Rev. 11. Witnesses in Sackcloth and slain Witnesses In their cleaving to Christ whilst so many wonder and wander after the the Beast the Lambs followers the Sealed and Marked ones Keepers of the Commandments of God and Testimony of Jesus Rev. 14. In theâ—r courageous opposition to Tyranny and Idolatry called Victors over the Beasts Image Mark Number Name In their Martial attempts against the Beast and Whore the called chosen and faithful the Lambs Army In her quiet peaceable state Kings and Priests Ascenders of Heaven and the Throne of God Reigners with Christ the Bride the Lambs Wife the new Jerusalem the beloved City the Palme-bearing multitude The false Church being represented also under various Marks Names and Characters as you may find under another Head and amongst the rest they are called the Dead that shall not live this thousand years As Antichrist and his followers dye and go off the Stage so Christ and his followers live and come on The death of the one is the life of the other Of the rest of the Dead that lived not But the rest of the Dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished IN the understanding of this death of the wicked interpreters as much differ as they do about the living of the Saints Some suppose a Corporeal death that is here intended intimating that whilst the Saints and Martyrs are raised to live and Reign with Christ the bodies of the wicked shall not be raised but are to lye in their Graves all the thousand years And others suppose it a spiritual death a death in sin an unconverted unregenerated state that the wicked will be found in during all the thousand years But it is humbly conceived there is the same good ground t' understand this as the former living of the Saints viz. in a metaphorical sense As that living of the Saints is to be taken to be a civil life so this death of the wicked is to be understood a civil death being the direct Antithesis to the former and so indeed no other then a confirmation and illustration of that happy state of the Saints for as when the Beast and Dragon and their worshipers lived viz. were found in the full exercise of power Rule and Authority in the world the Saints then civilly dyed being not only put out of all capacity of that kind but made lyable to all manner of natural deaths and distress for opposing their usurpations and refusing their Idolatrous worship so when the Saints come to take their turns to live in power and authority then shall all the Beasts and Dragons worshipers and followers take their turns in a state of death too not only thrust from all Rule and Authority but rendred lyable to give an account with their lives and liberties for all their cruelties and murders during their tyrannous usurpations When they must have retaliation and be filled in the Cup they have filled to others and be rewarded as they have rewarded the Saints during their reign and rage For how much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much torment and soorrw she must have Object But why called the rest of the Dead that lived not again This also is a proper Character of the false Church holding out their present posture and condition sometimes termed Earth-dwellers Beast-worshipers and Wonderers Babylon Whore a Glorious Queen City of the Nations and here according to their dethroned slaughtered imprisoned captivated state The Dead that lived not But why the Rest of the Dead so read as Pareus after the manner of the Greek the Genetive for the Nomnative the rest of the dead for the rest being dead so Rev. 9.20 rest of the men that is other men The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being other as Eph. 6.10 1 Cor. 7 29. 1 Tim. 4.13 20. The Saints that were dead that would not worship formerly in the Dragons and Beasts life and reign are now alive But the other men that worshiped Beast and Dragon enter now a state of Death and Judgment who are judged to death all the thousand years no more to Rule or Reign either in Civils Militaries or Ecclesiasticks for or under the Beast during that time then they permited the Saints to exercise any such Soveraignty for and in the behalf of Christ during their day for as one goes up the other goes down They are not to live again till the thousand years be finished implying that when the Dragon is loosed there will then be a Military power and jurisdiction at least that they may live to again in opposition unto Christ and the Saints in their encompassing the Camp of the Saints and beloved City which their said raised state makes good and confirms the former interprepretation that their death is mistically and figuratively to be understood of a civil and not litterally of a Corporeal death for if the dead men must not live again till the thousand years be expired and then must be raised out of their Graves and in that Resurrection-state