here to be understood Coming down from Heaven to wit The third Heaven or the Heaven of the blessed Who had the Key of the bottomlesse pit that is Who had received power from God to open and shut up Hell We must not therefore by the Key of the bottomlesse pit understand any inward light or knowledge kindled by some famous Doctor of the Church by whose help the Scripture may be the more enlightned or the profound skill in Divinity of such a one And a great chain in his hand The great power of binding and tying up the enemy is here understood This chain therefore is falsly expounded concerning the Divine Writings of some Angel or Teacher of the Church whose coherence like a chain may be such that they may bring Heaven and Earth together and draw the hearts of the believers up unto God 2. And he caught as if he had laid hands on him The Dragon That monstrous virulent and violent enemy of Christ and Christians That old Sorpent Who by his winding and subtle kinde of Oratory in the beginning of the world seduced our first parents and who yet keeps his old skin Who is the Devill That Slanderer and Sophister that mis-interpreter of all the good sayings and deeds as well of God and Christ as holy Angels and men And Satan The adversary and everlasting enemy of God Christ and the Church And bound him By hindering his wicked enterprises and attemps A thousand yeers Solar and usuall years 3. And he threw him into the bottomlesse pit that is With mighty power he restrained the malignity of Satan thrusting him down into Hell And * shut him up as if he should say He laid him not onely fast in prison but also shut up the prison upon him with him in it And set a seal upn hiom Here are four acts of the Angel the first bindes Satan then cast him being bound into the bottomlesse pit then he shuts up the pit and sets a seal upon it being shut up That he might not seduce to wit Partly by Idolatry Superstition and the power of lyes partly by bringing War upon the Church Any more As he had formerly done The Nations {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The Nations â—oth Jews and Gentiles This word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in Scripture properly signifies the Gentiles as they were opposed to the Jews But that in this place the signification of this word is extended it doth hence appear The power of the devill is so fast bound he can no more seduce either Jews or Gentiles for the space of those thousand yeers Therefore this word is to be taken in a more large signification So that the Conversion of the Jews is described also implicitely in these words Till the thousand yeers were fulfilled to wit Untill the whole course of the Churches hapyinesse here on earth were finished And after that he must be loosed For these thousand yeers being ended the Devill by the just Judgement of God shall again recover his power and indeed a farre greater For a short time The kingdom of Satan shall not fulfill a thousand years but shall remain onely for a small time 4. And I saw Thrones Then I saw a Judiciall Processe prepared And they sate upon them that is Christ and his holy Angels And Iudgement was given unto thâ—m The power of Judgement was given by God as well to Christ as to the chief Judge as to the Angels as it were his Assessors Compare Mat. 25.31 And the souls I saw as well the Judges Christ and his Angels as also them that were to be judged that is To be absolved or freed in this Judgement And in this place souls are put for men Of them that were beheaded that is Of them that were slain by any kinde of torment And it is a description of the Martyrs For the testimony of Iesus Whereby they witnessed concerning Christ that he was the onely Iesus that is The onely Saviour both by merit and efficacy And for the Word of God that is The holy Scripture which they had learned to be the onely rule both of faith and life And which had not worshipped the Bâ—ast that is The Second Beast of which mention is in the 13 and 19 chapters which had arrogated to it self the divine Honours of Christ Nor his Image that is Those Kings and Princes which are the Image of the Beast that is which represent the Beast in their likenesse of doctrine and life Compare Revel. 13. v. 14. And had not received his mark in their foreheads By mark in this place is to be understood some characteristicall note or distinguishing signe or token which they are said to bear in their foreheads who publikely professe themselves to be addicted to such or such a master or leader Or in their hands that is In their actions Rites and Ceremonies In these words therefore is contained a concealed antithesis or opposition whereby the Martyrs are declared contrary to the slaves and servants of the Beast concerning whom there is former mention chap. 13. â—â— 14 15 16. that they worshipped the image of the Beast and received his mark on their right hand or on their foreheads From which words it is manifest that the Martyrs are here described by the distinction of their sufferings and doings And they lived that is They lived again as may be gathered from the fifth verse But the rest of the dead lived not again So formerly Revel. 2.8 Who was dead {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} for {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and is alive for hath lived again Here then is described the singular reward which the Martyrs have received for their sufferings and extraordinary performances And reignâ—d As being appointed here on earth Governours of the Church having now gained it 's most welcome Halcyonia or dayes of calmnesse With Christ Who all this while shall raign visibly in heaven invisibly upon earth his visible Kingdom being resigned to the Martyrs For those thousand yeers Of whiâ—h in the former verse For that the thousand yeers of Satans binding and of the Kingdom of the holy Martyrs with Christ are the same and not distinct or divers the Article {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} four times repeated in the 3 4 5 6 7 verses doth sufficiently declare and the term of time appointed for the loosing of Satan doth fully evince It is a forced Interpretation therefore that some do make taking the thousand yeers in the 4 and 6 verses tropically by a Synecdoche for Eternity in the other verses namely 3 5 7 according to the letter But the rest of the dead As well the godly as the ungodly * Lived not again that is Were not made partakers of that happinesse and prerogative whereby a number of some of the faithfull shall rise before the Universall and last Resurrection and shall reign with Christ here upon earth Vntill those
raised and the dark miste of lyes being dispelled Then shall Satan be bound for a thousand years which must be expired before he scatter new errours through the world and by them seduce the Nations This this is the imprisonment this is the liberty or setting free of Satan In the same place upon vers. 2. But when began Satan to be bound In the year 1517. when the witnesses were raised From that time ALL people generally have not drunk any new poyson of heresie which might weaken or overturn their faith In the same place To 1517. adde 1000. years So you shall make 2517. at which time Satan shall again draw the Nations into abominable heresies In this Exposition of Cotterius the thousand years are rightly urged according to the letter But his Epocha or beginning of his account is not well placed in the year 1517. For then began onely the praeludium or proeme of this Millenary Iohn Piscator in his Commentary on the Revelations The happynesse of the faithfull who shall live upon earth after the downfall of the Papacy is their security from the hostile invasions of the wicked for 1000 years In the same place The singular happynesse of the Martyrs of Christ who before these thousand years indured persecution is their Resurrection which shall be before the generall Resurrection and their reign in Heaven with Christ for a thousand years before the Resurrection of the rest In this Exposition the literall interpretation is rightly urged But that he sayes the Martyrs shall reign with Christ in Heaven for those thousand years cannot be proved out of the Text Nay the contrary may thence be proved because the Resurrection of the Martyrs is part of the happinesse of the Church here on Earth Again The Kingdom which is limited by a certain number of years cannot suite well with eternall life See also Revel. 