years which cannot be understood of eternall life For the thousand years of Satans binding and of the kingdom of the Saints with Christ are the same as we have formerly proved XXI Object The War which Satan after his thousand appointed years being let loose hath made by Gog and Magog that is by the Turk * that Eastern Antichrist against the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City that is The Christian Church for 500 years and more with great successe even unto this day took it's beginning from the Holy Warre first raised by Gregory the 7 Pope of Rome by them who wore the Signe of the Crosse the end of which indeed shall not be before the last Judgement wherein the Beast with the false Prophet shall at length be cast into the Lake of fire And the Catastrophe or issue shall prove lamentable to all the enemies of the Church because the fire shall devour them Answ. This idle Glosse or Exposition may be confuted out of what I have said in the Analysis or unfolding of this Chapter and in answer to the 9 Objection This in brief The Beast with the false Prophet is thrown into the Lake of fire before those thousand years and those thousand yeers being finished the Warre of Gog begins Compare Revel. 19.20 with 20 7. Again Gog and Magog do not signifie the Turke But by this manner of speaking are figured out enemies of all kindes who by their incursions annoy or trouble the Church as before we have made it plain XXIII Object In every vision except the first the description of the last Judgement is set down in the Revelation more obscurely indeed in the former but in the latter more clearly because all the visions are terminated in the end of the world that the godly being injured may expect the day of their deliverance and occasion of security may quite be taken away from the mockers Wherefore it makes nothing which they say that Revel. 19.21 The peculiar destruction of Antichrist is described which shall not be in the last judgement but before those thousand years Answ. 1. The Antecedent is denyed For in the second Vision which ends with the 6. chapter a description of the last judgement is not set down but some particular judgement to be executed about that time which figures out the last judgement 2. The Text of Revel. 19. and the last manifestly argueth that that vision is not terminated with the last judgement 3. If however in every vision except the first a description of the last judgement were set down yet it would not be otherwise then by interruption or breaking of the present discourse and so no essentiall part of the matter in hand and consequently no way contradict or weaken this our opinion XXIV Object The 20 Chapter of the Revelation containeth a Vision which is the summe of all the foregoing visions and a succinct and brief iteration of the whole prophesie so often repeated which is divided into three parts In the first is the blessed state of the Church for a good space of time after the first coming of Christ which is expressed in the first Seal In the second are described the painfull labours and calamities wherewith the Church shall afterwards wrestle Of which in the third and fourth Seals and in the third fourth fifth and sixth Trumpets In the third is set down the joyfull deliverance thereof and the destruction of her adversaries with the end and Consummation of all as before in the sixth Seal and the seventh Trumpet and seventh Viall But especially in this Vision the punishment of the Devill himself is expressed when as in the former the destruction of his Ministers onely and his followers was set forth Hence therefore we may perceive that they are wide the whole Heaven as they say who out of this Chapter do erect I know not what happynesse of the Church which is yet to come here on earth for a thousand years Answ. This whole distribution or disposition of the Revelation and namely of the 20 Chapter which is here proposed is absurd and manifestly obscures the Revelation See what we have formerly discoursed up and down and namely the 1. Sect. Of the connexion of this 20 Chapter with the whole Systeme or entire body of the Revelation Briefly let this Maxime be observed The Divine Revelation from the departure of Iohn to the end of the world distinctly figureth out the State of the Church and the Ages thereof by Seâ—ls Trumpets Vialls and the following visions So that all these succeed one another in a most beautifull order and not one and the same thing is represented by divers visions For it doth not suite with that Majestique manner of teaching which the Holy Ghost observeth that in one and the same Prophesie he should propose so many visions of one and the same thing XXV Object No where in Scripture iâ— there any mention of these thousand years but in this place onely Therefore it is very likely That these thousand years signifie meerly a Great time so that a certain number is put for an uncertain Answ. 1. Here is no consequence It is but once mentioned in Scriptures Therefore it must not be taken litterally For also she Lxx. weeks of Daniel are but once mentioned and yet that number Lxx. is litterally expounded so that it is taken for a certain finite and determined number 2. This phrase {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the thousand years is severall times repeated in this place Which repetition is not without some cause 3. From many testimonies of Scripture a a little before propounded and expounded from divers Arguments recited in the first Classis or distribution and compared with them places of Scripture it manifestly appears That the happy state of the Church for these thousand years is described in this Chapter XXVI Object The number of a thousand is the number of perfection Therefore these thousand years in this place do denote the fulnesse of time but are not to be taken