kind of studies which afterwards they grosly abused And Moses by means of Pharaohs daughter was afterwards trained up in all the learning of the Egyptians But when God used the Ministry of Moses and Aaron to bring his people out of that bondage he set up an instituted Church and as he wrote the tables of the Law himself So he directed Moses in writing his five Books for the benefit of his Church Yet doubtless that excellent faculty of writing hath been likewise much after that time abused by Satan and evil men likewise to eclipse truth and promote errors amongst all Heathen people For that as God had by that means set down the sum of his true Religion for that generation of the children of the godly Patriarchs and Fathers and after forty years made their posterity a famous Nation and people and by degrees were formed into a glorious state and Kingdom in the end of Davids and beginâ—ing of Solomons reign So Satan had all along an apparent design to raise huge Mountains of tyranny in the world to serve his own purposes in his wicked Dominion thereby to promote Atheism and Idolatry and what ever was evil and to overpower oppress and subdue if it were possible Gods Church and professed people and so far as their sins gave advantage from time to time they did so by the just hand of Gods providence most wisely and powerfully steering and ordering all the affairs of the world to his own glory and the fulfilling of his own holy pleasure when Satan and evil men least intend it making them in such cases like refiners to his people to cleanse them from their dross and though several Infidel and Idolatrous Nations afflicted and oppressed Israel soon after Moses and Joshua's time as in the Book of Judges and the following stories in Scripture may appear many times until Davids victorious and Solomons flourishing Kingdom which in the next succession Satan by his engins of Idolatry and wickedness soon found a way to divide to make way for his own rule in the world and upon the ten tribes revolting got the greatest part even of Israel it self to turn to his side and promote his design for the most part Helvic till at the last the height of their sins and the fulness of their iniquity delivered them up into the hands of their Assyrian conquerours under which captivity they have lain above 2400 years and still by the like means and actings Satan afterward raised a greater mountain of opposition against Gods Church when advantage against them might be obtained and Judahs sin was likewise ripe so that the Assyrian rod that scourged Israel before being burnt in the Babylonian furnace these also might be cast and fashioned that head of gold the Babylonian Monarchy which by its massie weight meeting together with Judahs sins written with a pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond might grind that people almost to powder wherein Satans designs seemed to attain their end But now for a remedy for this God reveals by Daniel as was fore-shewed that though Satan at the present seemed wholly to have wone the victory yet he should not always wear it but that first he would break in peices that head of gold by a meaner mettle and so make use of the succeeding breasts and arms of silver viz. the Medes and Persians and that not onely to destroy the said golden head but also as he promised graciously by his Prophet concerning Cyrus whom he therefore stiled his Shepheard Isa 44.28 to reduce his people in a wonderful manner again to Jerusalem and rebuild by a strange munificence and assistance his Temple there and though for their crying sins they were afterward in the two following Monarchies of Brass and Iron namely the Grecian and Roman long and soar afflicted they were also at length after the Promises of the Messiah were fully compleated by the Iron legs and thighs of the most terrible Roman power wholly made desolate upon their rejection and crucifying the Lord of life and glory the true King of Israel as Nathaniel had acknowledged him Joh. 1. But when diverse heads of that monstrous Roman Beast explained to Daniel Chap. 7. but more to St. John Rev. 17. had successively passed their seasons and when he that letted 2 Thes 2.7 was taken out of the way Satan then found advantage to erect another and worse then the former Babel namely That which is the third Babel to wit the Mystical under the great Antichrist the Pope wherein Satans design by winding that proud cruel and wicked Tyrant cunningly into his own seat and authority by hypocritical pretences to make that foul beast to defile and poyson the waters of life and by strong and strange delusions so to hinder and abolish both the truth and power of Christs new constituted Religion in the world as far as he could reach wherein his evil design hath likewise greatly prevailed for above twelve hundred years past But for help and remedy against this mystical Babel also Christ aforehand shewed unto his beloved Disciple John and by him to his Churches successively the utmost