appear in that Military posture is such an absurdity that I presume none will own Wicked men being not raised to make opposition against Christ and his Saints but to appear to judgment being the Resurrection to them of Damnation as to the raised Saints of Life and Salvation Of Reigning with Christ And I saw Thrones and they sat upon them and Judgment was given unto them c. And they lived and Reigned with Christ a thousand years c. And they shall be Priests to God and Christ c. AFter the Saints are revived and a Spirit of Life entred into them they are called up and ascend into Heaven saith Rev. 1.1 viz. to Rule and Government as Page 39. to Kingly power to sit upon Thrones and have judgment committed to them saith this Text Ensigns of Soveraignty Psal 122.5 Psal 7.21 1. Dan. 7.22 Alluding to the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ after his Death who Ascending Heaven had all power judgment and authority given to him Mat. 28.18 John 5.22 27. So shall it be in like manner with his mistical body in their mistical Resurrection and Ascension They are to Ascend the Throne of Christ and to receive Judgment Rule and Authority from him having suffered with him during Antichrists Reign and are now as Kings to Reign with him in his Kingdom Which Kingly state of the Saints is confirmed by divers Scriptures whereof take some few Rev. 5 10. And hath made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall Reign on the Earth Being part of the new song of the 24 Elders that are said to be about the Throne in Chap. 4.10 with white Raiment and Crowns of Gold casting them down before the Throne interpreted here in the 9. verse of 5. to be the Church of God that were redeemed by his Blood out of every Kindred Tongue people and Nation Compared with Rev. 1.5 Vnto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in
rage comes now to have a Spirit of Life from God enter into them enabling them to stand upon their feet And then a voice from Heaven or the Orb of Government and Rule for so Heaven here and in the Rev. 12.7 is to be taken calls them up thereto alluding hereby to Christs dead body that was killed raised and ascended into Heaven And so the Prophet Isa 26.19 Thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise Awake and Sing ye that dwell in the Dust for thy Dew is as the Dew of Herbs and the Earth shall cast out the Dead And parallel to this Hosea 6.2 After two days he will revive us in the third day he will raise us and we shall live in his sight His mistical body the Church being in a mistical way to conform and suit in a figure to the Death Resurrection and Ascension of his real Body The Prophet Hosea also in the 13 14. ver foretelling this promised restauration to the Church in this mistical manner doth it in terms alluding to the Corporeal Resurrection to which also the Apostle refers 1 Cor. 15.55 when he asserts that Doctrine of the Resurrection I will ransom them from the power of the Grave I will redeem them from Death O Death I will be thy Plagues O Grave I will be thy destruction Repentance shall be hid from my Eyes And again by the Prophet Isa 25.8 Speaking of this very time He will swallow up Death in Victory and the Lord will wipe away tears from all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the Earth for the Lord hath spoken it Which very words of the Prophet are repeated by John and applied to this very time Rev. 21.4 Rev. 7.17 Now as is the Death so must the Resurrection be to the Spiritual Death there is a Spiritual Resurrection to the mistical Death a mistical Resurrection to the Corporeal Death a Corporeal Resurrection To this the Assemblies Annotations upon this place seem to concur also Rev. 20.5 6. After Antichrists destruction there will be such a new face of the Church as if the Saints were all raised up again This Resurrection is not of particular persons but of whole Churches and Nations as Rom. 11.15 alluded to in the raising of dead Bones Ezek 37. in which they are said to have part And that the Corporeal Resurrection of the Saints cannot be understood in this place further appears First Because the Text in the Letter of it speaks not of their Bodies but Souls and of the Souls only of them that were beheaded as Rev. 6.9 And I saw under the Altar the Souls of them that were slain for the Word of God c. Now it is no where said that Souls in a proper sense revive and are raised because they never dye being Immortal and so not capable of Resurrection necessitating therefore another sense Secondly Because if we are here to understand a bodily Resurrection of the Saints Martyrs only being here mentioned and beheaded Martyrs too taking in no other Saints and only such too that suffered under Antichrist then will Christ have but a small Kingdom And then only such Martyrs partaking of that first Resurrection are to