literally Answ. 1. This is an Argument from a particular A thousand sometimes denotes perfection Therefore in this place 2. That the letter is here to be retained it is more then abundantly already proved XXVII Object The division of the Church into Militant and Triumphant opposeth this opinion of the future happinesse of the Church here on earth for a thousand years where by the Militant Church is understood that part thereof which in this life is subject to the Crosse and Persecution By the Triumphant iâ— meant the whole Church in as much as after this life it shall reign with Christ in Heaven Answ. 1. The Warfare of the Church is not to be restrained to the persecution to which now it is subject but it is to be extended to the Spirituall combate and wrestling which while it lives here it hath triall of from the lusts of the flesh Although therefore for these thousand years it shall have
no Warfare under the Banner of the Crosse yet the Spirit will have need to strive and War against the Flesh 2. The Triumph of the Church is either in part or totall particular or universall begun or consummate For oftentimes it happeneth That we triumph in this life over the flesh the world and the devill Neither are we therefore said to be in the Triumphant Church as which is so called from her totall universall and consummate Triumph So although the Church for a thousand years have some kinde of Triumph here on earth yet it shall not be sincere and perpetuall and therefore by many degrees inferiour to that Triumph from whence the Church in the life to come is called Triumphant XXVIII Object The maintainers and Patrons of this opinion do Iudaizâ— that is follow the Jewish Traditions therefore to be found fault with Answ. Therefore also the Scripture doth Iudaizâ— See the Places a little before brought out of the Scripture Moreover we generally entertain too mean a conceit of the conversion of the Iews because being over-much addicted and carried away with Scholasticall trifles we weigh not at all the Mysteries which are propounded in the Scriptures XXIX Object The Church as long as it is here on earth is under the Crosse Therefore no such happinesse thereof can be expected as may last for a thousand years Answ. The Antecedent is a vulgar Axiome or Position but not proved neither indeed is it to be proved as appears by what we have urged in severall places of this our Discourse XXX Object These thousand years begin in the year 1517. For then began Antichrist to be revealed Then also were the two Witnesses raised Finally from that time the light of the Gospel hath been spread abroad far and wide and Satan bound up more and more Answ. The Proeme or Prologue is confounded with the principall Act as it will appear if the History of that time be compared with Revel. 20 and our Exposition XXXI Object It is the common opinion of Divines That the last Judgement is even at the door That opinion then of a thousand years is dangerous because it makes people secure Answ. 1. It is not the opinion of all Divines 2. This supposition is erroneous And therefore I may use that saying * Not to enstave our selves to suppositions 3. No place of Scripture teacheth us that the last Judgement is at hand Nay some places of Scripture teach quite the contrary Hereto belongs what Cotterius saith upon the 20 chap. of the Revel. To the year of Christ 1517 adde 1000 so you shall make 2517 at which time at length Satan shall the second time draw the Nations into abominable heresies Neither is there any reason why this should trouble any ones minde as if we put off the day too long For I demand out of what place of Scripture we have search it That this day shall be within these two or three Ages Surely we have but perswaded our selves so because we would have it so But I will beleeve the Revelation which verily not in one place puts the last day off for a thousand years In the 16 chap. you have Vialls the first of which leaves behinde it the Epocha of the year 1517 as not finished And these Vialls require some Ages for their pouring out and not fewer then tenne In which words of Cotterius I do mightily approve of it that he weakens that vulgar opinion concerning the end of the world That it is at hand But what is there said concerning the Epocha or beginning of our account of 1000 years as also of the Vialls may be confuted out of what hath gone before It is an evill kinde of teaching either by way of exhorting or dehorting which is grounded upon a ruinous and false foundation as this which is drawn from the day of the last Judgement as if it were even at the door Neither indeed do we reade That the Apostles ever argued in this manner XXXII Object This Opinion of the thousand years as it is here explained doth as it were lâ—ade us by the hand to the day of the last Judgement yet notwithstanding Christ in the 13 of Mark v. 32. affirms That of that day and that hour no man knoweth 〈◊〉 not the Angels which are in Heaven neither the Son himself but the Father onely And Act. 1.7 It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father hath put in his own power Answ. 1. No man can exactly set down or define the day of the last Judgement For although by comparing Daniel and the Revelation it may appear That the last day shall not come before the 2694 yeer of Christ yet by no means or way possible can it be found out in what year after this Period or set time it shall come 2. What God hath reserved to himself alone we cannot nor ought not to search after or determine But this Period of 2694 years he hath expressed in his Word XXXIII Object It is absurd to thinke that the Martyrs shall rise again to this mortall life for this will be but an ignoble change and for the worse as it is in the Proverbe gold for brasse by reason that the souls of the Martyrs do now reign in Heaven and