have dyed in the Faith Rev. 20. 4. not onely they that were beheaded but all that subjected not to Antichrist by which innocency from Popery he meanes all Saints though he instances in an escape from Popery onely because that is the snare which in this latter part of the world takes such as are not Saints and more plainely Rev. 11. 15. to the chapters end there is set out Christs Kingdome and it is said that not onely the Prophets but all that feared him both small and great should be judged and rewarded even all that feare him small Christians and greater and how judged that is their cause pleaded against their enemies by a just punishment of them in the present generation of the wicked in whom all the foregoing generations of the wicked were punished God shewing thereby what they all did deserve and rewarding the Saints how is that by raising them from the dead for as he speakes of the dead Prophets so doth he of the dead Saints and of all Saints dead and not onely of such as were martyred and this Resurection is not at the Worlds end for after this he shewed many things were done in the World as the Temple opened c. and it is the beginning of Christs Kingdome as we have shewed before this also is cleare by that signification that Christ put on their receiving the Lords Supper in a Table gesture where they sate as it were at his Table and he served them for as they sate at Table eating the Passeover he instituted and administred the Lords Supper Luk. 22. 14. He sate downe that is in a Table gesture at the Passeover and vers. 19. 20. at that meale he instituted the Lords Supper and therefore as they sate in the Table gesture for it was as they were eating at Table Mat. 26. 26. which was sitting Mark 14. 18. Now I say having thus Administred to them the Lords Supper as they sate he in that being as one that served them because he gave the bread and wine whereas in the Passeover they eate it with him without his Administring it to them He inferres hence two things One was that which met with the present corruption of pride that then brake forth vers. 42. to 48. Since he had set them downe and served them they should not strive who should be greatest Another was a consolation for the future which was signified and sealed up to them in that Sacrament of the Lords Supper vers. 28. 29. 30. that by his admitting them to sit and eate of that his Supper and Table he did shew and seale to them the fellowship which they should have in his Kingdome That they should sit as Kings and rule the Tribes of Israel which cannot be meant of Heaven for that is the Fathers Kingdome and Christs Kingdom ends when this world ends Therefore the Sacrament of the Lords Supper not onely seales up and signifies spirituall and eternall Priviledges but also the Kingdom of Christ which shall be enjoyed in this world and therefore it is to cease at his comming to set up this Kingdom for it is to shew forth his death till he come c. 1 Cor. 11. 26. and then to cease And this is not onely signified and sealed to the Apostles but as in them he gave the Sacrament to all Beleevers so in them he taught all Beleevers members of his Church that as sitting at his Table assured them that they should rule with him in his Kingdom so that the gesture of a Table is necessary at the receiving of the Sacrament or else a maine use and comfort of the Sacrament is lost which is the signification of our Raigning with Christ in his Kingdome in this World And whereas it is inferred upon the Apostles being with Christ in his Temptations Luk. 22. 28. It is not meant onely of his Personall Temptations but of his mysticall that is all the Temptations which in his Name and Members doe befall him therefore Paul saith He filled up the sufferings of Christ Col. 1. 24. and so agrees to every Saint Now if all Communicants at the Lords Supper who are Saints have signified and sealed to them by sitting at that Table in a fellow-like gesture or rather they sitting and Christ serving them assures them that they shall have a Kingdom and rule in this world with Christ then surely being dead before this Kingdome they must all as well as the dead Apostles be raised up when Christ comes to begin this Kingdom So Act. 3. 12. 20 speaking of Christs nâ—xâ— coming after he ascended which is this his second coming to set up his Kingdom for he saith that the heavens must hold him till then and then he is to restore that is make new heavens and new earth which he is to do in his Kingdome Isa 67. 17. Re. 21. 12. I say he saith in these times those Beleevers shall be refreshed and their sinnes blotted out therefore then were they to be raised from the dead or how could their sins be blotted out and they then refreshed and surely most of the rewards promised in the Epistles to the seven Churches in Asia are meant of these times of Christs Kingdom Rev. Chap. 2 3. and not of rewards in Heaven as it is usually taken as those rewards Rev. 2. 