are the Subjects of it together with the Effects thereof and then lastly as to the Time when this shall be intimated in the Word afterwards something may be written briefly to these Things And first what 's meant by POURING OUT OF THE SPIRIT And here we must know that the Communication of THE SPIRIT is represented to us in Scripture more Ways than one as sometimes by Donation 1 John 3.13 God is said there to give us his Spirit John 14.16 God the Father is said there to give the Comforter which is his Spirit Luk. 11.13 how much more shall your heavenly Father give his Spirit to them that ask it Again sometimes t is represented to us by Mission or sending John 14.26 Christ tells them that the Father would send the holy Ghost that should teach them all Things And Chap. 16.7 he tells them again he would send the Comforter Gal. 4.6 God is said there to send forth the Spirit of his Son into our Hearts Sometimes also by Aspersion or sprinkling hence Christ is said to sprinkle many Nations Isai 52.15 and to sprinkle clean Water upon them Ezekiel 36.25 which I understand of the Spirit Again sometimes by Infusion or putting his Spirit in us Ezekiel 36.27 and Chap. 37.14 And the last that I shall mention is by Effusion or pouring out of his Spirit upon us as in the Text proposed to be spoken to quoted also by the Apostle Peter Act. 2.17 we have the same Expression of pouring of the Spirit Isai 44.3 as also Chap. 32.15 where the Spirit is promised to be poured out from on High we have the like Expression Zech. 12.10 there is one Scripture more and all that at present is with me where this Expression of pouring out the Spirit is used and that is Prov. 1.23 behold I will pour out my Spirit upon you c. But what may we think is meant by pouring out Pouring out in Scripture doth ordinarily if not always signify an Abundance of that which is poured forth as when God brings Abundance of Wrath on a People he is said to pour out his Wrath as we might easily instance in Scripture hence we read of so many Vials of Wrath which were to be poured out on them that were the Subjects of them until they were destroyed Rev. 16 the like is said when God promiseth Abundance of Mercy he is said to pour it out as in Mal. 3.10 God saith there that he would open the Windows of Heaven and pour out such a Blessing as there should not be Room to receive it So that we see what is meant by pouring forth The next Thing to be inquired into is what is meant by Spirit which is thus to be poured out By Spirit in this Place I do not understand the Person of the HOLY SPIRIT tho' that is said to dwell in all Believers and if any Man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 2 Tim. 1.14 Neither do I think by Spirit here is meant the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit which every Believer Receives at his first Conversion But I think by Spirit in this Place is meant a plentiful Effusion of the Gifts of the Spirit which are extraordinary as will evidently appear if we compare this Text with Act. 2.17 and take the postle Peter's Commentary on the Words For it cannot be denied but that the Apostles and for any Thing that I know others that were with them at Jerusalem after Christ was ascended they all had received the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit at their first Conversion and yet they were to wait there for the Promise of the Father which Christ hath told them of before Luk. 24.49 But what was this Promise only of more and higher Degrees of the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit which they had already received I cannot think so and the Consequence doth make it evidently to appear that it was otherwise But when and where was this Promise of the Father made which they were to wait for The Apostle Peter when they began to speak with other Tongues Act. 2.4 in the 16th Verse tells them that this was that which was spoken of by the Prophet Joel and therefore this in my Understanding is the Promise of the Father which they were to wait for consisting only in the pouring out of extraordinary Gifts both of Tongues Prophesy and Miracles The next Thing to be considered is the Subjects or Recepients upon whom the Spirit was thus to be poured out and that the Prophet tells us and after him the Apostle that t is upon all Flesh By all Flesh here we are not to understand all Mankind as t is taken in Gen. 6.12 where t is said that all Flesh had corrupted their Way No nor are we to understand it of all Saints neither but some of all Sorts and Sexes viz. Jews and Gentiles young and old Male and Female Sons and Daughters Servants and Handmaids And there were above an Hundred besides the Apostles and that Women as well as Men assembled together at Jerusalem waiting for this Promise Act. 1.14.15 and they were all with one accord in one Place Chap. 2.1 and they were all filled with the holy Ghost and began to speak