hath been so much disparaged by former mistakes and the too positive determination of such who have built upon a wrong foundation My aim hath been to get the surest ground I could from Scripture to proceed upon a little time will bring these things to light by the accomplishment In the mean time 't is much that we do or may understand by Books which give us sufficient ground to conclude that the 1290 and 1260 dayes are come very near to their end and my hope is that they will not reach beyond the year 1686. If Chronology be right it is very probable they will not they may end before and then soon after Rome will come to its end and none shall help it And when these days before-mentioned shall be run out then we may conceive the work of pouring out the Vials will begin for that any of them are poured out already I take to be a mistake Their Plagues are the last Plagues and in them will the wrath of God be filled up what a Vial is poured out upon will be destroyed for ever for it brings the last Plague upon that thing it destroys and at the end of these days the true Worshippers that did go forth of the outward Court and went into the Wilderness bearing good Seed with them shall come again into it with joy bringing their Sheaves with them and drive out those Gentiles that possess it And as an handful of Corn was still in the earth even in the worst of times so after the end of these days the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon and they of the holy City which then shall begin to be built again shall flourish like the grass of the field And what is foretold of the Jews Isa 60.22 we may apply also to the Gentile Saints A little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong Nation I the Lord will hasten it in his time The faithful Witnesses and that remnant of the Woman's Seed which keep the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ is a Flock though a little one and but a small one but this little one shall become a thousand yea quickly increase to 144000. and this small one a Nation yea a strong Nation I the Lord will hasten it in his time and when God hastens nothing shall hinder God gives to every seed his own body 1 Cor. 15.38 The seed is very small the body which God gives it is many times very great 'T is so in the Works of Nature what a tall spreading vast-bodied Oak grows out of a small Acorn and much more in the Works of Grace there is a Seed that serves God Psa 22.30 What a vast body will God give to this seed 'T was a vast body that was represented to Nebuchadnezzar in a Dream in that Image which he saw reaching from Chaldaea and Persia in the East and coming down as far as the utmost bounds of the Western-parts but that body which God will give to the Seed that serves him will far exceed this for Christ will have a Kingdome at last that shall fill the whole earth which shall never be destroyed as the Image which Nebuchadnezzar saw must be Thus much to shew that these things are to be lookt for and when they shall come 2. Saints should with all diligence look to this that their present Carriage and state be suitable to their expectations of such glorious things hereafter Here are three Branches of the Apostles Exhortation which deserves to be a little insisted on 1. Be diligent that you may be found of him in peace 2. Be diligent that ye be found of him without spot 3. Be diligent that ye be found of him blameless 1. Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace All will be found of Christ at last though some put him far out of their thoughts and like Cain wander from the presence of the Lord yet at last he will find them out for at death he will find them at Judgment he will find them and what will they do then but cry out with exceeding anguish and horror as Ahab did to Elijah Hast thou found me O mine enemy Now seeing all shall be found of him be therefore diligent that ye may be found of him in peace and that in a peaceable state and a peaceable frame 1. In a peaceable state and that first a justified state for that is a peaceable state Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God Our care should be to be found in a justified estate that so we may appear as Christ shall without sin compare with this place Phil. 3.9 That I may be found of him not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law but that which is by the faith of Christ the righteousness that is of God by Faith And if it be thus then we shall be found of him in peace Here observe First we must be found in him if we would be found of him in peace Rom. 8.1 There is now no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus If in him by faith if in that Name of his The Lord our righteousness there we are in a strong tower and safe from wrath and vengeance Secondly We must not have any thing to do with our own righteousness in the matter of Justification Not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law What Law is here meant There is an abrogated Law and an established Law the abrogated Law is the Ceremonial Law which was given to the Jews and had the shadow of good things to come and Christ the Substance being come the Shadows flee away The established Law is the Moral Law established in and by the Gospel Now 't is not onely the righteousness of the abrogated Law which must not be had but the righteousness of the established Law which is to be excluded from the business of Justification To this Evangelical Obedience must be yielded and in observing it we must confess that Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father but when we have yielded it we must not have it for a justifying righteousness for in relation to this also it was that Paul said not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law as is evident from Rom. 3.28 31. we conclude a man is justified by faith without the works of the Law What Law even without the works of the established Law for he adds do we then make void the Law through faith No we establish the Law a man therefore is justified by faith without the works of the established-established-law and without that evangelical-obedience which all true believers and justified persons do yield to it and therein serve Christ as their Lord. They that would have Christ and justification of life by him must not have their own righteousness no not their evangelical righteousness nor harbor such a dangerous such a corrupt and evangelical Notion about justification as that is
