that were detain'd under the Chains of Satan from the beginning of the World were to be resâ—ored again from Death unto Liâ—e that they might hear the Gospel and have that benefit offered to them which Christ purchased for them as is manifest fâ—om Psal. 68.18 19 20 21 22 23 24. and Isaiah Chap. 26.19 63. 'T is proved 43. Because those 144000 who were sealed even before the Trumpets sounded were raised up in the Interval of the sixth Trumpet that they might become the first Fruits to God and the Lamb which thing begins already to be fulfilled and will be compleatly fulfilled in the year 1â—â—2 64. 'T is prov'd 44. because those 144000 altho they are accounted Gentiles yet they are really Iews and Israelites to wit 120â—0 from each Tribe of the Children of Iâ—rael Iâ—ws I say truly and properly and not only mystically that is have the Souls of true Iews who were in time past Iews and sâ—rang of Iâ—â—â—sâ— Parents 65â— ' â—is prov'd 45. Because God promised tâ— Siâ—n that is to the Iâ—â—â—sh Church that her Sons should be brought to her in the Gentiles Arms and upon their shoulders which plainly intimates that they should be born of gentile Parents See Isaiah 49â— 21 22. Rom. 11.30 31 32. Rom. 9.23 24 25.26 66. 'T is prov'd 46. Because from the beginning of the World a People was prepared â—or Christ both among the Iews and Gâ—ntiles Luk. 1.17 Ioh. 4.38 67. 'T is prov'd 47. From Rom. 11.30 where the Apostle Paul speaks of the Gentiles that believ'd on Christ who in times past did not believe in God and now they obtain Mercy by times past we are to understand former Ages when they liv'd heretofore in the World without either the true knowledge of God or hope in God Compare herewith those sayings of Ephes. 2.2 3 11 12 13. Gal. 3.4 68. 'T is Proved 48. From 2 Thess. 2.10.11 where Paul affirms of such whom Satan shou'd deceive in the days of Anti-Christ who were to be deliver'd up to strong delusions by the just Judgment of God that they might come into Condemnation because they did not receive the love of the Truth which clearly unveils the Reason wherefore God suffered so thick a mist and Cimmerian darkness to invade the World about 409 years after Christ's â—esurrection Also why he suffer`d that â—arkness so long to blind the Minds and â—earts of Men that Men were in a manâ—er more blinded for some Ages past in the â—eign of Antichrist than they were heretoâ—ore whilst they liv'd under Ethnicism beâ—ore the incarnation of Christ I say the â—eason of this is because they who were â—â—us blinded under Antichrist when they â—â—v'd under the clear Light of the Gospel â—id not love that Light nor believe on â—hrist that true Light enlightning every â—an that comes into the World and thereâ—ore by God's most just Judgment are blinded and darkened when they return into â—his Life in a Body of Flesh with this â—ross and obscure darkness and therefore â—â—e Light of the Gospel shone in the World â—ith so much lustre for so small a time to â—it the space of 333 years and not longer that the greatest part of Mankind might have a sufficient opportunity to embrace the said light but seeing they depised it it was not convenient that this â—ight shou'd shine any longer to them in â—ts lustrâ— for the coming of Christ in his day is 〈◊〉 the morning briâ—htness which suddenly haâ—tens 〈◊〉 â—he East to the West and â—hâ—â—eâ—ore they who love not that light nâ—r â—mbâ—ace it are worthy to be left in daâ—kneâ—sâ—â—or the negleâ—â— of so great Graceâ— but they who have not had the clear light of the Gospelâ—Truth propos'd unto them in the aforesaid space of 333 Years from Christ's Death and Resurrection shall live again 75 Years before the beginning of the Millenium and shall have the truth of the Gospel clearly shining before the Eyes of their Minds that so all that perish may be left without excuse for there shall not be a Man on Earth to whom the clear light of the Gospel shall not shine before the end of the World and that too immediately as well as by Means of the preaching of the true Servants of God even such who are truly sent and commission'd by God and Christâ— For the Gospel must be preach'd to every Creature before the end of the World 69. 'T is provedâ— 49. Because God punisâ—ed the iniquities of the Fathers upon the third and fourth Generation that the Children of the third and fourth Generation which underwent that punishment might be meliorated and reduc'd to a better State and Condition of Life that so at length from these so meliorated after the third and fourth Generation i. e. from their Children thus meliorated they may be again born into the World and become better as being born of better Parents for it is a singular Gift oâ— God to be born of good Parents 70. It is proved 50. Because for this Reason a Bastard was not admitted into the Congregation of the Lord until the tenth Generation so that when he shall be born the second time into the World in the 14 or 15 Generation the punishment which God inflicts on him and his Children shall reduce him to a better State and Condition and that defilement of Lust and Depravity shall be in some measure purged away But since by Christ every sinfull pollution is more effectually and perfectly purged away from those who believe on him therefore that severe Law concerning Bastards and a spurious issue together with all others of the like nature is repeal'd and abolish'd and hence also the Words of Paul may be understood where he speaks concerning Fornication that he that commits Fornication sins against his own Body infects and depraves his own Root and Original from whence he is to spring again and be raised unto Life with the odious stain of his own filthy Lust. 71. Lastly 't is proved because when certain of the Jews thought Christ was Elias or Ieremias or one of the Prophets which pesuppos'd the Truth of such a Doctrine in general Christ did not generally condemn the same but rather confirmed it saying that Iohn was Elias Moreover also he did the same in his Answer to his Disciples concerning him that was born Blind and so also when he conversed with Nicodemus concerning Regeneration or being born again tho' he chiefly intended Spiritual Regeneration There are other Arguments not a few which might be brought to confirm the Truth of this Doctrine which for brevity are omittedâ— 72. Moreover this Doctrine of the return of Souls to live again and be born in a Body of Flesh very easily answers to many of the most weighty objections to the â—â—opping of the Mouths of Atheists who dispute against the justice of God concerning the state of Infants dying in their Infancy and the state of Fools and such as are possess`d with unclean Spirits from their Infancy to the last
time of Christ's Incarnation and many more beâ—ween the Murther of Abel and that time therefore those very Iews had divers times lived in the World before that time yea Cain who killed Abel lived at that time Now That the Fathers of those Iews did kill the Prophets is true for all the Prophets which were killed were either killed by the Fathers of those Iews but in the space of four Generations or by those very Iews themselves 24. Fourthly 'T is proved in that Christ affirms that those very Iews to whom he spoke whilst in the Flesh had killed the Prophets O! Ierusalem Ierusalem said he that killest the Prophets and stonest them that were sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thee but thou would'st not 25. Fifthly it is proved in that St. Paul 1 Thess. 2.15 affirms that the same Iews killed Christ and the Prophets 26. Sixthly In that Christ in his Parable afâ—irms those Husband-men to have ill treatâ—d the Servants of the Lord and at last killed the Son himself 27. Seventhly from Christ's Parable of Laâ—ourers hired and sent into the Field some in the Morning others at the third Hour others at the sixth Hour others at the ninth Hour others were called at the eleventh Hour but they who were called at the eleventh Hoâ—r stood all the Hours of the day idle in the Markeâ— By those Labourers who were called in the eleventh Hour the Gentiles are to be understood who were called into the Church of Christ by the Minstery of the Apostles after Christ's Resurrection By those who were called in the Morning and at other Hours of the day the Iews are understood the Morning is the beginning of the Woâ—ld â—nd therefore certain Iews who lived in the Apostles days liv'd from the beginning of the World and laboured twelve Houâ—s in the Field some laboured nine others six three c. And when the Evening came thâ—y all received a Peny the Gentiles were made equal with the Iews the Iews muâ—murâ—d but without reason for the Genâ—iâ—es â—hâ—t believed in Christ and laboured in the Field had done as much and some of them more in the last hour than the Iews had done in the whole day for they had done but little before Christ's Incarnation and Passion and many of them did not labour without grudging therefore Christ said of them Many are callâ—d but few are chosâ—n 28. â—ighthly 'T is proved from the Words of Pâ—ter 1. Epist. Chap. 3. v. 18.19 For the same Souls or the same Men who lived before and perished in the Flood liv'd also in Bodies of Flesh upon the Earth when Châ—ist â—uâ—fer'd Death in the Flesh who being mortified in the Flesh was quicken'd in the Spirit and poured out upon Men a more abundant Life of Grace after he arose from the Dead and then indeed by the ministery of his Life and Grace he preached to those Souls who from the beginning of the World were detain'd in Prison and in Chains of Darkness under the Power of Satan which Souls notwithstanding werâ— restor'd to Life in a Body of Flesh to hear the Gospel Prâ—ached For the Gospel is not preach'd to Souls that live out of the Flesh but to such as live on Earth in Bodies of Flesh Iohn 1.9 Iohn 3.11.17.59 Luke 2.14 29. 9 ly 'T is proved from the Words of Peter where he affirms in his 1 Epistle Chap. 4. vers 6. that the Gospel was preached to the Dead That they might be judged as Men in the Flesh and therefore they who in time past were dead lived again in the Flesh that they might live to God in the Spirit 30. 10 ly 'T is prov'd in that Christ preached that the Hour should come and was already come in which the Dead should hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live Whereby the Dead he means not only the Spiritually Dead but such as are naturally Dead also who were to live again in the days of Christ that they might hear the Gospel and in hearing might believe and in believing might have eternal Life 31. Proof 11. St. Paul in his Epistle to Romans â— 25 affirms that Redemption is made in Christ Jesus to the remission of Sins past in the patience and long suffering of God Now the aforementâ—oned Sins are all the Sins committed by all Men from the beginning of the World 32. Proof 12. Christ is said to have reconciled us to God by his Death even when we were enemies to him and to have born our Sins in his Body on the Cross which he could not have done if we had not lived some time before the Death of Christ. 33. Prof 13. Christ dyed for all Men as well for those that had been dead from the beginning of the World as for those who were then alive and therefore the Efficacy of his Sacrifice extends unto all that have ever lived from the beginning of the World that they might repent and obtain forgiveness of their Sins If they would but believe in Christ and obey his Commandments for the time to come And how absurd is that opinion that Christ should suffer Death for all that dyed since the beginning of the World and yet that the greatest part of them should be wholly ignorant of so great Grace and Favour neither should ever taste of the Fruits of the said Grace after the Death of Christ 34. Proof 14. Christ hath affirmed that all Sins should be forgiven excâ—pt the Sin against the Holy Ghost but there were no Sins committed against the Holy Ghost before the Death of Christ. 35. Proof 15. Paul said God winked at Men in the times of ignorance but then he called all to Repentance Therefore he called those also to repent whom he hath formerly winked at ever since the beginning of the World 36. Because otherwise the Patience and long Suffering of God cou'd not be explained for God forbore with much long Suffering the vessels of Wrath c. And the great long Suffering of God allowed much time for Repentance because in the sight of the Lord a thousand years are but as one day 37. Proof 17. Peter in his second Epistle Chap. 3 said God did not come on purpose to execute his tremenduous judgments in the conflagration of the World because he is long suffering and wills all to come to Repentance and therefore the long Suffering of God bears with Men almost two thousand years after the death of Christ before the beginning of the Millenium anâ— three thousand years before the last Judgment and Conflagration of the Woâ—ld which three thousand years are with the Lord but as three days Now to what purpose did God grant Men so long a time But that such as had not lived a thouâ—and years from the beginning of the World might have the same time to live in a Body of Flesh before the end of the World that they might at last repent and in case they did not repent should be justly punished
