since Christ saith it will be but a little season we have reason to believe it will be so whereunto will ensue the last Resurrection and general Judgment this last state of things our Saviour hath clearly distinctly opened Rev. 20. which Daniel had but darkly set down in such manner as God's Spirit then taught and guided him for such time as God was pleased to have many things which he delivered then to be shut up til the time of the end when Christ should unseal and open them as both Daniel and the Revelation do witness the space as was said of above 3300 years of Daniel's Prophecies beginning with the Captivity of Babylon who darkly hold out the generals of things to be fulfilled in their order to the end of the World saving we finde nothing there of the little space after Christs Reign the thousand years is ended which both for the continuance of it for a thousand years and what was to be done in the little space after our Savior the great Prophet and faithfull Witness hath made known to his Church Rev. 20. and which could not by any wisdom of creatures otherwise be found out and the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ explains so much of Daniel's Prophecy though mystically as was to be fulfilled to the end from the time of the opening of the first Seal under the Roman Empire when our Saviour at his Resurrection having received all Power in Heaven and Earth gave Commission for the preaching of the Gospel Mat. 28.18 19 20. Now for the time of Christ's second coming both Dan. 7. Rev. 19. joyntly agree as all serious men acquainted with the order of mystical Prophecies universally agree and is evidently discernable to any unprejudiced searchers into them St. Paul gives this Epitome of that Coming to destroy Antichrist which both Daniel and Christ are large in saying Christ will destroy him with the appearance of his Coming and so in other Scriptures before Daniel hath much in generals that shall be in the world at the second personal coming of Christ but the third I find not that he hath any touch of whence the Jews did so much expect and speak of such a coming as his second will be to restore the Kingdom to Israel c. which saith Mr. Mede the Jewish Doctors call the day of the great Judgement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dies judicii 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 magnus dies judicii in the 4th Letter to Mr. Hain from Dan. 7.10.22.26 But our Saviour most clearly and St. Paul and Peter likewise seems but especially Christ in the Book of Revelation chap. 20. hath set forth his third coming as a point of Doctrine most needful to be known and considered in the last times when his second coming approacheth near unto us As the order of Daniel's Prophecy in our Abridgment and the order of the Revelation in the Letter of May 20. in the Fore-runner pag. 22. and the sum of the Revelation in the Irenicon p. 26 27 c. will evidently make to appear so that both Daniel and the Revelation do orderly hold out his second personal coming with other Scriptures And the Revelation of Jesus Christ most clearly decyphers the third shewing what shall be done at the begining of and all along the thousand years and what at the end of them and how the day of the last general Judgment will be brought on and executed to the end of that 20th chapter with the state of things in the interim in the two last chapters Rev. 11.15 to the end which respects the same time or at least the entrance upon that period And secondly As these two personall comings are distinguished by Christ the great Interpreter of both these Prophetical Books so their names and decypherings in Scripture are much distinguished suitable to the nature of both the said comings The first is called the appearance of Christ or the appearance of his Coming the other his descending from Heaven with a shout c. The first is his coming with clouds c. at the other no mention of clouds but contrarily Heaven and Earth will then flee away before him the former stiled the Revelation of Christ when the mystery of Godliness is finished 1 Tim. 3.16 but the last will be after a long manifestation of his Glory all the thousand years in the world with other names more fully to be seen in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. 43.44 45. and the reason the former is so often called his appearance seemes to be because Christ at his coming in the clouds of Heaven then will only appear in clouds to the world no mortal eye being able to behold his Glory in the brightness of it and probably because this appearance will be in the clouds but a short time cheifly to be so manifest unto the Jewes to take off the hard vail of unbelief from their hearts and as Mr. Mede probably conceives he will speak to the Jewes then at their conversion as he did to St. Paul for a pattern thereof And after that done I find not that he wil any more be seen of mortal men at least not ordinarily in the world though his Glory will shine fully and inlighten the raised Saints in the New Jerusalem as in many texts we have shewed as Isa 66.1 Rev. 21. Joh. 17.24 c. But his third coming is stiled his descending from Heaven with the voice of an Archangel and with the Trump of God but not so at the former 1 Thes 4.16 Mat. 24.31 his coming in his Glory with all his holy Angels and sitting upon his Throne where all shall be gathered before him Mat. 25.31 and the like in several texts fore-cited Thirdly As they differ in a long distance of time and the titles given to each according to their natures so they differ in the things that will be done at both those personal comings At the first God begineth to make Christ's foes his foot-stool both by binding of Satan Rev. 20. and by destroying many wicked