SYONS REDEMPTION AND ORIGINAL SIN VINDICATED Wherein are these particulars largely handled and discovered I. That sprinkling of water in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost is not Baptism as by several Arguments together with objections of that nature Answered II Infants not the subjects appointed by God to be baptized as by several arguments disproved and Objections of that nature answered III That the second death was never threatned to to be inflicted upon Adam or his lines for that sin committed in Paradice IV A clear and large discourse as touching Gods Decree of Election and Reprobation V A large Exposition upon the Ninth Chapter to the Romanes with every particular Verse opened in its distinct order as concerning Isaac and Ishmael and Jacob and Esau and of Pharaohs heart being hardened and Objections of that nature answered VI A brief disproof of the unlawfulness of the paying or receving of Tythes of a Tenth in Gospel times as Ministers maintenance VII The Ordination of the National Ministery examined and disproved VIII The answer of Objections against the Jews return out of their Captivity and the Reign of Christ upon earth answered and disproved shewing that the Jews shall return and Christ Reign in Jerusalem over the house of David IX A clear discovery of the glorious effects or that which will be effected under the sound of the seventh Trumpet X A full discovery of Judah and Israels glory to be enjoyed in their own Land and of Christs being their KING in the midst of them reigning over them upon the Throne of his father David in Jerusalem witnessed by the mouths of all the holy Prophets Evangelists and Apostles that ever wrote since the world began which are known cited in in this Book whereby any that reads it may easily see the truth of this Assertion Published for the instruction and comfort of all that wait for the appearing of the Lord Jesus and Zions Redemption Being an Answer to a Book of Mr. Hezeklah Holland sometimes Preacher in Sutton-Valence in Kent By George Hammon Pastor to the Church of Christ meeting in Biddenden in Kent LONDON Printed by G. Dawson for the Author 1658. The EPISTLE DEDICATORY To Mr. HEZEKIAH HOLLAND SIR I Having obtained a Book of yours Intituled to me although as I suppose never intended me as by you I thought good to peruse it and also to give an answer to it although I might have better improved time and ink and paper than to have answered such a running kind of discourse the which hath out run both Scripture and sound reason but however truth hath overtaken it and given it its deaths wound and farther this discourse of yours hath engaged me to speak more largely of the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation and to shew how Gods Decree in Election depends upon Christ viz. to chuse none to salvation and glory but such as are of Christs family either actively or passively when I say actively I mean such as are in Christ through faith and when I say passively I mean all Infants that have not forfeited their happiness by personal transgression for the Redemption is a free gift and is as large as the transgression so that as the first Adam lost the lives and blessing of all men so the second Adam the LORD JESUS purchased it again so that none are damned viz. taste the second death but such as deny the Lord that bought them but all men must dye the first death or be changed which is as death for the first Adams transgression and the very same all men are Rom. 5.18 19 by Christ made alive again that is even so many as were made sinners by the first Adam even so many are made righteous by the second Adam and so Gods mercy is over all his works I have also answered all your Arguments and Objections that I found to have but so much as a colour of reason in it I have also shewed that the Jews shall return to their own Land and that Christ shall be their King sitting upon the Throne of David in Jerusalem according to the letter of the Scriptures the truth whereof is witnessed by the mouth of all the holy Prophets and Evangelists and Apostles I have not given any interpretation upon the Prophets Evangelists or Apostles for these two reasons First because no person might have any colour to wave what is written as to that subject seeing it is the pure minde and will of God without the least mixture of mans meaning and interpretation And secondly because my occasion also would not admit of enlarging my self upon it And as touching your Ordination to the Ministery I have examined and shewn that your Presbyter by which you were Ordained was not a lawfull one nor you fitly qualified and also that no man may be appointed a Minister over any flock without the approbation and election of the same people and he receive his Ordination and charge amongst them in their sight which is the ancient practice of Gods people by his command both in the Old and New Testament And as touching your grounds for Infant-Baptism I find also very weak and that the word Baptizo is taken for sprinkling as you say I cannot finde any where but I finde it s taken for washing as in the ninth Chapter to the Hebrews and elsewhere but never find that it will bear such a signification as to sprinkle according to that little knowledge that I have attained thorow mine own industry with Gods blessing in the Greek which is indeed very small but who may despise the day of small things if truth be found therein the which I shall leave to the examination and tryal of such as know it better than my self without over much confidence as to the infalibillity thereof although to my best understanding