their bodies rest in the earth free from their labours Now if they rise again to this mortall life they must endure the enterchange or vicissitude of times as of day and night Sommer and Winter and must be made subject to the necessity of eating drinking and the like Answ. 1. Lazarus and those Saints who rose again at the time of Christ's Passion were brought again after long absence here from life eternall into this mortall life notwithstanding they lost not their happinesse hereby 2. The state of the Martyrs shall consist of a happy Kingdom in this life which shall not any way be discommodated by those things which formerly are objected as we see the like things no way hindered Adam in the state of his innocency from the full enjoying of perfect happinesse XXXIV Object Christ in the end of the world shall burn up the â—ares therefore still in the Militant Church there sâ—â—ll be the bad mingled with the good which is to be denyed in so happie a condition of the Church for these thousand years Answ. Nay rather not be denied For neither shall the men who for all that time shall live on earth be so blessed that either they themselves shall be voyd of sinnes or seperated from the company of sinners It shall not be so There shall be a great difference between the happinesse of these thousand years and that of everlasting life The godly men then except the Martyrs for the whole space of these thousand years shall be subject both to sin and death and shall have the wicked intermix't with them But there shall be no such matter in the life Eternall XXXV Object The Church is sufficiently reformed Therefore no
be welcome to us because it contains the last Divine Revelation of Gods will after which no Prophecy following is to be expected and because this Book is very profitaâ—le in this Age in which the lively performance of things hitherto abstruse and concealed is presented before our eyes 2. Of the Subject of this Chapter THis Chapâ—er discourseth of the singular happinesse of the Church both under it's Warfare and Triumph The singular happinesse of the Church during it's warfare or being militant is let down in three respects 1. In its security from the hostile incursions of the wicked for a 1000 yeers 2. In the resurrection of the Martyrs before the generall resurrection 3. In the wonderfull dâ—livâ—rance of the godly from the last persecution of the wicked which shall happen after those thousand yeers The happinesse of the Church Triumphant is hâ—re described so farre forth as the beginning of its Triumph in the last Iudgement That these things may be made more plain I will from the very beginning make a repetition of the state of the Church here upon earth and I will say something briefly concerning the State and condition thereof in Heaven The State of the Church hereupon earth was either that before the fall of the first man and that was wholly Legall or that after the fall and this is wholly Evangelicall Again The State of the Church after the fall is either Internall and perpetuall or Externall and temporall The State of the Church Internall and perpetuall consists in the Union and Communion with Christ as also in the enlightning and guidance of the Spirit Isa. 54.5 Hos. 2.15 19 20. Iob. 6.56 1 Cor. 6 17. Eph. 5.30 1 Cor. 10.17 2 Cor. 11.2 Eph. 3.6 Gal. 3.28 Câ—l 3.15 Hence it is that the Church is one Holy and Invincible The Externall or temporall State of the Church is as well under the Crosse and Persecution as Light and Comfort or refreshing which two changes the Church undergoes here on earth by turns as well under the Old Testament as the New and that either more or lesse For Adam and Eve after their most grievous fall were raised up again by the most sweet promise of the Gospel and after they had begot Cain and Abel and their Sisters they were comforted with this Infancy as it were and first foundation of the Church But no small grief followed hard upon this joy when as Cain slew his brother Abel However this breach was made up again in Seth whose posterity propagated the Church although not without grievous persecution by the race of Cain which had an end put unto it by the delâ—ge in the yeer of the world 1656. From whence the Church was enlarged to the yeer 1757 without any notable persecution which at that time the building of the Tower of Babel brought and hence sprung the division of Languages In the yeer of the world 2023 the Church was contracted into the Posterity of Abraham only And here begin the four hundred and thirty yeers dwelling of the Israelites in Egypt where Abraham Isaac Iacob and Ioseph underwent manifold changes both of prosperity and affliction And their posterity after the death of Ioseph was detained under a most horrid slavery from the yeer of the world 2360 even to yeer 2453 in which the Israelites were brought out of Egypt From which time to the yeer 2493 they had experience of divers blessings and judgements of God in the Wildernesse Now after they were brought into the Land of Canaan which happened in the yeer of the world 2493. Iosuah with very good successe for the six first yeers conquered the Canaanites vanquishing one and thirty Kings After the death of Iosuah to the yeer of the world 2879 the Israâ—lites were vexed with divers slaveries and persecutions and rescued from the same by severall Judges namely Deborah Gedâ—on Samson and Samuel And now the Kingly power being established in the dayes of Saul or yeer 2879 the Church presently in the very beginning thereof suffered persecution from Saul himself After that it underwent divers chanceâ— and changes namely under David and Solomon it exceedingly flourished under Rehoboam it suffered a great losâ—e ten Tribes falling of to Ieroboam By occasion whereof a most sad rent of the Kingdom happened the Church by little and little degenerating in