so SOmething hath been said before concerning the great things that attend the coming of the Lord Christ and come to passe then as the restoration of all things Act. 3. 21. A new heaven and a new earth the raising the dead saints out of their graves the changing the living in a moment the beginning of the world to come with other things very many that have been mentioned before and may be further said after that are held forth in the prophecies and sayings in the holy scriptures relating to the latter day not yet fulfilled nor like to be in the full made good till that happy day in that blessed world to come of which we shall dilate a little In the former chapter we treated of what Ezekiel hath foretold Ezek. 36. Ezek. 37. Of the dry bones and the two stiks with the interpretation of the same The matter relating to Israels restoration and re-union and their full enjoyments of the promises made to Abraham Isaack and Jacob which had not been made good in Ezekiel his time but were after to be fully made good according as he declared which to this day hath not been made good and not very likely so fully to be so in any time yet to come in this world but much more probable to be made good then to the full when that nation shall be so born in one day and be no more two but one nation for ever they and their Childrens children for ever at that blessed day when the world to come shall take place when that of the redeemers coming to Sion and to such as turn or are turned from iniquity in Jacob hath its full fulfilling which is not very like to be till the Lord himself comes for he himself hath said ye shall not see me henceforth till the time come when ye shall say blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Luk. 23. 35. The lambs standing on Mount Sion with the sealed ones having their fathers name written on their foreheads and the singing the new song which none could learn but they that pure virgin state and being without fault before the throne of God it will not I conceive be so fully in this world but in that blessed world to come All those forementioned things will very fully contemporise with that blessed time and state without any allegorie interpretation or framing a spirituall notion to make the matter good for it will be even so in the letter visibly and be made good without the least failer Further that of the Prophet Isaiah is very considerable as to this matter Chap. 65. 17. where the new heaven and the new earth is held forth with a behold a great thing behold I create new heavens and a new earth vers 18. I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her people a joy And therefore in the beginning of the vers it is said be glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create for behold I create a very great thing so he goeth on to the end of chapter In Isa 66. 8. Who hath heard sach a thing shall a nation be born at once in a moment in the twinkling of an eye as those alive at the coming of the Lord shall be changed then As soon as Sion travelled she brought forth see the whole to the 22. vers And that in special in the 14. 15. 16. See if they do not eye the very time of the destroying of this world by fire and the taking place of the blessed world to come when the new heaven and the new earth will take place of which before And the certainty and stableness is confirmed by that vers 22. For as the new heavens and the new earth which I shall make shall remain before me saith the Lord so shall your seed and your name remain This comporteth with that Isa 59. 21. very considerable As for me this is my covenant with them saith the Lord my spirit that is upon thee being changed so and my words which I have put in thy mouth to wit of thanksgiving and praise shall not depart out of them mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed from henceforth and for ever And this I conceive relateth to the coming of the redeemer to Sion when all Israel shall be saved Rom. 11. 26. then as Isa 60. 1. arise and shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Jerusalems happy day will then be come We might mention much more of holy Isaiah for that he had great light in this matter and hath held forth much as in chap. 60. and so to the end of his prophecy which the reader may please to consider As likewise in divers other places which I forbear to mention lest we should be too large All that hath been said as to its full fulfilling seemeth to relate to the time of the world to come and the Israelites the seed of Abraham principally not excluding the gentile Saints from sharing in the blessedness of that day and walking in Jerusalems light when it shall be very great indeed The light of one day being from the sun then as the light of seven dayes Isa 30. 26. that that changing in a moment will effect it to the highest degree of being translated out of darkness into this marvelous light 1. Pet. 2. 9. In the next place we may take notice what the Prophet Ieremiah holds forth Ier. 30. 31. and 32. of which we shall dilate a little Ier. 30. 10. Iacob is bidden not to fear nor Israel to be dismayed for God will save them from afar and their seed from the land of their captivitie and Iacob shall return and be in rest and quiet and none shall make him afraid he goeth on with further promises and threatnings against the wicked then at the same time to wit in the latter days when God will perform the intents of his heart reade on to the 22th verse where he sums up all and they shall be my people and I will be their God very happy will their condition be for blessed is the people whose God is the Lord. Ier. 31. 1. he saith at the same time will I be the God of all the families of Israel and they shall be my people In an eminent wise they shall be so to God and he so to them a very great thing the one hundred forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel those sealed ones with their fathers name written on their foreheads will be so Gods people and God their God so The twelve thousand of every tribe and all Israel when they shall be saved by the coming of the deliverer to Sion and the two sticks according to Ezekiels vision and the interpretation of it one nation and no more two for ever but one born in a day changed in a moment then will God be their God and they his people so at that day So he