it is the truth and pertinent to the purpose that I have cited it for and as touching your discourse of me to your bountifull friends cited in * Your discourse is thus read In lipsius si vera dico agnoscite si falsa ignoscite to which you adde this phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because I speak against Oxford Cambridge as you say Sir is this the way to convince me that Oxford Cambridge is of God I must see more sollid matter come from thence first I shall omit citing Cyprians words Latine and Greek is little to your honour knowing that evil communication corrupts good manners for he that made me an Asse if I be one is the same that made you a wise man if you be one and also I think that he that is blinde or seeth but little may see you to be imposterous and so Cyprians words fitly applyed to you and whereas you tell them that I much speak against Oxford and Cambridge learning I might say that your eye sight was not very clear or your understanding awake when you read my book for I never spake against it considered as
simply in it self as a hand-maid as I may say to a Minister but I ever spake against it so as to deny it to be the efficient or suparlative cause of a Minister and do say that Christ ascending up on high and leading captivity captive and giving gifts to men is that which makes a Minister although learning may not be denyed to be a useful hand-maid neither may such be denyed to be Ministers whom Christ hath gifted to preach the Gospel to edification exhortation and comfort although they be altogether ignorant of that humane edification of Oxford and Cambridge and let me tell you without offence that I know none more ignorant in the mysteries of the Gospel than those of your stamp for the greatest part of them but I suppose the reason is because they ascribe preheminence to that which should be subordinate Finally Sir this is my advice to you and despise it not be more frequent in reading the Scriptures and compare them together trust not too much to this or the other mans opinion for if they were zealous yet they lived but as it were in the twilight and know that near the time of the end 1. 12.14 * men are to run to and fro and knowledge to encrease Whoso is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord and that you may partake of the benefit of an understanding heart search after it as for hidden treasure and then shall ye finde it and have the closet of your heart filled with all precious and pleasant riches the which is the desire of him that desireth the welfare of your soul and all mens who am your and their servant for Christs sake George Hammon The Epistle to the Reader CHristian Brethren and friends and to whom soever feareth the Lord and especially you the Inhabitants of Sutton-valence and Boughton Munchalse and Maidstone together with the places there abouts the Authors desire is that grace and peace might be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ My dear friends the knowledge of the truth is of such great worth that it calls for our earnest endeavour after it to seek it and not silver and to search after it rather than fine gold and therefore for thy further understanding in the mysteries of God I have added this small pains of mine contained in the following Treatise in bringing to a publick view such objections as stand like a cloud to ecclipse or hinder the light of Christs doctrine from shining into the understandings of the sons of men and have answered them although I should have been more at large upon it if time would have given leave in reference to other occasions that daily called me from it when it was in hand the which also was the cause that it was brought to a publick view no sooner and therefore excuse its long absence I pray you and now my desire is that thou wouldst read it diligently and weigh what is written with an unbyassed affection and in so doing thou mayest come to see those things that happily thou hast not yet seen and know those things that yet now thou hast not known for how ready have we been to receive mens doctrine without tryall especially when they have had a name to be great learned men never considering the words of the Lord which saith Not many wise or learned men hath he chosen to reveal his hidden wisdome to but hath hid it from them and revealed it to Babes and sucklings and was it not Gods way to chuse Heardsmen to be his Prophets and Fishermen to be his Apostles and in a word such as were accounted ignorant men such as knew little of the law even such God did chuse to reveal his Son in that none might glory in men therefore take heed of being deceived upon such account but now prove thy self to be like the men of Berea the which were more noble than the men of Thessalonica because they searched the Scriptures to see whether those things that was preached to them were truth yea or nay therefore be exhorted for the time to come to give all diligence in cases of weight to try it by the Scriptures and seek to the Lord to give thee understanding therein and then doubtless thou shalt do well I have opened the ninth Chapter to the Romans and when thou readest it consider that it is a discourse touching the house of Israel that God was just in casting them off for their sins although they were the seed of Abraham shewing that Israel was also of Abrahams lines and Esau of the lines of Isaac and yet for their wickedness were rejected and also Pharaoh that hardened himself against the Lord and his people as Israel did the Lord chose his delusion by giving him up to hardness of heart to make his Name known throughout all