Now it will be to our purpose to consider in what respect these shall be said to sing the song of Moses which is Typical for I believe that both Jews and Gentiles shall sing this song And they sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and Nation And hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign upon the Earth Rev. 5.9 10. so that out of every people Christ will have a peculiar people Now let us see how well the children of God travelling towards this new Jerusalem and the children of Israel towards the Land of Canaan will Agree together First then to take in the spiritual meaning as the Children of Israel were in Egypt under sore bondage so are all the sons and daughters of Adam by nature under the bondage of sin and Satan and led captive by him at his pleasure 2 Tim. 2.26 now the Lord by the hand of Moses he brings them out of Egypt and they are set safe over the Red Sea and now for the Land of Canaan but they came not thither for we read of their sad fall through unbelief Heb. 3.18 so the Lord by the death of Jesus Christ hath set out a way for all towards the heavenly Canaan but few come thither and why so Many are called but sew are chosen one of a Tribe and two of a Family as the Scripture witnesseth Many that are first shall be last and the last first Secondly if we look at the mystical meaning then by Egypt we are to understand Babylon mystical Babylon amongst whose inhabitants there is Egyptian darkness and the Lord now in the dayes of the Gospel having called and brought his people out of Babylon while they stand upon a Sea of glass mingled with fire they are inabled by the Spirit of God to sing They sing the Song of Moses and of the Lamb saying Just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Isa. 33.22 The Israel after the flesh they sing being delivered from outward Enemies the Israel after the Spirit they shall sing being delivered from all their enemies both inward and outward In Rev. 19. you have the great joy and rejoycing of the Saints at the downfal of Babylon whilst the Kings of the Earth which have committed Fornication with her and the Merchants of the Whore are weeping and wailing and crying out Alas alas the Saints they shall be saying Alleluiah salvation and honour glory and power unto the Lord our God even so Amen Alleluiah It is a praising and rejoycing in the Lord for his great Judgements and vengeance which he had taken and to this end Christ was anointed to proclaim the day of vengeance of our God Isa. 61.2 63.4 34.8 but in what posture then shall the Saints be in that day you may see in the 7. vers. Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his Wife hath made her self ready Well amongst all this vengeance and Judgement let us see what will be the Name of Jesus Christ and that is King of kings and Lord of lords vers. 16. We come now to Rev. 20.1 we have presented unto us an Angel coming down from Heaven having the Key of the bottomless pit whether Christ be meant here by this Angel or no I shall leave that to the judicious Reader with his meditations upon Rev. 1.18 where Christ faith I have the Keys of Hell and Death now this Angel layeth hold on the Dragon which is Satan and bindes him a Thousand years and he is cast into the bottomless pit with a Seal upon him Some there are that do imagine that this thousand years was in the time of Constantine but I see no ground for the truth of it for when he shall be bound the Nations shall not be deceived with any false worship as ever hitherto they have been since the man of sin that son of perdition hath been up and that he was loosed in the time of wicked Hildebrand a Necromancer but the words here in the 3. vers. faith That after his binding he must be loosed for a little season now the wise man faith There is a time a season for everything and if the time since in the Scriptural Account can be lookt upon as a little season yet where hath Satans work been For I believe that Satan is yet at his first work in being a lying Spirit in the mouthes of false Prophets and so deceiving the Nations in the things of God and of Christ and carrying on the Mystery of Iniquity and at this work he is new very busie labouring to pervert Foundation-truths by sinful suggestions into our hearts I know it by mine own experience for he hath been very much labouring to blind my understanding and judgement in a foundation-truth but O for ever blessed he that faithful High Priest the Lord Jesus Christ who knowing all his plots hath still kept my Faith running out upon his word with an answering It is written But now his last work that we read he shall do is to gather the nations against this beloved City to their final destruction he is no sconer out of prison but he goes to his work and loseth no time it is said that he went out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth Why it is reported by writers that Jerusalem is in the midst of the earth and so in this sence Christ will rule in the midst of his enemies as it may truly be said when Christ taketh possession of any heart why there is flesh and sin and the world I but Christ he is King he keeps his Throne and will at length bring them down under his seat though for a time for ends best known unto the Lord they may have their lurking corners in the soul Now when Satan had cathered them together the next news that we finde is their general destruction by fire which I believe is the general destruction of the whole world with all things that are therein Heaven and earth shall pass away faith Christ but not one tittle of my word until all be fulfilled for I finde that the general Judgement of the righteous and the wicked it followeth afterward and then shall those wicked ones who were in that last Conspiracie against Christ and his people and so filled up the measure of the sins of all the Serpents seed that went before them be condemned before his Tribunal for the book shall be opened and every one shall be judged according to his works But before this Throne and Judgement of Christ upon this white Throne by himself particularly spoken of in vers. 11. we have divers Thrones spoken of in the fourth verse And judgement was given unto them who had
