feare them that kill the body but cannot Mar. 22. 32. Mat. 10. 28 Luke 2. 29. kill the soule the soule cannot dye with the body but it departs away from it Then I conclude that if the Soule assoone as it leaves the body goes immediately to Paradise the third heaven there is neither purgatory nor place of residence after death but as the tree falleth so it lies after death to Judgement a particular sentence is passed immediately upon them for heaven or hell and there is no place of abode for Abrahams children till they come into his bosome with him in Heaven for ever But thirdly which is the maine objection to all my former discourse if the soule of Abraham be in Heaven and when he was here he desired a better Country than this world which is a heavenly then they say after the day of Judgement the Saints shall not inherit all these things here below in this world because the Saints did alwayes set a low value of them To this I answer that the Soule is of a Heavenly substance and when it Rom. 6. 7. leaves the body then it hath ceased from sinne therefore no place between this and Paradise is fit to receive it Therefore saith the Prophet Arise ye and depart for this is not your rest because it is polluted and after the Heb. 12. 23. day of Judgement the Angels shall abide in Heaven being a place for such glorious Spirits and the soules of men made perfect being of the same nature with them shall abide in Heaven also till the body shall rise againe for as the soules of men are now confin'd in Heaven Luk. 16. 26. and the Angels have businesse both in the Heavens and in the Earth so after the day of Judgement when they have finished their worke in this world they shall rest and I suppose shall be confined in Heaven for ever and when our bodies Eccle 21. 7. are risen and united to our soules then shall we inherit all things here in their first perfection and also we shall have sweet communion with Angels in Heaven for as I said before man consists of two parts body and soule so he shall have two worlds answerable to his two natures to delight himselfe in that he may have fulnesse of joy for whom all things were made 1 Tim 4. 8. for godlinesse is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come and the meane time that the body lies in the grave the soule is gone to take possession of the kingdome of heaven and when the body riseth againe it shall then have this world bestowed upon it and as the soule brought nothing with it so it shall take nothing out with it no not his owne body but leaves it here in the earth till it comes againe and so the body goes to the grave and takes nothing with it but weeping and mourning yet when it comes againe having had the pretious seeds of grace in it shall doubtlesse come againe with rejoycing and Psal 126. 6. bring his sheaves with him so then after the day of judgement when all things are purified by fire and restored to their first perfection then I say man shall inherit all things both in this world and in the world to come then shall the meeke inherit the earth and delight themselves in the abundance Psal 37. 11. Joh. 16. 20. 33. Esay 49. 8. Matth. 10. 16. of peace but this cannot be before the day of judgment for saith Christ In this world you shall have tribulation Christ was given for a covenant of the people to establish the earth to cause to inherite the desolate heritages but for the present the Saints are as sheep among wolves so that these things shall not be restored to the Saints till themselves are in their first perfection then they shall be given us againe perfect as they were to Adam at the first And although mans body shall put on immortalitie and shall be made so firme and permanent as to endure for ever eternally yet his body shall not be turned into a spirit it shall be a body still with flesh and bones as Luke 24. 39 49. the body of Christ was after his resurrection saith he Handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as yee see me have And he did eate and drinke with his disciples after his resurrection they gave him a peece of a Luke 24. 42 43 30. Joh. 21. 9. 12. 13. Acts 10. 41 Matth. 26. 29. Rom. 14. 17 Joh. 18. 36. broyled fish and of an hony combe and he tooke it and did eate before them so it is likely man may after his resurrection for saith Christ I will henceforth drinke no more of the fruit of the vine till I drinke it new in my Fathers Kingdome this cannot bee meant presently after his ascension for wee never read that hee dranke wine in all that fortie dayes and his kingdome doth not consist in drinking wine but in righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost My kingdome is not of this world saith hee then I conclude that Christ will not drinke of the fruit of the vine till he hath rendered up the kingdome to 1 Cor. 15. 24. his Father then will Christ amongst the Saints drinke it new not as though he desired to drinke new wine rather then old for he himself saith that no man having old wine desireth new for hee saith the old is better Luke 5. 39. then the meaning is when the vine is made now and all the trees and creatures restored to their first perfection then will he drinke with them in his Psal 96. 11 12 13. Fathers kingdome then shall the heavens rejoyce and the earth be glad the fields shall be joyfull and all the trees of the wood shall rejoyce before the Lord when hee commeth to judge the earth Hee shall judge the world with righteousnesse and his people with his truth then here you see the world every creature the very trees shall have righteousnesse as they have suffered by the sinne of man so shall they have benefit in mans deliverance from his sinne this is that which the whole creation groaneth and traveleth in paine together untill now but the creature it selfe shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children Rom. 8. 21. 22. of God but it is observable when all the creatures in heaven and earth rejoyce at the comming of Christ to judgement at the same time the Sea Psa 96. 11. roares and the fulnesse thereof because it is said there shall be no more Sea Revel 21. 1. then shall man enjoy all the creatures that were given him at the first as he did in his innocency so that he may eate of all the trees for his pleasure and yet not feele the perill of hunger and although our bodies shall
