last times contained in chap. 20. leads us to the end of the thousand years and the finishing of the last Judgment of which the 2 following Chap. are an explication as is usual in that book first to set down things more generally and then more particularly to explain them as also is observable from that former Table of the times chap. 11. which also reacheth to the state of things on earth in the thousand years 3. St. John saw that holy City the New Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God not ascending thither or being there 4. When that general great rejoycing was at the destruction of the Enemies chap. 19. to ver 9 for these 2 reasons first that the Lord God Omnipotent then Reigned 2ly That the Marriage of the Lamb then was come and that his Wife had made her self ready which is afterwards manifest to be above a thousand years before the last Resurrection and this Wife of the Lamb is after explained to be the New Jerusalem that St. Iohn saw descending out of Heaven from God there called the Bride the Lambs Wife Rev. 21.9 consisting of the blessed Saints then to inhabit it bodily in their order at the first Resurrection which is also in the following part of that chapt so gloriously decyphered and in Chap. 22. to v. 6. therefore it is thence evident that the said Jerusalem the Lambs Wife descended above a thousand years before the last Resurrection and Judgment and therefore all that time not to be in Heaven moreover it is said to be besieged by Gog and Magog at the end of the thousand years as follows in the next reason 5. The same holy City is said to be compassed about by Gog and Magog at the end of the thousand years Rev. 20.9 which could not be done if it was not then in the world and therefore the Vision thereof when it first descended which the Angel that had one of the 7 Vials then shewed to St. Iohn calling it the Bride the Lambs Wife and all the priviledges and excellencies thereof must needs belong to it whilst it is in the world all those many excellent things concerning it chap. 21 22. to v. 6. must needs belong to the state of Christs Church in those times on Earth as after will further appear all tending to set forth that one description of that holy City seen in the same Vision which was before said to be so encompassed with God and Magog with its priviledges and appurtenances as follow in both Chapters 6. It will be in that time when the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of the said New Jerusalem which they will not do in the state of Heavenly perfection when no Nations will be in the world but all Saints will be perfect in one Jo. 17 23. in soul and body and the whole mystical body of Christ shall be completed in the members of it and all received into perfect glory and happiness 7. In the same verse the Kings of the Earth are said to bring their own glory and honour to it and therefore it must be in the time wherein they enjoy such honour and glory upon Earth ver 26. 8. Those Kings are there said also to bring the glory and honour of the Nations unto it in the same verse and therefore it must be in the time wherein such Nations have such Kings and such glory and honour to be brought unto it and these also were foretold Es 60. in many eminent expressions in many perticulars 9 It will be in a time measured by moneths when the Nations will also need healing and therefore the use of the leaves of the Tree of Life in the street of the City that bears fruit every moneth is said to be for the healing of the Nations chap. 22.2 and so before the end of the world c. 10. The Sun Moon and Candle at the same time will be useful to other places in the world when the Lambs supereminent light will so enlighten that holy City that there will be no need of any other Rev. 22 5. and Rev. 21.23 as was also foretold of the same times by the Prophet Esay chap. 24.23 Then shall the Moon be confounded and the Sun ashamed when the Lord of Hosts shall Reign in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem and before his Ancients gloriously So also Es 60.19 The Sun shall be no more thy light by day neither for brightness shall the Moon give light unto thee but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light and thy God thy glory 11. Upon the coming down of this New Jerusalem the Tabernacle of God is said to be with men and he to dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God Rev. 21 3. and was said before in c. 20.4 Christ should reign with his raised Sts. 1000. years and that on earth expresly say the representatives exulting greatly in it Rev. 5.10 12. Some of the former and ensuing promises are applyed by the spirit of God in this Book to the said new Jerusalem state as that of the new Heavens and the new Earth Isa 65.16 so applyed Rev. 21.5 and that the Kings and Nations of the earth shall bring their glory to it in that time Isa 60.11 and so applyed Rev. 21 24 26 c. 13. It is the place where the