is a God so in this time of such glorious light there shall not be Atheism amongst the unconverted ones in the world And this is a reason why the Devil endeavours so much to fill the world with Atheism now because he knows his time is short of being Ruler of the darkness of this world and the day is at hand in which the Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord And when the Morning of this Day shall come then the wild Beasts shall lay them down in their Dens and not hurt nor destroy in all the holy Mountain of God And men shall be ashamed to commit those abominations which now the world is so full of They that be drunken are drunk in the Night But in that Day they shall be sober and civilly and morally good who shall be without saving grace 2. There were Laws given to the Jews concerning the Lepers both for the tryal of them and removing them from the Camp when pronounced unclean and it was supposed there might be a Leper of the house of Aaron Lev. 22.4 Thus hitherto it hath been in the Church much of spiritual Leprosie hath been found there and even amongst those of the seed of Aaron but we find not any thing here of such Laws What may be concluded hence but that at this time there will be no Lepers in Israel Spiritual Leprosie shall not appear amongst any in Churches to occasion their removal from them Rev. 21.27 In the New Jerusalem there shall be nothing that defileth 3. There was a Law about blessing and cursing in Israel Deu. 27.12 The blessings were to be pronounced from Gerizim and the curses from Ebal but we find not any command here for cursing any in Israel There wil be that day blessing but not cursing in Israel Jer. 31.23 It shall be said The Lord bless thee O Habitation of Justice and Mountain of Holiness But as it is Rev. 22.3 there shall be no more curse All shall have the blessing of Abraham and none the curse of Ishmael to be cast out There shall not be an Anathema Maranatha for any of the Church then 4. There were Laws about the redemption of Inheritances Lev. 25.25 If thy Brother be waxen poor and sell his possession and any of his Kin come to redeem it then he shall redeem that which his Brother sold But we read not any thing here of selling or redeeming Inheritances because no Brother shall at this time wax poor aâ—â— sell his Inheritance Now 't is as Christ said Thâ— Poor ye have always with you but then there shall be no Poor in the Land They that obtain that Kingdom which is to come shall have all other things added to them Christ will not be then Hungry Naked Sick or in prison in any of his Members 5. There were Laws concerning such as had familiar Spirits and were Wizards Lev. 20.27 A man or a woman that hath a familiar Spirit or is a Wizard shall surely be put to death But at this time there shall not be such in the Land of Immanuel nay not amongst the unconverted ones Evil Spirits shall not be Familiar Spirits to any then for they shall be all bound and shut up in the bottomless Pit 6. There were Laws for tryal of Jealousie which was the bitter water that caused the curse which the suspected woman was to drink Now as among the Tribes in the Land and among the sacred Nations there will be Marrying so none that shall defile themselves either by Fornication or Adultery No Adulterers or Effeminate shall be in that Kingdom of God but all shall possess their Vessels in Sanctification and Honour Prop. 8. This will be a time in which God will honour those that honour him which is promised 1 Sam. 2.30 And in this time and state of the Church it shall be eminently made good This may be concluded from Chap. 44.16 The Priests the Levites the Sons of Zadok which keep the charge of my Sanctuary when the Children of Israel went astray from me they shall come near to minister unto me As for the Levites that went astray after Idols and made the Children of Israel go astray â—hey shall bear their iniquities and not come near 〈◊〉 the Office of a Priest v. 10.13 but I will make them keepers of the charge of the house Here two things are to be opened 1. What this hath reference to under the Old Testament that is when did the Sons of Zadok shew themselves faithful in keeping the charge of the Sanctuary and when did the Levites go astray themselves and cause Israel to go astray 2. What this foretels in reference to the times here meant For the first Let it be considered who were the Levites going astray and when and how they went astray and next wherein the Faithfulness of Zadock and his Sons appeared As for the Levites that went astray they were those of the stock of Eli. It 's said of his two Sons Hophni and Phineas they were Sons of Belial and knew not the Lord and therefore God denounced a Judgment 1 Sam. 2.20 I said that thy house should walk before me but now be it far from me And upon this God said v. 16. I will raise me up a faithful Priest which was fulfilled when Abiathar followed Adonijah and Zadock was