period of his continuance and manner of his now approaching ruine as of the Dragons before and that the said Beast likewise when the term of his Kingnom was out must with it go into perdition and be cast into a Lake of Fire and Brimstone denoting the perpetual ruine of all Antichristian Tyranny and an utter end of all wicked dominion being the last and lowest parts of the said Image to wit the feet and toes according to the interpretation given to Daniel Chap. 2. and at whose destruction the mystery of God should be finished in the world as the expression of the Spirit of Christ is Rev. 10.17 and Dan. 12.7 when the whole of what was revealed to St. John concerning the Beasts rise and ruine as was before noted should all in such ways as he hath set down be accomplished viz. by the prophecyings of the two sack-cloth witnesses and the pouring out of the seven last plagues upon all the Beasts worldly excellency as Rev. 11 and 15 16. Chap. So that then the Kingdoms of the world shall be the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and be given to the Saints of the most high as before Dan. 7. Rev. 11.15 So that as all the Devils designes and Gods had run counter before so by Christ these have all along been so managed that at length the usurped Dominion of Satan will be utterly subverted and the decreed Monarchy of Jesus Christ must be compleated in this world under or after the seventh Trumpet as a step to his eternal perfection of glory and happiness with his whole mystical body the true Church in the Kingdom of his father which as mediatour he will resign up to him at the end as St. Paul teacheth 1 Cor. 15.4 Now as by the miracles of Moses the first of Christs Chronologers the Egyptian Magicians were
former and that the preceeding but this in most dreadful manner after which never any such shall be any more under Satans rule should be utterly broken in peices and fall in perdition after which Christ will set up his own Kingdom which shall stand for ever when it shall be regnum montis and fill the whole earth Again In Chap. 7. Daniel after the Vision of the four Beasts hath the exposition of the fourth specially given him which though as some conceive there is an historical and literal sence in some respects observeable and Antiochius Epiphanes signified by the little horn c. which happily may not be denyed for many Scriptures have both an Historical and mystical sence and Prophesies of several things are sometimes much interwoven as Mat. 24. of the destruction of Jerusalem and the world yet again by some learned and judicious men these things are either applyed literally or at least mystically or typically to the times of the Roman Monarchy to which it is very aptly applicable both in regard of the strength and prevalency of the Roman Monarchy and the long continuance thereof and in the special resemblances of the Antichristian power and state afterward and even the very phrases in Daniel are applied to the Pope Rev. 13. but after this vers 27. it follows the Kingdom the Dominon the greatness of the Kingdom note the expressions shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey him and this can belong to no other but Christ as in Rev. 11.15 and of these times all the Prophets speak successively Rev. 10.7 Act. 3.21 and further Chap. 12. which seems to be a further explication of several things concerning those times of the Roman Monarchy and Christs Kindom succeeding it wherein seems first to be set forth secretly by the standing up of Michael their Prince what the book of Revelation gives light to in sundry particulars therein briefly couched The appearing or coming of Christ or standing up for his People as Daniel to destroy Antichrist the Feet and toes of the Roman Monarchy together with the remainder of his ten horns with such a terrible destruction as never was since there was a Nation to that same time and then his people should be delivered and vers 2. having spoken briefly and darkly of the resurrection of the dead which is more largely explained Rev. 20. which happily may be meant of the last general resurrection after the finishing the happy times after his peoples delivery beforesaid or rather to be understood of the civil resurrection of Israel and Judah prophetied Ezek. 37. when they should become one stick when such as are faithful and strengthen others will be renowned but back-sliders contemptible And vers 3. having spoken somewhat of the recompence that should be given to the faithful messongers of the Gospel and all such as turn many to righteousness then at the begining of the 4. vers Daniel is commanded to shut up the words and seal the book even unto the time of the end and when Daniel was desirous to know the end of these things in the latter end of the 4. vers and in vers 7. there seem two marks of the time of the end fore spoken of which vers 8. Daniel saith though he heard yet he understood them not and yet though he desired to know it was not then granted for vers 