time while it is offered will have none of it but utterly reject it and all God's and Christ's terms whereupon it is offered to them How then can they think to stand when Gods wrath and fury shall break out against them and they be irrecoverably carried away with the streams of his eternal indignation Let this I say be duly considered by all sorts of such persons while time and opportunity lasteth and who knows how suddenly any mans opportunity may be lost irrecoverably c. FINIS Certain Observations useful for the understanding of divers Mystical Prophecres of holy Scriptures See the Irenicon pag. 53 54 55. respecting the latter dayes for the encrease of Joy and Consolation to faithfull Christians Obs 1 FIrst Where things that concern the Mysteries of the last times are expressed more fully in the Old Testament they are usually touched more briefly in the New as for example What is said of that Mother-Text Dan. 7.9 10 11. as Mr. Mede calls it of the first Session of the Great Day of Judgement or the Judgement of the Great Day as St. Jude speaks setting forth God's manner of destroying Antichrist as is said remarkably because of the great words the Horn spake c. Dan. 7.9 10 11. That is for the Popes abominable Blasphemies Tyranny Pride and insolent Impieties c. which in the New-Testament is but briefly many times set down as 2 Thess 2.8 whom he shall destroy with the appearance of his coming the like chap. 1.7 8 9. of which and the like Scriptures in the New-Testament the said text Dan. 7. was the ground and warrant save only in the order of the accomplishment St. John had a particular Vision to the like purpose Rev. 19 11. to the end Secondly The first said Session of the Great Day of Judgement will be for the destruction of the first Gog and Magog to wit of the Turk and Pope who were so under those terms represented to the Jews Ezek. 38.39 before the setting up of the New-Jerusalem Ezek. 40. to the end of that Book and the second Session will be upon the destruction of the second Gog and Magog above a thousand years after Rev. 20.9 at the end of the world Where again observe that Gog and Magog are taken for the great obstinate resolved Enemies of God's People whom he will powerfully destroy Now at both the said Sessions of the great Day and at the ruine of both sorts of those wicked men it is said that the Judgment was set and the Books were opened which seem proper to the Judgment of the great Day Dan. 7.10 Rev. 20.4 14. And again observe See Parallel of Roman Mon. the 6th head that at both the said Sessions quick and dead are said to be judged First the wicked quick namely Antichrist and his followers c. then to be sent to the Lake of Fire and Brimstone from the Armageddon-battel described Rev. 19. from ver 11. to the 20th Concerning the same it is again said of the same time when the third Wo came Rev. 11.18 Thou hast destroyed them that destroyed the Earth See Irenicon p. 99. when the Nations were angry and God's Wrath was then come as the twenty four Elders that praise God for the ruine of Antichrist at that time and likewise for judging the dead then by giving reward unto his Servants the Prophets and to his Saints c. which Mr. Mede conceives he will be doing all the thousand years Raising the Saints in their own order as St. Paul speaks which is called by Christ the first Resurrection Rev. 20.5 and of which St. Paul likewise speaketh remarkably when he had spoken of Christ's Resurrection as the first fruits thereof which was to be above 1600 years before then saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 afterwards they that are Christs at his coming namely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at his coming or presence at Antichrist's destruction and then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he speaks of the coming of the end 1 Cor. 15.23 24. which Christ shews should be above a thousand years after the former Rev. 20. namely as St. Paul further adds when Christ had put down all Rule all Authority and Power and when he had destroyed the last enemy Death ver 26. Which Christ again shews shall be done at his last Session of Judgment Rev. 20.14 before he gives up again the Kingdom to his Father and until that time St. Paul positively asserts the Reign of Christ in the world namely from his second Coming or Appearance to the end of the second Session of the Judgment of the Great Day See Discov next after the Parall as ver 25. for saith he he must reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his feet which Reign Christ teacheth must be a thousand years with his eminent Saints first raised Rev. 20.4 and at the end likewise quick and dead will be again both judged first the wicked quick then at the destruction of the last Gog and Magog and then the dead both good and bad when the rest of the dead shall be raised as they are called Rev. 20.5 12.13 Thirdly The description of the New-Jerusalem Ezek. 40. to the end of the Book whose name is there said to be Jehovah Shamma or the Lord is there because there his Saints shall behold his glory given to him in his Kingdom on Earth as Mediator for a reward in time of that his great work