men from off the earth that would not have him rule over them miraculously calling the Nation of the Jews and delivering that Nation fully from their temporal and greatly at least from their spiritual bondage Dan. 12.1 3 c. and making the wicked to be slaves and likewise then brings such as sleep in Jesus with him and all his Saints with him when the New Jerusalem comes down from God out of Heaven which is that Jerusalem whose maker and builder God is said to be Heb. 11. and that City prepared for the fore-fathers who without us that believe will not be made perfect c. where the blessed and holy raised Saints shal behold Christs glory which he hath given them their part in John 17.22 24. and shall raign with him there the thousand years But the third coming of Christ will be his descending from Heaven with a shout and the voyce of the Arch-Angel as was
time while it is offered will have none of it but utterly reject it and all God's and Christ's terms whereupon it is offered to them How then can they think to stand when Gods wrath and fury shall break out against them and they be irrecoverably carried away with the streams of his eternal indignation Let this I say be duly considered by all sorts of such persons while time and opportunity lasteth and who knows how suddenly any mans opportunity may be lost irrecoverably c. FINIS Certain Observations useful for the understanding of divers Mystical Prophecres of holy Scriptures See the Irenicon pag. 53 54 55. respecting the latter dayes for the encrease of Joy and Consolation to faithfull Christians Obs 1 FIrst Where things that concern the Mysteries of the last times are expressed more fully in the Old Testament they are usually touched more briefly in the New as for example What is said of that Mother-Text Dan. 7.9 10 11. as Mr. Mede calls it of the first Session of the Great Day of Judgement or the Judgement of the Great Day as St. Jude speaks setting forth God's manner of destroying Antichrist as is said remarkably because of the great words the Horn spake c. Dan. 7.9 10 11. That is for the Popes abominable Blasphemies Tyranny Pride and insolent Impieties c. which in the New-Testament is but briefly many times set down as 2 Thess 2.8 whom he shall destroy with the appearance of his coming the like chap. 1.7 8 9. of which and the like Scriptures in the New-Testament the said text Dan. 7. was the ground and warrant save only in the order of the accomplishment St. John had a particular Vision to the like purpose Rev. 19 11. to the end Secondly The first said Session of the Great Day of Judgement will be for the destruction of the first Gog and Magog to wit of the Turk and Pope who were so under those terms represented to the Jews Ezek. 38.39 before the setting up of the New-Jerusalem Ezek. 40. to the end of that Book and the second Session will be upon the destruction of the second Gog and Magog above a thousand years after Rev. 20.9 at the end of the world Where again observe that Gog and Magog are taken for the great obstinate resolved Enemies of God's People whom he will powerfully destroy Now at both the said Sessions of the great Day and at the ruine of both sorts of those wicked men it is said that the Judgment was set and the Books were opened which seem proper to the Judgment of the great Day Dan. 7.10 Rev. 20.4 14. And again observe See Parallel of Roman Mon. the 6th head that at both the said Sessions quick and dead are said to be judged First the wicked quick namely Antichrist and his followers c. then to be sent to the Lake of Fire and Brimstone from the Armageddon-battel described Rev. 19. from ver 11. to the 20th Concerning the same it is again said of the same time when the third Wo came Rev. 11.18 Thou hast destroyed them that destroyed the Earth See Irenicon p. 99. when the Nations were angry and God's Wrath was then come as the twenty four Elders that praise God for the ruine of Antichrist at that time and likewise for judging the dead then by giving reward unto his Servants the Prophets and to his Saints c. which Mr. Mede conceives he will be doing all the thousand years Raising the Saints in their own order as St. Paul speaks which is called by Christ the first Resurrection Rev. 20.5 and of which St. Paul likewise speaketh remarkably when he had spoken of Christ's Resurrection as the first fruits thereof which was to be above 1600 years before then saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 afterwards they that are Christs at his coming namely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at his coming or presence at Antichrist's destruction and then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he speaks of the coming of the end 1 Cor. 15.23 24. which Christ shews should be above a thousand years after the former Rev. 20. namely as St. Paul further adds when Christ had put down all Rule all Authority and Power and when he had destroyed the last enemy Death ver 26. Which Christ again shews shall be done at his last Session of Judgment Rev. 20.14 before he gives up again the Kingdom to his Father and until that time St. Paul positively asserts the Reign of Christ in the world namely from his second Coming or Appearance to the end of the second Session of the Judgment of the Great Day See Discov next after the Parall as ver 25. for saith he he must reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his feet which Reign Christ teacheth must be a thousand years with his eminent Saints first raised Rev. 20.4 and at the end likewise quick and dead will be again both judged first the wicked quick then at the destruction of the last Gog and Magog and then the dead both good and bad when the rest of the dead shall be raised as they are called Rev. 20.5 12.13 Thirdly