this City as the Roundness and Orbicular Form of the Earth dâ—notes its voluble and unconstant State and Condition together with Mortals that dwell therein Quest. 115. Will not certain other Holy Souls descend into Bodies in the Millennium who Lived not before on Earth in the preceding Ages of the World Quest. 116. Wiâ—l not the Rate or Proportion of the Holy City compared to the whole Earth be as 52 is to 12 assigning to each Deâ—ree of the Terrestrial Globe above 60 Miles and under 61 which is the Proportion that one Week bears to a wholâ— Year Moreover doth not the wholâ— Age of this World from the Beginning to the End seem like a Week And doth it not seem worth a Sober and Modest Inquiry what Mystery may be couched uâ—der the Similitude of these two Proportions Quest. 117. Shall those who Inhabit this City need the use of Meats and Drinks Or what shall be their Food Shall it not be such Food as Adam Eat in the Earthly Paradise before the Fall Quest. 118. Are not those words of Revel 21.23 And the City shall not stand in need of the Light of the Sun nor of the Moon to be understood according to the Letter For although the Sun Moon and Stars shall then Shine and Impart their Vertues and Influences to other Animals or living Creatures yet the Saints of the first Resurrection shall not seem to stand in need of their Light or Vertue FINIS AN APPENDIX CONTAINING Some Emendations and Explanations of divers Passages in the two foregoiâ—g Treatises out of the Authoâ—'s Original Manuscripts and Papers Friendly Reader IT was thought fit to let thee know that the following Emendations Corrections and Explanations are according to the mind of the Author as appeareth out of another Copy of his Manuscript and his other Papers that have been faithfully preserved it is therefore probable that the Author himself upon his second Thoughts which are commonly the more solid hath himself corrected divers things in these Treatises which ought not to be charged upon him as any blame but rather in so doing to deserve praise But it is most certain that divers considerable Mistakes have crept into the printed Copies boâ—h Latin and English by the unskilfulness and in advertency of the Transcribers through whose Hands the Original Copy hath come The which Original Copâ— I can assuâ—e thee Reader I have seen in a Latin Manuscript many years ago but who the Author is is not easie to judge For divers reasons best known to himself he thought it not convenient to make his Name known to the World as many worthy Authors of Bâ—oks have conceaâ—ed their Names The Reader is â—urther to be advertised that some words in this printed English Copy here corrected are the Errors of the Press incident to all Books It must needs be confessed that many things in these Treatises especially in the former will seem strange and surprizing to many because of their cressing the common Notions and Sentiments generally received both in Philosophy and Divinitâ— so called But what-ever Truth or Untruth may be in these things that may seem to many most incredible it is the Readers wisdom not to be hasty to judge so as to conclude â—or or against without mature Judgment and a good Understanding as Plato called by some the Divine Philosopher well said Non est sapientis de obscuris deâ—erminare i. e. It is not a wise Man's part to determine of things obscure or unclear to his Understanding The Authors Modesty and Discretion is to be commended â—ho for the most part profesâ—eth but to handle these things Historically or Hypothetically not Dogmaâ—ically nor Positively his design being as it manifestly appeareth to give some hints of the Mystick Learning of the Iewâ— and of other Christian Mystick Writers to ordinary and vulgar Scholars that had not heard of such things so much perhaps as by Fame and also to such sincere Christians as have a real Divine Hunger and Thirst begot in them after a greater degree of the Living Knowledge of God and of Christ and the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God so far as they are traceable in the Holy Scriptures as God shall be pleas'd to work by his Holy Spirit to give the Understanding of them For tho' the Iews in great part are blinded especially as concerning the true Messiah yet in many things it is acknowledged by Pious Christian Writers that their ancient Mystick Learning containeth many things not only very agreeable to Christian Doctrine but very conducing to help us to understand many places of Scripture in the New Testament as well as in the Old And if sincere Christian Professors did but well understand the great Advantage and Help that the Iewish Mâ—stick Learning with which this Author seemeth to have been in good measure acquainted doth afford to convince the Iews of the Truth of Christianity so as to enable and furnish them to right them with their own Wâ—apons they wou'd be more willing to read with an Impartial Mind such Books as would help them in such â—ort of Learning few of which sort as yet if any are extant in the English Language The second Treatise added unto the first was done by the same Author It is hoped that it will be favourably received and entertain'd by the Reader the rather that it is proposed only by way of Quâ—ryâ— yet so far explanatory as in many things at lest it may by the blessing of God be made serviceable to the better understanding many things in the Book of the Reâ—elations further than what they have formerly known by the help of other Commentaries The Emendations and Explicatiâ—ns in the first Treatise follow PAge 10. ad fin the Explication The Author is not so to be understood as if because he hath an Allegorical Sence of Christ's Flesh and Blood Allegorically and Figuratively so understood as the Scripture aboundeth with such allegories and figurative Speeches as Water Wine Milk Honey Oyl Marrow and Fatness that therefore he did not sincerely believe that Christ's outward Flesh was real Flesh and his Blood real Blood which he gave for the Life of the World the which Body and Blood of Christ tho' it is not to be received by the Mouth as Papists say yet spiritually by Faith it is fed upon by all sincere Christians And in this sence to eat Christ's Flesh and to drink his Blood is sincerely to believe that Christ gave His Body of Flesh to be broken for uâ— and His Blood to be shed for us for the Remission of Sin by which sincere Faith whereof Christ is the Workâ—r we partake oâ— the Life and Spirit of â—hrist that is the Soul 's immediate Nourishmâ—nt Page 16. ad med Expl. Let none misconstrue the Author because he only expresly nameth Gâ—d and Châ—ist to be the Author and Original of the Creation as if he did not understand the Holy Ghost who is one and the same God with the Father and the Son
there is such a Medium or middle Being between God and Creatures the very Order of things clearly demonstrates For as it agrees with the highest and supream God to be a Being altogether unchangeable so is it congruous to the nature of every Creature or created Being to be changeable to Good or Evil but between that which is wholly unchangeable and that which is wholly changeable there is a certain Medium partaking of both extreams which in the nature of it is unchangeable to Evil and changeable to Good which Medium is Christ the Heavenly Adam 24. And thereâ—ore in the order of Nature is before all Creatures whatsoever and prâ—-excels the whole Systâ—m of Creatures yea is the Lord and Head of every Creatâ—re 25. Moreover the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily in this most divine Mediâ—m Jesus Christ according to the Testimony of the Apostle Paul which certâ—inly is thus to be undeâ—stood that the divine Humâ—nity of Châ—ist is the House and immediate Dwelling-place of the most High and Glorious God himself and is as it were a certain Body for the Divinity in the which God himself mâ—y be seen and apprehended by his Creatures and by the Mediation of this beloved and blessed Consort of God when duly qâ—aliâ—ied and disposâ—d thereunto they may enjoy him Therefâ—râ— it is that according to the words of Christ himself his Saints and true Believers feed upon his Flesh and Blood to Eternal Life VVhich Flesh and Blood of Christ are of a Divine and Spiritual nature and yet not â—he very Essence of God but of a certain middle nature between God and Creatures for God doth as it were corporally manifest himself to his Creatures by Christ who nevertheless in his own nature is purely a Spirit absolutely void of all corpoâ—eity 26â— Now because the divine Humaniâ—y of Christ is as it were the Body and House of the Divinity for the Greek Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impoâ—ts as much therefore Christ doth in some measure paâ—take oâ— the nature of a Body otherwise he could not be the true and proper Medium between God and Creatures 27. For all Creatures even the most noble and excellent are in some degreâ— or other corporeal 28. Therefore Spirit and Body are not contrary Essences as many do vainly and fâ—lsly affirm for every created Spirit is corpâ—real having in it the true essâ—nce and nature of a Body viz. it is an extended Being bounded circumscrib'd with place moveable c. 29. And therefore a humane Soul which is also a Spirit is corporeal and comprehends in it the true Nature and Essence of a Body The most pure and Spiritual Angels also are corporeal and â—s it were spiritual Bodies 30. For as every Spirit or Soul in the whole creatural System is a Body having in it the true Essence and Attributes of a Body so every Body is in some degree or meaâ—ure Animal and Spiritual i. e. hath Life Sense and Knowledge or at leastwise capable of those Attributesâ— 31. Nor is it to be feared that the Souls of Men could ever become mortal or be turned into Dust Vapour or soft Air or dissolved into Earth and Stones if they were admitted to be corporeal for not every thing that is corporeal or Body is dissolvable because it is a Body for there are immortal Bodies and such as are absolutely and indissolvable such are the Glorified Bodies of Saints and Believers in the Resurrection of the Dead when this morâ—al shall put on Immortality and this corruptible Incorruption according to the Apostle's wordâ— 32. Seeing therefore every Spiritual thing is corporeal and every corporeal thing is Spiritual in some degree or measure therefore all Creatures from the highest to the lowest have some relation and natural Afâ—inity one to another the highest to tâ—e lowest and the lowest to the highest yeâ— certainly as to their original essence and condition they are of one and the self same nature nor is there any even the basest Creature but may be changed either into the noblest or at least into some part of the noblest Creature 33. Therefore that false and vain Imagination of sundry Philosophers so called concerning Matter and Body is to be rejected as tho' it were a thing not only wholly inanimate and void of Life but also utterly incapable thereof to all Eternity VVhich most absurd opinion borders too much on Atheism and most grievously strikes at the divine Goodness Wisdom and Power and other Attributes of the most excellent and supream God 34. For from God who is Life himself and the fountain of it nothing that hath not Life or is uncapable thereof can proceed for God created all his Creatures in his most excelling Goodness Wisdom and Power that in him they might at length bâ— blessed Rejoyce in him and â—njoy him and that in him as their end they might most sweetly rest and so praise honour and glorifie him as God their Creator to all Eternity which they could never do if they weâ—e void of Life and uncapable of it 35. In the Primitive State of created things the most excellent and most wise Creator made or produced a kind of intermediate or middle Creatures with a possibility in this their mediate and of its own nature changeable State and condition of being changed into the better by the assisting Grace of God or into the worse by the byass of their own proper Wills and Inclinations 36. Therefore God's first Work about Creatures is to create them then being created to fashion them after this or that manner either into the better if they follow faithfully in all thinâ—â— the conduct of divine Grace or into the worse by the most just Judgment of God if refusing the Guidance of divine Grace they wilfully and voluntarily renounce the Law of God 37. Hence proceeds that diverse and contrary state and condition of most Creatures one from another For whereas sundry Creatures kept their primitive Integrity and Innocence nor did ever transgress the divine Law therefore are they blessed and still enjoy the beatifick Vision and Communion with God they are also pure holy and immaculate full of Light and divine Life and shine in that Glory and Beauty which to us Mortals is certainly incomprehensible But because many others fell from their primitive Purity by Transgression and Disobedience of the divine Law therefore are they miserable polluted with Sin sullied and darkened 38. And hence it is that from this World of creation other Worlds also burst out to wit the World of formation as well the Superiour as Inferiour that of Souls who never fell whose Seat and Region is the caelestial Paradise this of fallen Souls and after a certain manner polluted with Sin whose Seat Region is without that blessed place of Paradise in places and parts of the World invisible to our outward view 39. Lastly from the inferiour World of Formation proceeded this World of Fabrication wherein
we live comprehending within it all visible things from the remoâ—est Stars even to the Earths profundity which is therefore called the Woâ—ld of Fabrication because Death and Stupidity so pâ—evails in the most parts of it that all things in this World seem rather to move in a manner Mechanically than from a vital principle which nevertheless is to be understood in comparison to the superiour Worlds where indeed the vital principle is far more predominant than in this inferiour World nor is this inferiour World in any even the most stupid part of it wholly and in every degree deprived of Life 40. Nothing thâ—reâ—ore which belongs to this viâ—ible World is immediately created â—or this viâ—ible World is not properly a created World but made and composed of pre-existent principles which pre-existent principles belong to the World of Formation and the World of Formation owes its original to the Pre-existent principles of the World of Creation the World of Creation only is properly and strictly created and its production is properly called Creation for this doth not exist from any Pre-existent principles or from a Subject or parts making a whole but has only God the Father and Châ—ist his only begotten Son for its Author and Original 41. Therefore Men born into this World to speak properly are not immediately created neither in respect of Soul nor Body the external or oâ—â—ward Body with the Life thereof is that which belongs to this World of Fabricaâ—â—on but the Soul which is called Neshama pertains to the World of Creation Lastly the Spirit pertains to the World of Formation which possesseth the middle place between the Soul and outward Body and this Spirit by the Hebrews is called Ruâ—ch but the Life and Spirits of the external Body are termed by the same Nepâ—esh therâ— are therefore three vital principles in every Man Neshaâ—a Ruach and Nepâ—esh Neshama of the World of Creation Ruach of the World of Formation and Nâ—phesh of the World of Fabrication moreover Nephesh is the Cloathing or Vehicle of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ruach and Ruach is the Vehicle and Garment of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neshama 42. First of all therefore Men are created in the World of Creation secondly formed in the World of Formation where they assume their