7. 11. 20 27. and Rev. 3. 12. for in heaven there is no Paradise or tree of life or Christ his ruling Nations with a Rod of Iron or sitting one Thrones with a kingly power for at this Worlds end before Heaven is entred Christ resignes his Kingdome wherefore all these things are applied to Christs Kingdome on earth Rev. 21. 22. which bâ—cause we should not thinke it to be Heaven it is said expresly it came downe from heaven Rev. 21. 2. it is indeed heavenly but yet on earth not in heaven thus what is promised Rev. 2. 11. not to be hurt of the second death is performed to the Saints of this Kingdom on earth raised from the first death Rev. 20. 46. So what is promised of Paradise and the tree of life Rev. 2. 7. is performed in this Kingdom of Christ Rev. 22. 14 So what is prophesied Rev. 1. 26 27. is in effect applyed to this kingdom of Christ on earth Rev 21. 7. and so that promise Rev. 3. 12. of the new Jerusalem is applyed to this Kingdome Rev. 21. 2. Now the condition of these promises is to overcome which seemes to agree to every beleever for faith is the victory by which we overcome 1 Ioh. 5 4. yet if it be applicable onely to some who peculiarly contest with adversaries yet sure it is found in divers who were never martyred as Luther others who conflicted and overcame more then some Martyrs therefore surely not onely the martyred Saints shall be raised from the dead at Christs Kingdome but other dead Saints also therefore this coming of Christ to set up his Kingdom is set out by the Saints raised from the
dead and praising of him Rev. 15. this coming of Christ and setting up his Kingdom which was spoken of Rev. 11. 15. to the end is expressed first by the antecedents and preparatives to it namely seven Vials that is a perfect measure of wrath to be cast on the wicked which Vials are exprest particularly in chap 16. after the sixth of which the wicked combine against Christ and his Saints Verse 13. to 17. which is that in Rev. 11. 18. the Nations were angry the seventh and last Viall was powred out Rev. 18. 17. which was the ruine of all the wicked by Christs comming and setting up his Kingdom as we shall shew anon the same with Rev. 11. 15 16 17 18. the blowing of the seventh Trumpet and then Christ sets up his Kingdome which beginning of Christs Kingdome after the generall description of the antecedent wrath Rev. 15. 1. I say is exprest vers 2. 3 4 5 by all the Saints described by their not subjecting to Popery standing on a Sea of glasse singing Moses his Song that is they were Saints raised from dead as the Israelites were raâ—sed out of the Sea as men from the dead when Moses sung that Song Exod. 15. for so that seventh Trumpet Rev. 11. 15. to the end and this 15. chap. seems to be all one this explaining that This is the first thing that Christ will doe when he comes from Heaven to set up his Kingdom he will raise up all Saints who are dead before his comming therefore he is said to come with all his Saints Zach. 14. 5. For surely as Christ had a middle State on earth betwixt his Resurrection and Ascension for forty dayes so shall his Saints have who dye before his comming from Heaven but all the dead who are not Saints shall lye still in the dust even till the last and generall Judgement Rev. 20. 4 5 12. for the second death that is hell torments everlasting shall have no power on them that were raised therefore they were all Saints this is the first ResurrectioÌ„ of which they that partake shall not returne to a mortall state of body againe as they shall be who live on earth nor yet be so perfectly glorified as they shall be afterwards for then the People on earth could not bear their presence for they shall shine as the Sunne Mat. 13. 43. but they shall be in a middle state betwixt glory and mortality as Christ was after his Resurrection before his Ascension clothed and conversing when he pleased with men and withdrawing at his pleasure and this is the first thing Christ will do when he comes from heaven to set up his Kingdom Secondly he will destroy the wicked people on earth for they about the time of his comming will grow to agree and combine against the Saints and then will Christ suddenly surprise them to their ruine Rev. 11. 18 and so Revel. 16. 13. to 18. for these two places are the same And so Rev. 15. 1. he expresseth Seven-vials that is Gods full wrath to the wicked for seaven notes perfection the particulars of which are exprest Rev. 16. the last of which finds the wicked in Armies against the Saints and ruines them all vers. 14. to the end therefore it is said it is done that is all the wicked are ruinated vers. 17. to the end therefore in that Rev. 15. 