Joh. 1. 14. Holy Stephen he saw heaven opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God Acts. 7. 55. Paul likewise saw him and it is said When he cometh in the clouds every eye shall see him Rev. 1. 7. But God the father the great Jehovah told Moses he could not see him and in great condescension shewed him his back parts He is the invisible God Col. 1. 15. The holy scripture tells us that no man hath seen God to wit the father at any time 1. Joh. 4. 12. 20. His brightness is so serene where he dwelleth that no mortal no created eye is able to approch unto it or to abide the beholding of it But the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Image of the invisible God as we have seen him as before is said so we shall see him and behold him in his glory and be with him for ever as he made it his prayer unto his father that it might be so When he shall again appear we shall then appear with him in glory and as holy John saith When he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Joh. 3. 2. The close of that scripture seemeth to relate to God the father likewise to whom be honour and power everlasting Amen the great Omega That is and will be all in all Further that of Daniel 7. Is of like consideration vers 9. likewise vers 22. It speaketh of the ancient of days God the father very high things are spoken of him that in vers 13. One like the son of man seemeth clearly to be meant of the Lord Jesus Christ Much the same seemeth that to be in Rev. 20. 11. I saw a great white throne and him that sate thereon from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away and there was found no place for them and I saw the dead small and great stand before God to wit God the father it seemeth to be spoken of him but that which follows in that verse relating to the judgment it is very likely to be meant of the Lord Christ to whom all judgment is committed all judgment is given to the son by the father and as Peter sayth 1. Pet. 4. 5. That he is ready to judge the quick and the dead all must appear before his tribunal and be judged by him this of judicature to the end of that 20. chapter relateth in a tacit way to the Lord Christ That in the second Psalm seemeth to be of like consideration and other scriptures that I shall forbear to name being of an interwoven way and manner of speaking of the power and dominion of the father and likewise of the son the Lord Christ I shall end these essays with that prophetical Psalm of the kingly prophet David in Psal 72. speaking to his son Solomon as the type but chiefly relating to a higher and greater Solomon in the antitype namely the Lord Jesus Christ very high and great things are spoken of in that Psalm concerning the kingdom of our Lord Christ how that in his days as in vers 7. The righteous shall flourish and abundance of peace shall be so long as the Moon endureth vers 8. he shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth Then he speaketh of the submission of kings and of their bringing of gifts saying vers 11. Yea all kings shall fall down before him all nations shall serve him Then he speaketh of his great kindnes to the poor and needy and of how high esteem they shall be in his sight and how he shall take care of them and do for them for which he shall be dayly praised Vers. 17. It is said His name shall be continued for ever his name shall endure as long as the sun and men shall be blessed in him And all nations shall call him blessed Great will be the glory of our Lord Christ in his kingdom and when he shall come in his glory and reign in his kingdom of which there seemeth little doubt but that this Psalm treateth of it and blessed will they be that shall enjoy their share therein But towards the end of the Psalm the prophet seemeth to turn and addresse himself to the Author and giver of all this glory and blessedness namely God the father with the which he closeth the Psalm and in the two last verses sayeth thus Blessed be the Lord God the God of Israel who only doth wondrous things and blessed be his glorious name for ever and let the whole earth be filled with his glory Amen and Amen With the which he closes as I shall also these essayes referring the whole to the serious consideration of the wise in heart A MYSTERY I. Shewed by holy Paul That the Saints alive at the Coming of the Lord Christ shall not then die but be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye II. Something treated of concerning that change wherein it will consist and the Standard or Measure of it III. That many of the great Prophecies in the Holy Scriptures do eye that Time and those Changed People and state for their Great Fullfilling IV. Something held forth concerning the Restoration of all things and the world to come that shall take place when our Lord Christ shall come again V. Of the Great Happiness of that day and the Flourishing Estate the Righteous shall then Enjoy Proposed to consideration With sundry other things occasionally Discussed By P. G. B Joh. 11. 26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me to wit in Christ at his coming shall never die believest thou this Psa 31. 19. O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast prepared for them that trust in thee before the sons of men Joh. 20. 29. Blessed are they that have not seen me yet have believed Printed in the Year 1675. To the READER THou hast here offered to thy view and consideration that which few haply have much minded though it be a very great thing a mistery no less and that which it is likely will be found as a key that will help to open divers great prophecies and high sayings in the holy Scriptures which some have been very ready to allegorize and put some notion of a spiritual meaning on them as if that were all whereby they have drawn a veil over them rendring them another thing This mistery it relateth to the very time of the second coming of the Lord Christ when those servants of God believing in Jesus shall be changed in a moment without dying they shall put off corruption and mortallity and put on incorruption immortality and everlasting life and be rechanged into their former state as man was before his fall and it is very likely they will be the blessed inhabitants of the world to come and such as shall inherit and dwell in the new earth Consider of it and what is offered about it it
so they in their day hereafter will have a kinde of immortalitie and eternity in the world to come The holy scriptures imply of the everlasting life of the wicked Math. 25. 41. Then shall the king say Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire c. vers 46. And these shall go into everlasting punishment 2 Thes 1. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and glory of his power their worm never dyeth and their fire it never goeth out implying their continual being and existence in order to wo and a sad condition then it may be said of them as sometime our Lord said of Judas good had it been for that man if he had never been born so good were it for the wicked if there were no resurrection nor life after this but that they remained for ever in the grave in oblivion and were anihilated and extinct for ever But alass it is otherwise they must live again and that in woe and torment for ever But the eternal life of the just their life everlasting will be a blessed and a happy life accompanied with all the blessed attendants and enjoyments of happyness and blessedness and freedom from all woe and misery for ever this happy enjoyment of life eternal or everlasting often spoken of by our Lord and the Apostles recorded in the new testament it is only enjoyable here in the first fruits and in the way of the beginning of it believers have those blessed fruits of the spirit faith and hope faith assures them and helps them to reckon those things that are not as if they were Rom. 4. 17. And hope it fixeth a soul in the full expectation there of it for that hope is of things not seen or enjoyed for sayth the Apostle how can a man hope for that he seeth Rom. 8. 24. written to Titus chap. 1. 2. chap. 3. 7. he speaks of the hope of eternal life and he sayth also it is the hope of eternal life which God hath promised before the world began Holy Iohn also 1 Ioh. 2. 25. saith This is the promise that he hath promised us even eternal life We have it in the beginning we have it in the earnest the spirit We have it in faith and hope those blessed fruits of the spirit of God We have it in the sure word and promise which is yea and Amen we have it as the servants of God have redemption and salvation so we have immortalitie and eternal life and it shall be brought and given unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ then they shall be endowed with it they shall then put on immortalitie and inherit everlasting life Hope as an anchor of the soul sure and stable hath pitched within the vail Hob. 6. 19. 20. Whither the forerunner to wit the Lord Jesus is for us entred and gone before in order to our enjoying of all those great good things before mentioned together with everlasting life One of those great things that shall take place and be made good at the coming of the Lord Christ is that mistery shewed by holy Paul 1. Cor. 15. 53. That the believers that shall be found alive at the coming of the Lord Christ shall not die but be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye of the which we have treated before a very great thing concurring in time with those other great things before held forth I shall therefore forbear to treat of it here I shall only offer this as very likely that the holy Apostle had it by revelation or otherwise he learned it of our Lord Christ who in communication with Martha at Lazarus his death held forth the very same thing Ioh. 11. 20. Our Lord cometh where Lazarus was then dead she to wit Martha goeth to meet him vers 21. she sayth Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not dyed Vers. 22. her faith being strong she sayth to our Lord I know that whatever thou wilt ask of God he will give it thee Vers. 23. Our Lord sayth to her thy brother shall rise again vers 24. She well informed in the doctrine of the resurrection she sayth I know that he sball rise again at the resurrection at the last day Jesus saith to her vers 25. I am the resurrection and the life to wit he is the author in whose power and ordering both are at his dispose he is the raiser of the dead the giver of eternal life And our Lord tells her further that he that believeth in him though he were dead as Lazarus then was yet he sbould live As Lazarus presently after did then vers 26. He tells her that whosoever liveth and believeth in him shall never dye he asked her whether she believed that alass she its likely was at a losse in the understanding of it as are many of the servants of God now and therefore she answereth not our Lord Christ intended not believers of that time such as Martha and the Apostles that were there present nor any others believing in him of that time but only such as believing should be alive at his appearing as holy Paul hath fully informed us as for Martha and all the Apostles and believers in Jesus in that age and in the ages since they have all dyed and so they will die till that day take place and then shall that be fulfilled and made good sayd then by our Lord Christ that he that liveth and believeth in him shall never dye for such shall only be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye as Adam was changed for the worse and lived so shall they be changed for the better and continue living still putting on immortalitie and eternal life Minde we one place more Rev. 21. 1. 2. The new heaven and the new earth that Iohn saw in a visional way and the new Ierusalem coming down from heaven which he saw also very rich and glorious Vers. 3. He hath declared that which he heard also as well as saw a great voice from heaven what doth it declare behold the tabernacle of God is with men It is uttered with a behold a great thing a great blessing but greater followeth and he to wit the Lord God will dwell with them in the new earth holy Iohn saw where men to wit the servants of God will dwell then God will then and there dwell with them a very great and wonderfull thing which Solomon admired as well he might 1. Kings 8. 27. will God indeed dwell with men on the earth behold the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee c. And yet further grace and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God happy souls indeed for happy are the people whose God is the Lord who have him with them in whose presence and favour is life Psal 144. 15. Psal 30. 5. this enjoying of God and Christ is the great adjunct of
