21.27 Then the Law shall go forth of Sion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem then shall Jerusalem be the praise of the Earth and the Name of the City shall be from that Day The Lord is there yea in Jerusalem are set the Thrones for Judgement the Thrones of the House of David there shall the twelve Apostles sit on twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel all being but the Throne of Christ who overcoming through sufferings is now set on the right Hand of God and so set with his Father on his Father's Throne And when he comes to take his own Throne Luk. 1.32 Rev. 3.21 Rev. 22.14.19 Gen. 13 14-17 Heb. 11.9 1 Chron. 16.16 17 18. Psal 105.8 9 10 11. Isa 14.2 Zech. 12.6 14.10 Isa 61.7 the Throne of his Father David that God will give unto him he promiseth likewise to him that overcometh to grant to sit with him on his Throne so that all such shall have their part in this holy City Jerusalem which Jerusalem shall be in the Land of Canaan in which Abraham sojourned and where David though a sojourner also yet raigned there shall Ierusalem be and be again inhabited and resorted to even in her own place So as for the shame they have undergone c. they shall rejoyce in their portion therefore in their own Land they shall possess the double and everlasting joyshall be upon them 3. The extent and largeness of this Kingdom Dominion and Raigning it shall be over all Nations over the whole Earth Zech. 14.9 and so it is said And the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day there shall be one Lord and his Name one And Psal 72.8 9 10 11. he shall have dominion from Sea to Sea and from the River to the ends of the earth They that dwell in the wilderness shall how before him and his enemies shall lick the dust The Kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him And so in Vision seen Dan. 7.14 27. And there was given him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages shall serve him his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion and the Kingdom and Dominion and 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 or Rulers shall serve and obey him Rev. 2.26 And so the Promise And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations and he shall rule them c. even as I received of my Father Again Do you not know that the Saints shall judge the world 1 Cor. 6.2 4. The manner of this Kingdom in the beginning of it and till Christ deliver up the Kingdom to the Father it shall be Davidical his Regiment Providential among Men hath from the beginning been and till his next coming will be by wordly Governours which by a Divine power he raiseth up and putteth down and changeth by means and Instruments as and when it pleaseth him His Spiritual Regiment is and hath been and will be till his coming again by his Holy Spirit in and with his Word of Grace in the Hearts and Consciences of his Saints on Earth which is also so far Divine that he makes them Partakers of the Divine Nature though not all Raigners but sufferers in this world But his own Personal Regiment as Man and Son of David shall be Davidical though exceeding that of David as Truth is in all things and ever exceeding the Types in which also are some dissimilitudes as hath been foreshewn yet ever fulness in the Truth to answer all that by similitudes was typed or figured And so 1. Jesus Christ shall have the Kingdom of his Father David 1 King 8.18 19 20. 2 Sam. 7.12 16. Psal 132. 11-18 sit thereon and rule that House and Kingdom suitable to and excelling that said of and by Solomon the Type in which shall be fulfilled that promised 2 Sam. 7. according to his Oath mentioned Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy Throne c. and according to that prophesied I will raise unto David a righteous Branch and a King shall raign and prosper Jer. 23.5 6. and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth In his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the Name whereby he shall be called Jehovah our Righteousness And this 〈…〉 this is 〈…〉 or Jer. 33.14 15 16 17. For 〈…〉 on the Throne of the House of Hyael And â—o by another 〈◊〉 phet In 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 be established and he shall sit 〈…〉 Isa 16.5 Isa 9.6 7. yea more 〈…〉 Counsellor The Mighty 〈…〉 Prince of peace of the 〈…〉 of David to order it c. And this 〈…〉 Apostle and by the Angel Act 20.30 31. Lub 1.32 Act. 〈…〉 13.36 37. 3.19 20 21. 〈…〉 to him the 〈…〉 not in the 〈…〉 raise the 〈…〉 sit on 〈…〉 Throne of David 〈…〉 in the 〈…〉 and Affairs of Men 〈…〉 shall the 〈◊〉 be and so and in that 〈…〉 2. In the Kingdom of David 2 Eam 8.18 1 Chron. 