in some sence this is truth of which more anon The two Olive-trees which we are enquiring of are called the Witnesses distinct from the Candlesticks for though our Translators have coupled them together by the conjunction and yet we have been enformed that at or besides is more proper and significant according to Zech. 4.3 But I have determined never to receive any testimony of man how excellent soever unless it be strongly backt and substantially supported by that cleer fountain of life the testimony of Truth Isai 8.20 To the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them And this testimony even this very word discovers more heavenly light then I was aware of for in this Text the Scirptures are plainly cald a Testimony or Witness Let the answer to Zechary's question cleer the truth hereof more fully the Prophet having a Vision of these two Olive-trees which are plainly said to stand by the Candlestick Zech. 4.3 asketh the Angel what they were to which he answered This is the word of the Lord that is to say the Scriptures which before are called the Law and the Testimony and this word of the Lord held forth by two Olive-trees is purposely produced for the cherishing and establishing of that Temple-work that Zerubbabel had in hand as if the Lord should say Let this enform and assure you that though mountains of difficulties appear Neh. 6.1 though Tobiah and Sanballat the exact type of Pope and Cardinals and many false brethren use all means to hinder and destroy my Temple-work though my Candlestick be now in a low mean obscure condition yet my work shall go on and prosper the Word is gone out of my mouth it is upon record in the writings of my Prophets and therefore cannot fail but these Scriptures of truth shall continually stand by my Candlesticks like two Olive-trees conveying by my seven sorts of Instruments as by so many Pipes such plentiful nourishment as shall be able to support my Churches in the most forlorn exiled wilderness estate this was the condition of the distressed Church opposed by Potent Enemies aswell in the time of the great builder Zerubbabel as in the time of the great builder Constantine and this also is worth our consideration that neither the Enemies of the Jews then nor the Enemies of the true Saints now were such professedly but made a great show of friendship Come say they we will build with you Ezra 4.2 for we seek your God as ye do But they secretly conspired against the Jews endevouring by all possible means to hinder the work And this was the speech and thus was the practice of that Iobiah of Rome and those other secret Enemies in the time of Constantine And now the word of the Lord is the only visible support and supply of the poor distressed woman and this word of the Lord stands like two Olive Trees on each side the Candlesticks Zech. 4.11.12 Rev. 11.6 or true Churches yielding constant nourishment to the Saints in their 1260. years misery all which being diligently compared and seriously considered raiseth my apprehensions to these conclusions 1. The two Olive trees are the holy Scriptures or Two Testaments 2. The Candlesticks are the Churches of the Saints 3. The two Branches of the Two Olive Trees are Doctrine and Discipline 4. The Golden Pipes of the Candlesticks are the Ministers of the Churches For the clearing of these I shall make my address to that Chrystal fountain from whence one cleer testimony is to me of more validity then all the Arguments in the world This light the Spirit of truth is pleased to Communicate in this 4. Vers of the 11. Chapter of the Revelation that these witnesses are two Olive Trees which must be so understood as Christ is a Vine a Door a Stone a Nail c. That is not really Though I depend not upon mans testimony yet you may note that Austin the flower of Antiquity was fully of this judgment but figuratively so these blessed witnesses have the same use and therefore are fitly compared unto Olive Trees First That these two Olive Trees are expresly called the word of the Lord hath been already proved from Zech. 4.6 and though this might abundantly satisfie being joyned with that of Isa 8.20 yet for the further Evidence of this truth let us consider the nature of the Olive tree Rom. 11. Rom. 11.17 from which the Jews were broken off and I believe it will cleerly appear that the Olive Tree there mentioned is none other but the word of God growing up and drawing sap from the eternall word the Lord Jesus Christ the root of this tree whereof faithful Abraham was only a Type And that the breaking off the unbelieving Jews was their separation from procured by their contempt of the doctrine of salvation contained in the Scripture these Rom. 3.2 Mat. 10.5.6 Acts. 11.19.13.46 and only these were the children of the Kingdome to whom only the pure Oracles of God were committed to whom only the Gospel was Commanded to be preached and to whom only for a long time it was Preached till they rejecting this heavenly juyce putting away the sap and fatness of this Olive Tree thereby judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life So that this Act of theirs in putting from them the word of God causing those words of Paul and Barnabas Lo we turn to the Gentiles was the breaking of them off from the Olive Tree the eternal word it is worth our consideration that the Apostle cals it their own Olive Tree Rom 11.24 Mat. 15.26 as the Lord Jesus also cals the word of Salvation their bread They are here said to be cut off from the Olive Tree upon which they did grow and we are graffed upon that stock or tree from which they were cut now it is plain that we are built upon the foundation of the Apostles Ephes 2.02 and Prophets which I am sure