speaks concerning the 4th or Roman Monarchie according to the judgement of divers learned men and that first more generally Dan. 2. Dan. 7. Mr. Medâ— Dr. Vsher Mr. S. cala mens c. 16. p. 183. or more particularly of the rise of the Roman Monarchie c. 11. 18. 30. 36 and then of the nature and state of it till Christs appearance c. 12. 1. it seems very probable that many persons of the best state and worth may see cause to acknowledge much thereof and especially when they shall find Christs Revelation given to his Church in these times of the end is nothing but a divine mystical Comment upon the 4th Monarchie in Dan. and his own Kingdom to succeed it as we have shewed in our Abridgement on Dan. and the parallel ensuing it as we have set down in a direction in the Epistle before this parallel and yet more in this respect when they shall find that there is nothing of weight that hath not been answered sufficiently and sollidly as we shewed in our tract on Gen. 5.15 Vse ult To exhort all such faithfull Christians that own all other parts of divine Doctrine but not these as yet to take that Candle of the Lord that he hath put into them Prov. 20.21 even their own understanding Soul as it is given to them from him without prepossession prejudice partiality self-ends or interests and so let them search into all divine Truths respecting these things as God may give them helps and advantages to make use of yet only as grounded upon and warranted by the written word of God Searching therein with the noble Bereans whether these things be so for it is a heinous thing to be found fighters against any Truth of God But we ought to improve all we have or are to promote divine Truth when called to it to stand up for it and witness to it For as it is great folly vanity and sin to please our selves with expectations from Christs Religion that he hath given us no ground or warrant for So it would be as much for any Christian that would be owned of Christ Jesus willingly to neglect or regardlesly to pass by such things as Christ in much graciousness tenders to his Church for her encouragement and cosolation which must needs prove in such matters very unacceptable to him and is like to procure to them more blame from him when he shall appear then haply they are aware of Let men therefore in due season seriously consider these things c. Further directions for the use of all these Books then were set down in 3 late Epistles to Gen. 3.15 Jer. 3.12 and the 8 convincing Arguments 1. FIrst read the 4th part with the Scheme in one sheet on Gen. 3.15 to be placed next before Rev. 22.20 Behold I come quickly wherein with Jer. 3.17 concerning the new Jerusalem on earth to come are contained the substance of all those Gospel Truths respecting Christs Kingdom to come 2. And to manifest how fitly those Doctrines agree with all other divine truths therewith consider well all those divine Theses in p 9 10 c. of the Prodromus or forerunner but esprcially observe the 11 12 13. with that refeence of Decemb. 7.46 for which see p. 44 45 46. of the same also p. 3 4. c. of the Irenic with Arg. there and p. 33. Unto which may be added the letter of Nov. 3.36 p. 15 16. wherein much of those Truths is touched also 3. And for an help unto the 3d part viz. the Abridgement and Parallels Daniel with the Revelation which is of great use for the foundations of sure discovery of all such Doctrines diligently peruse the Letter to Mr. Cal. May 20. 64. p. 22 23. of the Prodr and the Scheme of the book of Revelation concerning the times and order of the Seals Trumpets and Vials in which Letter observe well these 2 distinctions there set down towards the end thereof which will be found to be of very great concernment in these Doctrines First the distinction of the last mystical Trumpet or 3d woe Trumpet when Antichrist being utterly destroyed the Kingdoms of the world become the Kingdoms of Christ Rev. 11.15 And of the last sounding Trumpet above 1000 years after Thes 4 16. for they differ in nature as well as times when the general Rapture and glorious Change of all Sts. shall be as 1 Cor. 15 51 52. The other Distinction also in this same Letter greatly to be noted is the different state of Persons in Christs Kingdom First some will be raised Sts in the first blessed Resurrection Rev. 20.6 c. in the new Jerusalem described Rev. 21. 