remove in one day Never yet done and though much of it may be done before yet is it not likely to be so fully and throughly to be done till that day of the restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began Acts. 3. 21. and the time of the glorious manifestation of the sons of God which the creature grons for Rom. 8. 19. when the Lord Jehovah shall bring forth again his servant the branch this will then be fully performed and then according to his promise we shall have a new heaven and a new earth wherein shall dwell righteousness 2. Pet. 3. 13. In the which iniquity will not be found In 2. Cor. 5. The like we may finde not only something of the matter before treated of but of the manner we know saith the Apostle that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands c. If our mortal bodies dye and perish we have better provided we shall have such hereafter And therefore as in vers 2. we grone earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven with more pure incorruptible and immortal clothing with glory and honour and immortality and life eternal Rom. 2. 7. the condition then will not be righteousness imputed as now but righteousness in us perfect rectitude in our own persons we shall be like the Lord Christ The attainer then it will be sure beyond that of the attainer in the state of regeneration and that of imputation it is likely will cease The clothing with our house from heaven as it will be very pure so it will be lasting and durable and therefore we groan or desire to be clothed with it to be in that state that condition vers 3. if so be that being so clothed with it we shall not be found naked as Adam and Eve were when they had sinned eating the forbidden fruit they were stripped of that clothing of the Image of God righteousness and holyness in the which they were made Gen. 1. 27. it is said they were naked sin and shame entred together Adam made garments of figtree leaves because of shame and being naked as in like manner his posterity have done and yet do make garments upon that account In vers 4. the holy Apostle speaks further we groan being burdened with our heavy clothing of sin corruption and mortality not for that we would be unclothed namely dye and be dissolved that the Apostle denyeth to be the tendency of the creature or man such as have the first fruits of the spirit to groan for death or dying it being as an instinct in every creature as well as man to preserve life by all means whatever they can attain death is an enemy to life and is as an enemy shunned That 's a rare case and a kindly spirit indeed that is so disposed as to desire to be unclothed so which the Apostle denyes not that we would be unclothed but be clothed upon with a better clothing to be changed for a better and a more durable clothing incorruption immortality and life eternal when and where we shall not be found naked that is the tendency and earnest desire which the servants of God goes out after and the creatures also Vers. 54. of this 1. Cor. 15. the Apostle adds further when this corruptible hath put on incorruption and this mortal hath put on immortality as it will at the time of the raising and changing of the servants of God then will be brought to passe accomplished and done fully that which is written Isay 25. 8. death is swallowed up in victorie as mortalitie shall likewise be of life to wit life everlasting compared 2. Cor. 5. 4. then the conquest and victory over death will be brought to passe and the righteous freed from being under his dominion any more for ever for then they can dye no more but be immortal and live for evermore There are very many great things as well as this victory over death that do attend this time very many great and high prophecyes contained in the scriptures relating to that time will then be fulfilled and made good of which something shall be said hereafter yea many of the prophecyes of holy Isaiah little minded or understood in this day will then be brought to passe and made good seem they never so strange It was so at our Lord his first coming as the holy scriptures do hold out unto us as Math. 1. 22. Mat. 2. 17. Math. 4. 14. Luk. 24. 44. with very many the like which I shall forbear to set down That of Luke is the saying of our Lord Christ very full that all things that are written concerning me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled not one jot or tittle of the word of prophecy as to things relating to the Lord Christ and his kingdom but it must all be fulfilled As it was in relation to his first coming so it will be also as to his second coming when he shall come in power and great glory seem the things never so strange or unlikely the power and faithfulness of the Lord Jehovah whose word it is will make them good of which more hereafter But for a close take we knowledge of one place more in holy Isaiah because it is of like tone with what we have treated of concerning clothing and garments and putting on and off Isa 52. 1. Awake awake put on thy strength O Zion put on thy beautiful garments O Jerusalem c. It seems as to the last and full fulfilling of it to look at this blessed state and day we are treating of when the mariage of the lamb is come and the bride the lambs wife is made ready Rev. 19. 7. Likewise that of Isa 60. 1. Arise and shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee All of like tendency and import all prophetical and eyeing a time not yet come and though it may in a great measure have its fulfilling before and more especially when the Jewes are returned to their own land and converted yet no time so likely to have its full fulfilling as then when the Lord Christ shall come again and the dead in him raised and live again and the then living saints changed in a moment corruption and all defilement done away and glory and honour purity and holyness immortality and eternal life put on with beautiful and precious clothing For Zion sball then put on her beautiful garments and shall shine very gloriously indeed being so richly adorned as a bride prepared for the bridegroom the Lord Jesus rich and pure clothing then without spot or wrinckle and that will be found true eminently to the very life thou art all fair my love and there is no spot in thee cant 4. 7. And then also will it
that subject he begins with that of the Lord Christ his being risen of the truth whereof were many witnesses as is mentioned by him he taking knowledge of some amongst themselves that said there was to be no resurrection from the dead 1. Cor. 15. 12. contrary to the faith that was preached and beleeved and being a thing that did render the assertors of that truth as false witnesses which he makes good from the tising from death the Lord Christ laying very great stresse on that as a foundation and bottom on which the whole building stands he mentions it again ver 15. and argues from thence to the 20th verse to make out and clear that truth and then in vers 20. he concludes saying but now is Christ risen and become the first fruits of them that sleep so he calleth death This doctrine of the resurrection looketh backward and forward as it looketh backward it eyeth death which came by man to wit Adam as it looketh forward it eyeth living again by man to wit the man Christ our Lord as in vers 21. He is the blessed redeemer from the grave and the restorer to life again after death vers 22. As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive this It looketh backward and forward backward It eyeth Adam forward it relateth to the Lord Christ the new and second Adam as by the first Adam sin entred and death by sin as the effect following its cause Adam was forewarned and it was told him in the garden of Eden that in the day he did eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evel he should die he did notwithstanding take and eat he sinned and death seized on him by sin came death and it went over all Adam being the father of all the stock from whence man proceeded his sin or sin that entred by his disobedience was propagated and entailed to all his posteritie Rom. 5. 12. As by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin c. vers 17. By one mans offence death reigned by one In Adam all sin In Adam all die In the Lord Christ all shall be made alive the just and the unjust the righteous and the wicked all over whom death hath reigned all that dyed in Adam so is the paralel and proportion as and so all shall be made alive by the power of the Lord Christ the great conqueror of sin and death The matter is considerable as it relateth to the resurrection and rising again of the sons of Adam the argument or thing the Apostle was upon and it doth not meddle with that of election and faith or living by faith in a spiritual way neither may it be so understood or made use of without straining and forcing it to speak that the Apostle never intended In Christ shall all be made alive so as to rise and live again in the body There shall be a resurrection of the just and of the unjust some shall be made alive again to everlasting life Dan. 12. 2. And some to shame and everlasting contempt some shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. c. 2. Thess 1. 9. They shall be bid depart ye workers of iniquity shall be bid go ye cursed c. Math. 25. 41. Whereas the just and righteous shall be gathered to the Lord Christ and be for ever with him 1. Thes. 4. 