any such stain upon the word Zach. and were it not strange if the sense should be diverse may we not rather think that it hath pleas'd the sweetness of the Spirit to chuse the same word purposely to guide us into the same expectation For unlesse this sight of him were intended as an extent of mercy to them that peirc'd him viz That Nation it had not sure been exprest by Mourning but howling Tell me now doth not the Christian Church constantly understand his coming to judgment by his coming in the clouds for so Holy Daniel hath taught us to speak for from thence is the phrase borrow'd Da. 7.13 which very place for the Rev. and other parts of the New testament concentre as perfectly with the Prophets about this Date of the atcheivement as about the thing it self in the 14.22 and 27. verses as it apparently describes this royalty so it pitcheth it at his coming in the clouds to judgment and overthrowing the proud horn which is most assuredly [b] The controversy about Antichrist hath no way been more obscur'd than by applying to St. Pauls man of sin and the Apocalyptical whore that which is spoke of Antichrist in St. John's Epistles That by the Man of sin and whore is meant the Romanist I dare say is demonstrated by that most incomparable light of our Nation Mr. Mede to unprejudic'd minds As for the Name Antichrist 't is never us'd either in the Rev. or St. Paul so that 't is the liberty of the Churches speaking not scripture appellation that imposeth the term Antichrist on the whore and while we strive to square St. Johns Epist that way too we intangle the case For Rome denies not the father and the son 1 Epist St. John 2.22 'T is most cleer therefore that S. John refers to the false Christs predicted by our Saviour for the immediate Antecedents of Jer. ruin S. Matt. 24.11.23 S. Mark 13.21 22. An abominable false Prophet of which sort being then in the world and of great Note viz. Simon Magus besides Cerinthus and the cursed Gnosticks c. for there were many such Antichrists saith S. Joh. 1.2.18 This to be his meaning appears by these following Characters from the context First 't is propounded by him at that 18. v. by way of citation and reference to some other scripture As yee have heard c. But 't is no where els to be heard than from the Evangelists so treating of the warning peeces to Jer. destruction The words Antichrist and false Christ never occurring in the whole Bible but in the Gospels and his Epist Secondly 'T is instanc'd by S. Joh. as formerly presag'd by some other scripture and now us'd in way of Argument by himself for an immediate forrunner of some last hour for so the Greek speaks and as a plain manifestation that that last hour was then a running forasmuch as the Badge of it viz. Antichrist was so visible All which things were most exactly verified both as forespoken to such a premonition by the Evangel as also fulfill'd in the leud Deceivers of that Age at the time of St. Johns writing these Epist being hard upon the fatal accomplishment of these truths in that remarkable calamity which shortly after came upon Jer. Now after all this will not the intimation I pray of last hour be more naturally appliable to that desolation then at hand than to any thing yet to be expected it being above 1600. years since this was spoken For though the last times in regard to Dan. fourth Monarchy are spoke of us yet sure the last hour so long agoe mention'd is more happily applied to a matter already past Antichrist for all our Synod annotations as every sensible Reader may judge by comparing his description with that of the beast Rev. 13. So that here you see where St. Paul learnt before the Rev. was extant that Antichrist should be destroyed at our Lords coming 2 Thes 2.8 I will subjoyn other Arguments by way of appendence purposely not to tire the Reader with too continu'd a length of any Chapter without taking respite As St. Paul was formerly our warrant for applying those admirable glories mention'd by the Prophets to the Jews reinfranchment so he seems full as cleer in ranking its accomplishment under the contemporaries of the 7 Trumpet I know not how it may appear to others but I must confesse I cannot so undervalue the Holy Apostles Logick as to judg that he should fetch a Medium from a prophecy of the Jews restitution to prove the day of judgment by and yet not intend to lay the date of that Restitution at the time of judgment look Rom. 14.11 We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ For it is written As I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow to me c. But where is it written save Js 45.23 being a peece that belongs most assuredly to this matter from the 14. v. to the end of the Chap. Compare I pray that 14. v. There shall come over to thee in Chains c. with Js 60.14 and give your judgment if they mean not the same thing for so I am sure the [a] Can any impartial Reason despise the strength of universal Tradition amongst the Jews whilst yet the True and onely Church of God as is evident