from him for Christ hath destroyed him that had power over death which is the Devil and hath delivered us by Resurrection who by the reason of the fear of death were kept in slavery all our life long For nothing would be so troublesome to the godly as the thought of death were it not for a Resurrection but saith the Lord I will ransome them from the power of the grave I will redeem them from death O Death I will be thy Plague O Grave I will be thy destruction He will swallow up death in victory and the Lord will wipe away tears from all faces Hosea 13.14 Isa 25.8 2 Sam. 14.14 Heb. 2.14 From these Reasons and Scriptures and many more which might be added we may clearly see That the dead namely such as do now and shall sleep in the dust shall arise both good and bad and come to Judgment And now courteous Reader seeing it is so that the dead as before said must arise and come to Judgment be exhorted to take up that good resolution with the holy man Job 14.14 which saith If a man die shall he live again then all the dayes of my appointed time will I wait till my change come giving thanks alwayes to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away Therefore gird up the lines of thy mind waiting for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ who will change our vile bodies and fashion them like unto his glorious body according to his promise and mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself who hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light To whom be praise and glory for ever and ever Amen 1 Pet. 1.3 Phil. 3.20 21. 2 Tim. 1.10 Secondly take this word of advice by way of Caution which is take heed and beware of giving heed to such as do deny the Resurrection of whom there is two sorts now in our dayes as there was in the Apostles dayes the one sort is like unto the Saduces Mat. 22.23 which deny that there is any Resurrection Angels or Spirits viz. God or Devil Heaven or Hell of that sort is the Ranter and his adherents and such like Athiestical Spirits And the other are like unto HYMENEVS and PHILETVS 2 Tim. 2.17 18. who say that the Resurrection is already past whose words eat as doth a canker and of this sort is the Quakers who doth affirm that he is already risen from the dead and in the Resurrection and so the Resurrection is past to him who denyeth iniquity in words in the history and yet heaps up iniquity upon iniquity in the mystery And these are the two sorts which may fitly be compared unto the Sect of the Saduces and to Hymeneus and Phyletus and I do not report the things whereof I write by hear-say but from their own mouths the more is the pitty and to be lamented These two sorts differ in manners or conversation but very little in Judgment in point of doctrine unless it be in that of conversation as before said the which if they had the conversation of Angels and yet so corrupt in principle the Scripture declares them to be in a cursed and miserable condition Gal. 1.6 7 8 9. Col. 2.18 19. Acts. 3.23 24. And indeed the conversation of many of them is bad enough although they disfigure their faces and seem unto men to fast from sin and to be more righteous then others yet they have been seen to want that special duty of prayer in their families and giving thanks in the presence of their Families for their food which God hath bestowed on them although Christ and the Apostle did not neglect to do their duty in that case to lead us an example but no more as to this I shall leave it until the day in the which God will try the wayes of the sons of men and discover all deceit and falsehood of what nature soever it be But as touching the opinion about Gods holy Ordinances by which he hath appointed to be worshipped in is sleighted and rejected by them as water-Baptisme and eating of Bread and drinking of Wine solemnly celebrated to set forth Christs death and a participation of the benefit thereof with the slightings of forms as they call them although God delight in nothing which is out of form and order as the host of Heaven and earth doth declare who when God found them without form and void did by his word put them in form and order and gave decrees to the Sea and ordinances unto the Sun Moon and Stars and they keep them so that God delights in form and order and also is a God of order in all the Churches of the Saints hence Saint Paul commended form Rom. 6.17 18. in these words But ye have obeyed from the heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered unto you being therefore made free from sin ye became the servants of Righteousness c. From whence you may see That those men which do slight and deny forms in our dayes have not received that Spirit which was in the Apostle but another Spirit even the Spirit of error although it strive to transform it self into an Angel of light that thereby it may deceive the hearts of the simple for men are got to this height of wickedness in the mystery as to think that they comprehend all things and so consequently are Gods but they shall die like men for their breath is in their nostrils yet talk of what you will almost it is in them as they say as the first Adam and the second and God and also the Serpent slain within them the tree of life and the tree of knowledg the judgment seat Heaven and Hell Mount Zion and the new Jerusalem the two witnesses and what not they have comprehended all these things as they say but alass they die and in the very same time their thoughts perish and they are chased and gone like a vision of the night Mark one peece of horrible pride of Spirit which is in them they will not allow the holy Scriptures to be called the word of the Lord neither do they exhort and press men to be diligent to read and keep the things contained therein but their fraughty books must some of them bear the Title of the word of the Lord to the world and earthly men and the like so that he that seeth but very little may see them to be the men before spoken of which shall deny all that is worshipped as God shewing themselves that they are God O horrible pride and yet pretended humility this is ungodliness in a mystery I shall not enter upon the particulars of their bottomless opinion first because it is not my task at this time and