10. The Apostle argueth from the resurrection of the Lord Christ his rising again after his being crucified dead and buried he rose again It was said to the women that came to the sepulchre by an Angel Math. 28. 6. Luk. 24. 6. He is not here he is risen He was buried in the grave or sepulchre but he arose from thence and was not there he was dead but he is alive and liveth for evermore and hath the keys of death and the grave Rev. 1. 18. to open when he pleaseth and as he pleaseth Christ our Lord is risen from the dead a great saying and blessed Christ our Lord is risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that slept so death and lying in the grave is termed 1. Cor. 15. 20. our Lord saith John 5. 28. 29. The hour cometh when all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation Christ the first fruits there is very much in that he as conqueror of death as the captain and leader the beginner and finisher one that hath and ought to have the preheminence he being the beginning and first fruits from the dead that in all things he might have the preheminence Col. 1. 18. the Lord Christ as man is first and chief to him the preheminence belongs in all things for God the father hath highly advanced him and made him mighty Phil. 2. 9. As by man to wit Adam came death so by man namely the Lord Jesus very man and the son of man so he stiles himself came also the resurrection from the dead By the first man Adam came death by the second man the Lord Jesus Christ came the resurrection from death Alas for those sadduces that say there is no resurrection It is good for all the servants of God and lovers of the Lord Christ to be of like confession and belief with the Apostle Paul Acts. 24. 15. And have hope towards God that there shall be a resurrection from the dead both of the just and the unjust The power and vertue of the resurrection of the Lord Christ produceth great effects as to the one so to the other The forementioned words in vers 22. As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made a live are so full and plain as nothing can be said further there needs no dilating on them only keep to the thing in hand to wit death or dying and rising and living again after it As to that of all dying in Adam ask the many ages and generations that are past since Adam since God created man upon the earth ask what is become of the great potentates the mighty men the rich the wise the honorable yea the good and just men also and all free and bond and they will all beare witness in a real wise to this that in Adam all die they are all dead and gone they are all in their graves death hath gone over all as sin went before so death followed after all the sons of Adam as well as he himself have dyed only two or three excepted that dyed not but were translated In like manner and in way of parallel and proportion In Christ and by Christ shall all be made alive sooner or later not one of Adams sons excepted there is no reserve in the case all must arise all must appeare and give an account of the things they have done in the flesh whether good or
evil 2. Cor. 5. 10. all must be judged and be either acquited or else condemned the whole race and posterity of Adam in whom all dyed CHAP. II. Containing something concerning the order of rising again and the Lord Christ the first in that order BUt now to prevent mistakes lest any should think that all shall rise together to wit the just and unjust to give information touching the thing in hand the Apostle discovereth a great thing of which very little had been declared before in the holy Scripture though much had been said touching the resurrection he in vers 23. tells of an order in which all these shall rise but every man in his own order This order is very considerable a great thing a great discovery first in regard of the persons rising secondly in regard of the time when they shall rise for all shall not rise at one and the same time and together but every one in his own time according to order it is by the Apostle laid down thus first Christ the Lord that was over and past then those that are Christs when at his coming that 's their turn or order and also is the time of their judgment blotting out of their sins pronouncing them blessed and holy and their inheriting the kingdom Acts. 3. 19. Rev. 20. 6. Math. 25. 34. Then after the thousand years Reign is ended in the interval between that and coming of the end to wit of his kingdom and his delivering of it up to God the father the unjust shall arise to judgment that 's their turn or order and the time of their judgment for they shall not live again untill the end of the thousand years Rev. 23. 5. and then shall be the resurrection and judgment of the unjust Rev. 20. 12. 13. of which more hereafter An order there is and will be so the Apostle hath declared but every man in his own order they shall arise and stand forth as it was said to Daniell thou shalt stand up in thy lot or order at the end of the days Dan. 12. 13. when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall we also appear with him in Glory Col. 3. 4. that's our lot or order Touching this of order our Lord Christ was the first the leading and preheminence it did belong to him he arose and was the first fruits of those that rose from sleep so in vers 20. of this 1. Cor. 15. He did rise again according te the Scriptures Two Angells told the women that prepared spices and oyntment and went to the Sepulchre to look for him He is not here but is risen Luk. 24. 6. 7. being risen he was seen of many first of the women then of Peter after of the two Disciples going to Emaus Luk. 24. he was seen of five hundred brethren at once then of James then of all the Apostles after of Paul himself 1. Cor. 15. 5. to 8. who though he spake low of himself was a high a great witnesse and asserter of this truth of Christ being risen It is a part of the Gospel a great truth Preached and witnessed by many faithfull witnesses and accordingly believed by the servants of God in the ages since to this day and were it not so the servants of God and more especially the Martyrs and great sufferers for Christ were of all men the most miserable but Christ is risen and is the first fruits of them that rise and it was his order The next order or lot declared by the Apostle it is to the just as it is said afterwards they that are Christs they shall be raised and shall enjoy the redemption of the body from the power of the grave it shall no longer have dominion over them they shall come forth to the resurrection and judgment of life and as in the first place it relates to them is the true understanding of what is spoken on that account in Joh. 5. 28 29. So sure as Christ the Lord is risen and ascended so surely shall they rise in their order and time they with Daniell shall stand up in their lott together all the servants of God that have fallen asleep in the several ages of the world and have for a long time slept in Jesus they shall awake arise and meet the Lord when he cometh 1. Thes 4. 14. 16. 17. God that raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also by Jesus 2. Cor. 4. 14. he will raise us by his own power 1. Cor. 6. 14. and an exceeding great and mighty power it is worthy our knowledge and our desire to know Eph. 1. 19. 20. The dead in Christ shall rise first it is their order their lot next after the Lord Christ 1. Thes 4. 16. the Lord Christ is risen and ascended sitteth at the right hand of God it is now sixteen hundred seventy four years since he will come again to them that look for him he will appear the second time without sin unto salvation Heb. 9. 28. and then at his coming shall their order and turn be when the Lord Jesus shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first 1. Thes 4. 16. at his coming the Apostle tells us it will be two great things will then concur and be together Christ our Lord his coming and the righteous their rising again and meeting with him The next order or lott is to the wicked or unjust of which the Apostle saith little only then cometh the end not hereby meaning that Christs kingdom would be at an end and delivered up to God the father presently upon his coming and raising the just for there are many and great things to be done before he therefore therein secretly comprehends and includes the resurrection of the unjust to wit between the resurrection of the just and coming of the end of his kingdom when he is to deliver it up and before the same then shall the unjust arise in their order and turn a thousand years after the rising of the just touching whom it is said Rev. 20. 4. and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years vers 5. but the rest of the dead to wit the unjust or wicked dead they lived not again untill the thousand years were finished In the blessed morning of the resurrection the just will have the dominion they will have the preheminence then Psal 49. 14. A rising again of the unjust there will be so the Scripture holdeth forth it was the confession and belief of holy Paul Acts. 24. 15. and have hope towards God that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust But as to the time or order of raising the unjust he saith no more but then cometh the end strongly implying that towards the end of Christs kingdom and before he delivers it up they also shall arise and come to judgment Christ our Lord
may be very true though thou dost not understand it or at first resent it Remember how it was with the disciples of our Lord Christ Luk. 18. 31. 34. our Lord told them vers 31. of what he was to suffer and that all things that were written by the prophets concerning the son of man should be fulfilled and that at Jerusalem he should be spitefully dealt withall c. and delivered to the gentiles as they did vers 34. it is said they understood none of those things these sayings were hid from them neither knew they the things that were spoken in like manner our Lord Christ the Apostles and prophets have spoken and declared many things concerning his coming again in power and great glory and that every eye shall see him They have spoken of very many great things that wlll contemporize and take place then and amongst them in particular this mistery shewed by the Apostle Paul of the not aying of the servants of God but being changed whilst alive and put into their former happy estate which was lost in Adam but many of the servants of God and followers of the Lord Christ understand none of those things and the saying is hid from them and they know it not Haply it may be even so in this our day and in particular concerning this mistery this being changed whilest alive in a moment It is likely it may be better resented and understood hereafter and therefore I shall leave it to the giver of light and understanding to give forth as he shall please The day hasteneth the time it draweth nigh he that shall come will come and will not tarry In the mean time the just shall live by faith Farewell P. G. B. The Mystery of Not Dying but being Changed whilest alive Discussed 1 Cor. 15. 