5.10 where the Saints in Heaven among other things sing thus And we shall reign upon the Earth But moreover the same Iohn Piscator maintains this opinion of the thousand years in his German translation of the Bible and a little before his death he wrote a short Treatise Of the future happinesse of the Church in this life Out of which I have made use of many things which I have transcribed into this Meditation for that Treatise of his hath not as yet seen the light Many Writers of the former and this present Age have published many things concerning Elias the Artist who is to come Of the Lion of the North who is neer at hand Of a fourth Northern Monarchy Of a great Reformation Of the Conversion of the Jews and the like See Theophrastus Paracelsus Michael Sendivogius in his Treatise of Sulphur Stephanus Pannonius Of the circle of the Works and Iudgements of God where among other things he writs thus Yet it shall come to passe that the pure Gospel of God shall be preached to the Americans before the end of the world Again Nothing is more sure then that the Reformation of the East and South drawing on some famous Emperour whose types Constantine and Theodosius both entitled Great were shall openly shew himself and granting liberty of Religion to them who professe the name of the Holy Trinity shall do some great matter in the world for the glory of God for the building up of the Church and for the downfall of Antichrist In the same place The Eastern Christians fired with the zeal of Christ shall make their way into Asia it self and provoke the Jews to jealousie Rom. 11. And the spirituall Babylon shall be a pray unto all Nations In the same place A refining of the Souldiers of God whereof there is mention Zach. 13.8 that is temptations and tryalls shall go before this Reformation that the light of God may arise out of the Crosse of Christ This Treatise was published in the year 1608. Iohn Dobricius also in the year 1612. did set forth a notable book entitled {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is The Interpreter of times wherein both out of the Holy Scripture and from the new Star which appeared in the year * DC.IV. and the great Conjunction of the Planets many things are discoursed of concerning the reformation and future happinesse of the Church Peter du Moulin in his French Book intituled Du Combat Christien that is The Chrictian Conflict pag. 256. This persecution is a cruell tempest which cannot last awayes Either it will take us out of the world or God will take it away from us Pag. 353. Every one hath but a short journey whereby he must come to God and the time is at hand that we must commit our bodies to the earth our Souls to God and to the Church peace and the blessing of God For it shall come to passe even in our times that God shall be glorified in the great Congregations Yea even in those places where are horrible ruines the Word of God shall â—ound forth and God shall afford us matter of praise and thanksgiving Pag. 450. After that God shall have shewn us his deliverances on earth he will also shew us his riches in Heaven A CONFUTATION Of the Objections I. Object IS taken out of Matth. 24.14 If after the Gospel preached in all the world the end of all things shall come that happinesse of the Church in this world shall not happen out between the end thereof and the preaching of the Gospel For the Gospel is already preached through the whole earth I answer 1. The Consequence is to be denyed for although this happynesse do come between yet it hinders not but that the end of the world should come after the Gospel preached over the whole earth Secondly The pro-syllogisme is to be denyed because the Gospel is not already preached over the whole earth II. Object Is taken from Matth. 24.29 30. If presently after the destruction of Hierusalem Christ shall come to Judgement then this happinesse of the Church shall not be before his coming to Judgement Answ. The matter it self speaks and experience witnesseth that this word Immediately or Presently is not here properly or simply to be understood but hyperbolically and according to what went before namely in relation to the foregoing Prophesie concerning the overthrow of the Iews which they were to receive by the destruction of Hierusalem So that this is the meaning that between this desolation of Hierusalem and the coming of Christ the Iews should receive no other overthrow III. Object Is out of the same Chapter vers. 37 38 39. If a little before the coming of Christ to Judgement the State and condition of the world shall be such as it was in the time of Noâ—h before the Deluge and that such a state of things is to be seen at this day It may be hence gathered that such a condition of the Church as is here described shall not happen out before the coming of
interpretation oâ— these thousanâ— yâ—ares permitting to the Revelation it's divine authority they ceased from their attempt which could by no meanes be freed from the censure of impiety Conceive thus them that the Seaventh Trumpet with the whole space of those thousand yeares and other predictions belonging thereto doth set forth that great day of judgement so much spoken of by the ancient Church as also by Christ and his Apostles and is not the short space of a few houres as commonly it is beleives but according to the manner of the Hâ—brewes using a day for a time the continued intervall of many yeares and circumsâ—ribed with two resurrections as with two set or limitted tâ—rmes I say that this day shall bee begun first with the partâ—culâ—r and tâ—mely judgement of Antichrist and othâ—r eneâ—ies of the Church then remaining alive with the glorious appearance of our Lord Christ in flames of fire and that at length after the Kingdome of a thousand yeares granted to his holy Spouse the New Ierusalâ—m here on earth and others that shall afterward be borne this great day now drawing to an end shall bee finishâ—d aftâ—r the letting loose of Satan and uâ—ter destruction of the Churches eâ—emies with the generall resurrection and judgement of all the dead which being performed the wicked shall be thrust downe iâ—to Hell to bee tormâ—nted eternally and the Saints translated into Heaven to live with Christ there for ever This indeed is the Time of the anger of God upon the Nations and avenging the cause of them who dyed for Christ for which after the blast of the seaventh Trumpet chapter eleâ—enth the Elâ—ers give thankes with triumph because therein God was to gâ—ve a reward to his servants the Prophets and Saints and to them that feared his â—ame small and great and would destroy thâ—m who destroy the earth This is that day of judgement and destruction of wicked men of which Peter 2. Ep. 3.8 having spoken prâ—sently addes But beloved be not ignorant of this one thing for before I shewed it was called a day that one day is with the Lord as a thousand yeares and a thousand yeares as one day In which very day the Apostle with his brethren and kinsfolk the Iewes to whom he writeth doth expect a new fashion of things to happen of which hee saith Presenâ—ly BVT WEE EXPECT A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH according to his Promise where in dwelleth righteousnes Take notice according to his promise Now where was this promise to be found of a new Heaven and new Earth seeing Iohn had not yet had this Revelation but Esaya 65.17 and 66.22 which promise whosoever shall reade I should wonder if he think that it is to be accomplished anywhere else but vpon Earth This is also that Kingdome which is ioyned with Christs appearance heere on Earth to Iudge the world of which Paul to Timothy 2. Ep. 4 1. I charge thee before god and the lord Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 shall Iudge the quicke and the dead at his APPEARING and HIS KINGDOME For after the last and Vniuersall Resurrection the same Paul being witnesse 1. Cor. 15.24 Christ having destroyed the last enemy death shall deliver up the Kingdome to the Father that he himselfe may be subiect to him that put all things vnder him so little can he be said to enter upon a new kingdome The Kingdome therefore which neither was before the Appâ—arance of the Lord neither shall be after the last Resurrection must necessarily be concluded to be batweene them both This is the kingdom of the son of man which Dan. saw the times of the Antichristian HORNE being finished or the times of the Gentiles Luke 21.24 being accomplished who shall appeare in the clouds when power and glory and the Kingdome shall be given to him that all people nations and languages may serve him for when as the Angel streight expoundeth it the Kingdom and Dominion and greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole heaven mark it well shall be given to the people of the Saiâ—ts of the most high For neither as I sayd before shall this Kingdome be after the last Resurrection seeing then the Sonne of man shall not enter upon a Kingdome but as Paul saith he must lay it downe and deliver to his Father Now that the same kingdome is spoken of by Daniel and Iohn may from hence be evinced First because both Kingdomâ— begin with the ruine of the fourth or Roman Beast that of Daniel when the Beast under the last command of the Horne which had eyes was slaine and his body given to the burning flame that in thâ—Revelation when the Beast and false Prophet that wicked Horne is Daniâ—l having mouth and eyes like a head were taken and both cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone Secondly from the same sitting in judgement which went before both for that one place is borrowed from the other and both enteâ—d the same thing will appeare from the comparing of the descriptions of both DAN. Cap. VII APOC. XX 4 Ver. 9. I beheld till the Thrones were placed For so it must be rendred with the Vulgar LXX and Theodor and so {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is used of a Throne in the Targum on Ier. 1.15 And I saw Thrones Ver. 10. And judgement was set That is Judges as in the great Sanbedrim or Councell of the Jewes according to the manner of which this whole description is fitted And they sate upon them Ver. 22. And judgement was given to the Saints of the most High That is Power to Judge whence is that of Paul The just shall judge the Earth And judgement was given unto them And the Saints possessed the Kingdome That is with the Sonne of man who came in the clouds of Heaven And the Saints lived reigned with Christ a thousand yeares Moreover I would advise the Reader of this whatsoever wholesome truth almost is delivered by the Iewes or by our Saviour in the Gospel or anywhere in the new Testament by the Apostles concerning the day of the Great Iudgement is taken out of this vision of Daniel namely the Judgement which shall be by fire Christs comming in the Cloudes of Heaven his comming in the glory of his Father with a multitude of Angels the judging of the world by him with his Saints the abolishing of Antichrist by the glorious appearance of his comming c. So that they goe about to take away a pillar of our Evangelicall faith who neglecting this ancient tradition of the Church goe about to carry this Prophecy another way Lastly to make an end This is that most great Kingdome which as Daniel interprets it was shewed to Nebuchadnezzar in that representative Statue of the foure Kingdomes Not that of the STONE which the succession of the IV Monarchies yet remaining was cut out of the Mountaine for this is the
