ΕΙΡΗÎΙΚΟΠOR A Peaceable consideration of CHRIST's Peaceful KINGDOM on EARTH to come Rev. 20.4 Rev. 5.10 To be added to the ΠΡΟΔΡΟΜΟΣ or Fore-runner WHEREIN The Proof and Confirmation that such a Kingdom shal be is abundantly established upon a seven-fold foundation more particularly set down in the next ensuing leaf Whereunto is added an Appendix concerning the first Resurrection spoken of Rev. 20.4 5 6. compared with Rev. 11.18 manifesting it to be of the bodily Resurrection of the Just to begin not long after the glorious appearance of Christ and his said Kingdom Breifly and plainly set down for the benefit of all faithful Christians Ezek. 37.24 25. And David my servant shall be King over them and they shall all have one shepherd they shall also walk in my judgments and observe my statutes and do them And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant wherein your Fathers have dwelt and they shall dwell therein even they and their children and their childrens children for ever and my servant David shall be their Prince for ever Dan. 7.21 22. I beheld and the same horn made war with the Saints and prevailed against them Vntil the Ancient of days came and judgment was given to the Saints of the most High and time came that the Saints possessed the kingdom 2 Thess 2.8 And then shall that wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming Among the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or forms of Doctrine in the Council of Nice by Gelas Cyzicen History thereof this is recorded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is We expect according to the holy Scriptures the manifesting unto us the appearing and Kingdom of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ and then the Saints of the most High as Daniel saith shall take the Kingdom Answerably hereunto our Received Nicene Creed From thence he shall come at the end of the world to judge the quick and the dead as it is Rev. 11.18 and then follows Whose Kingdom shall have none end as before explained Hoc Omega suis MVNVS Alpha tulit Printed in the Year 1665. THE CONTENTS THe Proof and Confirmation That such a Kingdom of Christ shall be is established in the sequel of this Treatise upon the sevenfold foundation ensuing First From a frame of Christian Doctrine containing the general consideration of Christs three great Offices of Mediatorship as the great Prophet Priest and King of his Church in seventeen Theses with six inferences drawn from them page 3 to 8. Secondly By a visional representation of Old and New Testament Doctrine suitable thereunto from the fourth and fifth Chapters of the Book of Revelations setting forth God the Fathers glory as Creator and the Lambs as Redeemer whence are also other seven inferences deduced to confirm Christs Kingdom to come on earth p. 9 to 35. Thirdly By divers evidences and expressions in those four Apostles writings to whom Christ in a special manner manifested his Kingly glory viz. to Peter James and John at his tranfiguration and Revelation to John and to St. Paul at his conversion from whose writings six several senses of Christs comings are observable since his coming in the flesh p. 41 to 56 Fourthly From the eminent Chronologers of the holy Ghost who writ of Satans three Babels namely Moses of the Tower of Babel Daniel of the Monarchy of Babylon and St. John of the mystical Babylon all which come to their utter confusions at the said setting up of Christs Kingdom on earth p. 57 to 71 Fifthly From the other Prophets of all times with the Psalms in the Old Testament and all sorts of Gospellers in the New Chap. 6 7 8. Sixthly By other Arguments drawn from the Lords prayer and the three usual received Creeds or Articles of Confessions of Faith p. 90 to 95. Seventhly From the most ancient Orthodox Fathers of the most pure primitive times who owned this truth in its untainted purity p. 96. All which with many other useful particulars to be observed occasionally set down in reference to Christs personal reign with his raised Saints will more fully appear First by the contents of each Chapter premised and then by the Chapters themselves in order unto which for brevities sake I refer the Christian Reader In the Appendix the bodily resurrection of the Saints is first explained from the distinct consideration of those two parallel Texts of sacred Scripture Rev. 11.18 and 20.4 5 6. confirmed from sundry Texts of Old and New Testament and many weighty considerations tendered to manifest that first resurrection there spoken of to intend the bodily resurrection of the Saints at that very time whereunto that Revelation of Jesus Christ for his Churches benefit hath particular reference Further shewing that the Antient Doctors and Fathers of the primitive times of the Gospel were of that judgement A TABLE OF CHRONOLOGIE BEcause the help of some Chronologie is very needful to the understanding of mystical Prophesies in the holy Scriptures especially for such as this small treatise is intended for and to that end they may neither be troubled or discouraged with too large or too many or curious notions or varieties of mens opinions concerning the order of times I shall here labour to set down such a general soantling for the use of ordinary capacities that by the help hereof together with what is all along set down ofttimes in the following Treatise they may in some sort have pointed out to them the times the things they therein read of have particular reference unto And this we shall indeavour to set down First More generally until the beginning of the four Monarchies set forth Dan. 2. and Dan. 7. 1. By the great Image Chap. 2. 2. By the four Beasts Chap. 7. Again secondly To consider particularly the times following them 1. Then more generally In the first place consider what Moses compendiously sets down before the general Deluge for the space of 1656. years of the old world as ordinarily it is computed 2. From Noahs flood to the promise made to Abraham about the year of the world Anno 2030. is 374. years Exod. 12.4 3. From the promise to Abraham to the Israelites departure out of Egypt 2460. is 430. years 4. The beginning of the Assyrian kingdom by Nimrod about 1788. which continued to the Chaldean Monarchy by Nebuchadnezzar about 1700. years 5. Take notice the Temple of Solomon was begun about the 3000. year of the world as learned Dr. Usher computes it from whence to the Captivity of Babylon he reckons likewise 395. years being in the year 3395. And may not the Antitype of Solomon and his Temble be glorious at the end of 3000. years more 6. I shall here adde a general computation of Bucholcherus for the apt concinnity thereof reaching first to the Captivity of Babylon and through all following times 1. Israel saith he
shew me such a way to resolve those difficulties both by the several sences of Christs coming in the New Testament and to open to me a way of interpreting of what texts seemed contrary so as I had no president that I know of and yet so evident as I conceive cannot with good reason be denied and as for what is said of his intercession if Christ will perform that work thence forward by a presential intercession as formerly he did by a supernatural in his mosteminent improvement of his Preistly Office in heaven so may be his and the Fathers good pleasure and that is all that can be said since no Scripture gainsays it Or how the remaining part of his Preistly Office shall thenceforth be performed is known to himself as of the Prophetical till that Preistly begun so eminently to be manifest but divers texts as was said seem to limit his sitting at God the Fathers right hand in heaven to his next appearance or beginning of his coming to judgement However any that are not satisfied De modo may safely in the interim resolve of this that such a glorious Kingdom of Christ upon earth shall be and for that the Seripture is both clear plentiful and a truth with much joy and thank fulness to be embraced though some cannot happily so fully be resolved in what manner Christ will appear to set it up though to me the Scriptures spoken of in the and of the Fore-runner makes it evident that it will be personal andwithal seriously without prejudice consider also what is said of Mat. 28. and Mat. 13. concerning the sence of the end of the world with divers other things of weight to such purposes as you may find Chap. 4. pag. 41 42 43 44 45 46. c. and so I conclude with my prayer for the guidance of Gods holy Spirit for all such as humbly and faithfully seek according to the rule of his sacred Word to be rightly informed in this particular To whom I as to that in special commend all such who is the sole-worker of faith in every branch of it for which his Word hath laid any foundation to be received in the season of it as it was even with the very Apostles themselves concerning the receiving of the Gentiles to grace first by miracles afterwards by the Word and all other means usually ERRATA PAge 3. line 1. r. after likewise p. 5. l. 2. r. Chap. 20. p. 8. l. 1. r. is the p. 15. l. 22. r. Psal 145. p. 24. l. ult r. is set forts p. 27. l. 2. r. of the roul p. 35. l. 3. r. personal p. 42. l. 18. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 47. l. 13. r. after end p. 48. l. 33. r. Saviours p. 49. l. 1. adde and them that were with him and Ibid. l. 19. r. Censers Ibid. l. 24. r. and an eye p. 51. l. 3. adde of those three and of one p. 65. l. 25. r. to Saint Johns p. 73 74 75. falsly numbred at top p. 74. l. 27. r. their p. 75. l. 19. adde will p. 77. l. 1. r. for the spirit Ibid. l. 18. r. Testimonies Ibid. i. 24. r. others p. 81 spokan for spoken p. 94 l. 7. r. of truth CHAP. I. Of the Method and Order in handling the subject Which holds out a twofold consideration of Christs Kingdom on Earth First of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That it is Secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the things that belong to it Concerning the first seven things to be done I Confess by reason of the stream of Interpreters running contrary and the seeming disagreement with some articles of Christian faith I have been apt to decline any opinion of Christs raigning with his Saints the thousand years to come But since Gods divine providence by his word and spirit hath guided me into a more intense and serious consideration of the great emergencies thereof towards his Church in these latter times by whose especial grace upon search into those mystical Prophesies of Daniel the Revelation with other sacred Scriptures which doubtless hold out many things in reference thereunto I have found much satisfaction in such of Gods proceedings and by the series of times decyphered in the Revelation I see there is a necessity of finding some way of reconciling or removing such appearing difficulties or differences amongst good men For though some by interpreting the day of the Lord to be taken for the whole time of Christs raign upon earth from his first appearing to the end complexively in the sence St. Peter seems to speak of One day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day all which time they personally conceive him to be with his Church upon earth in his humane nature against which I shall by Gods assistance offer some reasons to be weighed in due place This then seemed to me to be a likely way to salve the difficulty I then upprehended c. For I conceive Christs raign these thousand years to be understood mystically for some wonderful manifestation of his Kingly power and dominion in his Church by the operation of his spirit although he remain in his humane nature at the right hand of God to make intercession for his people till the end of the world which may in regard of his infinite power and glory be manifest any other way he shall be pleased to magnifie himself gloriously in the world as before and since his incarnation some time he hath done But that he will in those times to come manifest himself in his Kingly glory and Majesty the Scriptures are so evident as it seems not to be questioned I shall therefore by his assisting grace and by the evidence and direction of his holy Spirit and truth endeavour to manifest the same to be hereafter in the thousand years of the flourishing state of his Church when Satan shall be bound under or about the seventh Trumpet in the considering of which we shall proceed in the order following by these ensuing steps First to consider the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that such a reign and Kingdom shall be Secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what belong to the said Kingdom and that first Spiritually secondly Temporally Concerning the first seven things are to be done 1. I shall lay down such Theses or Positions agreeing to holy Scripture and the Analogy of Faith as may much make way for Doctrines of this nature 2. I shall offer some reasons against the understanding of a personal reign of Christ in a bodily presence with his Saints on Earth 3. To endeavour to open the sence of the mystical and glorious reign of Christ which we understand according to Scripture sense and give some illustrations of it 4. To Parallel some mysteries in Daniel and Ezekiel with such things as are set forth in the book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ the King of Saints 5. To point
