happy day of our Lord Christ when as it is written Heb. 28. To them that look for him he shall appear the second time with ut sin unto salvation full salvation of soul and body salvation to the utmost Heb. 7. 25. Salvation begun by the spirit of regeneration it hath for the earnest of the whole the holy spirit and it hath sure promises all yea and Amen in Christ About which faith in the servants of God is exercised laying hold on them and with much consolation and encouragement go on from faith to faith after the way of the living of the just they live by faith and they also dye in faith and do not receive the thing promised to wit full salvation They that went before to wit Abraham and Isaack and Jacob c. Nor those that followed after since their day they have not neither shall they or any others receive it till that blessed time come Heb. 11. 13. These all dyed in faith and received not the promise so vers 39. They obtained a good report through faith but received not the promise It is the salvation of the whole man body and spirit united in one as at the first when God made man and breathed into him the breath of life and he became a living soul or person of that we speak which the Apostle tells us is nearer then when we first believed It grows nearer and nearer As we have a mighty redeemer so we have a blessed saviour who is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. He hath undertaken it he hath begun it he will perfect it and finish it to the full then at that time will that be made good to the full Rev. 12. 10. Now is come salvation now so as never before full absolute perfect it was before but in the beginning and in the way to perfecting but then it will be fully finished in the world to come and true to the utmost when our Lord cometh again and all his faints and saved ones with him Then the mistery of godlyness and salvation will be finished as he hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets Rev. 10. 7. This great salvation the prophets as holy Peter tells us 1. Pet. 1. 10. have enquired and searched diligently who prophecyed of that great grace the saviour that brought salvation unto all the saved ones they enquired after the manner and after the time testifyed by the spirit when it began or was to begin in a way of humiliation and suffering of the Lord Christ and end and be perfected in great ensuing glory vers 11. O happy and blessed saying Col. 3. 4. When Christ who is our life and our salvation shall appear then shall we also appear with him in glory and behold him in his glory and be like unto him The happy restoration of all things that God hath spoken must here be treated of but I shall wave it here and speak of it after by it self and shall take knowledge of something concerning immortalitie and eternal life which Adam was not possessed of a great thing indeed of which the holy scriptures of the new testament speak much a blessed thing to come which will be enjoyed then at that happy day of the Lord Christ in the world to come immortalitie and eternal life are of neere affinity as the cause and the effect the root and the fruit immortality hath for its contrary mortalitie or dying which all the posterity of Adam know experimentally we have treated of it before and shall be breif in what shall be further offered The same may be said of immortality and life everlasting as was sayd of redemption and salvation the servants of God have the promise and likewise the earnest to wit the spirit in their hearts here in this world but not the things themselves otherwise then as afore the things themselves in the real possessing and enjoying of them to the full in the world to come as it is written Mark 10. 30. The sufferers for Christ shall have rewards here In this world and in the world to come everlasting life Luk. 18. 30. the same Immortalitie is so great a thing as the scripture tells us God only hath Immortality 1. Tim. 6. 16 He will give it at that day by Jesus Christ to the raised and to the changed ones they shall then and not before whatever some unwisely say put on immortalitie as it is said 1. Cor. 15. 53. 54. This mortalitie it shall put on immortalitie Then it shall be as is elsewhere said mortality shall be swallowed up of life 2. Cor. 5. 4. to wit of life everlasting the concomitant of immortalitie This of immortalitie and life everlasting appertains unto and shall be enjoyed by the whole person the body more especially into which the spirit or angelical part was breathed by almighty God when he first made man this is vulgarly called the soul happily not very properly it is a received principle that dyes not nor is capable of it but returns to God that gave it Eccles. 12. 7. how and where and in what manner it subsisteth and whether it hath sympathy and distinct desire as it had in the body is I conceive a very high and very hidden thing of which I shall forbear to say any thing To be made immortal and put into such an estate is a condition beyond what Adam attained unto in his happy estate it is one of the additions of blessedness the raised and changed saints shall be made partakers of at that happy day very few have as yet and it is likely none shall further attain it till then and then they shall put it on and enjoy it those that by patient continuing in well doing seek for glory honor and immortalitie and eternal life Rom. 2. 