not worshipped the beast nor his Images and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years but afterwards Christ who is the Elder Brother is sole Judge of all and having finished the Judgement he delivers up all into the hands of God the Father then shall the Saints above what they know now know with admiration that the Son and Father are one and they one in them according to Christs prayer Joh. 17.21 24. Now in order unto their reigning with Christ they must be brought forth by the enjoyment of a Resurrection and this I judge to be the first Resurrection which shall be only of the Saints that sleep in Jesus for the dead in Christ shall rise first according to St. Pauls Doctrine 1 Thes. 4.10 and 1 Corin. 15. Christ the first fruits afterwards they that are Christs at his coming I know there are some that will apply this Resurrection to the Resurrection of the Soul out of the grave of sin and corruption Well I shall not much controvert it but whoever I see so risen I do not question his part in the first Resurrection for it is said Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first Resurrection It doth not speak of sinners but of saints which had not worshipped the Beast neither his Image they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yeers but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand yeers were finished Quest But what are the rest of the dead that have not their part in this first Resurrection Answ. We have them set down in Rev. 21.8 and I am sure there is not a Saint amongst them they are the fearful and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and whoremongers and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all lyars and where shall all these be why these shall be without for without are dogs and sorcerers Rev. 22.15 without that is without this holy City new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven so that they shall not see that transcendent glory which will be manifested in this City a glimpse of which the Lord even now sometimes lets down into the spirits of his people that so they might with the Apostle groan for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of our bodies yea he witnesseth that the whole Creation groans for this even for the manifestation of the sons of God and they that had received the first fruits of the spirit groaned also O then how shall the saints of the latter dayes that are under the great Promise of the Father groan and travel for the accomplishment of these things And surely such that are in some measure delivered into the beauty and spiritualness and glory of this glory cannot but long and desire to be unclothed that they might be cloathed upon John in this chapter saw a new heaven and a new earth which was prophesied of long before in Isa. 65.17 and there you have a description what this new Heaven and new Earth is in the 18 verse For behold I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her people a Joy A new heaven indeed when Jerusalem which now is which is in bondage with her children shall rejoyce with that Jerusalem which is above which is free and is the mother of us all which shall come downe from God out of Heaven there shall also be a new Earth for the Divell being bound up there will not be that Enmity in the hearts of Earthly men neither to the Saints nor amongst themselves but according to the Prophesie in Isa. 65. last The Lyon and the Lamb shall lie down together vers. 2. And I saw the holy City new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband John in the time of all this Revelation was in the spirit Rev. 1.10 I was in the spirit on the Lords day and all that was revealed unto him was spiritual from first to last he that readeth let him understand I saw saith he the holy City for nothing that is unholy can enter in flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God It is a City and it is a holy City and certainly this is the City which Abraham by faith looked for while he was a stranger in the Land of Promise Heb. 11.10 For he looked for a city that hath foundations whose builder and maker is God This City hath Foundations as you may see in the fourteenth verse and God is the Builder and Maker of it for it is of his Creation This holy City this new Jerusalem it is said to come down from God out of heaven doth not this plainly demonstrate unto us that the saints shall come down from heaven according as it is written The Lord thy God shall come and all the Saints with him and in Phil. 3.20 For our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for a Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ this is an expectation of Christ from heaven and I see no difference between this expression and that of Christ's I am the true bread which came down from heaven now see in what manner this holy City doth come down and then consider whether it will be any way a disadvantage unto the Saints to come