share of happiness and freedom from second Death excluding all but such both from happiness and exemption from such a curse contrary to the Analogy of Faith and whole current of Scriptures for what by such Doctrine will become of all the Saints from Abel to this time that were not Martyrs under Antichrist Thirdly Because this will hold out an absurdity of a two-fold Resurrection a thousand years distant each from other of bodies contrary to John 5.28 The hour is coming in which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done Good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done Evil to the Resurrection of Damnation The state of the Resurrection being there held forth by Christ to be general and universal relating to Good and Bad and to be at one time the hour So in John 6. four several times he refers the Saints Resurrection to the last day verse 39.40 44 54. The professed Faith of the Saints in that day John 11.24 And Martha said unto him I know that he shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last day So 1 Cor. 15.51 52. Behold I shew you a mistery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a Moment in the twinkling of an Eye at the last Trump for the Trumpet shall sound and the Dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed Joh 19.25 26. For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth 26. And though after my skin Worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God So Job 14.12 Man lyeth down and riseth not till the Heavens be no more c. By which two Scriptures in Job the last day and time of the last Trump is explained and limited to Christs personal coming and end of the world or dissolution of the Heavens and the Earth as 2 Pet. 3.10 11 12. Rev. 20.11 Fourthly Because this opinion holds out this to be the first bodily Resurrection contrary to what the Scripture speaks of nine going before it As first the Widow of Sarepta's Son 1. Kin. 17.22 2ly The Son of the Shunnamite 1 Kings 4.35 3ly The man that was raised by the touch of the Prophets Coffin 2 Kings 13.21 4 y The Widow of Naim's Son Luke 7.15 5ly The Daughter of Jairus Luke 8.55 6 y Lazarus John 11.44 7ly Those many that came out of their Graves accompanying Christ at his Resurrection 8ly Tabitha Acts 9.41 9ly Eutichus Acts 20.16 By which several instances it must appear thar either this is not a Corporeal Resurrection spoken of or these nine mentioned were not so for this cannot be said in truth to be the first Corporeal Resurrection when nine went before it but the Tenth Resurrection rather Fifthly The Bodily Resurrection cannot be here meant because that is not to be till a thousand years after this as in this Chapter when all the Elements must give up their Dead Rev. 20.12 13. Sixthly This cannot be the Corporeal Resurection of the Saints for that cannot be till Christs personal coming and appearing and day of Judgment 1 Thes 4.14 Them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 1 Cor. 15.23 Christ the first fruits afterwards they that are Christs at his coming 2 Tim. 4.1 Who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom And as before Christs personal coming is proved by many arguments not to be till after the thousand years And 't is as clear that the Judgment day is not till after the thousand years and destruction of the Gog Magog Army Seventhly This cannot be the Corporeal Resurrection of the Saints because it inverts Christs
order which is to be at the sounding of the last trumpet The time of the living Saints change the time that is expres'd to be the last day which is the time of his coming and appearing which is the Judgment day But this a thousand years before all Eighthly Because if Corporeal and to be understood of Martyrs only then all the dead at the last day shall be raised to the second death contrary to John 5.24.6.39 40.44 54. Dan. 12.2 And they only as Martyrs Priests to God contrary to 1 Pet. 2.5 9. Rev. 1. â— Ninthly Because if this be understood to be the Resurrection of all the Saints who in that immortal and glorified state are to live and Reign the thousand years in and over the world it necessarily infers these strange absurdities First that glorified and unglorified mortal and immortal bodies must converse together for it necessarily follows if the Saints are raised then is Christ come in Glory and their vile bodies are made like to his glorified body and that Christ and the Saints and Angels in this glorified state converse with the men of the world Ruling Governing and Ordering them in the respective policies by Zions Laws and Edicts contrary to express Scripture 1 Tim. 6.16 Who only hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see viz. No mortal man no unglorified man for if Moses that had only a glimps of Gods back parts had such a Glory upon him that the Children of Israel could