Cloathing or Vehicle which is called Ruach and this Ruach is a certain Subtile and Spiritual Body of which sort are the Bodies of Angels and just â—en made perfect thirdly they are made or fabricated in the World of Fabrication and all this is expresly confirmed by Testimony of the Scripture it self Isai. 43.7 Every one that is called in my Name have I created formed and made and consequently according to these words of Scripture the Hebrews call the World of Creation Briah the World of Formation Iezirah and the World of Fabrication Asiah which three Hebrew words are expresly to be met with in the place of Scripture above cited 43. Moreover besides this World Briah higher than which our Original doth not reach if we have respect to the parts composing humane Nature there is understood another World more noble and in the Order of Nature more antient than the rest immediately â—lowing from the Author God himself called in Hebrew Aziluth which signifies the nearest to the most high and supreme God himself and this cannot agree to any other than Christ the Saviour and Mediator bâ—tween God and Men. 44. Therefore those Hebrew Doctors do rightly and truly teach and that altogether according to Scripture Testimony that those four Worlds above-mentioned do exist to wit the Aziluthick which is of Christ the Briatick which is of Souls the Ieziratick which is of Angels not yet consummated and the Asiatick which is of Men cloathed with an external Body But as the Aâ—ziluthick as it is the noblest of all so it is the greatest and but only one altho' the Hebrews distinguish it into ten Emanations the distinction of which Emanation nevertheless is only modal and not essential But the Briatick Ieziriatick and Asiatick Worlds â—s to their number and multitude in respect of us are infinite and innumerable because as I have said before God is continually a Creator for the Attribute of a Creator is essential to him and therefore he doth â—nd will continually create new Worlds to all Eternity And lastly from these new created Worlds other new Ieziratick and Asiatick Worlds arise and therefore 't was truly said of Solomon we cannot search out the beginning nor the end of God's works as true also was that saying in another passage The mighty Works of God are past finding out 45. Now the Ieziratick World from whence as from its root the Asiatick World proceeded penetrates and pervades the whole Asiatick World in every part with its vital and essential Rays also the Briatick World by the difusion of its vital and essential Rays penetrates the whole Ieziratick and Asiatick World and lastly the Azilutick World not only penetrates and pervades the three inferiour Worlds by the transfusion of its essential and vital Rays but also most intrinsecally comprehends and embraces it in its Bosom as a Mother doth her Oâ—f-spring and so indeed all these four Worlds are intrinsically present one with another yet so that the â—hird is more subtile and Spiritual than the â—ourth the second than the third and the â—irst than the second and consequently more penetrative and perâ—usive 46. From what has been said it evidently appears that humane Souls did pre-exist before they came into these gross and Earthly Bodies for nothing which is properly created is of this visible Woâ—ld but the Soul is properly createdâ— therefore the Soul had not its original or first exisâ—ence in this visible World but it first existed in the World of Creation then descended from the World of Creation into the World of Formation and lastly from the World of Formation into this World of Fabrication 47. But as for this Asiatick World this hath its rise and Original from the Ieziratick World by reason of some great falls of the Souls contained therein for transgressing the Law of God And if these Souls had nevâ—r fell this Asiatick VVorld which is the VVorld of Fabrication had never existed 48. Nevertheless the Souls of the Ieziratick VVorld are not changed into the parts of the Asiatick VVorld that is to say into the Dust of the Earth Stones Plants and Trees for such a change of Souls is plainly impossible but the Bodies of those Souls distinct â—rom the Souls themselves and by the Sins of those Souls separated from them as by a certain kind of Death were subjected to such a change or conversion into the parts of the Asiatick VVorld 49. Thereâ—ore this Asiatick VVorld is truly call'd Golgotha or the place of Sculls and â—â—pâ—lchres to wit because it is nothing else in a manner but a certain mass and heap of Carcasses and dead Bodies which those Souls have put off by reason of their Sins in the
Ieziratick World and being thus devested they at length grew into this Grosness Death and Stupidity which they now suffer 50. And therefore our Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ after he came into the Flesh in the likeness of sinful Flesh was to be câ—uâ—ified in Golgotha which is the place of Scuâ—â—â— or Sepulchres by which is typically signifâ—â—â— this Asiatick VVorld or VVorld of Fabricationâ— that so in this place of Death he â—â—gâ—â—â—vercome Death it self who is our Saviour and Prince of Life yea Life it self which that he might do by the Ordination of divine VVisdom he was to die in a Body of Flesh and then to rise again in the same Body in which he died that he might become the first Fruits of the Resurrâ—â—tion of the Dead and his Bâ—dy being Glorified and Immortalized might at length gloriâ—ie and immortalize the Bodies of Saints in which Bodies they shall live and reign with Châ—ist for ever in the Heavens 51. Therefore this Asiatick VVorld is to be again converted and reduced into the Superiour and excellent Ieziratick VVorld that all its parts may be re-united to these antient Souls whereunto in times past they belonged that so at length the Souls and Bodies may be purified in this VVorld from all dreggs of Sin and Death as in a refining Furnace of Affliction and Suffering and lastly eternally glorified in a indissolvable incorruptible union of both Body and Soul 52. And then indeed the natural and animal Body will be changed into a Spiritual Body which is far nobler yea all this gross and material VVorld where Death and Stupidity so wonderfully reigns will be rendred full of Life and Spirit 53. And yet this great and truly wonderful change and conversion of all even the vilest things of this Asiatick VVorld may not be suddenly and altogether but by parts and in various Successions of Ages according to the predestination of divine VViâ—dom 54. Therefore the Ages of VVorlds iâ— respect of human Intellect are truly infinite and innumerable and that not only in regard of things to come but in regard of things past 5â— Moreover this Asiatick VVorld hath had its existence â—or many more Ages than we Mortals are able to number 56. Therefore this Asiatick VVorld wherein we live must be distinguished into many and various VVorlds as a Whole is distinguished into its parts beyond the reach of Mortals understanding 57. But those particular Asiatick VVorlds are most commodiously distinguished in respect of the Years whereof they consist 58. Now every particular Asiatick World consists of seven Thousand Years which make up as it were one week consisting of seven days 59. For a thousand Years with the Lord are as one Day and one Day as a thousand Years as it is in the 90th Psalm and confirmed by the Apostle Peter in hls second Epistle ver 3. 60. And the seventh Millenium or seventh Thousandth Year of each VVeek of the World is the Sabbath of this VVorld 61. Therefore this World of ours consists of Seven Thousand Years whose seventh Millenium is the Sabbath or Sabbatism of this our present World as it is in Heb. 4. 62. And indeed that Sabbath of days which God commanded the Iews to observe was a Type or Figure of this Mystery the same also was that of the Sabbath of Years Months and VVeeks which in times past God likewise command the Iews to observe 63. Now whereas every fiftieth Year comprehending seven weeks of years was a year of Iubilee wherein every Captive was to be set at liberty and every one to return to his own Family House and Possesâ—â—on this certainly signifies fifty thousand years which contain seven weeks of Worlds therefore in the fifty thousand year or end of every seventh World many Souls are to be saved and reconciled to God by Christ which as yet could not obtain Salvation in the preceding weeks or VVorlds but suffered for their Impieties by the most just Judgmnet of God the execrable torments of Hell Fire 64. Others there are whosâ— Sins God doth pardon in this World for the sake of Christ such as are Sins of Ignorance and all others of which Men sincerely repent but there are some whose Sins are nâ—iâ—her forgiven in this World nor in that which is to come and yet are forgiven in some third World and lastly there are others which are not remittâ—d till the â—ourth and so on even to a seventh according to the most just Judgment oâ— God nay far beyond a seventh even to the seventy seventh thousand year the Remission of â—ome very notorious and wicked Sins seems to be deferred that â—s not less than eleven weeks and such a kind of a Sinner that wicked Lamech seemed to be who predicted of himself his to Wives that Vengeance should be taken on him seventy seven fold that is as it seems 77000 Years But on Cain who was not so wicked Vengeance was to be taken but seventy fold which is 7000 Years to wit the whole time of this World 64. Then if one day with the Lord be as a thousand years by the same reason one year i.e. 365 days will be as 365000 years which Period of 365000 years â—eems to be some vast Age comprehending about 52142 Worlds within which space of time whatsoever is of humane kind on Earth will doubtless be converted unto God Nevertheless the Asiatick VVorld doth not cease to be upon this account because the parts of the Asiatick World are continually multiplied by reason of the continual Multiplication of other VVorlds to wit the Ieziratick and Briatick whereof we have already made mention 66. Therefore they err extreamly and conceive too unworthily of God yea do not righâ—ly know nor consider the naâ—ure of him who think the punishments oâ— the damned are to be perpetrated to all Eternity without any end or termination For the very nature of God is Love it self according to the express words of the Apostle Iohn and finally because the nature of God is unchangeable therefore he did necessarily love all his Creatures and that constantly and unchangeably too nor could he absolutely hate any thing that ever he created and because love is of the nature of God himself and whatever he operates or doth in relation to his Creatures even when he most severely punishes them for their Sins proceeds all from Love therefore God loves his Creatures in the most miserable and wretched state and condition they can exist in and therefore cannot but benefit them and so at length bring them out of misery Therefore all the punishments which the most just and truly tremenduous Justice of God inflicts on Sinners are tâ—ue effects and real tokens of his divine Love towards them the most certain end and design of all which is the Redemption and Deliverance of those Sinners â—rom all their Sins and Punishments inflicted on them for Sin and their final Glorification and Restoration to Justice and Holinesâ— which is apparently confirmed by St. Iohn
in the Revelations ch 5. v. 13. who saith that he saw in his prophetical Vision every Creature in Heavâ—n and Earth and under the Earth c. praising God saying Blessing Honour and Glory and Power to â—im that sits on the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever the same also the Apostle Paul openly enough declares Eph. 1.10 Phil. 2.10 Colos. 1.20 67. Now forasmuch as whâ—n any human Judge punishes a delinquent he ought to love him and direct his punishments to this end that the punished Oâ—fender may be benefitted and bettered thereby how much rather will God love those he punishes and iâ—flict such punishmâ—nts on every Offender by which at length in their due and appointed timesâ— according to the transcendant VVisdom of God every Sinner may return from a state of Sin and Misery unto a stâ—te of Righteousness and everlasting Happiness 68. Nor doth that hinder which is vulgaâ—ly objected that every Sin deserves an exceeding great and everlasting punishment because it is against God who is infinite Goodness for because God is infinite Goodneâ—s therefore God's VVill to forgive Sins is as necessary as his VVill to punish it Again this clearly appears â—s well from Scripture as from maniâ—old experience and obseâ—vation that God does not punish the smallest and greatest Sins in the same degree but is wont to punish the lesser Sins witâ— lighter and the greater with the more grievous and heavy Judgments therefore that consequence drawn from the infiniteness and greatness of the Object is weakâ—nd invali'd for otherwise a Sinâ—er would be punished for the lightest and smallest transgression with the highest and infinite punishment 69. Because therefore there are degrees of punishments according to the degrees of Sins and no Sin is in its own nature infinite therefore all the punishments of the damned as well of fallen Angels as of Menâ— will have an end after long Tracts of time according to God's Appointment â—0 The longer any one hath been a Sinner the longer will God punish him for his Sins 71. The diversiâ—y of punishments is manifestly apparent from the words of Christ some Sinners says he are worthy to bâ— punished by the Council some are worthy of thâ— Judgment others of Hell Fire And then again some Sins are remitted in this VVorld others neither in this VVorld nor that which is to come which neverthelâ—â—s may be forgiven in some third or fourthâ— c. These words of Châ—ist also ought to be wâ—ll conâ—â—â—ered that those that were cast into Prison should not depart thence till they had paid the last Faâ—thingâ— lastly where he says it shall be more tollerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of Judgment than for that unbelieving Generation of the Iews Moreover such as are to be saved in the end of this World and such as are not to be saved till the end of the next that is till thâ— Expiration of fourteen thousand Years seem to be faiâ—ly tho' Aenigmatically describ'd Exod. 12. For the Woman that brought forth a Male Child was unclean seven days and on the eighth day the Male was Circumcised â—or this eighth day plainly signiâ—ies the â—lorification of the mortal Bodies at the Expiration