page 64 to page 75. M Of Mans Mortality and how far page 35. to page 51. O Original Sin and what punishment it brought upon Adam and his posterity page 27. to page 34. And how all the Statutes and Ordinances of the Lord Jesus are perpetuated and to remain practicable to the Worlds end page 106. to page 118. Of Objections against the perpetuity of some of Christs Ordinances Answered page 119. to page 181. Q Of several Queries Answered page 209. to page 216. R Of the Resurrection of the Body page 51. to page 63. Of the Raign of our blessed Saviour with his Saints upon Earth page 76. to page 99. S Sprinkling proved not to be Baptism for several Reasons page 3. to page 5. W Of the Womans Travelling and bringing forth the Man-child and who it is and of her flight into the Wilderness and what Wilderness it is and how long she shall remain there and of the Persecution of the Remnant of her Seed and who they be page 181. to 200. Of the two Witnesses Prophesying and who they are page 200. to 208. ERRATA PAge 3 4 5. read Anon for Canaan p. 15 l. 27 r. fall f. full p. 36. l. 13 r. Job 14.7 c. f. John 4. p. 38 l. 11 r. God f. Christ p. 38 l. 34 r. infused f. Inferred p. 39 l. 7 r. God f. Christ Jesus p. 94. l. 9 r. John f. Jesus p. 121 l. 25 r. how f. though p. 132 l. 31 r. there f. the p. 133. l. 16 r. should p. 139 l. 7 p 141 l. 17 18. add this although the outward Court was taken and the City trod under foot yet no man could enter into the Temple to deface it p. 145 l. 17 r. not utterly destroyed although defaced and trampled upon p. 146 l. 29 r. naturally p. 148 l. 1 r. brought in p. 150 l. 28 r. false f. face p. 153 l. 21 r. marvellous p. 157 l. 25 r. order f. word p. 158 l. 13 r. Babellish f. established p. 161 l. 30 r. Iohn only excepted p. 165 l. 10 r. Mystery f. Ministry p. 174 l. 1 r. Jayl f. vail p. 175 l. 16 r. was not the Church p. 176 l. 24. 30 r. shoke f spoke p. 182 l. 27 r. Jayl f. Valey p. 197 l. 1 r. Edom p. 211 l. 13 add such p. 213 l. 26 r. dissolution f. desolation p. 215 r. came not Mend in thy reading some other places for I would have perused it more nicely and mended some other small faults and Parenthesi's but wanted time Truth and Innocency Prevailing against Error and Insolency SIR I Am come to the Examination and Tryal of that which you call Truths Conflict with Error and find it to be no other but Error and Insolency striving against Truth and Innocency as will appear to the impartial Reader when he compares your pretended Answer with my former Book but indeed as for an Answer to my Book it is none as I before have said for the greatest part of it is but a writing over again what you have formerly written and is already answered and therefore I shall be brief in the Answer because Tautolligies suit not with my spirit Answ And first I take notice that you see your self at a loss by granting that Christ's Baptism was by plunging in water because I have said That if Christ's Baptism were by Dipping or Plunging and he left us an Example that we should follow his steps then we ought also to be dipped or plunged but you say I read the Sentence in your parenthesis amiss may you not be ashamed so to say seeing it is plain to be read in your Book your words are these Christ only was plunged with the Spirit receiving it without measure so was his water Baptism these are your very words with your parenthesis pag. 3. lin 2. and so I leave him that reads to judge whether you do not confess that Christ's water Baptism was the same with the Baptism of the Spirit which you say was by plunging Object And whereas you say That Christ went up into the mountain and yet not covered in the earth and so he went into the water and yet not covered with it Answ To which I Answer and say That it is not said that Christ was Baptized in the Mountain but it is said that he was Baptized in the Water and so it was said of Philip and the Eunuch But it will he granted that Christ might go many times into the water and yet not be covered in it but it cannot be imagined that John could dip or plunge or over-whelm or sink as the word Baptizo will render it Christ into the water and yet Christ not covered in water And besides all this the proper signification of Baptism is a Burial and Resurrection as I before have shewed yet notwithstanding I shall give a few Reasons here to prove that Baptism is dipping or plunging And the first Reason is Reas 1. Because the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rendereth no other thing as a proper derivation but mergo or immergo which is to dip to plunge to overwhelm to thrust into the water or to sink and such like words as these which sheweth that the person Baptized is to be covered in water Reas 2. Secondly Christ was so baptized namely plunged as you have affirmed in your former Book and we are to follow his examples therefore are to be covered as Christ was in Baptism Reas 3. And Thirdly it signifieth a Burial as saith the Apostle Paul Rom. 2.4 Col. 2.12 and a man cannot be said to be buried unless he be covered with earth or the like Object And this brings me to the Answer of your Objection p. 7. where you say That Christ was buried in a rock and had no earth to cover him and therefore it cannot be proved say you that persons baptized must be covered in the water Answ To which I Answer and say That Christ was covered is clear for his body was put into a new Sepulcher and a stone rowled against the door or mouth of the Sepulcher for in that age it was usual to bury the dead in Sepulchers which are as our Graves and that his body was covered is evident because when Mary came early in the morning to the Sepulcher although the stone was rowled away from the mouth yet she was fain to stoop down to look into it to see whether she could see Jesus implying that the earth covered him out of her sight but I need not trouble my self to prove that which is so clear for the Scripture saith although I suppose you had forgot it That as Jonah was three dayes and three nights in the Whales belly so shall the Son of man be three dayes and three nights in the heart of the earth Matth. 12.40 So then as Jonah was covered in the Whales belly so was the Son of man covered in the heart of the earth from whence