Israel whose ten Tribes under Hoshea in the yeeâ— of the world 3228. were led away into a most grievous and yet continuing captivity as farre as the Col. hi Iberi c. As for the Church remaining in the Kingdom of Iuda it had severall entercourses of deformation as well as reformation of calamities as well as victories unto the yeer 3350. in which began the Babylonian captivity continuing Lxx yeers In the yeer 3419 Cyrus released this captivity giving the Iews free leave to return into their Country and to establish their own Laws and Religion as farre as their own Country did reach But not withstanding this Priviledge of using their own Laws was many wayes interrupted untill the yeer 3527 that is for 107 yeers From which time to the yeer 3781. the Church of the Iews enjoyed happy and Halcyonian dayes under the Persians and in like manner under Alexander the Great But under the Successors of Alexander especially the Kings of Syria they were divers wayes afflicted untill in the yeer of the world 3783 and so downward the Maccabees fought with happy successe for their Religion and possessions From the yeer 3887. Iudea was laid wast and severall wayes oppressed by the Romans and Parthians so that the whole State thereof was exceedingly troubled Let us now come to the estate of the Church of the New Testament which we will divide into four periods The first period is of the Church of the godly Iews in Iudea from the time of Iohn the Baptist to the Councell of Ierusalem that is from the yeer of the world 3948. to the fiftieth yeer of Christ In all which space of time Christ was born Baptism instituted Iohn put to death the twelve Apostles and Lxx. Disciples called by Christ Christ himself suffered the Holy Ghost was powred out upon the Apostles the Apostles were whipped for their bold preaching of the Doctrine of Christ c. The seâ—ond period is of the Church spread over the whole world and contains the calling and conversion of most nations from the 51. yeer of Christ to the beginning of the thousand yeers And this period hath four branches I. Under the Henthâ—n Roman Emperours till Constâ—ntine the Great 's time wherein the Church was propagated under divers Persecutions of which tenne were more notable from the 64. yeer of Christ to the 3â—3 II. Under Christian Emperours from Constantine the Great to Phocas in which time it was adorned with divers priviledgâ—s by Constantine the Great and other godly Princes yet so That notwithstanding it felt great persecutions by the Arians by Iulian by the Persians Sandals Gothâ—â— c. to the yeer of Christ
now it hath as also the Majesty or glory thereof shall appear joyned with an absolute and sincere joy All which are here and there to be found in the places quoted and are unfolded in the following Questions And this is that happy condition and estate of the Church which shall be in this life and shall last for a thousand years And it consisteth of these Parts 1. Of the Resurrection of the Martyrs and of rheir Reign here upon Earth 2. Of the increase of the Church and multitude thereof through the conversion of the Gentiles and Iews 3. Of the setting of the Church at liberty from the persecution of Enemies thereof by the small destruction of them 4. Of the continuall and lasting peace thereof 5. Of the Reformation of the same both in doctrine and life 6. Of the Majesty and great glory thereof 7. Of it 's true and sincere Ioy The fourth Period of the Church of the New Testament is from the end of the Thousand yeares to the last Judgement In which time the estate of the Church shall be very miserable by reason of the War of Gog and Magog unto which Christ shall put an end by his glorious coming to the generall Judgement Revel. 20.3.7 8 9 10. And thus we have described the estate of the Church of the old and new Testament here upon earth The estate of the Church in heaven is of perfect glory everlasting triumph absolute regeneration exact illumination and unspeakable joy And this is the full Doctrine concerning the Estate of the Church which we thus set forth The State of the Church is either On Earth Before the fall of man fully happy After the fall and is either Internall perpetuall and common to all places and times in respect of the Elect in generall Externall temporall and proper and it is either of the Old Testament under Patriarches Iudges Kings Divers kindes of Government after the Babylonian captivity New Testament where are 4 periods 1. Of the Jews to the yeare of Christ 51. 2. Of the Gentiles under Emperours Roman Heathen Christian untill Phocas Popes of Rome Fully exercising their power Suffering some abatement thereof 3. Of Jews and Gentiles for a 1000 yeares 4. Of the same after those 1000 yeares finished In Heaven where is the Beginning of the triumph in the last Judgement Consummation thereof in life Eternall The Affections of this manifold Estate are thus delineated The Estate of the Church is either of One kinde to wit Onely happy On Earth Before the fall For the 1000. yeers now at hand In Heaven Onely unhappy by reason of severall persecutions Already past before these 1000. yeares To come after these 1000. yeares Divers kindes to wit partly happy partly unhappy or temporate and lyable to the enterchange of temporall felicity or calamity Of the Connexion of this Chapter with the former IOHN in his Revelation which he received from God in the yeare of Christ 94. after the Preface chap. 1 to the 9 verse describes seven generall Visions in this order The first Vision is of the seven golden Candlesticks and of so many Starres and it is concerning the present and future estate of the seven Churches in Asia in the 1 2 3 chapters The second Vision is of the Book shut up and signed with seven Seals in the 4 5 6 chapters And it is concerning the estate of the Church of the new Testament