are the two Testaments that make out the Lord Jesus Christ who is the root of this Olive Tree For the further Illustration of this truth that it was the doctrine of salvation conteined in the Scriptures from which these Jews were broken off and consequently that this Olive tree is none other then the word of God let us examine what those two staves in Zachary are with which the Lord himself fed this stiff-necked obstinate People and this will plainly appear to be the holy Scriptures or word of God and least it should be deemed the humane fancy of a conceited Brain take the naked words as they lie in the Scripture I took unto me two staves the one I called beauty and the other I called bands and I fed the flock Zech. 11.7 And I took my staff even beauty and cut it asunder and it was broken in that day and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew
Characters without life a shell without a kernel a leaden rule Sphinx his Riddles a wood of Thieves a shop of Hereticks imperfect obscure full of perplexities with these weapons the man of Sin fighteth against the holy Scriptures speaking great words against the most High one of the Scarlet crew cryes out before the Pope Fie upon Peter fie upon Paul with a great deal more of such blaspemous stuff Dan. 7.25 Erasm de Lat. Conc. lib. 3. And that he may throughly declare himself to be that great Antichrist he daringly meets the Lord Jesus at his own weapons I will make war and fight with mine enemies Gog and Magog Apoc. 2.16.19.15 with the sword of my mouth saith Christ I will make war against mine enemies the Scriptures with the Sword of my mouth saith Antichrist And he is as big as his word Hist Coun. Trent 155. witness their accursed dealing with the Scriptures in their Conventicle of Trent where though clear proof was made of the excellency of the Hebrew and Greek Originals to the full sence whereof they confess the Latin cannot attain yet lest the cause should be yielded to the Protestants Rhem. pref sect 57. Counc Tre. pag. 156. the vulgar Latin is preferred and they pronounced Hereticks that refuse it And it is there blasphemously asserted that the Holy Ghost who did dictate the Scriptures to Prophets and Apostles in Hebrew and Greek Pag. 156. doth as truly dictate to the Church of Rome the vulgar Latin as more beloved then the rest 158. That there can be no hope of ending controversies if popular Licence be granted to read the Scriptures That the Doctrines of Faith were so well cleared by the Pope and Schoolmen that we ought no more to learn them out of Scripture That it was indeed formerly read in the Church for instruction of the people but now it was needless to study it any more 159. That Scriptures must be interpreted C. Cusanus according to what articles of faith are established by the Church That the Church may vary in Exposition of Scripture according to the times That it was fit to bridle the sawciness of such as should attempt to add any good thing to former Expositions of Scripture 160. That if any thing were discovered to any singular spirit C. Facceco he should be enforced to conceal it And after all these and such like desperate blasphemies against the Scriptures their Latin Translation is approved and none other to be received And upon pain of Heresie it is forbid to say there are Errors in it 161. and that none shall dare to refuse it though it be plainly proved that they have blasphemously corrupted the Text in many things in that corrupt translation as changing Ipse into Ipsa thereby to make way for their Idolizing the blessed Virgin Fulk Cont. Mart. p. 19 Their desperate wounding the 4. Commandment reading it in this Diabolical Dialect Remember to sanctifie the holy dayes In the Latin Bible upon Deut. 4. Via tuta pag. 280. where it is observed that God forbids the making of Graven Images their Jesuitical Index Expurgatorius hath cast it out as all see they have most shamelesly dealt with all the writings of the Fathers Rhem. Test pag. 328. which hath provoked Doctor Fulk to exclaim against them Out upon you Antichristian Hereticks void of all truth and honesty But their shameful and blasphemous reproaches of these heavenly Witnesses exceed all bounds of civility and humanity charging them with inextricable obscurity insufficient imperfect and what not Paul must be censured for a hot-headed person Europ speculum pag. 164 165. of whose assertions there is no great reckoning to be made that 't is dangerous to read him Fulk Rhem. Test Epist to the Qu. as savouring of Heresie upon these and such like pious conclusions the Sacred Bible hath the honour of the first place in their Catalogue of Books prohibited Via Tuta these Monsters endeavouring to their utmost power to hinder that any sound of Scripture should possess the people This is the nature of that cursed war raised by the Beast against the Scriptures as they are about to finish their Testimony What shall be given unto thee Psal 120.3 4. or what shall be done unto thee for this thy Blasphemy thou false tongue What reward shalt thou have for the marvelous things thou hast done against the most High Sharp Arrows of the mighty with coals of Juniper Thirdly the manner how these heavenly Witnesses were overcome and killed must not be imagined to be a shedding of blood forasmuch as these two Olive trees are uncapable of such suffering But as the working of their enemy is the mystery of iniquity so are the weapons of this warfare such as may carry a resemblance of the weapons that the Lord Jesus useth in his Kingdom 2 Cor. 10.4 whose Vicar the Beast pretends to be So that the Victory obtained by Antichrist over the sacred Scriptures is by the exercise of his power in suspending