doctrine by the slights of men cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive From this text we may learn that it was the wisdome of Christ in order to accomplish his last will and testament that he did give gifts to men that they might be enabled in their successive generations to preach exhort reprove and correct to the end that the man of God or servants of God namely the Church of God might be furnished with every good work that henceforth that is from that time forward they might not be tossed that is removed from that doctrine which Christ left in command in his last will and testament Ephes 4.10 11 12 13 14. 1 Tim. 3.14 15 16. The consequence is that what Christ appointed in his last will and testament was perpetuated and to remain from that time and forward until all the Saints came to the unity of the faith and that perfect man even to the stature and fulness of Christ and so I pass to the third ground and reason Reas 3. It further appears that whatsoever Christ appointed to be practised in his last Will and Testament is perpetuated and to remain because it was before declared by God to Moses and good reason there was that the Laws and Statutes of Christ should be perpetuated and remain as well as Moses Law which did remain untill a more glorious administration for when Moses was dead yet his Law spake which shewed him to be a Law-giver of some authority but if it were as some would have it Christs Law must needs be so weak as to die with him or a non after him or at least some of them and so in effect say that Christ is a more weaker or an imperfecter law-giver than Moses but that it was foretold by God and given in charge that all Christs Laws and Statutes should remain in all Generations for all men to practise according to their several abilities or measures read Peters words Acts 3.22 23. which saith For Moses truly said unto the fathers A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you of your brethren like unto me him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you And it shall come to passe that every Soul that will not heare that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people That which is to be observed from this text is first that Christ must be heard in every thing whatsoever he saith and secondly as he must be heard in every thing in whatsoever he saith even so he must be heard in every thing by every soul and thirdly that it is so is clear because whosoever doth not heare viz. obey shall be destroyed so then its plain that all the Statutes and Ordinances of the last will and Testament of the Lord Jesus Christ ought to be believed and practised by all those that are the Lords people in all ages and so I pass to the fourth ground and reason to prove the continuation of all the Statutes and Laws of Kings Jesus Reas 4. Because there must be no adding nor deminishing from his words no putting to nor taking from them for it is a very great evil to put in or take out of it if it be but a mans will and Testament as saith Saint Paul Gal. 3.15 in these words Brethren I speak after the manner of men though it be but a mans Covenant or Testament yet if it be confirmed no man disanulleth or addeth there unto For as saith the Lord Rev. 22.18 I testifie to every one that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this booke if any man shall adde unto these things God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this booke And if any man shall take away from the words of this booke God shall take away his part out of the booke of life and the holy City and from the things that are written in this booke For as he is an unalterable Priest and hath an unchangeable Preist-hood even so he is an unalterable King and Prophet and hath unalterable or unchangeable Lawes Ordinances and Statutes and happy are all those that observe and keep them unto the end And to this end the Apostle Paul who was faithful to Christ who did not hide or shun to declare the whole counsel of God did direct the successive Ministers as Timothy and Titus what to do after him both in respect of Doctrine and discipline and sheweth them how they should behave themselves in the Church of Christ and also to commit it to faithful men that might teach others after them and what quallifications ought to be found in Bishops and Deacons namely Pastors and such as were to take care of the poor so that it is very evident that it was the care of the Apostle to leave in charge an orderly provision for both souls and bodies of the Churches of Christ as Pastors or Bishops to take care of their souls and Deacons to take care of their bodies and the externall way of establishing them or appointing them to the work was by fasting and prayer with laying on of Hands as he himself and the rest of the Ministry were established as Acts 13.3 and 1 Tim. 4.14 Chap. 5.22 Tit. 1.5 6 7 8. more there might be added but at present I shall only add a few sentences of Scriptures but not any of them texts last cited but others as first the charge that Paul giveth to the Pastors or Elders of the Church of Ephesus at his departure Acts 20.28 in these words Take heed unto your selves and unto all the flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood For I know this that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock Wherefore saith he to Timothy 2 Tim. 4.1 in these words I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quicke and the dead at his appearance and Kingdome Preach the word instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine Watch thou in all things indure affliction do the work of an Evangelist make a full proof of thy Ministry for their are many unruly and vain talkers wherefore rebuke them sharply that they may be found in the faith but a man that is an Hereticke after the first and second admonition reject And the things that thou hast heard and seen in me the same commit to faithful men who also may teach others Tit. 1.10 Chap. 3.10 2 Tim. 2.2 So then those Laws that Christ appointed his Disciples to walk in they must teach there successors to walk in and their successors must commit it to others that they might teach the Generation to come to that end that Christs Laws Statutes Ordinances might be as unchangeable as his Preist-hood and so the words of the author to the Hebrews may be verified Heb.