27.23 〈…〉 33 34. 〈◊〉 8.1 29.6 Isa 61.5 14.1 2. there ws both Rulâ—â—â— Subjects and 〈…〉 of degrees in both 〈…〉 also 〈…〉 some also of 〈…〉 over his substance for Land and Cattel and others for 〈◊〉 Affairs of the Kingdom even so in this Kingdom of 〈◊〉 The Inhabâ—â—â—â— of the twelve Tribes of 〈…〉 all parts of 〈…〉 own I and 〈…〉 Mat. 22.30 Mar. 12.25 Luk. 20.35 36. Rev. 5.10 1.6 1.10 2 Tim. 4.8 for ordering and Catrol 〈◊〉 such-like 〈…〉 Men but the Children of the Resuâ—â—â—â— on that are the compleat spiritually born Sons of God 〈…〉 shall be the chief these neither marry nor are given in 〈◊〉 riagâ—â— but are as the Angels of God these for the 〈…〉 of the Kingdom 〈◊〉 chiefest 〈…〉 King and 〈…〉 that shall 〈…〉 and to upon Thrones 〈◊〉 him 1 Cor. 15.41 42. Mat. 20.23 Mar. 10.40 〈◊〉 17.5 6. 〈◊〉 105 9-14 Heb. 11.10 c. and have the Growns of Kighteousness and Life 〈◊〉 among these 〈◊〉 there will be degrees one excelling anoâ—â—â—â— It is ordered for some 〈◊〉 on his right Hand and 〈…〉 his left 〈…〉 shall have the 〈…〉 King so he a Prince among them Dan. 12.13 Hag. 2.23 Mat. 19.28 Rev. 2.26 1 Cor. 6.2 Luk. 19.17 19. Mat. 25.21 23. Ezek. 34.23 24 and 37.24 25. Daniel shall then stand up in his Lot Zerubbabel shall be there as a Signet c. The Apostles shall there sit on twelve Thrones c. The victorious Saints shall sit with him on his Throne ruling the Nations All the Saints judging the World as Sampson
Deborah Barak and Samuel judged Israel though it will be in more holy manner And so it 's said Have thou authority over ten Cities Be thou Ruler over five Cities and I will make thee Ruler over many things And so likewise for the Governed here is also great diversity of degrees the twelve Tribes of Israel that are surviving at his coming for him to settle in their Inheritance and those of the Nations joyned to them and all the People by the Law going forth of Sion converted to them These are the chief Isa 19.21 22-25 66.29.24 Amos 9 12-15 Zech. 2 6-13 Heb. 4 3-10 Rev. 21.24 Isa 61.5 6. 60. Rev. 21.27 Zech. 14 16-19 Rev. 20.8 9. and as natural Subjects and free Denizens have their recourse to the City to worship and keep a perpetual sabbath and sing Hallelujahs to the Lord and the residue of the Nations shall be Servants and serviceable unto them who if as the Law comes out of Sion to them they do not convert and turn to come and worship they shall not enter the City but receive such punishment as shall witness displeasure and they at last be found of that number that will be destroyed Such the degrees both of Rulers and Subjects in this Kingdom and therefore rightly called Davidical 5. The prosperity beauty and flourishing happiness of this Kingdom is exceeding great and glorious I will only name a little and quote some Scriptures 1. There shall be no sorrow grief pain or crying Isa 14.3 51. 11. Jer. 3.12 13 14. Psal 121.5 6 7 8. Isa 25.8 Rev. 7.15 21.4 nor any thing to cause or occasion it no violence oppression or hurtful Creature no sickness affliction or death no pollution in Earth or Air but all fulness of satisfying in every thing that is good for them 2. They shall all know the Lord Jer. 31.33 34. 32.38 39 40. Ezek. 11.19 20. 36.26 27 and the Law of God shall be in their Heart and they shall have one Heart and one Way to love and fear the Lord for their good for ever 3. They shall not one envy another for any difference in degrees but each rejoyce in others preferment as his own Zech. 3.11 Psa 106.4 5. Isa 11.13 and 29 22 24. 4. Zech. 3.9 13. They shall all speak Truth sincerely both to God and to one another for he will then give and turn to them a pure lip 5. Psa 72.16 Isa 11.6 7 8 9. 2.4 Mic. 4.3 4 5. 5.5 Zeth 6.12 13. Righteousness and Peace shall stream among them in abundance Isa 32.17 18. and 11.4 and 60.17 and 66.12 Jer. 33.6 Psal 72.7 and with this abundance of plenty and all Creatures at peace with one another and all Men so as they shall learn war no more but sit quietly under their Vines and Fig-Trees and in quiet Habitations and for these things we may yet see farther Isa 49 18-23 and 60. and 65.12 to the end In this day Zech. 12.8 Zech. 12.9 Rev. 20.8 9. he that is feeble among them shall be as David and the House of David as God as the Angel of the Lord before them and as at the beginning of the Kingdom he destroyed all the Enemies that would not serve them so toward the end of the Davidical Regiment for of the Kingdom is no end he will destroy all that rise up against them And so I proceed to the last considerable about this Kingdom 6. Isa 54.9 10. Jer. 31.35 36. 