suppressing prohibiting the Translation of them into the vulgar Languages not permitting them to live or breath in the streets of his great City Indeed they are not buried that is beyond the power of Antichrist they are still above ground but 't is in a dead letter They take out the Candle and give the Lanthorn to guide ignorant people in a dark night Deut. 4.2 28.14 the life and strength of them is taken away nay the very heart of them is pulled out for they have to their everlasting shame excluded the second Commandment from the Decalogue Thus void of fear of that dreadful curse which the Lord hath denounced against such desperate wickedness and without the least apprehension of the terrors of the Almighty his fierce wrath against that abhorred sin of Idolatry which did so often provoke the eyes of his jealousie to punish his ancient people hath this infernal beast not only presumed to blaspheme Fulk Rhem. Test Epist mangle suppress and prohibit the eternall Word but hath also most desperately corrupted the sence of it least the deep silence of these blessed Witnesses thus cloistered within the walls of an unknown Language should break forth into loud clamors against his detestable wickedness you have beheld him tearing out their very heart as it were in discarding the second Precept from their Adulterate Decalogue and this by their detestable Councel of Trent is declared good Catholique Doctrine Europ spec p. 185. Taylor Libert pag. 115. Much like that Antichristian expression of Pope Clement Perswas from Pop. p. 15. who shameth not to vaunt of that detestable Decree of his bloody Inquisition That no Lay man must be permitted to have the Bible or any part thereof in the vulgar Tongue and this he prescribeth to be inviolably kept But from Decrees they at length come down to downright blows c. for
certain rule for his Subjects to walk by till his second Personal appearance denouncing Anathema to all such as shall presume to prescribe any other rule or pretend any voyce or vision revelation or inspiration beside or against this sure word of Prophesie Here we see the transcendent excellency and unparallel'd Dignity of these glorious Witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ upon this sure foundation we are built to this sure Word we do well if we take heed it being the Character of a truly blessed man to make these testimonies his delight Psal 1.2 and to meditate herein continually abominating the Witchcrafts Sorceries and cunningly devised Fables of such as come with all plausible sweet affable carriage and mild pleasant behaviour lieing in wait all the while to deceive with inticing words smooth as oyl saluting the Lord Jesus Christ with a Hail King of the Jews thou art most excellent the chief of ten thousand full of grace are thy lips pleasant yea most lovely is thy voyce all thy odours are fragrant therefore the Virgins love thee and the like expressions Here 's a beautiful cup indeed who would dream there should be any Poyson in it But amongst all these heavenly truths comes up secretly one little horn or a beast having two horns like the Lamb but he speaks like the Dragon bringing in such an expression as this as he finds a fit opportunity when he hath pretty well wrought upon his Auditory Oh saith he of Christ thou art the most glorious Creature in heaven or earth who would not run after thee who would not be ravisht with thine excellency thou chief among all the Gods c. And now hath many a filly fish swallowed this pleasant bait hook and all and little dreams of a foundation here laid to destroy the divinity and eternal diety of Christ and to make him a Creature-God These Jesuitical Principles are plainly detected in some that would go for Gospel preachers in these daies whom the Lord Jesus whom they thus dishonour will shortly consume with the breath of his Nostrils and utterly destroy with the brightness of his comming except they repent But to return having cleerly as I conceive proved the holy Scriptures or two Testaments to be the two Witnesses of Christ or the two Olive-trees spoken of by Zachary and John I descend to the other conclusions mentioned as Secondly That the Candlesticks are the Churches of the Saints which in Zechary's time was but one National Church of the Jews and therefore by him said to be but one Candlestick but in Saint Johns time they are sometimes called two Zech. 4.2 Rev. 11.4.1.20 1 Cor. 14.33 sometimes seven that is many several Congregations of Saints springing from the Lord Jesus Christ the Root of the Olive tree or the bowle of the Candlestick being daughters of that heavenly mother Jerusalem that is above 〈…〉 .26 Ephes 3.15 Hebr. 12.22 or the whole family in heaven and earth the general assembly and Church of the first born the several congregated Churches in Gospel order as so many Branches of this great Candlestick which also are themselves called Candlesticks growing and increasing by the heavenly Artifice of those Instruments that Christ hath designed for this building till we all come in the unity of the faith Ephes 4.13 and the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ and this is the Catholique or universal Church and not any other Churches neither National Provincial or any other devise of Antichrist have the least appearance in the Gospel save only I say those particular congregated Churches which are planted together in the likeness of his death Rom. 6 5. being as so many similar parts of this universal Church of Christ his compleat glorious body Thirdly The two Branches of the two Olive-trees are the Doctrine and Discipline of the Churches these two are the Rod Psal 23 4. and the staffe with which the Lord did lead and