51. CHAP. I. Something offered in a brief and general way touching the resurrection of the dead from that in 1 Cor. 15. from the 34. to the end of vers 50 In order to the better taking knowledge of some other matter THe Apostle Paul having mentioned a question that some did or might make vers 35. How are the dead raised up and with what bodyes do they come He in an upbraiding manner answereth in an allusive way to the sowing of grain in the earth vors 36. Thou fool that which thou sowest is not quickned except it die vers 37. And that which thou sowest thou sowest not that body which shall be but bare grain c. a grain sowen becomes a stalk with ears and grain For vers 38. God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him and to every seed of this or that kind of grain his own body his own in nature and kind wheat bringeth forth wheat barly and all kind of grain their like In vers 39. the Apostle alludeth to flesh and mentions the several kindes all not being the same there is one of men another of beasts another of fishes another of birds then in vers 40. He tells also of celestial bodyes and bodies terrestrial And in vers 41. he speaks of the difference that is between the celestial bodyes in glory that there is a difference in degree and in the greatnes of their glory as in the sun and the moon And how one star differs from another in glory and this he doth in an allusive way to the matter in hand In vers 42. He applies that before spoken of to the resurrection saying so also is the resurrection of the dead it is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption c. And so according to that allusive way of speaking of sowing mans body is so sown in corruption and raised in incorruption God giveth a body as he pleaseth so as he giveth to the grain A body incorruptible as is set forth in vers 43. it is sown in dishonor it is raised in glory It is sown in weakness it is raised in power it is sown a natural body it is raised a spiritual body There will be a difference betwixt what they are when sown and what they will be when raised in sundry considerations In the latter part of vers 44. the Apostle doth positively assert that there is a natural body such is the present condition of all the sons of Adam and there is a spiritual body so will be the case and condition of all the just hereafter when they are raised again He speaketh as the holy Scriptures use to do of things that as yet are not as if at present they were There is a spiritual body it will surely be so What he means by spiritual body the matter following in vers 45. doth shew he confirms the differencing so by what is written saying and so it is written the first man Adam was made a living soul a living man Gen. 2. 7. God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life man became a living soul The last Adam to wit the Lord Christ the prince of life Acts. 3 15. He was made a quickning spirit being the first-fruits of those that rose from death vers 46. He shews that the natural state is first the spiritual state is afterward vers 47. the first man is of the earth earthly Adam was formed of the dust of the earth the second Adam or man the Lord Christ from heaven Vers. 48. As is the earthy such are they that are earthy as was Adam such are all his posteritie as is the heavenly such are they that are heavenly as is the Lord Christ such will be all the just they shall be like him 1. Joh. 3. 2. Their vile bodyes shall be changed and made like unto his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. Vers. 49. The Apostle fully asserts it As we have born and do yet bear the Image of the earthy we shall also bear the Image of the heavenly The Apostle saith we shall not that we do bear it now for our present state is a state of regeneration but our future condition will be a state of glorification which we shall then attain unto when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Col. 3. 4. Vers. 50. The Apostle hath another positive assertion and a resolve in the case this I say brethren that flesh and bloud cannot inherrit the kingdom of God What he means by flesh and bloud that which he sayth further explains neither saith he doth corruption inherit incorruption namely man in his corrupt unchanged estate earthy Adam he cannot inherit that incorrupt estate as to dwell in the new heaven and the new earth wherein shall dwell righteousness or righteous ones only so in Rev. 21. 27. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth c. Man clothed with mortallity and corrupt flesh and bloud cannot come there or have any share or inheritance in that blessed state of which holy Peter speaketh 1. Pet. 1. 4. an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away
tells us so Heb. 2. 5. as the other were but it will be under the power of the Lord Christ and the saints Then their noble rulers will be of themselves and from among themselves Jer. 30. 21. This and much more that might be mentioned seemeth very plainly to speak forth that that the new heaven and the new earth wherein shall dwell righteousnes and the world to come are much the same and there is very little if any difference at all both beginning and taking place together at the coming of the Lord Christ and both concurring in time with the resurrection of the just and the changing in a moment the then living servants of God and other great things that will be the attendants of that happy day Then will these so raised and changed be caught up together to meet the Lord and they will be for ever with him in the world to come and never severed from him any more When the wicked shall be put from him and bid depart When the righteous shall enjoy great blessednes and felicity then according to that which is a righteous thing with God the wicked shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power even when he shall be glorified in his saints and admired in all them that believe 2. Thes. 1. 6. 9. 10. In the world to come wherein the righteous will be so happy and blessed and the wicked so unhappy and accursed we may a little take notice what the world sayeth and we may begin with that of our Lord Math. 12. 31. 32. where he tells us that blasphemy against the holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven neither in this world nor in that which is come such wicked sinners as despite the spirit of grace here in this world they shall not be forgiven there is no more sacrifice for them Such wicked sinners as shall blaspheme the spirit and being under wrath and punishment blaspeme the God of heaven whose judgments are all just they shall not be forgiven then in the world to come The evangelist Mark chap. 10. 30. He declareth the great reward the loosers for Christ sake here shall receive then in the world to come as they shall also in this present world in the world to come they shall have everlasting life they shall have it with all the good things and great happines that attend that life The evangelist Luke he tells us the same Luk. 18. 30. The Lord Christ will be high then his name highly advanced in the world to come where he will set up his kingdom and reign fully even here below on earth in the new earth among the righteous who shall also reign with him then and there as it is written Rev. 5. 10. And hath made us unto our God kings and Priests and we shall reign on the earth And this when the wicked and unsaved of the nations shall be sent away and bid depart to their doleful places of aboad Mat. 25. 41. 46. That will be made good in the world to come which is mentioned by our Lord in the parable concerning Dives and Lazarus Luk. 16. 19. 20. 22. 25. The wicked for the most part with Dives have their good things in this world and the righteous with poor Lazarus they have affliction and sorrow evill things but then in the world to come it will be otherwise the righteous will have the good things the blessednes and the felicity and the wicked will have then in the world to come the evill things as it is sayd son remember that thou in thy life time received thy good things and likewise Lazarus evill things now he is comforted and thou art tormented The world to come where the righteous shall receive and enjoy everlasting life it will not be in heaven above but it will be here below on earth as the other world The old world was so and so is this present world and so will be the world to come in the earth in the new earth where our Lord Christ will be with his saints when he cometh the second time from heaven where he now is and will be till the times of restitution or restoration of all things Acts. 3. 20. 21. and the new heavens and earth take place and all things made new when and where our Lord Christ will be with his saints reigning with them a thousand years Rev. 20. 4. 6. The new Jerusalem will come down from heaven then and the tabernacle of God as of old will be with men where men will dwell then and God himself will be with them and be their God Rev. 21. 2. 3. and shall afterward be with him in the second and last great session of judgment concluding their judging of wicked men and be judging of Angels Rev. 20. 1. 12. 13. 2. Pet. 2. 9. Jud. ver 6. 1 Cor. 6. 2. 3. as is mentioned before All this and very much more that might be set forth will be in the world to come To understand as some do that by the world to come is meant heaven above sayd in holy scripture to be the residence of the great Jehovah seemeth to be a miss-understanding and a wrong applying of it and the scriptures in all things relating to the world to come To cry heaven heaven as some seem to do in all cases and concerns relating to the world to come as when men dye and are no more here in this world it seemeth very much to dazel and darken the right understanding of the scriptures in order to those blessed promises and prophecys that relate to the future happy condition of the servants of God in the world to come and to be the means of raising an Idea or unknown thing in the mindes of men as if in the world to come men should be Angels or little deities and not men and women as was Adam and Eve and as many should have been if he had continued in his first estate and as men they will be and so converse together in the habitable world to come To make all future things in order to the happyness and blessedness of men in the world to come or new earth then to be either in heaven or hell and so to be meant especially taken properly and restrictively so seemeth to be far from the drift and intent of the scriptures rendring many things in them declared insignificant which do well agree with the habitable world to come but not with heaven properly so understood The world to come of which we have been speaking it will be new peopled with the raised and changed saints wherein Israel the seed of Abraham a nation born in one day will have the preheminence being Gods nation and the gentile saved nations shall walk in their light to wit the light of the new Jerusalem Rev. 21. 24. And then will that be fully fulfilled in Rom. 11. 26. And so all Israel shall be saved as it is