THE SAINTS INHERITANCE After the Day of IVDGEMENT Being also An Answer to certaine scruples of late delivered and others Printed especially in that Booke intituled The Personall Reigne of Christ upon Earth By T. B. Isa 45. 17 18. For Israel shall be saved with an everlasting salvation ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end for thus saith the Lord that created the heavens God himselfe that formed the earth and made it he hath established it he created it not in vaine he formed it to be inhabited I am the Lord and there is none else Dan. 7. 18. 27. But the Saints of the most High shall take the Kingdom and possesse the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever and the Kingdome and the greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdome and all Dominions shall serve and obey him LONDON Printed by Richard Cotes and are to be sold by John Sweeting in Popes-head-Alley 1643. Revel 21. 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and be shall be my sonne THe meaning of these words are not to be confined onely to the joyes of heaven when the body is dead and the Soule is ascended up thither and hath the fruition of God the Father and of Jesus Christ and the blessed Spirit and the holy Angels and soules of just men made perfect but it reacheth unto all things that are here below in this world to satisfie the body also at the resurrection day when the creatures and man also are all restored againe to their first perfection for saith the Lord I will bring a seede out of Jacob and out of Judah an inheritour of my mountaines and mine elect shall inherit it Isa 65. 10. 11. see 3 5 2. and my Servants shall dwell there and Sharron shall be a fold for flockes and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lye downe in for my people that have sought me This is promised to those that overcome First the world as it is now corrupted by the sinne of man so that neither the pleasures nor profits thereof deceive our hearts to set our love immoderately on it Let your moderation be knowne to all men the Lord is at hand Secondly to them that stand fast against all the wiles of the Devill Phil. 4. 5. Ephe. 6. 11 and doe not let Satan get advantage of them those that are not ignorant of his devices but resist the Devill and cause him to flye from them Thirdly 2 Cor. 2. 11 Jam. 4. 7. Isa 44. 20. Pro. 4. 23. 1 Cor. 9. 27 those that their owne deceived heart hath not turned them aside those that keepe their heart withall diligence those that keepe under their body and bring it in subjection and keepe their mouth with a bridle Psal 39. 1. and make a covenant with their eyes Job 31. 1. he that thus overcometh saith Christ will I grant to fit with me on his throne Rev. 3. 21. he shall inherit all things but in this world we are Warriours fighting against them for they are not really overcome in this world therefore the full fruition of all things is reserved till after death in the world to come when old things are passed away and all things are become new for he that sate on Revel 21. 5 the throue said Behold I make all things new then saith the Lord I will be his God and he shall be my Sonne Beloved now we are the Sonnes of God and it doth not yet appeare what we shall be but wee know that when he shall appeare we shall be like him but while we are here in this 1 Joh. 3. 2. Gal 4. 1. world we are as the heire under age being a childe and differing nothing from a servant though he be Lord of all we are not fit to have that authority over the creatures as Adam had till we are againe restored to that perfection that he had to be without sinne as he was neither are the creatures fit to doe their duty to us being all corrupted with our sinnes but when we and they are againe restored to our first perfection then and not before shall the Saints inherit all things for this inheritance must bee immortall uncorruptible undefiled that fadeth not away but these things as they 1 Pet. 1. 4. Mat. 5. Heb. 12. 28. are now are sometimes taken from us and sometimes we are taken from them and at the day of judgement the heavens and earth shall passe away I doe not meane the heaven of the blessed that is a kingdome that cannot be moved but the starry heavens and the cloudy heavens they shal passe away with a great noyse and the elements shall melt with fervent heate the earth also and the workes that are therein shall be burnt up the heavens being 2 Pet. 3. 10. 12. on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat and saith John I saw a great white throne and him that sate on it from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away and there was found no place for them thus in Revel 20. 11. the day of Judgement but the Lord whom ye seeke shall suddainly come to his Temple even the messenger of the covenant whom ye delight in behold he shall come saith the Lord of Hoasts but who may abide his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth for he shall be like refiners fire and fullers sope he shall purifie the sonnes of Levi for he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and shall purge them as gold and Mal. 3. 1 2 3 4 5. silver that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousnesse then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant to the Lord but in this Judgement he will be a swift witnesse against the wicked then will Christ purifie the creatures through fire at that day and consume their drosse with fire and brimstone and bring them backe againe to their first Chaos and then saith John in his vision I saw a new heaven and a new earth Rev. 21. 1. for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea and we according to his promise looke for new heavens and a new earth 2 Pet. 3. 12 13. wherein dwelleth righteousnesse for saith the Lord Behold I create new heavens and a new earth for the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind The new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remaine before me Isa 65. 17. Isa 66. 22. And for the rest of the creatures the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Sonnes of God for the creature it selfe also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious Rom. 8. 19 20 21 22 23.