can never be able to stand in competition with the holy Word of God and the * sound and undeniable doctrine thereof Such is alwaies my temper and moderation that if by * one conviction thou demonstrate my error much more it the CHVRCH shall interpose her judgement whether it be in matter of opinion or action I will retract the one and relinquish the other And till thou dost this in the matter which we have in hand be not offended if I stand close by my Author but especially to reason and plaine Scripture it selfe alleaged by him Truth it is the onely thing I seâ—ke after for the puâ—â—uiâ— of which no man ought to be blame any more then they are to be execused who wilfully continue in known error and ignorance By the way then good Reader let me tell thee what credit soever I gaine from thee that it was the constant opinion of the Church in the very next age to the Apostles that there should be a resurrection before the generall rising at the last day and an happy condition of the faithfull upon earth for CIO yeeres This we may learne from a Tertullias and b Irenaeus And c Iustin the Martyr who of a Philosopher became a Christian some xxx yeeres after the death of Iohn the Evangelist and Penman of this holy Prophecy tels us plainly that not only himselfe but what d Christian soever in his time were in all respects Orthodox maintained the same grounding their opinion upon these words of Esay * Behold I create new Heavens and a new Earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into my mind But be glad and rejoyce for ever in thâ—t which I create I know not whether so great a testimony as this of Iustin Martyrs may be brought concerning any opinion among Christians if you expect the maine articles of our Beliefe And the generall consent of all the orthodox and in the age too next the Apostles is no small argument or prejudice against the contrary opinion or succeeding ages It seemed the Heretiques of those times especially or indeed onely beleeved it not and that for some private respect because admitting thereof they must needs also confesse a resurrection of the flesh and that the same God who was mentioned in the Law and Prophets is also the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ I am sure Cerinthus that Arch Heretique in those daies whom the after-ages do make the first e broacher of this opinion and they would also have him the Author of the f Revelation is never taxed for it by them g who have diligently noted his heresies And perhaps if he had any sensuall conceit hereabout as it seemes he had he was beholding to Judaisme for it and he himselfe being a Iew it was not taken notice of in him But for a Christian to have any such doting imaginations would render him more wild-headed and besides himselfe in sober mens judgements then any Poet of Dithyrambique verse Yet no man ought to be blamed for maintaining a Truth in a Iewes company either in this matter or in any else if with heed he passe by those grosse fancies and stupid absurdities which doe infatuate and blemish the same truth More deservedly may we finde fault with Dionysius of Alexandria and his followers the great impugners of this opinion who when about the end of the third age the dispute about it grew very hot to lessen the authority of the Revelation by the evident and undeniable proofes whereof the matter in question was asserted O foule shame and impiety they fathered it upon I know not whom yet one of the same name against the manifest witnesse of h Iustin Martyr Irenaeus and all the Fathers before them who inscribâ— it to Iohn the beloved Disciple of Christ and Evangelist Neither can Hierome himselfe be exâ—used though a very learned man otherwise but easie to be deceived who with the same Dionysius doth upon an uncertaine report falsâ—ly affix to the opinion of them who according to truth beleeved the thousand yeeres happinesse on earth the i injury of Circumcision the blood of Sacrifices and rest duratiâ—n of all the ceremonies of the Law Which old pieces and rags of Indaisme or perhaps the dreames of some Heretiques being gathered out of a study of contention and ill will were patched to this opinion of the Primitive Church But if he certainely knew that the first Christians and holy Martyrs did expect Circumcision and Sacrifices in the Kingdome of Christ how is he to be blamed that condemned them not for it but k left every man to the freedome of his owne judgement either to approve or dislike thereof But what countenance soever this opinion hath or shall finde in this age let me tell thee this one thing Reader which I will leave to be considered of by thee that seeing there are so manifest proofes of a glorious Kingdome of the Saints here on earth out of the old Testament there will be no better or easier way to deale with the Iewes in matter of their conversion then not to wrest the plaine prophecies of a second and glorious appearance of Christ to his first comming but rather to perswade them that they must expect no other Messias who should fulfill all these promises expecting what is to be expected for we are not herein wholly to agree with the Iewes but to examine all things according to the rules of Christian faith besides that Iesus of Nazareth whom their Ancestors crucified And this way is every where almost through the whole Revelation diligently insisted upon For whilst we force those most cleare prophecies concerning things promised in the second to his first comming the Iewes scorne and deride us and are more and more confirmed in their infidelity But for the cours which I have here set downe I am much mistaken if it be not the same which was observed among them by Peter himselfe Act. 3.19 20 21. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord And he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you Whom the Heaven must receive untill the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the â—â—uth of all his holy Prophets since the World began But I forget my selfe For indeed I thinke it more fit to set downe and publish what might be safely and piously beleeved concerning this Teneâ— rather in another mans sense and expressions then in mine owne being more willing l modestly to learne and be instructed from the abilities of others then impudently to obtrude mine owne weaknesses upon the world And to this end I have also collected what some of the most eminent Divines of the Church of England Dr. Hakewill Dr. Twisse Mr. Mede c. that thou mightest not thinke it onely an outlandish toy or a
be welcome to us because it contains the last Divine Revelation of Gods will after which no Prophecy following is to be expected and because this Book is very profitaâ—le in this Age in which the lively performance of things hitherto abstruse and concealed is presented before our eyes 2. Of the Subject of this Chapter THis Chapâ—er discourseth of the singular happinesse of the Church both under it's Warfare and Triumph The singular happinesse of the Church during it's warfare or being militant is let down in three respects 1. In its security from the hostile incursions of the wicked for a 1000 yeers 2. In the resurrection of the Martyrs before the generall resurrection 3. In the wonderfull dâ—livâ—rance of the godly from the last persecution of the wicked which shall happen after those thousand yeers The happinesse of the Church Triumphant is hâ—re described so farre forth as the beginning of its Triumph in the last Iudgement That these things may be made more plain I will from the very beginning make a repetition of the state of the Church here upon earth and I will say something briefly concerning the State and condition thereof in Heaven The State of the Church hereupon earth was either that before the fall of the first man and that was wholly Legall or that after the fall and this is wholly Evangelicall Again The State of the Church after the fall is either Internall and perpetuall or Externall and temporall The State of the Church Internall and perpetuall consists in the Union and Communion with Christ as also in the enlightning and guidance of the Spirit Isa. 54.5 Hos. 2.15 19 20. Iob. 6.56 1 Cor. 6 17. Eph. 5.30 1 Cor. 10.17 2 Cor. 11.2 Eph. 3.6 Gal. 3.28 Câ—l 3.15 Hence it is that the Church is one Holy and Invincible The Externall or temporall State of the Church is as well under the Crosse and Persecution as Light and Comfort or refreshing which two changes the Church undergoes here on earth by turns as well under the Old Testament as the New and that either more or lesse For Adam and Eve after their most grievous fall were raised up again by the most sweet promise of the Gospel and after they had begot Cain and Abel and their Sisters they were comforted with this Infancy as it were and first foundation of the Church But no small grief followed hard upon this joy when as Cain slew his brother Abel However this breach was made up again in Seth whose posterity propagated the Church although not without grievous persecution by the race of Cain which had an end put unto it by the delâ—ge in the yeer of the world 1656. From whence the Church was enlarged to the yeer 1757 without any notable persecution which at that time the building of the Tower of Babel brought and hence sprung the division of Languages In the yeer of the world 2023 the Church was contracted into the Posterity of Abraham only And here begin the four hundred and thirty yeers dwelling of the Israelites in Egypt where Abraham Isaac Iacob and Ioseph underwent manifold changes both of prosperity and affliction And their posterity after the death of Ioseph was detained under a most horrid slavery from the yeer of the world 2360 even