have given unto Jacob my servant wherein your fathers have dwelt to wit the land of Canaan and they sball dwell therein even they and their children and their childrens children for ever and my servant David shall be their prince for ever We may take knowledge of the great thing in vers 26. and to the end of the chapter as first a covenant of peace God will make with them then for a thousand years only no it shall be everlasting comporting with Psa 72. 7. In his days shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth God will set his sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore And as verse 17. He will have his Tabernacle amongst them as sometime he had of old wherein the glory of God was and a cloud covering of it and as it shall be when the new heavens and the new earth take place which holy John in Rev. 21. 3. holds forth with a behold as a great thing behold the Tabernacle of God is with men relating to the same time a great thing for God to dwell with men on earth as once he did and will do again then and further God be their God and they his people in a very eminent manner which crowns the whole And then as in vers 28. The heathens the unsaved of the nations shall know Gods favour and goodness to Israel and that it is he that doth sanctifie them when his sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore In chap. 36. 11. God sayth he will do better for them then at their beginning when they enjoyed so great things by vertue of his presence with them so as this prophecy clearly relates to the Israelites and by any thing yet appearing it hath never been made good and performed since Ezekiells time There was never such gathering and bringing out of their graves never such uniting as one nation nor have they had since his time one king over them so united David to wit Christ Gods servant hath never been king or prince over them never did they enjoy such an happy and blessed estate never did they and their children and their childrens children dwell in the promised land for ever neither was Gods sanctuary and Tabernacle planted in the midst of them since Ezekiels time to this day All must be fulfilled and made good so declared by Ezekiel without the least fayler And although much of this may be fulfilled before and more especially when the Jewes are returned to their own land and converted yet there is no time so likely for it to have its full and utmost fulfilling as at the coming of the redeemer When all Israel shall be saved at that happy time of the restoration of all things which God hath spoken c. In the time of the new earth the dwelling of the righteous and saved people in the world to come wherein there will be incorruption and immortalitie and everlasting life And if any shall think it may have its fulfilling sooner even in this day and in this world and especially before the time comes of the Jewes return and conversion and shall think to make it out by allegorising and a spiritual meaning and saying that all or most of this is come and done already within them so drawing a vale over this great prophecy it will signifie little for that no happy attainer sooner will any wayes hinder the full and final fulfilling then all other fulfillings falling short of that time in comparison will be imperfect and one jot or title must not fail thereof That in Rev. 7. seemeth very much the same and to comport with what we have been treating of before concerning the changed in a moment and these so sealed as likely to be one and the same and concurring also in the time in order to the things attending the coming of the Lord Christ and in holding forth the first-ship or preheminence of the Israelites the seed of Abraham It is declared that an Angel having the seal of the living God the Apostle Paul tells us what that seal is 2. Tim. 2. 19. this Angel vers 2. he cryeth to the Four Angels appointed to hurt the earth to forbear the doing of it till he had sealed the servants of God in their forheads so as being sealed or marked in their foreheads they thus might be known at least to the Angels that were to hurt the earth The words are hurt not the earth neither the sea nor the trees the words are short but very comprehensive till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads This hurting the earth in my apprehension is likely to relate to that great burning spoken of at the end of the world and the judgements that should attend it before and after it being like the proceed Ezek. 9. 4. of marking the mourners before the going forth of the Angel to destroy And being compared with that in Rev. 22. 4. It will inform us where and when this sealing and marking will be In the earth at the great burning of the then world at the coming of the Lord Christ and the restoration and new earth as before Holy John Vers. 4. Having heard the number declares it to be One hundred and fourty and four thousand in the whole sum of them so sealed or marked to be as before And that number was made up of all the tribes of Israel twelve thousand of every tribe wherein there is much of union one nation then and there is much of equalitle it seemeth to eye that of Ezekiel about the dividing the inheritance by Lot in the holy land to all the tribes as set forth in Ezek. 48. very considerable but dark as yet and also it speaks forth that preheminence will be to Israel Gods nation they as Noah and his family were of the old world and were reserved to be the first inhabitants of this present world so those then sealed and not dying but living are those that shall be the inhabitants of and have preheminence above the gentile believers then living and changed and also partakers thereof in the world to come and so be alive in both as Noah and his family were Not hereby excluding the raised saints from their great interest and share therein then it being sayd vers 9. After this I beheld and to a great multitude which no man could number hapily the gentle believers then changed and all that have slept in Christ since the creation and fall of all nations and kinreds and people and tongues stood before the throne and before the lamb clothed with white Robes they had changed and put off the old robes of corruption and put on new of incorruption and purity and had Palms in their hands Much felicity and abundance of peace Psal 72. 7. and as followeth vers 10. They cryed with a loud voice saying salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb Of the sealed ones