out how earnestly the Holy Ghost doth enforce the beleiving of what is set down in the last part of the Revelation strongly and frequently asserting the things in and about those times to be accomplished with calling in the Prophets Testimony 6. Since the Testimony of the Prophets is so earnestly called in for evidence of what is described to be to come in the thousand years in the three last Chapters of that book we shall endeavour to add some Prophesies suitable threunto and tender sundry Texts of the New Testament speaking to the like purpose 7. To make some profitable improvement of this Doctrine for all sorts of persons CHAP. II. Shewing how according to the eternal decree upon the fall of man the Office of Mediatourship was committed to the second person of the Trinity Jesus Christ the onely begotten Son of the ever living God to be executed in his three great Offices of a Prophet Priest and King not onely in respect of particular beleiving souls but in a general consideration more eminently in respect of the three great periods of the World 1. In his prophetical Office under the Old Testament revealing by his Spirit in his Messengers all the counsel of his Father concerning his Church 2. In His Priestly Office under the New Testament By offering himself an oblation for and after by making intercession for the sins of his people at the right hand of God And 3. will also execute his Kingly Office delivering them from all their enemies actually in this world at his appearing and in the thousand years unto the end of the world and thenceforth for ever THe first thing we named to be done See the quotations of Scripture added in the forerunner was the laying down of those Theses or positions agreeing to the holy Scripture and the Analogy of Faith that may make way for Doctrines of this nature which are these that follow First That as the infinite excellency of the nature and being of the Trin-Vne Dietie was everlastingly incomprehensible in it self saving onely so far forth as the same Divine essence hath been pleased to communicate any discovery of it self by word or works or both unto any creatures in Heaven or earth so hath the Trinity of persons in the Unity of the Divine essence both in the eternal decrees and in the execution of all joyntly in their order concurred and so will do from eternity through all times unto all eternity Secondly That all the glory of God the Father was by the eternal decree to be manifest in Jesus Christ his onely begotten Son the Lamb slain in the eternal decree of the Father before the foundation of the World was said and according to the said eternal decree the Holy Ghost one God co-essential and co-equal with the Father and the Son proceeds from the Father and the Son the Mediatour between God and man as the sole efficacious worker and accomplisher of all spiritual good in and for Men and Angels and all real good in all creatures which in their several orders and natures they were capable of receiving Thirdly Accordingly in the creation God made the world by his wisdom the eternal word Joh. 1. The Spirit sitting as it were upon the surface of the waters then covering the earth powerfully to produce the creatures then to be made and so both the Heavens with the Angels as Divines conceive and the earth were made the first day Gen. 1.1 as all that were made in the whole world afterward in the five following days which the word Elohim in the Plural number put with the Verb Barah in the singular number denoting the Trinity of persons in the unity of essence seems to declare whose concurrence in the making of man is likewise very remarkably exprest when God said Let us make man in our own image after our likeness c. Gen. 1.26 Fourthly The making of Angels in Heaven and man and all creatures in the world was in the execution of the eternal decree of the said incomprehenfibly glorious Trin-une Diety in their several orders natures stations and conditions Fifthly As no other but the holy and good will and pleasure of the infinitely glorious incomprehensible God was the reason and cause why they were all made absolutely as they were so that they should be for himself as his word witnesseth as their utmost end and no other inconsistent reasons or ends ought to be given or assigned by men Sixthly As the whole creation was all good suitable to the Author of it so the preserving ordering over-ruling and disposing of all creatures according to his good pleasure by his infinite wisdom power providence and goodness is not to be measured or judged by any scantling of any created capacity who will notwithstanding be justified in his saying and clear when he is judged there being in such his proceedings so many fathomless depths in respect of creatures which it is not lawful for any men to search into further then Gods word doth warrant them but in things not revealed or forbidden they are not to enquire Seventhly Since God according to his said eternal decree and good pleasure of his will at the fall of our first parents in Paradise revealed and testified his wonderful powerful grace That the blessedâ—eed of the woman should break the serpents head there is sufficient ground for ever to humble all mankind and for ever to exalt Gods free and rich grace therein and all men are thereby engaged to use all Gods means to obtain their part therein Eighthly According to the declaration of that wonderful rich and free grace of God for the salvation of his people and for carrying on of his great design therein as the Father Son and Holy Ghost by an eternal decree had purposed so to be wonderfully glorified in the powerful redemption and salvation of his elect people in such a way of free grace So in the creation of all things all sorts of creatures were made in a capacity to carry on that design and from that very period of their first being holily most wisely over-ruled and disposed of in reference thereunto and so ever since have been are and shall be most wonderfully holily and powerfully though many times secretly and unsearchably throughout all ages by the joynt concurrence of all the said three persons of the most sacred Triâ—ity in their order of working to the infallible perfecting and compleating of the said design decree and purpose Ninthly That the management and administration of the great work of Mediatorship between God and man ever since the said promised seed was revealed to our first Parents hath been committed to Jesus Christ the Son of God who in his Word commands all men to hear him by acknowledging receiving and obeying him Tenthly that the management and administration of Mediatorship between God and Man hath ever since been executed by Christ in his three great Offices wherein he and he onely is to appear most
attonement they expected to be accepted and so spiritually now Christ hath made all his servants in his true Church both the twenty four Elders and the four living wights Kings and Priests unto God and an excellent Kingdom by faith and grace they know they shall even upon earth injoy in due time as may appear in the next Chap. 5. Vers 10. We shall reign upon earth And so we have represented what is here said of Gods true Church under the Old Testament by the representatives thereof praising him as Creatour all which time it is to be observed that his holy Sabbath was kept in remembrance of God as creatour of Heaven and Earth and that he rested on the seventh day from his work of Creation which was by our Saviour in the New Testament changed to the first day of the week in remembrance of the work of our Redemption and for the honour of him our Redeemer who rose the first day of the week from the dead when he had finished that most glorious work c. A few things more I shall commend to your Christian consideration from the Old Testament before we come to speak of the fifth Chap. of the Revelation as to our forementioned purpose for whereas in the Vision concerning the Trinity of persons in the former Chap. the second person viz. God the Son to whom the great work of Mediatorship was committed being set forth as it seems by the Rainbow in sight like an Emerald which Rainbow plainly minds us both of the Flood and the Ark the Flood again holding out 1. Judgement to the Old World 2. Mercy to Noah and the new World Again the Ark both then and from Moses time evidencing Christs gracious presence with his people both in the Old and New world And the consideration of God the Sons execution of all the Mediatours great Offices as the great Prophet Priest and King of his true Church are so frequently set before Gods people in succession of times in the Church as the great thing to be eyed by them therefore besides the general respect of these three offices to the universal Church and the particular to every true beleiver in all times there seems a third respect to be much taken notice of in Holy Scripture of many special manifestations of the said three Offices of Christ in the several ages and conditions of his Church or rather of Christs so setting himself forth before his people in those several times in these three great Offices For as there hath been a most large time of his Prophetical Office under the Old Testament when Christ by a spirit of Wisdom and Revelation till his coming in the flesh revealed all his Fathers will And 2. According to his Priesty Office ever since And so 3. Will do in the third period under or after the seventh Trumpet in his Kingly office likewise as may happily be frequently observable in Scripture how by a remarkable divine hand there have been many shews hereof in many lesser periods First Even before the flood there were some shadowings of Christ in all his offices 1. Of Prophesie in that he revealed himself to the Holy Fathers of the first times by voyces visions dreams and the like what services would be acceptable to the Father 2. As a Priest in Enoch in that Enoch as Christ in the flesh came to do the Will of God in the body Heb. 5.10 Who as Christs type so walked with God he was translated as Christ when he had done his Fathers Will ascended into Heaven 3. As a King in Noah whom he fitted and inabled him so to preserve his Family and all them with him in the Ark when all his enemies were wonderfully and justly destroyed by the Flood Secondly Again after the Flood in Abrahams time Christ revealed his Fathers will to him as his Prophet calling him from his Fathers Idolatry teaching him to serve the true God as was agreeing to his will making him a King by subduing those Kings that had carried Lot captive and rescuing him and those that belonged to Lot yea in that he offered his Son Isaac he acted as a Priest and was blessed by Melchisedeck the Priest of the most high God who was likewise King of Salem of whose order of Priesthood Christ was to be who was without Father without Mother without beginning of days or end of life as the Apostle describes him Hebrews 7.3 But Thirdly more remarkably after God would have an instituted Church in the posterity of Abraham Isaac and Jacob to whom he had made and renewed his promise of Canaan and given them the Sacrament of Circumcision as a sign and seal of his free grace promised to them and had brought their posterity out of Egypt with an high hand and conducted them through the Red Sea to sacrifice to himself in the wilderness not as their Fathers had done formerly but as Moses told Pharoah as the Lord their God should afterwards teach them for they knew not how he would be served till they came into the Wilderness where he afterward appointed his instituted worship for till the making of that Covenant with Abraham and his seed the Sacrifices that had been used all along till then seemed as much to have had the nature of a Sacrament to strengthen and confirm the faith of the beleiving Antients in the Messiah to come for we read not of any other they had till Abraham as to typifie unto them that Christ was to dye for their sins But after Gods instituted Worship by Moses Ministry the said three great Offices of Christ seem to be frequently shadowed out Moses was his Prophet who is likewise said to be King in Jesurun and Aaron who was his mouth unto Pharaoh at first was afterwards actually the High-Priest the first type of Christ in that order and office but all along that Ministration till Sauls worldly Kingdom was set up in causeless discontent by the peoples corrupt will who would have a King instead of good Samuel and of God himself who told Samuel 1 Sam. 8. they had not cast off him but God likewise for they sought a King after their own corrupt will not seeking to know Gods pleasure therein which soon again fell when God had sought him a man even David whom God set up And when the Israelites were actually come out of Egypt and had miraculously passed through the Red Sea whereby was figured how by Baptism and spiritual Regeneration Gods people are brought out of the bondage of sin and Satan and so soon as they were come into the Wilderness which many ways shadows out the state of Gods people in the world c. then Moses as a Prophet makes known the Will of God to them Aaron as a Priest makes intercession to God for them and Christ himself as judicious Burgess proves as the great King gives his Laws in great Majesty and terrour for all things to be observed by his people though Moses was then