1 2 3. after he had shewed the seven plagues which were all to fall on the wicked he shews the consequent of the last of them that the Saints are seene on a glassie Sea with Moses Song because as then all the Aegyptians were drowned in the Red Sea so now all the wicked are slain for before Christs coming the wicked shall weare out the Saints Dan. 7. 21 25. therefore when he comes he will destroy them who destroy the earth as Rev. 11. 18. so 2 Pet. 3. 4. to 14. This worke of Christ is called a day of Judgement not for all but onely the ungodly as it is said in that place And the Apostle saith Rev. 16. 15. that Christs comming will be sudden which shews that in both Texts is the same meant and even as in the old world by water so once more by fire will Christ ruine the wicked but the Saints shall scape as they then did in the Arke and the world shall not end as then it did not indeed the heavens and earth are said to melt but it is meant of the Inhabitants of them both of high and low ranks as it is also Heb. 12. as we shewed hefore for the Apostle speaks from the Prophets as Isa. 65. 17. and 66. 15. 16. who means not the place of heaven and earth and so the worlds end for they prophesie of many things to be done after this in the world vers. 12 13. 19. to the end and so the Apostle tels us of nâ—w heavens and earth after this which shall not be after the worlds end for then all time and this earth shall cease for ever as we shall shew anon so that not onely at this worlds end but beâ—ore it shall the wicked be slain with fire and that with great terror and Majesty therefore David so discribes his victories in a sum Psal. 18. 7. to 16. by Gods coming with fire and dreadfull Majesty not so much speaking poetically of what was done as prophetically of this destruction of Christs upon the wicked at the setting up Christs Kingdome of which David was a Type therefore his words in that Psalm vers. 2. I will trust in him are said to be the words of Christ Heb. 2 13. Now some thinke that this ruine of the wicked shall be to every one but I thinke that that generality shall not be now but at his third and last coming but now he will onely ruine the Armies of them for in such an attempt against Saints doth he finde them Rev. 11. 18. and 16. 13. to 18. as the ruine of the Egyptians at the Red sea was not of every one but of them that were in Armies combin'd against the Israelites And so he will breake their head and arme and make the rest slaves to the Churches and it seemes some wicked shall be left because by the end of Christs Kingdome great Nations of wicked must be in the world called Gâ—g and Magog Rev. 20. 7 8. which cannot rise out of such as prove hypocrites and be excommunicated out of Christs Kingdome as some think for there shall be no hypocrite or excommunicate person there as we shall shew hereafter therefore there must be some wicked left for a seed to these Nations as when the world was drowned Cham was saved for a seed of the cursed Nation to be rooted out when Gods people should have a Kingdome and so much seems to be implyed Rev 21. 27. and 22. 15. where it is said The wicked shall not enter but be without implying that they shall be in the world though kept out of
because its a sure prophecie and so speakes as if it were in present as is usuall in the Prophets to speak as in present of a future thing He shall with Majesty and with Justice vers. 2. that is rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked whom he shall destroy round about with fire vers. 3. and his Majesty shall be evident to all 〈◊〉 4 5 6. whereupon shall follow shame and amazement to all sinners vers. 7. even to such as he kils not which sinners are set out by one sinne for all the rest viz. the breath of the second Commandement because of that is God jealous and because a maine fin in Popery in whose dayes Christ shall come and set up his Kingdome is Idolatry against the second Commandement Thus also all they who are to enjoy the priviledges of this Kingdome of Christ are described by not beeing infected with Popery Rev. 14. 2. 10. 4. And therefore such onely are said to escape the poyson of Popery whose names were in the Lambes Booke Revel. 13. 8. that is inrolled to enjoy the Lambes Kingdome as is exprest Rev. 21. 27. For as the Father hath a Roll of all such as shall live in heaven which is his Kingdome so hath the Lambe for his Kingdome and this is subordinate to that whosoever is in the one is in the other And not only such are in the Lambs Booke as escape Popery but all Saints from the worlds beginning for ever since was â—e slaine and thereupon had a Kingdome assigned him a â—ooke in which hee inrolled all for whom he died as Rev. 13. 