feed his servant David and when the abominable wickedness of those Idol Shepheards which he placed over his ancient People was ripe for destruction Zech. 11.7 the Lord himself pittying the Flock that had escaped the slaughter of those wicked Shepheards takes his beautiful staff of Doctrine and his ruling Rod of Discipline and with these he feeds the poor of the Flock till by their ingratitude and high provocations Acts 13.46 rebelliously rejecting the tenders of Grace and the word of Salvation they so exceedingly incensed the Lord against them that he takes his beautiful staff of Doctrine and cuts it asunder and it was broken in that day when the dreadful word was uttered Lo we turn to the Gentiles Now was the Doctrine of salvation which they had so long slighted and abused hid from their eyes Luk. 19.42 of which the Lord Jesus had warned them with strong cryes and tears as pittying the obstinacy of this his People Indeed there remained yet among them some external forms and shadows a body without a soul a Lanthern without a Candle The rod of Discipline or staff of Bands was not yet broken and this they rested on crying The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord but as they regarded not so the knowledge of the most High was departed from them and at last a total rejection and absolute exclusion of this rebellious people by the Lords breaking his other staff of bands and this was done by the destruction of that Temple they so much trusted in and so grosly abused by Prophaness and Idolatry Thus was the prediction of our blessed Lord fulfilled by Vespatian and Titus fourty yeers after his Ascention when the Temple being fired could not possibly be quenched by any industry of man yea so eminently and remarkably did the hand of God appear against this Place and People that the heathen Titus confessed That he had only lent his hands and help to God in this work Now did the Lord give them a bill of divorce upon which they were exposed to such direful plagues and woful miseries as never befel to any People as Histories do abundantly testifie Mat. 24.21 according to the Scriptures And thus I have delivered what I apprehend to be the sence and meaning of the two Branches of the two Olive-trees namely the Doctrine and Discipline of the Scriptures which pour out of themselves that golden oyl continually Zech 4.12 Rev. 12.6 by which the Churches of Christ are fed in all Ages Fourthly The last general conclusion from this fourth of Zechary is that the golden Pipes are the Ministers of the Churches through which the golden Oyl is conveighed from the two Olive-trees the two Testaments by the branches of Doctrine and Discipline into the Candlestick the Church to feed and nourish her Rev. 12.6 These Pipes in the second Verse of this fourth of Zechary Zech. 4.2 are said to be seven which in the
in this secret covert By all which it is evident that immediatly after the birth of the man-child Rev. 12.5.6 the woman fled into the Wilderness or secret corners with her heavenly Witnesses the sweet Scriptures of truth and this is that Inner Temple that was exactly measured and prepared by God for her Rev. 11.1 where she is fed nourished and supported by them through her saddest darkest Wilderness course of 1260 prophetical dayes which in Scripture language is so many years as is cleer by Ezeck 34.6 and other Scriptures In all which term of time the holy City lies troden underfoot by the Gentiles in the outward Court even those who were but yesterday as it were come out of trouble and misery themselves having been the objects of Heathens scorn and derision and subject to their rage malice cruelty having obtaind a little rest and the sweet gales of peace now breathing upon them they turn this grace into wantonness and cruelty smiting their fellow servants and lording it over their brethren even as others do to this day who think themselves the true Churches of Christ robbing them of all external comforts while they cleave to and dare not relinquish the Gospels simplicity and soo Rome lately a true Church of Christ is the first that preacheth and practiseth cruelty force violence and persecution And did Rome do so Taylor Libert pag. 26. and is Rome singular in these ungospel-like dealings have not Englands Watch-men learned the same lesson and pretty well con'd it by heart Look upon the late Prelats see what their practice was soon after the bloody Marian dayes Many living testimonies can yet bear witness against the monstrous cruelties of them and their Successors but they are gone out like the snuff of a tallow candle and no doubt but their name will soon perish though the stinke remain How happy had it been if Diotrephes had perished with them but alas our misery our brethren who suffered with us under the late Antichristian persecution of the Prelates have now laid and do already act upon as violent principles of Tyranny and cruelty as either of the former and had not the Lord wonderfully raised up a faithful Magistracy for the support of his Saints banishment had been their gentlest punishment Had it been an open Enemy that had done this Psa 55.13 I could have born it but it was thou a man mine equal my guide and mine acquaintance with whom I took sweet counsel and walked unto the house of God in company this cuts to the quick All these Pope Prelates Presbyters and some mounted a little higher while they were under the ferula accounted persecution unlawful but being out of the danger of a Pile and a Faggot themselves they quickly change their opinion and become as bloody persecutors as their Predecessors But to return to consider the exact time when the Witnesses began to prophesie in Sackcloth it is