after the departure of Iohn to the yeare of Christ 606. The third Vision is of the seven Trumpets in the 8 9 10 11 chapters and it is concerning the state of the Church from the year of Christ 606 to the year 1517. The fourth Vision is of the woman bringing forth a childe and of the Dragon of the Beast and the Lamb in the 12 13 14 chapters And it is partly a description of the Birth of Christ partly a recapitulation and exposition of the second and third Visions and concerning the estate of the Church of the New Testament from the Nativity of Christ to the yeare 1517. The fifth Visiion is of the seven Vials in the 15 and 16 chapters of which the three former are poured forth from the year of Christ 1517 to the year 1625. the four following shall be poured forth from the year 1625 to the year of Christ 1694. in which the 1000 years seem to begin The sixth Vision is partly of the punishments as well those which are peculiarly appointed for the Whore and her worshipyers before the beginning of the 1000 years in the 17 18 19. chapters as also those which shall be inflicted upon all the enemies of the Church Partly of the future happinesse of the Church here upon earrh in the 20 chapter from the 1 uerse to the 7. After the end of those years chap. 20. the 7 and following verses The seventh Vision is of the Heavenly City chap. 21 22. II. The Sum of this Chapter AFter that the Evangelist hath related what happened to the first Beast and the false Prophet and their followers chap. 19. verse 20 21. He tells you now what happened to the Dragon himself For the Mystery of Iniquity being overthrown and due punishments inflicted upon the first Beast and the false Prophet the Angel descends from Heaven and being endowed with great Power he takes order that the Dragon that is Satan should not any more by the ministery of ungodly men stirre up those accustomed troubles in the Church Militant Wherefore there being no place left him any longer for his wonted impostures but bound up in the bottomlesse pit for a thousand years the Nations are not seduced â—y him untill being loosned out of prison he again makes use of his old Engines and Stratagems against the Church Therefore for the space of those whole 1000 years the Church shall enjoy outward peace the Martyrs being raised from the dead and the Nations together with the Jews being converted to the Faith of Christ Now after the end of these thousand years Satan is again let loose and the Church by reason of the Warre of Gog and Magog made sensible of more grievous afflictions then she had suffered in former times At length he being again thrust into the bottomlesse pit together with all his forces and power the Saints shall for ever reign with Christ III. The Analysis of the Chapter ANd that is After that For {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is to be taken transitively here in this sense After that I had seen the Beast and the false Prophet thrown into the Lake burning with Bâ—imstone and the rest slain with the sword of him that sate upon the horse and all birds satisfied with the flesh of them I saw these things which now follow I saw that is In the Spirit or extasie of my minde Compare Revel. 1.10 An Angel A good Spirit a Minister of the Judgements of God such as were in the former Visions Therefore neither Christ nor any Doctor of the Church is
and troubled Verse 7 8 9 10. 3. Is concerning the throne of Christ the Judge Vers. 11. 4. Is concerning the Vniversall Judgement and the processe thereof Verse 12 13 14 15. IV. The Paraphrase of the Chapter THe condition and estate of the Militant Church being laid open unto me from the yeer of Christ 94 together with the temptations and assaults wherewith it was shaken the labours wherewith it was afflicted the deliverances whereby it was freed the Victory whereby it was ennobled but specially and last of all the fall of Babylon being foretold and declared 1. I saw in my extasie a good Angel the Minister of the Judgements of God such as I had seen in my former Visions Him I say I saw coming down from the heaven of the blessed who had by God entrusted to him the key of the bottomlesse pit of hell that according to the appointment of God he might shut and open it also a great chain in his hand wherewith he might binde some powerfull enemy 2. This Angel laid hold of the Dragon that infernall old Serpent who from the beginning vomited forth his poyson upon man-kinde and deceived them with his winding Sophismes who is both the Devill slandering God before men and on the other side men before God who is also Satan the adversary of God and men of Nature in generall and of the Church This Deceiver being found and apprehended in his Sophistry and Tyranny the good Angel bound with his chain and that for a thousand Solar years and commonly used in the generall course of life 3. Neither was it enough for him to binde him but moreover he cast him being bound and threw him headlong into the bottomlesse pit and being thrown down thither he shut him up and being shut up he sealed the Cover of the bottomlesse pit lest breaking forth by any means he might seduce partly to Idolatry partly to the persecution of the Church any more as he had done before the Nations as well Jews as Gentiles untill the thousand yeers are finished For afterwards he must God so appointing it be Ieâ— loose out of his prison for a short time which God hath limitted and which shall not befor a thousand yeers as the time of his binding and his being shut up was 4. A joyfull Catastrophe or issue shall follow this Tragedy of the Dragon For I saw Thrones set in order and and Christ with his holy Angels sate upon them For unto these power was given to judge partly by giving and executing sentence partly by approving thereof I saw also the souls of them who were beheaded and tormented