made Priest in his room And those Levites went astray in two things 1. Eli's Sons made a God of their Belly and offered to that Idol what was brought to be offered to the Lord. Their custom was 1 Sam. 2.13 14. When any man offered Sacrifice the Priests Servant came while the Flesh was in seething with a Fleshhook of three Teeth and struck it into the Pan and all that the Fleshhook brought up the Priest took to himself v. 15. Thus the Sin of the young men was very great for men abhorred the Offering of the Lord. 2. Abiather who was of the Stock of Eli went after Adonijah and no doubt drew some other of the Levites with him and by this the iniquity of Eli's House came to be full which brought the Judgment threatned as we see 1 Kings 2.27 Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being Priest that he might fulfill the Word of the Lord which he spake concerning the House of Eli. Next as touching Zadock's Faithfulness that was seen in his keeping with David and anointing Solomon 1 Kings 1.39 and many faithful Priests descended from him as Jehoiada whose faithfulness was eminent in hiding Joash and after bringing him forth and giving order for the slaying of Athalia Matth. 23.35 mention is made of Zacharias who was slain betwixt the Temple and the Altar Ezra also was of the Posterity of Zadock Ezra 7.2 2. As for what this foretels observe these particulars 1. When Idols shall be abolished many that have gone after them may find mercy and favour As for Idols they shall be abolished Isa 2.18 But many that go after them may be spared
this enkindled with the Fire of the Altar Zech. 8.21 Let 's go speedily to pray before the Lord Thus shall they be calling on one another and that in a time when many People and strong Nations shall seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem This hath respect to the time of the Jews being called for ten men out of every Nation shall take hold of the Skirt of him that is a Jew saying We will go with you for we have heard that God is with you And at this time he will pour upon the House of David and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and Supplication And as persons gathered together in their Assemblies shall pray so in their Families and all in their Families apart Zech. 12.14 Every family apart and their wives apart Hence we find the Name Israel used so much in this Prophecy because now the Jews shall be such Wrestlers with God as Jacob their Father was and shall not let him go without a blessing And as Christ lifted up his eyes and said Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me so shall Saints then even in prayer be able to offer up praises for being heard because they know Christ will be making Intercession for them Chap. 45.23 Seven days of the Feast the Prince shall prepare his burnt-offering When Saints keep the Feast and are praying and praising Christ offers his Burnt-offering that is he offers up his Supplications with and for them 2. At this time God shall have his due praises signified as hath been shewn in the Peace or Pay-offerings for the great mercies of that time A Figure of this we have Matth. 21.9 Christ rode in triumph into Ierusalem the people cried Hosannah in the highest and so did the Children which offended the Scribes to whom Christ said Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise Which may be look'd on as prefiguring two things in relation to the time of Christs coming in his Kingdom 1. That even the young Children of Saints shall then have a great measure of Grace and much knowledge of the Glory of God and beholding the King in his beauty shall cry Hosannah to the Son of David Little Children will come to Christ and of these shall be the Kingdom of God There will be many Timothy's who from their Childhood will know the holy Scriptures and as acts of Reason shall put themselves forth so acts of Grace therewith 2. The Babes and Sucklings in Christ the new Converts shall shew forth the praises of him that hath called them The offering up of praise is the great evidence of the truth of Grace in the heart and at this time will the Lord perfect praise The praise which the Saints shall offer will be perfect praise not shadowy and in appearance onely but it shall have the perfection of sincerity and truth and it shall be in such a degree as God shall expect from their state None shall receive the grace of God in vain but according to what they receive they shall render As where much is given much is required so then where much shall be given much will be rendred And as all Duties shall be performed by Saints so all Graces shall meet in them and their good works shall have all their requisites to make them perfect Chap. 46.11 In the feasts the meat-offering shall be an Ephah to a Bullock an Ephah to a Ram and an Hin of Oyl to an Ephah When any thing is spoken of Oblations and Meat-offerings Oyl is also mentioned by which the Spirit is meant making the Saints a willing people They shall have the Oyl of grace and the Oyl of gladness all their works shall be done with zeal and alacrity A due proportion of love and willingness is the Hin of Oyl which is to go with the Offerings This is further set forth chap. 46.23 There was a new building and it was made with boiling places then he said unto me These are the places of them that boil where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifices of the people The Ministry then will be a heating and a boiling Ministry the Word will be a Fire in the Heart and Love and Zeal enkindled thereby will be as the Fire which came down from Heaven and was kept burning in the Temple by this the Sacrifices shall be well boiled so that there will not be crude