down from heaven for they come as a bride adorned for her husband O blessed Union all the Saints are Christs Bride the whole general Assembly and Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven they do but make up the Lambs Wife and thus she shall come adorned for her husband that is without sâ—o or wrinkle as will appear if we compare spiritual things with spiritual For here Christ doth by his spirit and word espouse us unto himself 2 Cor. 11.2 O but there is a marriage day Rev. 19.7 and then it shall be granted unto the Bride to be arrayed in fine linen clean and white which is the Righteousness of the Saints Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage-supper of the Lamb Christ he is the Kings son according to Psal. 72 1. and God the Father he will institute a supper for his Sonne which is called The Mariage Supper of the Lamb a Supper that shall begin when all other suppers shall have ended this doth not any way diminish from the souls feeding upon Christ here according unto Christs words My flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed but this is a supper the which all the Saints shall be called unto that they might be married unto Christ who were in this life espoused unto Christ and therefore when ye have the cry at midnight it is said Behold the Bridegroom cometh Christ comes unto his Saints as a Bridegroom in the glory of his Father and of his holy Angels the Saints they meet Christ as the Lambs wife yea as a Bride adorned for the Bridegroom that although he comes at midnight to the ungodly and to the seeming godly foolish Virgins without Christ in the world yet it is the Saints morning-Star
Hosonna to the Son of David OR A TESTIMONY To the Lord's Christ Shewing His rule and reign over the people of the Jews upon Earth a thousand years together with his second personal appearance proved from the Scripture of Truth With A general word of Use from the point to Saints and Sinners By Samuel Grosvenour And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son and shalt call his name Jesus He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his father David Luke 1.31 32 33. LONDON Printed for L. Chapman at the Crown in Popes-Head-Alley 1659. To the Reader IT is observable throughout all generations that truth in its first appearance in the world can be very hardly entertained but rather opposed I am sure of all truths this hath not nor is not like to escape For Gospel-truths will bring Gospel-sufferings and therefore whosoever thou art that wilt inquire into this truth I begge of thee that thou wouldst first sit down and consider what it will cost thee and search the Scriptures whether things be so or no For this is no new Doctrine but that which hath been testified by the mouths of all the Prophets and consider what the Apostle saith For he hath chosen us unto salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth So that every truth is to be looked after by believers because that God who is a God of truth is sweeth to be injoyed in all truth Reader accept of this small mite and the Lord grant that the eyes of thy understanding may be inlightned in the knowledge of Christ as King Priest and Prophet unto thy poor soul and then how sweet will it be unto thee to consider that that King that rules and reigns in thy heart shall ride Conquering and to Conquer untill all his Enemies both within and without in thy heart and my heart and in the world be made a footstool which shall be the desire and prayer of him who is a servant unto the God of Jacob Sam. Grosvenour Hosanna to the Son of David Or A Testimony to the Lords Christ THe most wise God of Heaven and Earth hath so ordered and disposed of all truth revealed in his word that every truth throughout all generations hath broke forth in its due season and truely this truth that I am now speaking of it doth more particularly concern the Saints of the last times I shall make it appear how all along this truth hath been testified unto from the first to the last we shall begin with Gods promise unto Abraham the thirteenth of Genesis and the fifth verse And the Lord 〈◊〉 said unto Abraham after that Lot was separated from him Lift up now thine eyes and look from the place where thou art Northward and Southward and Eastward and Westward For all the land which thou seest to thee will I give it and to thy seed for ever This land was the land of Canaan which God promised Abraham yea and a promise that is yet to be fulfilled Object Abraham was in the Land of Canaan and his seed after him Answ. It is true but in what condition they were strangers and Pilgrims there and this they confessed and therefore this could not be a possession of it Ob. I but God in promising Abraham the Land of Canaan it was a Type of the heavenly Canaan Answ. It is true Abraham had an eye of faith to see into the promised rest as all the seed of Abraham that are spiritual Jews have However there is more then this in the promise For observe how God cites this promise unto him it is said After that Lot was separated from him I do not question but that Lot belongeth unto the general Assembly and Church of the first-born whose names are written in Heaven but yet Gods Covenant must be with Abraham now observe the promise For all the land which thou seest to thee will I give it and to thy seed for ever now we know that all the Types of the Law as that of the bloud of Bulls and Coats and others they did all center in Jesus Christ and so every true believer hath entered into that rest but consider what the Lord saith The Land which thou seest the breadth and length of it will I give unto thee and to thy seed for ever And you shall finde in many places of Scripture that when the Lord promises to bring back again the Captivity of the Jews he saith I will bring them into their own Land a Scripture as clear as the Sun for this you may see in Jer. 23.5 6 7 8. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper and execute Justice and Judgement in the Earth In his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his name whereby he shall be called The Lord our righteousnesse and in vers. 8. They shall dwell in their own Land So that here is both the two Tribes and the ten Tribes promised to enjoy their own Land again which is the Land of Canaan under the rule and reign of that righteous branch unto David which is the Lord Jesus Christ for it is said he must execute Justice and Judgement in the earth That Christ is that branch spoken of you may see plainly in the eleventh of Isaiah the first verse the whole Chapter is a sweet discovery of the Kingdom of Christ and in the ninth verse he saith The earth shall he full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea We shall now begin with all the Prophets that have spoken in the name of the Lord and that the Lord might be justified out of the mouths of the wicked stand forth wicked Balaam in the 24th of Numbers and the third verse And he took up his Parable and said Balaam the Son of Beor hath said and the man whose eyes are open hath said Pray observe in the first place it is said in the second verse that the Spirit of God was upon him from whence I would inferre this that a Soul by the common enlightning of the Spirit may come to see into this and other glorious truths and therefore it ought to be our care that we have not onely that Spirit upon us but the Spirit in us and as Christ saith Rejoyce not that the Spirits are subject unto you but rather that your names are written in heaven so I say Rejoyce not in thy knowledge of this Kingdom but rather that Jesus Christ is King in thy heart whereby thou comest to have assurance that thou hast an Interest in this glorious spiritual Kingdom when Jesus Christ shall come to be admired in all them that believe But to go on where we lest Balaam in the seventh verse He shall pour the water out of his buckets speaking of
Jacob and his seed shall be in many waters and his King shall be higher then Agag and his Kingdom shall be exalted Jesus Christ shall be higher then all the Agags and Nimrods and Potentates of the Earth For he is the great and onely Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6.15 Moses also did by faith perceive what God would do for his Israel in the last dayes as you may see in Deut. 33.26 27 28 29. Hannah in her sweet song of deliverance prophesies of Christ and of his Kingdom 1 Sam. 2.10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces out of heaven shall he thunder upon them the Lord shall judge the ends of the Earth and he shall give strength unto his King and exalt the horn of his anointed Mark friends the Exaltation of Christ it lieth in the destruction of his implacable enemies Ps. 110.1 The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right hand untill I make thine Enemies thy footstool he shall give strength unto his King Jesus Christ is the King of Gods own appointment a King that God hath given unto his subjects Isa. 9.6 7. For unto us a Childe is born unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his Nme shall be called Wonderful Counseller The mighty God The everlasting Father The Prince of peace Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to stablish it with Judgement and Justice from henceforth even for ever The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this That same Jesus that is the King of his Saints and people that Jesus shall also be the King over all the Nations Rev. 3.21 To him that overcometh will I give to sit with me on my Throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father on his Throne So that here you may see that Jesus Christ hath a Throne which he calls more properly his Throne Now what this overcomer shall do you may see in Rev. 2.26 27. To him will I give power over the Nations agreeing with that Parable that Christ spake of concerning the Lord and his servants to him that had gained ten Talents his Lord saith Be thou ruler over ten Cities and to him that had gained five over five But let us a little consider this sweet Prophecie of the ninth of Isaiah Some Expositors have much reasoned whether they should call Isaiah a Prophet or an Evangelist And truly though all these names that are given unto Christ be sulfilled in respect unto his people in the state of Grace for he is the wonderful Counsellour of his people in all straits and difficulties and he is the mighty God for his own arm hath brought salvation and he is the everlasting Father and he is the Prince of peace for Christ onely is a believers peace but it is said He shall be King upon the Throne of David Now ye know that the Throne of David it was in the Land of Judea over the people of the Jews this is the Throne which Jesus Christ shall have Object How can that be for Jerusalem is destroyed Answ. Though it be yet we have the promise of God for it that it shall be again inhabited Zech. 12.6 And Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place even in Jerusalem Yea we finde that at Christs second personal appearance it is said that his feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem Zech. 14.4 and in the same day you finde