33.25 The duration of the Kingdom it self is for ever and ever hath no end as is oft said but for this manner of administration in this Davidical Regiment or Kingdom as in the Kingdom there is such a Monarchy and such degrees of Rulers and ruled we may consider how long that shall continue and that shall be as long as day and night and the course of the Sun and Moon endures Rev. 21.23 25. Isa 30.26 Psa 8.3 4. Psa 72.7 17. Rev. 20.5 6. for though there be no night in the City and it have no need of the Sun yet will there be day and night and the Sun and the Moon keep their course with seven-fold more glorious splendor and useful to the Inhabitants of the Earth also and so it is said In his dayes shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the Moon end ureth his Name shall be for ever his Name shall continue as long as the Sun and men shall be blessed in him c. It is evident this manner of raigning shall be for a thousand yeers which if taken indefinitely may be a long time if taken strictly as some for weighty reasons conceive it to be yet if as some conceive the measure of the Sanctuary to be double to the common measure we may so conceive it to be a longer thousand than in our ordinary account And surely he that in his love of compassion shortneth the dawes of tribulation may in his love of delight lengthen those dayes of rejoycing raigning but I will neither dispute nor determine it but onely say as it is testified and I believe it shall be a thousand yeers at the least the time of Christ as Man and his Saints with him absolute and cleer raigning and so if minded a long time the complaint of the Prophet in the behalf of the Church was The people of thy holiness possessed but a little while Isa 63.18 19. that possession they fore-had in the times of David Solomon Rehoboam Abiam Asa Hezekiah Josiah c. but a little while our adversaries have trodden down thy Sanctuary c. and the promise of God to them by the same Prophet is As the dayes of a tree Isu 65.22 which is the longest of all vegetable Creatures so the dayes of my people which can be no less than as the Tree in durance abideth longer than the Grass Herb or Corn so his people shall longer enjoy their Land and this manner of raigning then any other Monarch or Nation hath done theirs and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands And this is also cleer Rev. 9.6 10.6 7. That Time shall continue so long as theseventh Angel with his seventh Trumpet soundeth and no longer And it appears by comparing Rev. 11.11 12 13 14. with chap. 19. throughout That the reviving of the Witnesses and the appearance of Christ and the Resurrection of the Just and the Destruction of the Beast and the false Prophet are before the sounding of the seventh Angel And in his beginning to sound the worldly Powers and Dominions are taken down and the Devil bound and shut up and the Thrones set And what time these things take I dare not say but some time sure and then they sit upon Thrones and the whole mystery of God is opened and then and not before then begins the thousand yeers of their raigning and judging Mar. 25 31-46 And when
same Spirit and Covenant yet there is as much difference between this given and that promised as between a handful or first Fruits of the Corn and the whole fulness of the Harvest which is in this making of the Covenant now treated of in which it appears they shall all be made sinless and righteous perfect in the love of God and one another compleat in all true holiness II. And I will be their God and they shall be my people Jer. 31.33 30.22 32.38 Ezek. 11.20 Exod. 3 4 6 20. Psal 120. And this appears in that which went before in verse 32. and several places to be spoken emphatically to be understood in a higher sense and after a more eminent manner then ever before for he was their God and they his people when they were afflicted in Egypt and in more manifestation when they were in the Wilderness and still more appearingly when they were setled in Canaan and his Worship setled among them and of these remaining while Jeremiah prophesied among them and still more manifestly in special manner Rom. 9.24 25 26. he is our God who believe in Christ and receive of the first Fruits of the Spirit and we his people but here is cleerly more implied to be done after those dayes and here and elsewhere exprest as namely That he will multiply his wonders among them and his favours on them so as he will make himself known to all Nations to be their God Ezek. 36.36 37.28 Isa 60.14 Ezek. 37.26 27. and make them known to all Nations to be his peculiar People when the Heathen shall know That