The description of the New-Jerusalem Ezek. 40. to the end of the Book whose name is there said to be Jehovah Shamma or the Lord is there because there his Saints shall behold his glory given to him in his Kingdom on Earth as Mediator for a reward in time of that his great work in time as Dan. 7.14 15. which by his last Will and Testament in the presence of his Father and his Disciples he declared at the end of that Prayer See Obs 20. John 17.24 after he had ended his Farewel-Sermon Joh. 16. and then the Lamb will be the visible light of that heavenly City come down from God out of Heaven whose maker and builder is God Heb. 11. to remain in the world above a thousand years But I say that description of the said City in the Old Testament seems there to be set forth sutably to the state of the Jews under the Old Testament when Ezekiel was their Prophet But the description of the New Jerusalem under the New Testament which upon many considerations from the context and the series of the times which both descriptions relate unto appear plainly to be one and the same thing I say that Description of Christ Rev. 21. is set forth more sutably to the state of the Christian Church in a more glorious manner unto which a more eminent degree of Christ's Glory was manifest before that triumphant State of it came which should so descend from God out of Heaven to be for such time in the world which consisting of the raised Saints is not only called The Beloved City which those blessed and holy ones at their resurrection as they are called Rev. 20.6 shall then inhabit and have mansions therein and the holy Jerusalem Rev. 21.10 for the time of their reign with Christ there But they being
and mocked at 1 Pet. 3.3 but by the Scoffers of those times very possible much more Now whereas besides Christ's coming in humility to take our nature and to suffer for his Church there remains according to holy Scripture as we hope by the Grace of God to make manifest to all impartial searchers into these Mysteries there still remains a twofold personal coming of Christ One when God will subdue and destroy the great Enemies of Christ and his People both Jewes and Gentiles namely the Turk and Pope set forth by Ezekiel under the titles of Gog and Magog chap. 38 39. before he set up his New Jerusalem chap. 40 to the end of the Book Whose name shall be JEHOVAH SHAMMA the Lord is there just as the Beast and his Armies shall be destroyed Rev. 19.11 c. before the Jerusalem Rev. 19 20 21. called the Holy Beloved the great and holy Jerusalem which is also there the Bride the Lambs Wife be built by God's own hand as Heb. 11. which will be accomplished at the sounding of the seventh Angel Rev. 11.16 upon which comes in the thousand years when Christ will take to himself his great Power and reign as chap. 19. v. 1 to v. 10. And afterwards when our blessed Saviour had given a clear and perfect computation of all succeeding times to the end of the world with all the suiting circumstances before in at the end and after his said thousand years Reign on Earth in that last Table of the last and best times in the new World in chap. 20. as he gave a Table of all the last and worst times chap. 11. to ver 16. in the old bad World he shews manifestly from the compleating of that Judgment upon those great Enemies from his second Personal Apearance or Coming at that time when the Judgment was set to destroy the Beast Dan. 7.9 10. there are to pass above a thousand years before the third when is to be the last Session of the day of Judgment at the general Resurrection of all that lived not again before both good and bad as our Saviour distinctly teacheth chap. 20. called there the rest of the dead that lived not again before ver 5. setting forth to the end the manner of God's carrying-on many wonderful works from thence unto the end And then Christ further proceeds in the two last chapters to set forth in a very divine and wonderful manner the succeeding glorious estate of his Church upon Earth with her excellent prerogatives and priviledges all that time of his thousand years Reign from his second coming to his third saving the little space Satan is after loosed and seduceth the last Gog and Magog chap. 20.7 8 9 10. to their destruction to which ensueth the last Judgment ver 11. to the end when he will again descend from Heaven not with clouds as at his second coming but with a shout and the voice of an Arch-Angel and the Trump of God as the Apostle sheweth 2 Thess 4.16 c. and as here chap. 20.11 sitting upon a great white Throne before whose face Heaven and Earth fled away Now to that end we may the better and more clearly carry on this great work to satisfaction of some hitherto unresolved consciencious Christians we shall endeavour to this purpose to set down many evident Texts of holy Scriptures upon the advantage of what hath been already said which may appear manifestly to relate to those two Personal Comings and then come more fully to consider them from the order of their distinct times wherein they are to be both from Daniels Visions and the Book of Revelations in both which we have the series and order of the accomplishment of the Generalities of the greatest marters wherein God's glory and the Churches concernment should lie from the beginning of Daniels Visions for the space of above three thousand three hundred years 2dly To observe for Christians information the different names and titles sometimes given to them and answerably thereunto their natures as suitable to those names 3dly The different things to be done by Christ at both those said Comings with many distinct particularities under both those heads besides what is orderly to be accomplished both according to Daniel and