Testament and other pertinent Texts in the New it may by Gods goodness be easily finished Four main Pillars thereof there have been set up First by a frame of Doctrine tending this way whence sundry arguments according to Scripture might be drawn Secondly By a Visional representation of new and old Testament Doctrine sutable thereunto Rev. 4 5. chap. Thirdly By the passages and expressions of Scripture in the Apostles writings holding out such a Kingdom of Christ in one sence or other Fourthly By the frame of the main historical and prophetical Chronocles of the three eminent Chronologers of all times viz. of Moses Daniel and the Apostle John And now having through Gods special grace proceeded hitherto we shall endeavour a little to represent somewhat of that we hinted before concerning the three Babels in those three eminent Chronicles and according to their several distinctions in the several times made relation of 1. Of the Tower of Babel in Moses story 2. Of the Monarâ—â—y of Babel in Daniels time 3. Of the mystical Babel revealled to St. John being the feet and toes of the great Image Dan. 2. all which with the evil of them by Satans designs Christs Kingdom destroys to all their utter confusions according as St. Johns resolve 1 Joh. 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifest to destroy the works of the devil In all which three we may observe First Satans design in each of his Babels of confusion for wickedness shall not be established upon earth Secondly The way of Gods crossing and confounding his designs in them Thirdly Christs remedy against them all God promised Christ the Mediator to overthrow Satans first and great attempt against all mankind in our first parents Secondly Ever since Christ as Mediator hath been fitted to help his Church against all Satans attempts ever since that in his justice such emnity was put between the seed of the Serpent and the seed of the woman First The building the first Babel another instigation to pride lifting up man against God as at the fall because the people were before of one language and one speech and being then so long liv'd for many hundreds of years could largely relate at all times in all places and to all sorts of persons upon any occasion the works and wonders of God and what they had received concerning the Creation and fall of man and the promises of grace and what worship God had instituted among them from time to time Satan knew this was a great advantage to the first Fathers to fit them to serve God and glorifie his name which was the end of all his mercies and wonderful works therefore his design then seemed to be by tempting them by such pride and seeking their own glory by building a Tower to get them a name and as if they did emulate God himself to reach up to heaven and so to prevent their dispersion on the earth or drowning by another deludge that so by their abusing their oneness of language to provoke God they might by that means be deprived of that great benefit for Satan too well knows if men will be seduced to abuse the greatest mercies it s the ready way for them to lose them thereupon God confounds their pride in building their Babel and so deprives them of their former advantage of knowledge and happiness in their former oneness of language and by that confusion of tongues inflicted the saddest judgement upon mankind that ever befel them since the first fall taking from them thereby the advantage of Piety of commendable Policy and even in a great degree the exercise of Humanity and Civility and Satan hath improved the mischeif of this judgement manifold ways ever since through all ages which the stories of all times may set down large and sad Comments of by divisions quarrels wars and all manner of injuries and violence of parties against parties of several tongues and languages and consequently hindering Religion thereby as also by the hardness to get knowledge even with great study and labour and the danger when gotten to be abused to maintain Errors and Heresies and to eclipse the truth more often then to clear it as experience hath manifested whence endless mischeifs have proceeded through all times which we can now onely hint at But Christs help against this for the Church hath been by sending more largely the holy Spirit of Wisdom and Truth in his Church to reveal unto his servants and by them unto his people in all successions of ages such things as in the counsel of the Father he had to reveal And when he had finished the work of Redemption and once made his perfect oblation for the sins of his people he gave testimony of his helping as by a preludium the confussion of tongues at the first Babel by the gift of tongues to the Apostles Acts 2. when cloven tongues like fire sate upon each of them and by other gifts of the holy Ghost conferred on others in those primitive times as in a glimpse as it were to foreshew what he would do in his Kingdom for that people of the Jews who had but then their first fruits at that time come in to Christ and as it were to declare what he will more plentifully do when all Israel shall be saved and when they shall be a people of a pure language as the Prophet speaketh Zeph. 1.9 and when they shall be of one language and one speech and the Lord One and his Name One Zac. 14.9 as if then when Satan is cast into his prison his design in the confusion of Languages should end and utterly fail and thither seem those spiritual promises mainly to have their drift That they should not need to be taught any more to know the Lord Jer. 31.34 and that they should all be taught of God Isa 54.13 which is now onely in a lesser degree and but comparatively hitherto for the most part fulfilled unless in the Apostles times and such as were extraordinarily inspired but I shall onely here hint at these things 2. Satans design in the second Babel seems to be upon the advantage he had by the first to wit the division of tongues and confounding language for though God discovered and preserved all needful truth for his Church among such as were faithful and holy persons and all such needful knowledge by reason of those long liv'd first Fathers by a very few hands from Adam to Abraham might be conveyed as from Adam to Jared Enoch Noah and Melchisedech in Abrahams time which Melchisedech some conceive to be Shem the Son of Noah or by a few others yet after this when the Israelites became slaves under Egyptian bondage unworthily from men though happily they might have provoked God they might loose much of their traditional knowledge Yet withal it is remarkable that the Egyptians were famous for Hierogliphick learning happily by Josephs means who interpreted many Dreams and Visions which might occasion such
Christs Kingdom upon earth And so likewise Psalm 24. where the King of glory is to enter as seems probable the everlasting doors of the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven c. The 45. Psalm is eminently of Christs Kingdom under the type of Solomon and in part applied by the Apostle Heb. 1.8 And Psalm 46. of the like nature and so likewise the 48th and also the first part of the 50th and the latter part of the 53. The 67th seems wholly to be prophetical of the time of Christs reign But the 68. Psal contains much of the glory and grace of Christ then to be manifested And the latter end of the 69th is to the like purpose Psal 72. Is a very glorious illustration of Christs Kingdom above what could be fulfilled either in David or Solomon or any other but the Son of God who shall be feared through all generations in whose days righteousness and peace shall flourish so long as the Moon endures and shall rule to the ends of the earth and all Kings and Nations shall serve him and his name shall continue for ever and as long as the Sun endureth c. The 80. Psalm contains an excellent prayer for Gods Israel to use for the coming of the Messiah to take his Kingdom In the 89th such promises are made to David and his seed that could not be wholly fulfilled in any but Christ and his Kingdom And the 96. is likewise prophetical of the Kingdom of Christ and the 97. to the like purpose and the 99. contains high expressions of Christs reign and also the 102. The 110. Psalm is an eminent prediction of Christs Kingdom and applied often in the New Testament The 132. evidently concerns the Kingdom of Christ And not to insist upon divers others where there are notable expressions that seem to tend to the same purpose take for a conclusion the 148 and the 149. which eminently relate unto Christs reign on earth according to what in many former Scriptures and prophets have been foretold thereof so from the beginning almost to the end we may observe how the Spirit of God stirred up the spirit of holy King David to set forth the glory and excellent greatness of the kingdom of Christ as his Antitype seed and Saviour in whom the greatest promises of God shall be fulfilled which could not have accomplishment in any other CHAP. VIII Containg other evidences out of the New Testament to wit of the Gospel and Acts of the Apostles besides what was occasionally spoken of Chap. 4. by the four Apostles Peter James and John and the Apostle Paul to all which Christ gloriously appeared ANd now to appeal to the last sort of witnesses having seen such clearness in the Prophets of the Old Testament and the Psalms we may in like manner consider the testimonies of the Gospellers in the New But here the like course might justly be taken with us men of this generation for I put my self in the number who have but even lately received the truth which our Saviour did with his Disciples going to Emaus Luk. 24.25 O fools and slow of heart to beleeve all that the Prophets have spoken concerning his suffering and entering intoglory so now of the beleeiving the things concerning Christs Kingdom to come onearth yea we might henceforth turn our argumentation into a vehement expostulation with our selves What was not the Angel Gabriel the first Gospeller we read of at the time of his annunciation before our Saviours conception by the Holy Ghost when he told the blessed Virgin of the holy glorious wonderful heaven-bred Babe that should shortly after that be born of her an evident witness of Christs Kingdom to come Or doth he to no purpose after he had informed the blessed mother of our Lord of many unspeakable glad tidings Luke 1.30 31. other ways then after adds verse 33. And the Lord shall give him the throne of his Father David and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his kingdom there shall be no end Surely this holy Angel well understood the meaning of the many Prophets yea of the Prophets of all ages before as being contemporary with them all along from the beginning to that time And did not that glad child John Baptist as one right bred of his beleeving mother Elizabeth upon this good news leap for joy in his Mothers womb when the Virgin came with it to her house whereupon good Elizabeth told the Mother of our Lord that assuredly there should be a performance of those things which were told her Verse 45. and was not this Kingdom of Christ one if not the main of them And that blessed Virgin her self in an holy rapture of Spirit breaketh out in no less then the Angel had foreshewed to her of this matter Vers 54 55. He hath holpen his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy as he spake to our Fathers to Abraham and his seed for ever beleiving all in that Covenant would be performed whereof the promised inheritance and Christs Kingdom therein was part And this again good Zachary though upon occasion of the Angels good news of his own son which at first he beleeved not he had been till then so dumb that both the Mother and the Babe acknowledged Christ before him yet when he had gotten the use of his speech again like a channel dammed up before the living waters of the spirit soon run in a stronger current from his beleiving soul then happily otherwise they would have done and very much concerning the Kingdom of his Lord and Saviour Vers 69. He hath raised up an born of salvation for us in the house of his servant David and this he confirmeth from the general successive Testimony of the Prophets which we in part set down in the two preceding Chapters Vers 70. As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets which have been since the world began And Vâ—â—â— 71. he declares how general the redemption was by Christ the mercy promised to the fathers the covenant with them the oath to Abraham as we noted out of Moses his prophesies to free them from all enemies and even from the fear of them Vers 74. which is the priviledge of Christs Kingdom on earth Again when the Angelimparted unto the Shepherds when Christ was born his very glad tidings of great joy to all people he tells them first of that that he was born in the City of David who by descent was the Son of David according to the flesh where also the Priests informed Herod that he should be born when under pretence of worshipping he thought to destroy him and thereupon made there many young Martyrs for him yet upon that occasion was found that great testimony of Micab Chap. 5.2 And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah art not the least among the Princes of Judah for out of thee shall come a governour that shall rule my people Israel Mat. 2.6 But the Angel tells