written there shall come out of or to Isaiah 59. 20. Sion the deliverer and shall turn away ungodlines from Iacob a great number of which we shall speak after Then in the world to come when the saints shall be so changed at the coming of our Lord Christ will those prophecyes be fully fulfilled Ier. 50. 20. In those dayes and in that time saith the Lord the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and the sins of Judah and they shall not be found c. and that also Zech. 3. 9. And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day sayth the Lord both in the one and the other which it is likely will not so fully be in this world but must be in the world to come CHAP. VI. Containing the proposing of some things to consideration touching the difference and distinctions that will be between the raised saints and the changed though in many things the same in a likely way at the coming of our Lord Christ in the world to come and that the resurrection and this changing are not the same but two distinct things THe mistery shewed by the Apostle touching the not dying of the living saints at the coming of our Lord Christ but then changed in a moment seemeth to be a very great thing and to differ much from that of the resurrection from the dead and likewise that there will be a difference betwixt the raised and the changed though in many things the raised and those so changed will be alike and the same which will the easier appear if we shall consider the state of man in paradise at his first creating which seemeth to be the very Image and figure of the state and condition the living saints shall then be changed into in a moment in the twinkling of an eye with some blessed additions of stabilitie immortality and everlasting life This mistery of not dying but being so changed seemeth very much vailed and little minded but as the same with the resurrection of the dead which the holy Apostle speaketh of as another distinct thing behold I shew you a mistery after he had spoken largely of the resurrection As there will be much of likeness and oneness between the raised and changed so there will be much of difference as may be gathered from what the Apostle hath declared and it is likely much of the mistery lyeth in that I shew you sayth the Apostle a mistery we shall not all dye but be changed in a moment of which we shall make inquirie And first of that wherein the raised and the changed will be the same in their joynt attainers and enjoyments and after we shall propose wherein they will disser 1. They will agree and be joyntly the same in the time of their rising and changing together at the appearing of the Lord at the sounding of the trumpet of God the dead will then be raised and the living changed in a moment 2. They shall be caught up together in the clouds and shall meet the Lord Christ together in the Air being capacitated so to do 3. They shall be with the Lord Christ together and never severed from him any more 4. They shall be both rid of corruption and mortalitie and shall be clothed with incorruption and immortality and life everlasting 5. They shall both enjoy the world to come and the happyness of it dwell in the new earth live and reign wirh the Lord Christ then and there for a thousand years and afterwards shall be with him the whole time whilest the second and last session of judgement is passing 6. They shall both enjoy the great blessedness of that happy day and the good things which God hath prepared for them that love him and wait for the Saviour Which good things the eye hath not seen nor the ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive 1. Cor. 2. 9. 7. They will both be without pain sorrow or miserie and tears will be wiped from their faces and death shall not meddle with them any more 8. And to add no more they shall both injoy the grace of the new covenant or testament God to be their God and they his people in an eminent manner then and the grace of the new covenant to keep them in that blessed condition for evermore These raised and changed so although in many things they agree and be the same in their attainers and enjoyments yet they differ in some things and that very considerable and are not one and the same in all things as the mistery which the Apostle shews which he declares with a behold after his treating of the resurrection and raising of them from death something plainly doth implie behold I shew you a mistery we shall not all dye but be changed and that alive or living which we may take notice of in the first place The different way of attaining that happy estate and great injoyments in the world to come it is by dying and lying in the grave and rising again and so that way freed from corruption and clothed with incorruption and with glory honor and immortalitie and eternal life rich clothing indeed then But now the changed in a moment alive without dying it is clearly another way living being alive without dying they shall be so changed as to put off or to be rid of corruption and to put on and be clothed with incorruption immortalitie and everlasting life This as a ground of the difference whence many things will follow Again the raised having once dyed will rise and live again but the changed will never dye nor live again but be changed in a moment into a state of incorruption and immortality as the Apostle tells us we shall not all dye but we shall all be changed The raised will not be the same yet the same not the same they were in body as they were when they dyed as the Apostle vers 37. 38. compared with vers 42. God giveth to every seed his own body though not the same as sown so he sayeth is the resurrection sown in weakness raised in power c. But the living then at Christs coming and the trumpets sounding will have the same bodyes without dying they will be changed being alive and living corruption will be put off and mortality and they restored to their first estate which they had and were created in Adam in paradise before his fall when he suffered and they suffer in him the change then being so much for the worse unto which these living then will be restored for the better with some great addition of blessedness into which perfect estate according to what they were created consisting in righteousnes and holynes will they be changed then at that great change and restoration of all things Act. 3. 21. wherein the sons of God that have the first fruits of the spirit as the earnest thereof will have the highest
not the things he had been speaking of but a case wherein there should be not dying or rising again but a changing in a marvellous manner in a moment in the twinkling of an eye Let the reader judge CHAP. VII Containing the holding forth that the righteous living and remaining at the coming of the Lord Christ changed in a moment In special the Israelites the seed of Abraham will be the inhabitants of the new earth and habitable world to come with some scriptures discussed that seem plainly to speak it forth THat there will be a new earth and an habitable world to come something hath been sayd before and that the righteous alive at the coming of the Lord then changed in a moment shall be the inhabitants of it not excluding the raised then living in the body again We shall now dilate a little by way of enquirie what the holy scriptures speak and hold forth concerning the same First the Apostle Peter 2. Peter 3. 13. speaking of the hebrews commonly called Jewes who are said to be the first in order Rom. 1. 16. chap. 2. 10. To every man found working good glory honor and peace to the Jew first and also or after to the gentile It was so in regard of the offer of grace and salvation it is very like it will be so then Peter he sayth we according to his promise look for a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness or righteous men and women according as the prophet Isaiah saith Isa 60. 21. 22. Thy people also shall be all righteous they shall inherit the land for ever to wit the land of promise the land of Canaan a little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation a nation born in one day I the Lord will hasten it in his time when the redeemer shall come again to Sion and all Israel shall be saved which shall more fully be fulfilled at the time of their being so changed in a moment as declared by him And on the other side holy John tells us Rev. 21. 27. There shall in no wise enter into it to wit the holy city any thing that defileth or is unclean neither whatsoever worketh abomanation or maketh a lie but they which are written in the lambs book of life those shall dwell in Gods mountain then or his hill Psal 15. 1. namely those raised and changed ones not excluding the children of the resurrection The Lord Christ shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven Mark 13. 27. Very like to be made good in these changed ones not excluding the raised And that this will be made good then see that in the fore going verse And then shall they see the son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory comporting with this And that in a special wise it relates to them take we knowledge of that in Zech. 10. 6. 8. 9. 10. which as to its more full and through fulfilling seems in my apprehension to eye that time This seeing of the son of man at his coming may minde us of that of our Lord Christ Math. 23. 39. Ye shall not see me henceforth till we shall say blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord when every eye shall see him and they also which peirced him Rev. 1. 7. Further we may take notice what Ezekiel holds forth Ezek. 36. Ezek. 37. In the 36th chapter He declares the great displeasure of God against his people the children of Israel and speaks of great calamitie that had been upon them the heathen people being the instruments in Gods hand who dealt cruelly with them and that when God hath pitty upon them and returns to them to take them again to be his people then he would cause his fury against those enemies to break forth and they should bear their shame and punishment this from the 1. to the end of the 7th vers Then followeth very high and great promises vers 8. 9. For behold I am for you and will turn unto you c. vers 10. And I will multiply men upon you all the house of Israel c. vers 11. And I will multiply upon you man and beast and settle you after your old estates and will do better unto you then at your beginnings c. And so goeth on to the 16th verse in a promissary way Where the prophet begins again a further relation of their sin and the wrath that attends and the reason of the stop and staying of their misery namely the pitty and compassion he had to them and the regard he had to the honor of his great name Vers. 24. God speaks of gathering Israel from all countries and bringing them to their own land the iniquity of it being removed in one day And vers 25. and 29. he speaks of full cleansing promised vers 26. a new heart promised and a new spirit to be given the stony heart to be taken away and a heart of flesh given corruption wholly put off and incorruption put on a great change indeed much the same we are treating of vers 27. I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes Verse 28. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers which land shall have the iniquity of it removed in one day And ye shall be my people and I will be your God The fulness of the blessing of the new covenant See what followeth to the end of the chapter and weigh the whole Chapter 37. First we have that of the dry bones set together with flesh and synews and covered with skin and life breathed into them with the interpretation of it vers 11 12 13 14. These bones are the whole house of Israel The opening of graves as to the full or utmost fulfilling of it seemeth to eye the resurrection We have likewise the two sticks made one to wit Israel and Judah made one as vers 17. explained in vers 21. behold I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen whither they be gone and will gather them on every side and bring them into their own land vers 22. And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel and one king shall be king to them all and they shall no more be two nations neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all Then in vers 23. There is the promise of preservation from pollution the promise of full cleansing of full salvation and being kept in that happy condition they were changed into and God to be their God and they his people And as in vers 24. David Gods servant to be king over them and they to have one shepheard Then followeth that very observable and remarkable vers 25. And they shall dwell in the land that I