the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ the faithful and true Witness from his second to his third personal coming at the last resurrection of good and bad which our Saviour after his ascension into Heaven hath at last declared and opened and left unsealed as was noted for his Churches instruction and comfort as by special order is manifest Rev. 22.10 by which means his People are inabled rightly to understand many otherwise dark passages of Old and New Testament and besides hath given great incouragement of blessing to the faithfull and diligent searching into them to the spiritual hearing or believing of them and to the keeping of the sayings of that Book chap. 1.3 Now therefore in reference to the first part of our business let it be observed That many judicious men well vers'd in the mysteries respecting the latter times unanimously agree that Christ will remain from his appearance or coming at the destruction of Aptichrist thenceforward all the thousand years of his reigning with his raised Saints in the â—orld Rev. 20.4 and will as Mr. Mede conceives probably through that time be raising up all the dead bodies of all the formerly deceased Saints to the end of that thousand years in their own order having departed out of this life during the Kingdom of the Stone or the Kingdom of Patience for almost seventeen hundred years having believed through their word as is said John 17. namely by the Apostles Doctrine with all the Faithful under the Old Testament even till that time when they shall all be made perfect in one with Christ their visible Head then in that his glorious Kingdom on Earth for the said thousand years space unto which that Scripture must necessarily be referred Joh. 17. from ver 19 to 25. But it seems from the time that Satan at the end of the thousand years shall be loosed for a little season that Christ will withdraw from the world for that little season to give as it were opportunity to the Devil to play his last most abominable wicked prank in the world with his seduced Hypocrites the last Gog and Magog as followeth Rev. 20.7 8 9. to bring on that last destruction of all them and the whole World v. 10. which thereupon will suddenly be dissolved as follows ver 11 to the end when the Apostle Paul plainly saith 1 Thess 4.16 Christ will again descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the Trump of God and shews that immediately the dead in Christ shall rise first namely such as had died in the thousand years since his second coming that they with such as are alive and remain all the time since they were raised to live
in it then made one and perfect in one as Christ prayed John 17.11 as Christ and the Father are one c. consider well the Prayer of Christ being all along prophetical of the ensuing times that Jerusalem will be then the Bride Rev. 19. and the Lambs Wife Rev. 21. and was of old fore-spoken of as his Spouse in the Song of Solomon his type therein So the Wisdom of God seems to fit the descriptions thereof suitably to their several states to whom it was so represented Fourthly The most of those Prophecies which concern the Jews are more fully set forth in the Old Testament Hence the Turk's ruine who is the sixth Trumpet Rev. 9.11 is more fully described Ezek. 38 39 chapters under the name of Gog and the Pope's there both briefly under the name of Magog in chap. 39. referring us Christians intime to come to look into the New Testament for what God would after for our use then make known of Antichrist more largely Fifthly The fifth and sixth Trumpets which are the first and second Wo-Trumpets Rev. 9. See Abridgm Dan. 11.40 which were to ruine the Eastern Roman Empire are the Sarazens and Turks set forth by the titles of the King of the South and the King of the North Dan. 11.40 c. being likewise the oppressors of the poor Jews Sixthly The Armageddon-battel being for the destruction of the first Gog and Magog is set forth in both Testaments as referring to the Enemies of both Christian Jews and Gentiles first set down in the Old Testament Ezek. 38 39 chapters Joel 3.7 11 12. Dan. 11.45 Zech. 14. as in reference to the Jews Secondly in the New-Testament Rev. 14 15 chapters and 16th under or after the sixth Viol and Rev. 19.11 c. as in reference to the Gentiles Seventhly The greatly-beloved Prophet Daniel chiefly sets down what might be ground of comfort to the faithful Jews See Irenicon pag. 63. But the beloved Disciple and Apostle St. John mainly speaks of what might be useful for the Faithful in the times of the Gentiles Luke 21.24 whilst the body of the Jewish Nation remained cast out Eightly The 12th chapter of Daniel's Prophecy is useful to open the way for understanding the Mysteries of that Book as the 17th chapter of the Revelations is for the understanding much in that Book See Abridgm on Dan. chap. 12. For from Daniels 12th may be understood the time and order of Christs appearing with the terribleness thereof ver 1. and of the Jews deliverance therewith v. 1. and how long before both will come v. 11 12. and what state that Church and the Saints in it should be in then v. 1 13. in what state the Church of the Jews was in before Christ's appearing very troublesom v. 2 3. how long these Mysteries should continue shut up v. 4 9. and what was meant by the time of the end when they should be opened compare ver 9. with verse 40 of chap. 11. and then what state was to be of the Church of the Gentiles ver 4. latter part of the verse and v. 5 6 7. which Daniel then understood not v. 8. because then sealed up v. 9. and likewise concerned things long after to come in the Gentile-Church and yet he had it expounded to him before by one that stood by chap. 7.16 21 to v. 27. So also Rev. 17. is a chapter remarkably set