8. As all sinners shall be ashamed therefore when Christ reigns so shall all Saints be joyed especially the Israelites whose glory shall be chiefest Ps. 97. 8 9. for they shall have at his kingdome a harvest of light or joy Esa. 65. 14 17. The seed of which is sown in Gods purposes promises in their holinesse afflictions in which though the harvest of their joy appeares not but is covered yet it shall surely spring up at this Kingdome of Christs in hope of this the Saints should greatly joy all present as shal be shewed afterwards in pledge of this they have all present deliverances vers. 10. Thus much for the evening or first part of Christs Kingdome Now when this Kingdome of Christ hath lasted to many generations the slaves tributaries to this Kingdome will be grown to multitudes so propheâ—ied of under the name of Gog and Magog Rev. 20. 8. Ezek. 38. 39. upon whom the Devill shall be let loose to stiâ— them up to combine to ruine the subjects of Christs Kingdome which Satan shall draw them to by some deceitfull trick Rev. 20. 7 8. For if they were not deceived they wold never be drawn to assault the Saints of whose glory and power they had experience through so many generations Which trouble to the Saints shall not be long but for a little season Rev. 20 3. For it shall only be a violent and sudden assault the Devill having beene so long restrained being now at liberty will violently in a most sudden hurry draw in all the wicked of the Earth to assault the Saints but there shall not an haire of any of their heads fall to the ground for they were set above all trouble at the beginning of Christs Kingdome but Christ will suddenly come from Heaven and â—ith fire kill all these wicked ones Rev. 20. 9 even every Mothers child at this his coming he will not leave one wicked one on earth whom he will not slay for this is the only time for their first death Every wicked one must die as Heb. 9. 27. â—nd then come to Judgement And the wicked that live to the approaching of the last judgment shall die a violent death every one of them in the world and this is the third and last coming of Christ which hath been onely considered and the former namely his second coming hath not beene minded Thus by his second and third coming He will ruine 〈◊〉 world of Nations even all that are wicked with a first death besides their second death to which he will condemne them at his last generall judgement Rev. 20 14 15. even as it is said of him Ps. 2. 8 9 45. 5. 110. 5 6 7. But at his first coming when he came to live on earth like one of us he came not to hurt any but to save Joh. 3. 17. Joh. 12. 47. And Christ slayes thus many when he comes to reigne because his Footstoole which they be is so much the higher Ps. 110. 1. and his glory the more Therfore Ps. 97. 7. in his Kingdome he is high above all therfore the Father also reprobates so many which are to be his foot-stoole And this occasion will Christ take to come to the last generall Judgement not any back-sliding of his people but an assault of the wicked against his people whom to destroy Christ will come from heaven and so begin the last generall Judgement before which he will also in a moment in the twinkling of an eye change the bodies of all his Saints that are not dead before but alive on earth at this his coming 1 Cor. 15. 50 51 52. Which change is equivalent to death for all must some way or other die but the wicked then alive on earth shall be killed with fire every one of them and not one left at this timeâ—but the Saâ—its then living shall bear a change of a moment a great difference twixt them and the wicked and he will raise up the dead bodies of the Saints who lived died during this Kingdome of Christs they together who were living at this last comming of Christ but were changed in a moment shall all together meet the Lord Jesus in the aire coming from heaven againe and after this shall never be absent from him any more Christ indeed went from them the two former times after he came to them but after this coming he will take them with him and they shall never be parted because he hath now gathered together all the elect and ruined all the wicked which was never done till now For this purpose consider 1 Thef. 4. 13 to 18. in which place the Apostle speakes not of the beleevers then living though he speake it in their person nor of them who should live at Christs first coming to set up his Kingdome for they shall not then be killed though the ungodly shall be then slaine as was shewed before but the Apostle saith it of them who should live when Christs coming was to the last generall judgement for he speakes of them who should not die but be changed in a moment which befell not the Apostles nor any beleevers in those dayes but is to be the Lot onely of those who lived in Christs Kingdome and that at the dawning of the morning of it