or raw Services then among the Saints there will not be cause to take up Luthers complaint Deest ignis The Fire from Heaven which was long kept burning in the Temple did at last go out and was not in the second Temple but lo here 't is found in these boiling places of a more glorious Temple being the substance of that shadow where it shall not go out 3. Saints shall make progress in the ways of God and persevere in well doing There will not be Apostates at this time none doing wickedly against the Covenant neither shall any of those of understanding fall Israel shall not be any more backsliding Israel Chap. 46.9 10. When the people of the land shall come before the Lord he that entereth in by the way of the North Gate to worship shall go out by the way of the South Gate he shall not return Here must be no shadow of turning the Worshippers shall not go back The Prince in the midst of them when they go in shall go in when they go forth shall go forth so that they shall be still following Christ Verse 14. A Meat-offering must be prepared every morning There shall not be a ceasing of the daily Sacrifice either by Saints neglect or wicked mens interruption Thus much of the Church Members 3. The Pastors of Churches shall be all holy and duly qualified even Pastors after Gods heart Now concerning the Ministers which are mentioned in this Prophecy we may take notice how they are set forth in respect of their kind and in respect of their qualifications As for the first here are three sorts mentioned 1. Priests and Ministers of the Sanctuary which shall come near and minister to the Lord chap. 45.4 2. Levites called Ministers of the House chap. 45.5 3. Such as serve the City chap. 48.18 which are to be rank'd amongst the Ministers as afterwards will more fully appear The Names of Priests and Levites are borrowed from the Law to set forth a Gospel Ministery The Priests under the Law were to sanctifie the most holy things and to burn Incense before the Lord and to minister to him and to bless in his Name 1 Chron. 23.13 The Levites were to set forward the work of the House of the Lord and some were Singers instructed in the Songs of the Lord. Of Singers we read in this Prophecy chap. 40.44 In the Inner Court were the Chambers of the Singers such who will be instructed themselves and shall instruct others in the Songs of the Lord. They were also Porters 1 Chron. 26. and
some were for the outward business over Israel Now to know who are meant by these Priests and Levites and such as serve the City we must consult the New Testament and such places wherein mention is made of the several Officers and Ministers which God hath set in the Church and surely 't is a Gospel Ministery which is here meant for sometimes we find it under a Gospel name Ministers chap. 44.11 They shall be Ministers in my Sanctuary Chap. 46.24 The Ministers of the house boil the sacrifice of the people Now for the places of the New Testament which speak of a Gospel Ministery see 1 Cor. 12.28 God hath set in the Church first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers then Helps Governments c. Eph. 4.11 He gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers 1 Tim. 5.17 The Elders that rule well count worthy of double honour especially those that labour in the Word and Doctrine In these places we find Pastors which are Overseers of a Flock and for the perfecting of the Saints Evangelists to preach among the Nations through whose Ministery Nations will be saved and walk in the Light of the New Jerusalem These are foretold Isa 66.19 I will send those that escape of them to Pul and Lud c. and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles and such as have not heard of my fame neither have seen my glory Lastly those that serve the City will be Ministers building up Saints and making them meet to be received into the holy City Now these several sorts are to shew that the Church of the Jews shall have all sorts of Ministers and Officers which it ought to have by Divine Appointment all for teaching edifying bringing in building up and for rule and government for the inner and outward business of the House of God Thus we see what sorts of Ministers are mentioned in this Prophecy We may further take notice of Gods care to provide for them as also the way in which they shall be provided for God will make sufficient provision for all 't will not be as now some have Riches given them and others Poverty and some Food convenient But then as all shall be of Agars temper in desiring but Food convenient so that shall be given them chap. 45.3 4. 48.9 The Oblation that ye shall offer to the Lord shall be of five and twenty thousand in length and ten thousand in breadth in the midst whereof shall be the Sanctuary it shall be for the Priests the Sons of Zadock And over against the Border of the Priests the Levites shall have five and twenty thousand in length and ten thousand in breadth The residue being ten thousand Eastward and ten thousand Westward shall be for Food for those that serve the City And here we see the way in which they shall be provided for The twelve Tribes have their several Inheritances allotted them by themselves and then the Ministers have a Portion set apart for them so as that they are not to have a Maintenance out of the Inheritances of the People either by their free gift or otherwise and thus there will not be any dependence upon the people to be a snare to them or any matter of offence to the people or occasion of difference betwixt them Hence it 's said chap. 44.28 Ye shall give them no possession in Israel I am their possession that is it shall not lie upon you to make provision for them out of your