Ignorance and unbelief being taken away doth entitle Persons as heirs of that heavenly Land And Secondly That Baptism came not in the room or place of Circumcision is plain Because it is impossible for one thing to be said to stand in the room and place of another until the first is taken away but Circumcision and Baptism was practised both together for several years and therefore one could not come in the room and place of the other And so I pass to the next false or supposed ground of Infants Baptism which is Object 8. There never was but one Covenant saith my Antagonist since the Fall and Children were in that Covenant and never cast out and therefore are to be baptized Answ And first that there was two Covenants made with Abraham is clear one in Gen. 12. and the other in Gen. 17. And that God might make it plain that he did make two several Covenants with Abraham he sets it forth by his Wife and Bond-woman and the two Seeds by their two Seeds as saith the Apostle Gal. 4.22 it is written That Abraham had two Sons one by a Bond-woman and the other by the Free-woman and saith the Apostle These are the TWO Covenants And also saith in vers 30. Cast out the Bond-woman and her Son From whence we take notice that one Covenant viz. the fleshly one and her seed was to be cast out to give place to the spiritual one and her Seed which sheweth That there is two Covenants And now that these are two in substance as well as in Administrations we may see the Apostle makes distinction between the Covenant and the Ordinances or the Administrations of the Covenant saying Verily the first Covenant had Ordinances of divine service and a worldly sanctuary c. And the Apostle further saith That the Administrations of the second Covenant was far better it being spiritual Administrations and the other carnal but because I have spoken before of this also I shall be brief saying That carnal administrations cannot be the administrations of a spiritual Covenant For as it is said in another sense a good Tree cannot bring forth evil fruit but the administrations of the Covenant was faulty and carnal by your own grant how then could it be a spiritual Covenant but that Covenant and Administrations and Seed was carnal and faulty and must be cast out is clear for the Scripture is plain Cast out the Bond-woman viz. the first Covenant and her Seed and touch not her Ordinances or Administrations for they are carnal and were but shadows of good things to come But saith my Antagonist I can prove that there is Five Covenants as well as you can prove that there is Two as one with Noah and one with Abraham and one with David and the like I Answer That was but a speaking over again or making known his Covenant to these several men but that I may try you I pray resolve where the Scripture is written that saith there is Five Covenants or Three the Scripture saith plainly that there is Two as a New and an Old Covenant a better and a worse a first and a second one faulty and one perfect but the Scripture no where saith that there is Five nay or Three so then you are seen and found to be at a loss And because I have shewed formerly what these Two Covenants are I pass only take notice of an Objection in this particular which is say you Object If the first Covenant was but an earthly one with earthly blessings what so great a hurt was it for the Jews to be cut off and we Gentiles to be grafted in and what is all our blessings temporal for we are grafted into that stock from whence they were cut off away say you Answ To which I Answer and say That methinks here you shew your self to be subtil or very simple which of them you are guilty of in this case I shall not determine but by your flourishing it appears to be simplicity for Solomon saith That a Fool rages and is confident But did you indeed dream that the stock from whence the Jews was cut was any of the Covenants no such thing surely but the stock was Abraham that is to say The Ax was laid to the root of the Trees to cut those off that had not Faith and to raise up another seed to Abraham as John the Baptist nay also as the Prophet before had said and so did of stones as it were viz. the Gentiles raise up Children to Abraham for he was the stock and not the Covenant as you blindly did conceive for as Ishmael was cut off from Abrahams house so was Hagar also and Isaac was placed with Sarah in her room for so soon as Sarah had brought forth Seed to Abraham then Ishmael and Hagar must go both packing together and Sarah and Isaac must only live with Abraham These are the Two Covenants go learn what it means that you may distinguish better between Stock and Covenant another time And so I pass to the next and last Objection which at present I shall make use of which is Object 9. Although there be no plain Precept or Example for Infants Baptism yet it is no where forbidden that Infants should be baptized say you And there is no Command nor Example for Womens eating of the Lords Supper and yet is lawful having good consequence leading thereunto Answ To which I Answer And first to the First Although it be not forbidden in so many words saying Thou shalt not Baptize thy Children yet it is vertually prohibited in the words written by St. Paul in Col. 2.21 22. and many other places it being an Invention of Man and not from an Appointment of God as I before have shewed For consider that there is many things that men practise pretending service to God which is no where forbidden in so many words and yet is mans Tradition and Vain I shall only mention Two or Three at present as your former practise viz. The sign of the Cross in Baptism and your Surplices and such vain Fangles And also the present Practises of the Church of Rome which Baptize their Books and Bells and use Cream Salt and Spittle and several such foolish Ceremonies in Baptism and in their other kinds of Worship such vain Traditions And will any wise man account this to be a warrantable Worship and Service to God although it be their antient practise surely no yet notwithstanding if you look into the Scriptures there is no Text that saith Thou shalt not sign with the Cross or use Surplices or baptize Books or Bells or use Cream or Salt or Spittle in baptism there 〈◊〉 no Text that saith in so many words thou shalt not do any of these things only a general prohibition which comprehendeth all these particulars and many more Touch not Taste not Handle not the Traditions of men the which either of these are as well as Infants Baptism and therefore