2dly Another sort of persons will be in the natural life which are said then to walk in the light of the new Jerusalem called Rev. 21.24 the nations of them that shall be saved the not observing of these two directions evidently grounded on holy Scripture have been the ground of many mens errors c. 4. Then compare that said Letter of May 20.64 with another Abridgement of the Seal-Prophesie and book-Prophesie in the Revelation as p. 26 27 28 29. of the Irenicon or 2d part Both which Prophesies contain the orders of times from Christs ascending to heaven Acts 1. to his coming again Rev. 19.1 with 20.1 2 3 4. till the good new world shall begin But first the Seal Prophesie is of Civil matters in the Roman state chiefly and 2dly the Book-Prophesie is of the Ecclesiastick affairs in the true and false Church and both of them until the new and good world to come shall begin as Heb. 2.5 Eph. 5.21 Rev. 19.20 c. 5. Furthermore for the attaining of better light in the whole Revelation after the former Letter read observantly the large paper of December 7.26 p. 26 c. of the Prodro concerning two defects of Mr. Durhams Book of Scotland on the whole book of the Revelation with the Scheme thereof one was his mistaking of the times in great part for near 100 years the other defect was his passing over the new Jerusal state and Christs said Kingdom of power or as Mede on Dan. 7.35 stiles it the Kingdom of the Mountain throughout all the book of Rev. as if nothing there had been said of it in this world though the Elders c. say expresly Rev. 5.10 we shall reign upon earth that paper will be of very good use and being well observed with the others giveth much light to that Book of the Revelation and all the said helps to the use of the Parallels in the third book or part on Dan. 6. As for our second part viz. the Irenicon it is to prove such a Kingdom with the late 8 Arguments in the Word written c. referring to it The Penmans further humble acknowledgement MOst Blessed Lord God I thy poor weak and unworthy Servant do in all humility of Soul by the help of thy holy Spirit through Jesus Christ my Saviour three in Persons
his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars Dream which were again set before him in a Vision of â— beasts to subdue each other till the Son of mans coming in the clouds of heaven to receive his Kingdom over the whole world upon the last beasts destruction Dan 7. and afterward in c. 8. in the end of the 9. in his last Vision c. 10 11 12. he hath things more particularly set down respecting the 3 last Monarchies and Beast-like states to the time of the standing up of Michael the great Prince at the destruction of the Turk and the deliverance of Daniels people c. 12. 1 c. as may more largely be observed from our Abridgement of Daniels Prophetical Visions and the Parallel of Daniels Visions with the Book of the Revelation so far as respects the time of the end or Gospel times from Christs first to his 2d coming when the 4 Mettle-Kingdoms will be utterly and finally broken as the dust in the Summer threshing and the wind drive them away as Dan. 2.35 and the Date of the 4th beast be ended Dan. 7. when the Kings shall be Christs and theirs to whom he hath appointed them as Luk. 22.30 concerning the particularities to be accomplished in above 2000. years space Daniel hath set down many things in such order as seemed good to the spirit of God to guide him and reveal any of them to him But under the last Kingdom or Beast Daniel hath many things shut up and sealed until the time of the end or Gospel times which Christ Jesus the Lamb hath since in the book of the Revel opened and explained in a wonderful divine manner yea and in great part fulfilled and accomplished likewise which leads us to the end of Daniels Visions when Christ should appear and Daniel stand up in his lot at the end of the days Which is the time the new Jerusalem is to have its being in the world and all the Promises and Prophesies concerning it and Gods antient people performed and when it shall be called the Throne of the Lord as from Christs own Revelation is sufficiently manifest and thus of the 3 ways of confirmation forenamed at the beginning Vse 1. Let us now proceed to some inprovement of this Truth by way of Application And first by way of Redargution or Reproof it may hence appear how much they are to be blamed that think and speak slightly of the great and national conversion of the Jews and the happy estate of the Jews and Israelites united in one Kingdom to be in the world in its season since Gods word doth so abundantly declare what wonderful mercie he hath still in store for them But much more of such as esteem them finally little better than cast-aways from Gospel-grace there is a vaile indeed upon the heart of that people yet nevertheless that Vail as saith the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 3.16 when they shall turn to the Lord shall be taken away so that the hope of Israel shall not utterly fail or perish But least of all will many believe that they shall have such a glorious Church state as the word of God as we have here and else where shewed as they with the Gentiles when their fulness shall come in shall enjoy together in the 1000. years reign of Christ upon earth Let such seriously consider of it how unchristian it is to recompence evil for evil unto them The Jews 't is true in the Apostles time did indeed both despise and maligne the Gentiles and would not indure to hear of their