the earth that all men might take warning by him And as to that which is spoken concerning the return of the house of Israel and the house of Judah out of their captivity and the Reign of Christ in Jerusalem I desire thee to weigh seriously because if thou understand it aright it will help thee much in the understanding of all the Scriptures in a great measure as Daniel Zachary and the Book of the Revelations when others will be found to turn the Scriptures into allegories not knowing what they say nor whereof they do affirm being never able to keep the Scriptures in a harmony it will also strengthen thee to stand fast in these times when the mystery of iniquity is geting up apace where there is no other Mount Zion taught up as Christs seat but what is in us and ere long in giving heed thereunto we shall not think our selves onely Mount Zion viz. Christs seat but will also think that we are the Christ to wit God manifest in our flesh for the mother of Harlots and her daughters viz. Rome and the rest of the Nations which have been upon her sides and suck of her breast have taught up such a kind of doctrine as a spiritual Reign of Christ to be understood in such Scriptures as speak of Christs Reign on earth the which is as a footing for the mystery of iniquity to work but thanks be given to our good God that hath given some to understand the mystery of the kingdome who will travel to bring forth the man child as I comparatively may say that shall rule all Nations with a rod of iron namely Christ upon his holy hill of Zion therefore read the Prophets diligently the which I have cited thou mayest also at thy leasure peruse Esdras which I have not cited in my discourse because some doubt whether it be Canonicall yea or nay the which I shall not trouble my self to prove it holy writ because there be Prophets enough that prove the same thing besides Esdras although he speak very fully to it as in many Chapters
the word Baptizo and Rantizo in their significations neither did I ever heat any sober honest man affirm it but have more handsomly excused there practice of sprinkling by saying that they used it by a rule of charity in cases of necessity in this cold Climate as David did enter into the house of God and eate shew bread and I must speak for M. Rutton in that case which did say That sprinkling might be called Baptism because it was so set down in the book of Common-prayers the which was more honestly spoken than to say that the word Baptizo is taken frequently for sprinkling but to the examination of your cited text Matth. 3.11 He shall Baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire and say you are not sanctified men rather sprinkled than plounged with the spirit Are we not imperfect here below knowing in part and sanctified in part To which I answer Cor. 13.9 I have indeed read that the Apostle wrote to the Corinths saying we know but in part and prophecie but in part but I never yet read that the godly were sanctified but in part neither do I beleeve that God doth his work by halfs as touching mans sanctification but as saith the Author to the Hebrews He that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all one and that Christ hath with one offering perfected for ever those that are sanctified by giving himself for the Church Hebr. 2.11 Cap. 10.14 that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word that he might present it a glorious Church God doth not his work by halfs in the work of Sanctification not having spot or wrinkle or any suchthing but that it might be Holy ad without blame And you may also see that Gods washing and cleansing is not in part but throughout from the words of the Prophet Ezek 16 9. Then washed I thee with water yea thorowly washed away thy blood from thee and so saith the Apostle to the Corinthians that some of them were drunkerds and fornicators but they were washed and sanctified and justified from whence we may see that God doth his work perfectly as touching sanctification and cleansing so then he that is born of God sinneth not but keepeth himself that the evil one toucheth him not This is truth whether you and your bene-fellowes or bountiful friends can witness the same in you ye or nay not that I say that the godly are free from temptation for neither was Christ nor do I say that it is impossible that the sanctified ones may be overtaken in fault The godly sin not with the wils consent but their minds and hearts are pure unto the Lord. yet I do say and affirm that the godly or sanctified man sinneth not with the consent of the will although it is possible for him to be overtaken unawares through the slites of Satan but however he keepeth his minde and heart pure to God and so through the spirit mortifieth the deeds of the flesh and brings into subjection such thoughts and imaginations as are offensive unto God and if it otherwise fall out that some that were sanctified washed throughly did turn again to the wallowing in the mire this was not because they were sanctified but in part but because when they were washed and thorowly washed and made perfect Ezez 16.15 2 Pet. 2.4 Jud. 6. that then they trusted in it and sinned and liked not that good estate and therefore God cast them out of his sight as he did the Angels which sinned which were once perfect and in a good estate But to pass to your second supposition only take notice of this by the way that the spirit is so far from being compared to sprinkling of a little water that it is compared to much water as you may see from Christs own words saying John 7.38 39. He that believeth on me as saith the Scriptures out