representatives Rev. 5.10 shall reign with Christ upon earth being that City that God prepared for the faithful Fore-Fathers Heb. 11. the last and all believers since their times to the resurrection of the just wherefore it seems to be of so great largeness as containing 12000. Furlongs which some reckon 500. Leagues and which is most wonderful as our late Annotators observe the height and length and breadth are equal as a perfect Cube who also reckon the Citie described by Ezek. to be so great as containing in compass about it 18000. measures or 4500. on each square Ezek. 48.16 14. The City that Abraham particularly looked for is said to have foundations whose maker and builder is God Heb. 11.10 and such is that that shall then come from God out of Heaven Rev. 21. having 12 foundations v. 14. of which the Psalmist seems prophetically to speak Psal 87.1 his foundation is in the holy Mountain and which Psalm is in many places applicable to those times of the new Jerusalem to come and these foundations may seem to difference it then from that which is now above where are the spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. called also Paradise and Abrahams bosom c. that when the Sts. come with Christ at the said Jerusalems coming down from God out of Heaven that their bodies may be raised united to their Souls at the first blessed resurrection such foundations may be suitable to their condition then having their bodies reunited to them and to that estate of the Church in the world described in Rev.
whose name is above every name for as those in heaven do it so shall those in earth and under the earth in their due time do it Phil. 2.9 10. and so in such a glorious condition will those new Heavens and new Earth then be that his Name will be sanctifyed his Kingdom will be come and his Will then be done on earth as it was before in heaven For Christ when he was upon earth taught not his Servants to pray all along to his coming for those things which shall never be and God hath not made so many promises and given forth so many prophesies of such things as never will be performed and fulfilled But then will be that great Sabbatisme of such holy refreshment from the presence of the Lord and rest which remains saith the Apostle for the people of God Heb. 4 9. when those promised mercies to the Fathers shall be fulfilled on earth that his people may serve him without fear of their enemies in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of their Life Luke 1.73 74. and as Rev. 22.3 now these promised mercies were to Abraham Isaac and Jacob not yet fulfilled but seen a far off Heb. 11.13 c. There are also sure mercies of David not yet fully accomplished 1 Sam. 7.15 16 c. that his House and his Kingdom should be estabâ—ished for ever before him and his Throne shall be established for ever which he there largely by Faith applyed and by grateful acknowledgement praised God for as if it had been performed and then Job and Esay will find the effect and fruit of their own Faith Job 14. Esa 46. and Daniel shall then obtain his promised Lot with all the holy Prophets and faithful servants of God in those times Oh how should our Faith be exercised in these things that with faithful Abraham we may rejoyce aforehand at the day of Christs visible Dominion as he did both at that and his Incarnation Heb. 11.13 c. And so we should proceed to a second Use of thankfulness for such great mercies now manifest to the Church of Christ from his Word and chiefly from him the faithful and true witness but because we have been somwhat large to that purpose upon a like occasion towards the end of a former Treatise on Gen. 3.15 we here wave that and only touch upon some hints of further improvement by way of admonition and exhortation and so leave them to be enlarged by Christians in their private meditations c. Vse 2. For admonition to two sorts of persons First to such as own these Doctrines of Christs Kingdom of visible power to come c. so much the more to be careful to make sure their interest first in Christs spiritual Kingdom of grace here in this present life and state of things before they look or hope for any part in his Kingd of visible power on earth at his coming or in Gods eternal Kingdom of glory ensuing upon it for grace and Gods spirit here is the earnest and evidence of all blessedness hereafter only Wise Virgins will be admitted into the Bride-chamber when the Bridegroom comes and such only will he receive to himself to make them inheritors of everlasting blessedness in the Kingdom of his Father for though all divine Scripture truth is written for our learning as the Apostle Paul teacheth yet all divine knowledge not being duly improved will aggravate the sin and misery of all formal professors thereof both in the whole of Christian religion or in any remarkable branch thereof much more if such knowledge be perverted contrarie to the holy just and good laws of Christs