and his Saints none shall have Dominion and Greatnesse but he All Rulers shall serve him So Isa. 2. Christs kingdome is expressed First in its spirituall State by the Gospels preaching vers. 2 3. c. thence it shall proceed to bring under it all the earth even the haughtinesse of people that is their Kingly power which is the height and pride of the earth and he alone shall be exalted as Monarch verse 11. 17. c. Isa 24. 21 22. 23. The high ones that is the Kings and their Monarchies shall fall before the Lord and the Sun and Moon that is Majesty of a higher and lower ranke shall vanish before him as Rev. 21. 23. 24. No need of Sun or Moone that is kingly power Christ will be instead of all to it so Chap. 22. 5. 21. 24. Kings bring their glory to it that is lay downe their Honours thâ—re and this he seemes to meane by shaking not earth onely in change of customes with people but Heaven also that is the Kingly power therefore he addes shake Heavens and overthrow Thrones Hag. 2. 21 22. which the Apostle applies to Christ and his Kingdome Hebr. 12 26 27. and shews that he can doe it in that he is so great a King as once shooke the Earth with his voice when he gave the Law and set him up a kingdome of one Nation but he can and will shake Earth and Heaven also when he sets up his full Kingdome and makes the new Heaven and Earth for these words yet once more signifies the removing of old things in Heaven and Earth to make new that is to change all worldly customes and so all kingly glory and set up a new even his owne glory So Zach. 14. 9. Then the Lord shall be King of all the earth and his Name one and the Lord one no more Lords but he as the Monarchies in that time swallowed up all kingly power under them And this Monarchy of Christs comming after all the rest when more of the world is found out will be larger in extent then all the former The name of the Lord Great from East to West as never yet any was Mal. 2. 11. For the better understanding the extent of Christs Kingdome consider that before this Monarchy of Christ shall end and be given up to the Father it shall extend it selfe to all reasonable creatures Angels Devils and all tongues Phil. 2. 10. 11. so that every creature reasonable shall acknowledge Christ to be Lord and King but this generall extent of it shall not be till towards its consummation He shall put all under his feet and then resigne 1. Cor. 15. 24. and by Paul Rom. 14â— 10. 11. this universall subjection is referred to the last and generall Judgement so that of this I now speake not but of the generality of all that live on earth under Christ his Scepter and Monarchy in its first rise and continuance this is the extent of Christs Kingdome Secondly the quality of this Kingdome of Christ for the opening of which we must know That the day of Judgement is taken sometimes more strictly sometimes more largely in Scripture Strictly it is taken for a partiall Judgement when some are judged but not all many both Saints and sinners shall be judged and that with great terror and solemnity but all Devils and all the generation of Man-kind from Adam to the last that shall be born shall not be judged in this partial and more strict day of Judgement But more largely is taken for that generall day when all men and Devils shall be judged as Matth. 25. 31. to the end and Phil. 2. 10. 11. and now it is not usuall by the day of judgement to mean onely this large and generall Judgement but the Scripture speaks of a day of Judgement more partiall and more strict wherein not all but yet a world of Saints and sinners shall be judged and that long before the last and great judgement as Dan. 7. 9. 10. and 2 Tim. 4. 1. and 2 Pet. 3. 7. and Rev. 11. 15. 18. which cannot be meant of the last generall Judgement because after that Christ resignes his Kingdome as is shewed formerly 1 Cor. 15. 24. but this is when he takes his Kingdom as all the places shew and much is to be done by Christ and his Saints after this and it is said expresly that the second death instantly followeth the last generall Judgement Rev. 20. 4. but of this Judgement it is said the Temple was opened and great things done after it Rev. 11. 15. 18. 19. and in 2 Pet. 3. 7. 13. it is said There shall be a new Heaven whereas the highest Heavens are not made new into which the Saints enter after the last Judgement and a new earth in which dwelleth righteousnesse but the Saints after the last Judgement enter the highest Heavens and dwell not on earth Matth. 25. 34. that is the Kingdome prepared ever since the foundation of the world and they go into eternall life vers. 46. that is the highest Heavens above the Sun and time so that no righteous men shall be left upon the earth and this is applyed to the new Ierusalem Revel. 