7. They shall then finde it according to the promise of the Lord Christ Math. 7. 7. Seek and ye shall finde c. such shall finde and enjoy immortalitie and everlasting life This life to wit eternal life of the saints of God it is hid with Christ in God and when he that is their life so shall appear then shall they also appear with him in that state of glory and immortality and life eternal As it is written the gift of God is eternal life It shall be given them then as our Lord sayth concerning his sheep that hear his voice he gives them eternal life and they shall never perish or be lost Rom. 6. 22. 23. Ioh. 10. 27. 28. they shall be immortal then though now for the present they be mortal and dying dayly The Angelical part or spirit in man simply considered in it self and barely minded so seemeth not to be reckoned as eternal life in the scriptures without the further gift of God and grace of the saviour together with all those adjuncts of blessedness and happiness adjoyned as attendants making up the whole for that the wicked as they have such angelical spirits in their day here
regeneration is attended withall in the polluted world in this polluted state We shall in this change be quite rid of sin and defilement and of sinning any more then That which holy John sayth of those that are the sons of God in the blessed estate of regeneration such as are born of God that they cannot sin because they are born of God true only in a sense or consideration will then in the highest sense and degree be made good And it might be said they cannot sin because they are so changed and have put off corruption and put on incorruption holyness and purity the seed of sin and corruption being quite put away and they in their persons washed from it in the bloud of the lamb Rev. 1. 5. Rev. 7. 14. then with that change the mistery of God will be fully finished to wit that of full redemption of the body the whole man waited for by those that have the first fruits or earnest of the spirit Rom. 8. 23. it will then be enjoyed the bodyes of the just and saved people will be changed and made like the pure and spotless body of the Lord Christ Phil. 3. 21. what they lost in Adam this change will restore to the just with very many and great advantages for it will be a restoration as well as a change or a restoration in the change very much for the better And not like that which attended Adam in paradise which was so much for the worse This change will not only have rectitude and purity restored but also a state of stability therein together with immortality and that which is the effect following namely everlasting life Life for evermore This is one of the great things in this change from a state of sin defilement and corruption to a state of purity holyness and innocency so as being wholly pure to be capable to see God as is promised to the pure in heart Math. 5 8. and to see the Lord Christ as he is in his glory and also to be for ever with him 1. Joh. 3. 2. 1 Thes. 4. 17. The second thing in this change is immortalitie that put on and mortality that put off This dying body which is dying dayly as we are carrying it about with us shall then be put into a state and condition of immortality so as not to dye at all but to live for ever to have a life eternal a life everlasting instead of a life of seventy years or the like as the posteritie of Adam have had and hath been counted a blessing from God Psal 91. 16. But this change will put men into a state of freedom from sin the cause and death the effect as for sin and iniquity that prophecy Jer. 50. 20. will then be throughly fulfilled at that time saith the Lord the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and the sins of Judah and they shall not be found for I will pardon them whom I reserve these changed ones in a moment which is something like that Zech. 3. 9. And I will remove the iniquity of that land on one day which things have never been made good these prophecyes were never fulfilled as yet and though they may in a great measure have their fulfilling before yet are they never likely to be so fully and throughly fulfilled till that day when sin and corruption shall be taken away put off and death swallowed up in victory and be no more and Mortality swallowed up of life to wit life everlasting 2. Cor. 5. 4. so as death and Mortality will then be no more among the righteous and saved ones who then will be changed and put into an estate as neither to sin nor to dye And if any should think they had attained to a state of freedom from sin here in this world before that day if they could assure themselves or others of a like freedom from death and the grave it were something otherwise that of holy John 1. Joh. 1. 8. If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us compared with Prov. 20. 