9. the words are sealed c. Now the first of those marks of the times that should be before the said time of the end in vers 4. is many shall run ton and fro and knowledge shall be encreased which seems by the series of times in the book of Revelation to set forth the character of the times next after Christ and so by many running too and fro was shewed the Apostles and other evangelical Messengers of Christ that went then to publish the Gospel in all parts of the Roman Empire then called the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Luk. 2. and to cause the knowledge of Christ and his Gospel to abound Or else by running too and fro may be signified that though then many received the Gospel and took up a profession of it for a time yet by tentations and persecutions many left again the owning of that profession and yet notwithstanding abundance of light and knowledge did then shine out in the primative Churches though they were greatly persecuted The other mark of the times before the said end which Daniel acknowledged he then understood not seems to be set forth not onely by the said Series of times given to St. John in the Revelation but to make the sence of the former more suitable to the truth in vers 7. there is the peculiar stamps set upon those next times that in the Revelation are plainly explained what times they be viz. The date of the Beast or times of Antichrist which succeeded the said primitive times as Rev. 12.14 namely the time and times and half wherein the woman the true Church was to be in her wilderness-condition by reason of his tyranny and wickedness and to make it more evident there is described one in white Linnen who is said to swear that those things should be finished then when he that is Antichrist shall have accomplished to seatter the power of the holy people the Saints Then saith he these things shall be So the Angel Rev. 10.7 which denotes Christ as the learned and judicious do conceive swears that time should be no more that is say they the worlds time under Satans rule under such powers as formerly for the most part And that the mystery of God should be finished even at the beginning of the seventh Trumpet Yet though Daniel understood not the said markes of the said time in respect of the Gentile Church yet he hath others given respecting the Jewish Church which set forth the conversion of his people the Jews which though unto us it seems difficult to find the Epocha thereof the thousand two hundred and ninety days which is conceived to be about the Emperor Julians time and if so seems to approach nigh pointing out the Jews first conversion and forty five years after the glorious times expected to appear or happily about the pouring out the seventh Vial Antichrists last destruction c. Onely in the conclusion Daniel hath this consolation given him that he shall stand in the lot at the end of the said days verse 12. Now what these famous prophetical Chronologers have so foreshewed formerly more darkly Christ hath since by his beloved Disciple St. John more clearly and largely revealed concerning the excellency of Christs Kingdom on earth as we have in some measure set down before And thus the main pillars and work of this building being erected I suppose with other usual materials to wit the Prophesies and Promises concerning Christs Kingdom in the rest of the Prophets in the Old
other Scriptures and instances both in the old and new Testament pertinent to that purpose And that the Doctrine of the resurrection which was all along in Scripture taught gradually before is most fully cleared by the two last Apostles St. Paul in his Epistles and St. John in the book of the Revelation NOw because that Matutina resurrectio which Mr. Mede speaks of called the first resurrection Rev. 20.4 5. By way of Antithesis to the last more general resurrection of the good and bad before not raised is of great concernment to the then living godly and Saints departed before let us confider what the Scriptures set before us concerning the same And because Christ hath more fully revealed to his Church Rev. 20. the pleasure of his father therein more then formerly was made known in the word for the Doctrine of the resurrection in diverse things in the Old and New Testament was revealed by degrees and St. Paul shews some mysteries of it and our Saviour there more Let us therefore in the first place consider the context of what is there said thereof Rev. 20. and then come to the verses wherein it is contained Vers 1 2. The Angel Christ lays hold on Satan and binds him a thousand years which thousand years by the most learned on all hands is agreed to be literally taken for many reasons Vide Parae on Rev. 20.2 besides the emphatical expressions after several times the mention of a thousand years the Spirit of God sets them out with an Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 three times vers 3 5 7. as if he should say these thousand years before-mentioned indefinitely are now