21. that former things passe away and all things are made new vers 4. 5. Now this Jerusalem is not heaven for it comes downe from God out of Heaven vers. 2. therefore it must be meant of a change which shall be in this world on earth before the Generall Judgement which he cals by the name of the day of Judgement vers. 7. And it is fitly so called for it shall be First a generall Judging though not to the second death of all the ungodly in the world at least of all that will not stoope to Christ his Scepter being indeed that Judging Luk. 19. 27. as Noahs flood was from whence he fetched his argument 2 Pet. 3. 6. That as once by water God destroyed all people except such as were in the Arke but did not then end the world but gave time and ages after it So will he once againe destroy all ungodly ones on earth but give thereby a Reformation not an end to the world Secondly this shall be a judging to the Saints alive Many that are dead and killed shall be raised up and justified before men and they that are alive shall be blamed as we shall shew anon So that this time is fitly called a day of Judgement now these two times and degrees of Judgement begin and end Christs Kingdome or Monarchy wherefore all the time of Christs Kingdome may fitly be called a day of Judgement it being a rewarding of his Servants and punishing the wicked And as in a naturall day there is the beginning or evening and progresse to its end or morning of it which is the best time of it So is there in this day of Judgement or time of Christs Monarchy an evening or beginning which
Christs Kingdome and these remaining wicked shall be the Nations ruled with Iron Rev. 2. 27. for no Saints shall be so severely ruled and Isa. 65. 28. the sinner though living long as well as the Saint shall be cursed therefore they shall be but be cursed tributaries as the Gibeoâ—ires to the Israelites for all the credit and happinesse in those dayes shall be in Christ and in being holy vers. 16. therefore they are described in a slavish state Isa. 65. 13 14 15. speaking of this time as appears by vers 17. And this is the second thing Christ will doe when he comes to set up his Kingdom Thirdly Christ will examine blame and shame the Saints who are alive at that his coming if they be found to have walked loosely he will not kill them nor change them in a moment that is to be done at his last coming to judge all as we shall shew afterwards but he will shame them that have been loose Rev. 14 15. therefore Peter exhorts to be holy that we be not blamed at his comming 2 Pet. 3. 11 12 14. now when Christ hath thus done and put his Kingdome into form he will withdraw to heaven againe and leave the Government to the dead Saints raised up among whom the Apostles shall be chiefe therefore he saith Luk. 22. 29. as the Father gave him so he gives them a Kingdom in which they immediately shall rule which is Christs first part of his Kingdome which finished Christ will come againe and in person administer things as we shall see anon but for this first part of Christs Kingdome he will give it to the Saints that is to them immediately to rule therefore saith Matth. 19. 28. they shall judge on thrones the twelve Tribes that is they and all beleevers shall rule the world in which the twelve tribes shall be chiefe and they shall not onely rule as Kings but as Priests Rev. 20. 4. that is Discipline their Soules as well as rule their bodies yet this rule is said to be with Christ Re. 20. 4. because in his name and by his appointment and in a speciall presence of his though not bodily therefore the Kingdome is said to be sometime Christs and sometimes his Saints Daniel 7. 13 14. 18 22. which surely is said because as he will at last be constantly on the Throne visibly and come at the first visibly to set up this his Kingdome So he will depute the Saints Governors and withdraw his visible presence for a time to Heaven again for 1 Thes. 4. 5 6. and Matth. 25. 31. both of which speake of the last Judgement at the worlds end yet he is said then to come from Heaven though he had come before therefore he must have gone to heaven again therefore the Apostle comforteth them at the last Judgement That they shall be ever with the Lord intimating that before he had come and with-drew without them but now would doe so no more If yee say it is better then to die before this Kingdome begin since all the Saints who died before this Kingdome begun shall be raised from death and live immortall Lifes and rule the World whereas the Saints that live to it and in it shall live but mortall lifes and under the Government of the other Saints I answer God hath appointed somewhat proper and peculiar to every Age of his Church and people but the last Ages shall in this life and world excell the former Hebr. 11. 