fifth Petition Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors When Gods people are most ascertained that they shall attain the end of this Petition they will most comfortably and confidently pray according to the tenour of it But in the time of Christs reign on earth they shall be most ascertained that they shall attain the end of this Petition Therefore They shall then most comfortably and confidently pray according to the tenour of it Now this Petition hath a double respect First to the obtaining of the assurance of their own pardon Secondly to engage them to pardon others and both these ends will then be most promoted First their eminent measure of faith and love zeal and sincerity c. will upon their prayer of truth assure them of their own pardon And secondly the exercise of divers of their graces besides obedience to Gods command which requires them to do so will engage them likewise to forgive others Argument from the sixth Petition Lord lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Gods faithful people may then best pray for their deliverance from the evil one and from the evil of his temptations when they know most assuredly by the world that they are for along time removed from them But in the said Thousand years they shall most evidently know from the word that the evil one and the evil of his temptations are so removed from them Therefore They shall then best pray for such their deliverance both from the evil one and the evil of his temptations Yeaâ— their prayer in truth or sincerity will be then both a means of their deliverance and of the assurance thereof as being Gods ordinance for his Church to that end Argument from the enforcement For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory c. The consideration of these enforcements will then be most vigorous and strong unto the Saints when they are assured from the word that there is such a time wherein God will most evidently and fully manifest them unto good and bad on earth at the time of his next coming But he will most evidently and fully manifest them unto good and bad upon earth according to the word Therefore The consideration thereof gives the greatest enforcement and vigour then unto the prayers of the Saints or in reference to that time Arguments from four Articles of the Creed First From thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead Secondly I believe the holy Catholique Church Thirdly I believe the Communion of Saints Fourthly The Resurrection of the body of the righteous Argument from the Article From thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead Arg. 1 THose that rightly believe that Christ will come from the right hand of the Father to judge both the quick and the dead they must believe he will do it in same time the Scripture teacheth it But the Scripture teacheth that he will do this after the seventh Trumpet at the beginning of the thousand years Rev. 11. Rev. 19. Rev. 20. Therefore They that believe it rightly must believe he will then do it Arg. 2 They that rightly believe Christ will come from the right-hand of the Father to judge the quick and the dead they must believe he will do it in the same order that the Scripture hath set it down But the Scripture hath set down Christ appearance or first coming of Christ to judgment at the beginning of the said thousand years Therefore They that deny his first coming then to judgment deny it in that order the Scripture hath set it down in Besides the manner of his proceeding is different at the first and second coming of Christ to judgment At the first he will begin with the Temporal destruction of his enemies First with fine and sword so taking away those Tares by Bundles and then cast them into Hell and then the Angels shall gather the Wheat into his Barn Matth 13. But at his last coming he will first gather the good the dead in Christ shall rise first and the raised before and the quick living upon earth at the voice of an Archangel and the trump of God shall be all changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye and be caught up to meet Christ in the Ayr and so being freed from the destruction of the wicked they shall be ever with the Lord 1 Cor. 15.2 Pet. 3.10 when the Heavens shall pass away as a seroll and the Elements melt with fervent heat and the earth with the works thereon shall be burnt up as the Scriptures witness after the thosand years is past Argument from the beleif of the Holy Catholique Church Such as rightly believe that they are essential properties of the Church of Christ to be holy and Catholique ought to believe it to be such in reference to those times chiefly wherein Gods word declares it shall be chiefly such But in the said thousand years his word declares it shall be cheifly such Therefore They that rightly believe those properties must then according to Gods Word cheifly beleive it to besuch The Pseud-Holy and Pseud-Catholique Harlot of Rome hath long falsly assumed those properties to her self all that time the Scripture hath foretold the world should wonder after the beast Rev. 13. The seducer knowing that they belong to the true Church hath so ascribed them to the false Church that the true holy Catholique Church might not be expected But that hereafter in the said thousand years the Church of Christ will be holy above all former times the Scriptures abundantly shew as before is set down and much more follows And secondly that it shall then be most Catholique from East to West from Sea to Sea from one end of the world to the other there are also plentiful Testimonies which never yet were fulfilled Argument from the beleif of the Communion of Saints They that beleive the Communion of Saints aright must beleive it in that manner and in that time the Scripture sets it forth on earth But the Scripture sets it forth most eminently in the said thousand years to come Therefore according to Scripture they must beleive it will then be most eminent upon earth They will then be of one heart and one way the Lord one and his name one Ephraim shall not envy Judah nor Judah vex Ephraim Argument from the Resurrection of the body Such as rightly beleive the resurrection of the bodies of the just must believe it in the same time and order the Scripture of true had set it down But the Scripture of true sets down the beginning of the resurrection of the just to be at the beginning of the thousand years of Christs reign on earth first the Martyrs and eminent Saints and then every one in his own order Therefore they that rightly beleive the resurrection of the Saints bodies must so then beleive it Argument from the Article of the Nicene Creed He shall come again
things were antiently and all along promised to the Jews and Israelites and foretold by the holy Prophets successively in all ages and much by the Jews in our Saviours own time though both unseasonably and unsuitably expected and as Mr. Mede and others from Justine Martyr and other Ancients Testifie how the things in the said thousand years were usually by Christians beleived in the times next after Christ yet what by the subtilty of Satan teaching the Jews and others to affix such vain fables and sensual delights somewhat like to a Mahumetan Paradise to that time of Christs glorious Dominion in the world that occasioned many ancient and modern worthies as may happily more hereafter appear too much to have declined from truth to avoid such affixed errors And since by mens apprehensions of inconsistency of those things with some Articles of Christian faith some have thereupon endeavoured as may appear to thrust this thousand years of Christs raign into such troublesome corners of times moving Tabernacle where it never could long find that rest and peace wherewith it must notwithstanding in due time be blessed And to give such harsh and forced interpretations of many Prophesies both in Old and New Testament concerning that happy time to come as are unsuitable to the purport of them And an other stratagem of late times Satan hath used upon the breaking forth of some beams of light again appearing concerning that said happy period to come to stir up the owners of such Doctrine to turn Libertines Spoken according to the then present apprehension I had tillfurther light through grace as after may appear upon serious view in the sequel from the bonds of moral obedience due unto Magistrates as Christs deputies yea to attempt even to take away Magistracy it self and Ministry too whereas Christs Saints must not take the Kingdom to themselves till he the great King of Kings give it to them in his own time not in theirs or else so personally to understand his raign in his humane nature upon earth in a bodily presence that it may seem inconsistent with some Articles of Christian Religion when sacred truth allows not so to determine or as others by putting unwarrantable senses upon the Divine Mysteries not accommodated to the scope of the Spirit of God therein observable which Doctrine when the Spirit of truth shall defecate and cleanse from all old dreggs and scum of former and late errors misapplications and mistakes I confidently believe for the substance it will be owned as a precious truth among the beloved people of God though we may not put weight upon the gronndless conceits or fancies of men and the sacredwritings both of Old and New Testament may throughly evince it but especially this Revelation of Jesus Christ will necessarily enforce it if rightly and orderly considered especially compared with Daniel Ezekiel and other Prophets My endeavour therefore shall be by the assistance of the Spirit of grace and truth who will lead his servants in due time into all profitable and comfortable truth to point out such things tending hereunto which my own infirmity may otherwise prejudice unto others which notwithstanding as I shall endeavour I humbly request may be done with prayers and faithful endeavours by others better fitted for such a work all prejudices to the contrary being wholly laid aside in considering the last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ in the last branch of it now upon proving and therefore at such a time men had need be wary they do not go about even then to disallow and disprove of it when it is neer to be put in execution especially since he upon earth gave this intimation to the world to beware of infidelity upon this occasion Luk. 18.8 as may appear from the former Chapter When saith he the Son of man shall come shall he find faith upon earth He knew well what wiles Satan would use to darken the knowledge of that time which he the Arch-murtherer of mankind beleiving trembles at as is conceived was the mark set upon Cain his first-born murtherer of his Brother Abel when he himself must be shut up in his dungeon of darkness from seducing men which will be his sore torment all that time and the fore-runner of his speedily ensuing perpetual unexpressible misery and that upon his imprisonment the long promised and hoped for happy light and glory of Gods Church shall arise and shine forth Isa 60.1 which will adde to his anguish And as Cain built Cities for his cursed posterity thereby to abate the sence of his trembling but the universal deluge both destroyed them and their habitations so ever since mans fall the Devil to abate the sence of his own horrour hath been building many Castles in the Aair of wicked designes and seducements but knows when Christs raign shall take place they must all perish with their Author And therefore no wonder that Satan should seek to conceal and hide that period from men raging the more because he knows his time is so short Let us therefore the rather by faithful prayers and diligent search of holy Scriptures commend our selves to the guidance of Gods holy Spirit to be led into all truth and particularly in what concern Christs Kingly rule on earth not with respect unto what owning it hath by men but as witnessed unto by the Word of God which is the said holy Spirits evidence which if he once appear to set his Seal unto none shall make it void but it shall powerfully overcome and be victorious in the end as all other witnessings of Christ Jesus have and do and shall overcome the opposers of them though never so great many or eminent in the world April 24. 1664. MVNVS AN Advertisement Christian Brethren YOu may be pleased to take notice that after the evidences in the letter of Novemb. 1663. in the Fore-runner and my serious weighing of many other Scriptures especially in the Revelations compared with Daniel I was abundantly satisfied that such an happy state of the Church was to come on earth but yet it seeming difficult to me for a time to reconcile a personal presence with Christs intercession at the right hand of God and taking it for a truth that the coming of Christ was not to be expected till the last resurrection And not having so fully discerned then the clearness of a personal appearance above 1000. years before as since I beleive to be evident as by the last Paper of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may appear I thought I had fairly-salved the matter and that my reasons against the personal and only for a mystical appearance then had been good and sufficient with the illustrations thereof added as you may observe pag. 35 36 37. c. But besides a remarkable gracious hand of God upon me as you may there likewisy discern both to discover such remarkable passages in Scripture that seem more strongly to hold out a personal appearance then and to