in time as Dan. 7.14 15. which by his last Will and Testament in the presence of his Father and his Disciples he declared at the end of that Prayer See Obs 20. John 17.24 after he had ended his Farewel-Sermon Joh. 16. and then the Lamb will be the visible light of that heavenly City come down from God out of Heaven whose maker and builder is God Heb. 11. to remain in the world above a thousand years But I say that description of the said City in the Old Testament seems there to be set forth sutably to the state of the Jews under the Old Testament when Ezekiel was their Prophet But the description of the New Jerusalem under the New Testament which upon many considerations from the context and the series of the times which both descriptions relate unto appear plainly to be one and the same thing I say that Description of Christ Rev. 21. is set forth more sutably to the state of the Christian Church in a more glorious manner unto which a more eminent degree of Christ's Glory was manifest before that triumphant State of it came which should so descend from God out of Heaven to be for such time in the world which consisting of the raised Saints is not only called The Beloved City which those blessed and holy ones at their resurrection as they are called Rev. 20.6 shall then inhabit and have mansions therein and the holy Jerusalem Rev. 21.10 for the time of their reign with Christ there But they being
six copies distinguished by a comma to be understood in that sense of new creation of things not spiritual regeneration as men use to take it when all such faithful Spirits shall be counted as our Saviour speaks worthy to obtain that World and the Resurrection of the Dead that which is called the World to come Heb. 2.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And when Abraham's Isaac's and Jacob's posterity shall enjoy that Land with them Deut. 30. to ver 11. Deut. 32.43 as Davids Kingdom shall then be stablished before himself for ever to the end 2 Sam. 7.16 And so likewise the Promise and Covenant made to David of the Kingdom for himself and his Seed for ever will then in Christ the Seed of David on Earth be fulfilled when also the first Adam's lost dominion as was fore-prophesied Psal 8. and explained and applyed by the Apostle Heb. 2. will be regained to the raised Saints from the dead at the first said Resurrection by Christ the second Adam Consider seriously these Scripture-evidences and the things held out by them 16ly Such Prophecies as speak of good things to come to Israel Ephraim or Joseph together with Judah joyned with them usually contain something belonging to the great Restauration at Christ's appearing and his Kingdom 1 Tim. 4.1 when he first begins to judge quick and dead at the first session of the day of Judgement when God's ancient People of Israel or Ephraim and Judah shall be joyned together into one stick under one King to them both for ever even Christ being his Promised Seed which will be accomplished in those last dayes as was said from Ezek. 37. 17ly When David by his prophetical Spirit foretelleth of things incompetible to his own Kingdom or to his natural seed such things must necessarily be referred to Christ's glorious Kingdom on Earth See Iren. p. 77 78 79 80. in the thousand years 18ly Again it is observable in Mystical Prophecies that the Spirit of God seems many times to lay down great things in generals and after by degrees to give expositions of them See Abridgm on Dan. as in Nebuchadnezzar's dream Dan. 2. and Daniels Visions of the same matters Dan. 7. both which are by Daniel and the Angel in the same chapters in some brief way first expounded and both again more particularly afterwards in the following Visions in their order chap. 8. and somewhat in chap. 9. but afterwards more fully in many things in their order in his last large Vision chap. 10 11 12. and so in the Revelation in chap. 4 5 7. some general heads are touched at which are more particularly explained in a great part of the Book following So in the latter part of chap. 14. the decay of the Papacy is spoken of which afterwards is again explained chapters 15 16 more briefly and some of the Vials again more largely chapters 18 19 20. 19ly In the Book of the Revelation when things are not said to succeed one the other as 1st 2d 3d c. as the Seals Trumpets Vials but one measure of time is assigned and suited to them all or one table of Chronology is fitted to them all such distirct Visions are contemporaries as all that concerned the true and false Church in Antichrist's time have the same measure though diversly computed by months dayes and a time times and an half all agreeing in 1260 years the date of the Beast the mourning-time of the Witnesses the Woman's Wilderness-condition by which also the Whore of Babylon the ten crowned Horns with the two-horned Beast c. are limited to their seasons So all those Visions under or after the 7th Trumpet See the Irenicon pag. 30. have one Chronological Table to compute their time as chap 11. to v. 15. contained the forty two months for the night-workers in darkness and a thousand two hundred and sixty dayes of such as are of the Light and