he is the Lord and That he doth sanctifie and build Israel and shall acknowledge them The City of the Lord The Sion of the holy one of Israel yea he will set his Sanctuary in the middest of them for evermere yea he saith My Tabernacle also shall be with them yea I will be their God and they shall be my people And so he hath opened his own meaning And what this Sanctuary and Tabernacle is and from whence it comes and where it shall be he hath told us viz. Jesus Christ The Son of God The Son of Man The Man in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwels bodily he that is in the Father and the Father in him he is the Temple and Sanctuary and no other like the old Temple or new formed Church-Governments under the Gospel in this City for the Lord God Almighty Rev. 21.22 Ezek. 37.22 24 25. 34.23 24 30. and the Lamb are the Temple of it and he the Son of David shall sit on the Throne and be the mighty King and Governour among them and Christ also coming with his Saints those that in Spirit are now in Heaven the Jerusalem that is now above these shall come with their Lord and Master down from Heaven and receiving their Bodies glorified the great City the Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God having the Glory of God upon her Of which it is said I saw the holy City Rev. 21.2 3. new Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying The Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them their God Thus we have it cleerly opened so that these Saints this spiritual Seed Dan. 7.14 27. Ezek. 48.35 See Part 2. chap. 18. shall be Princes among the people and sit upon Thrones with Christ raign with him And all the Kingdoms under the whole heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High and all nations shall serve him and the name of the City shall be from that day The Lord is there Thus will God be with them their God and they shall be his people Thus owned by him III. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them Jer. 31.34 saith the Lord. To know the Lord is both to understand and know That he is Jehovah and that he is infinite in Wisdom Power Goodness c. and to know that is acknowledge Jer. 9 24. Joh. 17.3 love and adore him as the Lord as he doth discover himself such a one in and by his Son Christ and thus to know the Lord every Man except Jesus the Son of God that hath lived or doth live upon this Earth in their several Ages have needed and do need to be taught this knowledge and it is the part of every Man Exod. 18.16 Deut. 4.34 39. 6.11 7.9 Joh 5 27. 11.16 1 Chron. 28.9 according to his understanding and Faith to teach and receive teaching from his Brother saying Know the Lord. But because in respect of some this is confest of all I forbear further proof onely because some conceit established Believers past this need since Christ came I shall consider the place alledged for it which is 1 Joh. 2.20 27. Ye have an unction from the holy One and ye know all things The anoynting which ye have received of him abideth in you and you need not that any man teach you but as that anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is noâ—ly and even as it hath taught you you shall abide in him This place being a sweet needful instructing Truth crosseth nothing here foresaid for the Apostle speaks here of a first fruits of that promised spiritually dispensed Jer. 31.34 Heb. 8.6 10.1 Joh. 5.20 Rom. 8.22 23 24 25. Heb. 11. 13 40. Heb. 11.1 and not of the Harvest as a pears in his former after-Discourse for as he that receiveth Christ receiveth all things with him but still according to his receiving either by spiritual discerning and believing or by open sight and enjoyment so he that knoweth Christ knoweth all things but still according to the manner of his knowing either through a Glass dimly by Faith or else in open view seeing as he is seen Paul confesseth the first to be now in this life but the later 1 Cor. 13.12 1 Joh. 3.1 2. at the time we are speaking of and so this Apostle confesseth the former to be now but the later not to be enjoyed till the time of the visible appearance of Christ And so he saith not Ye need not that any Man teach you saying Know the Lord for that anoynting teacheth you of all things but that he saith is Ye need not that any man teach you 1 Joh. 2.27 but as that anoynting teacheth you of all things c. that is as the Spirit in the Testimony of Christ in that Doctrine of Christ in which he hath helped you to believe in Christ and by that Doctrine teacheth you of all things do ye