of 7000 Years that is in the beginning of the eighth Millenium But if she brought forth a Female Child she was unclean 14 days by the Male our spiritual Generation by Christ seems to be signified by but tâ—e Female Man's own Rigâ—teousness For those who are only Righteous by tâ—eir own Righteousness cannot be saved in this World but are committed to the next that denying their owâ— Righteousness thâ—y mâ—y be regenerateâ— in Christ and thus having put on the tâ—â—e Righteousness oâ— Christ in a sâ—iâ—iâ—tual Regeneâ—aâ—ion finally obtained 〈◊〉 Salvation 72. But the words for ever and for ever and ever when they have a relation to the punishments of the damned are not to be understood at farâ—hest than of certain Ages 73. But when they have relation to God and the blessed Life of Saints then indeed oâ—ght to signifie never ceasing and inâ—inite Ages for to punish for inâ—inite Ages is against the nature of God who is infinite Love and to do good for infinite Ages is most agreeable to the divine Nature 74. The plurality of Worlds succeeding one another â—â—ems to be evinâ—ed by the â—2 â—ilgrimages of the Children of Israel in the Wildeâ—ness till they came at last to Gilgal where by the command of Ioshua they were Girâ—nmâ—ised now Gâ—lgal seems a Wheel or Revolutionâ— And because all things happen'd to them in the Type and Figure as St. Paul had aâ—â—irmed those â—2 peregrinations seem to signifie six Worlds that is 42000 Years whâ—ch bâ—ing expired all of them will â—inally obtain the Glorification of their Souls and Bodies in the Heavensâ— What can their coming to the twelve Fountains of Water and seventy Branches of Palm Trees in theâ—r Pilgrimage signifie unless it be this that in the fifth Millenium of this World the most benign and gracious God would send them the 12 Apostles and seventy Disciples for them to hear and this place of Pilgrimage was called Elim 75. Moreover this Succession of Worlds is clearly proved from what we read in Scripture of a thousand yea of thousands of Generations and yet from the beginning of this VVorld to the end thereof consisting of 7000 Years there cannot be rekoned 400 â—enerations 76. Therefore after the end of this VVorld another VVorld will be prepared wherein the Multiplication and Propagation of Mankind will proceedâ— and be carried on as in this present VVorld and therefore also before this VVorld there did another VVorld heretofore exist in which the Propagation of Mankind was made by successive Generations But the number of all the preceeding and succeeding VVorlds is not only undeterminable by any Mortal but by any creature 77. Bâ—t as out of the conâ—â—agration of this VVorld another VVorld will arise which will be produced as it were out of the Ashes of this present VVorld â—o out of the Ashes of the past VVorld aâ—ter the burning and conflagration of it is this VVorld framed and brought forth aâ— it were de novo or a new and so indeed the Generation and Fabrication of one follows the destruction and dissolution of another in a continual order 78. But as to what pertains to the Creation of this VVorld described by Moses in Genâ—sis this certainly is not Creation in a strict Sense but Construction Fabrication or Faction which is made of Pre-existent matter therefore they err extreamly who think this VVorld was made of nothing and that too in the spâ—ce of six days for God the great Contriver and Artificer did not make or frame it out of nothing but out of the matter of the preceding VVorld which Fabrication or Structure of this World in the space of six days may be well enough understood in a Litteral Sense 79. They who have attained to the Glorification of their Bodies in the end of
this VVorld do not descend inâ—o â—ucceeding VVorlds to be born any more in a Body of Flesh but remain to all Eternity with God and Christ in the Heavens ascending continually unto greater Glory and Dignity but those who are not perâ—ected in tâ—is VVorld nor have attained the Gloriâ—iâ—â—tion of their Bodies do descend into â—â—cceeding VVoâ—lds to be boâ—â— in their oâ—der and turn in a Body of Flesh until they 〈◊〉 at laâ—t pâ—â—fected and have obtained the 〈◊〉 of their Bodies in the Heaâ—â—â—â— 80. And it is worth our consideration â—nd diligent enquiry whether or no from â—he proportion of the holy City compared into the whole Earth may not be Mystiâ—ally and as it were abstrusely represented â—o us how great a part of Mankind of this World shall be saved in this World First â—herefore let us see what is the measure of â—his holy City in its solid content Iohn in the Revelations saith this City was equal in length breadth and depth that it was â—2000 Stadia or Furlongs in length that â—s 1500 of our Miles for eight Furlongs make a Mile therefore the â—olid content of the City is â—â—â—5â—00000 Miles as in the Mâ—rgin But as for the Meaâ—ure of the Earth we will suppose 61 Miles for every degree which is one Mile above the vulgar Computation and then the Circumâ—erence will contain 21960 Miles but the Diametre will contain 6989 Miles â…™ whereof is 1164. To find the Superficial content multiply the Circumference by the Diametre that is 21960 by â—987 the whole Sum is 153434520 Miles lastly multiply the aforesaid number by 6987â— of the Diametre and the Product will be as in the Margin 178597781280 Miles the 〈◊〉 content of the Earth which if you divide by the solid content of the Holy City the Quotient will be 52 with the remaining Fraction as in the Margin Therefore after this rate the Holy City will be in proportion to the whole Earth as 1 to 52 and â…› thence will arise that great year of 365000 Years wherein all the Souls on this Earth are to be saved for if the 1 52 part of Mankind be saved in one World then in 52 Worlds or Weeks of Worlds that is 365000 Years all Mankind will be saved 81. 'T is likewise to be considered whether or no that slow Motion of the eighth Sphere as 't is commonly call'd doth not answer to the great year of Iubilee of 50000 Years that is seven Worlds or Weeks Ex. gr Let us suppose this â—ighth Sphere to finish its Revolution in 49000 Years one degree of the said Sphere will make 138 Years which doth not much differ from the vulgar Computation of Mathematicians 82. Therefore for the clear understanding of many Mysteries of true Philosophy we must have a true and exact Chronology or Computation of times from the beginning of this World to the end thereof 83. The true Chronology from the beginning of the World to the end of it is to be â—ound in and deduced from the Scriptures for to what purpose are parts of Chronology exhibited to Men in Scripture with such care industry and diligence of Writers unless all the parts of it were exhibited also for if the Scripture fails in any part of Chronology it fails in all and if it fails in all 't is vain and unprofitable to exhibite any part which is absurd and therefore all parts of Chronology are to be had in the Scripture otherwise the Scripture were certainly very imperfect but the Scripture is perfect giving a perfect Testimony not only of â—ll the Doctrines of true Religion but â—lso of all the parts of true Chronology without which the Doctrine of true Religion is maimed and imperfect 84. Now the true Chronology of the World as it is in Scripture contains from the Worlds Creation to the â—ruciâ—iction of our Saviour Christ 3996½ Years From the Crucifixion of Christ to the eâ—d of the World 3003½ Years which in intire Years from the beginniâ—g of the World to the end thereof is 7000 Yeâ—rs 85. And that our Saviour Christ was to be Crucified and raised from Death to Life in the end of the fourth Millenium from the World's Creation may be clearly evinced for divers reasons 1. The Analogy of the six days of the Worlds Fabrication or construction of the 6000â— Years of this World for the first day by a wonderful Analogy agrees with the first Millenium the second with the second the third wiâ—h the third the fourth with the fourth the fiâ—th with the fifth the sixth with the sixth and lasâ—ly the seventh with the seventh Millenium which also is the Sabbaâ—h of this World that the Sun Moon and Stars were placed in the Firmament on the fourth day This most excellently and clearly points out that Christ the Son of Justice should come in the fourth Millenium and â—scend into the Heavens to enlighten all Men. Lastly by the Moon and Stars the Church with the Apostles and Evangelists 〈◊〉 clearly demonstrated 2. The entrance of the High Priest in the Sanctum Sanctorum or Holiest of all once a year to expiate the Sins of all the People in the end of the â—eventh Month apparently signifies that Christ by vertue of his Blood should enâ—â—r into Heaven it self in the end of the â—ourâ—h Millenium of the World which exâ—ctly agrees to the end of the seventh Month to wit the 22th day of the seventh Month which was the last day of the Feast of the Tabernacles for by the Rule of Three as 7000 Years is to 3996 so is â—65 days to 208 days and in 208 days are contained the days of six Months from the Vernal Aequinox to the 22th day of the seventh Month that is 187 and 21 which together make up 208 3. This is confirmed by the division of time from the beginning of the World to the Resurrection of Christ delivered in the second Book of Esdras ch 14. And this Division is made into twelve parts where of ten and an half were elapsed when the Angel delivered those things to the Prophet Esdras which Division also Christ made into twelve hours and called the time of his Incarnation the twelfth Hour saying to the Iews Are there not twelve Hours in the day Work whilst you have the day c. clearly hinting that that very time was the twelfth Hour from the Worlds Creation Now how many Years one hour of the Day or Night doth consist of may be positively concluded from that mysterious Psalm the 90th ver the 4th A thousand Years are in thy sight but as yesterday and as a Watch in the Night but a Watch of the Night contains three Hours Therefore if a thousand Years be as a Watch of the Night or three hours one hour will be the third part of a thousand Years that is 333 â— Years and Christ arose from the Dead in the end of the twelfth hour which answers to 3996 Years from the beginning of the Worldâ— for 333 multiplied by 12
Millenium that shou'd not dye but be changed 9. It appears also that when the Millenium is finished Gog and Magog shall gather themselves together against the Saints to slay them which certainly they cou'd never attempt to do if they did not live in a Body of Flesh. 10. This is more largely conâ—â—â—â—'d iâ— that the Saints even until 260 years after the beginning of the Millenium shall marry and propagate Children for the State of Matrimony and procreation of Children is not beneath the dignity of the future Millenium for Adâ—m in his Paradisical State before the fall had a Wife and tho' he had not sinned wou'd have known his Wife and have begotten Children 11. But that the Saints do for some time in the aforesaid Millenium contract Matrimony and beget Sons and Daughters appears from Isaiah Chap. 65. where the Inhabitants of this of this New Heaven and new Earth are prâ—mised that they shall build Houses and inâ—â—â—ite them plant Vineyards and ear the Fâ—â—â—t of them they shall not labour in vain â—or bring forth in fear for they are thâ— Seed of the Blessed of the Lord and their Off-spring with them yea in the same Chapter 't is affirm'd of the Sinners who shall live in the Millenium that they shall live to an hundred Years nor shall any die in Infancy and the days of the Saints shall bâ— as the days of the Tree of Life for so heretoâ—ore that place was read by the Fathers that is they shall live a thousand Years and then shall not die but ascend into Heaven in a Body changed which Adam would have done if he had not sinned 12. Now that new Heaven which will be câ—eaâ—ed in the future Millenium will be only new in respect of their excellent natures 13. Ioseph's Blâ—ssing by his Faâ—her Iacob which belongs to the said Millenium clearly demonstâ—ates thâ—t they should marry and beget and bring up Children Gen. 49 2â— 26. For among â—â—her Blessings which he had he waâ— also blessed with the Blessings of the Bâ—easts â—nd the Womb which have a respect to Wives and Mothers whose Blessings also ougâ—t to reach to the utmâ—st bounds of the everlasting Hills viz. to the second Resurrection when this Body of Flesh shall be changed into a Spiritual Body and being thus changed shall ascend into the everlasting Hills that is into the highest Heavens 14. Therefore those Words of Christ that in the Resurrection of the Dead they do not marry nor are given in Marriage but are equal to the Angels are to be understood of the second Resurrection but not of the first because certainly in thâ— first Resurrection they shall not be equal to to the Angels but as Adam was in Paradise before the Fall 15. And hitherto may be referred those woâ—ds of the book of Wisdom 3.43 Blessed is the Barrâ—n and Undâ—filâ—d who hath not known the Sinful Bed for she shall have Fruit in the Visitation of Souls 16. Now all the Sons Daughteâ—s of the Saints in the future Millenium are the Souls of all the Saints that ever have liv'd in a carnal Body since the beginning of the World and finally raised up to Life in a â—ody of Flesh and boâ—n of Fathers and Mothers into the Woâ—ld for none shall enjoy the Reward and Blessedness of the â—uture Millenium but such who have lived an holy Life on Eaâ—th from the begâ—nning of the World Moreover Christ called this Resurrection of the Saints unto Life regeneration 17. And therefore all Saints that enjoy the Millenium shall then be born into the World in a carnal Body and shall have Fathers and Mothers according to the Flesh. 18. Nor will this seem strange or incredible to any one after it is clearly demonstrated from Scripture that we have all lived several times in a Body of Flesh yea for many years and Ages of years 19. This Truth being once demonstrated and granted in a manner all the Mysteries and things difâ—icult to be apprehended of the future Millenium will be most easily understood for the Ignorance of the Souls being born again and returning to Life in a body of Flesh hath mightily obscur'd the Mystery of the future Millenium and in a manner all other Mysteries of the whole Christian Religion which indeed when the said new Birth or carnal Regeneration is demonstrated will display themselves and appear with a wonderful sweetness facility and evidencâ— of Truth 20. First therefore it shall be demonstrated by certain Arguments drawn from Scripture that the same Souls after the death of the carnal Body were again raised to Life and born of Parents in a Body of Flesh. 