walk therein So all the Visions I say in the three last chapters have one Chronological Table to compute the time of them all to wit a thousand years wherein Christ will reign with his Saints the Devil shall be bound and shut up c. the New Jerusalem come down from God and God's Tabernacle be with men and the New Heavens and New Earth and the Paradise of God and the Tree of Life and the pure River c. all for the said time of the thousand years and so are contemporaries and all strongly there asserted and confirmed See Irenicon in several places 20. Observ After Christ Jesus our Saviour had finished his Farewel Sermon Joh. 16. he then in the presence of his Disciples made that most excellent declarative Prayer Joh. 17. wherein a large Prophecy of many things to come is very divinely though mystically couched wherein we may observe many things in order according to the Will of his heavenly Father set forth by Christ which should afterward according both to his prayer prediction or disposal be done and hath herein caused to be recorded which shall have their due accomplishment in their times begining from his making that excellent prophetical Prayer who alwayes prayed according to his heavenly Father's Will and as he said was alwayes heard of him and so it is to be known by us that all here he prayed for in respect of himself his Disciples and the faithful Pastors and Christians succeeding even all such as his Father had given him till his coming again and all that believed through their word namely the Apostles Doctrine through the time of the wicked world which he prayed not for till the time of the good world came that should both believe and know him whom the Father had sent when that Glory should be given to his own that the Father had given him concerning which he then made his Will v. 24. that they should behold his Glory in his Kingdom Dan. 7.13 14. at the Resurrection in that World to come of which he speaks Luke 20.35 36. which as was said Heb. 2.5 is stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the world habitable to come of which the Apostle there said he spake namely chap. 1.6 where he had said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he shall bring his Son again into the World that is the second time he saith and let all the Angels of God worship him for he shall then as both Daniel and from Daniel three of the Evangelists witness Christ's words of his coming come in the clouds of Heaven as was foretold of him and all his holy ones with him both Saints and Angels And in reference to this order of this prophetical declarative Prayer of our blessed Saviour observe the ensuing steps of his proceeding therein to the said purposes which we have already hinted to be now further observed and duly considered accordingly Ver. 1. he saith Father glorifie thy Son that thy Son may also glorifie thee which was evidently soon after answered in his Resurrection from the dead
again upon Earth which he speaks of twice v. 15 17. as being in a very different condition from those that are dead then and in the thousand years and to be first raised when all wicked men are to be raised Where note he saith not We shall rise first then as he did of the other state we that are alive and remain but the dead in Christ and that they with all such as were in the natural life on Earth who should have a momentany change then instead of a death and also that all those that were before raised in the thousand years should all at once be rapt up to meet Christ in the air and altogether be thenceforth ever with the Lord who had for a little time before absented himself from them And that the Apostle in this Epistle speaks both of his second and third coming may thus further be made to appear chap. 3.13 he speaks of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with All his Saints and again chap. 4.14 he saith also them also that sleep in Jesus shall God bring with him he brings them with him at his next appearance to take their bodies in the first Resurrection Rev. 20.6 but at his third coming they are not said to be brought with him but rapt up to meet him in the air when he is descended from Heaven Before he had left them a little season but afterwards they shall be ever with the Lord. To which purpose Enoch prophesied of old of his first coming Jude 14.8 Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints that is when the New Jerusalem which is above and called by the Apostle The Mother of us all Gal. 4.26 shall come down from God out of Heaven at his second coming at the time of the restitution of all things Acts 3.20 21. Rev. 21. being prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband when he will make all things new and the Tabernacle of God shall be with men v. 2 3 5. when the souls beheaded for the testimony of Jesus shall live and reign with Christ the thousand years Rev. 20.4 and when he will begin that judgment Rev. 11.18 to reward his servants the Prophets and his Saints and all that fear his Name both small and great and when the four Beasts or rather living wights and the twenty four Elders Rev. 5.10 shall actually enjoy that which they foresaw