Saints be joyful in glory c. Psal 149.5 6 7 8 9. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth or throat and a two-edged sword in their hand to execute vengeance upon the Heathen and punishments upon the people to binde their Kings in chains and their Nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the judgement written This honour have all his Saints Hallelujah Mal. 4.3 For in that Day they shall tread down the wicked and they shall be as ashes under the soles of their Feet and so in the great straight to give the great Overthrow to the Enemies at the Day of the Lord 's coming it is said Zach. 14.1 2-6 Rev. 19 11-21 2 Pet. 3.5 6 7 8-10 The Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee And so the Armies in Heaven follow him to the taking of the Beast and the false Prophet and casting them into the Lake of Eire and slaying the Remnant with the Sword c. when also the Earth with the Works that are therein shall be burn'd up and destroyed as the old World was with Water And this being done the next work is 3. To restore all things so said Peter Act. 3.19 20. When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord and he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you And so as in the beginning of the first Creation the whole business is first set forth in general Gen. 1 chap. and then the things done in the same time more particularly set forth and explicated chap. 2 and 3 So here in the dissolution of the Old and compleating of the New Creation the things done are in general related Rev. 19 and 20 chap. and then more particularly opened Rev. 21.7 5. chap. 21 and 22. And so Iohn saith He saw a new Heaven and a new Earth c. And the Lord saith Behold I make all things new c. And again These words are true and faithful And so the Believers when that great Overthrow is given to the wicked 2 Pet. 3.12 13. do look for a new Heaven and new Earth according to his promise for so when he cuts off the wicked Isa 65.12 15 17. he hath promised to create new Heaven and a new Earth c. And this is assured to be in that Day of the Manifestation of the Sons of God that the Creature even the whole Creation shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God who shall then enjoy the Adoption Rom. 8.19 20 21 22. Heb. 2.5 6. with Psal 8.4 5 6 7 8. Rom. 4.13 Heb. 11.16 Isa 58.12 the Redemption of the Body which they now wait for This the World to come whereof we speak this the World to come of which Abraham shall be an Heir this the Country he and our Fathers waited for and then shall inherit so as Christ in this respect also is the Restorer of paths to dwell in And having thus renewed the Heaven and the Earth the next work which is done in compleating this is cleerly shewn 4. Rev. 11.18 Luk. 14.14 Joh. 14.3 2 Tim. 2.12 Rev. 1.5 5.10 Luk. 22.28 29 30. Mat. 19.28 29. To take unto him his great Power and Raign and so to give rewards to his Servants the Prophets and to the Saints and to them that fear his Name small and great and so to receive to himself all that have formerly believed on him lived to him and suffered with him that they may raign with him yea eat and drink at his Table in his Kingdom and sit on Thrones c. In which Raign and Kingdom of Christ with his Saints when he comes and takes it divers things are considerable as expresly declared and affirmed in the Scripture as about the place of his raigning and the place of his Throne and the extent and manner and prosperity and duration of his Kingdom CHAP. 18. Of the things considerable about the Kingdom of Christ THat mentioned in the Scripture about the Kingdom of Christ is 1. The place of his Kingdom and Raign it shall be upon the Earth the Earth being renewed This is plainly intimated in Heb. 2.5 6 7 8. compared with Psal 8.4 6 7 8 9. and affirmed both of him and his Saints upon the making of the new Heaven and the new Earth I Iohn saw the holy City Rev. 21.1 2. new Ierusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband Is not this the Spirits of Just Men made perfect receiving their Bodies raised immortal Heb. 12.22 23 24. Gal. 4.26 1 Cor. 15.51 52 53 54. 