cleer I hope proved by full evidence from Scripture c. that no sooner did the Churches begin to take breath from Heathenish Persecution by the birth of the man-child Constantine but the Dragon cast out of his mouth such a horrible flood of Arrian cruelty Clav. Apoc. pag 47. that as one saith it did seem to equal that of the Heathens if not far exceed it while the poor Saints with a wonderful constant resolution sadly sigh forth this Swan-like Song Moulin Theoph. pag. 278. We are burned for reading the Scriptures while we burn the more in love to read them These blessed Witnesses the Scriptures were at first collected by the Emperial Edicts of the Royal man-child Constantine immediately upon his birth I mean his spiritual birth all along and though many other Writers came in under the names of the Apostles yet only those were received for Authentick of which evident proof was made to be truly theirs And these being compleated in one Volumn together were called the New Testament and joyned to the other Scriptures of Moses and the Prophets which were called the Old Testament So that now and not till now were the Two Testaments apparantly visible For what by reason of those ten bloody Persecutions their extream poverty their continual labouring for life c. the poor Christians had neither leisure nor liberty to collect the Scriptures into one Volumn they being also deprived of that benefit of Printing which we now enjoy withal considering the far distant places each from other to which the Gospels and Epistles were written it cannot well be imagined how the poor distressed Churches should accomplish so great a work as this of compiling this holy Book this was a design reserved and a work only fit for the royal man-child to accomplish So that at this instant the two Witnesses received the power promised to them Rev. 11.3 and no sooner did they receive this Authority but presently they began to prophesie in Sackcloth Anno Dom. 304. for now the Church of Rome that was lately so famous in their sufferings raised with the prosperous gales of the Emperors breath do sail with such a full clew of peace tranquillity honor wealth c. that being hereby lul'd fast asleep the grand Enemy who is ever waking and watching for such an opportunity now sows his cursed tares of Superstition Idolatry and Heresie amongst them Tulk. Rhem. Test p. 657. Dr. Homes new world pag. 14. but so secretly and cunningly as is declared that this Cockatrice did not suddenly appear to open view But presently these tares grew apace as ill weeds will do so that with ease and prosperity they soone degenerate into Error and all kinde of vanity and as vice encreaseth Hosea 4.7 Brightman Rev. apoc pag. 112. so the foster mother the false Church encreaseth and quickly grows very ample and spacious while the true Church lies hidden obscure in corners with her sorrowful Witnesses in sable Sackcloth so that the major part laying aside the simplicity of the Gospel betake themselves wholly to advance their outward state and the blessed Word of Truth that prohibites affectation of greatness lordliness and outward pomp is slighted and contemned by this Apostatized Chuch of Rome who being now full and compleat in their own conceits lacking nothing tread underfoot the holy City and by degrees mounting from poverty to all outward felicity and her Pastor from being an honest poor Minister riseth to the state of a Lordly Diocesan Prelate from thence to be Primate and Metropolitan of Italy and at length by fawning and flatteries he obtaineth the Kingdom even the Province and City denominating the Emperor 2 Thes 2.7 Dan. 11.12 and now this Let being taken out of the way that only obstructed the Revelation of Antichrist the Popish Authors little suspecting their lord god the Pope to be the man begin to wonder where this king of pride is what shall we say saith one to this that long since the Nations fell away
glory but as an addition to their felicity that they are made Kings and Priests unto God that they may reign with Christ upon the Earth For where they reign Christ shall reign Apoc. 5.10 20.4 where his Throne is erected there they are enthroned To him that overcometh Apoc. 3.21 will I grant to sit with me in my Throne c. Sing and rejoyce O Daughter of Sion Zech. 2.10 for lo I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee the Lord. And the Lord shall inherit Judah Vers 12. his portion in the holy Land And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem Zeeh. 14.4 Vers 9. And the Lord shall be King over all the Earth in that day shall there be one Lord Jer. 30.9.33.15 Ezech. 34.33 34.37.22 24. Dan. 7.14 Mich. 4.7 Zeph. 3 17. Zech. 2.20.6.13 and his name one Many more Scriptures might be produced to confirm this Gospel-truth that the same Lord Jesus Christ who did ascend into Heaven shall come again to reign upon the Earth Luk. 19.12 But if these do not satisfie neither will credit be given if an Angel speak from Heaven or one should rise from the dead to affirm it For my own part I do not know any point of Faith throughout the whole Book of God more clearly proved then this in hand as certain as he ascended and is now receiving his Kingdom Luk. 19.11 12. so sure will he return again to reign in his Kingdom Read Psalm 72. And these and many more Scriptures do superabundantly ratifie this assertion Vse 1. What then remains on our part but first to believe this truth of his coming here to reign we can do him no greater honour then to believe his Word nor no greater disgrace then to reject and refuse so great a cloud of Witnesses of himself his Prophets and Apostles Vse 2. To pray fervently as himself hath taught us Mat. Thy kingdom come for though