receiving to mercie but they were for the most part the obstinate and unbelieving Jews or at least before God had wonderfully by word and vision by Miracles and the Testimony of the spirit put his owning of the Gentiles out of question in the Church then before wich time the evidence of the Gentiles hopes was both obscure and small in comparison of what the Jews have for the time to come and that of strong Scripture ground in Gods appointed time when both Iews and Gentiles shall be joynt heirs of Gods enlarged grace to them both And it seems very remarkable that when the Apostle Paul speaks of the first receiving of the Gentiles to mercy he quotes little Scripture for that purpose and those also which before were very obscure Rom. 9.25 c from Hos 2.23 I will call them my people which were not my people and her beloved which was not beloved and from Hos 1.10 in the place where it was said ye are not my people there they shall be called the children of the living God which had been difficult to have applyed to those times those places and persons had not God so powerfully and wonderfully confirmed and evidenced his good pleasure there in those respects But when he comes in the same Epistle to speak of Christ as the Minister of the Circumcision Rom. 15.8 9. and to confirm the promises made unto the Fathers whose posterity the Iews were and to whom the promises did belong as he shews with many other priviledges together with all the Israelites Rom. 9.4 c. he then heaps up many testimonies of the Prophets and from Moses and the Psalms that should all witness to the joynt happiness of both Iews and Gentiles when all Israel shall be saved in respect of the former when our Saviour came the first time be himself said Mat. 15.24 That he was not sent in his own person during the time of the Ministry but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel that was only to the nation of the Iews being the Minister of the Circumcision as the Apostles phrase is But for the said joynt grace to be aboundantly gloriously and wonderfully powered out on Iews and Gentiles at the time of his 2d coming without sin to Salvation he applyes many pertinent places belonging to that time seeming therein in a special manner to be directed by the spirit of God to teach the Gentiles as Rom. 11. Apostle doth largely discover that their greatest mercy is then to be looked for when the Iews shall obtain theirs as by a resurrection from the dead when all Israel shall be saved c. with much more to such purposes And all those texts which he names to that purpose Rom. 15.8 9 c. have special respect to the time of their uniting in one sheep fold one shepheard as our Saviour himself hath likewise fore-told Iohn 10.16 that there should be one sheep-fold and one shepheard the 40th Psalm is very prophetical of Christs wonderful prevalencie over his enemies then above what was competible then to David and Deut. 32.43 is the last part of Moses prophetical song for posterity that ends with the union of Israelites and Gentiles the 117th Psal is a short and pithy prophesie and form of praise for that very cause and Es 11.10 with much of that c. as both Mr. Mede and many others well observe to be a glorious prediction of Christs said
their sufferings in the mean time and make them with joyfulness to serve him and praise him and willingly even to suffer for him when he calls them to it since he hath promised gratiously to be with them in the deepest waters of their afflictions and will not suffer them to be tempted above their measure in the mean time and will in the issue deliver Israel from all their afflictions and even recompence their measure of faithfulness and sufferings for him with a suitable degree of glory with him 2 Tim. 2.12 Rev. 20.4 in that blessed New Jerusalem state upon earth Esa 24.23 when the Lord of Hosts will reign in mount Sion and before his ancients gloriously as from Divine Authority in the ensuing parcel may be observed to the honour of the great King and the magnifying of Gods Divine wisdom and goodness and great consolation to faithful Souls c. A word or two I shall further add of the nature and use of my four parts lately published which to some Christians may prove advantagious First the drift of the Irenicon is chiefly to prove that the things respecting Christs Kingdom upon Earth were spoken of by all Gods holy Prophets since the world began as the Apostle Peter teacheth Acts 3.21 with divers other heads of arguments to the same purpose and an Appendex added to it concerning the blessed first Resurrection of the Just Yea and all likewise that have written in the new Testament have added some explications thereof as in that second book is manifest but chiefly the great Apostle Paul in alm st all his Epistles Heb. 16. 2.5.6 7 8 4 9 9.28.10.13.37 11.8 9 10.13.14.16.22.35.39 40. 