1 Thes 4.15 16 17. glorious powerful and spiritual and the living Saints in the same moment of their Resurrection changed and made like them and so both together ascending and meeting the Lord in the Air or Heaven and so coming down with him as is foreshewn And that we may rightly understand the meaning of the Vision declared he farther saith Rev. 21.3 4 5 6 7. Zach. 14.9 Psal 72.8 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and so on Yea the Raign of Christ is expresly affirmed That it shall be on Earth and the Raign of the Saints with him that it shall be on Earth also so they confess Thou hast made us unto our God Rev. 5.10 Psal 37.9 10 11. Kings and Priests and we shall raign on the earth And so it is said When the wicked are cut off and shall not be then the meek that wait on the Lord in these dayes of his patience shall inher it the earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace But this will still more appear in the Points following and so I will proceed to them 2. The place of the Throne it shall be Ierusalem the great and Holy City in the midst of Canaan in which Abraham walked and sojourned as a Stranger though then renewed and enlarged Jer. 3.17 and so it is said At that tune they shall call Ierusalem the Throne of the Lord And all Nations shall be gathered unto it Isa 24.23 to the Name of the Lord to Jerusalem c. The Lord of Hosts shall raign in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem and before his ancients gloriously Isa 33.17 20 21 And again Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty c. Look upon Sion the City of our solemnities Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation a tabernacle that shall not be taken down c. There the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams c. Oh Jerusalem the holy City Isa 52.1 henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean Rev. 21.10 11-27 Isa 2.3 Mic. 4.2 Isa 62.7 Ezck. 38.35 Psal 122.5 Mat. 19.28 according to that Rev.
the Service of God and the Promises so that Salvation in the Promise was nigh them that in minding it they might be born of the Promise and so receive the Adoption by Faith and live to God and be eternally saved as were all the Children of Promise but such as did not so believe and receive his words c. should not be eternally saved So far the Testimony of Christ was then revealed to Israel yet it pleased God after to give to them some more cleer revelation of some particulars concerning Christ that were at first included and already hinted forth in the same Testimony CHAP. 4. Of the fourth Revelation of Christ and his Kingdom IT pleased God yet further to enlarge and cleer up more this Revelation of Jesus Christ to David and by him to Israel and to David he revealed the same both by inspiration to himself and by Vision and also by the Spirit of Prophesie in Nathan for some part and so we finde revealed 1. The Oblation and Sacrifice of Christ Psal 40.6 7 8. 22.14 18. 26.7 16.10 11. 68.18 20. 110.11 and therein his Sufferings Death Resurrection Ascension sitting on the right hand of God and pouring forth the holy Ghost to men that they might turn c. 2. The operations of his Grace in a blessed Man Psal 1 15 24 32. Psal 98. and his preservation of him and what true blessedness is 3. The coming again and Kingdom of Jesus Christ yea if as those skilful in the Hebrew say the Book of Psalms is divided into five Boeks the first ending with the 41. Psalm the second with the 72 the third with the 89 the fourth with the 106 the fifth with the 150 We do minde and perpend every Book of them speaketh of all these things and so of the Testimony of Christ in every Branch of it in one place or other And thence it is they are so often spoken over again in the whole Book of Psalms but that I have specially to note in this Revelation is the more explicite Revelation of the Kingdom then ever was before And so for the Kingdom the King and his raign by his Spirit in Nathan he said 2 Sam. 7.10 I will appoint or ordain a place for my people Israel and will plant them that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more and they shall dwell in their place and be moved no more neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more as afore-time as at the beginning 1 Chron. 17.9 10. and since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies Morever I will subdue all thy enemies Furthermore also the Lord telleth thee 2 Sam. 7.11 That he will make or build thee an House This is not like the Promise of the Law Deut. 5.2 3 4. 28. 4.31 Heb. 4.6 7 8 9. 11.9 16. Psa 39.12 and Covenant made with the House of Israel but altogether gracious free and absolute like that made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob. And here also it is evident That Joshua gave them not the Rest in Canaan according to that promised to Abraham and it is also evident That though David was now raigning over Israel in Canaan yet he had it not according to the Promise made to Abraham but in that respect counted himself a stranger in it as all his Fathers were And this is manifested all Israel never yet was so planted in it and so it is a thing to come that shall surely be and the House here promised is neither the Tabernacle built by Moses nor onely the Temple after built by Solomon though these were types nor was it only to have a great Name 2 Sam. 7.9 1 Chron. 