Kingdom of grace that teacheth his people to deny ungodly and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously Godly in this present world Tit. 2.11 12. But for such as own these Doctrines are indeed faithful servants and subjects of their great Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to look upon all Doctrine respecting Christs Kingdom on earth as a great ingagement unto duty and thankfulness not only in word and outward profession but most especially to endeavour to manifest it in heart and conversation buth before himself and in the sight of men and that they may so labour the more to act thankfulness by walking so much the more Christianly and obediently to his Laws seeing by such Doctrine a greater engagement is laid upon them thereunto for as their expectations are greater than otherwise they could be from the evidence they have of their interest in Christs glorious Kingdom of power on earth to come by the redemption of their bodies and the union of them to their souls in that blessed condition appointed to the faithful in their order besides what others shall enjoy who then remain in their natural life that upon that account they study and labour to be more ready and forward to do such acceptable service for Christ as he assignes them unto though unpleasing to flesh and blood because it will be acceptable unto him and he requires it of them and it will be found no loss as some misapprehend but occasion of great rejoycing for those spirits of just men made perfect to be brought with Christ at his appearance and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 to attain to that desired Union with their bodies there to behold Christs glorie c. in that blessed condition above a thousand years sooner than the last resurrection as was manifest by that great exultation of the Representatives Rev. 5.10 as an addition to their spiritual joy and praise to the Lamb And say they we shall reign upon earth where they knew aforehand that they should personally enjoy in body and soul the blessed vision of Christ and all such happiness as is appointed for them in his visible Mediators Kingdom of power upon earth who will then be so admired of all his Saints as the Apostle Paul teacheth and glorifyed in them that believe 2 Thes 1.10 Vse 3. For Admonition to all real and faithful Christians that as yet own not these Doctrines of the Millennium which I confess till of late years I my self have often opposed as I shewed in the Irenicon to take heed and beware of slighting and over-looking so much divine truth as the fore-named and many other texts and portions of holy Scripture hold forth evidently concerning those things and to that end consider first some truths of that nature have been antiently received though the great Deceiver then stirred up some to cast unjust reproaches and false imputations upon the owners of them yea they have been owned both by antient Fathers and modern writers and the light and evidence of them is like to break forth more and more amongst faithful Christians as prejudices are removed and more Mysteries are accomplished and by Gods mercy greater discoveries made of what concerns his true Church and if diligent and impartial search were made of those Scriptures which concern these things but especially what Daniel
ΙΕΡΟ-ΜΕΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΣ OR The Holy the Great the Beloved NEW JERUSALEM a Shortly to come down from God out of Heaven b BEING The work of Gods own hands c whose form will be perfectly cubâ—cular in length breadth and height equal 12000 furlongs d having the glory of God or light as a stone most precious e prepared for the Lamb Wife or raised Saints f then to be made perfect in one g there to behold Christs glory in his Davidical Kingdome h of the thousand years reign with his Saints on Earth i from Antichrists last ruine to Satans last loosing k shortly then producing both the worlds destruction and his own perpetual torment with all the damned in Hell l From Scripture evidence abundantly made manifest both by clear Texts and necessary Consequence more especially comprised in 15 well approved reasons By William Sherwin Minister of the Gospel See a Rev. 21.10 20.9 b Rev. 21 2.10 c Heb. 11.10 d Rev. 21.16 e Rev. 21.11 f Rev. 19.7 8 9. compared with chap. 21.9.10 Heb. 11.16.40 g Jo. 17.21 22 23. h Jo. 17.24 Es 9.7 Rev. 1.32 33. i Eze. 48. last Rev 5.10 Rev. 20.4 k 1 Thes 2.8 2 Tim. 4.1 Rev. 19.11 to the end Rev. 20.2.7 l Rev. 20.8 9 10.15 c. Apoc. 3.21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Esa 54 12 13. I will make thy Windows of Agats thy gates of Carbuncles and thy borders of pleasant stones See Rev. 21.18 19. Ver. 13. And all thy Children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy Children So Rev. 22.1 2 3 4 5 6. LONDON Printed for Francis Smith and are to be sold at the Elephant and Castle without Temple-Bar Scripture evidence for the New Jerusalem on Earth to come The Doctrine whereof is First proved Secondly Improved Proved First From the explaining and opening of the Text. Jer. 3. from ver 14. to v. 20. 