Inheritances but they shall have Possessions by themselves When Canaan was divided each Tribe allotted to the Levites out of their Inheritances Cities to dwell in Josh 21. Eight and forty Cities were given them by lot some out of each Tribe so that then the Levites had Inheritances from the Tribes But when the Jews shall be called 't will not be thus Paul said he would keep himself from being burthensom to the Corinthians the like saith the Lord here concerning the Ministers of the new Heavens and new Earth they shall not be burthensom to the Church in which I shall set them Next concerning their Qualifications consider 1. They shall be clothed with righteousness this is meant by the Linen Garments chap. 44.17 with which the Priests shall be clothed they shall have the fine Linen white and clean which is the righteousness of Saints 2. Their frame and fitness for Ministerial work shall be such that it shall not be any way burthensom to them but they shall be like Christ who said My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and like Paul abundant in Labours without pain and weariness Chap. 44.18 No wooll shall come upon them they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat They shall do their Ministerial work without sweat it was a part of Adams Curse In the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat bread Gen. 3.19 If he had not sinned he should have done his work without sweat Sin caused sweat Labour is now toilsom and painful causing sweat and weariness but here will be work and no sweat and weariness because the Ministers at that time shall have sufficient strength for and delight in their work 3. They shall be consecrated to God and not defile themselves after their Consecration Chap. 44.20 The Priests shall not shave their heads That we may the better understand what is signified hereby we must look back to the Law of the Nazarites which forbids them to shave their heads and concerning their not shaving their heads two things are to be taken notice of 1. It was forbidden them to shave their heads in the days of their Separation Num. 6.5 All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come upon his head But yet 2. In two cases it was commanded them to shave their heads as 1. In case of being defiled by the dead Num. 6.9 If a man die suddenly by him and he hath defiled the head of his consecration then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing 2. When the days of this separation were fulfilled Num. 6.13 18. the Nazarite was to shave the Head of his Consecration Now for the Application of these things consider 1. The Priests here spoken of shall be spiritual Nazarites that is Persons consecrated to God The word Nazarite signifies One separated to some special Dignity and Sanctity Gen. 49.26 Joseph was called a Nazarite being separated from his Brethren Christ was not a Nazarite after the Law of this carnal Commandment but a Nazarene being bred up in Nazareth and his Name was Netser the Branch Yet the truth of this Type was fulfilled in him he being separated to a holy Work And thus the Priests shall be Nazarites that is separated to a Work and Ministry which they shall fulfil 2. The Priests being under a Prohibition of shaving their Heads at all hence it may be concluded that what was the ground of the Nazarites shaving their
in the New Jerusalem then he shall not be ignorant of the People of the Land but as the holy Angels know the Saints on Earth so shall the New Jerusalem glorified Saints know those not glorified Rev. 4.1 c. We have a Representation of this City as now in Heaven but chiefly as it shall be on Earth for 't is said I will shew thee things which shall be hereafter And what was shewn him A Throne set in Heaven and one that sat upon it like Jasper with a Rain-bow about his head To assure the Saints that there shall be no more any Deluge of trouble and adversity There are Four and twenty Seats and Four and twenty Elders which are glorified Saints in the Mansions prepared for them they have Crowns of Gold they Reign with Christ in the New Jerusalem And as Christ will have Work for them so they shall be fitted for it The four Beasts have the Face of a Man that is Wisdom and Understanding Of an Ox Strength for Work Of a Lion that is Courage And of a flying Eagle they shall make haste and not delay to do the Will and Work of God Then the Kingdom so long prayed for will come and the Will of God shall be done on Earth as it is in Heaven Consid 4. This City is to be taken two ways more strictly and more largely 1. More strictly as distinct from Suburbs and the portions of land without it having twelve Gates c. 2. More largely as comprehending all that belong to it and shall be under the Government of it and shall walk in the Light of it and partake in its Liberties and Priviledges Thus the Tribes and Strangers with them in their Lots and Portions shall belong to the New Jerusalem and be reckoned to be of it As the Great City Babylon more strictly taken is Rome which is said to Reign over the Kings of the Earth But as more largely taken it comprehends all the Nations that walk in the Darkness of it which wonder after and worship the Beast and are under his Power So the New Jerusalem more properly is that which cometh down from Heaven but comprehends also all that walk in the Light of it And as Babylon hath ten parts so New Jerusalem twelve parts even a Portion for each Tribe Consid 5. the Dominion of Christ the King in this Great City shall be extended over the whole World For as he shall Reign in the New Jerusalem and there have his Throne so he shall in that Day be King over all the Earth Zachar. 