21. First this is proved from the express Words of Christ himself who called Iohn Baptist Elias yea affirmed him to be Elias himself Matth. 11. Mark 9.12 and declared him also to be the same that was to come But that where Iohn denied that he was Elias is to be understood of the Mystery of 1045 Years couch't under the name of Eliah which also signifies the strong and mighty God for that Dispensation or Ministration of Iohn answers not to to the name of Elias but the name of Iohn which signifies Grace but when he shall be born again into the World that Dispensation will most excellently suit with the name of Eliah 22. Secondly 'T is proved from that passage of St. Paul to the Romans where discoursing of the unbelieving Iews he affirms that they shall after many Ages believe in Christ and finally be reunited to their natural Root but the force of the Argument concludes in behalf of those Souls who were unbelieving in the Aposâ—les days which after certain Ages were to believe in Christ after the fullness of the Gâ—ntiles was converted to the Christian Faith which Conversion of the Iews we yet expect 〈◊〉 Earth even of those who were unbelieving in the Apostles days for all the Iews which are natural Branches shall be saved and their Hearts shall be opened and that too before the beginning of the Millenium 23. Thirdly 'T is proved from Matth. 23.35 compared with the 2 Chron. 24.22 where Christ aâ—â—irms that those very Iews who were contemporary with him in the Flesh had kill'd Zacharias the Son of Baruch c. But this Wickedness was committed in the days of King Ioas more than eighty Years before Christ's Incarnation * See Matth. 21.35 c. compare here-witâ— 2 Chron. 24.22 But if any should affirm that this was not their own but their foâ—e-Father's Crime and imputed to them because they were led by the same Spirit of Iniquity and Impiety I answer This cannot destroy the force of the Argument because according to the Râ—ghteous Ordinance of God the Sins of the Fathers are not imputed to the Children beyond the third or fourth Generation even when the Children are led by the same Spirit and follow the same steps of their Fathers But beâ—cause many Generations have interven'd between that Wickedness and the
for the neglect of so great Grace and long Sufferance 38. Proof 18. Becausâ— the Lord will grant all Mâ—n a day of Visitation in the Flesh that they may repent and lead a better Life and that day of Visitation is a thousand years according to the Testimony of Peter 2 Pet. 38. compare herewith Hebrews 4.7 39. Proof 19. Christ affirmed the Gospel should be preached to the wholâ— World that is to all Men therefore all Men either have heard the Gospel preached which Christ suffer'd Death â—or or else shâ—ll hear it hereaâ—ter before the end of the World therefore all Men that ever have lived since the beginning of the World if they have not believed on Christ to come by the ministery of the Prophets must live again to hear of Christ and to believe in him by the Minisâ—ery of the Apostles and other Ministers of Christ. 40 Proof 20. For the promise of eternal Salvation has respect to the Faith of Men whereby they believe on Christ that God raised him from the dead and therefore all either have had or shall have before the end of the World opportunity to hear of Christs Resurrection from the Dead which they cannot have unless they are born again into the World 41. Proof 21. The Lord promised by Moses those Iews and Israelites who liv'd in Moses time that he would raise them uâ— a Pâ—ophet like unto Moses whom they should hear in all things and therefore those very Iews and Israelites were to live in a Body of Flesh in the days of the Messias And so the Mâ—ssias was to be raised to all the Iews and People of Israel both to the Fathers and the children that all the Fathers and all the Children especially those who dyed in Unbelief might have opportunity to believe in Christ and obtain remission of their Sins past for they were not to be punished with Hell-fire in the end of the World for transgressing the Law but for transgressing the Gospel See Heb. 10. 28.29 42. Proof 22. For those promises of the abundant Grace of God and the plentiful efusion of the Spirit which God promised by the Prophets had respect to those Iews and Israelites who lived in the days of the Prophets which nevertheless were not to be fulfilled till the latter days under the preaching of the Gospel after the coming of the Messias in the Flesh for the promises were made to the Iews and all their Children afar off even to those who lived from the beginning of the World Acts 2.39 For how cou'd the Iews rejoyce in hope of those promises unless they were to live again in the days when they were to be fulfilled under Christ. 43. 'T is prov'd 23. From Psal. 90. v. 3.4 Thou turnest Man to Destruction and sayst again return ye Sons of Adam for a thousand years in thy sight are as yesterday when it is past and as a Watch in the Night From hence is clearly hinted the revolution of Souls from Life unto Death and from Death unto Life and that in the Space of 4000 years which are but as Night consisting of four Watches which this Mystery seem'd to signifie when it was said that Iesus went uppn the Sea to Disciples in the fourth Watch of the Night for that time in which Christ came in the Flesh was in the fourth Watch that is almost at the end of four thousand years from the beginning of the World 44. Proof 24. From the Words of Solomon in Eccleâ—iast Chap. 1. v. 4. to v. 12. for by a threeâ—old Similitude of the Sun Wind and a River is shown the various and manifold revolutions of Souls from Life unto a corporeal Death and from Death again unto Life for as the same Sun riseth that Sets the same Wind blows from tho South into the North and from the North into the South the same River that comes out of the Sea returns into the Sea so the same Generation that goes out of the World returns into the World neither is there any remembrance of former things In which Words he tacitely answers the Objection Why therefore cannot Men remember that they have lived before For that stands in the Counsel and Goodness of God but in the end of the World the Books shall bâ— opened and they shall remember all things And it was properly said of Solomon whatsoever was at that time had been before and should be again because all Souls had already been in the World before Solomon's time and perform'd their Revolutions whereof none was to be finished before the death of Christ on the Cross which will appear more plainly from the Table of the revolution of Souls heâ—eafter annexed 45. Proof 25. Is drawn from Ezekiâ—l Chap. 36. and 37. vers 12. I will open youâ— Graves and cause you to ascend out of your Sepulchres that is from the state of the Dead into your own Land 47. It is proved 27. Because they who kill'd the Marâ—yrs since the Apostle's days to wit within 300 Y. after the Death of Christ were after many Ages to be slain by Turks and other bloody and barbarous Men and this happened in the opening of thâ— fifth Seal Rev. 6.10 48. 'T is proved 28. In that they are killed in the pouring out of the third Vial who in times past killed the Saints and Prophets of God See Rev. 13.9 10. 49. Proof 29. It is the rule and general Ordinance of God's Justice That he that kills with the Sword shall be killed with the Sword and he that leads into Captivity shall be led into Captivitâ— but these things rarely happen in one Age and therefore are to be referr'd to divers Ages and Lives 50. Proof 30. For in Babylon was found the Blood oâ— all the Pâ—ophets and Saints which lived since the days of Christ and the Apostles yea also before those times even 4000 Yeaâ—s â—ackwards from the time Babylon â—â—rst began to be builded for the number of 4000 Years makes an intire Period of twelve Revolutions 51. Proof 31. For this reason the Brethren of the Deceased were to raise up Seed to their Deceaseâ— Brethren that they might as far as was possible be born again into the Woâ—ld in a proper and direct Line and that because of the Genealogy of Christ. 52. Proof 32. And for this reason the Lord in the Parable commended that unfaithful Servant who was so liberal to the Poor that they might receive him into their Houses hereaâ—ter when he should fail and therefore said he The Children of this World are wiser in their Generation to wit in their Revolution of Generation than the Children of Light 53. Proof 33. The Apostle Iude writeth concerning certain wicked persons who turned the Grace of God into wantonness c. that they were afore ordained to Condemnation but afore or of old doth not signiâ—ie from Eternity or before all Ages neither doth God ordain or sentence Men to Condemnation before they have committed Sin but for Sins committed and therefore
Moment of their Lives Also it wonderfully demonstrates the Justice Wisdom and goodness of God towards Mankind in all his Ways and Administrations it also evidently shews the equality of the ways oâ— God and his marvelous â—enefâ—â—s yea clearly evinces what and how great Beneâ—its did accrue to all Mankind by the death of Christ in the latter Days by the abundant Favour and Benignity of God Moreover also it doth mightily illustrate confirm and perfect in a mannâ—r the whole Doctrine of Christianity makâ—s the Salvation of Heathens possibleâ— and yet nevertheless makes the knowledgâ— oâ— Christ's coming in the Flesh and Fâ—â—â—h in him of absolute necessity to the Salvation of all and finally greatly furthers the Conviction and Conversion of the Iew. â—3 From what has been said the truth of the said Doctrine of the various returns of Humaâ—e â—ouls into a Body of Flesh is appâ—râ—nâ— but how often they shall return shall â—e somewhat more distinctly explained 74. All Souls which are not perfect in Faith Righteousness and Holiness do return twelve times until they are perfected and that Soul which was made perfect in Faith and Holiness in some former reâ—olution tho' before the death of Christ needed not to return into a Mortal Life unless it were such that were to come again in the Flesh for some publick Benefit to all Mankind as in the case of Elias and some extraordinary Men. 75. Therefore we affirm that there is no necessity for many of the Prophets and Saints to live again after they have slept in the Lord before Christ's Incarnation much less is such a Revolution to be affirmed after the coming of Christ because the faithful that dye in the Lord rest from their Labours 76. But 't is proved that some imperfect Souls must necessarily make 12 Revolutions or Returns as well from those 12 Hours the Labourers wrought in the Field as that the day of every Souls Visitation contains 12 Hours according to the words of Christ are there not 12 Hours in the Day Work whilest you have the Day then because four Watches of the Night contains 4000 Years from Psal. 90. v. 4. and eveâ—y Watch three Hours again this is proved from those 12 Faces and 4 Wheels in Ezekiâ—l Chap. 1. v. 10. 77. But because the 12 Revolutions of the Souls are not compleated in less than 4000 Years which are all to be finisht at the end of the future Millenium therefore all Souls began their Revolutions in the year of the World 274. 78. All which and much more this following Table will clearly exhibit to the Eye The Explanation of the Table 1. The first Column contains 7000 years of the World as it were devided into 21 hours whâ—â—eof each contains 333 years 2. The eight Column at the right Hand contains the Revolutions of Souls from the first â—o the twelfth â— The tenth Column contains the intervals of the siâ— Sâ—als from the Resurrection of Christ to the year about 6000. 4. The eleventh Column contains 7000 years of the World as aforesaid but something disposed in a different Order 5. The twelfth Column contains the names of Faces in each Revolution 6. The second Column contains 12 Revolutions of Souls from the beginning of the World to the year of the World 3996. 7. The third Column contains the Râ—volutions of Souls from the year of the World 3â—3 to the year of the World 4329 and so thence forward to the year of the World 6740. 8. Now because all the Souls that come into the World have 3996 or 4000 years to fulfill their twelve Revolutions in if they are not perfect in goodness therefore all Souls came into the World and begun their first Revolution between the beginning of the World and the year of the World 2744 for if 3996 be added to the number 2744 the sum will be 6740 beyond which the Revolution of Souls doth not extend 9. Those Souls which came into the World from the beginning thereof made their twelfth and last Revolution about the year of the World 3996. 10. Therefore after the year 3996 some Souls were not to come into the World any more till the beginning of the Millenium if they were holy and not till in the exact Millenium if they were Evil and not yet purged 11. And thereforâ— Christ ought to offer himâ—elf to God the Father a Sacrifice for the Sins of all Mankind about the year of the World 3996 otherwise they who had finished their 12 Revolutions would have had no benefit of his Sacrifice if he had come later 12. And finallyâ— because a great many Souls have accomplish'd their Râ—volution between the year 3996 and 432 therefore since Christ's Resurrection from the Dead no Man without some particular divine Revelation cou'd be certain whether he should come again into the World to have an opportunity of Repentanceâ— and therefore none by the aforesaid Doctrine can or ought to indulge themselves into a wicked Life in hopeâ— to come again into the World becâ—â—se he cannot certainly know whâ—â—â—er he â—hall or notâ— 13. But no Man that dy'd in utter impenitence after the year of the World 5661 is expir'd can redeem his former mispent time tho' he shou'd come into the Word within the interval of the blessed Millenium so as to enjoy the happiness of the Millenium or obtain the Resurrection of the just in this World for truly the Millenial Happiness and Resurrection of the just is ordained and appointed as a reward for such who have heretofore 〈◊〉 a Holy Life before the beginning of the Millenium which was signified by this Type that it was not lawful for the Israelites to gather Manna on the Sabbath Day therefore none may or ought to deâ—er the amendment of his Life to another time because this present time is the last tâ—at is granted to any in this World to obtain Salvation 14. But because before the death of Christ Men might abuse this Doctrine of the Souls Revolution as they may now in some measure therefore according â—o the ordination of Divine Wisdom it came to pass that the said Doctrine â—or the mosâ— paâ—t lay conceal'd as an hidden Mysâ—ery and was not to be unlock'd to any but good Men which nevertheless may now without danger and indeed ought to be revealed for it is of great use to convince the Iews and to demonstrate more clearly other Heads of the Christian Religion 15. For from the aforesaid Doctrine the justice of God in punishing the wicked and rebellious is plainly demonstrated â—or seeing all the wicked and rebellious have sinned against God a thousand years whilst they lived in a Body of Flesh therefore it is just that they shou'd be punished in Hell fire 7000 years after the end of this World for so God who made all things in number weight and measure hath also limited a number and measure to the Torments of the damned that every rebellious and incorrigible Sinner may be punished seven fold which
