven for by his voice must they be raised and least any should say this may be by a voice from Heaven the person of Christ keeping still in Heaven the Apostle prevents that by saying the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven 1 Thâ—s 4.16 Now we do not read that after Christs descending he shall return to Heaven again nor is it probable he should leave all the raised Saints here on Earth all the time of his raigne But that he may give forth the glory of his glorious person gradually I do not deny that is in such proportion as may stand with the ends of it which I note because some cannot tell how to reconcile building and planting and procreation with this new state whâ—… the Prophets mention with it Esa 65. which maâ—… 〈◊〉 this be qualified For though the passing away of sin and death be a great change yet that brings us no higher then the state of Adam in innocency which may be done by Christ and by his personal appearing though he give
delights in the Body or Image of its manifestation without waits for it and is perfected in it for though it be said my strength is perfected in weakness yet it rests not till it hath removed weakness and therefore saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 13 4. though now we are weak in him yet we shall live by the power of God towards you We shall have a time to shine and be acknowledged a time to appear what now we do not Otherwise this bodily and visible Creation were in vain 1 Cor. 14.2.14 and as the Apostle speaks of speaking in unknown Tongues in the Spirit they speak Mysteries but their understanding was unfruitful so hero even Christ should in vain take flesh and in vain retain human nature and form in glory Nay he is not glorified in his human nature if his Members shall not therein be glorified likewise with him Do we suffer in our bodies and in our outward circumstances suffer with Christ and suffer for Christ and shall we not in the same be glorified together was the Earth made in vain to be only the range of wild Beasts was it not made to be inhabited and planted with righteousness and for the will of God to be done in it and will you call this an outward Kingdom and inconsistent with spirituality because it is visible and the object of sence Are we not fain in the present state to abstract from our bodies our sences when we would converse with Divine things as the Prophets that were in Trances when in the visions of God is not this through the weakness of the Vessel and is it not the glory of God and the happiness of Man when this shall be done away When also there shall be no pricking Bryar nor grieving Thorn no Persecution no oppression no wants no sickness nor pain do not these much hinder us from bringing forth those delicious fruits of Praise which we shall abound in when these are removed Sir I wonder that a person as you are that are not only acquainted with the Theory of what I speak but the experience that have suffered under the finest and most refined formes of this old World and their unrighteous usurpation in the things of God of which I perceive you have a quick sence still remaining with you that your ears should be so heavy to the News of a New World Were it a cunning devised Fable an officious Lye to deceive the pain of the present circumstances I should commend your high resolution not to be beholden to such collusions or were we in a hasty spirit of wrath and reveng calling for fire from Heaven upon our Persecutors you would be justified if you should tell us we know not what spirit we are of But when it is not our device but Gods revealed Counsel and design It is not our ease but his glory that is chiefly concern'd herein pray let us not be wiser then he nor more free of his glory and our own sufferings then he himself is pleased to be LET GOD HAVE A KINGDOM AMONG MEN. Give it not away to Satan to Antichrist they have had it long enough Is it not said for thy Glory All things are and were Created Is not his Name blasphemed continually every day while they that Rule over his people make them to howl Is this all the Kingdom God shall be allowed in the world to be glorified in the faith and patience of his suffering Saints Doth not the Apostle say It is a righteous thing with God to render tribulation to them that trouble you and to you that are troubled rest with us c. Contend for spirituality as much as you will I shall joyn with you There is need enough so to do but oppose not the visibility the universality of Christs Kingdom who must be King over all the Earth known and acknowledged by all Zach. 14.9 And whereas you say towards the end of your Book That this expectation savours too strongly of the spirit of the old persecuting Jew who through the expectation of such a glorious Messiah rejected the Messiah in that tender he made of himself and Crucified him I hope Sir you intend not hereby to cashiere and cut off that people from their part in the glorious state of that Kingdom who if they had not particuler promises and assurances of a special regard to them in the turn of things that God will make in that day and that they were not to be an eminent and signal instance of the irresistable power and prevalency of the rich free and boundless grace of God as I am well satisfied they are from the 11th to the Romans and multitudes of other places yet for the universality of this Council of grace which is to take in the whole Earth they must upon that account be allowed to come in for their share with the rest of the Nations Their error was that they overlook't the Testimony of the Prophets yea of the spirit of the Messiah himself in the Prophets that testified before hand of the sufferings of Christ and of the glory that should follow they were not mistaken in expecting a glorious Messiah but in expecting him out of the order and time that God had set for it but now that Christ hath suffered yea and his Body mystical hath fill'd up the measure of his suffering in themselves under the 42 months of the Beast if we deny him his Kingdom shall we not not only persecute him but all his members likewise worse then the Jews did You say in the entrance upon this argument you would not be concluded as a meer stranger to the nature and circumstances of this controversie having read Mr. Brightman and Mr. Mede but found them defective Sir I have that charity for Philalethes according to the Import of his name and for the long experience and acquaintance I have had with him that he would not prevaricate with his light nor speak or write against the least truth he was convinced of But Sir you are not ignorant that though truth be eternal in its spring-head in God yet in respect of its discovery to us it is the daughter of time there are seasons for all truths to come forth into the world there was so for the Gospel 1 Tit. 2.3 Mr. Brightman lived and died remoter from the times of this light Mr. Mede who lived nearer to them saw farther But besides Sir there is as in one place of your Book pag. 65. you express a certain Divine position and configuration of minds as well as things that disposeth or indisposeth them for some truths and therefore considering this position and configuration in Mr. Mede who was alwaies in his opinion for conformity and for the Hierarchy in the Church it is to be admired that he should engage so far as he did in this cause of Christ's glorious Kingdom on earth and it adds no small weight to the evidence of that truth that against the