This truth flourisht by in their Ages And yet so much magnifie the same sort of Argument in our Christian â—ases Jews alwayes expound it And however we through mistake are wont to affix a mark at the 20. v. of the 45. Chap. intimating a different argument yet that the whole sequele naturally appertains to the same discourse let any impartial peruser judge by the genuine characters emergent from the context especially the very last verse being doubtless not an abrupt parcell of a changed theme but the united member of a continu'd one In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory Nor is this the onely text where the Apostle pitcheth the Epocha of this admirable royalty at the coming to judgment What lesse can amount from 2 Tim. 4.1 I charge thee before the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearance and his kingdom See A kingdom joyn'd with his appearance to judge the world and yet not the final kingdom for ever in the Heavens for after the universal resurrection our Saviour resigns up the kingdom to the father that he may be all in all 1 Cor. 15 24 28. That kingdom therefore which is neither before his appearance not yet after the last resurrection must necessarily be concluded between them Who can but wonder that this Truth should be so boggled at which is so harmoniously accorded to through all the Prophets Jer. 23.5.6 c. In his dayes c. Ezek. 34.23 c. Ezek. 37.22 23 24 c. Zach. 6.12 13 c. Zach. 14. from the 16. to the end All which expresse a Glory to
which elogies who ever shall attribute to any other he must begg leave either to interpret the bottomlesse pit of somewhat els besides Hell or the Destroyer belonging to that pit of some one els than the Devill Nor is our evidence lesse cleer for his energy farr beyond the nature of ligation and sealing at the nativity of the Beast Rev. 13. of whom it is expressely deliver'd v. 3. that the Dragon gave him power and his seat and great authority If either of these instances may speak him bound I think the onely difficulty will be to produce a villany of so aggravated a malice whereby ever to assert his liberty But examine we them somewhat more distinctly The first three Epochaes yet that way takes the very learned Primate of Ireland besides what is already objected implie the Devill to be bound for that whole space in which Blessed Michael conflicted with him Rev. 12. Surely the bitter throwes by which Christianity wrung in and the warm blood of so many constant Martyrs were arguments sufficient to make appear that Michael had not to deal with a bounden Adversary Again If he were then bound the little season of his loosing Chap. 20.3 runs on apace to finish a seventh centurie and hath Seemingly much overshot the proportional limits of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being farr more than half the intervall of his binding Seriously I am farr from aiming to blast any reverend Authorities but doubtlesse the Holy Jesus requires more exact enucleations of his sacred messages than either of these faint resolutions can amount to Into such intanglements are those men falln who have once Slipt the clue of Truth In a word Can it consist with Satan in a cage and coop'd up from abusing the world that he should be able to impose upon the the young Christians so [a] To these feâ—â—s of the Dâ—agon doubtless and not to Garnets straws the Ap. points in 2. Thess 2.9 by lyâ—ng miracles after the working of Satan forasmuch as I am perswaded there is no opinion in which they differ from us but if well search'd after was either introduc'd or is maintain'd by such collusion rank a peece of Legerdemane as by making shew of miraculous cures wrought I wiss by the reliques o â— Martyrs to cheat the credâ—lous world into the establishment of Saint-worship upon the mistaken ground so grosly were they abused of Revel 20. which prerogative of the Martyrs reigning with Christ 1000. yeers they expounded of this * Idolatrous Royaltie into which the Dragon had thus gull'd them by the occasion of those wonders which they presum'd to be the festques of providence as intended to point them to such expositions Truly if it can be prooved that Satan was all this while in his dungeon I shall be the apter to think that he spake from his hole through a Trunk into Dunstan's crucifix at a Council in Canterbury Anno Domini 972. which falls within his binding begin the account where you please uttering an audible voice to this purpose Dunstan's opinion is the right he at that time being a most ardent Proctour against the allowance of Marriage to the Clergy What should now deter us from making this deduction That this very Millennium is that space which the sacred writ hath defin'd (b) The Millon of ligation is confessedly tempus definitum For after must he be loosed a little season Ergo that of Christs Kingdom is so too Since one and the same space is meant for these mysteries Hear an express from the Spirit Revel 20.4 I saw the ** souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of [*] Judge whether I ly by these words of an early commentator upon the Apoc. c. 20.4 Me. ito cum Châ—â—sto vixerunt regnarunt Quemadmodum videmus etiam sub fidelibus Regibus aâ—que principibus dum adoranâ—ur contra omnem etiam corporis infirmitaâ—em ac Daemonum energiam ostendunt datâ—â— sibi à Deo gratiam (c) If any court me over critical â—nâ—streining the Emphasis of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Text their partiality ought nâ—t to make them forget with what zeal the same obseâ—vation is pursuâ—d â—n the dispute of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (*) Sure this expression will no way comply with their exposition who interpret the first resuâ—rectâ—on of â—he life of grace that notion being dâ—sagâ—eeable to separated souls or if it were noâ— yet could not the rest of the dead after the thousand yeers suppoâ—'d to be the wâ—cked ever live that life viz. of grace But if we give way that the same word Live in the space of one line may be appliable to two so diffeâ—ent senses as to import the life of Grace to the one sort and life in its pâ—oper sense to the other we open such a gâ—p of licence to perverse Cavillers that by the opportunity of such fâ—eedom of acceptions they may distort these Holy Embassies into what ever compliances may best sute with their designes Jesus And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yeers which that we may rest assured to be the very same thousand in which the Devill is bound the Greek affords an unavoidable evidence for having exprest the time of Satans binding vers 2. without an article it delivers the same measure of Christs Kingdom with the article as emphatically reflecting upon the foresaid thousand vers 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Where doubtless we should not have injur'd the idiome considering the want of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the second verse to have Englisht it those thousand years Now say in good earnest Is it not more than likely that St. Peter intended the same thing remembring 't was the Jewish paraphrase as you heard of the Day of Judgment One day with the Lord is as a thousand yeers to which St. Peter Iure alluded I shall not need to tell you of the extant tradition of old Elias a Jew that liv'd under the second Temple to this sense 'T were handsomer for us to remember with some reverence that the most inlightned the most pious ages and the most fruitfull of Zelous Martyrs through all the Christian times were of this minde too And peradventure it might do us no injury to reflect that in the thirteen following Centuries which oppos'd it Antichrist both gain'd and kept his footing by the advantage of that oversight (a) Rev. 10.7 Rom. 11.25 Give sentence now impartially if this Incomparable beauty of Israel commence not at our Lords next coming and if the commensuration of these Transcendencies be not in the sacred language the day of Judgment What now though some objections may interfeer not readily to be resolv'd * Mystery my thinks might easily stop such (a) The Socinians and Arians c. have too sadly warn'd us that wanton wits may intangle any Truth with very perplext intricaâ—ies gaping mouthes But for reconciling the difficulties emergent from this Tenet I hope hereafter as the
Jerusalem that is above Galat. 4.27 How think you is not this the very same Jerusalem which S. John tells us at the appointed time comes down from God out of Heaven Which hath been before proov'd to be the mystery describ'd by the Prophets of Jews and Gentiles c. From the new Testament view Rev. 11.15 The Kingdoms of this World c. Sure This world is English For the earth doubtlesse and this lower world shall be the scene of some most eminent transaction meant by Christs kingdom Howbeit it was never imagin'd by any but base carnal and ignoble tempers to be lesse than [*] Rev. 21.27 Js 60.21 All righteous spiritual and of quite another mode than the fashion of this world which consideration alone I am deceiv'd if it doe not fully extricate those words of our blessed Saviour which some have made use of for their cheif argument against this apprehension John 18.36 My kingdom is not [*] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 see Joh. 15.19 Where the knot is unti'de in S. Johns own phrase ye are not the World viz. not wordly of this world 'T is not said in but of viz. not after the manner of worldly pompe or administration not of the same notion with what flesh and blood suggests or our shallow capacities are wont to apprehend briefly as himself expresseth it not from hence but out of Heaven from God Rev. 21.2 and every way a Heavenly glory though on earth Mean what it will for I never incourag'd to too much boldness in this mysterious abyss 'T is certain we find Rev. (*) Vid. 2 Tim. 4.1 The final glory in heaven is surely the Fathers throne 1 Cor. 15.24.28 Ergo the sons throne must mean somewhat els Nor yet can it be meant of his present Kingdom whereby he rules in our Hearts in our mortal state being propounded as a subsequent reward and not as a present fruition for we are but viatores yet not victores To him that overcometh will I give c. 3.21 a distinct throne appropriated to Christ from that which belongs to his Father I will not multiply Texts till I have gain'd some footing at what time some I dare say will wonder to see what otherwise inextricable problemes this clue may disintangle Take one other which if well understood speaks so home that it can never be avoided by any that understands the Greek Hebr. 1.