12.22 23 28. but above all in that to the Hebrews as might be shew'd particularly in many Chapters thereof as being the people most especially concerned in things of that nature c. Unto which said Irenicon was afterwards added this Parallel or third part before intended as pag. 2d of the former book as a strong foundation of that truth both from Daniel and the Revelation of Jesus Christ which is only a Divine mystical Exposition as we have shewed therein of that part of Daniel that was sealed and shut up before till the time of the end or Gospel times as in some measure may be discerned by our short summary of Daniel As for the forerunner or first piece it co sists of divers things which were occasional and after placed together as apparently very useful for the whole work whereunto reference is afterward fitly made in the following parts And for the fourth part it contains many observations and other particulars very useful for the understanding of mystical Prophesies with the removal of prejudices from this Doctrine And as from my own exercise by Gods gracious assistance in drawing up those I am by his goodness inabled to speak groundedly and knowingly upon other subjects respecting these things from Divine warrant and especially from the help of that golden Key of Christs Divine Revelation left to his Church for that purpose to open that part of Daniels shut up Visions so may others also by Gods blessing by the help of those parts receive much advantage which may be observed in the considering both of the forementioned treatise on Gen. 3.15 of Christs breaking the Serpents head First Decreetively and Declaritively before he began his Mediators Office joyntly with the Father and with the Holy Ghost And secondly Executively in his Mediators offices ever since the fall of maâ— hitherto and will most eminently as the great King and only Potentate as the Apostle Paul stiles him then do it in the Millennium when as he also saith 1 Cor. 15.25 he must reign till he hath put all his Enemies under hâ—s feet And so concerning the ensuing subject of the New Jerusalem which are as examples to shew the usefulness of the forenamed books as containing foundations thereof wherein th re is often reference made to things contained in them which I wish all such as lâ—ve the glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour Jesas Christ seriously to consider and the great things thereunto appertaining according to Scripture warrant And chiefly to look to that direction at the end of the Parallel pag 68. and well to peruse those summaries of the Revelation in the forerunner pag. 22 23. c. And in the Irenicon pag. 26 27 28. with the Abridgment of Daniel or the summary thereof hereunto annexed for such Abridgments help much in the discovery of the order of the Parallel to shew wherein the Revelation explains the Visions of Daniel which is a very strong evidence of the truth and gives great light to the understanding of these Divine Misteries from the hands of both those beloved Messengers of God the writers of them which should much commend these subjects to truly faithful Souls conveyed to them by such high Favourites of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords c. I shall only here add this further direction in the use of the said Books which I have often given already by word of mouth to divers knowing persons namely to read the two last books first and the References in them to the former And so commending thee Christian Reader to the guidance of the Spirit of tâ—uth to lead thee into all such comfortable and blessed truths of the Gospel as may make most for the glory of God and our Saviour Jesus Ch ist and thy own great rejoycing in the faith of such great things pertaining to his glorious Kingdome on earth to come for which end I am especially Thine in him William Sherwin Scripture evidenced for the New Jerusalem on Earth Jerem. 3.17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord and all Nations shall be gathered to it to the Name of the Lord to Jerusalem c. THat first on the negative part this Text is not to to be understood of any Jerusalem that hath been destroyed may be made evident from this portion of Scripture ver 14. to 20. whereunto and to the times whereof the things herein mentioned are no ways competible First not old Jerusalem call'd Sulem in Melchisedecks time Gen. 14. after held by the Jebusites in Joshuaes time and after subdued by David and beautified and fortified by Solomon the Type of the true Prince of Peace as that was also of the New Jerusalem that is to come of which this Prophet and others fore-told the Desolation to come by the King of Babylon neither was it of that after the 70 years Captivity afterwards repaired and adorned by Herod and as our Saviour denounced against it laid even with the ground by Titus and Vespatian about 40 years after his death for as that was less glorious in it self so it not only killed the Prophets and stoned those Servants of the Lord that were sent unto it from God but did not spare the Son himself when he came to gather her