away and be changed as a vesture Psal 102. 26. They shall also be forgotten and not remembred amongst the many things there held forth vers 23. It is sayd they shall not labour in vain nor bring forth to wit children for trouble for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord and their off-spring with them There are other things in the chapter as to the full fulfilling of them relating to that time of the restoration when our Lord shall again come from heaven which may be mentioned after Take we further knowledge of that Isai 11. 6. That very high prophecy in order to the restoration of all things speaking in the former part of the Lord Christ and the happiness then vers 6. He sayeth the woolf shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kidd and the calfe and the young lion and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them vers 7. And the cow and the bear shall feed their young ones shall lie down together and the lion shall eat straw like the Oxe Vers. 8. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the Asp and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice Den. And as it is sayd vers 9. none shall hurt or destroy then no not these devouring creatures at that happy time of the restoration of all things the prophecy is very high that we have mentioned And that which followeth speaks forth a wonderful change in the creature and that their hurtfulnes and devouring nature will then be taken away by the restoration and they made harmlesse as at their first making so as that will then be that followeth vers 9. They shall not hurt nor destroy not these in the new earth in all my holy mountain But as to that of seed and offspring then here is a little child and a sucking child here is a weaned childe very likely to be such then at that happy time of the restoration and change when the groaning creatures under their present bondage shall be freed and be delivered into the glorious liberty of the sons of God Rom. 8. 21. which as they are capable they shall enjoy and be made partakers of That of Ezekiel is very considerable Ezek. 36. 37. Ezek. 37. 25. Speaking concerning their dwelling in their own land the land of promise to Abraham he sayth thus And ye shall dwell in the land I have given to Jacob my servant wherein your fathers have dwelt and they shall dwell therein even they and their children and their childrens children for ever And my servant David shall be their prince for ever Veri 27. I will make a covenant of peace with them and multiply them and set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore Was there ever such a thing such an attayner by Israelites since Ezekiels time or is there like to be short of that day any such full fulfilling as may answer what he hath said the Jewish monarchy or kingdom of stone which some are strong in their thoughts for as having much of scripture for it as they judge which I shall not meddle with here it is reckoned short but for forty or five and forty years will that amount to make good to the full what he hath said they shall dwell in it and their children and their childrens children for ever And hath David Gods servant to wit Christ been or is he in his person like to be a prince or ruler in this old world for ever is it not more like to be in the world to come in the day of the restoration let the wise in heart consider Having held forth something concerning the restoration and change of man and the creatures according to what is held forth in the holy scriptures and the prophecyes therein conteyned it may be necessary to take a little notice and see what is spoken concerning the place where they will have their aboad and being then at the restoration The prophet Isaiah chap. 65. 17. He tells us of a new earth for behold I create a new heaven and a new earth for which the servants of God in the verse following are bidden to be glad and rejoyce Holy Peter likewise tells us 2. Pet. 3. 13. That we according to his promise look for a new heaven and a new earth wherein shall dwell righteousnes to wit righteous men and things Holy John he tells us Rev 21. 1. Of a new heaven and a new earth which he saw This newnes it will be by a restoration and change Psal 102. 27. speaking of the old he sayth they shall perish and wax old as a garment as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed and as before made new for the servants of God the seed of Abraham to inhabit and dwell in for they shall be changed and continue and dwell there see vers 28. It seemeth to be prophetical and speaks out much the children of thy servants shall continue and their seed shall be established before thee Even in the new earth for till then they shall continue to make good the prophecy then shall that be made good in the new earth Isa 60. 21. Thy people shall be all righteous they shall inherit the land for ever This planting it will be of God himself for his own glory the changed in a moment will be such righteous ones a blessed plantation indeed where no polluter or polluted shall enter or be found Rev. 21. 27. There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth the meek they shall inherit the earth Math. 5. 5. The restoration will effect great things for the better as Adam his sin and transgression did for the worse which will be removed and done away it was said by the Lord Gen. 3. 17. 18. 19. Cursed is the earth or ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eat thereof all the dayes of thy life thorns and thistles shall it bring forth in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return to the ground c. A very sore curse and punishment a change greatly for the worse it not being so before as it will not be then when the restoration takes place and the change for the better so greatly all things made new and restored as at first The curse taken off no curse there then Rev. 22. 3. as now none of the bitter fruits of transgression and the curse that attended man and the creatures as sorrow and pain sickness and want hard labour and toyl for bread barrenness of the earth and thorns and thistles and want of all good things all removed and taken away with the curse at this happy restoration of all things wherein the land of promise To Abraham and his seed to Jacob and his called Israelites Gen. 35. 12. The land I gave Abraham and Isaack to thee will I give it and to thy seed after thee will I give the land This