of his belly shall slow rivers of living water and this he spake of the spirit that afterward he meant to give to them that beleeve And so to your second text which is Matth 20.22 where Christ saith he hath a Baptism to be Baptised withall meaning that of his sufferings the which say you was rather sprinkling than plounging having his head crowned with thorns and his hands and feet nailed and wounded yet he was not wounded in each part of his body To which I answer I hope no sober minded man will say that our blessed Saviour was not plounged or overwhelmed in sorrow when he cryed My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Whose sorrow like unto his sorrow Math. 26.46 and what meant those great drops like blood that trickled from him Esa 53.1 2 3 4 5 6. and himself falling flat to the ground before he was nailed to the Cross what sober man dareth to say that Christ was not plounged into sorrow and greef and sufferings and the Apostle tells you that if one member suffer all the members suffer with it 1 Cot. 12.26 so then Christs sufferings was no small sufferings nor in part but very great in every part so as to press him flat to the ground so that there never was any mans sufferings to be compared to His and yet there were many before him that were over whelmed in sufferings as you may see Hebrews 11. Chap. And so you may see that neither of your reasons which you cited to prove Baptism to be taken for sprinkling are of any weight as first sanctification is not wrought in part in the Soul but thorowly as I have already proved allthough I could say much more Again The Spirit of God in the Soul is not compared to a little water but to very much waters even rivers of waters Christ was more than sprinkled with sufferings for he was plounged into great sufferings the Burden thereof caused him to fall under it flat to the ground and made him cry My God my God why hast thou forsaken me And secondly that the Baptism of Christ in sufferings was not small or in part but very great in every part that being overwhelmed he fell to the ground and sweat drops like blood before he was nailed on the Cross and when he was nailed on the Cross his heart was overwhelmed with sorrow that he cryed out in the bitterness of his Soul My God my God why hast thou forsaken me He troad the Wine-press of the wrath of God and poured out his Soul to death and groaned under that great oppression the which clearly sheweth to us that Christ was not sprinkled but plounged or overwhelmed in sufferings And again Whereas ye would have me Remember how the parallel lyeth between Johns Baptism and Christs Baptism with the Spirit Act. 1.5 and Christs giving the Spirit compared to pouring in respect of the few drops in the time of the Law by sprinkling for Christ only was plounged with it receiving of it
in the Gospel by Christ It was said of old time thou shalt not commit adultery but I say saith Christ that he that looketh on a Woman to lust after her hath committed adultery already with her in his heart That which hath been often mentioned are commanded in the Old Testament if it be moral and perpetual is also mentioned and commanded in the New-Testament And what is taught more than love and holiness and righteousness in the Old Testament and yet it is also taught up frequently and the people blamed for neglect of their duty in these particulars in the New Testament these with many things of the same nature I might offer unto you they will shew thee that those things that are moral and perpetual are frequently enjoyned in the Gospel although they have been commanded in the Old Testament also and now I am come to the examination of that which you call your digression in your eighth page which is as followeth We have a former Ordinance â—or Tithes 1 Cor. 9. Even so hath God ordained that those that preach the Gospel the Apostle quoteth a former statute or ordinance for Ministers maintenance and it seemeth out of Moses Law for v. 9. the Levitical Text is alledged Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Ox Now ever did God appoint any way to maintaine such as did his service but the way of Tithes which was never a tipe of any thing nor never repealed To the answer and that in its particular order and first a few words to your word digression the which I say you may properly call digression for it doth not onely digress from the matter in hand but also from the truth and I believe is the cause of your great Transgression in pervering the right way of the Lord even your greediness of gain that many of you take the Ministry for filthy lucres sake and so buy and sell the word of the Lord and live by the gain thereof and were not your eyes so full of covetousness you might come to see the truth but to pass that and come to examine more of what weight is in your matter called digression the first is We have a former Ordinance for Tithes say you and cite 1 Cor. 9. To which I answer doth the Apostle say that God hath ordained that a Gospel Minister should have Tithes for his preaching if he had said so I do assure you that my eys have been very dim when I have read that 1 Cor 9 But have you a former ordinance for Tithes I pray Sir consider did ever God ordain that any should receive Tithes or Tenths save Levites in the type God never did ordain that any should receive Tithes or a Tenth but Levy in the type and Melchizedeck viz. Christ in the Antitype and Melchizedeck viz Christ in the Antitype And are you a Levite and have you no inheritance amongst your Brethren O are you Christ If you are neither Christ nor a Leavite I pray shew where you have a former