9. will take place but then at that happy time they shall be freed by being changed and by putting off corruption and mortality and be put into that blessed estate of freedom and glorious liberty of the sons of God And the grace of the new testament or covenant confirmed by the bloud of the Lord Jesus the blessed mediator and advocate thereof shall in the highest degree be enjoyed by them then and there so as God being their God in a gracious wise and they his people he shall keep them in that blessed estate for ever and they shall not depart from him any more for ever Jer. 32. 40. but shall enjoy everlasting life in the enjoyment of happyness and felicity and freedom from all sorrow and misery whatever the blessed fruits of that happy change into immortality and everlasting life Now for the manner of this change it is held forth in a way of putting off and putting on a borrowed way of speaking this corruptible this mortal must put off and put on to wit they must be freed quite rid of sin corruption and mortalitie and made pure incorrupt and immortal and this by putting off and puting on as men put off and put on raiment change their clothing put off filthy and torn or old rayment they put it off put it away lay it by and put on clean sound and good clothing new and fresh so is this putting off and putting on here A plain and known thing alluded unto a usual and known thing for the manner so this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal put on immortality having put corruption and mortalitie away and laid them by Further take we notice of that of the prophet Zachary Zech. 3. It is spoken of Joshua haply as a Type of the thing in hand or it may be a prophecy eyeing of it to wit the change however the mauner is much the same Ioshua was cloathed with filthy garments and stood before the Angel the Angel bids those that stood by to take away his filthy garments from him as the garments of corruption shall be taken from the righteous and to him he said behold I have caused thine iniquitie to pass from thee as shall then the corruption and sin and also mortality passe away from the righteous and it is spoken with a behold In the one and in the other A thing rare and considerable behold I shew you a mystery behold I have caused thine iniquity to depart Joshua his filthy garments shall be taken away As the changed shall put off their garments of corruption and mortality and shall put on garments that are pure incorrupt or spotless and immortalitie also and eternal life There is something declared vers 2. very high and marvelous to wit I will cause the iniquitie of that land the land of Canaan Israels possession to
we reade again in the 14th chapter vers 1. And I looked and lo a lamb to wit the Lord Christ stood on the mount Sion whether the redeemer will come and with him an hundred fourty and four thousand having his fathers name written in their foreheads By the way we may take knowledge that sealing on the forehead and writing on the forehead and marking on the foreheads are one and the same Vers. 2. and I heard a voice from heaven for the company were on earth much joy and gladnes manifested by them for vers 3. They sang as it were a new song before the throne and before the four Beasts or living creatures and the elders in that great assembly of the one hundred fourty and four thousand so sealed and having the fathers name written in their foreheads Further which were redeemed from the earth being found alive at the coming of the Lord Christ according to the mistery shewed by holy Paul It is not sayd out of their graves but from the earth where the burning was as to that of coming forth of the grave see that of our Lord Joh. 5. 28. 29. All that are in the graves shall come forth The song that they sung none could learn but they and haply such as they were The cause or reason why they could not I shall forbear by way of assay to shew it is sayd none could learn that song haply not so as to expresse it not so as to understand it or sing it it being a peculiar like the white stone with the new name in it which none knows but they that have it it being a peculiar to himself that hath it Rev. 2. 17. In vers 4. There is a description of them they are such as were not defiled with women the corruption that came by Eve and all her daughters they were rid of and freed from having put off corruption They are said to be virgins in a pure virgin state And they are such as attend the lamb and follow him whithersoever he goeth As in his providences keeping faithful to him and his truths before so when he is come down among men on earth the second time in power and great glory Further it is said these were redeemed from among men As from the fear and favour of men before so hapily at the burning being marked or sealed for preservation taken one of two in the field at the mill women as well as men and in the bed as is said one shall be taken and the other left being it may be sealed or marked in the foreheads before a very great thing And they are said to be the first-fruits to God and to the lamb the first-fruits to God of his blessed designe of restoring some of Adams fallen posteritie to their former happy estate and condition then fully perfected and finished for his praise and glory that as his servants they should serve him They are the first-fruits to the lamb namely of the travel of his soul Isa 53. 