with innumerable kinds of punishments not indeed for their own offences but for the testimony which they gave concerning Christ the Son of God and onely Advocate of the Church and for the Word of God which they had boldly maintained against the corruptions of men and who had not worshipped that second Beast which I made mention of that I saw it before nor the image of that Beast which is two-fold both in respect of doctrine and life neither had received his mark in their foreheads publikely making shew and witnessing by their words that they belonged to the family of the Beast Lastly they had not so much 〈◊〉 received this mark in their hands expressing the same either in their life manners or actions Such at these lived their bodies being raised again and restored to life Neither did they only live again but also reigned in the Church freed now from Persecutions with Christ that King of kings for a thousand years 5. But the rest of the dead as well the godly who before these 1000 yeers received not the Crown of Martyrdom as the ungodly lived not again till the thousand yeers were finished And this is the first Resurrection due onely to them as a â—rerogative who above others have glorified the Lord Christ in their bodies nothing terrified with the threats curses and torments of men 6. These Martyrs therefore who have their part in the first Resurrection are deservedly esteemed happy above others as also peculiarly separated and set aside by God for the receiving of such a reward For the second death shall have no power over them By reason that though they live the second time here upon earth yet they shall no more by any sin engage themselves so that they need to fear any danger of an eternall death For they shall be here upon earth Priests of God and of Christ not of this world and they shall reigne with Christ not as the kings of the Nations but in the Majesty of the Spirit for these thousand yeers 7. Now when these thousand yeers shâ—â—â— be fulfilled the happinesse of the Church shall on the sudden begin to fail here on earth For Satan in an instant shall be â—et loose out of his prison in which he was most carefully kept for those thousand yeers 8. But being thus set at liberty he shall not rest so but shall return to his old game and so he shall go forth that he may the more freely seduce the Nations which are in the four corners of the earth towards the East and towards the West towards the North and the South Now he shall not onely by heresies of all kindes lead on the blinde world to Apostasie or falling away from the faith but also he shall behave himself as a Captain or Leader to bring on a grievous Persecution upon the Church stirring and raising up against it Gog and Magog the sworn enemies thereof and of God himself such as were of old those people who under these names were bitter enemies to the Iews And having thus stirred them up he shall gather them together to Batteâ—â— farre more cruell and bloody then hath been from the beginning of the world For men shall enter into this Battell barbarous in their monstrous cruelty and monstrous cruell in their barbarousnesse whose number shall be as the sand of the Sea 9. Wherefore these vast forces under the conduct of Satan shall come upon the earth and shall cover the breadth thereof with their multitudes And straightway they shall encompasse the Camp of the Saints wheresoever it shall be and with their utmost diligence and devices shall endeavour quite to deface the Church that beloved City of God But however in the very midst of this their rage and fury being greater then that either of the Cyclops or Giants on a sudden a fire shall come down from Heaven God himself sending forth lightnings and flashings of fire upon them and shooting out his Arrows against them This fire shall devour those his innumerable enemies like stubble 10. But neither shall their Leader the Devill who conducted and seduced them carry it away so without his due punishment for opposing the Church of God by the seduced Nations For he shall be cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone that is into hell it self where his companions the first beast and
20â—â— chapter being accomplished As if he should say Hitherto I have seen and declared the estate of the Church Militant and beginning to triumph in the last Judgement Now followeth the Vision and Declaration of the state of the whole Church going on in it's progresse of Triumph in life eternall The third Argument is from the often repetition of those words {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a thousand years and withall the addition of the Article {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the or those thousand years whereof the former is once onely used the latter four times from the 2 verse to the 8. which repetition argues that these words are to be understood Historically and according to the letter except you had rather say that Iohn is a * babler or a vain repeater of the same words needlesly again and again The fourth Argument is from the comparing of this Vision with the History of what hath hitherto happened For it cannot be proved out of any History That those things which were treated of in this Prophesie have yet come to passe For as yet the Dâ—vill was never so bound for a thousand years as that he was cast into a bottomlesse pit and there shut up and withall a Seal set upon him that he might not seduce the Nations any more till the thousand years should be fulfilled which being expired he should be let loose for a little season I require then that some age of the New Testament may be produced wherein the Epocha or beginning of these years may be said to have been Again The Resurrection of the Martyrs is proved from the Antithesis or opposition expressed in the 4. and 5. Verses where it is