ordinance to take Tythes because I never read that any other were to take the Tenth or Tythes but you cite that Levitical â—ex spoken of by Paul 1 Cor 9.9 For thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn. From whence you think you have warrant to take the Tenth of the corn but first I think you have more reason than to suppose that the Oxâ—id eat up the tenth part of the Corn although you would if you might eat up the seventh part of it and more but the Apostle reasoneth thus that it was lawful for a Preâ—cher of the Gospel or a Minister of Christ but you are none to eat and drink such things as are given them freely and that the Church ought not to muzzle their mouths if they troad out their corn that is if they did sow unto the Church spiritual things they ought to give them to eat and drink of their carnal things the which the Corinths did not for Paul did preach unto them and was fain to take of other Churches to satisfie his hunger for he was often in hunger and nakedness that is in very much want of food and cleathing the which is a vast difference between you and him for you are so far from being in hunger and nakedness to do service to the Church that some of you are often in silk and drunkennesse how beit there is a day coming that will try you in the which you shall givean account to God for your selves But you say The maintenance of the Gospel-ministry is not Tithes or a renth but such things as is freely set before them That if Tithes be not a Gospel maintenance for a Gospel Ministry then hath God appointed any other way To which I answer and that very briefly that the Gospel-maintenance is a free maintenance free from compulsion see Christ sending out his seventy commanding them to eat such things as was freely offered unto them and where ever there is a true Gospel Minister and a true Gospel people there will be no want of communicating each to other without constraint the Minister will freely communicate spirituals and the Church will freely communicate temporals Christs Ministers will labour with their hands rather than to be chargeable to the Church this will be in a true Gospel Church and also the Minister ought to labour with his hands rather than to be too chargeable to the Church and thus freely the one will do in communication to the other and so walk together in a sweet harmony of God not compelling one another but to serve each other in love And again whereas you say That Tithes are not typical nor repealed I doubt not but I shall prove them both typical and repealed and first that they are typical we may see the Apostle doth affirm to the Hebrews in these words Heb. 7.9 And as I may so say Levi also who received Tithes paid Tithes in Abraham for he was yet in the loins of Abraham when Melchizedeck met him From whence we may see that the Tenth or Tythes properly belong to Christ which was the Antitype of Melchizedeck but now to prove that Tyths are typical and that such as receive them or such as pay them deny Christ nailed to the Cross See these two Arguments briefly in the room of more that might be given First Arg. 1 if Tythes were part of the Levitical Law to be a maintenance of the Leviticall Priesthood which Law and Priesthood were to be done away by Christs nailing to the Cross then such as pay Tythes or receive them deny Christ crucified But Tyths was part of the Levitical Law to be a maintenance of the Levitical Priesthood which Law and Priesthood was to be done away by Christ nailed to the Cross Ergo those that pay or receive Tythes Heb. 7 12. are such as deny Christ crucified the minor is evidently cleared from the words of the
account of all that which is done by us whether good or evill for he that hath improved his talent must come and stand before his Lord as well as he that hath not improved it to receive the sentence so that the small standing before God maketh not for you and again you say I deny that there is any yet in glory in the four and thirtieth Page of my Book Answer You do somewhat abuse me and my Book in saying I do deny any yet in glory Some Saints in glory as Enoch Elijah and Christ and possibly Moses and others although David be not yet ascended into Heaven I have not such an expression in the four and thirtieth page as I know of for I am perswaded that Enoch and Elijah and Christ and possibly Moses are at this time in glory although David be not yet ascended into Heaven the summ of what I say in the four and thirtieth page of my Treatise is That although the spirit of man returneth to God that gave it yet without the body is not in capacity or capable of joy this is my judgement or thoughts concerning man before the Resurrection that the Righteous go to sleep in peace and when they awake out of the dust of the Earth All the time of their sleep although they lye many years in the dust it will be but as it were a moment and also the wicked shall lye down in trouble and horror and their troubles will come fresh on them so soon as they awake out of the dust and their time will be also as a moment because there is no remembrance of time or any thing amongst the dead but if any be otherwise minded provided they hold fast the Foundations they may do well for this is nor so material for this we agree in that we shall all arie at the general Resurrection and shall come to judgement and then receive according to what we have done in the body whether it be good or evil and whereas you cite Christs words to the Thief on the Cross which is I say unto thee this day shalt thou be with me in Paradiâ—e To which I say that all that may be safely gathered from these words