to yeer 2453 in which the Israelites were brought out of Egypt From which time to the yeer 2493 they had experience of divers blessings and judgements of God in the Wildernesse Now after they were brought into the Land of Canaan which happened in the yeer of the world 2493. Iosuah with very good successe for the six first yeers conquered the Canaanites vanquishing one and thirty Kings After the death of Iosuah to the yeer of the world 2879 the Israâ—lites were vexed with divers slaveries and persecutions and rescued from the same by severall Judges namely Deborah Gedâ—on Samson and Samuel And now the Kingly power being established in the dayes of Saul or yeer 2879 the Church presently in the very beginning thereof suffered persecution from Saul himself After that it underwent divers chanceâ— and changes namely under David and Solomon it exceedingly flourished under Rehoboam it suffered a great losâ—e ten Tribes falling of to Ieroboam By occasion whereof a most sad rent of the Kingdom happened the Church by little and little degenerating in Israel whose ten Tribes under Hoshea in the yeeâ— of the world 3228. were led away into a most grievous and yet continuing captivity as farre as the Col. hi Iberi c. As for the Church remaining in the Kingdom of Iuda it had severall entercourses of deformation as well as reformation of calamities as well as victories unto the yeer 3350. in which began the Babylonian captivity continuing Lxx yeers In the yeer 3419 Cyrus released this captivity giving the Iews free leave to return into their Country and to establish their own Laws and Religion as farre as their own Country did reach But not withstanding this Priviledge of using their own Laws was many wayes interrupted untill the yeer 3527 that is for 107 yeers From which time to the yeer 3781. the Church of the Iews enjoyed happy and Halcyonian dayes under the Persians and in like manner under Alexander the Great But under the Successors of Alexander especially the Kings of Syria they were divers wayes afflicted untill in the yeer of the world 3783 and so downward the Maccabees fought with happy successe for their Religion and possessions From the yeer 3887. Iudea was laid wast and severall wayes oppressed by the Romans and Parthians so that the whole State thereof was exceedingly troubled Let us now come to the estate of the Church of the New Testament which we will divide into four periods The first period is of the Church of the godly Iews in Iudea from the time of Iohn the Baptist to the Councell of Ierusalem that is from the yeer of the world 3948. to the fiftieth yeer of Christ In all which space of time Christ was born Baptism instituted Iohn put to death the twelve Apostles and Lxx. Disciples called by Christ Christ himself suffered the Holy Ghost was powred out upon the Apostles the Apostles were whipped for their bold preaching of the Doctrine of Christ c. The seâ—ond period is of the Church spread over the whole world and contains the calling and conversion of most nations from the 51. yeer of Christ to the beginning of the thousand yeers And this period hath four branches I. Under the Henthâ—n Roman Emperours till Constâ—ntine the Great 's time wherein the Church was propagated under divers Persecutions of which tenne were more notable from the 64. yeer of Christ to the 3â—3 II. Under Christian Emperours from Constantine the Great to Phocas in which time it was adorned with divers priviledgâ—s by Constantine the Great and other godly Princes yet so That notwithstanding it felt great persecutions by the Arians by Iulian by the Persians Sandals Gothâ—â— c. to the yeer of Christ
now it hath as also the Majesty or glory thereof shall appear joyned with an absolute and sincere joy All which are here and there to be found in the places quoted and are unfolded in the following Questions And this is that happy condition and estate of the Church which shall be in this life and shall last for a thousand years And it consisteth of these Parts 1. Of the Resurrection of the Martyrs and of rheir Reign here upon Earth 2. Of the increase of the Church and multitude thereof through the conversion of the Gentiles and Iews 3. Of the setting of the Church at liberty from the persecution of Enemies thereof by the small destruction of them 4. Of the continuall and lasting peace thereof 5. Of the Reformation of the same both in doctrine and life 6. Of the Majesty and great glory thereof 7. Of it 's true and sincere Ioy The fourth Period of the Church of the New Testament is from the end of the Thousand yeares to the last Judgement In which time the estate of the Church shall be very miserable by reason of the War of Gog and Magog unto which Christ shall put an end by his glorious coming to the generall Judgement Revel. 20.3.7 8 9 10. And thus we have described the estate of the Church of the old and new Testament here upon earth The estate of the Church in heaven is of perfect glory everlasting triumph absolute regeneration exact illumination and unspeakable joy And this is the full Doctrine concerning the Estate of the Church which we thus set forth The State of the Church is either On Earth Before the fall of man fully happy After the fall and is either Internall perpetuall and common to all places and times in respect of the Elect in generall Externall temporall and proper and it is either of the Old Testament under Patriarches Iudges Kings Divers kindes of Government after the Babylonian captivity New Testament where are 4 periods 1. Of the Jews to the yeare of Christ 51. 2. Of the Gentiles under Emperours Roman Heathen Christian untill Phocas Popes of Rome Fully exercising their power Suffering some abatement thereof 3. Of Jews and Gentiles for a 1000 yeares 4. Of the same after those 1000 yeares finished In Heaven where is the Beginning of the triumph in the last Judgement Consummation thereof in life Eternall The Affections of this manifold Estate are thus delineated The Estate of the Church is either of One kinde to wit Onely happy On Earth Before the fall For the 1000. yeers now at hand In Heaven Onely unhappy by reason of severall persecutions Already past before these 1000. yeares To come after these 1000. yeares Divers kindes to wit partly happy partly unhappy or temporate and lyable to the enterchange of temporall felicity or calamity Of the Connexion of this Chapter with the former IOHN in his Revelation which he received from God in the yeare of Christ 94. after the Preface chap. 1 to the 9 verse describes seven generall Visions in this order The first Vision is of the seven golden Candlesticks and of so many Starres and it is concerning the present and future estate of the seven Churches in Asia in the 1 2 3 chapters The second Vision is of the Book shut up and signed with seven Seals in the 4 5 6 chapters And it is concerning the estate of the Church of the new Testament after the departure of Iohn to the yeare of Christ 606. The third Vision is of the seven Trumpets in the 8 9 10 11 chapters and it is concerning the state of the Church from the year of Christ 606 to the year 1517. The fourth Vision is of the woman bringing forth a childe and of the Dragon of the Beast and the Lamb in the 12 13 14 chapters And it is partly a description of the Birth of Christ partly a recapitulation and exposition of the second and third Visions and concerning the estate of the Church of the New Testament from the Nativity of Christ to the yeare 1517. The fifth Visiion is of the seven Vials in the 15 and 16 chapters of which the three former are poured forth from the year of Christ 1517 to the year 1625. the four following shall be poured forth from the year 1625 to the year of Christ 1694. in which the 1000 years seem to begin The sixth Vision is partly of the punishments as well those which are peculiarly appointed for the Whore and her worshipyers before the beginning of the 1000 years in the 17 18 19. chapters as also those which shall be inflicted upon all the enemies of the Church Partly of the future happinesse of the Church here upon earrh in the 20 chapter from the 1 uerse to the 7. After the end of those years chap. 20. the 7 and following verses The seventh Vision is of the Heavenly City chap. 21 22. II. The Sum of this Chapter AFter that the Evangelist hath related what happened to the first Beast and the false Prophet and their followers chap. 19. verse 20 21. He tells you now what happened to the Dragon himself For the Mystery of Iniquity being overthrown and due punishments inflicted upon the first Beast and the false Prophet the Angel descends from Heaven and being endowed with great Power he takes order that the Dragon that is Satan should not any more by the ministery of ungodly men stirre up those accustomed troubles in the Church Militant Wherefore there being no place left him any longer for his wonted impostures but bound up in the bottomlesse pit for a thousand years the Nations are not seduced â—y him untill being loosned out of prison he again makes use of his old Engines and Stratagems against the Church Therefore for the space of those whole 1000 years the Church shall enjoy outward peace the Martyrs being raised from the dead and the Nations together with the Jews being converted to the Faith of Christ Now after the end of these thousand years Satan is again let loose and the Church by reason of the Warre of Gog and Magog made sensible of more grievous afflictions then she had suffered in former times At length he being again thrust into the bottomlesse pit together with all his forces and power the Saints shall for ever reign with Christ III. The Analysis of the Chapter ANd that is After that For {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is to be taken transitively here in this sense After that I had seen the Beast and the false Prophet thrown into the Lake burning with Bâ—imstone and the rest slain with the sword of him that sate upon the horse and all birds satisfied with the flesh of them I saw these things which now follow I saw that is In the Spirit or extasie of my minde Compare Revel. 1.10 An Angel A good Spirit a Minister of the Judgements of God such as were in the former Visions Therefore neither Christ nor any Doctor of the Church is