before the day of judgement when the wicked shall have as great authority and riches as they neither can it properly be said that the Saints shall reigne in heaven for there is none to bee subject unto them then it remaines that the Saints after the day of judgement shall reigne here on earth Revel 5. 10 when they shall shine as the Sunne in the Firmament Matth 13. 43. and be as glorious in the fight of God as he was at the first all the creatures restored to their first persection then they will yeeld to man all that obedience that is due unto him and then shall man be honoured in the earth by the creatures as their Lord and King and wonderfull happy among the Angels in heaven being of their nature in his soule and in his body also being made of the same elements with other creatures here below then the Angels shall continue in heaven and these creatures shall continue here and men shall have bodies so full of agility to ascend up to heaven and to walke in the ayre as to goe upon the ground and the glory of the soule shall bee the wonderfull perfection of Gods Image in all the faculties of it then shall wee know both the secrets of heaven and earth then shall our memories will and affections bee after an unconceivable manner made conformable unto God yea we shall have both in our soules and bodies rivers of joyes and pleasure for evermore Psal 16. 11. Revel 21 7 Esay 66. 22. then shall the Saints inherit all things and the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remaine before mee saith the Lord and so shall your seed and your name remaine then shall wee bee Luk. 20. 35. 36. equall to the Angels being children of the resurrection and counted worthy to obtaine that world and we shall be as Kings and Priests and wee shall reigne on the earth Revel 5. 10. and all the creatures here will yeeld subjection to us as to their Lord and King and we shall be as Priests to offer the sacrifice of praise to the Lord and give him all the glory And if any shall yet say these times shall be before the end of the world because in the eighth Psalme it is said thou hast crowned man with glory and honour and thou madest him to have dominion over the workes of thy hands and hast put all things under his feet and then names all the creatures here below I answer David here magnifies the Lord for that great glory and honour that was put upon man at the first in Paradise when he had dominion over Psal 8. 6. all things under the heavens for this is spoken in the time past Thou madest him have dominion and thou hast put all things under his feet but Heb. 2. 8. if we speake of the new world we see not yet all things put under him And whereas some hold that the soules of men departed shall returne againe and their bodies shall be raised and united to them and they shall live here againe before the day of judgement a thousand yeares but I demand Revel 20. 4 with what bodies shall they rise if it be sowne a corrupted body shall it not rise in incorruption if it bee sowne a naturall body shall 1 Cor. 15. 43 44. it not rise a spirituall body they must rise with such a body as Christ did But when the disciples saw him they were terrified and affrighted Luk. 23. 37 Act. 10. 40. 41. and supposed that they had seene a spirit and as for wicked men they never saw his body at all after his resurrection him God raised up the third day and shewed him openly not to all the people but unto witnesses chosen before of God even to us who did eate and drinke with him after hee Luk. 24. 31. 51. John 20. 17. Mich 〈◊〉 10. arose from the dead and when hee was with them as soone as they knew him he vanished out of their sight this strangenesse was betweene his spirituall and their corporall bodies this is not your rest because it is polluted he charged Mary that she should not touch him then what communion can be betwixt them when some must not touch him and others were affrighted at the sight of him and as soone as they knew him hee vanished away because the world is polluted then it cannot bee that spirituall and corporall bodies should live together and though he eate and dranke with them after his Resurrection yet we must not thinke it was for necessity or through the perill of hunger but onely for delight and to shew them that Luk. 24 3◠40. he had a reall body as before with flesh and bones onely it was made immortall and everlasting never to dye more nor to suffer any perill more And whereas it is said That the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse Revel 20. 4 of Jesus and for the word of God and had not worshipped the beast they lived and raigned with Christ a thousand yeares This cannot be meant of a corporall death or of a bodily resurrection for the rest that were dead lived not againe Vers 5. 6. till the 1000. yeares were finished and yet in the first Resurrection who are as blessed and holy as the rest On them the second death hath no power and they being in the first resurrection and yet not raised in their bodies what is this but to rise from the death of sinne to the life of grace on such the second death hath no power and Christ answered the Sadduces that Abraham Isaac and Jacob are living for God is the God of the living and he is their Mat. 22. 32 John 5. 24. God he that is thus alive shall dye no more but is passed from death to life And againe the planting of the Gospell and increasing or spreading of the Church may very well be called a Resurrection because men were brought out of a state of death to a state of life and the growth of the Church was like to the rising of the waters of the sanctuary first to the Ezekiel 47. ankles then to the knees then to the loynes and to a river that could not be passed over so was the Resurrection of the Church at the first but twelve Acts 1. 15. 2. 41. 44 5 14. then a hundred and twenty then there was added three thousand then five thousand then multitudes both of men and women now he that hath part in this first resurrection on them the second death hath no power and whether they have this first Resurrection in the first thousand yeares after Christs ascension or in the second it matters not so they have it before the day of Judgement on them the second death hath no power But our controversie is about those that were slaine for the witnesse of Jesus and yet lived and reigned with Christ a