himself a kingdom and to come again Luk. 19. 12. There are many virgins that wait with oyl in their lamps for the bridegrooms coming Math. 25. To them that look for him the second time he will appear to their great joy and consolation the spirit and the bride say come O come Lord Jesus come quickly Further in the new covenant spoken of by holy Ieremiah it is said I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sins no more so forgiven and so forgotten as never before no further need of an advocate then in case of sin for that will be fully made good then in Ier 50. 20. In those dayes and at that time the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and the sins of Iudah and they shall not be found c. Then will be the time when the Church will be presented glorious without spot or blemish or wrinckle or any such thing Ephes. 5. 27. And that true really without imputation Thou art fair thou art fair my love and there is no spot in thee Cant. 4. 1. 7. Lastly in this new covenant or testament as that which makes good all it is said and I will be their God and they shall be my people In a very high and eminent wise it will be so then beyond what before a very great and blessed thing this is still mentioned as the close to have God in a special wise to be their God and for a people to be so related to God as to be his people in a peculiar way is a great thing and that which renders them considerable and happy and blessed indeed Psal 144. 15. Those sealed ones having their fathers name written on their foreheads I conceive comporting in time and being the same with those Rev. 22. 4. His servants shall serve him and see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads He that sitteth on the throne sayeth these words are true and faithful that it relates to that blessed time in order to the high and full fulfilling of it we may minde that in Rev. 21. where the new heaven and the new earth is spoken of as vers 1. Iohn saw a new heaven and a new earth Vers. 2. He saw the new Jerusalem come down from heaven very glorious As he saw so he heard also vers 3. A great voice out of heaven it is with a behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God And as vers 4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes all sorrow and pain and death it self shall be done away and be no more and all things shall be made new and Iohn is bidden to write for that these sayings are faithful and true vers 5. In Ier. 32. vers 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. The prophet speaketh again of the Lord his gathering of them out of all countryes and bringing them again comporting as to the full fulfilling of it with the Angels gathering the elect from the four windes Math. 24. 31. And making an everlasting covenant with them and doing great things for them and that he will be their God and they shall be his people And that he will plant them in their own land assuredly and do it with his whole heart and soul as before he spake of the fureness of his covenant as sure as the ordinances of heaven their abiding stable to wit the sun and moon and the stars See the places at large I shall adde a few testimonies out of the following prophets that are of the like import and tendency with what hath been held forth before and shall begin with Daniel chap. 12. 1. At that time shall Michael stand up the great prince very likely to be the Lord Christ the prince of peace when he appeareth again great things will take place he will stand for Daniels people the Israelites the seed of Abraham unto whom he came before but they received him not at that time there will be such trouble as never was before and at that time Daniels people shall be delivered they shall be delivered by the great deliverer when he shall come to Sion Rom. 11. 26. As before is mentioned The Lord Christ sball send forth his Angels and they shall gather his elect from the four windes Math. 24. 31. They shall be delivered every one of them not one left behinde of those that shall be found written in the book of life it is like it is meant The lamb the Lord Christ hath a book of life wherein is written the names of his from the foundation of the world Rev. 17. 8. Much comporting with the promise Rev. 3. 5. 12. To those that are overcommers And it shews further what time this relates unto Rev. 22. 3. 4. It will be when there shall be no more curse but the throne of God and of the lamb and his servants shall serve him and see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads when they shall reign for ever vers 5. At that time when the Lord Christ cometh and the dead are raised and the living saints changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye it shall be fully made good and it is likely not before Further in vers 2. of this Dan. 12. He speaketh of the resurrection saying many that sleep in the dust to wit in their graves shall arise some to everlasting life to wit of felicity and enjoying God and Christ c. their names being in the book of life and some to shame and everlasting contempt As it is said elsewhere To everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord into everlasting punishment everlasting there is in order to both according to that of the Apostle 1. Cor. 15. Then will be great glory and happyness to the just and great woe and misery to the wicked The parable of Dives and Lazarus speaks forth this very plainly the righteous will then shine gloriously though now they are made black with reproach Good Daniel was inquisitive about this and the time when it should be he is bidden as in the last verse by the Angel to go his way till the end I conceive of this world as if he should have said then it shall be and in a promissary way it is said thou shalt rest to wit in his grave as in a bed and stand up in thy lot to wit be raised again in the end of the days to enjoy his lot or share of glory then much the same with that in 1. Cor. 15. 23. 24. Every man in his own order first Christ then those that are Christs at his coming The wicked dead in their order or time a thousand years after In the next place take we notice what the prophet Hosea sayth Hosea 1. 7. where the Lord sayeth he will save Iudah not by bow or sword c. but by
happy day of our Lord Christ when as it is written Heb. 28. To them that look for him he shall appear the second time with ut sin unto salvation full salvation of soul and body salvation to the utmost Heb. 7. 25. Salvation begun by the spirit of regeneration it hath for the earnest of the whole the holy spirit and it hath sure promises all yea and Amen in Christ About which faith in the servants of God is exercised laying hold on them and with much consolation and encouragement go on from faith to faith after the way of the living of the just they live by faith and they also dye in faith and do not receive the thing promised to wit full salvation They that went before to wit Abraham and Isaack and Jacob c. Nor those that followed after since their day they have not neither shall they or any others receive it till that blessed time come Heb. 11. 13. These all dyed in faith and received not the promise so vers 39. They obtained a good report through faith but received not the promise It is the salvation of the whole man body and spirit united in one as at the first when God made man and breathed into him the breath of life and he became a living soul or person of that we speak which the Apostle tells us is nearer then when we first believed It grows nearer and nearer As we have a mighty redeemer so we have a blessed saviour who is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. He hath undertaken it he hath begun it he will perfect it and finish it to the full then at that time will that be made good to the full Rev. 12. 10. Now is come salvation now so as never before full absolute perfect it was before but in the beginning and in the way to perfecting but then it will be fully finished in the world to come and true to the utmost when our Lord cometh again and all his faints and saved ones with him Then the mistery of godlyness and salvation will be finished as he hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets Rev. 10. 7. This great salvation the prophets as holy Peter tells us 1. Pet. 1. 10. have enquired and searched diligently who prophecyed of that great grace the saviour that brought salvation unto all the saved ones they enquired after the manner and after the time testifyed by the spirit when it began or was to begin in a way of humiliation and suffering of the Lord Christ and end and be perfected in great ensuing glory vers 11. O happy and blessed saying Col. 3. 4. When Christ who is our life and our salvation shall appear then shall we also appear with him in glory and behold him in his glory and be like unto him The happy restoration of all things that God hath spoken must here be treated of but I shall wave it here and speak of it after by it self and shall take knowledge of something concerning immortalitie and eternal life which Adam was not possessed of a great thing indeed of which the holy scriptures of the new testament speak much a blessed thing to come which will be enjoyed then at that happy day of the Lord Christ in the world to come immortalitie and eternal life are of neere affinity as the cause and the effect the root and the fruit immortality hath for its contrary mortalitie or dying which all the posterity of Adam know experimentally we have treated of it before and shall be breif in what shall be further offered The same may be said of immortality and life everlasting as was sayd of redemption and salvation the servants of God have the promise and likewise the earnest to wit the spirit in their hearts here in this world but not the things themselves otherwise then as afore the things themselves in the real possessing and enjoying of them to the full in the world to come as it is written Mark 10. 