or Dragon and his two companions the Beast and the false-Prophet Day and night Continually without intermission For ever and ever A description of all Eternity 11. And I saw a great white Throne By this Throne a cloud is understood and being termed a great Throne the Universall judgement is figured out and being also called a white one Truth Equity and Justice are thereby signified And one sitting thereon Namely Christ God and Man Now he is said to be seen to sit there that hereby we may be taught That he is prepared and ready to passe judgement From whose face Being both most refâ—lgent and full of austherity The Earth and Heaven fled away That is the fashion of this world passed away and was consumed with fire which went before this Judge and the Creatures the Inhabitants of earth and heaven did all tremble at the sight of him And there was found no place for him By reason of the resplendenâ—y and Majesty of the Judge which no creature could endure without being changed into some other state and condition Therefore there shall be an Universall change of the whole world in that Judgement day 12. And I saw the dead That is Those who had been dead but were now raised and restored unto life Small and great A Dichotomy or division naturally to be understood in regard of quantity morally in regard of quality or dignity So that all must be placed before the Tribunall of Christ Standing before God As expecting his definitive sentence And the Books were opened Books not devised or written by any other then by every one in his own private conscience dictated according to his severall thoughts words and deeds These Books therefore thus written have hitherto been reserved shut up and not taken notice of as it were in some private closet or place of account But now they are opened so that they may be plainly read by every particular man And another book was opened That onely book written by God himself Which is the book of Life That is The secret and hidden Decree of God concerning our Election which there shall in publike be exhibited and made manifest Now it is called The book of Life because therein God hath as it were set down the names of them who through his grace and favour shall become heirs of eternall life Compare Luke 10.20 And the dead were judged A definitive sentence passing upon all acquitting some and condemning others Out of those things which were written in the Book To wit In the books of mens consciences Now these books shall be opened after a severall manner For the books of the Consciences of godly men shall not be so opened that their sinnes shall rise up in judgement against them for in this respect they are still sealed up but they shall be so opened that they may read indeed their sinnes there many and gâ—eat ones but so as they are covered by Christ and the power of them more and more weakened by the Spirit of Christ through repentance and the study of good works Therefore the godly shall reade in their conscience the justice of Christ covering their sinnes and through him bringing forth good works But the condition of the ungodly shall be farre otherwise For they shall read in their consciences their sinnes not pardoned by Christ According to their works Which shall give testimony either of their faith in Christ or else of their impiety and unbeleef 13. And. Tâ—ansitively for After that that is After the sentence of the Judge now passed and published The sea gave up her dead that were in it Bâ—ing drowned or devoured of fiâ—nes And death That is The Fire Aire and Beast of the Earth and Fowls yeelded up their dead which had not been buâ—yed And Hell That is The Grave In these words then is contained partly a description of the generall Resurrection partly a distribution of the bodies of them that were dead into three sorts One of them that were drowned in the Sea Another of those which were not drowned in the Sea but being dead had no buriall as being brought to ashes either by the fire or aire or else devoured by beasts of the earth or by flying fowls A third sort of those who were laid in their graves Gave up their dead By the command and appointment of God Which were in them The very same and not others the same in number And they were judged every man Not any one being excepted According to their works So that no man shall have cause to complain of any injury done unto him 14. And death And for But adversatively Death that is some and indeed most of the dead but not buryed And Hell The Grave which is here put for them that were buryed therein And again not all the buryed are here to be understood but some and indeed most Now by Death and Hell may be understood men deserving both Were cast into the lake of fire That is made subject and slaves to eternall damnation so that the Saints for the time to come need not stand in any danger or fear of them Which is the second Death Or Eternall This Relative Which may either be referred to the word Lake or else may be taken collectively In the former acception the Lake is called the second death that is a signe or Symbol of the second or eternall death In the latter the judgement of condemnation committed to execution is called the second death Now this is called the second death because the bodies and souls of the damned do in very deed dye twice For the body dyeth both when it is separated from the soul and also when being again joyned to the body it is seperated from God And the soul dyeth both when in this life it separateth it self from God by sinne and when after this life it is separated from God by everlasting punishment Lastly This punishment is called Death because it taketh away the life of grace and glory with which if the life of nature be compared it is rather to be called death then life 15. And whosoever was not found And for For a copulative particle for a declarative Finding is here applyed to God by an {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or by attributing of humane actions passions and affections to the unlimited power and unsearchable operations of the Deity Written in the book of Life Both in the former book as well through the love and election of God as in the latter by faith hope and charity Was cast into the lake of fire Through the just judgement of God and by his own default 2. A Logicall-Theologicall Analysis This Chapter is divided into five parts I. THe Description of the Angel Vers. 1. II. The Effects or operations of the Angel that is what the Angel did In part of the 1. Verse 2.3 III. The happy estate of the Church which followed upon what the Angel had effected In part of the 2 3 4 5
the false Prophet who is the great Antichrist being thrust down a little before the beginning of the thousand yeers do endure their punishment There they shall be tormented day and night without intermission for ever and ever that is For all ages so that for the time to come they shall never scape forth again 11. I saw also a great cloud like a great white Throne and Christ the Son of GOD the Judge of the living and dead sitting thereon with great Majesty and prepared to give Judgement From before his face the Earth and the Heaven fled away and there was no place found for them For this earth and this heaven shall passe away at the coming of Christ and all things shall be made new 12. I saw also all the dead small and great standing before God and ready to hear the sentence of the Judge What happens then The books of mens Consciences are opened the counsells of all mortell men and the secrets of their hearts being brought to light Now lest the elect children of God should be disheartned every one by the particular survey of his own book or conscience behold another book is opened for them I mean the Book of Life in which according to the fatherly acceptance of God in Christ their names are written from everlasting These books being thus opened the dâ—ad are judged out of those things which are written in the books according to their works and that after such manner that the works of the Saints are judged out of the book of life which contains the books of their Consciences washed and cleansed with the Blood of Christ But the works of the ungodly are numbred and surveyed and so judged out of the books of their own consciences not cleansed from sins nor purged with the Blood of Christ 13. Hereupon then the Sea gave up its dead which had been concealed in the bosome thereof Death also and the Grave that is The fire ayr and the earth and indeed all the Elements dâ—livered up their dead which having received formerly they had partly consumed partly yet preserved They were therefore all judged and every one in particular none at all excepted and they were judged justly for the judgement was according to every ones works of which their consciences bare them record 14. And this being performed ungodly men Death and Hell that is Men deserving both were cast into that lake of fire that there for ever they might swallow up waters running with fire and there suffer the second death that is by dying the second death never to die 15. For whose name soever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into that lake of fire both by the just Judgement of God and by the heynousnesse of his own deservings V. The Questions arising in this Chapter THe chief Questions of this Chapter are these 1. Whether these thousand yeers severall times here mentioned are alwayes to be understood literally 2. Whether they be already finished 3. What year ought to be put for the