2ly From many Prophesies and Descriptions thereof in the Old and New Testament with Answers to some Objections and 13. Reasons set down why it shall be on Earth c. 3ly From the Series and Order of things set down in Daniel and explained more fully in the book of Revelation given to the beloved Apostle John Secondly improved First for Redargution of the errours of several sorts of persons against these truths Secondly For Admonition to three sorts of men First To such as own these Divine Doctrines to be mindful to improve them 2ly To such as really indeavour to improve them to be often mindful of and much to be affected with the greatness of their mercies and the greatness of engagement to duty thereby if duly considered 3ly To such as own them not to beware of slghting so much Divine and sacred Scripture truth of so great weight and concernment both as to holiness and happiness as many such persons little think of or consisider and most of all to take heed of opposing of them Thirdly To exhort all men to make use of the light of their understanding abilities to search into those Scriptures that concern these things that they may not be found fighters against any such truth of God Christian Reader VVHen the ancienter misrepresentations about the time of the the rising of Antichrist and some later pervertings are remove â— from the Doctrine of Christs Kingdome upon earth in the thousand years Rev. 20. as we shewed in our Preface to the Irenion it will appear to be a Divine and Scriptual part of the glorious Gospel of Christ and to be nothing else but an explication of some Articles of the Christian faith according to holy Scripture namely how and when Christ will come from the right hand of the Father to judg the quick and the dead at his next appearance and his Kingdome 2 Tim 4.1 and in what order he will fulfill the blessed Resurrection of the Just Luk. 14.14 or that first Resurrection Rev. 20.5 in the said thousand years with all those great things to be accomplished according to Scripture from his said appearance to the little space wherein Satan shall be loosed afterwards as namely the final destruction of Antichrist the national and miraculous calling of the Jews the Restitution of all things the New Heavens and the New Earth the restoring the Dominion over the Creatures and their freedome from the bondage of Corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Rom. 8.21 And in the said first blessed Resurrection of the Just the fulfilling of the prrmises to Abraham Jsaac and Jacob of the Promised Land to them and their Seed for ever The sure mercies of David how Christ shall rule on his Throne to the end of the world Esa 9.7 2 Sam. 7.16 25 26.29 with many other excellent things belonging to that time which cannot from Scripture be warrantably applyed to any other time as we have shewed in a Treatise on Gen. 3.15 then that wherein he will so eminently break the Serpents head and this is that coming the second time without sin unto Salvation Heb. 8.28 At the first he came to satisfie for sin and by reason of sin all the time from thence to his second coming his Servants have been liable to sufferings as members of his mystical body with him and for him after his example though not without Sin but then he will appear to Salvation to them to free them from such sufferings by destroying their Enemies and binding Satan and powerfully enabling his Servants to serve him Rev. 22.3 granting great and wonderful peace in the world to them in those times of refreshing from his own presence Acts 3.19 redeeming the bodies of the faithful from the prison and corruption of the Grave and after the thousand years will save the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City from the last attempt of Cog and Mag g upon Satans seducement and after Christs withdrawing in the time of that attempt he will descend as saith the Apostle with a shout and the voyce of an Arch-angel and with the Trump of God 1 Thes 4.17 though we know not whether he will be then out of the world in person or at least the raised Saints on earth shall not even at that time have the Vision of his glorious Person but to the Creatures discovery he will then descend at the last general Resurrection and Judgment when Heaven and Earth shall flee away before his face and no place be found for them as saith St. John Rev. 20.11 upon the fulfilling whereof he will perfect the Salvation of all his people by carying his whole mystical body with him into eternal blessedness in the highest Heavens no more to withdraw from them but that they shall ever thenceforth be with him the Lord 1 Thes 4.17 How then must he needs from his said second coming be glorified in his Saints and be then admired by all them that believe 2 Thes 1.10 and how ought the faith of the said things to chear and comfort their hearts against and under all
