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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	canonical_a	holy_a	scripture_n	5,721	5	6.0092	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29100	The doctrine of the kingdom and personal reign of Christ asserted and explained in an exposition upon Zach. 14, 5, 9 / by Ed. Bagshaw.	Bagshaw, Edward, 1629-1671.	1669 (1669)	Wing B411; ESTC R5233	33,295	40

their writings and agreeably to what they say in express words was the beleif of almost almost all the Primitive Christians for above three hundred years after our Saviour Thus papias whom Eusebius in one part of of his History calls a learned and eloquent man and who saith of himself that he was an hearer of John the Evangelist writes positively that After the first resurrection the kingdome of Christ shall endure upon earth a thousand years so Justin Martyr in that excellent and by reason of the writings of our learned and judicious Mr. Meed well known dialogue with Trypho the Jew as many saith he as an Orthadox so far was the Church then from judging it an Heresy do expect a Resurrection of the hody which is called the first resurrection and that the Saints thus raised shall live a thousand years in Jerusalem then repaired and beautified to the same purpose Irenaeus who wrote about fifty pears after Justin Martyr and Lactantius asserts positively that at the end of the 6000th year of the world righteousness shall reign a 1000 years then shall Christ obtaine the government of the whole earth and there shall be ha● which the heathen Poets only dreamed of a golden age Tertullian doth not only assert but thus argues the case in his discourse against Marcion did also confess there is a kingdom promised to us upon canth but before heaven but in another state namely after the resurrection for a 1000 years in Jerusalem a city of divine workmanship let down from heaven which also the Apostle calls our mother that is above which also the Appostle calls our Mother that is above and when he affirms that our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Burgess-ship is in Heaven he doth undoubtedly make it have relation to some Heavenly City This also Ezekiel knew and the Apostle Iohn saw and it was verified lately in the Eastern expedition for it is evident that Heathens also being witnesses that in Judea for 40 days together every Morning a City did hang down from Heaven which as the day grew bright did vanish away with its whole structure this we say is provided to receive the Saints at the Resurrection and to cherish them with plenty of all spiritual good things for a recompence of what in this World we have either despised or lost For it is just and worthy of God that his Servants should reign there where they have been afflicted for his Name This is the account of the Heavenly Kingdom after a thousand years of which within which time is included the resurrection of the Saints according to the merits of those who are to rise some sooner and some later then shall be the destruction of the World and when the judgement of burning is finished we shall be changed in a moment into an Angelical substance and shalt be translated into an Heavenly Kingdom Thus far Tertulliun with whose words as containing the sum of what all the Antients have said I shall conclude my Reasons for proof of the first observation Before I proceed to the second Observation I will a little inquire what might be the Reason that a Doctrine so plain and evident in Scripture and so fully assented to and believed on in the eldest and purest times of the Church came afterwards to be so much spoken against and decryed in satisfaction and answer to which Query though much might be said yet I shall content my self with these few things 1. One Reason might be from that care which in the primitive times many good men had to avoid any partaking with the error of Cerinthus and other gross and sensual Hereticks who taught that the thousand years Reign of the Saints on earth should be spent in all manner of sensual delight and carnal pleasures Which opinion being so monstrous in it srlf so contrary to the purity of the Gospvl and to the very end of our Saviours coming which was to bring in true Righteousness and Holiness Luke 1.75 Many zealous and well meaning men thought they could never sufficiently show their Abhorrence of such an impious conceit and therefore as it is usual in the heat of opposition they rather chose to deny even the truth it self then to imbrace it as it was clogged and sullyed with such impure and vitious mixtures For Dyonisius the most learned of all those who in elder days did oppose this Doctrine proceeded in his heat and earnestness as positively to deny that the Revelation of John was written by the Evangelist although the Author himself doth expresly affirm it Rev. 1.1.2 and others after him did deny the whole Book to be Canonical and inspired Scripture whereby they endeavoured to rob the Church of as divine and holy a writing and of as much tendency to support the Saints under their sufferings that both Heathenist and Antichristian men were to bring upon them as any in the whole Book of God whatever Unto such desperate and fearful shifts were they heretofore driven who denyed the Visible Kingdom of Christ upon Earth and therein wholy eluded the perspicuity and evidence of that admirable and soul refreshing Prophecy 2. Another cause of the opposition made against this Doctrine might be the reputation which the learned Hierome gained who being a man very expert or indeed rather excellent in his Interpretation of Scripture did by reason of that prepossession and prejudice which the errors of some had occasioned set himself with a great deal of vehemence to censure this opinion and his authority did easily prevail upon the carelessness and credulity of others who were content to take his word without ever making any farther enquiry into the truth themselves Yet even that learned Author himself in his comment upon the 37th of Ezekiel is forced to acknowledge that that prophecy was not yet fulfilled and he confesseth that not only rhe Jews but likewise many Christian writers as Victorinus Severus Tertullian Lactantius who wrote in Latine and Iraeneus Apollinaris Justin Martyr who wrote in Greek together with many others even in his time did all expect that that prophecy was to be fulfilled in the thousand years Reign of which upon that Chapter Hierome speaks very favourably and says it was an opinion not to be reproved Yet he continuing to write against it and the Ages following having the countenance of so learned a man embraced hastily those mistical expositions he gave without any further examining them 3. Another Reason why the Scriptures concerning the Kingdom of Christ were so litle understood in the former ages of the Church might be the usurpation and setting up the Visible Kingdom and temporall Monarchy of Antichrist who as soon as ever he was advanced into and secured in his Throne did presently apply to himself and to his Church all those Prophecies which any way concerned the temporal Dominion and Glory of Christ and his people When Constantine the first Christian Emperour had absolutely defeated all the force and power of the