last times contained in chap. 20. leads us to the end of the thousand years and the finishing of the last Judgment of which the 2 following Chap. are an explication as is usual in that book first to set down things more generally and then more particularly to explain them as also is observable from that former Table of the times chap. 11. which also reacheth to the state of things on earth in the thousand years 3. St. John saw that holy City the New Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God not ascending thither or being there 4. When that general great rejoycing was at the destruction of the Enemies chap. 19. to ver 9 for these 2 reasons first that the Lord God Omnipotent then Reigned 2ly That the Marriage of the Lamb then was come and that his Wife had made her self ready which is afterwards manifest to be above a thousand years before the last Resurrection and this Wife of the Lamb is after explained to be the New Jerusalem that St. Iohn saw descending out of Heaven from God there called the Bride the Lambs Wife Rev. 21.9 consisting of the blessed Saints then to inhabit it bodily in their order at the first Resurrection which is also in the following part of that chapt so gloriously decyphered and in Chap. 22. to v. 6. therefore it is thence evident that the said Jerusalem the Lambs Wife descended above a thousand years before the last Resurrection and Judgment and therefore all that time not to be in Heaven moreover it is said to be besieged by Gog and Magog at the end of the thousand years as follows in the next reason 5. The same holy City is said to be compassed about by Gog and Magog at the end of the thousand years Rev. 20.9 which could not be done if it was not then in the world and therefore the Vision thereof when it first descended which the Angel that had one of the 7 Vials then shewed to St. Iohn calling it the Bride the Lambs Wife and all the priviledges and excellencies thereof must needs belong to it whilst it is in the world all those many excellent things concerning it chap. 21 22. to v. 6. must needs belong to the state of Christs Church in those times on Earth as after will further appear all tending to set forth that one description of that holy City seen in the same Vision which was before said to be so encompassed with God and Magog with its priviledges and appurtenances as follow in both Chapters 6. It will be in that time when the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of the said New Jerusalem which they will not do in the state of Heavenly perfection when no Nations will be in the world but all Saints will be perfect in one Jo. 17 23. in soul and body and the whole mystical body of Christ shall be completed in the members of it and all received into perfect glory and happiness 7. In the same verse the Kings of the Earth are said to bring their own glory and honour to it and therefore it must be in the time wherein they enjoy such honour and glory upon Earth ver 26. 8. Those Kings are there said also to bring the glory and honour of the Nations unto it in the same verse and therefore it must be in the time wherein such Nations have such Kings and such glory and honour to be brought unto it and these also were foretold Es 60. in many eminent expressions in many perticulars 9 It will be in a time measured by moneths when the Nations will also need healing and therefore the use of the leaves of the Tree of Life in the street of the City that bears fruit every moneth is said to be for the healing of the Nations chap. 22.2 and so before the end of the world c. 10. The Sun Moon and Candle at the same time will be useful to other places in the world when the Lambs supereminent light will so enlighten that holy City that there will be no need of any other Rev. 22 5. and Rev. 21.23 as was also foretold of the same times by the Prophet Esay chap. 24.23 Then shall the Moon be confounded and the Sun ashamed when the Lord of Hosts shall Reign in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem and before his Ancients gloriously So also Es 60.19 The Sun shall be no more thy light by day neither for brightness shall the Moon give light unto thee but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light and thy God thy glory 11. Upon the coming down of this New Jerusalem the Tabernacle of God is said to be with men and he to dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God Rev. 21 3. and was said before in c. 20.4 Christ should reign with his raised Sts. 1000. years and that on earth expresly say the representatives exulting greatly in it Rev. 5.10 12. Some of the former and ensuing promises are applyed by the spirit of God in this Book to the said new Jerusalem state as that of the new Heavens and the new Earth Isa 65.16 so applyed Rev. 21.5 and that the Kings and Nations of the earth shall bring