expresly said That the rest of the dead lived not again untill the thousand years were expired Therefore when as it is said that the Martyrs lived they are to be understood to have lived again Now let it be made appear when this living again happened Lastly The warre of Gog and Magog hath not been yet as many would have it For after those thousand years shall be finished in all which time no Nations shall be seduced by Satan then I say shall this new seduction begin over the whole face of the earth and from the four corners of the world an innumerable army shall be gathered which shall bring great trouble to the Saints and shall be consumed with fire sent down from God Seeing therefore these three things which I have mentioned are not already fulfilled it is most certain that they are yet to be fulfilled The fifth Argument is from the absurdity that will follow For except we keep close to the letter and apply it to the happinesse of the Church which shall be hereafter on earth both the explication and application of this whole Prophesie will prove very empty unsavory and wrested Let us take one of many Some say that these thousand years here mentioned began with the overthrow of the Temple and Iewish Worship because then the Iews who hitherto never ceased to trouble the Nations and to turn them aside from the Gospel being now scattered and cast off the Nations now by whole troops were brought in in their stead to the Church of Christ and that then Satan being bound it was made apparant that he ceased from seducing the Nations Now let us see what a fine exposition this is Ierusalem was overthrown by Titus in the 69. year of Christ Here then let us begin the Epocha of these thousand years so that they may end in the year of Christ 1069. Now let there be conferred with this whole course of time the Conversion of the Nations the sinck of Heresies the defection and seduction of Mabomet the Mystery of Iniquity and lastly the persecution of the Godly and then let it be shewn how Satan reigning all this while so powerfully was bound for a thousand years and seduced not the Nations Let it be shewn also how any Martyr ever reigned with Christ from the year of the Lord 69 to the year 1069. Certainly none have yet reigned with Christ because none have yet risen from the dead Now the reign of the Martyrs with Christ must follow their Resurrection So that if these thousand-years were expired in the year of Christ 1069. It follows That these 573 years which have passed from that time to this present year 1643. is a little season in respect of a thousand years because it is said That after those thousand years the Divell shall be let loose for a little season that he may again seduce the Nations Vers. 3 7 8. But 573 years cannot be said to be a little season in regard of 1000 years seeing they contain a great deal more then half thereof Neither doth that make voide the truth hereof which they bring out of 2 Pet. 3.8 that a thousand years with God are but as one day For there it is spoken concerning God's estimate or account who as he esteems a thousand years but as one day so again he esteems one day as a thousand years as it is plain out of the place now cited But here it is spoken concerning man's estimate who makes not the like account of a short as he doth of a long time The sixth Argument is ab implicito as they use to speak implyed and necessarily deduced from another truth Iohn writes that for the space of those thousand years the Nations should not be seduced Vers. 3. where not onely the Heathens but also the Iews are to be understood For Satan is so bound and committed to Hell that he cannot at all seduce any one Therefore neither the Jews Now it plainly appears to every one that the Jews ever since the Passion of Christ even to this very age of ours have been most miserably seduced Therefore these thousand years are yet to come Again It is very probable That the Persecution of the Church hath been a great occasion among other things to hinder the Iews gathering of themselves to the Church Therefore if the Jews should but see the wonderfull overthrow of Antichrist without doubt it would afford them a great occasion of their Conversion Upon this ground the overthrow of Antichrist shall immediately go before not the last judgement but the happinesse of the Church which shall happen in this life The second Classes of Arguments OUt of divers places of Scripture we will bring severall Arguments which shall all have dependance upon this Syllogiâ—mâ— What things soever are by God foretold in the Old and New Testament and are not already fulfilled shall of certainty be yet fulfilled But the great happinesse of the Church here on earth is foretold by God in the Old and New Testament but not as yet fulfilled Therefore It shall be yet fulfilled The Assumption or second proposition we will demonstrate out of divers places of Scripture in which the parts of this future happinesse which a little before we have