beginning of them 4. What is to be understood by the first Resurrection 5. Who are to be understood by Gog and Magog 6. Whether the Martyrs with Christ shall reign here on Earth All which Questions I will bring into this one Whether there shall be any happinesse of the Church here upon earth before the last day and of what kinde it shall be This question I will handle somewhat more largely both by way of confutation and confirmation I will in the first place therefore by certain Classes or ranks of Arguments confirm the truth to be maintained herein After that I will confute the Objections of the adversary part I. The Confirmation of the Truth THere shall be three Classes or ranks of Arguments for the maintaining of this Truth which we comprehend in the following Thesis or Position The happy estate of the Church in this life shall consist of the Resurrection of the Martyrs and their kingdom here on earth of the freedome of the Church from the persecution of the enemies of the Gospel by an utter overthrow of them of a lasting peace which shall arise from thence of the encrease of the Church or the multitude of the believers by the conversion of the Iews and Nations not yet converted of the Reformation of Doctrine or a greater enlightment and life among all estates of men of the Majesty also and great glory of the Church and lastly of the sincere joy thereof Now this happinesse shall begin in that very year wherein it shall come to passe That the kingdom of that great Antichrist shall be destroyed and it shall last for a thousand years The truth hereof we will make good 1. Out of the Context and Coherence of this Chapter 2. Out of other sayings of the Scripture 3. Lastly by Arguments taken from reason and the consent and agreement of some holy and learned men The first Classis of Arguments From the Context of the Chapter we draw these Arguments THe first Argument is taken from the connexion of this Vision with the former which is described chap. 19. verse 19 20 21. For Iohn saith in the first verse of this Chapter And I saw that is Afterwards to wit After I had seen the Beast and the false Prophet cast into the Lake of fire Now lest any one should think that this casting of them in shall be in the end of the world Iohn doth presently adde and the rest were slain with the sword of him that sate on the horse and all the fowls were filled with their flesh From which words it is manifest That it is spoken here concerning the destruction of Antichrist and his followers which shall not happen in the last and Universall Judgement but shall be a particular Judgement by it self which is thus demonstrated The coming of Christ to the last Judgement shall at length happen after the Warre of Gog and Magog which is a distinct War from that which is described chap. 19. ver. 19. For the Warre of Gog shall be against the Saints having now enjoyed a long-lasting Peace But the Warre of Antichrist shall be against the Saints being now brought almost to nothing by some great persecution Again in this 20â—h Chap. vers. 10. it is said That the Devill should be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone after the Warre of Gog where the Beast and the false prophet * WAS which words have a plain respect to those chap. 19. ver. 20. These both the Beast and the false prophet were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with Brimstone The second Argument is from the Connexion of this Vision with the following which is set down in the 21 Chapter For saith Iohn in the first verse thereof After that I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth that is The thousand yeers being finished the Warre of Gog and Magog being ended and the execution of the last Judgement of which in the
is mean't of the faith in Christ without which no man's heart is cleansed The tenth place is Deut. 32. to the 44. verse Here from the first verse to the 40. divers passages occurre concerning the Conversion of the Iews as Heurnius doth learnedly expound them Then from the 40. verse to the 44. is the prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles For the Apostle Rom. 15.10 alleageth the first part of the 43. verse to this purpose Now here it is prophesied of the destruction of the enemies of the Church and of the spilling of their bloud in fight Which destruction hath not happened yet as is plain by this Syllogisme If the Destruction here prophesied of by Moses agrees with that which is prophesied of Revel. 19. vers. 20.21 it hath not yet happened out but is to come But the Antecedent is true Therefore also the Consequent The Assumption is made good by the comparing of these two places And here it shall not be amisse in brief to call into our memory how many dâ—structions of the enemies of the Church after the Babylonian captivity we meet withall in the Prophets And they are in number three The first Destruction is of the enemies of the Church of the Iews in the time of the Maccabees Dan. 11.34 35. The second Destruction is of the enemies of the Church of the Gentiles Dan. 11.34 35. Revel. 19. vers. 20 21. The third Destruction is of the enemies of the Church of both Gentiles and Iews a little before the end of the world Revel. 20.4 The eleventh place is Nehem. 1.8 9. Here the promise of God Deut. 30.3 4. a little before explained is repeated and is applyed to the bringing back of the two tribes from the Babylonian captivity which was a type of the deliverance of them all which is yet to come For God promised the twelve Tribes that he would gather them together whither soever they were scattered among divers Nations although they were driven to the utmost part of Heaven that is into the most remote Countreys Which cannot be interpreted of the Babylonian captivity alone For neither then were all the Tribes brought back neither was their bringing back from the remotest Lands The twelfth place is Psal. 22.27 28. All the ends of the earth shall remember and be converted unto the Lord And all the kindreds of the Nations shall bow down themselves before him Compare Psal. 86.9 All Nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee O Lord and shall glorifie thy name So Psal. 117.1 O praise the Lord all ye Nations praise him all ye people Let us search through the Monuments of Hictories and then let us examine whether this hath been or no We shall finde indeed in some new found Lands detested in ours and our fathers memory that the works of the Conversion of the Nations hath had some beginning and small progresse But in many parts of the East to this day we shall finde so little progresse that not so much as a beginning thereof will anywhere yet appear The thirteenth place is the whole 97. Psalm This Psalm containeth a Prophesie of the Kingdom of Christ in his Church of the New Testament as may be gathered out of the 7. verse the latter part of which the Apostle Heb. 1.6 alleageth concerning Christ Again Many Islands are bid to rejoyce which cannot be accommodated to the Church of the Old Testament Whence by the word Sion verse 8. the Church of the New Testament is to be understood as almost every where in Isaiah Moreover in the 6. verse it is said All the peâ—ple see his glory Lastly the judgements of God upon his enemies and the Ioy of the Churâ—h which both are here described have not as yet been accomplishâ—d The fourteenth place is Psal. 110. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike thorow Kings in the day of his wrath He shall judge among the hâ—athen he shall fill the places with dead bodies He shall wound the head over many Countries That these things are not yet come to passe will appear to any one that will take into his consideration History and Experience But that is especially to be taken notice of which he speaks concerning the Head over many Countreys For without douâ—t it is to be understood concerning that Great Antichrist whom many Countries acknowledge for the HEAD of the Church The fifteenth place is Isai. 2.1 2 3 4. Here is mention made of the last times and four things are prophesied of which then shall happen out 1. The Mountain of God shall be placed on the top of the Mountains 2. All Nations shall flow in unto it 3. The Law shall come out of Sion 4. They shall beat their Swords into Plough-shares c. Nation shall not lift up a sword against Nation c. Of these the first and the third are fulfilled The second will be brought to passe more and more every day The fourth is not yet accomplished as experience hath hitherto taught us and doth yet teach us The 16. place is Isai. 11.10 11 12. Two things are here prophesied of 1. The Conversion of the Gentiles a little after the first coming of Christ by the preaching of the Gospel Verse the tenth For it shall come to passe at that time of the coming of Christ of whom is the foregoing Prophesie from the beginning of the Chapter hitherto that the Nations shall seek unto the roote of Jesse 2. The Conversion of the Iews and Gentiles together Verse 11 12. See Hâ—urnius upon this place Compare this Prophesie with the sixteenth Verse of this Chapter and with the following twelfth Chapter The 17 place is Isai. 24.23 Where there is foretold that the Lord shall reign gloriously in the mount of Sion and in the City of Ierusalem and in that manner That the Moon and Sun shall be covered with shame at this glory of the Kingdom of God in his Church so great shall be the glory and splendor thereof Now this so great glory hath not as yet been seen either in the Church of the Old or New Testament Therefore in it 's due time it shall be seen The 18 place is Isai. 25. from the 1 to the 13 verse Here is contained a Prophesie concerning the Church of the New Testament as it appears by the comparing of the 8 verse with Rev. 7.17 and chap. 21.4 as also by comparing the 2 verse and the 1â— with Revel. 16.19 c. and chap. 18. ver. 2.10.18.19 Now here it is prophesied concerning the deliverance of the Church from the persecution of enemies ver. 3 4 5. concerning the destruction of the enemies thereof vers. 10 11. and namely the destruction of the City of Rome ver. 2 and 12. Lastly concerning the joy of the Church being now delivered from them that persecuted her vers. 1.6 7 8 9. And here you must take notice That by Moab or the Moabites the enemies of the Church of the New Testament are