so often spoken of demonstratively punctually setting down what was done before what in and after them in all which the word clears the literal sence Verse 3. He shuts him up in the bottomless pit and seals or secures him there during that time but shews he must after the thousand years be loosed for a little season And the fulfilling of that his loosing is set down as this matutina or first resurrection is decyphered vers 4 5 6. For Vers 7. Shews when Satan is accordingly loosed out of Prison Vers 8. Shews how he prevails to gather his hosts of Gog and Magog in great numbers in all the four quarters of the earth Vers 9. Sets down their design to compass the camp of the Saints and their disappointment by fire from heaven that devours them Vers 10. Shews the judgement of Satan in the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false Prophet were cast before the thousand years Vers 11. And so forward to the end is described the ensuing last judgement where the judge is set down in this 11. verse and his Throne he sat on Vers 12. the persons judged all sorts small and great the ways of their tryal by opening the books and according to their works Verse 13. How they came to the judgement The Sea and Death and the Grave gave up all the dead Vers 14 15. Shews who were cast into the lake of fire at the last namely Death the last enemy 1 Cor. 15. and Hell or the grave with all whose names were not written in the Book of life Now concerning this first resurrection it is largely described in many particulars Verse 4. In the first place are thrones and they that sate on them and judgement was given unto them which seems to be such eminent holy persons as the Apostles or great Prophets assessors with Christ then that as our Saviour promised should sit and judge on thrones at his Kingdom Luke 22.29 30. Secondly All other faithful Saints that lived and reigned with Christ the thousand years Vers 5. declares the different conditions of all others there called the rest of the dead that had not part in that first resurrection Vers 6. Contains the condition quality and priviledges of all the then raised Saints First they are blessed Secondly they are holy and therefore blessed Thirdly They are thereupon secured the second death shall have no power on them they are most safe from the judgement of the wicked that will come Fourthly the excellency of their promotion First to be Priests of God and Christ to offer praise c. continually Secondly Kings to reign with him the thousand years And this the Parallel Text Rev. 11.15 and so forward at the sounding of the seventh Trumpet doth likewise confirm where verse 15. is set down the beginning of Christs reign upon earth and the continuance for ever while the earth continues Secondly the praise of the Church thereupon namely the twenty four elders now without mention of the four beasts as formerly vers 16. Vers 17. There is the object of their praise Lord God Almighty which is and was and is to come and then reigned Secondly The ground of that their praysing him for taking his great power and reigning Verse 18. The occasion opportunity and advantage that Christ took then to take his great power and to reign First of evil unto the evil the Nations were provoked to anger and rage by the Devil against the Saints as also he will do to compass the Camp of the Saints when Satan is loosed Chap. 20.9 and here Gods wrath came upon them in devouring fire and destroyed them that destroyed the earth in the end of the 18. vers Secondly in the middle part of the same verse we have the advantage or opportunity Christ takes of good to the good First of the dead before that They should then be raised and they are of two degrees First Gods eminent servants the Prophets that should have suitable reward to their great service or sufferings or both And Secondly less eminent Saints Again good to the good then alive on earth such as fear Gods name small and great for the blessed and holy dead raised then will be above sear there perfect love as Saint John speaks hath cast out fear Lastly Vers 19. There is described the spiritual glory of the grace of God discovered in Christ above what was before so as peculiar to Jerusalem that comes down from heaven The temple of God was opened in heaven and there was seen in his temple the Ark of his Testament and on the other hand is set forth the terrour of Gods wrath manifest then against ungodly men to be horribly destroyed from the earth as is set down at this time So Psal 50 1 2 3 4 5 c. Dan. 12.1 which likewise referres both to the good and the wicked Now for the condition or state of the raised Saints it is probable to be like or suitable to what was in Christ before he ascended to his Father that appeared and disappeared as he saw good for his Disciples and sometime eat and drank with them as both the Gospel manifests Vide Mat. 26.29 compared with Luk. 22.18 19. one verse speak of the Passover the other of the Lords Supper and the Apostle Peter saith