their sufferings in the mean time and make them with joyfulness to serve him and praise him and willingly even to suffer for him when he calls them to it since he hath promised gratiously to be with them in the deepest waters of their afflictions and will not suffer them to be tempted above their measure in the mean time and will in the issue deliver Israel from all their afflictions and even recompence their measure of faithfulness and sufferings for him with a suitable degree of glory with him 2 Tim. 2.12 Rev. 20.4 in that blessed New Jerusalem state upon earth Esa 24.23 when the Lord of Hosts will reign in mount Sion and before his ancients gloriously as from Divine Authority in the ensuing parcel may be observed to the honour of the great King and the magnifying of Gods Divine wisdom and goodness and great consolation to faithful Souls c. A word or two I shall further add of the nature and use of my four parts lately published which to some Christians may prove advantagious First the drift of the Irenicon is chiefly to prove that the things respecting Christs Kingdom upon Earth were spoken of by all Gods holy Prophets since the world began as the Apostle Peter teacheth Acts 3.21 with divers other heads of arguments to the same purpose and an Appendex added to it concerning the blessed first Resurrection of the Just Yea and all likewise that have written in the new Testament have added some explications thereof as in that second book is manifest but chiefly the great Apostle Paul in alm st all his Epistles Heb. 16. 2.5.6 7 8 4 9 9.28.10.13.37 11.8 9 10.13.14.16.22.35.39 40. 12.22 23 28. but above all in that to the Hebrews as might be shew'd particularly in many Chapters thereof as being the people most especially concerned in things of that nature c. Unto which said Irenicon was afterwards added this Parallel or third part before intended as pag. 2d of the former book as a strong foundation of that truth both from Daniel and the Revelation of Jesus Christ which is only a Divine mystical Exposition as we have shewed therein of that part of Daniel that was sealed and shut up before till the time of the end or Gospel times as in some measure may be discerned by our short summary of Daniel As for the forerunner or first piece it co sists of divers things which were occasional and after placed together as apparently very useful for the whole work whereunto reference is afterward fitly made in the following parts And for the fourth part it contains many observations and other particulars very useful for the understanding of mystical Prophesies with the removal of prejudices from this Doctrine And as from my own exercise by Gods gracious assistance in drawing up those I am by his goodness inabled to speak groundedly and knowingly upon other subjects respecting these things from Divine warrant and especially from the help of that golden Key of Christs Divine Revelation left to his Church for that purpose to open that part of Daniels shut up Visions so may others also by Gods blessing by the help of those parts receive much advantage which may be observed in the considering both of the forementioned treatise on Gen. 3.15 of Christs breaking the Serpents head First Decreetively and Declaritively before he began his Mediators Office joyntly with the Father and with the Holy Ghost And secondly Executively in his Mediators offices ever since the fall of maâ— hitherto and will most eminently as the great King and only Potentate as the Apostle Paul stiles him then do it in the Millennium when as he also saith 1 Cor. 15.25 he must reign till he hath put all his Enemies under hâ—s feet And so concerning the ensuing subject of the New Jerusalem which are as examples to shew the usefulness of the forenamed books as containing foundations thereof wherein th re is often reference made to things contained in them which I wish all such as lâ—ve the glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour Jesas Christ seriously to consider and the great things thereunto appertaining according to Scripture warrant And chiefly to look to that direction at the end of the Parallel pag 68. and well to peruse those summaries of the Revelation in the forerunner pag. 22 23. c. And in the Irenicon pag. 26 27 28. with the Abridgment of Daniel or the summary thereof hereunto annexed for such Abridgments help much in the discovery of the order of the Parallel to shew wherein the Revelation explains the Visions of Daniel which is a very strong evidence of the truth and gives great light to the understanding of these Divine Misteries from the hands of both those beloved Messengers of God the writers of them which should much commend these subjects to truly faithful Souls conveyed to them by such high Favourites of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords c. I shall only here add this further direction in the use of the said Books which I have often given already by word of mouth to divers knowing persons namely to read the two last books first and the References in them to the former And so commending thee Christian Reader to the guidance of the Spirit of tâ—uth to lead thee into all such comfortable and blessed truths of the Gospel as may make most for the glory of God and our Saviour Jesus Ch ist and thy own great rejoycing in the faith of such great things pertaining to his glorious Kingdome on earth to come for which end I am especially Thine in him William Sherwin Scripture evidenced for the New Jerusalem on Earth Jerem. 