not converse with him without a vail And the Disciples were not able to stand before Christ in the Transfiguration nor Paul in the Vision how unable will wicked men be to stand before and converse with Christ who appears in transcendent Glory both in his own and the Fathers Glory the Glory of all the Holy Angels and Glory of all Saints as hereafter And it is expresly said that none can see God and live Exod. 33.20 It being impossible that any poor mortal finite Creature can see and stand before the glorious immortal and infinite Being without being consumed Secondly It holds out that some glorified and unglorified Saints shall at this time converse together viz. those that are raised from the dead with those that are then upon the Earth when the Scripture tells us 1 Cor. 15.51 52. that at the same instant that the dead Saints are raised the living Saints are changed at a Moment in the Twinkling of an Eye which must needs be so 1. Because when Christ comes he must have all the Saints come with him who are raised changed and glorified taken up in the Air to meet him and in that state are ever with him not one Saint being to be left behind 2. Because he then appears in flaming fire againt them that know him not nor obey his Gospel the day of Grace being then over and none to be converted after that And therefore are all the exhortations of making ready of getting Oyl in the Vessel and in the Lamp before he comes it being too late to do it after he cometh A third absurdity is that whereas Christ saith The last Enemy is Death here the raised Saints after death are to meet with another Enemy the Gog-Magog Army Tenthly This cannot be the Corporeal Resurrection because it is said expreslly that during this thousand years the new Jerusalem new Heaven and new Earth-state the Saints shall build plant Marry give in Marriage enjoy the works of their hands dispense Laws manage Governments in the world and be lyable to death and dessolution therein which is utterly inconsistent with the Resurrection-state Luke 20.34 The Children of this world marry and are given in marriage 35. But they which shall be accounted worthy to'btain that world and the Resurrection from the Dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they dye any more for they are equal to the Angels and are the childeren of God being the Children of the Resurrection the dispensing of Laws managing worldly policies and affairs being as utterly inconsistent with this state also Secondly Neither can this living or rising again intend the Spiritual Resurrection viz. the rising from the death of sin to the life of Grace the converted changed state though that will abundantly be manifested herein both amongst Jews and Gentiles by the preaching of the Gospel 1. Because it is supposed it speaks of the Church that were converted lived a spiritual life 2. Neither was this a life their Enemies could take from them for in this sense they lived all the time of the Beasts and the Dragons rage and rule and in this respect might be said to live most when most lyable to outward death and distresses Thirdly neither can this be the Eternal Life of Glory Because this speaks of a state that precedes that a thousand years Therefore lastly it will follow that if it be neither the Corporeal Spiritual nor Eternal Life that is here meant to which the Saints are raised then must it be the mistical or civil life to which the Prophets give witness as before And the rather so because of that mistical and civil death that all Saints are lyable to and lye under during Antichrists reign because they refuse to worship the Beast or his Image or receive his Mark and Number c. As also bcause the whole Church and all Saints do at this time partake of this life because it is said in the next verse that the rest or others lived not viz. those that did worship the Beast the Character of the Antichristian Church they lived not this thousand years viz. this mistical life But are now to take their turns in the Vally of the shadow of death lyable now to the Prison-state and Gibbet to give an account for all their cruelties and murders to be kill'd all the day long to be fill'd in the Cup they have fill'd and as being thrust in the pit and bound kept from all Rule Dignity and Authority Object But why must the Church be included under these terms or characters of Souls beheaded and that would not worship the Beast Answ Because it may more emphatically and significantly held forth the state they are raised from and raised to Various are the names and Characters the Church is represented by in this Book and yet all suitable to their present posture and station viz. In her primitive purity and lusture a Woman clothed with the Sun and the Moon under her feet and upon her head a Crown of Twelve Stars In her persecuted afflicted state under the Dragon or Rome Heathen Souls under the Altar Rev. 6.9 10. Slain for the Word of God and Testimony they held and so here Souls of the beheaded Rev. 20. In her contests with the Dragon Rev. 12.2 A woman with Child cryed travelling in birth and pained to be delivered Under the Beast tyranny and persecution Rev. 12. A Woman flying into the Wilderness