is that Christ gave him a promise of Paradice that day not that Christ and the Thief were to be both together in Heaven that same day for Christ dâ—d not ascend in many dayes after Although Christ said that day to the Thief that he should be with him in Paradice yet it doth not follow that Christ and the Thief were that day to be together in Paradice because he Thief not dead nor Christ ascended that day and it cannot be proved that the Malefactor was dead that day but as to these things I have spoken before both in private conference with you and also I have discovered it in publick and therefore at present shall insist on the next thing only say as to the Saints lying under the Altar Table if you please to resolve this question without doubt What the 〈…〉 is that cryeth for vengeance because the soul is variously taken in Scripture and because Abels blood is said to cry for vengeance and Christ poured out his Soul to death and made his Soul an offering for sin and we know that Christs blood is that which is the offering for sin for without it there were no remission of sins and might also ask you what the Altar Table is and mach more I could say to it but I pass to the next but by the way I cannot but take notice of your merry conceit where you say you could laugh tel me that if Sodom fire wire eternal it must be eternal as God is and then some Creature coeternal with the Creator or to last for ever and then Hell fire and is will becken to each other Although a Fools mouth be full of laughter you have no great cause to laugh at me for saying that the fire that the Sodomiter were destroyed withall was an eternal fire because that Iude faith It was the vengeance of eternal fire that they suffered and also if we consider that God ever was a consuming fire and his breath as a devouring flame and when Tophet is set on fire it shall be by the breath of the Lord. I could say very much as to both these particulars Psal 18.8 Isa 30.27 Dan. 7.10 Heb. 12.29 Psal 97.3 only I leave you to peruse the Scriptures in the margent and so I shall pass to what you say in answer of that of Is 24. of the Kings of the earth being punished on the earth which is say you some were purishedby Assirians and by Babylonians by Persians and Grecians and then hell is past and if this be meant hell how can they be rejected again say you To which I answer and first that this Chapter is a Prophecy of the destruction of the habitations of the earth and of the last Judgement is plain to him that hath his eyes in his head because the Prophet spake of the general Resurrection before he makes an end of his speech and we know order of words proveth nothing in many places and that the Prophet doth carry on his discourse to the state of the general Resurrection see Chapter 25.8 and also Paul speaking of the general Resurrection to the Corinthians Whereas the Prophet spake of punishing of the host of high ones and Kings on the earth and after speaâ—s of gathering them as prisoners into the plâ— is not another thing but the method of the punishment before-mentioned and order of word proves nothing referreth them to this Text saying As it is written Death is swallowed up in victory O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory and whereas you by order of word would prove a visitation after their punishments to be the Gospel in respect of whose glory the Sun and Moon are dim To which I say there is not so much as a colour of truth in it as I conceive and whereas the Text speaketh of gathering them as prisoners into a pit and after many dayes to visit them After he hath spoak of punishing them on the earth therefore you conclude that the visitation is after the punishment To which I answer and say it is no such thing for first he speaks of punishing of them and the place where and then the manner how he will punish them First punish them he will to wit the hoast of high ones that are on high although happily they may think they are too high or out of the wrath of punishment and the Kings of the earth who have lived there in pleasure shall there be punished and as he saith he will punish them and where he will punish them so he sheweth the method of their punishment that is they shall be gathered as prisoners into the pit and then after wards shall be visited that is the Lord will visit them with a due recompence of
and his Disciples should be for signs and wonders in Israel it was so and as it was prophesied that the Jews should smite him on the cheek it was so and as it was prophesied that they would give him vineger to drink it was so and as it was prophesied that one should betray him for thirty pieces of silver by which the Potters field should be bought it was so and as it was prophesied that they should cast lots for his vesture it was so and that a bone of him should not be broken but that he should be peirced it was so done to him These and many such like things as touching Christ and also concerning Israels Captivity by the Bibylonians which was foretold by the Prophets was fulfilled in the letter multitudes of such like things as I could speak of but the time fails me which was fulfilled in the very letter Therefore let us believe that what the Prophets as touching Christs glorified condition in Jerusalem and Peter knew well what he said when he speaks of Christs Kingdome saying We have not followed cunning devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus but we were eye-witnesses of his glory and we have a more sure word of prophesie to which you do well if you give heed mark that knowing first that no prophesie of Scripture was of any