it is true that neither this nor any other mercy shall be detained from us one minute longer then the appointed season Yet know O house of Israel Ezech. saith the Lord I will for this be enquired of Vse 3. And thrice blessed those that are counted worthy to be the Lords Remembrancers to watch wait for and constantly expect the coming of this King of Glory Blessed is that servant Mat. whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Isai 30.18 Yea blessed are all they that wait for him Secondly how and in what manner shall this King our Christ come to reign upon the Earth First he shall come in Majesty Power Mat. 24.30 2 Thes 1.9 and great Glory not in the form of a servant not riding upon a Colt the foal of an Ass not to be laid in a Manger abused condemned and crucified but now the voyce is Gird thy Sword upon thy thigh Psal 45.3 4 8. O most mighty with thy glory and thy Majesty and in thy Majesty ride prosperously All Garments smell of Myrrh his Aloes and Cassia out of the Ivory Palaces He shall also have dominion from sea to sea Psal 72.8 and from the River to the ends of the Earth yea all Kings shall fall down before him 11. all Nations shall serve him Secondly 2 Thes 1.7 Mat. 24.31 25 31. Zech. 14.5 Jude 14. He shall come attended with all the Angels in Heaven and all his Saints that ever were now are or ever shall be never such a King never such a train Thirdly Mat. 24.27 1 Cor. 15.52 He shall come swift as the Lightning in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at unawares O dear Christians watch for your lives Fourthly Mat. 24 30 Apoc. 1.7 2 Thes 1.8 1 Cor. 3.13 He shall come in Clouds and flaming fire look carefully to your works actions and conversation for this fire will try every mans work of what sort it is Fifthly Mat. 24 30 Apoc. 1.7 He will come in view of all the world and every eye shall behold him And what wilt thou do or how wilt thou be able to look on his glorious face that canst not now endure the sight of his Saints Sixthly and lastly He will come in person with the same body that was born of the Virgin crucified upon the Cross raised from the dead and ascended into Glory only here 's all the difference it will be a Spirituall Immortal Glorious Body but the same Body If we believe that he was a perfect man and had a real Substantial Body here on earth and that he hath exalted the same Body to the right hand of the Majesty on high then certainly he shall come in person here to reign in the same Body with his Saints for proof hereof many Scriptures might be alledged I shall only produce two and they are very full and clear the first is in the first of the Acts Acts 1.11 vers 11. and it is the Doctrine of Angels which also said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven I am even amazed that men professing godliness should have a vayl so thick upon their hearts and their understanding so wonderfully obscured as to reject the serene brightness of this impregnable Testimony The second Scripture is the first to the Thes 4.16 For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout c. 1 Thes 4.16 there needs no further proof if these two convince not what will If any shall yet continue in darkness and unbelief of this so necessary glorious truth thus measured by the line of the Word and weighed in the ballance of the sanctuary it is because there is no light in them The use that I would have my fellowbrethren to make of the personal Reign of Christ is this if ever we expect to see his face with joy if ever we hope to be sharers in his Glory at his personal coming in his Kingdom let us get a large proportion of his spirit in our hearts his personal presence will be no comfort to us then unless we are filled with his spirituall presence now Gen. 43.5 Ye shall not see my face saith Joseph except your Brother be with you Can we think of entertainment in his Royal Palace without the wedding garment the Lord make us wise betimes Thirdly the next thing to be enquired into is where this King of Glory will establish his Throne at his coming and this hath been proved already in general to be upon the earth but more particularly I affirm because the Word of truth affirms it will be in the Valley of Jehosaphat for so the Prophet Joel speaks in plain words Joel 3.2 I will also gather all Nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehosaphat and
will plead with them there Thither cause thy mighty ones to come O Lord. 11.12 Let the Heathen be wakened and come up to the Valley of Jehosaphat for there will I sit to judge all the Heathen round about the Heathens must come up to the Valley the Saints must come down And it will be worth our labours to consider the rest of this third Chapter of Joel which will give much light to this truth for after the Lords Throne is thus erected in the Valley of Jehosaphat it is said that the Lord will dwell in Zion and that there shall be abundance of rich blessings there 17 18. And that for ever as long as the Moon endureth But because the Valley of Jehosaphat Psal 72. Dan 7.14 as it now is hath not capacity or extent to receive the New Jerusalem therefore the Prophet Zachary tells us that it shall be wonderfully enlarged by the dividing of the Mount of Olives Zech. 14.4 And the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the East and toward the West and there shall be a very great Valley For the valley of the Mountains shall reach unto Azal Vers 5 All the land shall be turned as a Plain from Geba to Rimmon 10. and it shal be inhabited in her place 11. And men shall dwell in it and there shall be no more utter destruction But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited and how should it be otherwise