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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	bring_v	great_a	reason_n	1,648	5	4.3830	3	false

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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

of Christs patience Rev. 3.10 But in nothing is patience more necessary then in watching for our Lords appearance and therefore with the work of Faith and labour of Love is joyned the patience of the Hope of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 1.3 i. e. the patient waiting for and expecting him from Heaven as it is explained v. 10. So 2 Thes 3.5 the Apostle prays that God would direct their hearts unto the Love of God patience of Christ where patience as also the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Patient expectation for what faith believes and prayer solicites that patience waits for Rom. 8 24 25 Of which saith the Apostle to the believing Hebrews ye have need Hab. 10.36 For because our Lord not delays in the sense we usually take delay 2 Pet. 3 9. but forbears his coming till the proper time of it which is not yet fully come because that all things that are to preceed it are not yet accomplished therefore we had need be armed with patience or else our hast and impatience may undo us As that wicked servant who relaxed his watch and fell to fleshly pleasures lost thereby all the benefit of his former vigilance so will it also fare with us unless by patient perseverance in well doing we seek for Glory Honour and Immortality Rom 2.8 like rubbish by Fire and a new Theatre or Throne of Glory erected for men of another Nature and spirit to converse in How greatly then should we rejoyce to drink of our Lords Cup and to taste of the same sufferings since for ought we know the Death and Martyrdom of a few more may compleat the number and bring our Lord from Heaven to avenge their quarrel and then our Tears will be rewarded by having them forever wiped away and each drop of blood that hath been shed in this illustrious cause will add a Glory and a Wreath unto our Crown Then shall we in the Prophets words cry out and say Lo this is our God we have waited for him and he have saved us This is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation Isa 25.9 In which place this very Time and Reign is spoken of Lastly we should learn from hence to make a diligent inquiry into Use 3. our Saintsship for since when our Lord come none but his Saints shall come with him we ought to make a careful search whither we be indeed Saints or not least in that day of Tryal which will be revealed with fire we be found deceivers of our selves and so be put to shame by him at his Appearance 1 John 2 28 Many Professors like the foolish Virgins and those who boasted of their prophecying in the Name of Christ Mat. 7.21.23 will be found mistaken and instead of partaking of the Resurrection of the Righteous to whom alone the reward is promised Luke 14.14 will be raized up to shame and everlasting contempt Dan. 12.1 with Isa 66 24 beholding the glory of others who formerly were much inferiour to themsel es but see themselves excluded which will increase their misery Luke 13.28 29. and occasion that inward anguish which is expressed by Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth Ps 112.10 Thus the Psalmist speaking of the happiness of the righteous The wicked saith he shall see it and be grieved he shall gnash his Teeth and melt away The coming of Christ though it be a time of Refreshing as it is called Acts 3 19. to his distressed and persecuted Servant yet to others it will be very terrible which makes the Prophet inquire who can abide the day of his coming or who can stand when he apprars Mal. 3.4 For he will come as fire to chaff to burn the wicked out of the earth Mal. 4.1 And therefore we had need ask whether we can like Gold indure his refining and continue unscorched in the midst of such everlasting burning Isa 33.14 Christ comes from Heaven to take vengeance on his enemies 2 Pet. 3.7 Jude v. 14.15 as well as to be glorified in his Saints and admired in them that beleive 2 Thes 1.7.10 And therefore we have the Great and Rich men of the Earth calling out to the Rocks to fall upon them and to the Hills to cover them Rev. 6.16.17 because truth of Holiness and nothing else will be of any avail at that day which should make us very serious in examining our selves about it Among many other signs which may be given of our Saints-ship I shall content my self with mentioning only two because they do in an especial manner relate to the matter in hand Sign 1. First What love have we for the Appearance of Christ and how are we affected with the thoughts and hopes of his coming Abraham rejoyced in Hope to see that day and when he saw it by an eye of Faith he was glad John 8.56 The same disposition should be in all Believers who are the Children of Abraham and so much the rather because now Christ is to appear without sin i. e. in his full Beauty for lustre of Majesty without any Cloud of imputed sin to eclipse and to hide his Comeliness as formerly there was Is 53.2 and this he will do for salvation unto them who expect him Heb. 9.28 This the Apostle Paul makes a certain sign of the Corinthians conversion to the Faith that they did expect the Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1.7 for he cannot be a true Disciple of Christ a child of the Bride-chamber who doth not inwardly grieve and mourn for the absence of the Bridegroom Mat 9.15 which Mourning must necessarily be accompanied with earnest longing to see one of his dayes Luke 17.22 And therefore the Apostle speaking of the great work that was wrought by the spirit of God upon the Thessalonians he makes the summe and height of it to be this They were turned from Idols to serve the living and the true God and to wait for his Son from Heaven 1 Thes 1.10 And again in his Epistle to Timothy he saith The Crown of Righteousness was laid up not for himself alone Comp. Tit. 2.13 Jam. 1.12 but for all those that loved our Lords appearance 2 Tim. 4.8 So that to have a love for Christ and a longing earnestness that his Name may be glorified and his Kingdom set up in the Earth it is an undoubted sign of the truth of Faith and that the spirit of Christ hath taken possession of us For the Spirit and Bride say come and every one that heareth or readeth let him say Come Yea O come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev. 22.17 20. Secondly What care have we to walk worthy of Christ This is Sign 2. that which the Apostle very often earnestly presseth We testifie saith he that you walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thes 2.12 and having said 2 Thes 2.14