in Vision above one thousand five hundred years before that they should reign upon earth for he is not said to bring them with him at his third coming but to take them up to him to meet him in the air by a sudden resurrection and momentany change and rapture who before in great part lived again and remained upon Earth or in the World until that time and yet he saith that they should not prevent those that were then asleep and also shews that though Christ had left them for a season before yet from thence-forward they should all ever be with the Lord. And for his second coming the Scripture is very full and clear at the destruction of Antichrist from Dan. 7.14 when he shall come in the clâ—â—â—â— of Heaven and Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and 2 Thess 2.8 he will then destroy the Man of Sin with the appearance of his Coming when he shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on those wicked men who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his Power and then also be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe 2 Thess 1.8 9 10. And this is his appearance at his Kingdom when he will judge both quick dead as 1 Tim. 4.1 by destroying wicked men and rewarding the Righteous as Rev. 11.18 20.4 for then God begins to make his foes his footstool when having taken to himself his great Power he destroyes them that destroyed the Earth as follows in Rev. 11.18 and all this will be at or about the same time when Michael the great Prince that is the Messiah shall stand up to deliver his People Dan. 12.1 when such a time of trouble will be as never was since there was a Nation and such a great Earthquake also will be then at the pouring-out of the last Viol to finish the destruction of the Beast as never was since men were upon the Earth even till that time so mighty an Earthquake and so great Rev. 16. latter end and likewise Dan. 7.9 10 11. ver 26. for the Judgment is set to that end and the Books then opened as in ver 10. See many Texts that speak of this his second coming in the Irenicon pag. 42 43 44. and for his personal appearance which is the same second coming in the Forerunner p. 47 48. And for his third descending with a shout from heaven and the voyce of the Archangel and the Trump of God when the rest of the Saints that dyed in the thousand years shall be again raised as the other were in the thousand years that had reigned with Christ before upon earth before Satan seduced the last Gog and Magog See the Abridgmâ— on Daniels Visions there is above a thousand years space as was said from his second coming to that third when namely at his third coming he will sit upon that great white throne as Judg from whose face the Earth and Heavens will then slee away Rev. 20. after the last Gog and Magog shall be destroyed ver 11 12 to the end Also concerning this third coming seems St. Peter also to speak 2 Pet. 3.10 which words are spoken to the terrour of ungodly men termed there Scoffers at the promise of his coming whom that last coming doth specially concern and yet with the exceptive particle Nevertheless brings in the consolation for the Godly from the promise of the new Heavens and the new Earth which before in the thousand years they should enjoy with him v. 〈◊〉 Mr. Archer observes first his second coming from Mat. 25.30 〈◊〉 his third from ver 31. sutable to what St. Paul expresseth 1 Cor. 15. where he speaks of his first coming v. 23. saying Christ the first fruits afterwards 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they that are Christ's at his coming Then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith he cometh the end where the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are used at a great distance for Christ the first fruits arose before the Saints at his next coming above 1600 years and then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 afterwards the end cometh above a thousand years after his said second coming and at his third when the last Session of the day of Judgment will be held and finished Where he further also v. 24. sets down what must be done at that third coming with what was done before that all along the thousand years from the
of God seems frequently to joyn matters of the latter times together which will be fulfilled at a great distance and particularly concerning the two Resurrections Rev. 20. and even the whole Doctrine of the Resurrection almost as we noted in the Irenicon pag. 102. and elsewhere was made known by degrees and so the two Sessions of the great day of Judgment vide Obser 2. But as we here observe St. Paul sets three great things down together namely Christ's Resurrection as the first fruits of the Resurrection of the Just at the said first Resurrection or at his second coming which is like to be about 1700 years after and then cometh the end which according as Christ hath revealed will be above a thousand years after his second coming and at his third So that mark of the Primitive times Dan. 12.4 to wit Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be encreased divers hundreds of years before Antichrist's time times and the dividing of a time which are