40. the former without the latter Ages shall not be perfect and for the latter Ages are better things provided then for the former wherefore these Ages which shall fall in Christs Kingdome shall farre out-strip all former Ages and not onely in happinesse in this World but for ought I know as they shall be more holy in their mortall Life so they shall be ever more glorious in Heaven therefore it is to be desired to live to these Times of Christs Kingdome though I confesse in some respects to this present world and time on earth the Saints dead before Christs Kingdome shall have an advantage of them who live to it because the dead Saints shall bee raised and live also but in a nobler way by which dispensation God recompenceth them for they who live and dye before Christs Kingdome live most by faith in trouble and darknes and therefore are raised up on earth to inherit Christs Kingdome But they who live in Christs Kingdom have a life of peace and joy and most promises fulfilled so that comparatively their life is a life of sence wherefore they shall have no Resurrection till the last Judgement but yet they have more glory and holinesse in this world which is the seed-time for eternitie and so shall have more glory at the last day and for ever whereas the deeds of dead Saints raised up being wages and reward and not a worke or service shall not adde to their account at the last day but they shall bee judged according to what they did in their mortall lives even as in hell they that dye and are cast into it shall not be judged at the last day or punished in hell for what they doe being dead except the poyson on earth which their counsells and practices when they lived shall spread so neither shall the Saints departed though raised againe So that it is to bee desired to live to Christs Kingdome though we may be much comforted if God please to have us dye before it come If you object how can soules of Saints dead be fetched from heaven to live on earth againe with men in their bodies since it is a damage to be fetched from heaven to earth and from the bodily presence of Christ and face of God and innumerable company of Angels to converse againe on earth with men I answer this objection supposes the soules of the dead Saints to be in the highest heavens which is not so but if their soules were in the highest heavens yet it becomes them to doe it to serve Christ as the Angels come from heaven to serve the Saints and as Lazarus his soule came into his body againe at the commandement of Christ but it is likely the soules of the dead Saints are not in the highest heavens but in a middle place better than this world but inferiour to the highest heavens which is meant in the New Testament by Paradise in which they have full joy and perfect happinesse Heb. 12. 23. and a speciall presence of Christ Phil. 1. 23. and 2 Cor. 5 6 8. that is a presence to their minds which may be though they be not where Christs â—ody is and in this place they are kept till this Kingdome of Christ come and then they shall assume their bodies till the worlds end when with soule and body they with all other Saints shall goe up into the highest Heavens for ever To prove this there are
immediately before his coming to the last generall judgement and they that slept that is died in the time of Christs Monarchy should not be behind them who were alive at Christs last coming for they should be raised up first For at the last coming of Christ he will come and joyne himselfe with them who were governing the world all those Ages of Christs Kingdome and the Saints who lived and dyed during that Kingdome shall be first raised that is before the wicked and then they that he alive shall be changed equivalent to death but though alive they shall not prevent the dead 1 Thess. 4. and then shall all the wicked be raised from Cain Rev. 20. 9. to the end This is the second and last Resurrection so that they who live at Christs comming shall not prevent that is be with Christ before them that dyed during that time of the reigne of the Saints over the world but one as soone as the other shall meet Christ And so this place in the Thes. doth not prove that all Saints shall lye dead till Christs last coming to generall Judgment but they who after Christs coming and setting up his Kingdome shall live and die they shall live and dye they shall be raised againe and be with Christ as soone as the Saints living when Christ comes but the Apostle speakes of this farre distant time as if it were all one as I shewed before Now when Christ thus comes and reignes over all the wicked and changes the bodies of all living Saints on earth and raiseth up all the dead Saints who dyed during that his Kingdome in which the Saints