17.8 Heb. 3.3 4 6. 8.2 5 6. 11.10 16. 2 Sam. 7.12 1 Chron. 17.11 Heb. 11.13 14 15 40. Dan. 12.13.2 Sam. 7.16 with a great and famous Posterity to be great according to the great men on the Earth for so David was already but an House not builded by men according to the directions given of God but built by God himself and his Son Jesus Christ and so also an heavenly City of God's building making and not Man's And it farther appears That before this be done David must die in the Faith and sleep with his Fathers and rise again and stand up in his lot as Daniel and then that will be fulfilled which God promised David saying And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee 2 Sam. 7.12 thy throne shall be stablished for ever And so we are led to understand that is said 1 Chron. 17.11 I will set up thy seed after thee which shall proceed out of thy bowels and I will establish his kingdom thy seed which shall be of thy Sons Take both expressions and it will appear That this in the figure or type was meant of Solomon but in the Truth it is clearly and evidently meant of Jesus Christ Mat. 1.1 1 Chron. 17.11 12 13 14. the Son of David and of Abraham and so it 's said I will raise up thy seed after thee which shall be of thy sons and I will stablish he saith not their but his kingdom he shall build me an house and I will stablish his throne for ever the throne of his kingdom and I will be his Father and he shall be my Son and I will not take my mercy away from him as I took it from him that is Saul that was before thee but I will settle him in my house that of my building and in my kingdom that of my immediate giving and his throne shall be established for evermore which was never yet performed to any of David's natural Race that said if he commit iniquity c. May shew the justness and removing those that were types but is no let to him that is here principally meant which is Jesus Christ that came of David in a supernatural way And so David by the Spirit understood saying 2 Sam. 7.19 29. 1 Chron. 17.16 17 25 26 27. Luk. 1.31 32 33 35. Heb. 1.5 Thou hast spoken also that is besides the present house he had of thy servants house he saith not onely to continue but for a great while to come and so his following prayer includes both and it is affirmed expresly to be meant of Jesus Christ the Son of David and the Son of God that this Kingdom and Throne is to be given to him as for those natural Sons of David of that Kingly Race if they had not committed iniquity they might have held the earthy Kingdom till Christ had come but iniquity being found they came to a lessening of the largeness of their King and so to captivity c. such as in which the Covenant seemed made void yet the Truth remains in Christ and to him and
and stay and so the Truth is the upholder and stay of the Church and the giver of Authority to it and not the Church the stay of and Authority-giver to the Truth yet even in this respect also as Christ is the Head of the Church and his Truth and Spirit and he thereby an Indweller in the Church so they in holding forth the Truth are instrumental upholders of it Act. 9.15 2 Tim 4.7 Mat. 5.14 and maintainers of the Faith to the World and so the Light of the World and in respect of some in the outward Court that turn the Grace of God into wantonness pervert the Gospel deceive the World and labour to beguile Believers in turning them from the Faith These are the Keepers of the Faith by teaching it and opposing and fighting with the sword of the Spirit against their prophaness and errors and so maintaining the Faith against their falshoods And in all these senses the Church that are these Witnesses 2 Tim. 4.1 7. 2 Cor. 10.4 5 6. Jude 3 4. is the Pillar of Truth and yet more fully in one sense more including all the former in it This Church is the Pillar and Ground of Truth taking in as is given us both the words that is to say 5. As they were of old to write the Commandments and Statutes of the Lord upon the door-posts of their house Deut. 6.9 11.20 and their gates as the Ten words were written in Tables of stone that they might be seen and read and as some say The Prophets did hang or fasten their written Prophesies upon one of the Pillars in the Temple as is the use of the chief Magistrate to have his Proclamation fastned on some noted post or pillar in the Market-place where all the Country may take notice of