powerful wonderful gracious and glorious to his Church upon earth as her great Prophet Priest and King Eleventhly Christs execution of the said three great Offices is two ways to be considered 1. More generaly for his universal Church in respect of the several seasons wherein in order he was to execute them severally most eminently until his work of Mediatorship should perfectly be accomplished and full reconciliation made between God and all his elect people his mystical body the true Church being compleat in all the members of it and perfect union and communion attained with himself as their mystical head together with the Father and the Holy Spirit as also with the glorious Angels and one with another in most happy enjoyment of all good to all eternity 2. It is again considerable particularly and specially in respect of every truely beleiving soul in the particular application of the efficacy of those three great Offices to them by his holy Spirit making good means and ordinances effiâ—acious to every faithful soul so exhibiting himself to them 1. As their great Prophet inwardly powerfully and savingly teaching them all necessary truth and doctrine 2. As their great High-Priest in the like way evidencing their peace and reconciliation with God through that expiation he should or hath made for their sins 3. In the like-way also to evidence to them at one time or other that he is their powerful King and Protector that hath and doth and will subdue all his and their enemies and keep them in a loyal and good condition by Faith and Grace unto salvation Twelfthly Consider that the general more eminent and glorious execution of those three great offices for his universal Church more remarkeable in the world is in those three great periods of his manifesting himself in the world according to all that his father had given him to do 1. As the great Prophet of his Church by his spirit of wisdom and revelation in all his immediate Messengers till his coming in the flesh and so Christ is said to preach in the time of Noah to the Spirits in prison as St. Peter speaketh 1 Pet. 3.19 20. 2. As the great High-Priest in the second Period after his coming in the flesh where putting an end to all the types and shadows of his Priesthood he actually undertook in his person and executed the work and office of Priesthood as the great High-Priest having made a full and perfect attonement and satisfaction for the sins of all his people he ascended into the holy of holies the highest Heavens there sitting at the right hand of God the Father powerfully and gloriously there to execute and improve that office by making intercession for his people till his coming again 3. In the third great period of the world under or after the seventh Trumpet Christ will appear most eminently in executing the great office of a King in this general confideration in respect of his universal Church subduing wonderfully and manifestly in the world his own and his Churches enemies powerfully and graciously enabling his Saints to walk in the obedience of his laws taking away in a great degree the evil of sin and suffering with the causes of both by binding Satan and destroying the wicked powers of the world c. I say in a great degree though not then totally nor finally Lastly Consider how Christ hath and doth and will work in these three great Periods of the world In the first he wrought by his Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation making known the Will of the Father in all things for substance respecting Faith and Obedience In the second by his Spirit of grace and truth powerfully sanctifying his people more eminently and largely then in the former In the last when he will take to himself his Kingly power Rev. 11.15 and 19. He will work by his Spirit of Power and Domination Now from the former Theses duly weighed and considered these particulars ensuing or the like may be inferred viz. That 1. If the design of the Trin-Une Diety was to be eminently glorified in Christ the Mediator his three great Offices of being the great Prophet Priest and King of his universal true Church then that greatest glory must needs shine forth in the most eminent way of executing of them But the general performance thereof in the said three great periods is the most eminent way of executing them Therefore That design hath and will be therein most accomplished 2. If the drift and end of the great works of Creation Support and Providence in all things ever since time was and until time shall cease to be was in reference unto Gods glorifying of himself in such general management of these Offices of Christ for his universal true Church then in that respect he is most glorified But their drift and end is so in reference thereunto Therefore God is most glorified in such management of them 3. If such general execution of them in reference to the universal true Church be the foundation and securing thereof to particular beleiving souls or secondly in respect of any more special times or special conditions of the Church as will hereafter appear then all the good of the other is procured and secured by that general execution of them But such Christs general execution of these Offices it he soundation and securing of both the other Therefore The good of both the other is secured and procured thereby 4. If the great works of Creation Support and Providence have been all along ordered in reference to Chrifts carrying on of his great work of Mediatorship cheifly in those three great periods forenamed then such consideration of them is of great concernment to the true universal Church But all those said great works have been ordered all along in reserence to Christs carrying on his great work of Mediatorship therein Therefore Such consideration of these three great periods fore-named for the general managing of all the Mediators Offices is of great concernment to the true Universal Church 5. If such Christs general prophetical Office in the first great period hath revealed the substance of the whole counsel of God in respect of all to be done successively in such Priestly and Kingly Offices so generally considered in the other two succeeding great periods it shall so be done But it hath so revealed and in a great part hath been so fulfilled accordingly by suitable dispensations at all times hitherto Therefore What is so revealed for the future shall accordingly be fulfilled also 6. If according to Scripture experience hath manifested the glory of the Mediators office most eminently for what is past in such general consideration and doth witness the like for the time to come then in due time will be like execution for the general in regard of what remains to be done But according to Scripture it hath been so accomplished in experience in what is past Therefore According to Scripture it shall be so in the time to
in the glory of his powerful grace and the confluence of such redeemed and saved souls Therefore Such reign of Christ remains still to be executed by him 7. If without such reign of Christ on earth the mystical body of Christ will not be compleated and that in the far greatest part of the members thereof then to come in then it must necessary come in its time to make his mystical body compleat in the members thereof But otherwise it will not be compleat in the far greatest part of the members thereof Therefore It must come in in that its due time CHAP. III. NOw let us come to consider in what manner it may or shall be wherein the great difficulty of the reign of Christ seems to lye which we shall endeavour to hold out two ways These Reasons were writ the contrary way in the Original Copy First In setting down some reasons which may seem to make against the personal reign in his humane nature And Secondly To shew that it probably may be understood in a mystical manner for that some way it shall be according to Scripture is not to be denyed but because that such as his raign shall be such will his coming be when he is to raign and take the Kingdom to himself and set it up in the world we shall therefore in reference thereunto by Gods assistance shew the several sences of his coming according to Scripture since his Ascention into Heaven and endeavour to open this particular sense of his coming to raign under or after the seventh Trumpet and to give some illustrations thereof The first of these we shall now endeavour under this head namely to offer some reasons against a personal reign in his humane nature which are these that follow Unto which upon more serious consideration I have added these ensuing Answers Answer to that But such as his reign shall be such will his coming be That though that may hold true in a general sense These Answers were added to the eleven Reasons in Apr. 1665. yet not in a special for though he will personally appear according to Scripture in the Clouds Visible to the sight of all at his coming yet it is not manifest in so much As I can discern that Christ will at least ordinarily be personally visible to any save those in the New Jerusalem the thousand years though the whole world will then be his Kingdom and at his pleasure he may then stay at or visibly enlighten that City of him the great King as it is called Mat. 5. and shew forth his glory there how and as long as he pleaseth or otherwhere likewise as to Paul Stephen or as in the story related by Mr. Mede in his Answer to Dr. Twisse his second Letter of his visible appearing on a purple Cloud and speaking to the Jews in a great contest with the Christians in the Kingdom of the Omerites about three hundred years after his Ascention for as he hath manifested his Kingly glory in the world in the time of his sitting at the Right Hand of God the Father in Heaven so may be as he and the Father pleaseth some way manifest himself personally Visible in the World though probably vailed save unto the raised Saints in the time of his reign upon earth Answer in general to all the Reasons First and in general to those seeming reasons against Christs personal coming and appearing at the last ruine of Antichrist which I first tendered according to my then present apprehension but afterward by a remarkable hand of God upon me was further resolved from his word as in the sequel may appear Whereupon is likewise considerably offered that in case of a new dispensation a great part of these Reasons will fall voide Answer First Because the Scriptures do not clearly affirm any such thing as his personal being upon earth before the last day of Judgement But since I have found many places of Scripture that sufficiently evince it as in the Fore-runner in the Paper Sep. 27. 1664. But to come to answer them particularly in order for the tendering of things contrary often occasion the clearing up of truth which I wholely herein aimed at or at least then groaped after for some time And thinking it more safe then to prove that such an appearance and reign of Christ should be then which in order of nature was first to be proved and onely offer things considerable at least in appearance why I conceived it to be in this or that manner as both before and after may be observed But the paper Sep. 27. 1664. in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may sufficiently shew my mistake in that seeming reason Secondly Because the interpretations to that purpose do not seem convincing Thirdly Because such interpretations do seem to gain-say some articles of the Christian faith and such interpretations are not to be given that have not Scripture warrant especially if they oppose the received Articles of Christian Religion Answer to the second and third Reasons That the interpreting of Christs coming or appearing to be personal and visible about the destruction of Antichrist and afterwards gloriously to be manifest at least to the raised Saints in the World is not contrary to Scripture but a Scriptural explication of an Article of Faith See in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the latter end of two papers of Dec. 7. and Sep. 27. Fourthly There seems to be no necessity of any such personal presence since the Scriptures witness how that by a wonderful powerful and glorious presence many great things have been accomplished effectually for the Church in former and latter times as all along when Israel came out of Egypt Christ wonderfully shewed himself to be their King in plagueing Pharâ—ah in destroying him and his Host in the Red Sea while Israel passed safely through it in conducting them wonderfully and graciously by a Pillar of a Cloud by day and a Pillar of fire by night all the time they sojourned in the wilderness as signes of his presence with them to guide them provide for them and protect them And when Christ so evangelically gave to them the Law on Mount Sinai Vide Mr. Ant Burg. Vin. Log. p. 145 146. as Divines do evidence thereby declaring himself their King and Law-giver with such Majesty and terror by thundring and lightning and burning of the Mount with shaking and trembling and a mighty voyce which made Moses himself exceedingly to tremble and quake and the people so affrighted c. And afterward appearing unto Joshua with a Sword in his hand he declared to him he would go with him to subdue the Canaanites saying he himself was the Prince of the Host of the Lord when Joshua likewise worshipped him as is recorded Josh 5.13 14. So Rev. 19.11 12. there is a glorious description how he goes against Antichrist at the Armageddon Battel when he will deliver his people from that spiritual Egyptian and Babylonian bongage