they all power nor at all times nor ever all those that are their owne but limited in manner and time by the prescript of God vers 5. After the thousand yeares was expired the devill was loosed a little season that is five months Revel 9. 5. or a hundred and fifty dayes or so many yeares in which Revel 20 3 time the devils have mightily perverted all things in the world and yet without killing as they were commanded vers 5. being under the fifth Angell this little season of a hundred and fifty yeares wherein Satan had his commission enlarged being loosed Revel 9. 5. Verse 1. Francis Junius Annotations Revel 9. 5. 20. 3. in some measure from his thousand yeares bondage which saith Francis Junius fell out precisely in the Popedome of Gregory the seventh that monstrous Necromancer a man being made altogether of impiety and wickednesse a slave of the devill whom he served he was the most wicked firebrand of the world he excommunicated the Emperour Henry the fourth he went about by all manner of treachery to set up and pull downe Emperors and kingdomes he doubted not to put in Rodolph the Sweden over the Empire in stead of Henry the fourth sending him a crowne with this verse annexed to it The Rocke to Peter gave the Crowne And Peter Rodolph doth renowne He so sinely beslirred himselfe in his affaires that he miserably set all Christendome on flre and convayed over unto his successors the burning brand of the same who raged with like ambition never ceased to nourish that flame and to kindle it more and more whereby Cities Commonwealths and whole Kingdomes set together by the cares amongst themselves by most expert cut-throats came to ruine while they most miserably wounded one another this hundred and fiftie yeares being that little season that Satan was loosed ended in the time of Gregory the ninth This man caused to be compiled by one Raymond his Chaplain the body of Decretalls and by sufferance of Kings and Princes to bee published in the Christian world and established for a Law for by this sleight at length the Popes arrogated unto themselves liâ—ence to kill whom they would whiles others were unawares and without feare established a butchery out of many of their wicked Canons and of the Decretals the effects of these bloody actions declared upon the sixt verse of the ninth Chapter that the miserable world languishing in so great calamities run together unto death and preferre the same before life by reason of the grievous miseries that oppressed So farre Junius them Bâ—t before these Kings were in the first thousand yeares the Saints may Revel 9. 1. be said to raigne with Christ because the devill should be hindred of his purpose all that time but the time being expired and Satan loosed in the 2 Thes 2. 9. ninth Chapter then the Dragon gave him his power and his seate and great authority Revel 13. 2. then hee was set up whose comming is after the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders now the Angels are loosed that were bound in the River Euphrates being a type Revel 9. 13 14. of new Babylon when they were going to set up the Pope in his Throne they were bound in the River and could not get over till the thousand yeares were ended but now they are gone into all the foure quarters of the earth to deceive the Nations and to gather Gog and Magog together both Revel 20. 7 8 9. Revel 11. 8 Turke and Pope whose number is as the sand of the Sea against the holy Citie the Church of God till fire come downe from God out of heaven and devoure them for as Rome is spiritually called Sodome for their filthinesse committed in it so I suppose their judgement shall bee alike both for the Gen. 19. Revel 18 suddennesse the one in a moment the other in an houre and both with fire from heaven If some shall yet say that Satan was not bound the first thousand yeares Revel 20. 3 4. because as soone as he is loosed there is mention made of thrones and they that sate on them I answer they were not the throne of Christ for that is mentioned in the 11. Verse where John saith I saw a great white throne and him that is Christ sate on it but the other are called in the Psal 12 25. plurall number thrones and they that sate on them these are thrones of judgement thrones of the house of David or earthly thrones these Dan. 7. 9. thrones must be all cast downe when the ancient of dayes doth sit and hee alone shall be exalted in that day Againe them that plead for Christs living here a thousand yeares before the day of judgement they hold that then all things here below shall returne to the same confused Chaos as it was in the creation and so remaine for ever and they hold likewise that the bodies and soules of men after the day of judgement shall be confined in heaven but I have answered these things already and something more I shall say anon But the meane time what delight is it to the Lord to looke upon a confused Chaos to all eternity when all his glorious workes of creation are spoyled if it should be so both God and man and the rest of the creatures would bee at great losse God for spending his labour in the creation and now to end in a confused Chaos and man would suffer a great losse to lose a world of creatures that was given to him at the first this would become a great reproach to the second Adam as though he were not able to restore againe to us all that the first Adam lost the rest of the creatures would suffer both losse injustice if they should not have that restored which was not lost through their default but surely God that is able to change our vile bodies when they are turned to dust is able to subdue all things unto himselfe The Lord made Phil. 3. 21. Prov. 16. 4. Eccles 3. 14 Deut. 32. 4. Gen. 1. 31. Exod. 31. 17. all things for himselfe then whatsoever God doth it shall be for ever He is a rocke and his worke is perfect A God of truth without iniquity Just true is he All his wayes are done in judgement The Lord looked upon all his workes and said they were very good He tooke so great delight in them that it is said he rested and was refreshed then shall all things lie for ever in a confused Chaos I cannot harbour such a thought Then saith the Lord behold I create new heavens and a new earth and the former shall not bee remembred nor come into minde and what followes Esay 65. 17 18 19. Be you glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create for I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her people a joy and I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my