30. The sufferers for Christ shall have rewards here In this world and in the world to come everlasting life Luk. 18. 30. the same Immortalitie is so great a thing as the scripture tells us God only hath Immortality 1. Tim. 6. 16 He will give it at that day by Jesus Christ to the raised and to the changed ones they shall then and not before whatever some unwisely say put on immortalitie as it is said 1. Cor. 15. 53. 54. This mortalitie it shall put on immortalitie Then it shall be as is elsewhere said mortality shall be swallowed up of life 2. Cor. 5. 4. to wit of life everlasting the concomitant of immortalitie This of immortalitie and life everlasting appertains unto and shall be enjoyed by the whole person the body more especially into which the spirit or angelical part was breathed by almighty God when he first made man this is vulgarly called the soul happily not very properly it is a received principle that dyes not nor is capable of it but returns to God that gave it Eccles. 12. 7. how and where and in what manner it subsisteth and whether it hath sympathy and distinct desire as it had in the body is I conceive a very high and very hidden thing of which I shall forbear to say any thing To be made immortal and put into such an estate is a condition beyond what Adam attained unto in his happy estate it is one of the additions of blessedness the raised and changed saints shall be made partakers of at that happy day very few have as yet and it is likely none shall further attain it till then and then they shall put it on and enjoy it those that by patient continuing in well doing seek for glory honor and immortalitie and eternal life Rom. 2. 7. They shall then finde it according to the promise of the Lord Christ Math. 7. 7. Seek and ye shall finde c. such shall finde and enjoy immortalitie and everlasting life This life to wit eternal life of the saints of God it is hid with Christ in God and when he that is their life so shall appear then shall they also appear with him in that state of glory and immortality and life eternal As it is written the gift of God is eternal life It shall be given them then as our Lord sayth concerning his sheep that hear his voice he gives them eternal life and they shall never perish or be lost Rom. 6. 22. 23. Ioh. 10. 27. 28. they shall be immortal then though now for the present they be mortal and dying dayly The Angelical part or spirit in man simply considered in it self and barely minded so seemeth not to be reckoned as eternal life in the scriptures without the further gift of God and grace of the saviour together with all those adjuncts of blessedness and happiness adjoyned as attendants making up the whole for that the wicked as they have such angelical spirits in their day here
life everlasting to be for ever with the Lord in whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. Vers. 4. of Rev. 21. and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain And as Chap. 22. there shall be no more curse c. for the former things are passed away It is not hard to conceive and determine to what time this relateth This world will not afford such full freedom and utter exemption from those bitter things forementioned as it will not afford those high attayners and enjoyments mentioned by holy John it will be in the world to come then will all things be made new as at the beginning sutable to the new heavens and the new earth and the happy restoration of all things of which we shall treat in the following discourse take we knowledge of what he that sat on the throne said further to John Write saith he for these words are true and faithfull and will be made good in their time Alass for those that believe not all is submitted to the wise in heart CHAP. X. Containing the proposal to consideration the great restoration of all things spoken of by the Prophets and the happy change that shall then attend man and the earth and the creatures therein when Jesus Christ shall be sent the second time and the world to come take place With sundry great and high Prophecies set forth that seem to hold forth the same THe blessed restoration of all things Which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began Acts. 3. 20. 21. The first creation and making of all things Gen. 1. may be minded as the Image and figure according to which the restitution or restoration will be a returning again into the same mode and figure state and condition they were in at their first making and framing by God himself liked and testified to be very good which Adam by sin and transgression greatly marred and disfigured sin and the curse following and all manner of woe and misery following as the effect followeth its cause What holy Moses hath writ concerning the creation of man and of the earth and of the creatures therein together with the gathering together of the waters What is said and testified by the Lord almighty the maker of them all concerning the goodness of them and his liking of them the testimony given is very high vers 31. and God saw all that he had made and behold it was very good The weighing and consideratien whereof will be a good coppy to write by a good pattern or sample for us to set before us in order to our better taking knowledge of it Gen. 1. We have a description of the making the world day by day and the making of man as the most principal piece of the earthly creation vers 26. and God said let us make man in our own Image vers 27. so God created man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him male and female created he them And vers 26. God blessed them so made in that marvelous condition and said be fruitfull and multiplie and replenish the earth and subdue it having the grant of power given before vers 26. a very large grant a great charter of power given of God to man in his innocent state before his fall and transgression and the losse he and his posteritie and the whole earthly creation received thereby upon the whole it is said vers 31. and God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good The restoration it will be proportionable and also very good Adam so made was a very choice piece in the Image of God and in the likenes of God of great rectitude marvellous complete and happy by his transgression and disobedience he suffered great losse and damage as did his posterity and the whole earthly creatures and great enmitie attended them and much thraldom and miserie But at the happy time of our Lord Christ being sent from heaven again then there will be a blessed restitution and restoration of all things Then shall many be rechanged in a moment for the better as he was before for the worse then shall that mistery holy Paul hath shewed take place Then this vile body sinfull and corrupt shall be rechanged and made like his glorious body according to that full and clear testimony of holy Paul Phil. 3. 20. 21. from heaven we look for the saviour the Lord Jesus who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body pure serene and glorious without spot or wrinkle or any such thing as he will make his Church then also and this by changing in a moment by putting off and putting on putting off corruption and sin and putting on purity incorruption and holiness as it is written 1. Cor. 15. 53. 54. holy Paul tells us further 1. Thes 4. 16. of the Lord Christ himself in his own person he shall descend from heaven he did ascend as an Angel Acts. 1. 11. told the beholders and lookers after him when he so ascended and said this Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Even the same Jesus Christ as testifieth the Apostle Ephes. 4. 9. he shall again descend when God shall send him again at the time of the restitution of all things and then shall those believers found alive be changed in a moment into their former happy state with some happy additions of blessednes The old man so called which the servants of God are bidden to put off Eph. 4. 22. Which in this day of regeneration believers have been subduing and crucifying by the exercise of mortification and sanctification of the spirit and yet carry it to the grave with them they shall then be wholy rid of it in a moment in the twinking of an eye and shall then put on the new man indeed and be clothed very glorious by being so changed all new then relating to the servants of God as he from the throne said Rev. 21. 5. Behold I make all things new a new heaven a new earth a new Jerusalem come down from heaven a new covenant new bodyes new hearts and spirits new creatures all things new Adams upright and perfect condition as a man and the goodness of the earth and the creatures therein liked by God himself when he viewed them after he had made them is it is likely the standard and pattern according to which the restoration will be as it was at first before mans fall and the entring the curse so it is very like to be in the restoration In regard of man as man the change in a moment will effect it In that happy time when man will not only be as
at his first creating but enjoy some blessed additions to his happy estate namely stability therein immortalitie and life everlasting the high enjoyment of the presence of God and the Lord Christ high interest in the new covenant and more of the spirit and grace of the saviour then Adam ever had and that for evermore But there is something further considerable man was made male and female in the image of God they were created so And was made with seed in him whereby to propagate posteritie he had a wise given him of God for that it was not good for him to be alone A woman or female suitable unto him was formed out of him in a wonderful wise and they were bidden to multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and God made nothing in vain He had no question in his innocent estate if he had continued in it and not fell from it generated and replenished the earth as he did after in his fallen condition being bidden to do so before in order to what will be at the restoration and change in that moment at our Lord his coming the scripture seemeth silent in it and so I shall be likewise till time discover further or that day it self declare I shall only intimate to prevent prejudice that I do not in the least intend the including of the raised ones or children of the resurrection in the case before spoken of their condition seeming much to differ from that of the changed alive then it is said by our Lord Math. 22. 