in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth but they who are written in the Lambs book of Life 22.27 The free Denizens of this Glorious Citie are only such that are of a noble Stock of a heavenly Birth and descent born from above the true Jsaacks the sons of Abraham by the free woman who as they are Believers are the only children of promise Gal. 3.16.29 who as the called chosen and faithful are said to have laid Christ and his Apostles and Prophets in the Foundation of their Faith Hope and Practice Eph 2.19 20. and characterized to be the Redeemed from the Earth and amongst men that are not defiled with women in whose mouth there is no guiâ—e that are the Marked Sealed number shall have their fathers name in their foreheads viz. are in a visible profession and Practise of those truths that have his name upon upon them and therefore said to be keepers of his Commandments to have the testimony of Jesus to be servants of the Lamb and followers of him where ever he goes and that are separates and Non conformists to Babylon refusing the Mark Name and Number of the Beasts though without it they can neither buy nor sell and that are overcomers by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their Testimony not loving their Lives unto death There they are said to be put into the City Records even in the Lambs Book of Life and the having right to the Tree of Life do enter in through the Gate of the City Whereas contrarywise the Inhabitants of the other City are said to have their descent from beneath being of their Father the Devil whose works they do having their Fathers name in their foreheads and right hands who are Earth-dwellers that worship adore and admire the Beast and are in Subjection to his false prophets and particularly are deciphered To be the Unbelievers the Abominable the Murderers the Whoremongers Idolaters Lyers whereby the City becomes as before the hold of every foul spirit and Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird Witnesss their Theaters and houses of debauchery to provoke lust and uncleanness the innumerable company of Stews and Brothel-houses that bring so great a Revenue to the support of the Catholick Sea who are therefore said as Dogs Whoremongers and Sorcerers to be without the City Rev. 22.15 And who must in no wise enter therein Rev. 21.22 Of the Tree and Water of Life And he shewed me a pure River of Water of Life clear as Crystal proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb and in the midst of the street of it and of either side of the River there was the Tree of Life which bore twelve manner of Fruits and yielded her Fruit every Month and the Leaves of the Tree were for healing of the Nations Rev. 22.1 2. HAving shewed us the City her Fashion Glory Inhabitants comes in the next place to discover her Provision and Maintenance whereby her Life Comfort and Refreshing is preserved and mantained 1. This water of Life so pure and clear proceeding out of the Throne is no other than the Graces of the Spirit that floweth from the Throne of Mercy and Grace as Zach. 13.1.14.8 Ezek. 16.9 John 3.5 Tit. 5.35 And which is freely tendred and held forth in the Gospel Rev. 22.19 Isa 55.1 and which the Church doth ever had but more plentifully shall enjoy in this latter day of Glory Isa 44 3.35.7 Joel 2.8 John 7.38 with Isa 41.17 18. Ezek. 36.25 26. Called the water of Life because it reviveth from the death of sin Ezek. 47.9 2. Because all spiritual quickning is in it Psal 46.4 Iohn 7.37 It is the spirit that quickneth 3. From the healing vertue that is in it Ezek. 47.9 4. Because they dye no more that drink it Iohn 4.10 14. The Tree of Life is no other than the Lord Jesus with his Blessings and Benefits wherein he alludes to the Tree of Life that was placed in the midst of the Garden of God Gen. 2.9 who is the Tree of Life as well as the Water and Fountain of Life and the Bread of Life which is for shade Cant. 2.3 Hos 14.5 6 7. for Food Ezek. 47.12 Hos 14.8 Cant. 2.13 Ezek. 36.30 for Physick and Medicine the Leaves whereof having a healing property in them as Ezek. 47.12 But of that Food that Babylon affords her Inhabitants may it not truly he said of it as Deut. 32.32 33. That their Vine is as the Vine of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorah their Grapes are the Grapes of Gall their Clusters are bitter their Wine is the poison of Dragons and the cruel Venom of Aspes And that they hatch Cockatrice Eggs and weave the Spiders web he that eateth of their Eggs