people the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard in her violence shall be no more heard in thy land wasting nor destruction within thy borders but thou shalt call thy walls salvation and thy gates Reve. 21. 22. 22. 9. prayer the Sunne shall be thy light no more by day neither for brightnesse shall the Moone give light unto thee but the Lord shall be to thee an everlasting light and thy God thy glory thy Sunne shall no more go down Esay 60. 18 19 20 21. neither shall the moone withdraw it selfe for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light and the dayes of thy mourning shall be ended thy people shall be all righteous they shall inherit the land for ever the branch of my planting the worke of my hands that I may be glorified and not onely Esay 86. 24. so that they shall enjoy all things here but they shall goe forth and looke upon the carcasses of them that have transgressed against the Lord for their worme shall nor die not the fire be quenched but they shall bee an abhorring to all flesh the miseries of the damned that they shall see shall much increase their joy when they shall see what judgements the Lord hath saved them from and what a joy will it be when the creatures shall yeeld us true subjection as they did to Adam in Paradise and how will the Angels rejoyce to see all the Saints not onely converted but glorified Luke 15. 7. and how shall we rejoyce to see the will of God done on the earth as it is in heavens and when we shall have that Petition granted which we have so long prayed and waited for which is Thy kingdome come Matth 6. If any shall yet object and say the Saints shall not enjoy all things because we brought nothing into the world and it is certaine we shall carry nothing out naked we came and naked we shall returne Arise and depart 1 Tim. 6. 7. Job 1. 21. Micah 2. 10 Heb. 11. 16 Matth. 8. 11 Luk. 23. 43 Eccle. 12. 7 for this is not your rest because it is polluted therefore they desire a better country that is a heavenly and they shall come from the East and West and shall sit downe with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the kingdome of heaven and this shall be as soone as they depart this life This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise then shall dust returne to the earth as it was and the spirit to God who gave it The answering of this may satisfie three sorts of opinions first that the soule is begotten as well as the body secondly that there is a place of abode for the soule when it is departed from the body besides heaven or hell thirdly it may answer those that thinke the soule and body both shall not after the day of judgement enjoy all things but shall bee confined in heaven for ever First if the spirit returne to God that gave it then the Father did not beget it but the Lord breathed into Adam the breath of life and he became a living soule and the Lord formeth the spirit of man within him and Gen 2. 7. Zach. 12. 1. some untimely birthes never had any spirit in them Man is the father of the flesh because he begot it but it is Gods owne peculiar title to be the Father of Spirits Numb 16. 22. 27. 16. See Heb. 12. 9. because he formed it Zach. 12. 1. and gave it Eccles 12. 7. If man should beget the soule of his childe then he that hath a righteous soule would beget a soule in his own likenesse but we see the contrary Againe if a man should beget the soule of his childe he must either infuse his owne soule into it or else he must infuse a peece of it but which of the two is it If he infuse a peece of his owne soule into the childe then he hath but a piece left himselfe and his childe another piece but if he hath parted with all his soule then he hath none himselfe but so much for this ridiculous question For the second that there is a place for the soules abode when it is departed from the body besides heaven or hell this I deny for I suppose the testimony of Christ is sufficient to prove that the Soules of Abraham Isaac and Jacob are in Heaven for we doe not conceive that their bodies are there but that they are turned to dust and are in that burying place which Abraham bought of Ephron the Hittite then their soules are in heaven else Gen. 23. 15 how shall they come from the East and from the West and sit downe with them in Heaven If they were not there before the day of Judgement we should be there as soone as they But where is that great assembly of the first borne I meane of all those that are borne anew of the water and the Spirit if they be not entred into the Kingdome of God Where those first borne such as Andronicus and Junia who were in Christ before me Joh. 3. 3. 5. Rom. 16 7. Heb. 12. 22 23 24. are not they in the heavenly Jerusalem the City of the living God is it not there where the spirits or soules of Just men are made perfect they are with Jesus the mediatour of the new Covenant and where is he but in heaven till the restitution of all things and this as soone as their soules depart Acts 3. 21. Heb. 9. 24. from the body saith Christ to him upon the Crosse this day shalt thou be with me in Paradise but will you know where this Paradise is if you will take Pauls word for it he will tell you that it is the third heaven 2 Cor. 12. 3 4. for saith he such a one was taken up into the third heaven he was caught up into Paradise now if from this place you be not satisfied that Paradise and the third heaven is to be understood the same thing you must be forced to grant that Paradise is above it for he was first taken up into the third heaven and then he was caught up into Paradise he doth not say that he was cast downe againe into Paradise so then if the soule of the thiefe was that day with Christ in Paradise then it was in the third heaven where the soules of all just men are made perfect that are departed for they are not so while they are here and in the Parable the rich man died and in hell he lift up his eyes being in torments here it is plaine that his Soule went immediately to hell but the begger went to Abrahams bosome But Luke 66. 22 23. say they where is Abraham I say that Christ hath told you already in heaven but why in Abrahams bosome because he is said to be the father of the faithfull as the father of the Prodigall rejoyced to see the returne of his Sonne so will Abraham rejoyce to