that he shall be King over all the earth and there shall be one Lord and his name one in the 9. verse We know also that as Solomon in his succession to the Crown was a sweet Type of Christ so likewise in respect of his peaceable Kingdom and therein Christ shall well be called the Prince of Peace Now it is very much to our purpose to consider with what difficulty Solomon did attain unto the Crown you have the story in the 1. of Kings chap. 1. the whole Chapter is very remarkable you finde that Solomons mother in the 17. verse comes unto King David and she said unto him My Lord thou swarest by the Lord thy God unto thine handmaid saying Assuredly Solomon thy Son shall reign after me and he shall sit upon my Throne the 18. verse and now behold Adonijah reigneth Observe it is the woman that prevailes with David and surely it must be the woman even the Church that must prevail with God for the exaltation of Jesus Christ for she is said to travel with the man-childe in the twelfth of the Revelation and she brings him forth at last in verse 10. Now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ no more accusings then of Satan no no the accuser of the brethren is cast down Now observe how the woman and the Churches and Saints of Christ may agree together in their Petition for as she said My Lord thou swarest that thy Son Solomon should reign so may the Church say Lord thou hast sworn that thy Son Jesus Christ shall reign in the 89th Psalm verse 3 4. Well what follows And now saith she behold Adonijah reigneth This word Behold it is an expression of admiration Behold my servant whom I have chosen speaking of Christ Truely it should be matter of admiration unto the Sons and daughters of Zov that the Lord should have so much patience as to afford the Kings of the earth that time which is allotted unto them but the Lamb shall at last overcome them we finde that when Bathsheba had done then came in also Nathan the Prophet and he comes with the same story certainly the true Prophets of God they will in all generations joyn with the Church in that which concerns the glory of God and hereby we may come to know who are the false Prophets and who are the true The false Prophets they cry up the beast and wonder after the beast but the true Prophets they cry up Jesus Christ and admire at his excellency and are forced to cry out Who would not fear thee O thou King of Nations Jer. 10.7 and as you read in the following Chapters of the miserable end that did follow them that helped to Crown Adonijah so be assured that nothing but misery and destruction will be the end of them that are enemies to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ But as for those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and slay them before me This will be Christs sentence unto such his enemies at his appearance It is my desire to run through the whole current of Scripture that the Reader may be surnished against all Gainsayers The next Scripture that hints unto this truth is in Job 19 25. For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he
Prophet Isaiah Thy people also shall be all righteous Isa. 60.21 It is further apparent if we consider Isa. 35. the 10th verse by the ransomed of the Lord I understand either the people of the Jews in general or else every true believer in particular These shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtain joy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall flee away Why Gods bringing of his people now unto Zion it is with weeping and with supplication but in this day when Zion the Mountain of the house of the Lord shall be exalted in the top of the Mountains it shall be with everlasting joy agreeing to that in Jer. 31.12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion But in the 9th verse there is weeping and supplication and in the latter end of the 12th verse they shall not sorrow any more at all Certainly then this will be a time of extraordinary spiritual joy which we expect and wait for and not an outward glorious Jewish Kingdom which some speaking against it say that we look for but let such see their portion it they have a portion in Christ and how gracious Christ will be unto them in this his kingdom in that sweet Prophesie of his reign in Isa. 32.4 The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge I am perswaded that many a gracious heart in the corsideration of that glorious truth of Christs spiritual reign in the hearts of his people over sin Satan and the world hath cried down this his personal reign upon the Throne of his father David as error and Heresie I might cite much in the behalf of this truth from Isa. 65.17 to the end but I shall passe over to Jer. 30.9 And they shall serve the Lord their God and David their King whom I will raise up unto them Now observe the time when they shall serve this King it is when God shall give them to pessesse the land which he gave unto their fathers as you may see plainly in the third verse and before they do thus serve him they shall return and seek him even the Jews that are called the children of Israel Hosea 3.5 O ye Gentile Saints of the most high what room hath God made in your hearts for the poor Jews did they think upon us when we were not a people and shall not we think upon them Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence for he hath said that the Nation and kingdome that will not serve them shall perish yea those Nations shall be utterly destroyed Isa. 60.12 certainly then there is little hopes for England that would not suffer you to dwell