God never did appoint any man to be wicked yet he hath of old foreseen wickedness and also hath appointed punishment for it Question 2. Hath not God Elected one sort of persons to Salvation before the world was from whence they cannot fall and rejected another sort which cannot be recovered Answ Nay for then all did not fall in Adam neither were all justified by Christ but all did fall by Adams sin and all were justified by Christs righteousness Rom. 5.18 Mistake not there is a twofold justification I shall not explain it at present but read the text Rom. 5.18 Secondly there is no such thing because that many times those that have been wicked have become righteous and of bad have been made good and also such as have been righteous and good have become wicked and bad as the Angels which were once good are now bad also Hymeneus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1.19 20. and those spoken of 1 Tim. 5.12 and 15. who had condemnation or were condemned because they had forsook their first faith and Saul had once the spirit of God and was beloved and yet he became wicked by reason of his wickedness about the business of the Amalekites and the good spirit of the Lord left him and he was rejected but to pass this and many such instances which might be added if I had time consider this If God have elected one sort of men to Salvation from whence they cannot fall before the foundation of the world and reprobated another sort that cannot be saved Then First Is not mans ruin from the Lord if his decree were thus made before man was made which so to affirm were to affirm that which the Scripture denyeth and so to put the lye upon God Secondly if that Doctrine be true then to what end is preaching and the like for if the Elect were never preached unto they cannot miscarry for their election stands sure and their Salvation is certain and if they have all the preaching to in the world it adds nothing unto them for the end of all means is Salvation and that they have whether they ever hear the sound of the Gospel yea or nay and therefore if that opinion be true preaching is but of very little use unto the Elect for they should have had Salvation if they had never heard of it And Secondly it is no wayes beneficial to the reprobate because if he had all the preaching unto in the world it would do him no good according to that opinion because he could never be recovered out of that estate and condition by it so then that opinion is very dangerous First because it makes Gods decree the author of sin for where God decreeth the end he decreeth the means leading to the end Secondly it makes the preaching of the Word of God of none effect for the Elect cannot perish if they be never preached unto and the reprobate cannot be recovered by all the preaching to in the world Thirdly it destroyes all christian assurance and builds men upon qualifications and not upon promises for this reason Because if there be but a very small number elected and they are not distinguished by name but by qualification then no man can prove his election but by his qualification and that is to build up men in themselves and not upon free grace in a promise and so their election is many times questioned when they are overtaken in temptation and have not the fruits of election appearing in them especially when they consider how great enjoyments and spiritual gifts and heavenly tastes men may attain unto and yet may not be in the election And Fourthly That opinion is the very fountain head as I may say of uncleanness for what is the plea of wicked men when they are reproved for sin in short thus say they if it had pleased God to have given me grace I should have done as other men but nevertheless if I be elected God will have a time to call me for it is not in my power to do good of my self and if I be not elected it is not my striving and endeavours will do me any good and by reason of this corrupt Judgment and corrupt mind men give up themselves up to walk in such courses as the flesh and carnal mind lusteth after Fifthly If that opinion be true that God hath elected one sort and reprobated another sort and that before the world was then the wicked are damned for doing the will of God as will plainly appear for what God hath decreed to bring to pass he doth decree to do it by means as first to save the elect thorow holiness and to damn the wicked for their wickedness and one he melts and softeneth that he may yeeld and be obedient and the other he hardeneth that he may be glorified in their destruction and if God do harden mens hearts to do wickedly is it not plain that it is the will of God they should so do for God works all things according to the counsel of his own will and then if so that God harden them to do wickedly and then deny them because they do wickedly doth not God damn the wicked for doing his will or for the doing of what he appointed them to do Let all Judge for so say some that men are appointed of God unto wickedness and disobedience from this scripture 1 Pet 2.8 But how that can be evil or disobedience for men to do what God hath appointed them to do as yet I know not And Sixtly and lastly If this opinion be true then we may not blame the wicked for any of their wickedness but conclude that the fault is in him if it be wickedness that they commit that did decree it and appoint it to be done and thus God by this vain and wicked opinion is made the author of all the wickedness which is committed and how dangerous it is I leave the reader to judge this short word premised and pass to the next thing considerable although I would have answered some Objections about this point but because I find none material cited by my Antagonist but that which I have answered in my former Treatise and also because my time is very pretious at present and calls for brevity and therefore I shall now come to speak to the last Particular in order which shall be the conclusion of this first part of my book which is about the Kingdome of our blessed Saviour and his Saints upon earth finding but little Objections by any urged against the Jewes return out of their captivity and none cited by my Antagonist worth speaking to and therefore I now come to prove That Christ and the Saints shall possess a Kingdome and raign upon earth OF The Personal Raigne OF OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR AND HIS SAINTS UPON EARTH HEre is comprehended in this Subject of Discourse such good newes as will doubtless comfort the heart of every one that waits for the Lord Jesus