set forth in a wonderfull Vision of Christ as Rev. 10. likewise in the three next verses 5 6 7. which contain 1260 years more So three Questions are propounded by Christ's Disciples Mat. 24. of the signs of Jerusalems destruction and of his coming again or returning as he called it before Luke 19.12 and of the end of the World To all our Saviour answers but much of the nearest and gives divers signs of his second coming in the clouds of Heaven which he speaks of ver 30. but closely thereunto adjoyns what should be done at his third coming v. 31. which was not to be so much revealed saving mystically afterwards in the Book of the Revelation which was in respect thereof to be the true Key to open in after-times the spiritual Cabinet of divers otherwise mystical Texts darkly set down by Christ and his holy Spirit in other places of Scripture to the like purpose and so to be such a Key for other things See the like Mat. 25.31 speaks in part of his second coming and in the other part of that verse and ver 32. he speaks of what shall be done at his third coming largely expounded so by himself Rev. 20.11 to the end of the chapter So again St. Paul in 1 Thes 3. ult and chap. 4.14 he speaks of Christ's second coming when Christ will bring all his Saints and all that then shall sleep in Jesus with him but in ver 16. he speaks of his last coming as also expounded by Christ in the said place Also again 1 Cor. 15.23 the Apostle plainly speaks of his second coming and ver 52. sets down divers things to be done at Christs coming at the last Session of Judgment and last Resurrection And because it appears God would have these things concerning the last times of the World to be so darkly delivered for the most part and in mysteries in the Revelation Hence it hath come to pass that such imperfect and mistaken apprehensions have for the most part been entertained by all sorts of men and without some special guidance of God's Spirit could not probably be otherwise found out who himself is said to have opened the Disciples understanding after his Resurrection Luke 24.45 that they might understand the Scriptures but as many then which heard them neither believed nor regarded what they taught and those matters of Salvation by Jesus Christ crucified risen and ascended were hidden from most mens eyes so it is to be expected it will be as we are forewarned with most men in respect of Christ's descending or coming again the second time by stumbling at such Scriptures that concern it on one prejudice or mistake or other It concerns those therefore that will approve themselves wise to be wary in such matters of putting them by slightly which such as rightly shall receive and own are like to find much sweetnes and benefit by them being such as duely search into them For Christs blessing Chap. 1.3 will not be void or vain say vain men what they can or wicked men and devils act what they can to the contrary See Discovery of his Second and Third coming next after the Parallels 30. Observ That of Daniel 12.2 3. is specially meant of the civil Resurrection of the Jews from their bondage and dispersion the time of which is afterwards set down vers 12. which in a vision of the dry bones Ezek. 37. is shewed to Ezekiel is many wayes evident as afterwards follows and so that Resurrection was to be carried on to the end of the fourty five years vers 12. afterwards when Christ will fully deliver them both temporally and spiritually as vers 1. Many arguments might be raised from the words to this purpose and from the time wherein the things are to be fulfilled according both to Ezekiel and Daniel When it is said Many shall arise not all And again it is said They shall be turned unto righteousness that is the righteousness of Justification by Faith in Christ which was contrary to the Legal righteousness that the Jewes before sought after Again some arise to shame and contempt at that time that is by revolting from the faithful Jewes then by fears or hopes or threatnings or the like from the enemy and so fall into shame and perpetual contempt both temporally spiritually and consequently eternally It is observable that the Spirit of God sometimes setteth down Mysteries of Judgements in the order they are to be fulfilled in the resemblance of a day of Judgment as here and sometimes though such things be done long before the end of the world as in Rev. 6. When the sixth seal was opened in Constantines time which is above one thousand two hundred years ago and yet there described as a day of Judgement but yet it was but a particular one for that time but no Judgement said then to be set nor Books opened and quick and dead both Judged as will be at Christs second and third Comings as was said in our second large Observation 31. Observ The harmoniousness and uniform agreement of these divine Truths respecting the Reign of Christ the thousand years touched at least briefly in divers of the preceding Observations shewes them to come from God and their agreeing with the divine Oracles of the holy Spirit scattered in all parts of the sacred Scriptures as in many particulars have been here already set down and as we may afterwards point out or at least briefly hint at As in the two Sessions of the great Day of Judgment with the four particulars proper to the day of Judgement First In both the Judgement is said to be set Secondly In both The Books are said to be opened Thirdly In both first the quick And Fourthly In both last the dead are judged See the large second Observation to these purposes Again these particulars are suitable to the second personal coming of Christ to be hereafter at the beginning and after the little space when the thousand years shall