dyeth c. Isa 59.5 of whose dainties eat you not for poison is in their Cup and death in their pot Of there being no Temple in it And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it verse 22. THe Temple of old was the place of Gods worship that stood in the City of God which was curiously built by cunning Artificers of Wood and Stone and richly adorned with Gold and precious stone and to which worldly Sanctuary belonged a Priest-hood viz a High-priest Chief-priests and inferiour priests or Levites whereof divers Ranks and Courses and distinguished by different habits wayting at the Altar and attending the Mosaical Service and Ceremony both day and night and maintained by Tenths first-Fruits and Oblations c. besides the Nazarites and Votaries which was typical of the true Tabernacle that was made with hands even the New Testament Temple viz. the mistical body of Christ the Church so called in the Gospel as the Apostle witnesseth 1 Cor. 16.17 2 Cor. 6.16 What Agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols for year the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people compared Rev. 21.3 and Heb. 3.5 6. whose house are ye built by Christ the master-builder and which as the spiritual house 1 Pet. 2.4 5 6. is built of living stones and hath belonging to it the Golden Altar spiritual incense and sacrifices a spiritual priest-hood with a great High-priest that lives for ever after the order of Melchisadeck so that in the New Testament day there is no other Temple to be seen but such as Christ and his mistical body makes no such Temple that was to be built after Moses pattern in the Old Testament day for the Vail of that Temple being rent the Altar service sacrifice and Priest-hood Law it self being altered and changed Heb. 7.12 to make way for the new Temple Altar Law-service sacrifice Priesthood the old is no more to be seen but all the Divine worship and service to be performed in the new â—emple where the Priests the sons of Levi Mal. 3.3 being purified
Salvation Heb. 2.28 Acts 11 1. 1 Cor. 15.23 Thes 1.8 Secondly His spiritual coming is either when he comes by his spirit to convince call and convert a Soul as Eph. 3.17 1 Thes 2.13 Rev. 4.20 or to confirm seal and establish by his Spirit John 14 20. Acts 23.28 Eph. 1.13 Thirdly It is mistically considered either in his coming in the type in the shadowy and legal dispensations Acts 7. 1 Cor. 10. or in the Evangelical Antetype or Gospel dispensation Fourthly He cometh in his Providence either to redeem deliver and save his people Exod. 3.8 Lam. 18.8 Heb. 10.37 or to execute Vengeance in the destruction of his Enemies Isa 63. Luke 18. Hab. 2. Mal. 2. And it is the mind of wisdom that must rightly and duly apply each of these according to the scope drift and meaning of the holy spirit and not mistake the one for the other Secondly What are we to understand by Christs being with a people or a people with Christ can that be otherwise than personal for it is expresly said They Reigned with Christ Christ may be said to be with a person or people when he is so virtually by his spirit or spiritual presence or when he is so by his Word Rule Law or Precept Judah was said to rule with God Hosea 11.12 when they cleaved to Gods Word and Rule When Israel rejected the Government by Judges which was Gods Ordinance and Appointment for a King after the manner of the Nations they were said to reject God from being their King who vertually went in and out before them and sought their Battles for them 1 Sam. 8. And therefore said Jer. 8.19 Is not the Lord in Zion Is not her King in her why have they provoked me to anger with the graven Images Solomon was said to sit upon the Throne of the Lord. And Jehoshaphat in his charge to his Judges 2 Chron. 19.6 bids them take heed what they did for you judg not for man but for the Lord who he told them was with them in the judgment being called forth as verse 8. for the Judgment of the Lord and for controversies Christ is said therefore virtually and spiritually to dwell to rest to walk amongst his people 2 Cor. 6.16 Rev. 2.1 Isa 57.15 and they with him to live with them and they with him to suffer with them and they with him Psal 91.15 Acts 7.9 To dye be buried quickned raised with him Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.15 2 Tim. 2.12 To work with him 2 Cor 5.6.1 Sup with him and he with them Rev. 3. To war and fight together with him and he with them Rev. 17. Joshuah 5. To be Captain of the Host and General of the Army Rev. 19. When all is but virtually and spiritually so So Satan is said to be with his Servants Subjects acting and instructing when he is not personally nor visibly so Satan shall cast some of you into prison Rev. 2.10 Where Satan dwelt and Satans Seat and Throne was Rev. 2.13 When he was only so by his substitutes in his Authority not really