14.9 And all even Saints and not Saints shall be subject to him although in a different manner Chap. 46.16 The Prince is said to have Servants and Sons which two Names will take in all The Sons are such as shall be born of God and made after God and all besides will be comprehended under the Name of Servants who shall be under the Dominion of Christ and be made to submit to such Laws which Christ shall give for the Government of the unconverted Nations who from slavish fear at least and haply from some taste they will have of the benefit of his Government shall become Servants to him as King of Nations Jer. 7.10 he is so called There shall be a time in which all shall fear him either filially or slavishly The Sons out of an awful respect shall with Love and Delight serve Christ as King of Saints the Servants because they must shall submit to his Government See Psa 18.44 Psa 66.3 See the Hebrew For the farther Illustration of this let Zach. 14.16 be considered Every one left of the Nations who shall escape the destruction of that Day for all found in actual opposition against Christ in that Day will be cut off shall come up from year to year to worship the King the Lord of Hosts and shall keep the Feast of Tabernacles Here are large Expressions taking in all For all shall worship Christ either as Sons or as Servants and keep the Feast of Tabernacles And to know what is meant hereby we must consider on what ground the Jews kept this Feast Now we find first 1. That in this Feast the Israelites were to dwell in Booths and to rejoyce before the Lord who had brought them out of Aegypt Lev. 23.43 Now in answer to this the Nations shall acknowledge a great benefit in Christ's taking off the Antichristian and all other Tyrannical Yokes from them and by his reigning in Righteousness whereby every Man shall sit under his Vine and Fig-tree The Servants under their Vines and Fig-trees of outward Peace Plenty and Prosperity and the Sons under their better Vines which shall yield them abundance of Spiritual Blessings they shall abide in Christ the true Vine under whose shadow they shall sit with great delight 2. The Feast of Tabernacles was kept to acknowledge the Goodness of God in blessing them in all the Works of their Hands and in all their Increase Deut. 16.15 Thus the Lord shall wonderfully bless the Nations in the works of their Hands and give them great Increase which they shall acknowledge to be a benefit of his Government and thus they shall keep this Feast 3. In the Feast of Tabernacles the Law was to be read that they might observe to do all the works of it Deut. 31.11 Thus the Nations shall own all the Laws of Christ for their Government in Righteousness and shall submit to them All therefore shall keep this Feast but in different manner The Servants shall worship the King the Lord of Hosts but the Sons shall worship the Lord their God and David their King Hos 3.5 The Servants shall fear the Lord and his wrath and justice The Sons shall fear the Lord and his Goodness The Servants shall serve the Lord and the King The Sons their Lord and their King And here it may be farther observed That as all shall be subject to Christ so he will give Rewards to all though not in like manner but suitably to their Service The Servants shall have an outward and temporal Reward for external Subjection the Sons a Spiritual and Eternal Reward The Servants like Abraham's Children by the Concubines shall have Gifts for a time The Sons an Inheritance for ever The Servants shall have an Esau's Portion the Dew of Heaven and the Fatness of the Earth The Sons a Jacob's Portion the Lord or their God an exceeding great Reward The Servant shall have such a Reward of outward Peace Plenty and Prosperity as to be able to say as Esau I have enough The Son such a Reward as to be able to say as Jacob I have all This may be gathered from Chap. 46.16 17. If the Prince give a Gift to any of his Sons the Inheritance thereof shall be his Sons they shall have it as joynt Heirs with Christ and it shall not be taken from them But if he give a Gift to one of his Servants of his Inheritance then it shall
days here as well as in many other of his Prophecies even to the time when Jerusalem shall be a quiet Habitation a Tabernacle that shall not be taken down v. 20. Q. What then shall we understand by this Fire A. It is such a Fire as the Righteous shall dwell with and not be hurt by and therfore not Hell-Fire so they shall not dwell with it Why should not the Fire which Peter speakes of be here meant That Fire to which the World that now is in Being is reserved called everlasting Burnings because as to the wicked which will be consumed by them they will be the beginnings of everlasting burnings For the ungodly ones who shall perish by them shall never be out of the Fire afterwards Now who shall dwell with those burnings who shall live when God doth this and when this dreadful Conflagration shall be who shall be like Moses on the Mount that burned and not be consumed The Answer is He that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly And 't is farther promised Thine Eyes shall see the King in his beauty That is Hezekiah say Interpreters who as in the time of the Siege he did rend his cloaths and covered himself with Sackloth so when that great Deliverance was wrought he was seen in his beauty again but the Chaldee Paraphrase gives a better sense which in Latine is thus rendered Gloriam Majestatis regisâ— seculorum in decore suo videbunt oculi tui Thine Eyes shall see the King eternal as he is called 1 Tim. 1.17 in the glory of his Majesty Even that King spoken of v. 22. The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King And 't is farther promised They shall behold the