been Indeed Satan was bound at that time but not in that manner and measure as he shall be bound for the thousand years Again by Nations in the place quoted we must understand not the Gentiles onely but also the Iews who truely are yet seduced as also the Indians Turks and others XI Object Is from Revel. 20.1 Where it is said That the Angel which bound Satan came down from Heaven By this Angel therefore we must understand Christ who came down from Heaven Ioh 3.13 Hence we may conclude That these thousand years began about the time of Christs Birth For at that time the Graeâ—es ceased from given Answers Whereupon Apollo being enquired of by Augustus Caesar answered thus Me puer Ebraeus Divos Deus ipse gubernans Codere sede juber tristemque redire sub Orcum Ergo dehine aris tacitus discedito nostris The Hebrew Child himself a God that rules the gods Bids me give place and back unto sad Hell return Silent therefore depart from hence mine Altars leave See the devill himself confesseth That he is bound from this time Answ. 1. As in the former Visions good Angels were the executioners of Gods Judgements so it is likely that a created Angel was used also in this Vision 2. Christ in the 3 of Iohn is said to have come down from Heaven that is To have assumed the humane Nature But the Angel in this place who hath the key of the bottomlesse pit came down from Heaven by a locall motion that he might binde the Devill for a thousand years after the downfall of Antichrist 3. It is true the devill was bound at the time of the Nativity of Christ but not after that manner as is here declared Look before in the Analysis For there are many measures and degrees whereby the devill is bound XII Object Is this This Interpretation concerning the Resurrection of the Martyrs seems to oppose the Article of our Faith I beleeve the Resurrection of the flesh For so a double Resurressiion of the flesh is maintained contrary to the Apostolique Faith Answ. That Article speaketh of the finall and universall Resurrection which shall be in the last day and in which all the dead shall rise again Now this Resurrection is not contradicted or denyed by the Resurrection of the Martyrs which is to go before it no more then by the Resurrection of the Saints who rose again when Christ breathed forth his Spirit hanging upon the Crosse Matth. 27.50 51 52. XIII Object Is taken out of Revel. 20.6 Where all and only they are proclaimed blessed and freed from the second death who have their part in the first Resurrection Whence it follows That either there shall be no Resurrection after the first or that none in the second Resurrection shall be blessed both which are absurd Answ. 1. Nay the latter is onely absurd being granted from the antecedent or foregoing 2. The antecedent is false neither is it in the Text For it is not said there They onely are happy Now that they are in particulars said to be blessed that is in respect of their Prerogative in that they are blessed above others of the faithfull as being to reigne 1000 years with Christ before the last day And this is intended by the word Holy being added whereby is signified that they should be separated from the other faithfull believers and set aside for this happinesse in that they are to rise again to reign with Christ before them 3. Thirdly this blessednesse consists of three parts the first of which being considered apart suits also with the other believers But as it is joyned with the other two parts it cannot be expressed but of the Martyrs only as it will appear to any one that will examine the Context of the 6 verse XIV Object Is taken out of Revel. 20.6 Whence it is gathered That the first Resurrection hath opposed to it the first death Therefore by the first Resurrection the second Life or living again of the soul from the death of sin by Faith and Repentance or in a word Regeneration is to be understood Certainly all and onely the truely regenerate are delivered from the second or eternall death and certainly obtain heavenly happinesse Whence it may be sufficiently proved That the first Resurrection is not particular or bodily Answ. The first Resurrection as it is spoken of in this place is not opposed to the first death of which there is here no mention but it is opposed to the second Resurrection as appears out of these words But the rest of the dead lived not again untill the thousand yeers were finished This is the first Resurrection XV Object Is this The first Resurrection is not a bodily Resurrection because if it be bodily it is not the first For the Resurrection of others namely of those Saints who rose again while Christ hung on the Crosse went before it Answ. That Resurrection of the Martyrs is called the first by way of Excellence by reason also of the multitude of them in respect of which that Resurrection of the Saints comes not within reckoning of by reason of the fewnesse For although many bodies of the Saints are said then to have risen yet in regard of the Martyrs they were but few as which came forth of the Graves onely which were neer unto Hierusalem XVI Object It is a usuall Axiome in the School of Divines That the first Resurrection is the living again of the Souls from the death of sin by faith and repentance which otherwise is called Regeneration and it is opposed to the first death which is a defection and a casting a way of the soul from God But the second Resurrection shall be the raising of the bodies to be united to the souls to eternall life to which the second death is opposed which shall be the casting a way of the damned to eternall torments Ans. Resurrection is tearmed to be the First ambiguously For either it is opposed to the first death and so it is spirituall and is proper to all believers or it is opposed to the second Resurrection and so it is corporeall and of the Martyrs onely XVII Object The thousand years of Satans binding contain an obscure mystery and hidden from us In vain therefore and too boldly we labour in so scrupulous an uniting thereof Ans. 1. There are many Mysteries in the Revelation which in successe of time receive light more and more 2. We dislike all boldnesse but we commend holy diligence and industry XVIII Object From the end of Satans binding the Epocha is to be collected of the thousand years in the Revelation Now the term of his binding expired in the year of Christ 1073. wherein * Gregory the 7 that devillish Juggler and Cozener possessing himself of the Popedome confounded Heaven and earth together and filling the Christian world with Wars and slaughters declared himself to be a singular instrument of Satan let loose from his bonds Hence
years which cannot be understood of eternall life For the thousand years of Satans binding and of the kingdom of the Saints with Christ are the same as we have formerly proved XXI Object The War which Satan after his thousand appointed years being let loose hath made by Gog and Magog that is by the Turk * that Eastern Antichrist against the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City that is The Christian Church for 500 years and more with great successe even unto this day took it's beginning from the Holy Warre first raised by Gregory the 7 Pope of Rome by them who wore the Signe of the Crosse the end of which indeed shall not be before the last Judgement wherein the Beast with the false Prophet shall at length be cast into the Lake of fire And the Catastrophe or issue shall prove lamentable to all the enemies of the Church because the fire shall devour them Answ. This idle Glosse or Exposition may be confuted out of what I have said in the Analysis or unfolding of this Chapter and in answer to the 9 Objection This in brief The Beast with the false Prophet is thrown into the Lake of fire before those thousand years and those thousand yeers being finished the Warre of Gog begins Compare Revel. 19.20 with 20 7. Again Gog and Magog do not signifie the Turke But by this manner of speaking are figured out enemies of all kindes who by their incursions annoy or trouble the Church as before we have made it plain XXIII Object In every vision except the first the description of the last Judgement is set down in the Revelation more obscurely indeed in the former but in the latter more clearly because all the visions are terminated in the end of the world that the godly being injured may expect the day of their deliverance and occasion of security may quite be taken away from the mockers Wherefore it makes nothing which they say that Revel. 19.21 The peculiar destruction of Antichrist is described which shall not be in the last judgement but before those thousand years Answ. 1. The Antecedent is denyed For in the second Vision which ends with the 6. chapter a description of the last judgement is not set down but some particular judgement to be executed about that time which figures out the last judgement 2. The Text of Revel. 