excepted which is more illustrated by this Hypothesis there are sundry other places of Scripture which seem to be very much illustrated by the said Hypothesis noâ—withstanding that where Christ is said to have once appeared in the end of the World to purge away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself because indeed that Soul bore the name of Christ and Lord only in his twelfth Revolution For neither Abel nor Isaac or any other of those 12 Revolutions was called Christ nor ought any of them to bear the dignity or Character of Christ till they had performed their 12 Revolutions whereby that Soul ought to be fitted and prepared to Assume this excellent Title and Dignity Wherefore it is true that Christ was but once born in the Flesh and but once suffered for the Sins of all Mankind even according to the aforesaid Hypothesis because Christ did not assume that Soul in a personal unity as the seed of Abraham till the 12 Revolution 12. Lastly because Moses foretold that God would raise up a Prophet to the Israelitish People from amongst their Brethren like unto him The Word raise up seems to intimate that the Soul of the same Prophet had lived before in the Flesh yea was at time living in the Flesh. Moreover the aforsaid Hypothesis if it shouâ—d gain admittance would arm us with the most effectual Argument to convince the Iews that that was the very Messiah who was Born of the Virgin Mary and suffered under Pontius Pilate For he ought not to have come sooner nor later into the World than he did because if he had come sooner he could not have perform'd his Revolution oâ— 3996 years 〈◊〉 ought not to come later because 〈◊〉 some Souls would have finâ—shed all their Revolutions before the Messias was come and so would have been frustrated and disappointed of the Fruit of his coming which could not be 107. But laying aside the aforesaid Hypothesis still the Argument remains as strong as before to convince the Iews that the Messias ought not to have come later into the World then he actually did The Iews themselves deny his coming sooner because indeed if he had come later then certain Souls would have compleated their 12 Revolutions before he came and so would have reaped no benefit by the Messias coming into the World 108. This Argment will be more forcible to convince the Iews because the Iews themselves do acknowledge the Revolution of Souls to live divers times in the Flesh altho' they are ignorant of the number of those Revolutions yet they expect that all shall at last be rais'd up and restor'd to â—ife in the days of the Messias that they may enjoy the Benefits of his coming when he shall come Now if it can be made appear to them from the Old Testament which they acknowledge and believe that there are 12 Revolutions of humane Souls living in a Body of Flesh and neither more nor less even till they are at length perfected in a good or evil I think we need not doubt but may positively conclude that the Iews at leastwise all who are ingenious and covet in any Measure or Degree the knowledge of the truth will be convinced that the Messias is come and in the next place believe his coming in the Flesh that he suffered Death and rose again from the Dead and in believing be converted and become true Christians which God of his Mercy hastâ—n and accomplish Amen 109. Paul in 1 Cor. 15.51 saith We shall not all sleepâ— but we shall be all changed in which Words he plainly hints that some of the Saints shall sleep after they shall be borâ— aâ—ain in the Flesh and be again rais'd from 〈◊〉 â—â—ead this indeed is affirm'd of 〈…〉 Elâ—as â—ho are to come into the 〈…〉 Yeaâ—s before the Millenium and 〈…〉 in the Flesh who shall prophâ—â—â— three Years and an half in the Worâ—d and chiefly to the Iews and People 〈◊〉 Israel which three Years and an half being expir'd they are to be kill'd by the Beast and in three days and an half rais'd up to Life again in the same Bodies wherein they were slain and being thus rais'd up to Life they shall not remain on Earth but ascend into the Heavens and there remain with Christ till the end of the World and then indeed they shall come with him in the Clouds of Heaven 110. And that those two Witnesses Rev. 11. are those two Prophets who in a proper and litteral Sense were to be kill'd seems to me most evident which will be between the sixth and seventh Trumpet viz. in the end of the Interval of the sixth Trumpet as it is to be seen from the words of the Revelations Also the days of their Prophesie are 1260 Days not signifying so many Years but only so many common Days because there are not 1260 Years between the sixth and seventh Trumpet but only 260 and yet this admirable event will happenâ— between those Trumpets yea in the end of the sixth Trumpet for they shall be born and slain in the space of 45 Years before the beginning of the Millenium 111. That Elias shall come before the beginning of the Millenium appears from the words of Christ Elias truly shall come and restore all things 112. And lastly That Moses and Elias were to come and be slain and raised again from the Dead and then ascend into Heaven and remain with Christ the whole Millenium appears from Christ's Transfiguration in the Mount where were seen with him Moses and Elias and these are they whom God the Father hath ordain'd to sit the one at the Right Hand and the other at the Left Hand of Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven 113. Wherefore they are of an higher Order and Rank than all the Prophets and Apostles 114. Therefore diligently weigh and consider whether Abraham Isaac and Iacob that sit in the Kingdom of Heaven be not Moses Christ and Elias of whom Christ has for the greatest Dignity Consider also whether the same Moses was not Enoch and whether or no what is written oâ— Enoch and Elias that they should be translated into Heaven doth not answer truly to this Translation of Mâ—ses and Elias for in the first Translation they did not obtain the Resurrection of a glorified Body but it â—aâ—her happen'd to them in a figure for Châ—â—â—â— only was the first of all that attaiâ—â—â— the Râ—surrection of a glorified Body 〈…〉 is callâ—d in Scripture the first 〈…〉 among the Deâ—d and the first 〈…〉 the Resurrection from the Dead 〈…〉 ouâ— Loâ—d and Saviour Jesus 〈◊〉 arose â—irâ—t of all from the Dead 〈◊〉 â—ore to suffer Death then the first oâ— allâ— who sâ—â—ll arise after him is Moses and Elias and then the other Prophets and Apostles with all the Saints every one in his Orâ—er 115. And that those two Prophets and Wâ—â—nâ—â—ses in the Revelation were indeed Moses and Elias is tacitely signify'd in these Woâ—â—â— they shall have power to withhold the Rain
Fornication also thou hast such as â—mbrace the Doctrin of the Nicolaâ—â—ans which I have abhorred And indeed within this Interval there did not only mightily abound the Spiritual Fornication of Idolatry and Superstition but Carnal and Corporal also for then â—erâ— the Popes and Priests of the Romisâ— Church pâ—ohibited Matrimony Quest. 11. Whereâ—ore was that hidden Manâ—a promised to those that overcame in this Interval unless it was designed for the state of the Church then fled into the Wilderness or a solitary place For as God in times past â—ed the Childâ—en oâ— Israâ—l in the outward Wilderness with Manna from Heaven when the means of obtaining outward Bread was wanting so doth God promise to feed his faiâ—hful People in this third Interval with his hidden Manna which is the word of Life in their Hearts which â—hall be moâ—e largely communicated to them when they shall not have the fâ—ee liberty oâ— hearing the faithful Miniâ—ters of Christ. Moreover why in the first Interval was it promised to those that overcame to partake oâ—â—he Fruit of the Tree of Life in the midsâ— of Paradise but because in this first Interval the Kingdom of God was manifestly and clearly laid open like the coelestial Paradise the Church of God also flourished in this â—irst Interval like the said Paradiâ—e in the middle whereof Christ the Tree of Liâ—e brought forth in the Hearts of the Faithful his most amiable and salutiâ—erous Fruits of Divine Life Bâ—t in the second Interval by reason of the great Apostasie of the Proâ—essors of the Christâ—â—n Reâ—igion this Paradise of God was absconded and hidden and nevertheless it was promised to such as overcame that they should not be hurt by the second Death which by inverting the words is all one as to say they should eat of the Fruit of the Tree oâ— Life therefore was a Promise made unto them that they should not be hurt by the second Death because in this interval the greatest part of Christians so called by reason of their Apostacy from the primitive purity were to suffer the punishment of the second Death Quest. 12. Doth not the Name or Character of the Church of * Thyatira of Thyatira â—uitably agâ—ee with the Church within the fourth interval to wit from the year of Chrisâ—s Resurrection 1000 to the year †33 31 43. 1332 Now Thyatira signifies a Sacrifice of Labour and indeed this Church is commended for her Works her Charity Ministâ—ry Faith and Pâ—tience and the latter exceeded the former which Praise or Commendation certainly was only applicable to a small number of the faithâ—ul in the said Interval which lay hid as a little Wheat in a great heap of Chaff or as a little Gold is hid in much Dross And was not the Idolatâ—y and Superstition of this Age which more abounded in this than in the precâ—eding Ages plainly foretold in the enâ—uing Woâ—ds viz. that the Church of Thyatira permitted this Woman call'd Iezabel who call'd her self a Prophetess to teach which indeed did seduce the servants of God to commit Fornicaâ—ion and to eat things oâ—â—ered to Idols Now what may we understand by the Woman Iezabel except it be the Universal Body of false Teachers and Preachers who Taught the People their foul and abominable Superstition and Idolatry to wit the Adoration of Images worshipping of Saints Angels and Men departed And tho' divers in many places did protest and contend against such impieties nevertheless many winked too much at it and tolerated those things yea imitated others therein for â—ear And they that bare witness against such things remained nevertheless in Society with those that committed them for the most part neither did they distinguish and separate themselves â—rom them as they ought and therefore are polluted by them and so made partakers with them in their Sins Quest. 13. Wherefore in this fourth inteâ—val is the Morning Star promised to such as shall overcome and power over the Nations to rule them with a rod of Iron and to break them in pieces like a Potters Vessel unless it were to signifie that the obscure and long expected Ruin and Destruction of Antichristian Darkness which had over-shadowed the Earth for almost 1â—00 Ye draws towards a Peâ—iod for three quarters of the night as it were three Watches were then elapsed and there remained but one fourth part to come And even as the Morning Star appears in the East before the rising of the Sun bringing the good tidings of the approaching Day so there was a divine Morning Star given according to the promise of the Blessed God made to the faithful within this Interval touching Mundane affairs many of whom prophesâ—ed of this day and of the approaching Glory of the Lord which was to be revealed And whaâ—â—lashing and ruptures oâ— Nations happened in the following Interval occasioned by Horrible and Bloody Wars the History of our present times do partly and partly what we have seen with our Eyes do clearly enough demonstrate and more will follow in a short time which clashings and ruptures of Nations are not to be imputed to any carnal Sword which the faithful Servants of God shall use for the faithful will in no wise use a Sword or carnal Power for the power and might of God in his faithful Saints together with their Light and Life which they shall in a full degree exert will â—ffect it and confound the World and worldly Men and raise them up one against another and hence it is that great and terrible Wars shall â—ollow the larger maniâ—eâ—â—acion of Divine Light and Knowledge CHAP. III. QUest 14. Doth not the Name or Character of the Church of Sardis excellently agree to the State of the Church in the fifth Interval viz. from the year after Christ's Resurrection 1333 1 â— to the year 1666 2 â— For Sardis Sardis what signifies as much as a precious Stone of a Flesh colour now was not the Churches Reformation which began about the year of Christ's Nativity 1366 hereby describ'd And doth not the Flesh colour of this Stone evidently declare unto us that Church call'd the reformed Church had in her too much Flesh or too much of a fleshly nature and would be for the most part more of a Carnal than of a Spiritual Nature and more in the Profession of the truth than in the real possession of it And therefore it is argued she hath a name that she lives and yet is dead and that her Works were not perfect before God however there are some few who are said not to have defiled their Garments and to them the Lord has promised they shall walk with him in white because they are worthy but the publick and visible Reformation of the Church began about the Year of Christ's Resurrection 1333 which was from the year of his Nativity 1366 7 for then was Iohn Wickliffe an English-man of Oxford raised up who preached against the Corruptions of the Romish Church and about *.