other reformation ought to be expected The Antecedent may be proved from hence because the Doctrine of the Fundamentalls of our Salvation is proposed so that it cannot be done more cleerly or with greater light Answ. The great Reformation which we declare shall come to passe shall concerne matter of Life as well as Doctrine As for matter of Doctrine the foundation thereof shall remain But as for those infinite contentions whereby the Body of Christ is torn in pieces an end shall be put unto them Again many places of Scripture whose expositions have hitherto troubled the most learned men shall more cleerly and better be understood As for matter of life what should I say The matter it selfe speaks loud enough that in the whole course of our lives as good and as great as we are we have little or no Divinity at all There is great need therefore of a Reformation XXXVI Object It was an ancient Distinction that the kingdome of God is either of Power Grace or Glery But this Distinction is taken away by this Millenary so much pleaded for because it cannot be referred either to the Kingdom of Grace or to the Kingdome of Glory Answ. It belongs to the Kingdome of Grace which doth consist of divers degrees Neither is this opinion any way prejudiced because in the former discourse I have sometimes made mention of glory and Majesty as part of the happinesse of this Millenary For this glory is only inchoative or in it's beginning and shall be broken off by the War of Gog and Magog But the Glory of the Life Eternall is perfect and never at all to be interrupted V. The Doctrines arising out of this Chapter 1. According to the Order of the Heads in the Catechisms I. THe XI and XII Articles of the Creed concerning the resurrection of the flesh as also concerning the last Iudgement and eternall life are treated of II. The first and third precepts of the Decalogue or Tenne Commandments are here illustrated in the 4 verse where mention is made of Godly Confessors who worshipped not the Image of the Beast III. The second and sixth Petitions of the Lords Prayer may be explained out of this Chapter 2. According to the Order of Common-places This Chapter makes mention of Gods Providence of Angels of Predestination of the Church and it 's enemies of Martyrdome of the Resurrection of the flesh of the last Iudgement of Life and Death Eternall 3. Doctrines out of the severall Verses Vers. 1. 1. God instructeth men sometimes and teacheth them extraordinarily by Visions as also by divine Extasies or Raptures 2. The Angels are ministring Spritis who receive their commands at God's hands 3. Good Angels are endowed with great power and strength Vers. 2. 1. Good Angels have power over evill Angels or Spirits 2. The Devill is stronge and crafty as being both a Dragon and a Serpent 3. The onely and continuall work of the Devill is to calumniate and falsly accuse both God and Man and to endeavour the hinderance of the Glory of the one and the Salvation of the other 4. The Militant Church hath severall and differing times here on earth namely both of oppression and refreshment after the divers degrees thereof according to the dispensation and good pleasure of God Vers. 3. 1. The Devill is bound and tyed up by the reines of God's Providence 2. The Devill is the author of the generall seduction of mankinde 3. Warres shall cease for a thousand years 4. The Warre which shall begin after these thousand yeers shall not last long Vers. 4. 1. Christ is a Iudge appointed by God to whom the holy Angels are joyned as Assessors or inferiour Iudges 2. The Professors of the Gospel are hated in the sight of the world 3. Constancy is required in the Profession of the Truth 4. They are Idolators who worship Antichrist and follow his doctrine 5 The Martyrs shall reign with Christ for a thousand years in the Militant Church Vers. 5. 1. The generall resurrection shall be in the end of the world 2. The first resurrection and particular of the Martyrs is the proeme unto the second or universall resurrection Vers. 6. 1. As the children of God in this life have one above another prerogatives of gifts works and sufferings so shall they also have prerogatives of blessings both in this life and in that also which shall be hereafter 2. The common happpnesse of the godly among other things consists in this that the second death hath no power over them 3. We must certainly resolve that there is a second or eternall Death 4. Though all Christians are Kings and Priests yet in a morâ— speciall manner the Martyrs raised at the beginning of these thousand years shall be Kings and Priests in the Militant Church Vers. 7. 1. The happynesse of the Church which shall continue for theâ—â—thousand years must not be confounded withâ— or mistaken for the happynesse of life eternall 2. Satan can do nothing except by Gods leave he be let loose out of his prison 3. God alone can restrain Satan as if he had him shut up in some prison Vers. 8. 1. Satan when soever he gains power playes over his old pranks again 2. Satan is delighted with the shedding of mans bloud especially of the Godly and therefore useth to seduce and entice men to Warre 3. Whatsoever is said in the Old Testament of Gog and Magog is to be understood partly literally partly typically 4. The Enemies of the Church are in number many Vers. 9. 1. Men seduced by the Devill set slip no occasion so watchfull herein they are of persecuting the Godly 2. The Churâ—h is the beloved City of God 3. It is the duty of Christians continually to be exercised in Christ's warfare 4. God executes wonderfull judgements against the enemies of his Church Vers. 10. 1. The Devill and his Instruments are cast into Hell and shall be tormented there for ever 2. Eternity is nothing else then a continuation of Age to Age for ever 3. Hell is a place full of horrour Vers. 11. 1. The Mâ—jesty of Christ coming to Iudgement shall be very great 2. Heaven and Earth in the day of the last Judgement shall passe away in respect of the fashion of this world Vers. 12. and 13. 1. The last resurrection shall be universall 2. Men in the last Judgement shall be judged according to their works 3. The Conscience of a man is like a book in which all his thoughts words and deeds are as it were set down 4. The book of life or Predestination shall be opened in the last Judgement for then shall it appear plainly who are the Elect and who the reprobate who have truely beleeved in Christ who hypocritically who have truely worshipped God who according to appearance onely 5. The last Judgement shall be universall infallible and just Vniversall because it shall be of the dead and living of great and small Infallible because God is all-knowing and hath