see his children partake with him of that eternall happinesse in heaven saith John I have no greater joy Luke 15 20 3 John 4. then to heare that my children walke in truth yet I suppose the rich mans petition was not to the soule of Abraham but to the God of Abraham who is the chiefe and onely father of the faithfull who hath said he will gather his lambes in his armes and carry them in his bosome to him all the soules in heaven are subject then to me it seemes adsurd to thinke that the soule of Abraham should have power to send the soule of Lazarus out Isa 40. 11. 46. 3 4. Gen. 31. 55 Psa 24. 6. Hos 3. 5. of heaven and for the name we need not much to scruple at for the Lord is often times called by the name of Abraham Isaac Jacob David Joshua and the like and if they should say that the soule of Abraham and the rest of the Saints departed are in the airie heaven then they might know many things that are done on the earth for the soule is of a large capacity being disburdened Isa 13. 16. of a corrupted body But Abraham is ignorant of us and Israel knowes us not then surely their soules are gone above the two lower heavens which are stained with sin and must be purged with fire at the Judgement day If they say none but the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies so none but Christ to heaven in his body soul after his resurrection I answer Heb. 9. 24. the beast that was sacrificed signifyed the body of Christ and the Holyest of all was the figure of heaven but the High Priest went in and left the sacrifice behind and so did Christ goe into heaven it selfe while his body Luke 23. 43 46. was sacrificed and lay in the earth that day was he in Paradise if this be not sufficient to prove it then marke his last words Jesus cryed with a loud voyce and said Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and when he had said thus he gave up the Ghost Neither would he suffer his Joh. 20. 17 body to be touched til that had been with his Father although afterwards he bade them to handle him to strengthen their faith in him now shall we thinke that this going to his Father was not to goe into the glory of the third heaven themselves cannot deny it It may be they will say that heaven was not opened till Christ entred in with his body and soule I answer the way hath beene open from the beginning although not made so manifest for Christ was the Lambe slaine from the foundation of the world and their faith before his visible comming in the flesh gave substance Heb. 9. 8. Revel 13. 8. Heb. 11. 1. John 8. 56. to things hoped for Abraham saw his day and was glad but if they grant that heaven is open since his comming in the flesh I demand why the soules that now dâ—part must not enter into it this they dare not grant because there is a great gulfe fixed and no passage out till they come with Luke 16. 26 1 Thess 3. 13. Jude 14 15 Zach. 14. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 22. Acts 3. 21. Christ to Judgement at the last day so that then they cannot Reigne here a thousand yeares before the end of the world but suppose the soules departed be not in heaven yet they cannot deny but Christ is there he is gone into heaven and the Heaven shall receive him till the restitution of all things This gulph must keepe him in till the day of Judgement and that is called his second comming which is unto salvation therefore there can be none before that and as the High priest went in not for himselfe Heb. 9. 28. Exo. 28. 29 but bare the name of all Israel upon his brest no more did Christ but as soone as the body of any of the elect is sacrificed by death their soule he John 17. 24 receives to himselfe to be where he is to behold his glory else why did Steven when he was stoned and saw the Heavens open and Christ standing at Gods right hand say Lord Jesus receive my Spirit and to what purpose Acts 7. 56 59. 1 Pet 4. 19. doth Peter bid us when we suffer according to the will of God to commit our soules unto him did God the Father deceive the Sonne when he prayed thus doth he not say Thou hearest me alwaies or did the Sonne dissemble when he said I will that they be where I am and therefore he Joh. 11. 42 Heb. 5. 7. would not heare Steven a man full of Faith and of the Holy Ghost or doth Peter deceive us all in bidding us at our death to commit our soules to God when they shall not come neare him I meane to that happinesse prepared for them but what makes Paul desire to depart and to be with Christ Christ is not among the Starres nor is he yet come in the clouds that we Phil. 1. 23. 1 Thess 4. 16 17. 2 Cor. 5. 6 8. should goe there to meete him what makes him say while we are in the body wee are absent from the Lord and wee are willing rather to bee absent from the body that we may be present with the Lord but if their soules after they depart should be kept in a kind of purgatory or prison from the Lord Christ they had as good be in the body still and absent from the Lord here as there to be frustrate of our expectation but the wicked shall be turned into hell and the expectation of the poore Saints shall not perish their soule shall returne to God who gave it as there is but Psal 9. 17 18. two wayes so there is but two ends for all men good and bad which are Heaven or Hell saith Christ In my Fathers house are many Mansions if Eccle. 12. 7 it were not so I would have told you that I go to prepare a place for you But he will make knowne the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy John 14. 2. Rom 9 23. Mat 25. 34. Psal 3â— 19. which hee had afore prepared unto glory The Kingdome of Heaven was prepared for them before the foundation of the world This is laid up for those that feare the Lord they will not say surely it is among the starres or in the clouds no let Edom make his nest there but when we depart we shall be with Christ which is farre better It may be Phil. 1 23. some will after all this rather then they will yeeld that the soule departed is gone into the heaven of the blessed they will say that it dies mortally with the body but if they will beleeve Christ that Abraham Isaac and Jacob are living they may be convinced of it for God is the God of the living and he is their God they need not to