it and read it so these are the Church or House and so that post and pillar the Table or Ground in and upon whom the Truth is so written that all may read it though some with likement and some with dislike as the Apostle hath plainly affirmed saying to the Church Ye are our Epistle written in our hearts seen and read of all Men forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone as the Law of old was but in the fleshly Tables of the heart in which there is a performance spiritually by Christ of that said to the Prophet of old Write the Vision Feb. 2.2 and make it plain upon Tables Isa 29 11 12. that he may run that readeth it and being taken with that read he may read to others even that Vision of All and others may read it on him And this writing is the very work of Christ by his Spirit in Ministery of the Gospel We never read that Christ did personally in his own Body write any part of the Scripture that work he left for his Servants by his Spirit to do yet once we finde that he wrote with his Finger on the ground as not regarding his Tempters Joh. 8.6 yet what he wrote is not said but to say the Apostle alludeth to that I dare not nor yet will I say it was an intimate Instruction of his own work so freely to write by his Finger which oft signifieth his Spirit his Epistle in the ground of the heart of his unworthy ones but this I may say in treating of his spiritual writing To allude to this is no error But however it cleerly appears this Society and Church spoken of is the Pillar and ground of Truth where Truth is written and holden forth to be read 1 Tim. 3.16 yea even the Truth that is the Mysterie of godliness that great Mystery God was manifested in the Flesh justified in the Spirit c. And so these unfeigned Believers united to Christ having his word as delivered by his Apostles in their heart be his Witnesses now and the Ministers he hath chosen for this Ministration to minister according to the grace and gifts given them none presuming beyond these are the holy City and Sanctuary of his building and the Ministers of the things thereof Rev. 11.1 2 3. to whom he gives Spirit and Power that they may witness him even to the World and among these is the true Altar even in this Temple and these are the Worshippers thereat and because of the Gospel in their hearts and there through some portion of these forementioned spiritual gifts by which they witness him hold forth the word of life with their tongues therefore their tongue is said to be as choice silver and their lips to feed many Prov. 10.21 22. Pro. 15 10. Psa 35.28 71.24 119.172 51.31 1 Thes 1.8 1 Cor. 3.3 18. Gal. 5.22 23. their tongue useth knowledge aright and speaks of God's righteousness and praise all the day yea even so as sinners may be converted to him and so from them the word of God soundeth forth And also by the same Spirit in the Gospel their hearts being framed to the minde and design of Christ they so have a Christ-like Spirit springing up Love Joy Peace c. which leadeth them to walk in Faith and Love in Holiness and Mercy Mat. 5.16 c. So that also hereby they do witness of him and hold forth the word of Life also in their conversation in good works and holy profession whence the Fruit of the Righteous is called A Tree of Life Prov. 11.30 Ezek. 47.12 Rev. 22.2 2 Cor. 9.2 and a way of winning Souls yea their Fruit is for Meat and their Leaf for Medicine so their Conversation winneth and their Zeal provoketh many and because the Spirit of Glory resteth on them 1 Pet. 4.10 11 14. and giveth them power to glorifie God in witnessing both these wayes though through sufferings Therefore in respect of their twofold witnessing and holding forth the word of Life to glorifie God and do good to Men convincing by Truth and comforting with Truth and confuting falshood Rev. 11 4. They are also called the two Witnesses that witness yea that witness the Truth on God's part against the Man of sin and God of the World and the two Olive-Trees that bring forth that good Fruit whence the good Oyl runneth and the two Candlesticks that hold forth the true Light that shineth so that every way it appears that these unfeigned Believers united to Christ in him by Faith and he in them by Word Spirit are his chosen Ones to bring forth Fruit his Ministers for carrying an end the Ministration of this last Revelation of Christ till he come again these are the Temple of God the House of God the Church of God I need not to use worldly terms else I might shew how these are the Achademah or School University and Colledge in which are all the Scholars that are taught of God And