their glory to it in that time Isa 60.11 and so applyed Rev. 21 24 26 c. 13. It is the place where the representatives Rev. 5.10 shall reign with Christ upon earth being that City that God prepared for the faithful Fore-Fathers Heb. 11. the last and all believers since their times to the resurrection of the just wherefore it seems to be of so great largeness as containing 12000. Furlongs which some reckon 500. Leagues and which is most wonderful as our late Annotators observe the height and length and breadth are equal as a perfect Cube who also reckon the Citie described by Ezek. to be so great as containing in compass about it 18000. measures or 4500. on each square Ezek. 48.16 14. The City that Abraham particularly looked for is said to have foundations whose maker and builder is God Heb. 11.10 and such is that that shall then come from God out of Heaven Rev. 21. having 12 foundations v. 14. of which the Psalmist seems prophetically to speak Psal 87.1 his foundation is in the holy Mountain and which Psalm is in many places applicable to those times of the new Jerusalem to come and these foundations may seem to difference it then from that which is now above where are the spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. called also Paradise and Abrahams bosom c. that when the Sts. come with Christ at the said Jerusalems coming down from God out of Heaven that their bodies may be raised united to their Souls at the first blessed resurrection such foundations may be suitable to their condition then having their bodies reunited to them and to that estate of the Church in the world described in Rev.
21. Moreover Abraham that looked for such a City having foundations is called by the Apostle the heir of the World Rom. 4.12 through the righteousness of Faith by which Faith saith the Apostle he received Isaac from the dead in a figure Heb. 11.19 and accordingly the Apostle seems to apply the divine efficacie of his faith in some resemblance to Gods raising up the dead and calling things that are not as though they were Rom. 4.7 and proceeds to illustrate the power of his faith that neither the deadness of his own body nor the deadness of Sarah's womb did hinder it in believing that he should have that promised Seed and so of the promised inheritance often sworn by God to Abraham Isaac and Jacob Abraham had not of it to set his foot on Acts 7. and that promise was looked for a farr of by him and others Heb. 11.13 and yet believed and embraced by them yea many others set down afterwards which obtained a good report by faith yet saith the Apostle obtained not the accomplishment of the promise v. 39 40. God having provided some better thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect to wit at the said Resurrection from the dead and in the said City which Abraham looked for which hath foundations v. 10. and that City prepared by God himself for the rest of the faithful v. 16. and v. 40 all which seem to point out the New Jerusalem state on earth at Christs second coming with many other great things to be accomplished in those times as we have shewed more particularly in a Tract on Gen. 3.15 and in our 4th Part Obser 31. and well may that condition be called an heavenly Countrey because it will be of an heavenly nature and in an excellent state and condition when there will be indeed an heaven upon earth when Christ will bind Satan and seal him up in the bottomless Pit that he shall not deceive the Nations for that space of a thousand years Rev. 20.3 7. and many wicked men be destroyed from the earth Rev. 11.18 and he will bring all his Saints asleep in him till then with him 1 Thes 4.14 and an innumerable company of Angels to attend upon him Psal 97 and all creatures shall bow the knee Phil. 2. to do him homage which are now in heaven or earth or under the earth whose name is above every name which seems excellently decyphered before us by his own spirit Rev. 5. after he had taken the book from the right hand of him that sat upon the Throne to loose the seals thereof the fulfilling of the contents of which will cause that wonderful praise by the 24 Elders and 4 Beasts or living Wights by Angels and all Creatures from v. 10. to the end and yet of that Countrey saith one it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Countrey where their Fathers dwelt as in many Prophesies and Promises it is stiled c. And the things concerning that State seem therefore to be so strongly and often asserted by the Spirit of God Rev. 19.9 and 21.5 and 22.6 to shew that though many would be backward to believe them yet they should be not certainly fulfilled in the world in due time 15ly It is said to be measured as we have elsewhere noted and likewise many other Prophesies and Promises are applicable from the Old Testament to that said New Jerusalem State as the Spirit of Christ in respect of those forenamed hath directed and which may more largely be observed in our Prodromus Pag. 18 19 20 21. in the letter of Nov. 3 1663. 