11. In his great humiliation he took on him the first-fruits of his purchase and full redemption the first fruits of his conquest and saving to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. So as that may be minded here as being then fully fulfilled Rev. 12. 10. Now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ c. to wit full and perfect salvation of the spirit soul and body the whole man that of regeneration and the life of faith was a kind of first fruits and mens imbracing and believing the Gospel is so called also Rom. 16. 5. 1. Cor. 16. 15. Rom. 8. 23. But these of the changed sealed ones are the first fruits to God and the lamb in a more eminent wise the mistery of God and of Christ as to mans restoration and full redemption and salvation to the uttermost and blessednes being then fully finished and made good Rev. 10. 7. A new virgin-state then not hereby excluding what of that kinde may be before as the forerunner of it without defilement spot or stain fitted to attend and follow the lamb and to serve him Lastly vers 5. it is said in their mouth was found no guile no hypocrisie then and further it is said for they are without fault or blame before the throne of God All spots stains and corruption being off and done away the design and undertaking of our Lord Christ which cost him so dear a price as his own bloud being then fully accomplished Ephes. 5. 27. to present his Church to himself blamelesse without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but holy and without blemish or fault What hath been said concerning the sealed and changed ones hath not been intended in the least in an exclusive way to the prejudice of the children of the resurrection or raised ones from the dead for that they will be of the highest degree then in their attainers and enjoyments of the great blessedness of that happy day Abraham Isaack Jacob the holy Prophets and Apostles of the lamb with the blessed martyrs for the Lord Jesus they will have the greatest share chiefest intrest then with all others that sleep in Jesus till they are awakened by the great trumpet of God at that appearing of the Lord Christ they will be very eminent in the kingdom of God of Christ Math. 8. 11. Luk. 13. 28. 29. the faithfull followers of Christ and sufferers for him among them and such as were beheaded or executed for his sake shall be eminent in the rule and government and sit on throns of judgment Math. 18. 28. Luk. 22. 28. 29. 30. Rev. 20. 4. Rev. 3. 21. yea our Lord Christ saith of the whole raised they shall be as the Angels of God Math. 22. 30. It is not so said of the changed ones they are changed alive and restored into their former good estate with some additions of blessedness as before is said To conclude it is very probable that the world to come will be here below on earth That the promised land to Abraham and his seed will be the center of the new earth That the Israelites those sealed ones together with the gentile Saints then also changed will be the inhabitants of the new earth and world to come and the Israelites of whom chiefly so high things are spoken and in whom chiefly those high Prophecyes shall be fully made good shall have the prehemence above the gentile Sains The whole matter is submitted to the considerate readers to judge and to take or leave as they see cause CHAP. VIII Containing a further proposall of some Prophecies and sayings in the holy Scriptures not yet fulfilled in the utmost extent eyeing that happy day of the coming of our Lord Christ likely then to be fulfilled and made good to the utmost to the seed of Abraham the Israelites when they together with the gentile Saints shall in a moment in the twinkling of an eye be changed
life everlasting to be for ever with the Lord in whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. Vers. 4. of Rev. 21. and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain And as Chap. 22. there shall be no more curse c. for the former things are passed away It is not hard to conceive and determine to what time this relateth This world will not afford such full freedom and utter exemption from those bitter things forementioned as it will not afford those high attayners and enjoyments mentioned by holy John it will be in the world to come then will all things be made new as at the beginning sutable to the new heavens and the new earth and the happy restoration of all things of which we shall treat in the following discourse take we knowledge of what he that sat on the throne said further to John Write saith he for these words are true and faithfull and will be made good in their time Alass for those that believe not all is submitted to the wise in heart CHAP. X. Containing the proposal to consideration the great restoration of all things spoken of by the Prophets and the happy change that shall then attend man and the earth and the creatures therein when Jesus Christ shall be sent the second time and the world to come take place With sundry great and high Prophecies set forth that seem to hold forth the same THe blessed restoration of all things Which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began Acts. 3. 