when the Prince of Peace shal reign in Glory in the midst of it This then is the place of which the Lord speaketh Isa 65 10. Rev. 24.4 I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard in her nor the voyce of crying here Lord let my soul flourish with thee and thy Saints according to thy Word Rev. 3.21 Fourthly the fourth thing to be discovered is when this Lord of Glory and King of Saints will come to reign in this his Kingdom on Earth and first it is plain that it was not in the dayes of his humiliation for as he is answering his Disciples question about his coming to Judgement Mat. 24.25.6 he tells them the time of it is then when all the Virgins seeing the signs and hearing the voyce or cry Go forth to meet him coming as a Bridegroom to marry his Church that is the whole body of his Saints which will be then compleated and brought together into one place Mat. 24.28 Joh 10.16 where in the view of all the world the Marriage will be gloriously solemnized And secondly it is as plain that this Glorious Reign cannot be after the day of Judgement for then there would be a change in Heaven 1 Cor. 15.24 since it is clear that after Christs Reign and subduing of all his enemies he must give up the Kingdome to his Father Then thirdly it cannot be the spirituall Reign of Christ in that way as most dream which they conceive is now in being and that Christ will never come to Reign any other way save onely in greater purity then he doth now by his Spirit Which fond imaginations as they have not the least substantial Pillar from the word of Truth to support them so the contrary is plain and evident from the clear current of that pure fountain namely that the Lord Jesus Christ will come then and not till then to take to himself his great Power and Reign when all the signs that are to precede his coming are visibly discovered which I am sure are not yet as shall be shewed in its place Again the Spirit was given in a most glorious eminent manner far exceeding present dispensations when the Apostles Generally and Saint John more particularly waited for Act. 3.20 21. Rom. 8.23 1 Thes 4.17 Rev. 1 7. and yet expected this Glorious Personal Reign of Christ as abundance of unerring Witnesses do testifie but in special the present Scripture that I am now opening namely Rev. 11.15 which plainly declareth that the Personal * See Rev. 1.7 Reign of Christ is to begin when the seventh Trumpet is sounding at that time and not before when the seventh Trumpet begins to sound Rev. 10.7 shall this great Mystery be accomplished And certain I am that the Spirituall Kingdome of Christ was gloriously eminent before any of the seven Angels began to sound and therefore it cannot be only the spiritual Kingdom of Christ that is here spoken of and so the time is not yet in being of this Reign of Christ As therefore we must not cast off our expectation of nor our diligent constant watching waiting for this Personal Glorious manifestation on the one hand saying with that evil servant My Lord delayeth his coming and so split our selves upon the desperate rock of carnal security Neither must we run upon that other shelf of a vain ungrounded conceit that he is already come Mat. 24.23 24 25 26 27. whereof our Lord himself hath given us fair warning the Lord give us hearts to receive and embrace it It is not then the spiritual Reign which we now enjoy but the personal glorious truly spiritual Reign which we shall shortly enjoy that is the Life and Crown and Hope and Comfort of many precious enlightned Saints who have found such sweet support succour and solace from this sure Pillar of divine truth that all the delusions of Sathan in this luxurious giddy Age hath not been able to shake The ignorance of this soul-ravishing Gospel-truth is that horrible Gulph that hath swallowed up thousands who finding in the words of truth such glorious things spoken of this day of the Lord but through ignorance in this Mystery and the cunning slights of Sathan who transforms himself to an Angel of Light are deluded in their sence and all their intellectuals beleeving that Christ is come already and doth Reign already whereupon they conclude to throw away all Ordinances for say they Christ hath commanded us to use them till his coming and no longer Do this till I come hold fast till I come Occupy till I come Nay so far hath this restless spirit of error prevailed with some as to beleeve that Christ hath already Reigned that he hath already given up the Kingdom to his Father and that now God is all in all that they live in God that they are God c. And now this Prince of darkness hath plaid his part to purpose now he hath possessed them not only with a distast of Ordinances and slighting of them but now away go Scriptures Christ and all they are a lye an Allegory he a shadow a Type c. and now Sathan hath his will having deceived them so far as to deny the Lord that bought them for he well knows that there is no other name given under heaven to bring salvation but this Christ whom they thus reject and now he is cock sure of them and now they are ripe