8. Glory 9. a Foundation 10. a Kingdom And it is the Opinion of some Mystical Men that when we are come to Malcuâ—h â— that Blessed age of the Millennium will begin and the greatest part of those Hebrew names are found written in 1 Chron. 29 1â— and others in other places of Scripture Quest. 21. What is that Sea of Glass like unto What the Sea of Glass is Chrystal which stood before the Throne Is it not the abâ—ndâ—nce of the Spirit for the Souls of the Faithful to Wash and Bath therein and to drink abundantly thereof and be filled for the Water of this Sea is not salt but sweet to wit the Water of eternal Life and was not that Sea which Solomon placed in the Temple a Type hereof Quest. 22. What are those 4 Beasts and What the 4 Beasts and 24 Elders are 24 Elders before the Throne Whether really the Order and Hierarchy of Angels as some think Or whether not rather the very Church of God or number of the Faithful redeem'd to God by Christ as it appearâ— Chap. 5. v. 9. which has it thus and the Elders and the Beasts Sung a new Song unto God saying Thou hast Redeem'd us to God by thy Blood from among every Tribe and from every Lanâ—guage Nation and People Qust 23. What may we What are the Eyes of the â—easts understand by the many Eyes of those Beasâ—â— Whether not the manifold Undâ—rsâ—anding and Wisdom of the Faithful in Spiritual things And do not their Eyes within and withouâ— or in the Circumâ—erence signifie that these Beasts have not only most intrinsick Knowledge of themselvesâ— but also are indued with great Judgment and Discretion whereby they clearly understand what is to be done in any case or emergency of Aâ—â—airs whatsoever Again what is to be understood by their Wings Whether so many Divine and Celestial Vertuesâ— by which they can ascâ—nd with Expedition and Alacrity as it were in â—light unto God and so readily and speedily execute his Divine Will finally wherefore are they said in times past to wit under the Law to have four Wings and aâ—terwards under the Gospel six Was it not by reason of greater Grace afterwards communicated under the Gospel Quâ—st 24. What are those Faces of â—he Beaâ—â—s whereof every one is â—aid to have â—our viz. the Face of a Bull on the Leâ—t â—and and the Face oâ— a Man and a Lyon on the Right side aâ—d a last of all the Face oâ— an â—aglâ— Do not these foâ—r Faces signifie the Souls or Lives of Men deriv'd from the four Woâ—lds afore-mention'd as the â—ó Nephâ—sh â—â—om Asia Tó Ruach from Ieziâ—ah Tó Nischmah from Briah Tó Chaja from Aziluth Now Nephesh or Pâ—yche seems to be â—roâ—erly sigâ—iâ—ied bâ— that of â— Bâ—llâ— Ruâ—â—h by a Lyon Nischmah by a Man and lastly Chaja by an Eagle And wherâ—fore are they said to be four but by reason of those 4 Faces Moreover what is to be understood by the 4 Wheels * The 4 Wheels of the 4 Beasts of those four Beasts Doth not each Wheel signifie the Revolution of some Age. For the Hebrew word Gilgal which is rendered Rota in Latin in English a Wheel is translated by the Hebrews Revolutio or Revolution therefore will not the aforesaid Revolution of an Age contain a Thousand Years which is one Day mysâ—ically taken according to Psal. 90. and 2 Pet. 3. For what is a Day more than the Revolution of the Sun in the space of 12 Hours And because according to the 90th Psal. before cited a Thousand Years are as a Watch of the Night and every Night contained 4 Watches and every Watch â— Hours therefore doth not the whole Night c contain 4000 Years and each Hour one third part of a Thousand Yeaâ—s that is d â—33â…“ Therefore will not the Wheels contain â—our Thousand Years as also why are they call'd Watches is it â—ecause every one of those â—aces in their proper Hours is excited and as it were awâ—kened in every respective Watch Quest. 25. Wherefore are there said to be the number of 24 Elders Doth not this number respect the 12 Patriarchs who were to remain as 12 Junctures or Seams of the Ancient Church together with the 12 Apostles who are likewise the 12 Junctures or uniting Bands of the Evangelical Church to signify the highest and strictest union of both Churches under one Head the Lord Jesus Christ For as 't is said there are 12 great Junctures oâ— connexions in the Body of Man and 70 small ones with which perhaps the 70 Disciples under the Gospel do correspond and 70 Souls of the House of Iacob under the Law who came into Egypt from whom afterwards so vast a Multitude of People arose CHAP. V. QUest 26. What is meant by the right Hand of * The right Hand of God God Hath God a right and left Hand according to the manner of Men which if he hath not as certainly he hath not yet seeing the Scripture here and elsewhere speaketh of God's right Hand is not something intended by this word bearing a certain Analogy to a Man's right Hand In which respect some do thus distinguish the aforesaid Divine Emanations viz. that some have an Analogy to the right Hand as Cochma Gedula Nezach others to the left Hand as Binah Gebâ—urah Hod others are in a mean as Kether Tiphereth Iesod Malcuth Quest. 27. What may we understand by the Book * What is meant by the Book Seal'd with seven Seals sealed with seven Seals which was in his Hand who sat on the Throne Whether the knowledge of great Events to come to pass in thâ— World from the time of Christ's Ascension to the end of the World even as other parts of Sacred Writ do either Historically or Prophetically declare unto us all the great Events and Transactions past from Adam unto Christ. Quest. 28 Why doth Iohn distinguish the 7 Seals in that order The 7 Seals that 6 immediately follow one another â—nd the sixth seems to reach to the Sabbath of the World but the seventh proceeds in an other Order as comprehending the half Hours silence and the Intervals oâ— the 7 Trumpets The â— Trumpets hath he not designedly and purposely done it to show us that the seventh Seal doth not entirely follow the other six buâ— signifies a new Order from Christs Ascenâ—ion to the end of the World or 200 Years Therefore do not the Intervals of the six Seals divide the said space of 2000 Years into six equal parts whereof each will contain 333â…“ And thus indeed the six Seals will denote the same Intervals of time with the seven Churches aforementioned and so make a Synchronism For most confess that there were divers Visions in this Book which were Synchronical or happen'd at one and the same time represented by distinct Visions even as those seven Years of Famine in Egypt was proposed to the King in two Visions altho' the said Visions
several orders of Scholars and Students called by the name of Monks and Friars which were received and believed on by the ignorant Multitude as so many divine Oracles Moreover also the Locusâ—â— that ascended out of the Bottomless Pit seem to belong to this Interval of time of which hereafter in its proper place Now these two last Intervals to wit the third and the fourth seem to have a very near relation and affinity one to another in respect of Ignorance Blindness Idolatry Superstition and many other abominable Evils Yet the fourth Interval was not so destitute of good Men nor so full of Ignorance and Darkness as the third for in the fourth Interval God raised up some Eminent and famous Men as were Bernardus Clarevallensis and Malachias also the Waldenses and Albigenses with whom do agree those of the Church of Thyatira Moreover also in this very Interval began the Turkish Empire when their Captains or Calaphi were constituted Emperors over them who were miraculously strong in many parts of the World and the first of these was Ottoman * Ottoman about the year 1297. about the year 1297. Quest. 35. What are those effects or events that happen when the fifth Seal is opened and what may be principally understood by them are they not the Souls of such as were slain for the word of God and the Testimony which they bore whom Iohn saw under the Altar meaning the Souls of all that were slain for their firm and constant Profession of the true Faith from the beginning of the World to the time of the fifth Interval viz. unto the year of Christâ—s Resurrection 333 And why did they desire of God so earnestly that he would revenge their Blood upon the Dwellers on Earth Was it because the Justice of God is as well glorified in revenging as his Mercy is in pitying and forgiving and was it not also because they knew that the time when the Blood of the Righteous that were slain should be revenged upon the Ungodly was to be joyned with that time in which all the Righteous were to receive an hundred fold Reward which Christ promised them in the first Resurrection when they should be restored and raised to Life again Now why it should stand with God's Justice to revenge the Blood of those that were slain for many Ages past not only three or four Generations as in Deut. but more than an hundred Generations ago upon the Inhabitants of the Earth who are not as yet born or in being upon the Earth is a question that demands a clear Explanation Quest. 36. Wherefore was it said to those Souls that they should rest viz. under the Altar and was not that Altar Christ until the number of their Brethren yet to be slain should be fulfilled And doth not this fifth Interval signifiâ— that there shall come a time of much and greaâ— Tâ—ibulation to the Servants and People of God and that many shall be put to Death within this Interval in a manner during the whole space from the year of Christ's Resurrection 1333 to the year 1666 or from the year of his Nativity 1366 to the year 1700. And hath not this happen'd so in reference to the time past of this Interval And is it probable that near the same number of good Christians were slain by the Papists Turks from the year 1366 to this present day viz. from the days of Iohn Wickliff as were heretofore slain from Christ's Resurrection to the aforesaid term of years 1366 And whereas there yet remain some odd years of the said Interval to be fulfilled some think 18 others 16 and again other some 14 viz. from the year 1366 to the true year of Christ's Nativity 1700 whether or no we are not yet to expect more Tribulations and Persecutions will come upon the Servants of God till the said year 1700 Quâ—st 37. But the fifth Interval being expired whose end draws nigh may we not expect the true Church will enjoy some serene Interval and time of Rest and Tranquility until the laâ—t and greatest but shortest Peâ—secution under the seventh Head of the Beast not as yet fully to be accomplish'd till about the year 1774 Quest. 38. What are those effects or events which must be fulfilled in the World wheâ— the sixth Seal is opened that great Earthâ—quake the Sun darkned the Moon turn'â— like Blood the Stars falling from Heavenâ— the Heavens rolled up like a Scroll thâ— Mountains and Islands passing away Dâ— not all these things clearly signifie the enâ— and downfall of every Unjust Ungodly and Tyrannical Government and Dominiâ—on whatsoever that so at last the Kingdomâ— of Holiness and Righteousness may be seâ— up and established and God and his Chriâ—â— rule and govern by the holy Ghost in thâ— Hearts of Men in every Nation of thâ— World And is not this thing plainly signiâ—â—ed by Iohn him self in his following words And will not the time of this Interval undeâ— the opening of the sixth Seal contain thâ— common space of 333 Y. froâ— the year of Christ's Resurâ—â—â—ction 1666â— to * From the year 1666 to the year 2000. the year 203â— wherein God will fully râ—â—venge the Blood of his Servants that weâ—â— slain and are now in Heaven above upoâ— the Dwellers on Earth and so the Prayeâ— and Petitions of the Souls that cried undeâ— the Altar in the former Interval will be aâ—â—swered But some reâ—err the Iâ—terval of tâ—â— sixth Seal to Constanâ—ine's time and this theâ— do without any Authority for it appeâ—â— by many weighty Reasons and Circumstances that the sixth Seal was not as yet opened in the World neither was the Interval of this Seal begun CHAP. VI. QUest 39. Do not those other events and effects which will be produc'd at the opening of the sixth Seal plainly demonstrate that the sixth Seal will reach even to the 1000 Years Sabbath of the World What are the 144000 which were sealed in their Foreheads from every Tribe of the Children of Israel Are they not the first Fruits of the Saints who attain the first Resurrection from the Dead in the future Millennium and finally are not the 144000 the same with those mentioned in the 14th Chapter Moreover are they not really Israelites as to their Race or Stock 12000 being taken from every Tribe of Israel altho' many other of the Israelitish Race together with many other of the Servants of God shall hereafter receive the same Reward and Felicity of the â—irst Resurrection And again What is that great Multitude of all Nations Tongues and People which no Man could number standing before the Throne and the â—amb which were cloath'd in white Garments and bore Palms in their Hands Are they not all the Saints raised to Life again within the sixth Interval not only those who lived in the preceding Intervals since Christ's Resurrection but even all that have ever lived since the beginning of the World who came out of great Tribulation which they suffered in their