Christ to be revealed from Heaven which is the glorious estate of Christ and the Saints upon earth which hath been foretold by the mouths of the Prophets and also of the Lord Christ himself and his holy Apostles that through their words together with the holy Spirit sent down from God into our hearts which bears witness to the same truth we might have strong consolation thorow laying hold upon the hope set before us and therein wait for the Son of God to be revealed from Heaven who is heir of all things even the world present and that which is to come thorow whom also we have obtained by promise an inheritance being predestinated to be made Kings and Priests and to raign upon the earth And in order to the clearing of this truth I shall lay down this Point or Position which is That Christ and the Saints are to receive and possess a Kingdome and raign upon Earth This I shall prove first by plain text of Scripture and secondly by reasons drawn from Scripture and thirdly the manner how Christ shall take the Kingdome fourthly a few words as touching the distance of time between the Resurrection of the just and unjust fifthly the place of Christs Kingly seat sixthly how long Christ shall raign and the estate and condition of the wicked in the time of Christs raign And first to prove That Christ and the Saints are to receive a Kingdome and to raign upon earth which is clear from the Scriptures proved for so saith the Prophet Dan. 7.13 14 18. in these words And I saw in the night a vision and behold one like the son of man came with or in the cloudes of Heaven and came to the ancient of dayes and they brought him neer before him and there was given him dominion and glory and a Kingdome that all People Nations and languages should serve him his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away but the Saints of the most high shall possess the Kingdome for ever From these words we may safely conclude That Christ and the Saints shall receive and possess a Kingdome and raign for so saith the Prophet Isai 32.1 in these words Behold a King shall raign in righteousness meaning the Christ and Princes meaning the Saints shall rule in Judgment To which also agreeth the words of the Prophet Obadiah vers 21. which saith And Saviours shall come upon Mount Zion and Judge the mount of Esau when the kingdome shall be the Lords And that this kingdome shall be upon earth and the Saints raign with Christ there you may take notice of these Scriptures for the proof and so I shall pass to the reasons drawn from Scripture the Scriptures are thus read He maketh warr to cease to the ends of the earth he breaketh the bow and cutteth the spear in sunder be still and know that I am God I will be exalted amongst the heathen I will be exalted in the earth Clap your hands all ye people shout to God with the voyce of triumph for the Lord most high is exalted he is exalted he is a great King over all the earth he shall subdue the people under us and the nations under our feet God is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a trumpet sing praise to God for God is the king of all the earth God raigneth over the heathen for the shield of the earth belongeth unto the Lord for behold he cometh to Judge the earth the Lord raigneth bring those mine enemies that will not that I shall raign over them and slay them before me Psal 98.9 and Psal 99.1 Luke 19.14 27. From these words we may see that Christ and the Saints shall receive and possess a kingdome and raign upon the earth for it is plain from what hath been said that the shield of the earth belongeth unto Christ and that he shall raign upon earth the which as yet he never did but was as a servant unto all men when he was upon earth and did also suffer which is a vast difference from raigning but he shall take to himself his great power and raign and so shall his people as they now suffer with Christ or for Christ so they shall raign with him and that their raign shall be upon earth read the word of the Lord for the proof of it as you may find it written by Saint John Rev. 5.9 10. in these words And they sang a new song saying thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God out of every kindred and tongue and people and nations and hast made us unto our God Kings and Preists and we shall raign upon earth From these words with the precedent we may see that Christ and the Saints shall receive a kingdome and raign upon earth the which proveth the truth of the Point before laid down viz. That the raign of Christ and his People c. But as touching the raign of Christ and his people many will consent to but withall say it is to be understood either spiritual here or otherwise in Heaven To which I answer and say That the Saints shall not raign while they live in this mortal body is plain because the Scripture saith that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3.12 And also that thorow many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of God and if so then it is plain that the Saints cannot be understood to raign here because here they are to fill up the sufferings that are behind of Christ and persons cannot be said to suffer and raign at one and the same time And secondly there is not one Scripture that I at present know of nor I believe none else which saith that Christ and the Saints shall raign in Heaven but the Scripture saith that when the Mediator-ship shall be delivered up into the hands of the Father then shall the Son himself be in subjection unto the Father and then shall God himself be all in all but it is plain and I shall make it yet more plain that the Scripture saith That Christ and the Saints shall raign upon earth And now I shall come to give you the Reasons of the Position or Point before mentioned viz. That Christ with his Saints shall possess a Kingdome and raign upon earth and the first reason is Reas 1. Because the Scripture saith it is a Kingdome under and not a kingdome in heaven as you may read in the Prophesie of Dan. 7.27 in these words And the kingdome and dominion and greatness of the kingdome VNDER the whole heaven mark that shall be given into the hands of the people of the Saints of the most high whose kingdome is to be an everlasting kingdome and all dominions shall serve and obey him From whence you may see that there is a day a coming that Christ and the Saints shall receive