3ly And so we come to the 3d. way of confirmation of the New Jerusalem to come on earth namely from the Series and Order of the time in Scripture assigned for the setting up thereof in the world to wit upon the destruction of the Beast at Christs 2d coming whom saith the Apostle Christ will destroy with the appearance of his coming 2 Thes 2.8 unto which he also adjoyns his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 at his appearance saith he and his Kingdom And to this purpose it is very observable that when God was about to destroy the Oâ—d Jerusalem for the greatness of the wickedness prevailing in it by the same Prophets whereby he denounced the destruction of the Old to the terrour of the wicked by the same also he foretold the setting up of the New for the comfort of the faithful wherein they in due time should have their shares as Es 29.19 Jer. 31.31 32 c. Ezek. 37. and these do not only speak of the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon after 70. years but of the great restauration of all Israel and Judah which they set forth with many peculiar Marks and Characters belonging to it as we observed from this Text Jer. 3.17 and from Es 60. and many other places But the Prophet Ezekiel in c. 37. of his Prophesie doth not only describe their deliverance to be wonderful like a raising of dry bones from the Grave and making them stand up in a great Army but also largely there also shews the uniting both Kingdoms of Israel and Judah into one under Christ the Great Messiah called there David of whose Seed he was according to the flesh and in whose Throne he is to sit so long as the Sun and Moon endure from the time of the raising up the Tabernacle of David that was fallen Acts 15 c. Yea this 37 of Ezekiel seems with the remainder of that book to the end to be as a comment or exposition of the main drift of divers of Daniels Visions respecting the latter times for as he by Visions as we said set forth how wonderfully God would raise and restore them c. 37. so in the two next chapters he largely by Prophesie fore-tells the stupendious destruction of their Potent Enemy Gog and his Multitudes with Magog which he specially declares twice shall be in the latter dayes c. 38. v. 8. and v. 16. with many expressions agreeing to their great Enemy the Turk and thereby God undertakes for the comfort of the faithful to remove him which is to be the great hinderer of their freedome And from thence in 9 chapters to the end he sets down his large Vision of the New Jerusalem and in the end declares the name thereof shall be Jehovah Shamma the Lord is there which is also by Scripture order to be set up when the Enemies are destroyed as Dan. 11.45 and Dan. 12.2 3 c. But Daniel in a more special way of Mercy from God to his faithful people from his time had for their more abundant consolation in divers Visions set down in order the times to pass over the Jews in their said Dispersions and the several Oppressors of them in order to be destroyed until their full deliverance come and this both more generally in 4 wicked Monarchies before the fift came that should destroy them c. 2. by
Christ amogst which the sitting on the Throne of David as man will be one 1 Iohn 4.2 3. And as for the raising of the dead Saints at the Resurrection of the Just as it is called Luke 14.14 or the blessed first Resurrection above a thousand years before the rest of the dead shall be raised Rev. 20.5 they being such as will be counted worthy of that world called the world to come Heb. 2.5 where those Children of the Resurrection as our Saviour speaketh Luke 20.35 36. shall be as the Angels in Heaven since at his appearance and coming into the world Christ will bring his Saints with him and such as sleep in Jesus with him 1 Thes 3. ult 4.14 Zac. 14.5 to the end that being raised from the dead he may reward them Rev. 11.11 22.12 or recompence them at the said Resurrection of the Just Luke 14. when they shall behold the glory of Christ which the Father hath given him as Mediator Iohn 17.24 when his Disciples shall sit upon twelve Thrones judgeing the twelve Tribes of Israel Luke 22.30 and his faithful servants according to the improvement of their Talents shall rule over so many Cities Luke 19.17.19 Psal 49.14 and shall have power over the Nations Rev. 2.26 Psal 45.6 their bodies being then redeemed from the prison and Corruption of the grave Rom. 8.23 and their former mortal bodies shall then be powerfully raised by the same spirit of him that raised up Christ from the dead Rom. 8.11 that so then such as suffer for Christ in the body may reign with Christ in his Mediators Kingdom in their bodies 2 Tim. 2.12 and those raised bodies when he shall appear being like him shall see him as he is 1 Iohn 3.2 when the Tabernacle of God shall be with men and he be with them in the new Ierusalem