private interpretation neither came it by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Hence we see the Prophets words are of great weight and also take notice that all the Prophets bare witnesse to the truth of what I have asserted and this intervening discourse I thought good to adde to that end that the courteous Reader might take notice that what the Prophets had foretold was and is to be fulfilled in the letter of the Scriptures unlesse they are proverbs or parables or the like and therefore I shall desire thee to read them the more diligently and distinctly they want not an interpretor but are very plain to him that hath any discerning spirit onely take notice of this that whereas the Prophet Ezekiel speaks of David he means the Son of David viz. Christ which is to sit upon his Throne for ever as the discourse of the Chapter will clearly shew as possibly I may give an hint of it in the marginal â—oat and these few things premised I come to the second part of the assertion which is That Christ shall Reign in Jerusalem And in order to the making of it appear to be truth I shall shew you that the Prophets have foretold it viz. that the Lord shall make Ierusalem or Zion at or in Jerusalem his seat and reign there before whom Kings shall fall down and shall worship before him therefore mark well the words of the Lord spoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets Psal 2.6 Zach. 2.10 11 12 13. which saith Yet have I set my King upon his holy hill of Zion Sing and rejoyce O Daughter of Zion for lo I will come and dwell in the midst of thee saith the Lord And many Nations shall be joyned unto the Lord in that day and shall be my people and I will dwell in the midst of thee Isa 31.4,5 6. and thou shalt know that the Lord of Host hath sent me unto thee And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy Land Jer. 13.7 and shall chuse Jerusalem again Be silent O all flesh before the Lord Isa 24.23 for he is raised up out of his holy habitation So will the Lord of Hosts defend Jerusalem and in defending of it he will deliver it Ezek. 34.23 24. Then shall the Sun be ashamed and the Moon confounded when the Lord of Hosts shall Reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem David being prophesied to be a Shepherd and Prince in Jerusalem and so to remain for ever is to be understood Christ before his Ancients gloriously At that time they shall call Jerusalem the THRONE of the Lord and all the Nations shall be gathered unto it to the name of the Lord to Jerusalem neither shall they walk any more after the imaginations of their evill heart And I will set up one Shepheard over them and he shall feed them even my Servant David he shall feed them and he shall be their Shepheard And I the Lord will be their God and my Servant David viz. Christ a Prince a-amongst them I the Lord have spoken it Behold I will take the children of Israel from amongst the heathen whither they be gone Ezek. 37.21 10 29. and I will gather them on every side and will bring them into their own Land And I will make them a Nation in the Land upon the mountains of Israel and one King shall be King to them all and they shall be no more two Nations neither shall they be devided into two Kingdomes any more at all Neither shall they defile themselves with any of their transgressions but I will cleanse them so shall they be my people and I will be their God And David my servant viz. Christ shall be King over them It cannot be meant that David in the letter shall be their Prince for ever but Christ that is called the Son of David and is to sit upon his Throne for ever and they shall have one Shepheard and they also shall walk in my judgements and observe my statutes and do them And they shall dwell in the Land that I gave to Jacob my servant and they shall dwell therein even they and their children and their childrens children for ever and my servant David viz. Christ shall be their Prince for ever Moreover I will make a Covenant of peace with them and it shall be an everlasting Covenant and I will place them and multiply them and will set my Sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore My Tabernacle also shall be with them and I will be their God and they shall be my people The heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctifie Israel when my Sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore Rev. 21.3 4. And I heard a great voice from heaven saying the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself will be their God And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Rev. 5.9 10. And they sung a new song saying thou art worthy to take the Book and lose the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy bloud out of every kindred tongue and Nation And hath made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the earth Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will perform that good thing that I promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah In those daies and at that time will I cause a