is universal the four Winds and the hurt thereby to all the unsealed Israelites which cannot agree with any one Nation Answ That the Angels stood upon the four quarters of the Earth is true and the with-holding of the Winds is so universal as to hurt all places and persons except the Sealed number and the places that escape the Antichrist which some shall as is before proved but what for all this doth it therefore follow that the Sealed Israelites were Gentiles its no reason at all to me for it is clear that the Jews are scattered into the four quarters of the Earth and it is as clear that God will gather them from thence and will get them fame in all places where they have been put to shame and also it is as clear that it is the family of the Gentiles which are to be deceived as hath been already proved and it may also be further seen to be they that shall be deceived first and last even Gogg and Magog as Revel 20.8 He shall deceive the NATIONS viz the family of the Gentiles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which are in the four quarters of the Earth Gogg and Magog c. but the Elect viz. the Jews shall not be deceived And whereas you say the hurt is to all the unsealed Israelites my answer is Shew that any of the Israelites at the fullfiling of this Prophesie shall be unsealed I am sure that the Prophets and also the Apostles saith that then they shall all be holy unto the Lord and all Israel shall be saved as it is written when the Lord shall thorowly purge away the filth of the Daughter of Zion then although they seek for sin in Judah they shall find none for they shall defile themselves no more with any of their detestable things or abominations So then in short the answer to the third reason is that although the Angels were standing on the four quarters of the Earth holding the four Winds and the with-holding the four Winds were universal and the hurt to all the unsealed Israelites proves not at all to my understanding that the Sealed number were Gentiles they that can receive it let them for I do asure you I cannot see not so much as a colour of reason in it and thus I pass to the examination of the four reasons to prove the sealed number cited by Mr. Henden to be Gentiles which is saith he because This hurt was chiefly introduced by the Locust Chap. 9.4 and by the Beast which cannot be applyed to the Jews but to the Christian Nations Answ I could if I had time speak much concerning the Locust and their King and the persons tormented but that which I say at present in answer to it is I think that herein Mr. Headen and I am very near of one opinion in this thing for saith he the hurt was chiefly introduced by the Locust and Beast which can in no sense be applyed to the Jews And all that I have been contending about is that those that were not hurt were the Jews which were the sealed number and here Mr. Henden saith the hurt introduced by the Locust and Beast was unto the Nations I understand him Gentiles for he saith it cannot be applyed unto the Jews and if the hurt cannot be applyed unto the Jews then upon his own argument the Jews were the sealed number for all others were hurt only they that were sealed were not to be hurt Revel 9.4 But by the way the hurt there was not at all by the Beast and his followers but to the Beast and his followers by the Locust and so I pass this and come to the fifth reason which is By comparing the Text with chap. 11.2 we may clearly see saith Mr. Henden that the Nations possessed the Court without the Temple Answ It is true the Nations or Gentiles did take the outward Court before it was measured viz. Walled and did tread the holy City under foot for which cause the Lord sent those plagues on the Nations when he had sealed the Tribes of the Children of Israel which were not to be hurt by the plagues of the Locust or Angels although they were troubled and persecuted by the Beast for which cause God sent plagues upon him as he did upon Pharaoh King of Egypt for the case may be fitly paralleled with Israels suffering in Egypt by Pharaoh King of Egypt and as God sent several kinds of plagues on Pharaoh for his cruelty exercised against his people Israel even so will the Lord send several kinds of plagues upon the Antichrist and his followers the Nations for their cruelty again the very same people viz Jews for his love unto them is an everlasting love and therefore will he have compassion on them and gather them and destroy all their enemies according to his word and thus I pass this reason also saying that although it be not denyed that there be alligorise in the vision of this book yet it 's meet that we distinguish between reason and madness and take heed of making an alligory of that which is plainly to be understood that we come not under that reproof of darkning words without knowledge and perverting and wresting the Scriptures to our destruction and thus I come to the sixth and last reason cited by Mr. Henden to prove that the Sealed Number were Gentiles which is saith he The number Sealed from amongst them was the same not hurt by the Locust chap. 9.4 nor utterly deceived by the Beast chap. 13.8 Mat. 24.24 The same standing on Mount-Zion chap. 14.1 which duly pondered with all the circumstances can be reduced to no time or condition but of that of the elect in Babylon if the Roman and Antichristian defection be not decyphered by these figures but the Jews only then it is altogether omitted in this book Answ Whereas it is said the number sealed was not hurt even so have I said already that the Tribes of the Children of Israel were sealed to the end that they might be distinguished from the worshippers of the Beast that they might not be hurt when the plagues were to be executed upon the Beast and his worshipers And Secondly where you say nor utterly deceived by the Beast I understand your Judgment is that they were deceived although not utterly deceived it seems to be a kind of a curious distinction the word nor utterly deceived by the Beast such an one as I find not made by Christ either in Mat. 24. or Revel 9. for saith Christ they shall deceive if it were possible the very elect implying that it was impossible to decive them And Thirdly whereas it is said the same sealed ones standing upon Mount-Zion can be reduced unto no time or condition but the Elect in Babylon Answ This is a strange alligory indeed to reduce Mount-Zion to Babylon or that Babylon is set forth by Mount-Zion I pray when you write again cite one text that calls Babylon by the name Mount-Zion