in Mr. Mede's Answer to Dr. Twisse's second Letter See Zech. 12.10 11. with Rev. 1.7 Isa 66.8 Isa 60. with many other Texts of Scripture 2dly Another sort of subjects then will be Converted Heathen Gentiles then to come in Isa 60.5 6 c. Isa 19. who shall be then Christ's Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth his Possession as Psal 2.8 which the Apostle reckons the greatest riches of the Gentiles Rom. 11.12 If the casting off the Jews was the riches of the Gentiles how much more their fulness And afterwards v. 25. he reveals it as a Mystery to humble us Gentiles in the mean time that blindness was in part happened to the Jews until a first fulness of the Gentiles was come in which our Saviour expresseth by the fulfilling of the times of the Gentiles Luke 21.24 for so long was the Jews calamity and miserable Captivity to endure from Jerusalems destruction as is evident from the context 3dly Christ's chief and best Subjects or Assessors and Deputies then in that his Kingdom will be the blessed raised Saints in the New Jerusalem come down from God Rev. 21.2 who is said to be the Maker and Builder of that City Heb. 11.10 16. which are they our Saviour saith that are counted worthy of that World and the Resurrection of the Just called there also the Children of the Resurrection Luk. 20.35 36. even in that habitable World as the Apostle calls it Heb. 2.5 And at that time when God brings his Son again into the World Heb. 1.6 Where those which God gave him before shall see his own Glory given him as Mediator by the Father as a manifestation of his eternal love to him who he knew would perfectly fulfill that Office and therefore in his last Testament-Will he bequeatheth it to them in the presence of his Father and his Disciples saying John 17.24 Father I will that they c. Observe well both the words and the context they are very weighty all full to this purpose that those raised Saints shall there be where Christ is in his own Kingdom as Dan. 7. there beholding his Glory and many other Texts to the like purpose Consider in the Books wherein many other excellent and sweet points of Christian Doctrine to serious spirits may be observable bordering upon these which to such may by God's Grace be exceeding available to promote Grace and Piety and that from a great advantage above what usually hath been taught or is yet expected by most Christians namely from the weighty consideration of the happiness of the whole man both in soul and body together and that upon Earth where those Saints were formerly despised and suffered when their enemies shall not live in body Isa 26.14 but they shall live with Christ in a triumphant state of Glory Rev. 20.4 5. and that above a thousand years sooner than is ordinarily expected and this happy estate will be a sure entrance into the possession of eternal blessedness in the highest Heavens Men use too greatly to prize and very dearly purchase many times with the loss of their precious souls their earthly falsly supposed perpetuities and when they have done all know not that they or their heirs shall possess I will not say enjoy them for a thousand dayes on Earth but suppose a lawful acquired purchase and left ordinarily with the greatest hope of blessing by a Godly Parent to a gracious Christian Posterity yet how soon do successions many times here degenerate and in some few hundreds of years how are Estates and Nations turned up-side down as sacred and other Histories abundantly evidence and the best mens best estate is here full of evil as well as good bitter sweets at the best yea they and every man in his best estate is altogether vanity Psal 39. And doth Christ by his own peculiar teaching and his evidence must needs be best assure his faithful Servants he hath procured and appointed unto them not a small pittance but a Kingdom and one that cannot be shaken not for a life here or a few successions but for a thousand years on Earth free not only from outward enemies but in the judgment of the best Christians from far worse scil from Sin and Satan with all their retinue Shame Sorrow Death Hell with all that black Regiment that guards them c. On the other hand What bruitish madness do wise men reckon such to be possessed with that cast away a great Estate with the casting of a Dye or by any other sinful earthly frenzy but what is it for any worldly vanity with a curse hereunto entailed and sometimes pursuing it close at the heels to cast away a sure Christian Interest in such a Kingdom as Christ's is sure to be on earth so glorious so satisfying as every condition of the faithful after death is satisfying fully