down by the Spirit of God very useful for the opening of divers Mysteries contained in the Book of Revelations See Irenicon p. 26 27 28 c. concerning Antichrist's rise reign and ruine with many other things thereunto partaining mentioned chapters 11 13 14 15 16 c. as may be observed in the Letter of May 20. in the Fore-runner and in the Irenicon pag. 26 27 28 29 30 31. c. Ninthly Then observe Daniels Visions were sealed to the time of the end chap. 12.9 which was to the times of the Sarazens Turks or which is contemporary in Antichrist's time times and the dividing of a time as Dan. 11.40 c. Dan. 12.5 6 7. chap. 7.24 25. compated with Rev. 9.11 chap. 11. chap. 13. at which time they were to be unsealed in respect of both those enemies both of Jews and Gentiles as Daniel and the Book of Revelation set them forth in their due order as was said Tenthly What Daniel briefly shewed the Jews should be done for them at Christ's Appearing See Abridgm on Dan. 12. namely that then his People should be delivered Dan. 12.1 c. the Prophet Ezekiel in that respect more fully explained from the Visions of God chap. 37. first by the rising of the dry bones and after by the uniting of two sticks into one under one King to them both for ever and chap. 38 39. by removing Gog the hinderer of their rising And lastly chap. 40 41 42 to the end of the Book by shewing to him the New Jerusalem then to ensue after Gog's ruine and both Daniel and Ezekiel being God's Prophets sent to the Jews in the time of their Captivity and both fore-telling their great restoration and the time thereof though mystically as two witnesses of God's Truth to comfort the Faithful Jews in the low ebb of their dejected condition till then Eleventhly The first three worldly Monarchies being past which had oppressed the Jews before Christ came in the flesh the Book of Revelation speaks nothing of them See Abridgm on Dan. nor of the Roman Monarchy till Christ's Resurrection at the opening of the first Seal Rev. 6. Psal 45. when Christ having all power in Heaven and in Earth given to him he gave Commission to his Disciples for the preaching of the Gospel Mat. 28.18 19 20. See Irenicon p. 26 27 c. and pag. 61 62 63. But afterwards the orders of the times and things in Daniel as respecting the proceedings of things in the Roman Monarchy to the time of its ruine and Christ's Kingdom following upon it both the Prophecy of Daniel and the Book of Revelation exactly agree as being revealed by the same eternal Spirit of Truth namely from the finishing of Christ's work of Redemption to his coming again But after that for the state of things in Dan. 7.13 14 15. to the end of that chapter that it shall be for a thousand years Christ only in Rev. 20 21 22. further informs us saving it is darkly imployed Dan. 12.13 where it is promised to Daniel that he shall stand up in his lot at the end of the dayes that is at the resurrection of the Just or first resurrection Rev. 20.5 Twelfthly Hence it may appear that though Christ as man upon Earth knew not the time of the last day yet having since ascended and sitting on his Fathers right hand in Heaven revealed now for our use in a latitude both concerning the last day and also many other great mysteries contained in that Divine Book of the
and also the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifie lower than the Angels and crowned him with Glory and Worship making him to have dominion over the works of his hands and putting all things under his feet c. Which the Apostle applyes to Christ Heb. 2. and also saith he hath made him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little while as our Translation hath it in the margent likewise inferiour to the Angels and then speaketh of the same subjection of the creatures under him then afterwards to come and therefore ver 8. he saith we do not yet see all things put under him only we see Christ in his own person that for a little while was made lower than the Angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour But he again further teacheth Phil. 2.9 c. that God had given him a Name above every name that at the Name of JESUS every knee should bow or be subject of things in Heaven and things on Earth and things under the Earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Which will not be done till he hath received his Kingdom and shall return as he himself speaketh Luke 19.12 15 and all these things can at no other time upon Scripture-ground be expected but at his said 2d coming when God shall bring again his Son into the world and say Let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1.6 and that was also foretold Psal 97.7 which whole Psalm beginning The Lord reigneth let the Earth rejoyce c. setteth forth prophetically in what a glorious manner Christ will come then to set up his glorious Kingdom both by destroying his Idolatrous Enemies and wonderfully delivering and exalting his People as is observable throughout the whole Psalm and this as to the time and order Christ succinctly explains Rev. 20.4 saying the Saints reigned with Christ a thousand years And accordingly thereunto are all the Promises of raising again the Tabernacle of David which was fallen Amos 9.11 Acts 15.16 and those for the perpetuity of Davids Kingdom to his seed so long as the Sun and Moon do endure See Irenicon p. 77 78 79. and the like are all to be interpreted which will be manifest when the Kingdom of the Stone Dan. 2.33 34. shall become a great Mountain filling the whole Earth And this is that Coming of the Son of man in his Kingdom spoken of by Christ Matth. 