be made perfect and glorious like unto the body of Christ yet with flesh and bones as he had after his resurrection and as our soules shall be renewed Phil. 3. 21. Luke 24. 39 40. in all the faculties so shall the bodies bee perfect in all the senses and they shall be abundantly satisfied for ever in the world to come If any shall aske me what the bodies of Christ and Enoch and Elias now doe feede upon I answer when they were here they lived upon food as others doe now Yet as God was able to make Christ and Elias and Moses to faste forty dayes and forty nights so he is able to make them live there without food yet I will not contend whether our bodies shall eate for necessity yet I suppose when the new Jerusalem shall come downe from heaven and the Saints shall inherit all things that then they shall eate and Revel 21. 7 drinke although not for hunger and thirst but onely for pleasure sake and although those bodies that are in heaven want earthly food yet they have soules like Angels and they amongst them are content with the joy of Angels as here sometimes inward comfort satisfies a Christian when he wants outward comfort so are they with heavenly food at this time in the want of earthly food yet their fulnesse or joy is not till they injoy all things both in heaven and earth answerable to both parts of body and soule But it may be they will say it is absurd to say that the bodies of Enoâ—h and Elias are in heaven or at the least that they were there before the body of Christ because Christ is become the first fruits of them that slept 1 Cor. 15. 20. and all shall be made alive every man in his owne order Christ the first fruits and afterward they that are in Christ ver 23. To this I answer That there were many both in the Old Testament and the new that were raised from a corporall death to a corporall life and all before Christ but they died againe 1 Kings 7. 22. 2 Kings 4. Joh. 11. 44. and it is said expressely that Eliah went up in a whirlewind into heaven 2 Kings 2. 11. but he died not and Enoch was translated that he should not see death and God tooke him Heb. 11. 5. Gen. 5. 24. here you see some arose under the Law and under the Gospell to confirme their resurrection yet died againe and some ascended into heaven before the Law and under the Law to confirme their hopes after death yet Christ was the first that did both arise from the dead and died no more but ascended into heaven and there he is with the soules of all the Saints departed and there is the body of Enoch and of Elias and it is no absurd thing to beleeve it And because the soules of all the elect when they leave the earth ascend up to heaven therefore it is called Jerusalem which is above the mother of us all it is called the mount Sion the Citie of the living God the heavenly Gal. 4. 26. Jerusalem the generall assembly and Church of the first-borne where the spirits of just men are made perfect but at the day of judgement when Heb. 12. 22. 23. their bodies shall rise spirituall bodies and in their first perfection Then Jerusalem which is above shall come downe from God out of heaven Revel 21. 3 4 as a bride adorned for her husband then the Tabernacle of God shall be with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himselfe shall be with them and be their God then shall the bride be glad and rejoyce and give honour to Christ for the marriage of the Lambe is come and the bride hath made her selfe ready we were espoused Revel 19. 7 Isay 54. 4. Ier. 3. 14. Hose 2. 19 20. Ephe. 5. 31. 32. Revel 15. 3 2 Thes 1. 10. Revel 19. 8 Luk. 2. 36 37. Reve. 7. 14 15. Reve. 19. 9. or betrothed unto Christ in our convesion but the great solemnity of the marriage is when the King of Saints shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired of all them that beleeve then to his bride shall be granted that she shall be arrayed in fine linnen cleane and white for the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of the Saints these are they which have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lambe they served God in the temple with fasting and prayer night and day therefore they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple and he that sitteth on the throne will dwell amongst them when this great solemnity is kept Blessed are they which are called to the marriage Supper of the Lambe these are the true sayings of God The Angell said unto John come hither and I will shew thee the bride the Lambes wife and he carried me in the spirit to a great mountaine and shewed me the great Citie the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God Revel 21. 9 10 11 12 14 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27. and in it was the glory of God shining like a stone most pretious it had a wall great and high and twelve gates to it and twelve foundations the Citie was fouresquare the length and the breadth and heighth they are all equall twelve thousand furlongs every way the wall was a hundred forty foure foure cubits in thicknesse and the wall was built of Jasper stone the Citie was pure gold like unto pure glasse the foundations of the wal of the Citie was garnished with all manner of pretious stones the twelve gates were of twelve pearles and the streets of the Citie were of pure gold as it were transparent glasse I saw no temple in it for the Lord God Almighty the Lambe are the temple of it and the Citie had no need of the Sun or Moone to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lambe is the light of it and the nations of them that are saved shall walke in the light of it and the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honour into it and the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day for there shall bee no night there and there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth or whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie but onely they which are written in the Lambes booke of life this is the glorious Citie the new Jerusalem the Lambs wife And he shewed me a pure River of water of life cleare as crystall proceeding Revel 22. out of the Throne of God and of the Lambe in the midst of the street of it and of either side of the River was there the tree of life which bare twelve manner of fruits and yeelded her fruits every moneth and the leaves