c. as in many other instances of the Old and New Testament which hereafter we may set down Answer 4. God in his own institutions and determinations is sole judge of what is necessary for the accomplishment of the whole work of redemption by Christ and as to that the holy Scriptures onely can resolve us and for what is alleadged in the fourth Reason concerning the Old Testament may be answered that such things then which were mystical though wonderful were more suitable to the Old Testament in that regard Christ had not then actually taken upon himself his humane nature and since his ascention I think none can considerately deny but be spake personally to Saul why persecutest thou me and was personally seen of Steven at his death if the Text be duly weighed and why not afterward when the Scripture is so evident yea Mr. Mede makes his appearance and speaking unto Saul at his conversion to be a type of the way and means of the conversion of the Jews in time to come And for that of the Armageddon battel it is to be considered as a prophetical Vision and revelation of what will be really performed hereafter Fifthly Christs bodily presence upon earth was onely so far forth necessary as made for the accomplishment of what his Prophetical Spirit did foreshew in the Old Testament wâ— aâ— hereby done as to his Priestly Office till the day of judgement inputting an end to all the typicall Sacrifices by the once offering up of himself for the sins of his people and to bring in an everlasting righteousness as the Prophet Daniel speaks until he come as the great Judge of quick and dead Answer 5. The Prophet Daniel doth as clearly speak of Christs personal coming at the destruction of Antichrist and Zachary of his being seen by every eye then as other Scriptures of the Old Testament spake of his coming to take our nature of the blessed Virgin and seed of David And for the day of Judgement this appearing will be the beginning of it as Mr. Mede aboundantly proves and then coming to be personally and gloriously as a King in the world will so continue while the world endures though how at all times in any place saving in the new Jerusalem we cannot so fully according to Scripture resolve Sixthly Ever since his ascention into Heaven he hath and will improve his perfect oblation of himself for the sins of his people at the right hand of God his Heavenly Father by making intercession for his people personally in his humane nature till the work of his mediation be fully perfected Answer 6. The improving of his Office of Priesthood at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven seems limited to the time of his appearing when he will begin eminently and visibly to make his foes his footstool as Psal 110. and if in another way by a presential intercession for his people when his Kingly glory shall more eminently shine forth he may then do what God hath appointed and in what concerns his Priestly Office accordingly what shall remain for the accomplishment of his work of Mediation and as God hath determined it shall most certainly be done but the holy Scriptures seems to limit his sitting at Gods right hand to that time Seventhly By his so remaining there to that purpose is really fulfilled in him the Antitype what was typified by the High-Priest in the Old Testament as the Apostle expounds it Heb. 9.26 27 28. As the High-Priest went once a year into the Holy of Holies to offer so he was once offered in the end of the world but not to appear bodily again till the Judgement having put away sin by that once offering up of himself which the High-Priest under the Law by offering the blood of beasts every year could not do as the Apostle shews Answer 7. What is there held out doth nothing contradict the former answer being considered in the Scripture sence for so he doth it till the time spoken of the day of judgement as was before said Eighthly While there is sin in the Saints upon earth there will be need of Christs personal mediation and intercession for them at Gods right hand for as this was done typically from Adams fall in Sacrifices and Oblations by Gods direction and more especially under the Ceremonial Law according to his special appointment in all particulars until his once offering himself in the flesh so it is by him alone who is able to save his people to the uttermost really and perfectly performed in the said Office of mediation and intercession and will be so till his mystical body shall be made perfect in all the members of it Answer 8. That it will be done for place and continuance whatsoever shall be needful for the accomplishment of Christs Priestly Office it is not to be questioned But in every thing how after his great and glorious appearing formerly spoken of that Office shall be executed happily we cannot yet fully determâ—ne But for the place of doing it at Gods right hand in heaven as before was said the Scripture seems to limit to that period of the eminent manifestation of his Kingly Office in the world Ninethly Because he promised when he was ascended he would draw all his Elect to him Joh. 12.32 which promise seems will not be fulfilled while any of them remain upon the earth or till the end of the world Answer 9. That he hath spiritually and evidently drawn all sorts of the Saints to him hath in all ages according to Scripture been abundantly manifest many ways to beleiving souls and that he will hereafter powerfully not onely draw but authoritatively and efficâ—â—iously command his people to be obedient to him their heavenly King by a more eminent manifestation of his Divine grace to them and more powerful conferring his spiritual grace upon them in that time of his glorious Kingdom in the world the Scripture is abundant in giving Testimony thereto as in many Promises and Prophesies in this Tract may appear Tenthly He is gone to prepare a place for all his Elect now the Apostle shews that none shall prevent one another so that the mystical body of Christ must be compreaâ— and perfect that an the members thereof may ascend into glory together at once with Christ Jesus their mystical head Answer 10. The Doctrine of Christs Kingdom the thousand years doth nothing gainsay what is therein alleadged neither shall the Saints prevent one another in the sence there intended but joyntly at the sounding of that last Trumpet at the end of the world shall be changed in a moment at the twinkling of an eye as the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 15. and be rapt up to meet Christ in the air at once together and thenceforth ever be with the Lord. Eleventhly The glory of Christ in heaven is such as men in a mortal condition are not able to behold as the Apostle shews 1 Tim 6.15 16. Who saith he onely hath
and comfort and shall any think it not worth his enquiring into What is not that wonderful Majesty and glory of Christ to be considered and observed Is the peace and grace holiness and happines of his Church held out in Scripture abundantly in those times not worthy to be highly esteemed and prized Yea shall such multitudes of Saints have their portion in that heaven-born Jerusalem and shall they not take notice of their priviledge Is not the coming in of such multitudes of Subjects to their great King of Kings both of Israelites Jews and Gentiles there seriously faithfully and thankfully to be acknowledged beleived and improved which in comparison of the other times will be as an harvest to the after-gleanings or the Vintage to the after-gatherings Is not the salvation of such vast numbers of beleiving souls in these grace-prevailing sanctified seasons that shall greatly honour Christ Jesus in their times and enjoy eternal happiness afterward with him in heaven be a matter of exceeding rejoycing to the fellow-members of Christs mystical body If the glorious Angels in Heaven rejoyce at the conversion of one sinner that repents as our Saviour speaketh how should Gods people rejoyce by faith aforehand to see so many millions of millions that are then to come in to that glorious Church-state on earth If Gods faithful Servants have rejoyced in their seasons past when God hath prospered their labours to bring home poor souls to Christ though but a few many times how should it make the hearts of beleeving souls to exult but even by faith to foresee that day of salvation to come to Gods people and with faithful Abraham so foreseeing Christs first coming so to rej yce beforehand as he did Yea is that the mainfruit of the travel of Christs soul Isa 53.11 12. When he shall see his seed and prolong his days and the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand and wherein he himself shall be satisfied as the Prophet there shews and shall it not be the great satisfaction of all Gods people in these times to be assured thereof If from about 600000 natural Israelites and such as were born of them in forty years space in the Wilderness there is computed by learned and judicious Divines to have died above six millions in the Wilderness when almost the same number entred into Canaan that came out of Egypt How many millions then yea how many millions of millions may be conceived to spring up and be educated in the faith of Jesus Christ their King and Saviour in that thousand years space when there shall be such confluence of all Nations into the true Church and when they will not be cut off in judgements by untimely deaths as many times great numbers of those Israelites were and is not such blessedness and happiness of Gods Church reserved for those times upon many considerations if we duly weigh the many and large promises and evidences of Scripture thereunto to be referred of great concernment as many ways to all such as rejoyce in the happiness of Gods chosen and would glory with his inheritance It is then likely there will be a strange holy contention upon earth between God and his people as the holy Spirit seems to imply concerning those times Rev. 22.3 saying And his servants shall serve him whether God or his people should do better each towards other that is as I may say what is within the reach and sphere of their activity For Christ will greatly exalt his people under that his dominion and they by his grace will be such as the more he exalts them the more they will rejoyce to exalt him and the more they exalt him the more he will inlarge them both with grace and glory and the larger their portion of grace shall be the greater will be their peace security and happiness And this will be the more and more constant in that regard the interrupting and corrupting causes thereof which might otherwise hinder as formerly shall then in a very great degree by his kingly power and goodness be removed and taken away when Satan the Tempter is bound and shut up in his bottomless pit and strong tentations proceeding at other times from the prevalency of the corruption of men shall be much abandoned provocations much removed natural corruption manacled and fettered and in many as it is probable very greatly suppressed and accordingly grace holiness inward peace and with them consequently outward peace prosperity and all kind of security that is suitable to that condition and how will this work upon the sanctified spirits of that happy seed and generation blessed of God to consider still with holy David What shall we render unto the Lord our King and Saviour for all such his goodness conferred upon us So that if men have any Christian frame of spirit upon them they cannot but upon such considerations think of and inquire into the Kingdom of Christ to come on earth as many ways worth the while except they be onely carnal Gospellers that only make worldly marchandise thereof but otherwise regard neither grace nor glory for themselves or others or at least are conscious to themselves that they have no part in either Yet even such by the due consideration of these things by Gods mercy may learn to be wise hereafter and shew themselves men and not like such the Prophet David speaks of being in worldly honour have no understanding but are like the beasts that perish and thus much for answer to the vain pleadings of such persons CHAP. V. Which declares how the three great Chronologers of the Holy Ghost to wit Moses Daniel and St. John do successively foretel of the Kingdom of Christ at the end of the fourth Monarchy set forth in that Image expounded by Daniel Chap. 2. and how that the three Babylonish designes of Satan in the three Babels they severally speak of the first to promote confusion of tongues in Moses record at the Tower of Babel the second to erect oppressive tyranny against Gods people by the Monarchy of Babilon in Daniels time and thirdly to advance spiritual delusion and seducement by the mystical Babylon in the latter times all which will be at last by the setting up of Christs Kingdom altogether brought to confusion so that thence the Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands that smote the Image before while there was regnum lapidis will then become a great Mountain filling the whole earth when there will be regnum montis as Mr. Mede appositely speaks FIrst then for the evidences of Christs Kingdom and reign on earth to come under or after the seventh Trumpet out of the Chronology of Moses and Daniel more darkly given but further cleared in the book of Revelation as we observed in which book we shewed the Spirit of God doth so much and in so many places refer us to the Prophets and as St. Peter saith directly that all the prophets since the world