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Our Translators to avoid this proof do strangely transpose Again contrary to the order of the Greek that it may have reference to he saith by way of a new quotation and not to bringeth But how disingenuously let any judge Besides while by such a transposition they indeavour to refer the meaning of the passage to Christs former coming do not they diametrically struggle against St. Paul who determineth his meaning to his next coming Heb. 2.5 and that in the same word too 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which all that understand the Greek know to signify most properly strictly and unavoidably The Earth It being a participle of the feminine gender us'd in single supposing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be understood e. g. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The inhabited Earth Read then the Text according to the original and judge And when he (a) The orig 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath the signification of the future tense being the second aorist of the subjunctive Mood besides 't is joyn'd with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Again so that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ought in strictness to be renderd And when he shall bring again c. bringeth again the first begotten upon the earth he saith c. But Lord what pains some men will take to fool themselves out of truth One thing may not be pretermitted that the text as indeed the whole context implies some very glorious matter which if S. Paul may be allow'd the Judge of his own sense is determin'd to (b) By turning it The World to come they would seem to mean the Kingdom of glory but we shall find that the world in that sense is always 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but no where in all the Bible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Earth to Come What difference now between Saint Pauls state of the earth to come and S. Peters new earth CHAP. IV. Briefly shewing the use of this Tenet BUt to what purpose is all this May we not be sav'd without the knowledge of it Yes I doubt not or els God help But in the first place 'T is I am sure no great blessing to stand in the number of such as S. Peter brands for Scoffers nor certainly any small exemption to be deliverd from that rable Secondly if it were propos'd so many thousand yeers agoe as a matter of so rich-consolation to the hearers at that distance it assuredly cannot want its Treasures of felicity if well examin'd to us who in all likelyhood live just on the borders of so great a mutation I am sure much neerer than the ancient Jews Thirdly it would take off a great stumbling-block and hindrance to conversion from the poor mistaken Jew who being fortified with so universal tradition of Ancestry upon this stock both hates and scorns us And count we it a small thing to be instrumental in so great a work towards Israel for whom the Dearest Jesus hath * See the 137. Psal and the 13. and 14. ch of Is all over yet so yerning bowells that he will bless them that bless her Numb 24.9 What though the plenteous vintage of their return be not expected till our Lords coming yet think we not that some few clusters of grapes would be an acceptable offering unto our Lord How ardently might it affect the despised Hebrew to spie the gracefull portray of his hopes in our New Testament How could his heart persist so irrationally obstinate as not straitway to yield our Jesus to be their Messiah did but our Commentators dandle their rugged soules by the gentle parallels of our Testament with theirs and Kindly point from Revel 1.7 to Zach. 12.10 By which festque they might soon discern that this is He whom they once so barbarously pierc'd and for whom at * The Jews to this day expect not the Messiah before the day of Judgment ut supra his next coming they shall mourn with so deep compunction But while they observe us to distort the Scriptures in avoidance of this opinion by rough and unnatural expositions ingrossing all to * By our Gloss of Gospel-times c. ut supra our selves and defrauding their expectations of such promises in which I dare say they have the better half they are scandaliz'd at our partiality deride our giddiness and grow confirm'd in their infidelity Fourthly it were the way to avoid almost every heresy that now reigns since there can scarce one be nam'd which hath not been