16.28 of which he soon after shewed a glymps unto his three Disciples Peter James and John at his Transfiguration Mark 9.1 Luke 9.27 Neither can these Texts be justly denied to be meant of such a Kingdom of Christ to come upon his coming again nor warrantably be interpreted in any other sense if the said Texts be seriously and duly considered 22. Obser I have observed only three great Earthquakes spoken of in all the series or order of the Book of Revelation And where the Spirit of God calls them great we may expect they will be great indeed For Earthquakes are often spoken of besides these great ones The first is upon the opening of the sixth Seal Rev. 6.12 when God by Constantine the Great overturned Satan's Paganish Kingdom when five or six several Caesars were so potent to oppose him See Fore runner p. 29. and cast down Satan from his Heaven of Heathenish Worship into the Earth Rev. 12.9 which was spoken of the same time which is described as a day of Judgment Rev. 6. to the Paganish Powers as indeed it was and there the Spirit of God sets down an Ecce before it and Lo saith he there was a great Earthquake The second is Rev. 11.13 at the ascension of the two Witnesses after their resurrection and then the holy Spirit tells us at the same hour there was a great Earthquake when the tenth part of the Dition of the City of Rome probably will quite fall from it See Fore runner p. 8. where the Witnesses are to rise again c. and this Earthquake we may daily expect But thirdly there is another great Earthquake afterwards spoken of to come which he further illustrates much above both the former and that will be at or about Antichrist's final destruction at the end of the sixth Viol and pouring-out of the seventh for the compleating of his ruine Rev. 16.17 18. and then the Spirit of God speaks with a great deal of emphasis of it saying v. 18. And there was a great Earthquake such as was not since Man was upon Earth so mighty an Earthquake and so great Which seems to be further described in the three following verses and seems to be at or about the same time of Michael's standing up to deliver Daniels People when such a time of trouble will be as never was since there was a Nation Dan. 12.1 and when St. Paul saith of Antichrist 2 Thess 2.8 Christ will destroy him with the appearance of his coming and happily of both Rev. 14. latter part of the chapter And then will not only the Earth be shaken but also the Heavens as saith the Prophet Hag. 2.6 7 21. Heb. 12.26 and as upon good reason from several Scriptures seems to be the main drift of them then to be fulfilled as Mal. 3.2 Rev. 11.16 Which shaking of the Earth probably may seem was first at that great Earthquake Rev. 6.12 when God by Constantine the Great overthrew Paganish Idolatry and may be again by the next great Earthquake now approaching Rev. 11.13 which will also begin to shake Antichristian Idolaters who are called in this Book the men of the Earth and the perfecting of that shaking is to be at that third and greatest Earthquake Rev. 16.18 when not only the Earth and evil men will be shaken but also the Heavens namely such Churches as will be then in a degree reformed Churches and thereupon will the new Heavens and new Earth ensue of both reformed Church and State in the whole World I conceive at the setting up of Christ's Kingdom on Earth Rev. 20.4 5.10 23. When the Prophet Moses denounceth threatnings against the twelve Tribes the Spirit of God seems to guide him divers times to set them down prophetically as including Prophecies in their order afterwards to be fulfilled as is observable Lev. 26. Deut. 28. 4.30 which he said expresly should be in the latter dayes and Deut. 32. from ver 1. to 44. See these Texts more fully in the Irenicon pag. 60 61. 24. Obser The heavy weight of God's wrath upon mankind next after the fall of the first Adam seems very observable through the first great Period of the World until the Flood for first good Abel the remotest type of Christ after Adam being slain by his brother Yet cursed Cain was then suffered to live to people the World which further appears that in those first ages of the World to the Flood few are recorded or hinted in Scripture to
in Mr. Mede's Answer to Dr. Twisse's second Letter See Zech. 12.10 11. with Rev. 1.7 Isa 66.8 Isa 60. with many other Texts of Scripture 2dly Another sort of subjects then will be Converted Heathen Gentiles then to come in Isa 60.5 6 c. Isa 19. who shall be then Christ's Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth his Possession as Psal 2.8 which the Apostle reckons the greatest riches of the Gentiles Rom. 11.12 If the casting off the Jews was the riches of the Gentiles how much more their fulness And afterwards v. 25. he reveals it as a Mystery to humble us Gentiles in the mean time that blindness was in part happened to the Jews until a first fulness of the Gentiles was come in which our Saviour expresseth by the fulfilling of the times of the Gentiles Luke 21.24 for so long was the Jews calamity and miserable Captivity to endure from Jerusalems destruction as is evident from the context 3dly Christ's chief and best Subjects or Assessors and Deputies then in that his Kingdom will be the blessed raised Saints in the New Jerusalem come down from God Rev. 21.2 who is said to be the Maker and Builder of that City Heb. 11.10 16. which are they our Saviour saith that are counted worthy of that World and the Resurrection of the Just called there also the Children of the Resurrection Luk. 20.35 36. even in that habitable World as the Apostle calls it Heb. 2.5 And at that time when God brings his Son again into the World Heb. 1.6 Where those which God gave him before shall see his own Glory given him as Mediator by the Father as a manifestation of his eternal love to him who he knew would perfectly fulfill that Office and therefore in his last Testament-Will he bequeatheth