3.17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord and all Nations shall be gathered to it to the Name of the Lord to Jerusalem c. THat first on the negative part this Text is not to to be understood of any Jerusalem that hath been destroyed may be made evident from this portion of Scripture ver 14. to 20. whereunto and to the times whereof the things herein mentioned are no ways competible First not old Jerusalem call'd Sulem in Melchisedecks time Gen. 14. after held by the Jebusites in Joshuaes time and after subdued by David and beautified and fortified by Solomon the Type of the true Prince of Peace as that was also of the New Jerusalem that is to come of which this Prophet and others fore-told the Desolation to come by the King of Babylon neither was it of that after the 70 years Captivity afterwards repaired and adorned by Herod and as our Saviour denounced against it laid even with the ground by Titus and Vespatian about 40 years after his death for as that was less glorious in it self so it not only killed the Prophets and stoned those Servants of the Lord that were sent unto it from God but did not spare the Son himself when he came to gather her
Children as an Hen gathers her Chickens under her wings c. But that by the Jerusalem here to be called the Throne of the Lord is meant the New Jerusalem to come down from God out of Heaven Rev. 21. may these three ways be abundantly confirmed First from the due weighing of this Text and context Secondly from many Prophesies and Descriptions set down both in the Old and New Testament which comport with this Prophesie concerning the New Jerusalem of which the Old was but a type Thirdly from the series and order of the times of the New Jerusalem set forth in holy Scriptures which this portion of Scripture hath three times reference unto ver 16 17 18. In those days at that time c. which together with the context contain many characters and marks to know that time from all others and joyntly witness each to others and because the matter of the context doth so necessarily relate to the time of fulfilling in the New Jerusalem state we shall consider them here together first he saith in those days ver 16. after he had before ver 14 set down what state they should then be in namely of Children then beloved as the Apostle Paul speaks of those times Rom. 11. for their Fathers sake and as appears in this Chapter ver 19. though they had backslidden before yet then returning at Gods call Turn ye back sliding Children c. Secondly God there lays them down a reason respecting himself and an effectual motive in regard of them then for I am Married unto you and that for ever in Truth Righteousness and Judgment as the Prophet Hosea further explains it chap. 2.19 shewing how that people then should call him Ishi my Husband ver 16. this Marriage-state of that people then with God and Christ should bring about the business for this the Text is very punctual and evident in reference to such a state of his people the Jews and as he had made ancient promises of such mercy then to them Deut. 30. to 11. and Deut. 32. ver 36. to 44. so he here declares he was and would be mindful of them and promiseth to take them one of a City and two of a Family or as a Rabbin reads it two of a Countrey or Province and bring them to Sion Again he will do it when he promiseth to give them pastors after his own heart ver 13. to feed them with knowledg and understanding such as he foretold of then by Daniel chap. 12.3 that should be indeed wise to turn many to Righteousness of Justification which belong in special to that time as we may see afterward and as Es 62.6 her Watchmen shall never hold their peace c. till he make Jerusalem a praise in the truth where also much more of the like nature is observable And though they shall be multiplyed and increased then yet he shews ver 16. they shall speak no more of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord for that was but symbolical and conditional so that while the Ark was with them the Lord might be absent from them as to his gracious presence as somtimes he was and therefore saith they should not think or speak any more of such old Typical constitutions as the Ark was he minds them not only of his real but personal being with them as their Messiah in whom