amongst us but faithfull is God that hath promised and will accomplish even to set over them that great Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls the Lord Jesus Christ Ezek 34 23. The next plain Scripture is Dan. 7.27 And the kingdom and dominion and the greatnesse of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey him This is a plain Prophesie of Christs personal appearing to rule and reign with his Saints if ye consider the 22th verse there ye have him mentioned Untill the ancient of dayes came agreeing with that his title in the Revelation I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last This is a kingdom and dominion under the whole heaven certainly then it must be on earth and then shall that promise be made good which saith The meek shall inherit the earth We do not doubt as a worthy Preacher lately said of a kingdom in the heavens in that celestial place of glory prepared for us but our God hath promised us a kingdom under the whole heaven wherein Christ shall be King that one Lord both over believing Jews and believing Gentiles This kingdom it is given him by God the Father who is also called the ancient of dayes for as Christ saith I and my father are one you have it in the 13. and 14. verses of Dan. 7. I saw in the night Visions and behold one like the Son of Man came with the Clouds of Heaven agreeing unto Christs words Then shall ye see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great glory I shall plainly lay down my Meditations concerning it and leave it to the judgement of the Christian Reader which were this Christ coming and the Saints bringing of him unto God their father for it is said in the 13th verse They brought him near before him agreeing to that in Isa. 8.18 Behold I and the children which thou hast given me And now being before their father as Christ said I go to my father and to your father to my God and to your God the subject matter of their plea is for a kingdome founded in the sufferings of Christ and so a branch of the new Covenant Isa. 53.12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoyl with the strong because he hath poured out his Soul unto death Now God the father being faithful that promised he gives the kingdom unto the Son agreeing to that in Ps. 72.1 Give the King thy judgements O God and thy righteousnesse unto the Kings Son which is fulfilled in Dan. 7.14 And there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom that all people nations and languages should serve him even him that was despised and rejected of men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief unto whom the Nations have said We will not have this man to reign over us even unto him shall this glory and dominion be given that so that which is written may be fulfilled At the name of Jefus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confesse that he is the Lord for he will be King alone in that day Hosea 13.10 The Prophet Joel is very large in declaring the signs and wonders that shall be before this great day of the Lord agreeing with those in Matth. 24. The Prophet Amos is in the latter end of his Prophesie treating of the restauration of the children of Israel which take in many special circumstances concerning this truth and will require a larger Treatise then this is for there is both heighth and depth and length and breadth in the truths of God But I passe them over and shall onely take notice of Mich. 4.3 And he shall judge among many people and rebuke strong nations afar off vers. 4. They shall sit every man under his Vine and under his Fig-tree and none shall make them afraid It shall be a Solomons kingdom in respect of peace so that in this sense he will come as the desired one of all Nations and this kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem as you may see in vers 8. but more especially in
that he beares unto his people by his Spirit and that is a witness that he holds forth by his Spirit unto their spirits that they are the children of God Rom. 8.16 Secondly he is called the first begotten of the dead as the Apostle argues it in 1 Cor. 15.21 For since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead and in verse 22 he speaks of Christ as being the first fruits agreeing to that in Col. 1.18 where he is called the first born from the dead Thirdly he is called the Prince of the kings of the earth and this very manifest in Scripture he is often called the King of kings and Lord of lords But I shall speak something of that which he delivered to the Pharisees Mat 22.49 If David then call him Lord how is he his son It was the question that Christ put unto the Pharisees What saith he think ye of Christ whose Son is he And they answered him The Son of David How then saith Christ doth David call him Lord as in Psalm 110.1 So that by this it doth appear that Christ is both Davids Lord and Davids Son he is Davids Lord not onely as he is Lord of Heaven and Earth but also as he is King of kings and Lord of lords And thus he is Davids Lord and Davids Prince as well as Nero's Prince or any other wicked Prince that ever was upon the Earth Again he is Davids Lord in respect that he shall sit upon David's Throne and this is that which David by faith did foresee and that which is promised Christ in Luk. 1.31 32 33. Now I hope that there is none that will deny that Christ is the Son of David for taking upon him our sins he must of necessity take upon him our body a body hast thou prepared me And thus he was in all things like unto us sin onely excepted and that the Scripture might be fulfilled