the time of Christs raign Jehovah Shamma the Load is there The Prophet Hosea in Chap. 1. Vers 11. Then shall the Children of Israel and the Children of Judah be gathered together and shall appoint themselves one head and shall come up out of the land for great shall be the day of Jezreel which never yet was fulfilled but shall be in its time So again Chap. 3.5 Afterward shall the Children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God and David their King and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days which can have no adequate accomplishment but in Christs Kingdom To the like purpose the Prophet Joel Chap. 2. ult having in vers 31. shewed what a terrible destruction shall be when Christ shall make his foes his foot-stool and set up his Kingdom vers 32. he saith It shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance as the Lord hath said and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call and Chap. 3.2 last Verses And Judah shall dwell for ever and Jerusalem from generation to generation for I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed for the Lord dwelleth in Zion The Prophet Amos also fully witnesseth to this Kingdom of Christ Chap. 9.11 12. In that day will I raise up the Tabernacle of David which was fallen and close up the breaches thereof and I will raise up the ruines and will build it as in the days of old and vers 12. That they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the Heathen that are called by my name saith the Lord that doth this and vers 14. I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel and they shall build the waste Cities and inhabit them and they shall plant Vineyards and drink the wine thereof they shall also make gardens and eat the fruit of them and I will plant them upon their Land and they shall no more be pulled up out of their Land which I have given to them saith the Lord God Even Obadiah in his short Prophefie hath high expressions of the deliverance on Mount Sion vers 17. And there shall be holiness and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions But more direct to our present purpose verse ult And Saviours shall come up to Mount Zion to judge the Mount of Esau and the Kingdom shall be the Lords Herein is likewise the Prophesie of Micab very evident Chap. 4.1 In the last days it shall come to pass which words the last days we may observe frequently to be used to this purpose and the like that the Mountain of the House of the Lord shall be established in the top of the Mountains and it shall be exalted above the hills and the people shall flow unto it and verse 2. Many Nations shall come and say let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord to the House of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths for the law shall go forth of Sion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem and verse 3. He shall judge among many people and rebuke strong Nations afar off c. and Chap. 5. when he had spoken of smiting the Judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek vers 2. he then shews that out of Beth-leem Ephratah shall go he that was to be ruler in Israel whose going forth have been from of old from everlasting and vers 4. He shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord and in the Majesty of the name of the Lord his God and they shall abide for now shall be be great unto the ends of the earth Again when the Prophet Zephaniah Chap. 3. had foretold how Christ will destroy his enemies as seems probable at the Armageddon battel mentioned Rev. 16. and 19 〈…〉 former verse he then adds vers 9. For the will 〈…〉 the people of a pure language that they may all 〈…〉 the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent 〈…〉 vers 14. Sing O Daughter of Zion shout O Israel 〈…〉 Lord hath taken away thy judgement he hath cast 〈…〉 enemy the King of Israel even the Lord in the 〈…〉 thee thou shalt not see evil any more vers 17. The 〈…〉 God in the middest of thee is mighty he will save thee he will rejoyce over thee with joy we will rest in his love he will jâ—y over thee with singing c. and so forward to the end of the Chap. to the purpose which like expressions are much above all succeeding times save these our Saviour hath revealed in the time of the new Jerusalem c. In the next place amongst the Testimonies of the Prophets in the Old Testament proceed we to the Prophet Zechariah who is as clear herein as any of the former and being after the Captivity of Babylon can least be interpreted of that which was past Zach. 6.12 Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts Behold the man whose name is the Branch and he shall grow up out of his place and he shall build the Temple of the Lord and he shall bear the glory and shall sit and rule on the Throne So that Zerubbabel to whom this was spoken was but a dim shade to this mighty Prince and he shall he a Priest upon the Throne and the counsel of peace shall be between them both So Chap. 8.8 I will bring them and they shall be in the middest of Jerusalem and they shall be my people and I will be their God in truth and righteousness Again Chap. 9.16 And the Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people for they shall be as the stones of a Crown lifted up as an ensign upon his land Vers 17. How great is his goodness how great is his beauty c. And Zach. 12.7 The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah First that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnifie themselves against Judah Verse 8. in that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem and he that is feeble among them at that time shall be as David and the House of David shall he as God as the Angel of the Lord before them Lastly Consider the Testimony of the Prophet Malachi Chap. 3.2 3. But who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth for he is like a refiners fire and fullers sope c. Upon which Text let the words of that judicious Gillespy be observed in his Sermon to the Lords Aug. 27. 1645. which happily hath not been taken notice of by many Pag. 3. After diverse things spoken to our purpose before he adds How ever the Scriptures teach us that the Lord Jesus will be revealed mightily and will make bare his holy arm as well in the confusion
of Antichrist as in the conversion of the Jews before the last judgement and the end of all things Again Page 5. he saith of this Text this I doubt not to aver doth principally belong to the Jews for to them pertain the promises saith the Apostle And the natural branches shall be grafted into their own Olive tree I shall onely add here that both terrible and comfortable Prophesie in Chap. 4.1 2 3. Behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven and all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble c. Vers 2. But to you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings c. So that by all these evidences we may see what exceeding great reason there was or the Spirit of God to call in the Testimony of the Prophets of the Old Testament to give witness to the reign of Christ in the thousand years under or after the last Trumpet and concerning his new Jerusalem come down from God Rev. 20. 21. as we formerly observed and are here in brief set before the eyes of all such as are not resolved to shut them against them and when the excellency and priviledges of this Kingdom both spiritually and temporally come in their place to be considered much more may appear but these may suffice at present as to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that such a Kingdom of Christ is to come in the thousand years whereunto the Spirit of God in the Prophets of all times hath had a peculiar respect as Act. 3.21 Rev. 10.7 and may much more appear in what further might from the Prophets be hereunto added CHAP. VII Shewing upon several enforcing consideration◠that David in many Psalms prophetically spake of the said Kingdom of Christ on Earth VVE come unto the last head of Testimony according to our Saviours own distribution concerning himself and those are the Psalms wherein David chiefly the man after Gods own heart and therefore more like to be a secretis one of his Privy Counsel as we may say and unto 〈◊〉 the Counsel of God concerning the Kingdom of his So I upon earth was largely revealed above many other and this might come to pass for divers reasons 1. Because the great promises made to David of his seeds succession to perpetnity he foresaw could not be fulfilled in any other but the great Messiah 2. That the said messiah and great King of Jerusalem was to come of his race and lineage 3. Should so have a right according to promise to rule the people of Israel 4. Because Davids Kingdom was a type of his from a low beginning in appearance to the worlds eye at first Yet God setting it up against Sauls it grew stronger and stronger but the other weaker and weaker So with the beginning and increase of Christs Kingdom Isa 9. Again as David was victorious at last over all enemies and had peace round about so will it be with Christs Kingdom in the world over Satan and all his wicked dominion in the issue And by the spirit of Prophesie King David hath declared much to this and the like effect in the book of Psalms above others and hence the following Prophets as in the preceeding chapter may be observed so often call Christ not onely the Branch the off-spring of Jess the Father of David but oftner by Davids own name and was foretold to sit upon the throne of David to be of the house and over house of David to build the Tabernacle of David and the like so it is no wonder to have Davids heart full of such matter and his tongue in this respect like the pen of a ready writter And the breathings of the Spirit of God in Davids Psalms seem to vent themselves much in such delightful harmony concerning the Kingdom of Christ who in all the former considerations spiritually foresaw him not only as his Antitype and seed but as the great Messiah and Saviour of him and his people in whom both the great promises both to him and the foresathers should both spiritually and temporally in due time have their full accomplishment And therefore if any persons by the guidance of Scripture and cheifly of the Revelation by the assistance of Gods Spirit consider such Texts it may evidently appear to such unprejudiced and serious teachable spirits that a great part of the Psalmody of holy David is warbled out according to such celestial Ditties as might magnifie and exalct Christ the Son of David yet so as he might also appear to be the root of David as Rev. 5.5 even the eternal Son of God and therefore so many expressions are used in the Psalms which are incompetible to himself or his meer natural seed So that all the gracious beams of Divine light that to such purpose reached any time unto Davids soul seem to be concentered in the Son of Righteousness from whom they had their original who may fitly be observed to be the Alpha and Omega of that Book of psalms To begin with the second Psalm which usually is acknowledged to be of the Kingdom of Christ though some will not acknowledge that Kingdom to come on earth though God there promiseth to set him his King upon his holy hill of Sion After Satan with his wicked worldly powers have done their worst yea and suffered their worst too at the destruction of Antichrist even as it was with their type also the Jewish Hierarchie that when he came in the flesh would not have him reign but would destroy him which brought their destruction about forty two years after but when the other go about to destroy his people they shall utterly be destroyed themselves by him and in both respects Yet saith God have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion And therefore he shall break his enemies with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces as a potters Vessel And likewise he hath verse 8. the Heathen promised for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession which then will be fulfilled when he shall set up that his Kingdom upon earth That the 8. Psal refers to Christs Kingdom the subject matter declares since he regains that soveraignty over the creatures which the first Adam lost besides the Apostles testimony Heb. 2. The 9. Psalm contains much of the great works of God against his enemies and for his people which will be fulfilled at the setting up of Christs Kingdom And so also Psalm the 10. toward the latter end and the 11. Psalm seems to be of the like nature But in Psal 18. holy King David doth largely sing of Christ under the type of his own Kingdom but in such a way as was not competible to it saving in reference unto that King of Kings And Psal 21. is very much of the same nature but far exceeding what could be applied to Davids temporal Kingdom The latter end of Psalm 22. is remarkably of