Babylon in Caldea trow I think not but in short take this that Israel might not neglect their building but go on with all speed that might be so soon as they were set at liberty from the hands of their enemies even so it is our duty to be imployed about the work of God in his Church so soon as we be delivered from the hands of our enemies yea while the enemy is raging against us as he was against our brethren before us who kept stedfast in the practising of all Christs Ordinances even so ought we to do finally the Lord Jesus Christ when he went away did give forth his last will and Testament in much plainness the which he commanded to be observed by every creature unto the Worlds end and did ascend up on high and gave gifts i. e. the gifts of Ministry containing Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Teachers to that end that his Laws and Statutes might be published and Saints gathered and established until the last Saint which is to be born in the World is united into the faith of Jesus and made perfect therein to the end that God may be glorified in his Church in or thorow all ages even to the Worlds end and if the breach of Moses Law was so hainous in the sight of God much more will the breach of Christs Laws be unto him therefore take heed of breaking one of the least of Christs Commands and teaching men so to do and courteous Reader be well advised what thou dost in the neglect or breach of any of Christs commands before thou dost it and let him that perswades thee to it give thee as plain Texts of Scripture to prove the cessation of them as Christ hath given thee for the continuance of the practising of them for remember that when once the Testament is confirmed no man must add or disanul and to suppose that Christ would give forth his mind in plain words at length and forbid the continuance of them in a figure which may be changed from 1-1-0-0-0 one to ten or to a hundred or a thousand or seven thousand or what men please yea any thing that men will have it to be my meaning in plainness is this as for those figures brought by Mr. Henden to prove the cessation of some of Christ Ordinances have been spoken to or opened by many and some have applyed them one way and some another they are so dark and mysterious as beyond the reach of every godly soul to understand insomuch that if they do neglect the practising of Christs Ordinances from those dark places it must not be from their own understanding but because Mr. Henden openeth it and applyeth it so and if this be a good ground for persons to make void the statutes of Christ which he hath confirmed with his own blood together with mighty deeds of the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven I shall leave the serious Reader to Judge and shall wind up all with these words of our blessed Saviour which said to his Apostles Teach them viz. every creature or all Nations to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and loe I am with you alwayes even unto the end of the World Amen Mat. 28.20 Mark 16.15 16 And having thus done in the next place I shall speak somewhat briefly as touching the conference before mentioned but the main things have been spoken to already they being the same in substance with the things in his book the which I have already answered and therefore shall speak very little to it the first thing in order was The Ordinances saith Mr. Henden were footed or founded upon an unerring spirit shew the man that hath the same spirit to prove his succession The answer was given that the Ordinances now practised was no new Ordinances but the same which was footed upon the unerring spirit and to remain by the same old appointment of Christ until the worlds end this was the substance although I gave it in more words which time fails me to speak of in particular at present Secondly This man saith Mr. Henden would lead you all in the dark about Baptisme by what authority he takes up his Baptisme is from Mat. 28. the which being truly read according to the Original is Go teach all Nations and baptise them c. And loe I am with you to the end of the world that is to the end of that age which further appears that there was to be a sink or cessation for a time Revel 10.8 The words again denotes a new work of Prophesie so Baptisme doth denote to a particular time The time of speaking at both hands was so long that as I have said I cannot give you an account of the particulars of things because as there was speaking long even so the answer was long the answer in short is the same in substance with the former that I could not lead men in the dark in the business of Baptisme because it was the same that Christ practised and appointed and left in his last will and testament to be practised to the worlds end But the worlds end saith Mr. Henden is to be understood the end of that age Which then was opposed because upon that consequence preaching was as well to cease in the end of that age as Baptisme But however Mr. Hendens judgement was altered he contends in his Book for the continuance of Baptisme in all the times of Apostacy as to the Text Revel 10.8 from the word AGAIN thou must prophesie AGAIN the meaning of it was that although John was then banished into the vail of Patmose from the faces of men yet he was to prophesie again before Kings Rulers and so forth not alluding at all to a sink of the Ministry or Ordinances for a time as Mr. Henden said he also pleaded for Infant Baptisme urging some old thredbare Arguments which is not worth speaking to and railed at me for denying the Covenant although I spake nothing of the Covenant to move him thereunto but my answer in short was that I was so far from denying the Covenant that I did believe that there was two Covenants made with Abraham as I long before that time had published in print But said Mr. John Henden Your power is not derived from the primitive because you do not make the same manifestations Mark 16.17 These Signs shall follow them that believe It was answered that if these Signs must follow in his sense or else the thing it self false for want of that visible demonstration then Mr. Henden was a false Minister and also by the same consequence there is never a true Believer upon earth and then no salvation for the Signs were to follow such as did believe But as I have before proved Signs were for confirmation and the Gospel being once confirmed there is no such use of them as the Law of old being once confirmed with Miracles need no new Sign to