raigned and raise up also all the wicked dead from Cain to the last wicked man for all the wicked that were deadly dead all the time of this Kingdome of the Saints at last they shall be raised up and then is the Dawning and the Morning of the Day of Christ compared with which the former part of Christs Kingdome was but a Night though in it selfe most glorious for in it First Christ shewed himselfe but withdrew and ruled by Saints raised up from the dead but now Christ shall never withdraw from this visible Throne till he end all and resigne the Kingdome and all be translated from earth to heaven Secondly Before all the Saints formerly dead lived but none of the wicked and the Saints living on earth lived in a mortall way and the deviâ—l was onely chained up but now all Mankind shall be raised up and live and all Saints shall be glorified in body as Christ is Phil. 3. 21. 1 Joh. 3. 2. Whereas those of beleevers who lived in the first Resurrection ruled the world had their lustre of glory which held as Christ had the fâ—râ—y dayes on earth after his Resurrection and all Angels and Devils shall be judged and all tongues shall confesse Christ to be Lord whilest every Angell Saint Sinner Devill shall be absolved or condemned by Christ in his owne humane nature Thirdly before the earth was full peace and fruit as it could be whilest inhabited by sinners though sanctified but now in as much as all Minkind have died or have bin changed or translated the Earth and all Creatures shall be delivered from the curse vanity bondage inflicted on them when death was on Mankind and then shall all the Creation be in its primitive glory as it was in the first Creation which is that it hopes for Rom. 8. 19. to 24. For that place cannot be meant of the first time of Christs Kingdome but of this last part of it for all Beleevers not only some shall have the redemption of their bodies vers. 23. which all have not in the first part of Christs Kingdome nor can it be meant of Heaven for into that none enter but the Elect but here every Creature shares with Beleevers in a proportion therefore it s meant of this generall time of Judgement during all which time how long soever it be and it it shall be a long time at we shall shew hereafter all the Creation and every Creature shall be in its first glory as when created and not in vanity and bondage that is not abused to other ends than God made them unto namely to shew forth Gods glory and not to serve man in a way of sin and all this state of glory of every Creature shall be beheld by all men raysed from the dead Saints and Sinners the one standing on Christs right hand and the other on the left Now when this is then shall the judgment be which we call the Day of Judgment Mat. 25. 31. to the end as Rev. 20. 10. to the end which finished the Saints shall be all carried with Christ for ever into heaven and the wicked sent with the devill into hell Which hell shall not be that which is now called and used for hell but another for the hell that now is is but a prison not the place of execution serves onely to reserve condemned spirits which have no bodies till the execution at the last day at which this hell that now is shall cease and be swallowed up Rev. 20. 14. Now this hell which is at present either in the aire or seas for the spirits soules of the damned wanting bodies may be in either place because they do not so take up roome as bodies do The sea is thought to be hell because the devils called their place the deep Luk. 8. 31. did run their Hogs into the Sea as if there was their place But some rather think that hell is in the aire in that the devils are said to be there the prince of the aire but if it be in the aire it s a lower Region of it for in the highest Region of the aire or in the fire which is next above it is Paradise the place of dead Saints souls But I think that hell should not be in the aire because all the aire in Scripture even where the birds flie it called heaven But to be sure in some of the places of aire or in the waters is hell and not in the earth perhaps it s in those waters which are above Gen. 1. 6 7. Indeed the Apostle sets out them in hell by being under earth Phil. 2. 10. not to shew the place for under the earth is nothing but the water and aire in that the earth is the center and globe environed with the water and aire and heavens but to set out their base and condemned estate they are trod under-foot as the most â—asest of creatures all other being on or over the earth and the dead bodies are under earth which yet must bow to Christ But the hell which shall be the everlasting torment of all the damned shall be all this lower and visible world all the places of earth water aire sun moone stars and the fire called the heavens and the earth