saith the Apostle Col. 2.9 the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily Shewing ver 17. that Jerusalem then should be his Throne saying at that time they shall call Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord and all Nations shall be gathered to it to the name of the Lord for h s name will then be great in the whole world namely when the Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ not only by right as they ever were but also his as they will be then by their immediate use and visible possession and that the Nations might know then whither to repair to the name of the Lord where his glory will then shine out eminently he names the place again saying to Jerusalem And this is further confirmed ver 18. by several other mercies belonging to the same time first the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel those two sticks shall then be united together into one Kingdome under one King to them both as Exe. 3.7 and they shall both come together then out of the Land of the North as this Prophet speaketh again of the same time chap. 16.15 23.8 and they shall have that Land then given as an Inheritance unto their Fathers as the days of Heaven upon Earth as is Emphatically expressed Deut 11.21 Again he declares how all this good shall be brought about ver 19. namely Israel by vertue of their Adoption shall then have the promised possession of the Nations and of the pleasant land and as Children abide for ever in their Fathers house for that Adoption will be unalterable for thou saith he shalt call me Father and shalt not turn away from me for then their hearts shall be Circumcised as he also promiseth Deut. 30. So that then as an Husband he will be married inseperably to that people ver 14. As a King he will set his Throne in the mid'st of them ver 17. as a Father he will give them the sure Adoption and therewith the large inheritance of the Hosts of the Nations and their own pleasant land ver 19. which is further illustrated from their ready answer to his call return you back-sliding Children and I will heal your back-slidings whereunto they make a willing and obedient Answer Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord thy God and then proceeds to make a meek and gracious acknowledgment of their own and their fore-Fathers sin and unworthiness and that Salvation is only in and from the Lord from v. 12 to the end of the Chapter So that then will be supplyed to them Wisdom and Grace Preservation and Blessing Eminency and Security from the Lord and Unity amongst themselves in the enjoyment of all good conferred upon them as is from this portion of Scripture very observable which if duly considered may evidently appear to be a large and strong evidence of the happiness of that ancient inheritance of God the seed of Jacob which they shall have in those times upon Earth in the New Jerusalem-state when it shall be the Throne of the Lord and his Dominion so large in the world that all Nations shall come thither to do him homage or as it is otherwise expressed Es 2.2 All Nations shall flow unto it yet not with deceitful Spirits as men do some time to great Conquerors or Monarches in the world or after their own evil heart as the Jews formerly but as manifesting themselves to be the Sons of God by the Spirit of Adoption So that by these many particulars from the context it may appear that the Jerusalem spoken of
Kingdom on earth in that time of the uniting of Israelites and Gentiles in the grace of the gospel to come as Rom. 11. before named and the state of the said new Ierusalem when his rest shall be glorious as Esa 60.1 which by the context in Esa 11. both before and after the 10. v. may aboundantly appear But that which many such men seek chiefly to avoid is the yeilding of Christs Daviaical Kingdom here upon earth the doctrine whereof though in some parts of holy writ it be set down in a divinely mysticall manner yet the holy Scripture is plentiful for it and very punctual for the time when it shall appear and for many excellent and glorious things belonging to it if truly pious and dilgent search thereof be made as if that great Redeemer of his antient people beloved as the Apostle Paul saith for their Fathers sake would not come in his time appointed would not come to mount Sion to deliver them and others even to all such as shall turn away from transgression in Iacob as is promised Esa 59.20 when they shall look upon him when he appeareth whom they have pierced Zac. 12.10 and turn by true repentance to him from the iniquities of their fore fathers And in both these respects great scandal is given to the Iews for they know there is a strong entail of many great both spiritual and temporal mercies to their faithful fore-fathers and their posteritie in those times to come though for a time their sins withhold those mercies from them and that as they expect though haply not in that manner the son of David their