Branch of righteousnesse to grow unto David and he shall execute judgement and righteousnesse in the Land Jer. 33.14 15 16 17. In those daies shall Iudah be saved and Israel dwell safely and this is his name whereby he shall be called the Lord our righteousnesse For thus saith the Lord David shall never want a man to sit upon the Throne of the house of Israel For the Lord shall roar oâ—t of Zion and utter his voice from Ierusalem and the heavens and the earth shall shake but the Lord will be the hope of his people and the strength of the children of Israel So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion my holy moutain then shall Ierusalem be holy Joel 3.16 17 18 19 20 21 and there shall no stranger passe through it any more But Iudah shall dwell forever and Ierusalem from generation to generâ—tion For I will cleanse their bloud which I have not cleansed for the Lord dwelleth in Zion For the Lord hath chosen Zion he hath desired it for his habitation This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it I will abundantly blesse her provision I will satisfie her poor with bread I will cloath her Priests with salvation and her Saints shall shout aloud for joy Psal 132.13 14 15 16 17 18. There will I make the horn of David to bud I will ordain a lamb for mine anointed His enemies shall be cloathed with shame but upon himself shall his Crown flourish in that day it shall be said to Ierusalem fear not and unto Zion let not thy hands be slack the Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy Zeph 3.14 15 16 17 18 19. Sing O daughter of Zion shout O Israel be glad and rejoyce with all thy heart O daughter of Ierusalem The Lord hath taken away thy judgements he hath cast out thine enemies the King of Israel even the Lord is in the midst of thee thou shalt not see evill any more But the captives of the host of the children of Israel shall possesse that of the Canaanites even to Zarephath and the captivity of Ierusalem which is in Sepharad shall possesse the Cities of the South And Saviours shall come upon Mount Zion Obed 18.19 20 21 to judge the Mount of Esau and the Kingdomes shall be the Lords Again the word or the Lord of Host came unto me saying Thus saith the Lord of Hosts I am jealous for Zion with a great jealousie and I was jealous for her with great fury Zach. 8.1 2 3 4. thus saith the Lord I am returned unto Zion and will dwell in the midst of Ierusalem and Ierusalem shall be called a City of truth and the mountain of the Lord of Hosts the holy mountain And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives which is bâ—fore Ierusalem and the Lord thy God shall come and all his Saints with him for Enoch also the seventh from Adam Enoch prophecied of Christ kingdom Judg 14 Zach 14.4 5 9. prophecied of these things saying behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints And the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day shall there be one Lord and his name one Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the TIMES of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord for he will send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you whom the heavens must receive untill the TIMES of restitution of all things which God Acts 3.19 Rom. 2.16 Acts 17.31 2 Tim. 4.1 hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began For he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousnesse by that man Christ Iesus at his appearance and Kingdome Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tydings that publisheth peace O Judah keep thy solemn Feasts perform thy vows Nah. 1.15 for the wicked shall no more passe through thee he is utterly cut off For thus saith the Lord of Hosts yet once is it a little while and I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry-land And I will shake all Nations Hag. 2.6 7 8 9. Isa 61.1 2 3 Rev. 15.8.29 to 35. Psal 48.8 9. Psal 68. from Isa 66.6 Ezek. 41.14.15.20 21 23 25. and the desire of all Nations shall come and I will fill this house with glory saith the Lord of Hosts And the glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former saith the Lord of Hosts and in this place will I give peace saith the Lord of Hosts Behold I will send my messenger and he shall prepare the way before me And the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his Temple even the messenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in Behold he shall come saith the Lord of Hosts But who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appears For he is like a refiners fire and like fullers soap And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and he shall purge the sons of Levi Mal 3.1 2 3 4. and purge them as gold and silver that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousnesâ—e Then shall the offerings of Iudah and Ierusalem be pleasant unto the Lord as in the dayes of old and as in former years and I will be as the dew unto Israel he shall grow as the lilly and cast forth his root as Lebanon his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the Olive tree and his smell as Lebanon They that dwell under his shadow shall return Hos 14.5 6 7 8. they shall revive as the corn and grow as the vine the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon Ephraim shall say what have I to do any more with Idols Isa 55.11 12. who is wise and he shall understand these things For they shall be led forth with joy and the mountains shall break forth before them into singing And at that day will I raise up the Tabernacle of David Amos 9. from 11. to 16. that is fallen and close up the breaches thereof And I will raise up his ruines and will build it as in the dayes of old Balaams prophecy to Balack as touching the estate of Israel in the latter dayes Numb 24. from 14 to 20. That they may possesse the remnant of Edom. And I will plant them upon their own Land And there shall come a Star out of Jacob and a Srepter shall rise out of Israel and shall smite the corners of Moab and destroy the children of Seth and Edom shall be a possession Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies and Israel shall do valiantly Out of Iacob shall come he that shall have dominion