so secure every way blessed in what they enjoy at that period and in what they know they shall enjoy to all eternity For as evil men are made to know all the degrees of their cursed estate both of soul and body likewise to come to their exceeding horror from the very moment of their death when their Conscience being let loose is their accuser witness judge executioner and continual tormentor so godly men appear to know from the very moment of their departure hence every happy condition they are to pass through to eternity therefore of this state said the representatives Rev. 5.10 almost one thousand six hundred years ago we shall reign upon earth so that on the one hand upon this said great advantage Christians may be urged by the Apostles argument a fortiori more strongly as the good is so great and near approaching wherefore Beloved brethren since these things are so what manner of men ought we to be in all holy manner of conversation c. And on the other hand in respect of evil men a fortiori they will not only lose such happiness which they wil not now believe but they will presently know they have lost it and that it will from thenceforth be irrecoverable and which ever will make them miserable they will find they were taken hence in wrath from the tenders of mercy which they had shal never have tenders thereof again made before Christ's second coming or at his coming nor after the last resurrection so that whether thus taken away in particular-displeasure or in the common destruction of the wicked they will throughly know each miserable estate which shall abode them privatively positively as well their poenam damni as poenam sensus as well what they have irreparably lost as what in every estate to eternity will be inflicted upon them Qu. But here by the way is one great Question How will this Doctrine be proved for many great and learned men do not assent to it Answ Whether any Doctrine that is founded evidently and strongly on Gods Word is owned by learned men or eminent men in the
many of them had such faylings or given such offence as occasion others to stumble or they are so mean in esteem as not much to be regarded c. Answ Though perhaps some have been such yet not all there are very ancient as well as modern Witnesses thereof and in most times some and good and eminent men too as well as meaner persons if men would impartially enquire and much I doubt not might be fairly answered to particular exceptions if things were duely weighed but it hath been usual to take up any vain pretences against what is really good but the rule of old was non quis sed quid Our Saviour hath two cautions in hearing take heed what and take heed how but he reserveth to himself liberty to send his messages by any sort of men As we must not have his Faith with respect of persons so not receive or own it in respect of persons but as founded upon the Scriptures of Truth How oft hath the looking asquint upon Gods Messengers upon some appearing or pretended occasion of disrespect or other proved a sad judgement unto many to whom they have come and who have been sent by him in great turnings of times that have not been assaulted in some kind respecting their persons Those rebels of old excited one another to smite the Prophet with the tongue that they might not give heed to any of his words Jer. 18.18 However notwithstanding the worst that can be pretended against mens persons men may consider that Gold that is found but in dunghills ordraughts if by the touch-stone it be approved to be Gold deserveth to be laid up when washed from the soil upon it as well as that which had been kept closely before in the Treasury or Cabinet Wisdom will be justified of her Children in all her Oracles for this reason because they are her Oracles Gods Servants here are to have their grain of allowance but the vain World useth to preoccupate the judgment of the Saints unjustly by harsh censures and hard speeches as Antichrist hath done their reign to come by wicked Idolatry Object But these Doctrines c. shake the foundation of worldly interest and enjoyments for if Christs glorious appearance will be so terrible and work such desolations and changes and that its approach is nigh what will become of Possessors treasures and their owners Answ Good to the good and evil to the evil Rev. 11.18 and therefore God seems to cause such seasonable Truths to be known and published in these last dayes to loosen mens hearts from the world and especially from their wickedness and as Daniel counselled Nebuchadnezzar when he was to be driven from his most stately Palace to feed among the Beasts Dan. 4.27 Let men break off their sins by righteousness and their iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor viz. Gods poor c. and like to our Saviours wise Steward let them make themselves friends with the Mammon of iniquity whilest time serveth that they may receive them into their houses when they are out of their stewardships even those houses and mansions which our Saviour went to prepare for his little little flock in his Kingdom and at his return will give them possession of them with himself But here to be short Let sober and serious Christians further consider that God hath not said so very much of these things in his Word to no purpose but every truth contained in his Word is useful in its season to his Church working as all holy Scriptures do Sanctification in his People besides take notice that mystical Truths may now from the Word be expected to be revealed in great measure when that point of time is hastening to us wherein the Mystery of God will be finished Rev. 10.7 And according to Mark 13.32 which Text many stumble at Christ saith that as man he knew not the day and hour of the last times at least not strictly taken yet even then he being such a person in whom the Godhead dwelled bodily as Col. 2.9 did then to his Disciples make known much of these things Matth. 