with other Tongues as the Spirit gave them Utterance and that not only upon Jews but upon Gentiles also were poured out the Gifts of the holy Ghost as we may see Act. 10.45 46. Upon Cornelius his Family and his Kindred and near Friends ver 24 and in Chap. 19. ver 2 we read of Disciples that were Believers and doubtless had received the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit and such as were saving and yet were Strangers to these extraordinary Gifts till Paul laid his Hands on them and then they received these extraordinary Gifts and spake with Tongues and did Prophesy and t is very likely these were Gentiles The first Effect then that followed after the pouring out of the Spirit was the Gift of Tongues the Gospel being now to be preached to all the World and the Disciples being most of them if not all unlearned Men the Wisdom of God saw it necessary in order thereunto to give them to speak and to understand all Languages that those Nations to whom they were to preach might understand what was spoken T is true indeed this Gift of Tongues nor Miracles is not mentioned by Joel but yet Peter tells us and we must believe him that when they thus spake with Tongues this was that which was spoken of by the Prophet Joel without which they could not Prophesy or preach the Gospel to all Nations or to the Edification of them to whom they were to speak The next Thing therefore we shall take Notice of is that which is mentioned both by the Prophet and the Apostles and that is Prophesy Prophesy in Scripture is sometimes taken for a foretelling of Things to come much of what the Prophets spake in Times past was then future when spoken the whole Book
since the World began Concerning the glorious State of this Kingdom of Christ in this World something hath been hinted before which may be further evinced from the Scriptures And First as to a plentiful Effusion of the SPIRIT promised that it shall be poured out from on high when the Wilderness shall become a fruitful Field Isa 32.15 which is to be understood of great Measures and Degrees of all saving Grace Promised also Zech. 12.10 to be poured out upon the House of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem But when is it when they shall look non him whom they have pierced and mourn Also Ezekiel 36.27 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes But when When they are gathered out of all Countries and brought to their own Land ver 24. And this will not only be 1. a Spirit of LIGHT and KNOWLEDGE but 2 there will be much HOLINESS It will be to such a Degree as never was in the World since the Beginning of it So great that some Men have thought though I am not of that Opinion that there will be no Unholiness at least not in the Saints but that the Subjects of this Kingdom shall sin no more See further what the Scripture speaks to this Isa 35.8 An high Way shall be there And it shall be called the Way of Holiness The Unclean shall not pass over it Hence called God's holy Mountain Isai 65. ult the Mountain of his Holiness Jer. 32.23 Upon the Bells of Horses and Pots shall be Holiness Zech. 14.20 3dly As to RIGHTEOUSNESS the People shall be all Righteous they shall inherit the Land forever Isai 35.8 Hence they are called a righteous Nation Chap. 26.2 The Habitation of Justice Jer. 31.23 Here Righteousness aud PEACE will kiss each other Psa 85 which is next proposed to Consideration For CHRIST being the Prince of Peace Isa 9.6 there shall be Peace in his Kingdom and under his Government The Mountains shall bring Peace to his People Psal 72.3 In his Days shall be abundance of Peace so long as the Moon endureth ver 7 and I am sure that will be to the End of the Thousand Years Again Great shall be the Peace of thy Children Isa 54.13 Peace to him that is far off and Peace to him that is near Chap. 57.19 Peace like a River A Succession of Peace as of Waters in a River Jerusalem shall be a quiet Habitation and a peaceable resting Place Isa 32.18 33.20 They shall not learn War any more nor any Weapon that is formed against them shall prosper Again there will be JOY when the Lord reigneth the Earth will rejoice Psal 97.1 and ver 8 Sion heard and was glad and the Daughters of Judah rejoiced sing for Joy of Heart Isai 65.14 rejoice with Joy and Singing everlasting Joy will be upon their Heads and they shall obtain Joy and Gladness and Sorrow and Sighing shall flee away Therefore in this Kingdom of Christ during the Thousand Years there will be no more Apostacy or Backsliding in Holiness or as it was in the Days of Noah and Lot when the World was filled with Violence and all Flesh had corrupted their Way Neither is there the least Hint in Scripture of any Backsliding after this Thousand Years is begun For then there could not be everlasting Joy on their Heads nor could Sorrow and Sighing flee away No more pricking Briar nor grieving Thorn no more Persecution by