20. 21. The first creation and making of all things Gen. 1. may be minded as the Image and figure according to which the restitution or restoration will be a returning again into the same mode and figure state and condition they were in at their first making and framing by God himself liked and testified to be very good which Adam by sin and transgression greatly marred and disfigured sin and the curse following and all manner of woe and misery following as the effect followeth its cause What holy Moses hath writ concerning the creation of man and of the earth and of the creatures therein together with the gathering together of the waters What is said and testified by the Lord almighty the maker of them all concerning the goodness of them and his liking of them the testimony given is very high vers 31. and God saw all that he had made and behold it was very good The weighing and consideratien whereof will be a good coppy to write by a good pattern or sample for us to set before us in order to our better taking knowledge of it Gen. 1. We have a description of the making the world day by day and the making of man as the most principal piece of the earthly creation vers 26. and God said let us make man in our own Image vers 27. so God created man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him male and female created he them And vers 26. God blessed them so made in that marvelous condition and said be fruitfull and multiplie and replenish the earth and subdue it having the grant of power given before vers 26. a very large grant a great charter of power given of God to man in his innocent state before his fall and transgression and the losse he and his posteritie and the whole earthly creation received thereby upon the whole it is said vers 31. and God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good The restoration it will be proportionable and also very good Adam so made was a very choice piece in the Image of God and in the likenes of God of great rectitude marvellous complete and happy by his transgression and disobedience he suffered great losse and damage as did his posterity and the whole earthly creatures and great enmitie attended them and much thraldom and miserie But at the happy time of our Lord Christ being sent from heaven again then there will be a blessed restitution and restoration of all things Then shall many be rechanged in a moment for the better as he was before for the worse then shall that mistery holy Paul hath shewed take place Then this vile body sinfull and corrupt shall be rechanged and made like his glorious body according to that full and clear testimony of holy Paul Phil. 3. 20. 21. from heaven we look for the saviour the Lord Jesus who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body pure serene and glorious without spot or wrinkle or any such thing as he will make his Church then also and this by changing in a moment by putting off and putting on putting off corruption and sin and putting on purity incorruption and holiness as it is written 1. Cor. 15. 53. 54. holy Paul tells us further 1. Thes 4. 16. of the Lord Christ himself in his own person he shall descend from heaven he did ascend as an Angel Acts. 1. 11. told the beholders and lookers after him when he so ascended and said this Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Even the same Jesus Christ as testifieth the Apostle Ephes. 4. 9. he shall again descend when God shall send him again at the time of the restitution of all things and then shall those believers found alive be changed in a moment into their former happy state with some happy additions of blessednes The old man so called which the servants of God are bidden to put off Eph. 4. 22. Which in this day of regeneration believers have been subduing and crucifying by the exercise of mortification and sanctification of the spirit and yet carry it to the grave with them they shall then be wholy rid of it in a moment in the twinking of an eye and shall then put on the new man indeed and be clothed very glorious by being so changed all new then relating to the servants of God as he from the throne said Rev. 21. 5. Behold I make all things new a new heaven a new earth a new Jerusalem come down from heaven a new covenant new bodyes new hearts and spirits new creatures all things new Adams upright and perfect condition as a man and the goodness of the earth and the creatures therein liked by God himself when he viewed them after he had made them is it is likely the standard and pattern according to which the restoration will be as it was at first before mans fall and the entring the curse so it is very like to be in the restoration In regard of man as man the change in a moment will effect it In that happy time when man will not only be as