in the ayre 1 Thess 4. 17. then I conclude that the Saints departed are in heaven with Christ neither shall they come againe before with him nor without him till the day of judgement for as Adam had the world prepared for him before his creation so shall the Saints departed have the world purged from all the corruption of it before they shall have it restored to them againe and this shall be a great happinesse to them to have it in the first perfection for ever yet I grant from the creation of the world to the end of it that Christ as a King rules by his power and providence over all kingdomes peoples and creatures he upholds all things by the word of his power Heb. 1. 3. he saith By me kings raigne and Princes decree justice by me princes rule and nobles even all the Judges of the earth Prov. 8. 15 16. our God is in heaven and hath done whatsoever he pleased his counsell shall stand and the thoughts of his heart to all generations Psal 115. 3. 135. 6. 33. 10 11. Secondly Christ rules his Church in an especiall manner ordering all the affaires of it he hath made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in himselfe who worketh all things after the counsell of his owne will hee worketh in us both to will and to doe of his owne good pleasure Ephe. 1. 9. 11. thus Christ rules now and shall to the end of the world and no otherwise Phil. 2. 13. And to say that Christ shall rule and governe as earthly monarches have done over this corrupted world before the day of judgement in a worldly visible and earthly glory is but a fancy and cannot bee grounded upon the word of God and the author of that booke that goes in the name of Mr. Archer grants himselfe Page 5. that there is a world to come to bee put in subjection to Christ of which Adam in his Innocency was a type in many respects first as hee damned all mankind this was a type and figure of Christ saving all the elect Rom 5. 14. and his marriage to the woman was a type of the conjunction of Christ to his Church Ephe. 5. 30 31 32. and his soverainty over this present world was a figure of the subjection of the world to come to Christ these things I grant yet not before the day of judgement because the good and the bad are mixed together and shall bee so till the day of judgement Ioh 15. 15. and because all the creatures are corrupted by the sinne of man The heavens are not cleare in his sight and God looked upon the earth and behold it was corrupt Gen 6. 2. for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth this came by the sinne of man and shall not be purged but by fire at the judgement day But they object this cannot bee after the day of judgement because then Object 1 Cor. 15. 24. Luke 19. 11 12. 2 Tim. 4. ◠Christ resignes up his Kingdome but Christ in that parable of the noble man is gone into a farre country to receive for himselfe a kingdome and to returne and saith the Apostle at the appearance of Christ and his kingdome from these places they would prove that Christ shall come a thousand yeares to raigne here before his last comming to judgement To these things I answer that it is not meant that Christ shall render up his kingdome out of his owne hand but to render up the manner of government he shall then render up his mediatorship he need make intercession no longer when his people are in full possession of all that happinesse that is promised to them neither need Christ to make use of earthly things as his deputies or Isay 49. 23 Dan. 7. 9. 1 Cor. 15. Vers 28. Heb 7. 25. Mark 13. 3 John 8. 29 4. 34. vicegerents to be noursing fathers to his Churches all these thrones shall be cast downe when the ancient of dayes doth sit and though it may be said then the Sonne shall be subject to him that put all things under him that God may be all in all this is to be understood the humanity of Christ shall be subject to the deity and so it is now for he now makes intercession for his people and as man he knoweth not when the day of judgement shall be and saith he the Father hath not left me alone for I doe alwayes those things that please him Jesus said unto them my meat is to doe the will of him that sent me and to finish his worke but his mediatorship is not yet finished Matth. 22. 44. till all his enemies are made his footstoole then will his glory be farre greater then now it is when the Devils and wicked men and all things that offend and that doe iniquity shall by the Angels be cast out of his kingdome and cast into Matth. 13 41 42. John 17. 2 Ephe. 1. 2 4. 13. Dan 7. 1◠18. 27. Revel 22. ◅ Revel 21. ◅ Luke 19. ◅ 11 12. Heb. 12. 2◠24. 2 Tim 4. ◠1 Thess 3◠3 13. 2 Thess 1◠the furnace of fire all his Saints shall be where he is to behold his glory this is called the fulnesse of Christ when all his Saints are glorified with him his dominion is everlasting which shall not passe away his kingdome shall not be destroyed but when the curse is taken from the earth the throne of God and of the Lambe shall be in it and his servants shall serve him as naturall members of his body when the Saints shall inherit all things And whereas it is said that Christ went to receive a kingdome and to returne I answer that he is gone to heaven to receive that kingdome for us and the soules of just men made perfect doe enjoy it and from that other place spoken of his appearing and his kingdome this is at the day of judgement when he comes to judge both the quicke and dead at his appearing and his kingdome and then shall Christ have another kingdome when he comes from heaven with all his Saints when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels all these earthly things shall then be purified by fire and restored againe to him and his Saints in their first perfection and unto them that looke for him he shall appeare the second time without sin unto salvation then if salvation be at his second cōming in my judgement there needs Heb. 9. 2◠not a third neither can his second comming be understood of his living here in this corrupted world a thousand yeares but after the day of judgement in that new world to all eternity The Prophet Isay after hee hath spoken of the comming of Christ in the flesh Chap. 11. from the first verse to the eleventh then hee speakes of his comming to judgement