wicked Men no more violent Death nor Sorrow nor Crying nor any more Pain upon any such account For then Sorrow and Sighing would not flee away nor would Tears be wiped from their Eyes We may further take notice that this Time will be a Time of great LIGHT The Earth shall be filled with the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea The Light of the Moon shall be as the Light of the Sun And the Light of the Sun as the Light of seven Days At the Time of the End Knowledge shall be increased Dan. 12.4 Then there will be a glorious Accomplishment of Predictions and Prophesies which now to us are dark and obscure and the Book which is now sealed at the Time of the End will be opened Much more might be added to what hath been written but we shall at present give some Scriptures which speak of this EXTERNAL AND OUTWARD HAPPINESS First long Life Isai 65 there shall be no more thence an infant of Days nor an old Man that hath not filled his Days for the Child shall die an Hundred Years old for as the Days of a Tree are the Days of my People Again they shall enjoy a Fulness of other temporal Blessings build Houses plant Vineyards and eat the Fruit of them Isai 65. Their Floors shall be full of Wheat and the Fat 's shall overflow with Wine and Oyl and they shall eat in plenty and praise the Name of the Lord that hath dealt wonderfully with them and they shall never be ashamed Joel 2. Then will be fulfilled according to the Letter spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ Mat. 5.5 Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the Earth which hitherto they have not done Oh glorious Things are spoken of thee O City of God Selah Psal 87 3. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the City of our God in the Mountain of Holiness beautiful for Situation the Joy of the whole Earth the City of the great King Psal 48.1 2 which Places ultimately refer to this Time and the glorious State of the Church in the last Age of the World. The Church of old was called the Lord's Portion Deut. 32.9 his pleasant Portion Jer. 12.10 his Inheritance Isai 19.25 and the dearly beloved of his Soul his Treasure Exod. 19.5 his Glory Isai 46.13 But the Gospel Church is call'd a Crown of Glory Isai 62.3 the House of his Glory a royal Diadem These are high Expresses of the Glory of the Church in the Thousand Years of Christ's Kingdom in this World. And thus I have written a little and but a little may see a Glimpse and but a Glimpse of Sions Glory much of which is yet to come And from all that which is here written we may gather that if the Times immediately preceding the personal visible and glorious Appearance of Christ at his second Coming be Times of deep Security general Sensuality open Prophaness and Apostacy as hath been declared before then it must needs be that Christ will appear before the Thousand Years because after those Years are began there will be no such Times of Wickedness and Prophaness as hath been also shewed before but the first is undeniable and therefore the second must and will necessarily follow for it cannot be imagined by any that know or understand any Thing of the glorious State of the Church during that Time which hath been mentioned before and which hath been so abundantly declared both by the Prophets and Apostles should
of Revelation is called a Prophesy Chap. 1.3 and yet when made known to John was all future ver 1. But I do not understand Prophesy in this Sense in this Place tho' I do not know but God may sometimes in an extraordinary Way make known to some of his Servants Things to come for there were Prophets in the primative Times as we may read Act. 13.1 as Barnabas and Simeon and Lucius and Manaen and Saul and these were called their Teachers We read also Act. 11.27 of Prophets which came from Jerusalem to Antioch of whom Agabus was one who signified by the Spirit that there should be a great Dearth in all the World which came to pass in the Days of Claudius Caesar and in Act. 15.32 we read of Judas and Silas that were Prophets and Act. 19.7 t is said there were twelve Disciples at Ephesus which did prophesy and the Apostle Paul who was more than a Prophet speaks very much of Prophets and Prophesying 1 Cor. 12. 