he is born of a Virgin Isa. 7.14 compared with Mat. 1.23 I am perswaded in my very conscience that the clearing up of the birth of Jesus Christ with his personal appearance in the flesh to suffer and dye for sinners together with his personal appearance in glory hereafter will be the Doctrine that God will make effectual in order unto the conversion of the Jews for I understand that herein lyeth their blindness which was also in their forefathers an expectation of the Messiah in a state of glory but what saith Christ unto this O fools and slow of heart to believe ought not Christ to have suffered these things and so to have entered into his glory Luk. 24.25 so that the very foundation of Christs exaltation lieth and consisteth in his humiliation because he was despised and rejected of men a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief therefore shall he come in the glory of his Father and in the glory of his holy Angels This Truth is farther confirmed from Rev. 2.26 He that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations even as I have received of my Father Psal. 2.9 The saints as the Scripture speaks are Heirs joynt Heirs yea co-Heirs with Jesus Christ and therefore he having received of God the Father to have power over the Nations he will give the same power over the Nations unto his saints that do overcome and as he did overcome Sin Death Satan and the World and is now set down in his Fathers Throne so also he hath a Throne even the Throne of his father David that he will give his overcoming Saints to sit down upon with him Rev. 3.21 In Rev 11.15 it is thus written And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great Voices in heaven saying The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ from hence it is very plain that they are the Kingdoms of this world which shall be given unto Jesus Christ And the devil that red Dragon that devouring Lyon that old Serpent did know full well of this when he came to tempt Christ for after that he had failed twice he comes in the third temptation with this All the Kingdoms of this world will I give thee and the glory of them so thou wilt but fall down and worship before me Mat. 4.8 9 he knew it with a witness from the very first promise that God gave unto fallen man The seed of the woman shall break the head of the Serpents which is Christ born of the Virgin Mary and manifested to destroy the works of the devil Object Whereas you speak here of a thousand years reign it is said in this verse That he shall reign for ever and ever I answer I do believe that a thousand years is a Type of perfection and therefore we cannot read of any of the sons of Adam that God did suffer to live a thousand yeers to demonstrate unto man that there is no persection here in this life but then see the limitation that this word Ever hath in Scripture in Psal. 72.17 it is for ever as long as the sun But let us take a little notice how the Nations will take this it is said They were angry vers. 18. so that while the Saints are praising and rejoycing before God with great admitation in the enjoyment of this salvation the Nations will be sretting and vexing to see what is come to pass for thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged all Christs implacable impenitent Enemies do but heap up wrath against this day of wrath for this will be a day of Judgement wherein Christ will give to every man according to his works yea God will have an account of the very carth which he hath let out unto the sons and daughters of Adam for it is said He will destroy them which destroy the earth And certainly this is that the Church of Christ is now in pain for and crying travelling to be delivered even of this Man child who shall rule all Nations with a Rod of Iron Rev. 125. and that because of that great joy which they will receive when Christ is exalted for the Saints they are such as love the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 4.8 For when he shall come in flaming fire unto his Enemies he shall be with his people as a Lamb And I looked and lo a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion here is fulfilled that Prophesie in Psal. 2. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion so that he will be both King and Lamb upon mount Zion Mount Zion as it is written shall be exalted above all mountains and the Name of Jesus upon this exalted mountain shall be exalted above every Name and then shall the Saints of God sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb saying Great and marvelous are thy works Lord God Almighty Just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Rev. 15.3
because we do not walk as becomes the truth but God hath promised and we do believe it that the Redeemer shall come out of Zion and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob Rom. 11.26 And then the inhabitants shall not say I am sick for the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their inquity Isa. 33.24 Oh how greatly now is Unity to be desired amongst the Saints Truly I have for a long time been running to and fro and now I will give you the report of all but I may truly say All seek their own and none the things of Jesus Christ yea even the Saints themselves in their several Forms are so zealous about shadows and are not so careful in the substantial commands of Jesus Christ that as for poor Way-faring souls they may cry out and say Lord where are thy Disciples which are to be known by their love one to another but may also come upon Jesus Christ again and say Tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest VVell let the way-faring man be encouraged and let the lambs of Jesus Christ be comforted for yet a little while and there shall be but one Shepherd andone sheepsold and in the mean time see that ye are walking in the way that ye should go even in the way of holiness wherein the way-faring-man though a fool shall not err but be seeking the way to Zion with their faces thitherward And Oh that the Lord would put it into the hearts of his people according to that Isa. 57.14 Cast ye up cast ye up prepare the way take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people Surely if ye did but know how the mouths of the wicked are opened against you all you would quickly shut your mouths that ye have so opened one against another There are many I fear that are ready to say with the fool in his heart There is no God but it were to be wished that the people of God would continually remember this that whatever comes to pass it is that the Scripture might be fulfilled if a Judas betray Christ it is because the Scripture might be fulfilled Act. 1.16 compared with Psa. 44.9 If perillous times come wherein men shall be lovers of themselves covetous and the like if because iniquiâ—y shall abound the love of many shall wax cold or if we should see one servant smiting his fellow-servant or eating and drinking building and planting which so abound in our dayes in the excess of them come what will come we may say of all The Scriptures must needs be fulfilled and herein is to be admired the faithfulness truth of Him who is Truth it self who hath fore-told us all things that shall come to pass unto his second coming If many should come in His Name saying I am Christ it is that the Scripture might be fulfilled but believe it Christian whoever thou art no true Christ comes until Jesus comes who shall come in the glory of his Father and of his holy Angels So that thou shalt not need to follow Lo here or lo there for if thou art indeed a Christian one that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God thou shalt appear with him in glory Col. 3.4 Again it is written That he shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather together his Elect from the four windes that so the prayer of Jesus Christ may be fulfilled upon all his servants Father I will that they also which thou hast given me be with me where I am Joh. 27.24 Wherefore as the Apostle faith comfort one another with these words and certainly hereby will the saints be distinguished in the latter dayes from all others Because that when such as are but men shall have their hearts fail them in the sight of those Judgements Earthquakes Famines and Pestilences which shall come upon the earth then shall the Saints of the most High lift up their heâ—ds as knowing that their Redemption draweth nigh Unto which duty I will also resolve in the strength and Spirit of the Lord with the Prophet In Isa. 61.10 11. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath cloathed me with the garments of salvation he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness as a Bridegroom decketh himself with Ornaments and as a Bride adorneth her self with jewels For as the earth bringeth forth her bud and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth so the Lord will cause Righteousness and Praise to spring forth before all the Nations HOSANNA unto David's Son The Lords anointed One Who shall have the Dominion Upon his Father's Throne Triumph and shout O heavens high And let the earth rejoyce For why with Might and Majesty He shall lift up his voyce O let the Bride prepare her self Against this Marriage-day When Christ shall bring his saving health Unto his Saints for aye Let Sinners come and now fall down And worship at his feet For he alone shall have the Crown When his with him shall meet Before his golden Scepter fall Then know assuredly His Iron Red you shall not feel With grief and misery His bleeding wounds out-stretched arms And yearning bowels sure Run towards you that from all harms You might alwayes endure He is the sure Foundation-stone JEHOVAH'S Treasury He is the choice and lovely One Unto the faithful eye He is true Wisdom for the fool The sure and certain way Meat Drink and Cloathing to the Soul That trusts in him alway He is the first and eke the last Was dead and is alive And lives for aye O then to Christ All honour glory give If to the Father thou wouldst go He is the onely door O strive to enter in why so Few shall then strive the more If unto God an Offering Thou wouldst put up for sin It 's Christ our Priest hath done the thing Our sins were laid on him A Prophet to his Saints is he A King to Rule and Reign King Priest and Prophet thou may'st be Thy Title hee 'l maintain Acquaint thy self now with the Lord His Name and dwelling Place Be guided by his Spirit and Word Till thou hast run thy Race O Virgins know both Fools and Wise The Bridegroom is at hand He comes he comes let this suffice But who with him may stand It 's he that walketh rightecusly And speaketh full upright As for deceit he sets it by From evil shuts his sight His dwelling place shall be on high His bread and water sure His eyes shall see the Kings glory Injoy for to endure What blameless ones ought we to be That know he will appear From worldly cares Lord set us free Remaining in thy fear O let the glory of this day So dwell upon our Minde That we may forward press alway Forgetting what 's behinde And let the Nations Know O Lord Thou wilt thy right maintain Unto the Heathen send this word That JESUS