and personally but virtually and mistically And so to Reign and Rule as God King'd it in Israel by his Word Law and Authority by his influence and spirit As the Dragons Rule is called the Devils because the Devil influences acts and spirits his principal Agents and Instruments though not personally present So may the Rule in the hands of the Saints be called Christs Kingdom or Soveraignty though he be only virtually not personally present It is no new thing so to take it in his mistical Kingdom in the Church where his Laws Statutes and Ordinances are dispensed in his name and by vertue of his spirit It was no new thing to have it so esteemed in Israel in the Typical Kingdom when the Law was his the Rulers by his choice and spiriting the policy his called therefore his Rule Government Soveraignty Throne Kingdom And why then should it be thought strange in the Antetype When his Law Rule Policy and Rulers called according to his qualifications and influenced by his spirit shall according to promise and Prophesie come forth again in the world why may they not as well be said to Reign with Christ as suffer with him If we suffer with him we shall Reign with him We do not think it any absurdity to say The King of Spain fights and Conquers in America and Rules and Reigns there though never personally present in that other world but only vertually so by his Commissions by his Laws Civil and Ecclesiastical that he hath transferred thither by his Officers and Vice Roys that he hath appointed in his name to Rule and Govern there Did not the Roman Senate of old Govern the world at Rome by their Laws and Edicts and Rulers of Provinces that they Commissioned and appointed But by this Reason you seem to exempt Christs person from any share of Rule or Soveraignty in any Kingdom here whereas it is expresly said He is to judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and Kingdom by which it is most manifest that at his appearing he hath a Kingdom and you owning that appearing to be personal what do you make that Kingdom to be And what share hath Christs person in it In answer whereto I conceive it necessary in the first place to give you the distinction of a five-fold Kingdom the Scripture takes notice of belonging to Christ viz. a Providential Spiritual Monarchical mistical or Davidical and Misphatical Kingdom and then I shall give you my understanding and conceptions of this Kingdom hinted at that he is to have at that his appearing And for a want of a right distinguishing herein proceds as I humbly apprehend all the mistaken notions and differences about the Kingdom of Christ treated of in these papers First Therefore understand there is a providential Kingdom which Christ hath and doth as God manage over all the world and that from the beginning Secondly A spiritual Kingdom which he doth and hath all along managed in the hearts of his people from the beginning of the world to this day Thirdly There is a mistical Kingdom or a Rule and Soveraignty that he as Lord and King hath exercised in the Church as well under the Law as under the Gospel Fourthly There is his Monarchical or Davidical Kingdom namely that dignity and Soveraignty that is in time according to promise and prophesie to take place in and over the Nations and to be managed by his Laws and Government by his spirit and vertual presence in his Servants and Substitutes Which hath been the special Subject of this discourse Fifthly There is that glorious Misphatical Kingdom viz. Soveraignty that Christ Jesus in person with all the Saints in their glorified bodies with him shall upon their general Resurrection and Judgment exercise here upon the Earth before all is given up into the Fathers hands which is further cleared to you in the several parts of it in the
Scriptures following Mat. 16.28 There be some standing here that shall not tast death till they see the son of man coming in his Kingdom Which in a figure is performed in the next Chapter Mat. 17.2 And was transfigured before them and his face did shine as the Sun and his Raiment was white as the Light c. Compared with Rev. 1 13 14 15. 2 Pet. 1.16 For we have not followed cunning devised Fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eye Witnesses of his Majesty viz. They had a vision of that power and glory that Christs Majesty shall have when he come in his Kingdom Mat. 19.28 Ye which have followed me in the Regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the Throne of his Glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Rev. 3.21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me upon my Throne even as I also overcome and am set down with my Father on his Throne 1 Cor. 15.50 Now this I say Brethren that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God neither doth corruption inherit incorruption Therefore 51. Behold I shew you a mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed Holding out the necessity of the changed immortal incorruptible estate to qualifie them and make them capable to partake of the blessings and benefits of that Kingdom of God which Christ enters upon at the sounding of this last Trump and the general Resurrection and Judgement 2 Tim. 4.1 I charge thee before our Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the Quick and the Dead at his appearing and Kingdom Luke 13.28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God and you your selves thrust out 29. And they shall come from the East and from the West and from the North and from the South and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God Math 25.31 32. When the Son of Man shall come in his Glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the Throne of his glory And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepheard divideth the Sheep from the Goats c. Which fully states and clears up the thing 1. That Christ shall come in his Glory with all the Holy Angels with him 2. That he shall then in his Kingly state as Verse 34 Sit upon the Throne of his Glory 3. That this shall be at the general Resurrection For all Nations good and bad are gathered before him 4. That this shall be at the general Judgement For now is the Judgement and Sentence to be pronounced c. Secondly This shall be upon the Earth Job 19.25 26. For I know that my Redeemer liveth and he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Whom I shall see for my self and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my Reins be consumed within me 1 Thess 4.17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with him in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so shall we ever be with the Lord viz. Not to remain with him in the Air but to meet him to come with him to the Earth For so Acts 1.10 11. And while they looked stedfastly towards Heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white Apparel which said Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven With Zach. 14.4 And his Feet shall stand in that day upon Mount Olivet c. Thirdly The manner of his coming to his Throne it shall be first Visible secondly Glorious thirdly Terrible also 1. Visible Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him c. Matth. 27.30 And they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great Glory Acts 1.11 He shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven 2. Glorious And therefore well called the Kingdom of Glory Mark 13.26 And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds with Power and great Glory Which great Glory appears First Because it is in the Fathers Glory Mark 8.38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful Generation of him also shall the Son of Man also be ashamed when he cometh in the Glory of his Father with the Holy Angels Secondly In his own Glory with the Father Luke 9.26 Of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his own Glory and in his Fathers c. Thirdly In the Glory of all the Holy Angels Matth. 25.31 When the Son of Man shall come in his Glory and all the Holy Angels with him 2 Thess 1.7 And to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels Fourthly In the Glory of all the Saints as is already largely proved from Zech. 4.5 1 Thess 4.14 17. 1 Cor. 15.51 52. Luke 13.28 Luke 2.36.2 Thess 2.10 There vile bodies being now raised changed made from Earthly to bear the Image of the Heavenly is to be made glorious like Christs glorified Body 1 John 3.1 2. Phil. 3.21 1 Cor. 15.43 44 49. 3. Terrible also With a shout great noise voice of the Archangel with the Trump of God the last Trump with the dissolution of Heaven and Earth as 1 Cor. 15.52 1 Thess 4.17 Math. 24.31 Math. 24.24 2 Pet. 3. Rev. 20. Rev. 22. 4. What shall be done in this Kingdom 2 Thess 1. Christ shall be glorified and admired and praised Saints shall be glorified and rewarded Wicked Men and wicked Angels shall by Christ and the Saints be Judged and Sentenced according to their deeds and demerits Of being Priests of God and Christ But they shall be Priests of God and Christ THis is another part of the Saints Priviledge this thousand years not only to Reign as Kings but be Priests too as Rev. 1.6 â—ev 5.10 And hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall Reign on the Earth Alluding hereby to that Dignity and Priviledge of the Priesthood under the Law who were said to draw nigh to God in a more special and peculiar way in his worship which was First Patriarchal or the Priesthood belonging to the first born Num. 63.12.41.45.8.16 17. Secondly Mosaical or Levitical Numb 3.18.7.22 Exod. 28.1 1 Chron. 6.49 Of whom First High-Priest 1 Chron. 6.14 15. Secondly Chief Priests Numb 20.26 Thirdly Ordinary Priests of the same line Lev. 6.29 Which were