be given to the saints for they shall reign with him Rev. 20. 4. 6. of which more after But to proceed in a gradual way and take knowledge of what the holy scripture holds forth as relating to and eyeing that happy time before mentioned we may take knowledge of father Jacobs blessing of Judah his son Gen. 49. 8. His hand should be on the neck of his enemies his fathers children should bow before him Vers. 10. The scepter shall not depart from Judah c. We may also take notice of Balaams prophecy Numb 24. 7. 8. see the place the height and fulness is like to be then see like wise vers 17. 18. 19. All held forth which I forbear to set down relateth to a time afarr off and not nigh Vers. 17. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have the dominion a wonderfull time it relateth unto for as vers 23. Who shall live when God doth this he will he will do it Then in the dayes of the dominion and reign of the Lord Christ shall that be fulfilled Psal 15. acknowledged and stiled a Psalm of Christs kingdom vers 14. In stead of thy fathers thou shalt have or there shall be children whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth to wit fully so in the new earth I will make thy name to be remembred in all generations therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever Psal 49. 14. Eyeing the resurrection when death feedeth on the wicked in the grave the righteous shall arise and have the day the dominion in that very morning likewise will that be made good then Psal 149. 9. To have power to execute the vengeance that is written it is sayd this honour have all the saints to share with the Lord Christ their blessed saviour and redeemer their king and governor sure enough to be true and made good then In the next place take we knowledge of what holy Isaiah sayth Isa 60. 12. The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee to wit Isrnel shall perish yea those nations shall be utterly wasted vers 14. The sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet and shall call thee the city of the Lord. That this relateth to the time of Christ and his kingdom few deny We shall proceed to that eminent place Dan. 7. It is after the fourth kingdom or monarchy see what is sayd vers 18. But the saints of the most high to wit the Israelites especially shall take and possesse the kingdom for ever even for ever and ever very great durations not yet begun it is likely but will fully be fulfilled at the restoration when our Lord Christ shall be sent the second time then the saints shall fully take and possesse the kingdom Vers. 22. And the ancient of days came and judgement was given to the saints of the most high And the time came that the Paints possessed the kingdom Some build the fifth Monarchy or kingdom of the stone on this and other the like scriptures apprehending it will be in this world before the restoration and change we have treated of which I leave to the day to declare whether it will be so or no but what holy Daniel hath foretold will surely be made good even that vers 27. And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the most high whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey him that is their governour There can be nothing more full and plain only the time is to be waited for and very like it will be fully fulfilled when our Lord Christ fully takes to him his power and reigns at the happy restoration of all things I shall mention no more out of the old testament Our Lord Christ in the new hath told us that his kingdom is not of this world Joh. 18. 36. neither as I apprehend is or to be in this world save in a spiritual consideration as the gospel and gospel dispensations as the spirit and word and the fruits of the spirit righteousness peace and joy with faith and love c. though some apprehend from those words in the latter part of that verse but now is my kingdom not from hence or then to be set up in this world the emphasis of the words as they conceive lying in the word but now that his kingdom will begin to be set up in this world before his personal coming but I leave it as not being the subject matter of this discourse but that is clear another thing that we are treating of from his kingdom in a spiritual consideration only It is dominion kingdom and power outward and visible which our treaty is of this our Lord hath not taken to him as yet he hath not taken to him his great power and kingdom he is gone to fetch it when he comes he will bring it with him Luk. 19. 12. 15. 2. Tim. 4. 7. And then he will fully set it up and reign gloriously in the midst of his enemies It is much in my apprehension that any should think the saints of the most high should reign and have kingdom and power and dominion before the Lord Christ that would answer the prophecyes in the holy Scriptures and be a fulfilling of them but I conceive though some so think and say yet most of them that judge Christs kingdom will begin to be set up in this world before his personal coming do not apprehend that the prophecyes on that account will have their full fulfilling therein nor will be so fulfilled till he so comes Our Lord Christ tels his followers that continued with him in his temptations Luk. 22. 28 29. 30. And I appoint unto you a kingdom as my father hath appointed unto me that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom when it comes and he reigns in it and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel Minde we that in Math. 25. 24. come ye blessed of my father inherit the kingdom prepared for you c. When will this be when he shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him and shall fit on the throne of his glory it will be then that the Saints of the most high God will be so advanced and dignified so impowered to judge know ye not saith the Apostle 1. Cor. 6. 2. that the Saints shall judge the world yea and Angels also vers 3. the world have judged and wrongfully many times condemned them and they have been for Christs sake killed all the day long Rom. 8. 36. it will be otherwise then they shall judge them that injuriously condemned them then the Saints shall have the day and what Daniell hath told shall come to passe that the dominion and greatness of the kingdom under the