Messiah will come to deliver them the sacred Scriptures give strong assurance and which time of their redemption seems to draw nigh as our Saviour teacheth Lu. 21.28 and that the Kingdom of God is nigh at hand v. 31. the signes whereof when they shall see he bids them there lift up their heads for then according to the prediction of the Angel to the blessed Virgin Luke 1.23 the Lord shall give to Christ the Throne of his Father David which is the same which our Saviour told his Disciples his Father had then as Dan. 7.13 14. appointed unto him even as he appointed unto them at the same time a Kingdom even that Kingdom that they may eat and drink at his table in his said Kingdom and sit upon Thrones judging the 12 Tribes of Israel Luke 22.29 30. which will be the only time for them to doe for afterward in heaven there will neither be such eating or drinking or judgeing or ruling over others or their cities as Luke 19.17 18. and it is to be observed those texts of Scripture speak of such Kingdom as was to come and therefore not to be understood of Christs spiritual Kingdom which he had both then and in all the times of the old Testament and as when Solomon the type of Christ in that particular sat upon the Throne of David 1 King 2.12.24 it could not be said he sat upon his Throne spiritually but personally in Ierusalem so neither in this respect can it be said that Christ of the seed of David according to the flesh shall then only spiritually but personally sit upon the Throne of David in the new Ierusalem which then as in the text shall be called the Throne of the Lord. Though he hath always as God had a spiritual Kingdom in the world but the sitting upon the Throne of David for the future belongs to him as man as the fruit of Davids Loyns according to the flesh Acts 2.30 which the Apostle Peter v. 35. shews should be when God makes his Foes his foot-stoole for as when Christ is frequently in the gospel called the Son of David we cannot in that sense say he is the Son of God so when he is said to sit on the Throne of David as Esa 9.6 we cannot in that sense say he shall sit upon the spiritual Throne of God for the spiritual Throne of God is in reference to spirituals But to fit upon the Throne of David as man will be to order it with judgement and justice as is foretold of him Esa 9.7 yea this said Throne of David which shall be given unto Christ as Mediator by his Father is so distinguished by himself as another from his Fathers Throne Rev. 3.21 To him that overcomes will I graunt to sit with me on my Throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father on his Throne Moreover the spiritual reign of Christ in the hearts of men is common to all the three Persons in the sacred Trinity but to sit upon the Throne of David as man is peculiar to Christ as Mediator as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-man in one person so the spiritual reign of Christ is one thing but his sitting upon the Throne of David is another and from what hath been said they may fitly be distinguished in these respects following First God the Fathers Throne and Kingdom is eternal but Christs visible glorious Kingdom as Mediator is temporal only for a set time which will begin at Antichrists destruction Dan. 7.9 10 11. and at his own appearance 2 Tim. 4.1 and will end when he shall resign it back again to his Father as St. Paul expresly declares 1 Cor. 15.24 2dly God the Fathets is originally in or from himself but Christs Mediators visible glorious Kingdom in the world is given to him of the Father Dan. 7.14 And there was given to him Dominion Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him Thirdly the Throne of God the Fathers Kingdom is in Heaven as our Saviour teacheth Rev. 3.21 but the Throne of his own Kingdom as Mediator God-man shall in that time be on the earth as in the text and People Nations and Languages shall then serve him as was last shewed and to make it evident it must be done on earth in the 27. v. of Dan. 7. it is said the Kingdom and Dominion and Greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall serve and obey him Fourthly This Temporal Kingdom for the thousand years Christ will resign back again to the Father but his spiritual Kingdom as God he never received nor will ever part from of which there will be no end So that hence it may appear for Christ to reign spiritually in the hearts of his people as God is a thing many ways distinct from his sitting upon the Throne of David as man in the time of his visible glorious Kingdom on earth to come Let these things therefore by all such persons be seriously considered that they be not sinfully found to be pleaders against Christs Interest in this respect for which the Scripture is both clear and plentiful as Rev. 20.4 5.10 Dan. 7. Ier. 3.17 with many others c. See the Forerunner page 47 48. and let them remember the legitimate confession of Christ is to confess all things that belong to