come down from God out of Heaven Rev. 21.3.10 in that City whose name shall be Iehovah Shamma the Lord is there Ezek. 40. ult and which shall then be called the Throne of of the Lord as in the text that City prepared for the faithful fore-fathers yet so as without the faithful that died since Christs first to his second coming they shall not be made perfect Heb. 11.40 or perfect in one as our Saviour prayed Iohn 17.23 and declares his will in the presence of his Father and before his Disciples that such as were given him should then be with him to behold his glory which his Father had given him v. 24. who will then be that spiritual and mystical Bride the Lambs Wife Rev. 21.9 in the time of his thousand years reign Rev. 20.4 when as saith the Apostle Paul Christ must reign till he hath put all his enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15.25 even till he deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father having put down all rule and all authority and power that stood in his way as in the verse before the last enemy Death being destroyed v. 26. Many of these texts of holy Scripture our blessed Saviour by his book of Revelation hath given much evident light unto as whosoever carefully compares them and duly weighes them with humble and faithful seeking the guidance of his spirit may hopefully find till which time many of these and divers others were darkly delivered have not otherwise so clear and fit exposition given of them as that they will be fulfilled at that time of the restitution of all things when the times of refreshing shall come for his people from the presence of the Lord when God will send Jesus whom the Heavens must contain till then Acts 3.19 20 21. in which times the many great things are to be accomplished which we formerly set down on Gen. 3.15 and Christs explication of them will at last be most certainly found the best and the mean time let it be observed that the Doctrine of the Resurrection was a long time but darkly set down in Scripture and but by degrees were the mysteries thereof revealed 1 Cor. 15.51 52. Rom. 8.11 as we have else where observed and as Mr. Mede saith that the Prophets in the old Testament except Daniel spake darkly or promiscuously of the first and second coming of Christ so we may say of the whole Scriptures speaking of the first and second bodily Resurrections till Christ explained them and chiefly in Rom. 20. yet by the guidance of that many others fall in with it See more in the Appendix after the Irenicon page 97. to 109. for I have in a manner but touched upon these texts of Scripture because I study brevity and have spoken there more largely of the first bodily Resurrection and because the Scriptures carry with them so great evidence in their consent one with another and bearing witness in their order to the same truth which serious Christians may in their Meditations more inlarge and improve that being rightly from the word informed of these things and the like they may both frame their prayers make other improvements thereof accordingly to help forwards Gods work in the fulfilling of some of them having such sure and comfortable foundations from the Word to raise up their affection to such purpose and especially in those latter dayes when their fulfilling approacheth near as may be observed from the fulfilling of so many Prophesies already and for the accomplishing of those that remain tends in a special manner that prayer at the end of these Visions with an even so as if it had been said that these great things in the said thousand years of Christs reign may be fulfilled Rev. 22.20 Even so Come Lord Jesus And that happy estate of Christs Church in that time of his said reign upon earth seems to be the main drift and scope of the three first petitions of the Lords Prayer which will then have their greatest fulfilling on earth as they are now fulfilled in Heaven when Satan shall be bound and sealed up in the bottomless pit from deceiving the Nations for that thousand years Rev. 20. and wicked men destroyed that destroyed the earth Rev. 11.18 the blessed and holy Saints raised from the dead at the first resurrection Rev. 20. and the holy Angels be Christs attendants in Christs Kingdom as the Courtiers of their most glorious King Heb. 1.6 Psal 97. where also his terrible coming into the world then is decyphered eminently with the joy of his people thereupon and that which will make it an Heaven indeed will be the Tabernacle of God will then be with men c. and the Lamb will be the visible light of that City and the living waters of divine grace will flow so abundantly from the Throne of God and the Lamb c. with many other heavenly excellencies of that state Rev. 21. 22. but that this may yet further appear to be then on earth all other inferiour Creatures must then also do their homage to their heavenly King by bowing the knee or yeilding their subjection to him