Land that is very far off That is say some Senacheribs Siege shall be raised and then the Jews shall go abroad in the Land again But what reason was there to call any part of Judea the Land very far off from Jeurusalem Surely somewhat else seems hinted and why may we not think it to be meant of a Land very far off in respect of the time of its being For as we read of times afar off so there was a Land far off in regard of the time of its existence even the new Earth which is to be created in which Righteousness shall dwell and upon which the Saints shall reign with Christ This was in Isaiah's time The Land very far off but now very near which they that walk in Righteousness shall behold 6. Pray earnestly that this Kingdom may come God delights much in such Prayers We may see what a large Commission is given for praying for these things Isa 45.11 Ask me of things to come concerning my Sons I have spoken much of them and do you ask me of them Ask and you shall know much of them Ask and they shall come ask me of them and you shall have a share in them when they come And concerning the works of my hands command ye me 1. Command ye me God hath put himself under a Law by his gracious Promise Covenant and Oath He that Commands all yields to be Commanded by the Prayer of his People 2. Concerning the works of my hands command ye me Which may either look back to works already wrought or forward to works to be wrought First to works already wrought My Sons are the works of my hands created to good works and formed for my praise Now do you command me concerning them and then I will command their Enemies to let them go free I will say to the North give up to the South keep not back bring my Sons from far and my Daughters from the ends of the Earth Secondly to works to be wrought I will create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her People a joy I will make the new Heavens and the new Earth and concerning these works which my hands shall make command ye me Those that would at last reign must now overcome First within there is an Old Man to be overcome and you must get the Rule of your own Spirits which is better than to rule a City Let Grace reign over Corruption Spirit over Flesh Let Faith Love and the Fear of God rule in patience possess your Souls Let there be a Kingdom of Patience and then shall there be at last a Kingdom of Power Secondly you must overcome without There is a World to be overcome and that both the good and the evil of it The good thus All things are lawful but I will not be under the power of any Covetous Men are under the power of Riches let it not be so with you do you through Grace rule them and use them as you ought and let not them rule you And as for the evil things of the World meddle not with them but keep your selves unspotted of the World Save your selves from the Sins and so shall you from the Plagues of an untoward Generation There is a Satan also to be overcome 1 John 5.18 He that is born of God keepeth himself and that evil One toucheth him not Tactu qualitativo that is by a touch altering the Nature he shall not destroy the Divine Nature or Seed of God in the Regenerate He touched Adam and he died but he can't so touch a true Saint There is lastly a Beast to be overcome There is a twofold overcoming the Beast First In his temptations and endeavours to subject the Hearts and Consciences of all to him So Saints choosing to suffer from him rather than to serve him do overcome There is a Victory gotten over his Mark and over the Number of his Name when many do adore him and reverence and honour his Name as a Name above every Name as exalting himself above all that is called God they have his Name in greatest contempt when some call him the Vicar of Christ the Head of the Church and when he shews himself that he is God The faithful Witnesses overcome all these high Titles and great Names and call him by his right Names the Antichrist the Man of Sin and Son of Perdition Secondly In his Power and Kingdom Overcome him in the first sense and 't will not be long before the Saints shall see him overcome in this latter sense Great Promises are made to Overcomers in the Second and Third Chapters of the Revelations and they look to the Day of Christ's Personal Reign as the special time for their accomplishment Not but that the Spirits of Just Men have the substance of them in Heaven but when their Bodies shall be raised then will be the eminent time of fulfilling them For then shall they rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron and sit with Christ upon his Throne Be Overcomers then and you shall be able to say at last as Joshua did Not one thing hath failed of all the good Word which the Lord hath spoken Written by William Alleine Minister of the Gospel FINIS Some Discovery OF THE NEVV
believe lest it should be said as to Peter get thee behind me Satan In a word 't is to be observed that the arguing from conceived absurdities against any truth was the great way of the Sadduces in opposing the Doctrine of the Resurrection They tell a story of a Woman that had seven Husbands successively and ask whose wife she should be of the seven in the Resurrection Questions like to this have been askt and more may by such as are in this matter not knowing not searching the Scriptures for if the Scriptures were well searcht enough would be found to put to silence the ignorance in this thing of many in other respects wise Men. Thus much of the Government which will be Theocratical even a glorious reign of Christ 3. There will be a Change in the Ecclesiastical State Now seeing much hath been written before to set forth the great and happy Change which will be made in the