30. That in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels of God in heaven but the changed alive will be men and women as Adam and Eve were in their first estate such by whom that happy world to come will be begun and peopled as that first world would have been if Adam had not fell The old world was so after Adams fall and how the new world to come will be some way or how it will be it is likely I shall say no more Further it is intimated that the seperate condition of man is not in the least medled with but man intire as he will be at his being changed at the restoration of all things Having made this digression I premise one or two things more namely that the restoration and changing in a moment it will be here below on earth it will be from this old corrupt earth under the curse to that new which God will create wherein will dwell blessing which we according to the promise look for at that happy day And that by the world to come spoken of in the holy scriptures in which this restoration will take place is not meant of heaven above but a state here below on earth and that to take it for heaven properly or understand it so is to offer losse to the holy scriptures and that which in effect renders insignificant and makes void what is said in them concerning the restoration of all things the change in a moment the new earth with all things made new by him sitting on the throne with very many other things that might be mentioned And lastly I premise that the Israelites the seed of Abraham Isaack and Jacob will be the people highly concerned and cheif in this restoration and change the twelve thousand of every tribe of Israel and that their land the land of promise will share in a principal wise in that happy restoration and change and in a likely way be the center of the new earth We shall now return to the matter we had under consideration before namely man considered according to propagation and off-spring How acceptable to some the proposing of it will be I know not but it will be some way necessary in order to the better minding and taking knowledge of sundrie high prophecies that seem to look that way and to relate to that day First that Isa 59. 20. 21. the coming of the redeemer to Sion of which we treated before it relateth as to the full fulfilling of it to that happy day of the changing in a moment and the blessed restoration of all things then See what followeth vers 21. as for me this is my covenant with them saith the Lord to wit with the Israelites the seed of Abraham my spirit that is upon thee it is not said in thee but upon thee a very glorious unnoynting then like that Zech. 4. 14. such a kind of annoynting it is likely will be then on the changed people it followeth and the words I have put in thy mouth Whether Gods law in their hearts or the joyfull tone of the Gospel and tidings of great joy or the new Song of praise and thanksgiving to the lamb for the great grace and blessedness enjoyed Psal 40. 3. it may be considered the latter very likely Rev. 5. 12. 13. it followeth nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed from henceforth As I conceive from the time of the redeemers coming the second time and from henceforth as to the fulness of is and for ever Of great duration when once begun Whither this be the same Covenant with that Ier. 31. 31. may be considered Or whether it will be another that will take place with that happy day and so forward for ever I will make no assay to declare but that it relateth as to the utmost fulfilling of it to that blessed time of the restoration and that it implieth seed and generation then and seeds seed for ever seemeth very likely and that it may probably relate to the changed people of whom we have spoken and the rather if we minde that that followeth in Isa 60. being the very same prophecy carried on where Israel is bidden to arise and shine when Gods spirit or annoynting is upon them they will then shine gloriously as Moses shined when he had been in the mount with God Then their light will be fully come and the glory of the Lord will be risen upon them and the gentiles will see it c. For great will be their glory see the whole chapter and that in the close where it is said a little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation hapily by generation for then will be no conversion to increase so further Chap. 61. 8. 9. The Lord sayeth I will make an everlasting Covenant with them and their seed shall be known among the people all that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the seed that the Lord hath blessed What time this eyeth as to its full fulfilling consult the 2d and 3d. verses minde the whole and in particular the two last verses it eyeing that time when the Lord Christ shall appear and his shall appear with him in glory Col. 3. 4. Chap. 65. Where the New Heaven and the new earth are foretold and promised vers 17. for behold I create a new heaven and a new earth the old shall passe
be that the Lord Christ will present the Church the bride the lambs wife the new Jerusalem to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but holy and without blemish Ephes. 5. 27. she namely the Church is accepted in the beloved now and fair and precious as being clothed with his purity and righteousness All now in the state of regeneration and living by faith is by imputation of his righteousness and as we are in him the reckoning and account stands good on the behalf of the servants of God but then that pure white linnen said to be the righteousnes of the saints their own so given unto them for their clothing at their raising and changing Rev. 10. 8. It was granted to the lambs wife that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white for so is it sayd the fine linnen is the righteousness of saints they shall be like him when he appears Their bodyes that were vile shall be made like his glorious body very glorious and shining upon the whole we may well say with the spirit and the bride O come Lord Jesus come quickly CHAP. IV. Containing something further in a general way proposed concerning the mistery of all not dying but being changed in a moment In which some things neer relating to it with some scriptures of like tendency are discussed in way of essay THe holy Apostle Peter tells us Acts. 3. 20. 21. of a very happy time a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord when God the father shall send Jesus Christ our Lord he that before was preached unto them that came in his humiliation dyed for our sins rose again for our justification ascended into heaven and is at the right hand of God in glory whom the heavens must contain be the place of his stay and abode till then namely till that time of refreshing come and the time of the restitution or restoration of all things that God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began This scripture comporteth in the tendency of it with that of Rom. 8. 23. being for matter and time much the same As in like manner this of the changing in a moment the desire and groaning of the creature as well as the servants of God that have the first fruits of the spirit as the earnest of it to wit that happy day when they shall possess it even their inheritance prepared for them 1. Pet. 1. 4. This groaning and desire after restoration this desire of freedom and the liberty of the sons of God seemeth to imply a former happy estate and condition which they would be at and enjoy again to wit that which Adam was created in He was created in the Image of God a perfect man in perfect freedom from sin sorrow miserie and death in full felicity he sinned he fell lost his happy condition and in him all his posteritie and the creatures also as this they groan under and desire to be rid of so shall they according to their expectation be restored to their former estate with some addition of blessedness at that day of restoration forementioned Two wayes this is attayned unto as the holy scriptures do hold out unto us the one is by dying and after lying a time in the grave rising again or being raised out of the prison of the grave at the sounding of the trumpet of God when they shall hear awake and rise The other way is by not dying but being changed in a moment at the very same time the dead are raised This change is a mistery a secret not much taken notice of These both at the same time at the coming and appearing of the Lord Christ will be raised and changed and caught up together in the clouds to meet him in the air not then to go up to heaven with him but to attend him in his coming to the earth and so will be ever after with him 1. Thes. 4. 17. These shall not prevent one another by getting before one the other the raised shall not so do by the changed nor shall they be occasioned to stay for them for they shall be changed in a moment in the twinckling of an eye and caught up together Very aierie and spriteful shall they be then This change or being changed To is a great thing indeed The change of regeneration or being born again which Nicodemus made so strange and impossible a matter to be effected to be born again to put off the old man with the affections and lusts and to put on the new man Ephes. 4. 22. 24. Col. 3. 8. 9. 10. The new man being after God created in righteousness and true holiness It 's a being quite another person A very great change that hath much of mistery in it But the changing is a higher mistery a greater thing the putting off sin and corruption and mortality at once in a moment in the twinkling of an eye That of regeneration when begun by the spirit of Christ it is carryed on and advanced in a gradual way by the exercise of mortification and sanctification and by fresh supplies of the spirit of Christ while we are in this world till death or this change take place As we may by that before take some notice of this change so we may also of the neer affinitie it hath with the resurrection of the just and how in sundry things they concur and agree together in order to the righteous and saved people who then shall the one be raised the other changed at the same time together They shall both be rid and freed of corruption and mortality together They shall both be caught up together to meet the Lord in the aire they shall be with the Lord Christ together they shall enjoy glory and honor and eternal life together and the blessednes of that happy day for ever The unjust and wicked sinners they shall not share at all in the glory and blessedness of that happy day for as they shall not rise then that not being their order or time of rising so such of them as are then living shall not be changed then but shall be left in their old clothing of corruption and mortalitie they shall have no share or be concerned in the blessedness of this mistery of being changed so for then that of our Lord Christ Math. 24. 40. Luk. 17. 34. 35. 36. will be made good and fulfilled at the coming of the son of man then two shall be in the feild the one shall be taken the other left Two women shall be grinding together at the Mill one shall be taken the other left The evangelist Luke holds it forth more largely thus I tell you in that night there shall be two men in one bed the one shall be taken the other shall be left And as it follows Two grinding at the Mill and two in the feild so taken and left Vers. 37. Our Lord