Judge all the Heathen round about None so blind as those that will not see 10. The glorious City from Gods Throne doth glide EXcept by clear Scripture it be disproved I must believe therefore affirm Rev. 21.2 Ioh. 14.1 2 that the City described by Saint John is a material City that the Carpenters Son hath been these 1600 years preparing it for his Saints and that the cleaving of the Mount of Olives producing that wonderful spacious plain already proved is to receive this glorious City of twelve thousand furlongs Rev. 21.16 or one thousand five hundred miles compass wherein his Saints shall raign in glory with this Jehovah our Righteousness as long as the Sun and Moon indureth If it be said by a mistake of Rev. 21.9 10. That the holy City is call'd the Bride I must answer plainly it is not so but on the contrary if the 9. and 10. Verses be compared with the 24. we shall find them manifestly distinguished and it appears plainly that the design of the Spirit is to shew the Apostle the City where the Bride dwelleth Psal 45.14 Isa 65 18. Ezech. 14.11 and if we shall further consult these Scriptures it will be yet more clear that the City is one thing and the Bride the Saints the glorious Inhabitants in that City another thing But if it should be granted that the City is call'd the Bride there would be little gained by it as to the opposite of this Point because it is ordinary in the Scriptures to term the Inhabitants of the City the City it self as Matt. 11.20 21 22 23. sure it will not be affirmed that the buildings of Capernaum c. are threatned to be thrown into Hell Let the Prophet Ezechiel decide this Controversie from the mouth of the Lord Ezech. 37.27 saying My Tabernacle also shall be with them yea and I will be their God and they shall be my people this is that royal Palace into which the Bride with her Virgins shall enter to solace themselves with our King in unconceivable spiritual delights for ever 11. The Nuptial ditty Vshers in the Bride THe Ancient people of the Lord the natural seed of faithful Abraham after their tedious time of divorcement Isai 62 2 3 4 5. Hos 2.19 20. shall not only be espoused as formerly but now in view of all the world marryed with transcendent joy in highest Glory to the King of glory This is the Royal Bride the Gentiles Saints or Churches are the Virgins her Companions All the Angels in Heaven joyn in Consort to celebrate the Nuptials in that triumphant ditty Alleluja Rev. 19.6 7. for the Lord God omnipotent reighneth Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready so shall she be brought unto the King in raiment of needle-work Psal 45.14 15. the Virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee with gladness and rejoycing shall they be brought they shall enter into the Kings Palace There is a great question but of no great importance whether the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in before Israels conversion for my own part I am satisfied in this that in respect of a full conversion the work among the Gentiles shall precede but after the Jews effectual Call so glorious will that dispensation be Isai 60 3. That the Gentiles shall come to their light and Kings to the brightness of their rising Yet when all is known and understood which the word discovers of this wonderful Mystery what a small spark is it to the exceeding unconceivable glory of that day of wonders and who would hazard his interest in the glory thereof for all the bewitching painted seeming glories of this luxurious Age 12. Thus Saints regaining an immortal state HOw miserably are they handled by men of corrupt minds that stand for the honour of Christs Kingdom as though it were carnal delights and earthly pleasures they lookt after if any such there be they will see their vanity and folly perhaps when 't is too late The Saints are of another stamp and are hereby chiefly discerned from hypocrites by seeking holiness rather then happiness it is the pure spiritual immortal glorious state of Christs Kingdom that they believe and profess and expect and that which makes their spirits dance and their souls to leap for joy is the consideration of being fashioned like his glorious body when being free from corruption Phil. 3.21 they shall never sin against God any more not any kinde of pleasure can stand in competition in their pure affections with desire of freedom from sin their King hath taught them and they have learned to know Luk. 20.35 That they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they die any more for they are equal unto the Angels This is that blessed state of immortality that Saints believe Phil. 3.11 1 Cor. 15.54 and with the blessed Apostle press hard after When this corruption shall put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality and death shall be swallowed up of victory Rom. 8.23 This adoption is that redemption of our bodies that now we wait for Luk. 22.30 Isai 62.9 and shall then enjoy when we shall eat and drink at Christs table in this glorious Kingdom There will be eating and drinking but not as now for in this state of mortality other creatures lose their lives to support ours for so is the word * Acts 10.13 Isai 65.21 in the state of immortality the fruit of the Vine the food appointed Adam in Paradise And only the state of Eternity is supported by God himself 13. In glory reigning while the Sun bears date THe Lord Jesus Christ is not now in his own proper and peculiar Throne Rev. 3.21 his present station is at the right hand of the Majesty on High even in his Fathers Throne but the glorious Throne that he hath purchased with his precious bloud he will shortly erect upon this Earth for himself and his beloved Saints then shall he have and enjoy the actual return of that request of his Joh. 17.24 That where I am they may be also and this the Saints in Heaven are wondrously affected with and do therefore exceedingly rejoyce in the consideration of this glory which they with their fellow brethren shall enjoy as an addition to their present glory with Christ in his Throne upon the Earth Rev. 5.9 10. for then and not till then will the glory of our King be compleat when the great voyces of all the heavenly Host shall be heard in the words of the Scripture I am now opening the Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 And