it to them in the presence of his Father and his Disciples saying John 17.24 Father I will that they c. Observe well both the words and the context they are very weighty all full to this purpose that those raised Saints shall there be where Christ is in his own Kingdom as Dan. 7. there beholding his Glory and many other Texts to the like purpose Consider in the Books wherein many other excellent and sweet points of Christian Doctrine to serious spirits may be observable bordering upon these which to such may by God's Grace be exceeding available to promote Grace and Piety and that from a great advantage above what usually hath been taught or is yet expected by most Christians namely from the weighty consideration of the happiness of the whole man both in soul and body together and that upon Earth where those Saints were formerly despised and suffered when their enemies shall not live in body Isa 26.14 but they shall live with Christ in a triumphant state of Glory Rev. 20.4 5. and that above a thousand years sooner than is ordinarily expected and this happy estate will be a sure entrance into the possession of eternal blessedness in the highest Heavens Men use too greatly to prize and very dearly purchase many times with the loss of their precious souls their earthly falsly supposed perpetuities and when they have done all know not that they or their heirs shall possess I will not say enjoy them for a thousand dayes on Earth but suppose a lawful acquired purchase and left ordinarily with the greatest hope of blessing by a Godly Parent to a gracious Christian Posterity yet how soon do successions many times here degenerate and in some few hundreds of years how are Estates and Nations turned up-side down as sacred and other Histories abundantly evidence and the best mens best estate is here full of evil as well as good bitter sweets at the best yea they and every man in his best estate is altogether vanity Psal 39. And doth Christ by his own peculiar teaching and his evidence must needs be best assure his faithful Servants he hath procured and appointed unto them not a small pittance but a Kingdom and one that cannot be shaken not for a life here or a few successions but for a thousand years on Earth free not only from outward enemies but in the judgment of the best Christians from far worse scil from Sin and Satan with all their retinue Shame Sorrow Death Hell with all that black Regiment that guards them c. On the other hand What bruitish madness do wise men reckon such to be possessed with that cast away a great Estate with the casting of a Dye or by any other sinful earthly frenzy but what is it for any worldly vanity with a curse hereunto entailed and sometimes pursuing it close at the heels to cast away a sure Christian Interest in such a Kingdom as Christ's is sure to be on earth so glorious so satisfying as every condition of the faithful after death is satisfying fully so secure every way blessed in what they enjoy at that period and in what they know they shall enjoy to all eternity For as evil men are made to know all the degrees of their cursed estate both of soul and body likewise to come to their exceeding horror from the very moment of their death when their Conscience being let loose is their accuser witness judge executioner and continual tormentor so godly men appear to know from the very moment of their departure hence every happy condition they are to pass through to eternity therefore of this state said the representatives Rev. 5.10 almost one thousand six hundred years ago we shall reign upon earth so that on the one hand upon this said great advantage Christians may be urged by the Apostles argument a fortiori more strongly as the good is so great and near approaching wherefore Beloved brethren since these things are so what manner of men ought we to be in all holy manner of conversation c. And on the other hand in respect of evil men a fortiori they will not only lose such happiness which they wil not now believe but they will presently know they have lost it and that it will from thenceforth be irrecoverable and which ever will make them miserable they will find they were taken hence in wrath from the tenders of mercy which they had shal never have tenders thereof again made before Christ's second coming or at his coming nor after the last resurrection so that whether thus taken away in particular-displeasure or in the common destruction of the wicked they will throughly know each miserable estate which shall abode them privatively positively as well their poenam damni as poenam sensus as well what they have irreparably lost as what in every estate to eternity will be inflicted upon them Qu. But here by the way is one great Question How will this Doctrine be proved for many great and learned men do not assent to it Answ Whether any Doctrine that is founded evidently and strongly on Gods Word is owned by learned men or eminent men in the