with glory to judge both the quick and the dead whose Kingdom shall have none end THose that acknowledge a Kingdom of Christ as Mediator after his first glorious appearance or coming to judge the quick and the dead plainly acknowledge his Kingdom of the thousand years But the composers of the Nicene Creed plainly acknowledge such a Kingdom of Christ after his first glorious appearance or coming to judge the quick and the dead Therefore The composers of the Nicene Creed plainly acknowledge Christs Kingdom in the thousand years This is proved from the quotation of that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Title Page grounded upon the Prophesie of Daniel and after the thousand years Christ as Mediator will have no kingdom it being at the end of the world to be given up to God the Father c. Arguments from the Article of the Nicone Creed I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord and Giver of life who proceedeth from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son is to be worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets At what times the Scriptures foretell that the Holy Ghost who spake by all the holy Prophets will most inlighten his Saints and Servants in the right understanding of them and will most be manifest to be the Lord and Giver of spiritual life and consequently to be most evidently to be worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son all Gods faithful people are bound specially to believe in him in reference to the fulfilling of all such Prophesies concerning those times But the Holy Ghost in the Scriptures hath expresly and particularly foretold that such things shall be eminently fulfilled in the time of Christs said Kingdom upon earth when he will most evidently appear to be the Lord and Giver of spiritual life and consequently most eminently to be worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son Therefore All Gods faithful people ought specially to believe in the Holy Ghost in reference unto such eminent fulfilling of such spiritual promises concerning those times He first spake by the Prophets more rarely till Christ was come in the flesh namely only to those few special messengers from time to time whom he immediately inspired He was given more plentifully unto his Saints and Servants after Christ was glorified for so saith the Apostle Joh. 7.39 But after our Saviour commanded his Disciples to tarry at Jerusalem until they were indued with power from on high 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Phrase is Emphatical the same with Rom. 13.14 Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and they were so soon after indued with the holy Ghost Act. 2. which in verse 33. St. Peter calls the receiving of the promise of the Holy Ghost hence the Apostles had a spirit of power 2 Tim. 1.7 and so had all the company of the beleivers that prayed with Peter and John Act. 4.31 when the place was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Ghost So was Steven Act. 6. and many others not onely Jews but Gentiles which then seemed strange to the Christian Jews Act. 10.45 47. but this held not long but for the first setling and ratifying the Gospel of Christ in such extraordinary manner which is by judicious men conceived to be as a preludium of the great fulfilling of the prophesies fully to be accomplished in the thousand years to the end which were applyed likewise for that time by the Apostle Act. 2. out of Joel 2. and Esa 44.3 unto which great fulfilling seems the applying Psa 8. in Act. 4.24 and Act. 2.25 in that prayer when the place was shaken vers 31. to the end both which places have reference mainly unto those times as Heb. 2. and the context of Psal 2. doth evidently make manifest then all Gods Saints will more evidently with open face behold the glory of the Lord and be changed into the same Image by the Lord the Spirit that Spirit of power that was in those first times sent down upon the Apostles and others extraordinarily And if Christ shed forth his Spirit so wonderfully at that time when he went to receive his Kingdom how will he pour it out upon all his Saints when he shall come gloriously to rule and reign in his Kingdom in a different and more eminent way then ever before manifest unto the world which will be executed every way irresistibly and prevalently towards enemies and his people of all sorts by his spirit of Power and Domination as Tremel upon 2 Cor. 3.18 who will then likewise be more fully and evidently manifest to be our God with the Father and the Son proceeding from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son is to be worshipped and glorified as the Niâ—ene Creed excellently For the glory of the whole Trinity will wonderfully shine out in that Kingdom of Christ upon earth when the Tabernacle of God is with men So Rev. 11.19 and the pure river of the water of Life shall run through the New Jerusalem come down from heaven which is the place our Saviour tells his Disciples Joh. 14.13 that he went to prepare for them when he would receive them to himself that they might be where he is as divers Scriptures evidence where he injoyns them that as they beleive in God they should also beleive in him and presently after in the same Chapter doth twice promise to them the Holy Ghost First to be a Comforter to them Secondly to lead them into all truth Vers 16. and afterwards again Vers 26. and so God the Father Son and Holy Ghost will be then made evidently manifest unto the Saints when they shall possess that place which Christ there promised to prepare for his Disciples c. even to all the faithful in their degree for they shall all then know him from the least unto the greatest Jer. 31.34 Heb. 8.11 As for Testimony of Primitive Churches and Doctors take the evidence of the Nicene Council and therewith the Nicene Creed of whose Kingdom there shall be no end set down in the Title page with sundry quotations of Ancients and Fathers breifly set down in the Appendix following concerning which particular it is not needful here to be large because it is so plentifully learnedly and judiciously already performed by Dr. Nathaniel Homes in the first part of the Dawning of the day-star and in divers other parts of that Book whither the Judicious Reader may be referred in this point for abundant satisfaction therein whereby this Doctrine of Christs reign is abundantly vindicated from novelty and manifested to be purely primitive THE APPENDIX Wherein is breifly considered what Rev. 20. Chap. sets down concerning the thousand years but more especially voncerning the first resurrection verse 4 5.6 compared with the other parallel Text having reference to the same time Rev. 11.15 16 17 18. Setting forth divers reasons for such resurrection of the Saints bodies then spoken of in the said Texts with sundry
as follow largely Vers 51 52 53 54. having in the middle of the Chaptâ—r shewed those sundâ—y particulars of it First For the order Christ should rise as the first fruits and cause of the Saints holy resurrection ver 23. Secondly The time when the Saints in a special manner alone should be so raised by him namely at this his coming ver 23. Thirdly He gives an intimation how long he must reign after that coming till all enemies be put under his feet Fourthly He sets down the last enemy to be subdued that is death which came by the first Adam and at last shall be destroyed by the second Adam Fifthly In vers 27. is imployed his invincible prevalency when all enemies are destroyed and vers 28. how as Man or Mediatour Christ will be subject to the Father to this purpose Psal 110. gives a clear evidence which is concerning the raign of Christ on earth after which Paul shews as Mediatour he delivers up the Kingdom to God the Father vers 24. When death and hell shall be cast into the lake of fire as was said Rev. 20.14 read what will then be at the last most general resurrection hinted before vers 51 52 53 54. Consider the many particulars there taught in this point not known usually before and so in like manner in the 20. Chapter of the Revelation Christ reveals to Saint John more fully and clearly what Saint Paul had taught before obscurely and darkly till hereby explained namely that under the seventh Trumpet when Christ shall come to raign on earth and shew himself there gloriously in his Kingly Office there shall be such a first resurrection of Martyrs Apostles Prophets and such holy persons of all sorts as was observed before and this Gods faithful people ought to know and believe to their great comfort and rejoycing as well as any thing concerning the Doctrine of the resurrection so gradually made known to the Church before as Christ was pleased any way before to dispence the knowledge thereof to the glory of him who shall so raise them to raing with him here where they have served him in faithfulness or suffered for him or with him And now we shall by Gods gracious assistance proceed to consider other Scriptures that seem to confirm this which we have delivered from Christ Rev. 20.4 And this doubtless was revealed to the holy Fathers and Prophets in the Old Testament concerning the raising of the deceased Saints at Christs Kingdom on earth as really though not so clearly as it is now to us in the New Testament as being the cheif glory of that his Kingdom wherein they were to have their part therefore God is the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and that should be his memorial for ever to whom and their posterities with them the land of Canaan was promised and shadowed out to be accompished at this time fully wherein all the great promises to that purpose are to have their compeat accomplishment vid. Deut. 30 to vers 11. Deut. 4.20 21. Eze. 37.25 This Jobs expectation had particularly respect unto When the Judge should stand on the earth at the last day as the original carries it and Daniel was to stand in the lot at this time as before we shewed and which seems to be our Saviours drift in the Text Rev. 20. and for this end the great promises of circumcising the heart of the seed of those holy Fathers tend to this Deut 30.6 when they had been driven to the utmost parts of heaven and brought into the lands which their Fathers possessed that they might possess it vers 4.5.6 in their sight So that Evangeligal Prophet Esay Chap. 26. professeth of himself and the faithful with him in that his excellent Song to this purpose vers 19. where having spoken in order of the condition of Gods people in the time now past unto the time of the resurrection of Gods people at this very period as may appear from the Context for having spoken of their condition in the captivity of Babylon ver 13. When other Lords besides the Lord Jehovah had had Deminion over them and yet they would by him only make mention of his name Concerning those Lords he saith They are dead they shall not live they are deceased they shall not rise therefore he had visited and destroyed them and made all their memory to perish vers 14. though they themselves were removed that were his Nation into all the ends of the earth and though a long time after they had prayed and been like a woman with child in pangs and hopes yet had brought forth nothing but wind since for long time there was no deliverance wrought in the earth neither did the inhabitants thereof fall v. 16 17 18. yet that both would come to pass he professeth his saith saying of Gods people and of himself Thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust as Ephes 5.14 Awake thou that sleepest and rise from the dead and Christ shall give thee life as also Esay 60.1 and then it followeth for thy dew is as the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out the dead where he fully shews his faith concerning this first resurrection where he shews the Jews should be a herbs after winter is past quickened by the reviving dew of the spring-time whereas the Lords spoken of vers 13. were such as are mentioned not then to rise Rev. 20 5. the inhabitants that had not fallen till that time those Rev. 19.11 to the end but the Jews Church and himself as at the first resurrection when those said inhabitants of the earth among the rest of the dead that lived not should have no part in that first resurrection when unto himself and Gods people both a temporal and spiritual resurrection will be both of body and soul and outward condition at that time hence the Israelites and Jews as two sticks joyned into one though like dead bones before scattered yet then God shews they should be raised with flesh and skin and be and stand up as a great army Ezek. 37. and hereunto may be referred the mystical resurrection of the two sackcloth witnesses as typical thereof And this the Apostle Paul seems to declare by the Allegory of the two Testaments Gal. 4.26 resembled by Hagar which was Mount Sinai in Arabia that gendred to bondage and Sarah the Jerusalem that is above that is the Mother of all the faithful that Mother City prepared for them Heb. 11.16 that will then come down from God being the City of the living God Heb. 12.12 with all her children The children of the resurrection as our Saviour stiles the faithful Luk. 20.36 shall possess unto which purpose he applyes Gods being the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob in vers 37. next following yea moreover our Saviour describs the faithful v. 35. by being counted worthy to receive that world and the resurrection from