14 and saith expresly that God hath set in his Church next after Apostles PROPHETS and we read not only of Prophets but Prophetesses also Act. 21.8.9 Philip the Deacon had four Daughters that were Virgins that did Prophesy I do not think that all good Men and Women could Prophesy the Apostle seems to deny that 1 Cor. 12 Are all Prophets are all Teachers do all work Miracles or do all speak with Tongues but there are Diversity of Gifts but the same Spirit as the Apostle shews at large 1 Cor. 12. And indeed it was for this very End amongst others that Christ ascended to give Gifts to Men and that not only ordinary but extraordinary and the Gift of Prophesy as well as others Eph. 4.11 and Christ told his Disciples that if he did not ascend the Comforter would not come but had they not the saving Presence and Power of the Spirit already and the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit long before this Time yea doubtless therefore it must needs be meant not of higher Degrees greater Measures of the ordinary Gifts of the Spirit only but of those which was extraordinary And the Effect of pouring out the Spirit was seeing of Visions and dreaming of Dreams of which I shall write a little and but a little We know that God revealed his Mind to his Servants and sometimes to others also in the old Testament often by Visions and by Dreams Abraham had a Vision Gen. 15.1 and t is like a Dream also ver 12. Jacob had a Dream Chap. 31.11 Joseph had two Dreams Moses had a Vision Exod. 3.2 Job had his Dreams and Visions tho' they were a Terror to him Job 7.14 Isaiah had Visions Chap. 1.1 6.1 Ezekiel had many Chap. 1.1 And we read in the New Testament Joseph had a Dream to fly into Egypt and a Dream to return out of Egypt Mat. 2.13.19 the wise Men were warned by a Dream not to return to Jerusalem ver 12. Zecharias had a Vision Luk. 1.22 And after the sending of the Spirit by extraordinary Gifts Annanias had a Vision Act. 9.10 Cornelius had a Vision Act. 10.3 Peter also saw a Vision ver 17 Paul had a Vision Act. 16.9 yea more then one for he had as many as he could well bear 2 Cor. 12.1 much of the Revelation was made known to John by Vision And t is likely the Effects of pouring out the Spirit are not all recorded in Scripture yet we must and ought to believe that either they have been or shall be fulfilled but it hath been shewed that it hath been poured out in an extraordinary Way upon Jews Gentiles young and old Male and Female Servants Handmaids Now of other Effects about the Sun being turned into Darkness and the Moon into Blood we have written something of this before and therefore shall forbear to write of it here and come to The last Thing proposed to be spoken to and that is the TIME to which this Prophesy doth refer held forth in the Word Afterward This Word Afterward seems to refer to some remarkable Time which was to go before it and the Apostle Peter renders it in other Words Act. 2.17 It shall come to pass in the last Days but both the Prophet and Apostle agree in this that t is a most remarkable Period of Time a Fore-runner of the great terrible Day of the Lord as the Prophet speaks and the Apostle after him calls it the notable Day of the Lord. And indeed whether we take it as past or future it hath been both notable and terrible and will yet be more notable and terrible when this Prophesy shall be fully accomplished Notable to the People of God that call on him for they shall be saved ver 21 but terrible to his and their Enemies for they shall be destroyed Multitudes Multitudes in the Valley of Decision for the Day of the Lord is near in the Valley of Decision Joel 3.14 The right Understanding of the Time to which this Prophecy refers will give great Light to the Point under Consideration 'T is true indeed this Prophecy was in Part fulfilled immediately after Christ's Ascention but that there is yet a further Accomplishment of it to be expected will easily be made to appear for some prophetical Scriptures may be fulfilled more than once but to speak a little more fully to the Time. There are two remarkable Periods of Time recorded in Scripture besides the ultimate Period the one is already past the other is yet to come the one at soon after the first Coming of CHRIST and this Time was much spoken of in the Scriptures and this the Apostle calls the Fulness of Time Gal. 4.4 and this was a most remarkable Time when the Son of God became the Son of Man to save poor lost Men This was a great Day and many great Things were done at this Time The Way of instituted Worship wholly changed and the ceremonial Law abolished and another Way appointed by our Lord Jesus Christ instead thereof the Levitical Priesthood laid aside or changed and Gospel Ministers appointed to supply that Place the national Church ceased the Jews rejecting the Gospel are cast off and the Gentiles receiving the Gospel are taken into their Room City and Temple ruined the Nation Multitudes Multitudes destroyed the rest scattered all the World over the Gospel to be preached to all Nations to that End extraordinary Gifts are given and many other Things done which might be mentioned And therefore this was a great Day both notable terrible And this Peter calls the last Days it shall come in the last Days Paul also calls Gospel Times the last Days Heb. 1.1 in these last Days God hath spoken to us by his Son. There is also the latter Part of the last Days and this is also called the last Days Isa 2.2 The Prophet there tells us that in the last Days the Mountain of the Lord's House shall be established in the Top of