of the proceedings wherein I have endeavoured in sundry places on several occasions to give an account advantagious to serious Christian souls and greater than if it had been otherwise as upon sundry considerations might be made to appear and though in such subjects for divers reasons men that write of them cannot well be much in explications and applications lest they be too voluminous in laying down the principles and confirmation as the foundation of them in the first place necessary yet afterwards it will be easie by God's assistance for all sorts of understanding Christians to do it for their own benefit and the edification of others And to which purpose I shall likewise by God's Grace be ready upon any call of his to approve my self to all mens consciences in the clearing and improving of such needful Truths according to my measure and as he may give me opportunity which haply I conceive may be the chief work remaining to me in this world though haply they may find resistance from Satan the end of whose Kingdom they hold out or from several sorts of men either upon prejudice or want of searching and trying them by the Scriptures or from some evil disposition of spirit or other or worldly engagements to the contrary c. as it hath usually been with the Witnessings of other Truths of God in their seasons but this is the comfort in such case Truth shall prevail and Gods Word shall stand when all is done for he that is with such as witness for it is Almighty and will suffer no Truth of his utterly to fall to the ground though for a time it may suffer an eclypse but in the mean time the work of his Witnesses is with him their Lord and their labour with their God And as no Truth of God is in its season to be rejected so concerning these there seems to be less reason in this regard because the Spirit of God seems in all times of his Messengers to be so abundant in giving testimony thereunto that men may not onely find much in Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms as our Saviour then directed to search for his first coming in his Kingdom of Patience Vide Irenicon p. 81 82 83 c. but concerning his second coming and Kingdom of Power then to be set up in the World they may have abundant evidence besides from his Apostles Evangelists and many sorts of persons there recorded to have been divinely inspired and after all our Saviour's most sure Explications and Applications of all the former strongly asserted and sent by his beloved Disciple St. John unto the Churches for their Edification and Comfort unto his said Coming again as all along by the quotations in the said two Books by his remarkable hand sent abroad of late may more fully appear to such as duly weigh the Scriptures Obj. But it may be alledged against these things as it was at our Saviours first coming Have any of the Rulers believed on him So Do the Great and Learned or Eminent Men in the World of many Ages past acknowledge these things Answ It was a great stumbling-block to many sorts of the People of the Jews that their Rulers did not But were they not both by our Saviour therefore characterized by Blind leaders of the blind c. and the same obstacle hath many times since and still is like to fall in the way of many But the Scripture informs men on the other hand Not many Wise not many Learned not many Noble c. though some of all those c. So neither are these Truths without some Witnesses of all such ranks and many in the purest primitive times besides more late ones as hath been abundantly not long since published but while men as we hinted before have more respect to Men than God's Word it is no wonder they are in some great matters misled Therefore in a word they are to be warned that they pin not their faith on other mens sleeves but with the Noble Bereans search by the holy Scriptures whether these things be so if they would stand upon a sure foundation c. It matters not to thee saithful Christian who are the persons that plead for or against any divine Truth whilst thou mayest find the Word of God evidently to give witness to it and if in this thou follow any sort of men rather than Christs truth thou wilt certainly be misled above what thou mightest in other things for our Saviour hath in these things forewarned thee Luke 18.8 Their Faith will be wanting when he cometh as in the latter part of the foregoing Chapter is particularly described wherefore they should pray and not faint c. Object But there is one dangerous shifting here comes on to be avoided i.e. Many good men able faithful and well approved do not at all own such Doctrines and some reckon them to be little better than fancies c. Answ No good men however qualified or approved in this world are perfect Who better or equal to the Apostles of Christ yet the chiefest of them shewed their infirmities Peter and Paul were so at difference that they parted from each other and Barnabas was far carried away with the dissimulation of a mistaken party and there was much adoe among some of them before the believing Gentiles could be received though the Word and Will of God was for it till God made the business out of question but the evidence of the Jews conversion and things contemporary with them have much more clearness that they shall be accomplished and though good men in many things have been upheld in upright wayes pleasing unto God yet they may fail in others and what sorts of good men have not had their failings and is not that vanity in many able approved and learned men that they are apt so to conceive of their light or parts or learning or experience that nothing is to be owned and received that is not suited to their own standard and all is but fancy that is not comprized within the summary of their Faith although they have not searched and tryed them by the true touch-stone of the Word But let all such be they who they will either in their own esteem or in the esteem of others take heed of being in such regard resisters of any divine Truth God hath more Truths yet to reveal than any times past have been hitherto capable of receiving or that these times we are in can attain to but will be revealed and received too at the time when his Temple shall be opened in Heaven and when men shall see in his Temple the Ark of his Testament Rev. 11.19 But he hath now in our times revealed some things which he would have owned by us which have not of many years past been so manifest and clear but are now very seasonable to be many ways improved in these last days Object But the Teachers of such or such Doctrines have