preceding Lives but then they shall never hunger nor thirst any more neither shall the Sun or the heat thereof touch them for the Lamb who is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them and lead them to Fountains of Living Water and God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes And doth not this State belong to that place in the Revelations ch 21 and 22 And are not both States the same both that which is here and that which is there described which will be the State of such as have attained to the Resurrection before described Quest. 40. Wherefore is that number oâ— 148000 which is the 12000 of every Tribe of Israel distinguished from that great mulâ—titude as well of Iews as of other Nations who shall hereafter obtain the same kind of Reward Is it because those 14400â— Rev. 14.4 are the â—â—rst Fruits who will have the chiefest place in the first Resurrection of the Dead and after the first Fruits will follow a great Multitude of God's Elect of all Nations every one in his order as it shall please God to ordain it according to the determination of his infinite Wisdom for doth not Paul say positively That every one shall be raised in his own order and therefore all are not to be raised up or recall'd unto life at once even as Men now do not come into the World all at once but in a successive order one after another according to their proper Generations best of all known to God Quest. 41. Will not all the Saints of God or first Fruits Prophesyed of and all others that follow aferwards attain this first Resurrection from the Dead within the sixth Interval viz. from the Year after Christ's Resurrection 1666 to the Year 2000 And so all live compleatly 1000 Years after their first Resurrection before the end of the World the whole Age of the World containing 7000 years Whereas if any of them should be raised before the sixth Interval the end of the World would come before that Age oâ— a 10â—0 years which they were to live which is contrary to the Scriptures And was not this Mystery prefigured by the Sabbath under the Law which began in the evening or in the latter part of the sixth day and which was also shadowed out by the Manna which was to be gathered on the sixth day but on the seventh day it was unlawful to gather any Manna Quest. 42 Who are those four Angels whom Iohn saw standing on the four corners of the Earth to whom power was given to hurt the Earth and the Sea which yet they could not do 'till that number 144000 was sealed Are they not Angels in a proper sence to whom power is given from God to execute his most Holy and Righteous Judgments on the Earth And may not those corners of the Earth peradventure signifie four parts of the World Ex. gr Asia Europe Africa and America whereof each may have his Angel And what are those four Winds or Spirits which the four Angels aforesaid withheld What are the Winds or Spirits by which Restriction the Earth was to be hurt Whether or no by these four Winds or Spirits good Angels may not be meant and by the 4 first evil Angels And thus doth it not appear that different parts of the World have their proper Aâ—gels as well good as evil attending them one contending against another The good to benefit Men the evil to injure them even as Men have lived either well or ill And are not these good or bad Angels sent and appointed as Guardians and Governours over them CHAP. VIII QUest 43. What is to be understood by that half Hours The half Hours silence Silence and by those seven Trumpets which the seven Angels sounded successively at the opening of the seventh Seal Moreover whether or no the seventh Seal might not begin at Christ's Resurrection for otherwise would not the seven Woes and Pâ—agues of the Trumpets happen in that most blessed Age the Sabbath of the World which is very absurd and contrary to the words of Scripture in the Revelations when as The seventh Trumpet the seventh Trumpet will bring us unto the 1000 years Reign of the Saints as is very evident from Revel chap. 11. v. 1 16 17 18 19. And will not every Trumpet have an equal and distinct Interval of time Which seven Intervals of the Trumpets and half hours silence added together do they not make up 2000 years from the Resurrection of Christ Now if it appears from the best computed Chronology that the seventh Trumpet commences at the year of Christ's Resurrection 1740 and reaches to the year 2000 after his Resurrection so as to contain the space of 260 Years and will not every one of the seven Trumpets contain the same space fo years viz 26â— and so the whole time of the Trumpets will contain 1820 years which substracted from 2000 the remainder will be 180 the number of years that ought to make up the half hours silence And it was upon a good reason that Iohn said that space of silence was as it were half an hour for he did not term it a precise or just half hour for a precise or jâ—st mystical half hour is 166â…” because an intire mystical hour is 333â…“ But this term of Year exceeds that precise half hour by 14 common Years which are of small moment viz. about two Minutes and a little more Quest. 44. Do not the Effects or Historical Events compleatly concur with the aforesaid Intervals of the Semihorary silence and the 7 Trumpet for if to that time of silence which lasted as it were half an hour we add 1â—0 Years from Chriâ—â—'s Resurrection which from his Nativity makes 214 may not all that time be call'd a time oâ— silence as to the inward State of the Church tho' she did suffer some Persecution outwardly for within that time did not the Angel offer much Incense with the Prayers of Saints as Iohn declared notwithstanding the hard Debates that arose about the year 198 between certain Bishops about the time of celebrating the Passeover for that was in a manner little or nothing in comparison of those great Calamities which afterwards invaded the very Heart of the Church And within the space of 200 Years after the Birth of Christ there was a time of great inward Peace and Tranquility among true Christians even when they were outwardly pressed with grievous Persecution and in those days there was a signal Zeal of Piety and Devotion and their Prayers flowed from the Hearâ— assisted by the Holy Ghost witness Terâ—ulliâ—n who lived at that time Therefore those dead and empty Forms of Pâ—ayer drawn from Books and appointed to be readâ— was not as yet known to the Church Quest. 45. What may we underâ—â—and by the Hail †What the Hail was and Fire mixt with Blood and sent uâ—on the Earth at the sound of the first Trumpet Doth not the Fire
and Hail signifie great Strife and Contention that arose among the Members of the Church within this Interval which indeed did very much injure and prejudice the tender Branches of Celestial and Divine Life among Christians as Iohn said the third part of the Trees were consumed with Fire and all the green * Grass Grass was burnt up Now by the †Trees Trees are not the stronger and as it were â—ounder Christians to be understood and by the Grass such as are more feeble and unsound And how exactly do these Predictions agree with the first Interval of the seven Trumpets viz. from the year of Christ's Nativity 214 to the year 474 For how miserably during all this time was the Church afflicted with the Debates and Controversies of divers Bishops and Presbyters that erred from the true Faith of Christ such as were Novatus Sabellius Samosatenus * Authors of Heresie Manes Arrius Donatus Macedonius Apollinaris Pelagius Nestorius Eutyches all these were so many principal Authors of Sects and Heresies within this Interval whose Heresies and false Opinions wherewith they broke the peace of the Church would be too tedious here to recite †Fire mixt with Blood And was it not Fire mixt with Blood when many of those Sects and Heresies killed others call'd Christians and their Brethren with the Sword Quest. 46. What ought we to understand by the great * The Mountain cast into the Sea Mountain cast into the Sea by which the third part of the Sea turn'd into Blood within the Interval of the second †The second Trumpet Trumpet from the year 474 to the year 734 Doth not this apparently signifie the Defection and Apostasie of many â—rom the Christian Faith which seemed like some great Mountain as the Roman Church was at that time And behold how this great Mountain burns with the Fire of Envy and Malice and tumbles into the Sea and turns the third part thereof into Blood involving a great part of the Roman Empire in Destruction War and Blood-shed as indeed it fâ—ll out For in the greatest part of this Interval much Blood was spilt insomuch that Rome was burnt and pillag'd about the year 550 by Totila and all Italy about that time was miserably wasted and destroyed by the Goths and Lombards are not all these most just punishments inâ—licted by God on the Roman Church for their Apostasie And that she lifted her self above all other Churches and set up her Bishops above all other Bishops of the World and this proud Usurpation of the Roman Bishops over others quickly began after the days of Zosimus Boniface the first and Coeleâ—tine the first who assumed to themselves this Pâ—eheminence and Authority over their Brethren a little moâ—e than 400 Years after the Birth of Christ yet could not absolutely obtain it untill the Year 606 when Boniface the third was constituted the first Universal Bishop over all Churches by the Authority of Phocas who killed his Master the Emperor Mauritius and by villainy assumed his place Quest. 47. What may we understand by the great Star * What the great Star meanâ— falling from Heaven on the Rivers of Water and turning the Waters into Wormwood within the Interval of the third Trumpet viz. From the Year 734 to the Year 994 was it not a greater degree of Apostasie the great Star that fell from Heaven on the Riveâ—s signifying some evil Angel inspiring the Doctors and Preachers of the Roman Church with the worst and most pernicious Doctrines which Doctrines certainly were like to Wormwood for bitternesâ— And did not this evidently come to pass at what time the Bishops and Doctors of the Roman Church eagerly preach'd up the Pope's Supremacy and Jurisdiction above all other Bishops likewise they set up and established a multitude of humane Traditions as Masses to be said for the Dead that Men should be confin'd by an Oath or a Vow to a Monastical Life that Priests ought not to Marry with many more of the like nature Besides also within this Interval the Popes and Bishops of Rome did mightily promote the Adoration and Worship of Images and thus not without great reason was the third part of the Waters said to be turn'd into Wormwood and it is affirmed that many dyed by drinking those bitter waters But some there were preserv'd alive who did not drink of those bitter waters but of the pure Water of the word of eternal Life and sound Doctrine and indeed these were the Witnesses of God in those corrupt times such as were Adelbertus a French-Man Clement and Samson Scotch-Men with sundry others in divers Kindoms and Provinces of the World Quest. 48. How must we understand that the third part of the Sun Moon and Stars were smitten within the Interval of the fourth Trumpet viz. From the Year 994 to the Year 1254 Doth not this signifie that the Grandure and Majesty of Emperors and Christian Kings should be very much eclipsed within this Interval And did not this certainly come to pass when the Pope challeng'd to himself and proudly usurp'd Power and Authority over divers Emperors Kings and Princes in the whole Christian VVorld And indeed obtained it Gregory the seventh otherwâ—se call'd Hildebrand excommunicates anâ— deposes the Emperor Henry the fourth abouâ— the year of Châ—ist 1073. About the yeaâ— 1100 Paschal the second ceases to reckoâ— the date by the years of the Empire bâ—â— contraâ—y to the ancient custom begins â— new Account from the Popes ex gr Sayinâ— in this year of thâ—s or that Pope instead oâ— this or that Emperor Pope Hadrian thâ— fourth bestowed â—reland upon Henry the seâ—cond King of England as a Gift for whicâ— the said Henry became tributary to the Popeâ— and every Family in the whole Kingdom waâ— oblig'd to pay to the Pope one Penny per annâ— Pope Alexandâ—â— alias Barbarossa set hiâ— Foot upon the Neck of Frâ—derick the Emperor Innocent the third takes care to constitute Otho Emperor and afterwards exâ—communicates him Iâ—hn King of Englanâ— was deposed by the Pope and as some affirm poyson'd at last by some oâ— the Pope's Emissaries Gregory thâ— Ninth Gregory the Ninth An. 1233. who was Pope abouâ— the year 12â—3 said there werâ— two gâ—eat Lights the Pope and the Emâ—peâ—or the Pope like the Sun and the Emâ—peror as the Moon this so vexed the Emâ—peror that he call'd the Pope Antichrist Likewise about the year 124â— Frederiâ—â— was deposed by the Pope's Authority 〈◊〉 not all these Transactions wiâ—h many moâ—â— clearly explain to us the effects of the †The fourth Trumpet fourth Trumpet Quest. 49. What may we understand by the Star that * A Star falling on the Earth The fiâ—th Trumpet fell from Heaven to the Earth within the Interval of the fifth Trumpet to which was given the Key of the bottomless Pit and aâ—ter the bottomless Pâ—t was opened there arose a smoake from thence c. And what may be thought the