Church which the business of unfolding the Mystery of Ezekiels Temple did lead to therefore I shall adde but a little upon these three following Heads The glorious Light the great Purity and the glorious Liberty which the Church shall have in the times of Restitution 1. The time of the New Heavens will be a time of breaking forth of great and glorious Light For the Light of the Moon shall be as the Light of the Sun and the Light of the Sun sevenfold as the Light of seven days Isa 30.26 And this Light will be a discovering Light and a healing Light First a discovering Light Light makes manifest Good and evil truth and error will be made manifest by the Light of the New Heavens The Gold and Silver wherewith some have been Building the Wood Hay and Stubble wherewith others have been building will be seen in that Light Pilate askt What is Truth Then a full answer shall be given to this question and it shall be known What is Truth and we may in particular observe that those two great Gospel-truths will have then a clear manifestation and discovery Christ as Righteousnes and Christ as Lord Christ as made Righteousness for the justification of Men to cover their sin and to keep the shame of their Nakedness from appearing and Christ as made Lord Lord of Faith and Lord of Life Lord of Soul and Spirit of Conscience and the whole Inner-man and Lord of Body also and of the whole Outward-man Now I ground this upon that Promise Jer. 23.5 6. Jer. 33.14 15. Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch and a King shall reign and prosper and execute Judgment and justice in the Earth and in his days Judah shall be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely and this is the Name whereby he shall be called The Lord our righteousness Christ shall then appear as the Churches Lord and righteousness yea shall account it his glory to appear for so he shall own this for a Name and Title In the other place there is the same promise only with this variation This is the Name whereby he shall be called the Lord our righteousness As Christ shall owne this for a Name so shall the Church too In the former Name we see how Christ is offered even to be Lord and Righteousness In the latter how the Church receives him that is to be her Righteousness and to be her Lord. In the former we see God in Christ not imputing sin but imputing righteousness without workes In the latter we see faith in Christ justifying through laying hold on and applying Christs righteousness as that alone by which the Church shall account her self righteous but together herewith submitting to be guided and Governed by Christ as Lord so we find These two great truths in these Names The righteousness which justifies is not our own at all but only Christ's and this and this alone is sufficient to justify no other is nedeed no other is required For observe 'T is not the Law our righteousness 't is not love to Christ and evangelical Obedience flowing from it which is our righteousness but the Lord himself our righteousness not any thing we do as Servants but what the Lord of the Law becoming a Servant to it hath done By this it 's evident the gross Popish Doctrine of the Merit of mens works and justification thereby will not be the Doctrine taught or received in the New Heavens New Jerusalem-Light will shew the Vanity of this Doctrine And as for that more refined and Spiritualized piece of Popery and therefore the more dangerous which is but of Yester-day up amongst us and is owned by such who have the persons and parts of the propagators of it in admiration and therefore are so ready to own their pernicious Paradoxes viz. that Evangelical obedience is to be taken in as that Righteousness by which we are to be justified for so they understand James when he saith a Man is justified by works although James himself gives ground enough for another sence when he sayth shew me thy faith by thy works I say this Popery nay this Socinianisme will be quite shut out of the New Heavens also and shall pass away as a Morning Cloud before the New Jerusalem-Light For this shall be the Churches Name then as well as Christs The Lord our Righteousness And this New Doctrine then will be found amongst the Old things which must pass away And amongst the works of the Earth which are to be burnt up And then also Christ shall appear as Lord and Saints shall say other Lords have had Dominion over us but now will we make mention of thy Name Isa 26.13 and will henceforth call thee by this Name The Lord our righteousness and will account this our glory to be called by this Name The Lord our Righteousness This Name implies thus much as given to Christ He that hath made Christ Righteousness hath made him also Lord and in that the Churches of the New Heavens shall be called by this Name it shews that all of that Church shall take Christ as for Righteousness so also for a Lord. Christ shall be called by this Name and therein God joyns these two together Christ as Righteousness and Christ as Lord. And what God joyns together his People will not put asunder for they shall be owned and called by this Name The Lord our Righteousness taking Christ for Lord as well as for Righteousness Thus the Light of that glorious day which is to come will be a day discovering Light 2. 'T will be a healing Light and that in Saints and among Saints First in the Saints that is in their hearts and Consciences All Wounds made there will be healed all horrors all disquieting thoughts and fears there will Vanish before that Light which shall shine into the heart For as 't is foretold Mal. 4.2 The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his Wings The full and compleat accomplishment of this