24. Luke 20 21. Mark 13. and in other places at least in some latitude although in a strict sense the day and hour of Christs comming may not be known to us by means of incompleat or broken years or some imperfection of Chronology or the like as God is pleased to over-rule c. So likewise when Christ tells his Disciples Acts 1.5 6. It is not for you to know the times and seasons then in the state they were in at present which the Father hath put in his own power Yet even then he tells them in the next vers of being endued with power from on high on Pentecost then near at hand when they were not only fitted for the work of the Ministry and to work Miracles but to know the great Mysteries of holy Scriptures and of Daniel in particular as was seen in Peter Acts 3.19 20 21. in James Acts 15.15 16 17. In St. Paul abundantly in his Epistles and even in Jude's short Epistle vers 14. But above all the beloved Disciple St. John is taught to unlock all the formerly shut up Mysteries of the greatly beloved Prophet Daniel even to those times and that by Christ himself in the whole Book of the Revelations thenceforward to be useful for his Churches successively for the time of the end for which they were reserved as is observable Dan. 8.17 19. Chap. 11.40 12.4 9. So that from that time they were unsealed by our Saviour and his holy Spirit who through all times of the Seals hath hitherto opened his Mysteries in their orders Rev. 6. Rev. 8. c. much of this nature might be added not only to remove the frivolous and erroneous conceits of many respecting these things whilest they little consider in what Glory and Majesty Christ will then come in the Clouds of Heaven or with Clouds as Rev. 1.7 accompanied with all his holy Angels And as Enoch long since prophesied Jude 14. with ten thousands of his Saints who shall then come with him 1 Thess 1. ult and 4.14 that he then uniting their Spirits to their Bodies may make them alive and remain against his last coming as verses 15 17. and may so make them capable to behold his glory in the New Jerusalem the thousand years John 17.4 with Rev. 20. In sum then Christian take notice of these representations of the points of Doctrine respecting Christs comings and Kingdom on earth First These Points as all other divine Truths are Uniform See this considered in many particulars in Obser 31. and bear an excellent harmony with themselves and all other true Doctrines and no wayes twharting or disagreeing in themselves or with any others which sound Christians own or profess as by comparing particulars will appear Secondly There is nothing new in them in substance being only fuller explications of divine Mysteries before more darkly couched yet contained in the Word of God Thirdly They will more and more be manifest to have no greater enemies than ignorance of Gods Divine Counsels revealed and sinful unbelief or prophaneness being of themselves sacred and sanctifying Truths which likewise is another evidence of their divine excellency Lastly That now they are in their due season especially made known by the especial grace of God to be published to and improved by his faithful People upon whom the ends of the World are coming And as for some misapprehensions of some good men to whom Mysteries of this nature are not yet discovered whence not only a strange slighting of these great things of God sometimes proceeds but likewise hard speeches both concerning the things and Christs own witnesses of them according to his Word who are therein to be pittied and prayed for with endeavours of information if God afford opportunity and shall be pleased to vouchsafe his blessing However all men herein are to be admonished that they offend not any such wayes against Christ more than they are aware of by contemning or speaking evil of those divine matters they understand not and therefore do not believe yet will be fulfilled in their season Amen FINIS Errata's formerly omitted though smaller faults be passed by IN the Forrunner pag. 10. before line 26. add of the eternal decrees p. 34. r. Rev. 13. in the marg In Irenicon p. ult Chron. Table l. 18. r. 410. In the Preface p. 3. l. 1. r. witnessings In the Advertisement l. 19. 1. supernal p. 84. l. 27. r. Pharisees not Disciples p. 100. l. 26. 1. Ideom p. 101. l. 39. r. special not spiritual p. 109. l. 6. r. thy In Parallel p. 36. l. 9. r. incheate Plain Discovery p. 1. l. 4. r. new