19. and the last manifestly argueth that that vision is not terminated with the last judgement 3. If however in every vision except the first a description of the last judgement were set down yet it would not be otherwise then by interruption or breaking of the present discourse and so no essentiall part of the matter in hand and consequently no way contradict or weaken this our opinion XXIV Object The 20 Chapter of the Revelation containeth a Vision which is the summe of all the foregoing visions and a succinct and brief iteration of the whole prophesie so often repeated which is divided into three parts In the first is the blessed state of the Church for a good space of time after the first coming of Christ which is expressed in the first Seal In the second are described the painfull labours and calamities wherewith the Church shall afterwards wrestle Of which in the third and fourth Seals and in the third fourth fifth and sixth Trumpets In the third is set down the joyfull deliverance thereof and the destruction of her adversaries with the end and Consummation of all as before in the sixth Seal and the seventh Trumpet and seventh Viall But especially in this Vision the punishment of the Devill himself is expressed when as in the former the destruction of his Ministers onely and his followers was set forth Hence therefore we may perceive that they are wide the whole Heaven as they say who out of this Chapter do erect I know not what happynesse of the Church which is yet to come here on earth for a thousand years Answ. This whole distribution or disposition of the Revelation and namely of the 20 Chapter which is here proposed is absurd and manifestly obscures the Revelation See what we have formerly discoursed up and down and namely the 1. Sect. Of the connexion of this 20 Chapter with the whole Systeme or entire body of the Revelation Briefly let this Maxime be observed The Divine Revelation from the departure of Iohn to the end of the world distinctly figureth out the State of the Church and the Ages thereof by Seâ—ls Trumpets Vialls and the following visions So that all these succeed one another in a most beautifull order and not one and the same thing is represented by divers visions For it doth not suite with that Majestique manner of teaching which the Holy Ghost observeth that in one and the same Prophesie he should propose so many visions of one and the same thing XXV Object No where in Scripture iâ— there any mention of these thousand years but in this place onely Therefore it is very likely That these thousand years signifie meerly a Great time so that a certain number is put for an uncertain Answ. 1. Here is no consequence It is but once mentioned in Scriptures Therefore it must not be taken litterally For also she Lxx. weeks of Daniel are but once mentioned and yet that number Lxx. is litterally expounded so that it is taken for a certain finite and determined number 2. This phrase {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the thousand years is severall times repeated in this place Which repetition is not without some cause 3. From many testimonies of Scripture a a little before propounded and expounded from divers Arguments recited in the first Classis or distribution and compared with them places of Scripture it manifestly appears That the happy state of the Church for these thousand years is described in this Chapter XXVI Object The number of a thousand is the number of perfection Therefore these thousand years in this place do denote the fulnesse of time but are not to be taken literally Answ. 1. This is an Argument from a particular A thousand sometimes denotes perfection Therefore in this place 2. That the letter is here to be retained it is more then abundantly already proved XXVII Object The division of the Church into Militant and Triumphant opposeth this opinion of the future happinesse of the Church here on earth for a thousand years where by the Militant Church is understood that part thereof which in this life is subject to the Crosse and Persecution By the Triumphant iâ— meant the whole Church in as much as after this life it shall reign with Christ in Heaven Answ. 1. The Warfare of the Church is not to be restrained to the persecution to which now it is subject but it is to be extended to the Spirituall combate and wrestling which while it lives here it hath triall of from the lusts of the flesh Although therefore for these thousand years it shall have
no Warfare under the Banner of the Crosse yet the Spirit will have need to strive and War against the Flesh 2. The Triumph of the Church is either in part or totall particular or universall begun or consummate For oftentimes it happeneth That we triumph in this life over the flesh the world and the devill Neither are we therefore said to be in the Triumphant Church as which is so called from her totall universall and consummate Triumph So although the Church for a thousand years have some kinde of Triumph here on earth yet it shall not be sincere and perpetuall and therefore by many degrees inferiour to that Triumph from whence the Church in the life to come is called Triumphant XXVIII Object The maintainers and Patrons of this opinion do Iudaizâ— that is follow the Jewish Traditions therefore to be found fault with Answ. Therefore also the Scripture doth Iudaizâ— See the Places a little before brought out of the Scripture Moreover we generally entertain too mean a conceit of the conversion of the Iews because being over-much addicted and carried away with Scholasticall trifles we weigh not at all the Mysteries which are propounded in the Scriptures XXIX Object The Church as long as it is here on earth is under the Crosse Therefore no such happinesse thereof can be expected as may last for a thousand years Answ. The Antecedent is a vulgar Axiome or Position but not proved neither indeed is it to be proved as appears by what we have urged in severall places of this our Discourse XXX Object These thousand years begin in the year 1517. For then began Antichrist to be revealed Then also were the two Witnesses raised Finally from that time the light of the Gospel hath been spread abroad far and wide and Satan bound up more and more Answ. The Proeme or Prologue is confounded with the principall Act as it will appear if the History of that time be compared with Revel. 20 and our Exposition XXXI Object It is the common opinion of Divines That the last Judgement is even at the door That opinion then of a thousand years is dangerous because it makes people secure Answ. 1. It is not the opinion of all Divines 2. This supposition is erroneous And therefore I may use that saying * Not to enstave our selves to suppositions 3. No place of Scripture teacheth us that the last Judgement is at hand Nay some places of Scripture teach quite the contrary Hereto belongs what Cotterius saith upon the 20 chap. of the Revel. To the year of Christ 1517 adde 1000 so you shall make 2517 at which time at length Satan shall the second time draw the Nations into abominable heresies Neither is there any reason why this should trouble any ones minde as if we put off the day too long For I demand out of what place of Scripture we have search it That this day shall be within these two or three Ages Surely we have but perswaded our selves so because we would have it so But I will beleeve the Revelation which verily not in one place puts the last day off for a thousand years In the 16 chap. you have Vialls the first of which leaves behinde it the Epocha of the year 1517 as not finished And these Vialls require some Ages for their pouring out and not fewer then tenne In which words of Cotterius I do mightily approve of it that he weakens that vulgar opinion concerning the end of the world That it is at hand But what is there said concerning the Epocha or beginning of our account of 1000 years as also of the Vialls may be confuted out of what hath gone before It is an evill kinde of teaching either by way of exhorting or dehorting which is grounded upon a ruinous and false foundation as this which is drawn from the day of the last Judgement as if it were even at the door Neither indeed do we reade That the Apostles ever argued in this manner XXXII Object This Opinion of the thousand years as it is here explained doth as it were lâ—ade us by the hand to the day of the last Judgement yet notwithstanding Christ in the 13 of Mark v. 32. affirms That of that day and that hour no man knoweth 〈◊〉 not the Angels which are in Heaven neither the Son himself but the Father onely And Act. 1.7 It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father hath put in his own power Answ. 1. No man can exactly set down or define the day of the last Judgement For although by comparing Daniel and the Revelation it may appear That the last day shall not come before the 2694 yeer of Christ yet by no means or way possible can it be found out in what year after this Period or set time it shall come 2. What God hath reserved to himself alone we cannot nor ought not to search after or determine But this Period of 2694 years he hath expressed in his Word XXXIII Object It is absurd to thinke that the Martyrs shall rise again to this mortall life for this will be but an ignoble change and for the worse as it is in the Proverbe gold for brasse by reason that the souls of the Martyrs do now reign in Heaven and their bodies rest in the earth free from their labours Now if they rise again to this mortall life they must endure the enterchange or vicissitude of times as of day and night Sommer and Winter and must be made subject to the necessity of eating drinking and the like Answ. 1. Lazarus and those Saints who rose again at the time of Christ's Passion were brought again after long absence here from life eternall into this mortall life notwithstanding they lost not their happinesse hereby 2. The state of the Martyrs shall consist of a happy Kingdom in this life which shall not any way be discommodated by those things which formerly are objected as we see the like things no way hindered Adam in the state of his innocency from the full enjoying of perfect happinesse XXXIV Object Christ in the end of the world shall burn up the â—ares therefore still in the Militant Church there sâ—â—ll be the bad mingled with the good which is to be denyed in so happie a condition of the Church for these thousand years Answ. Nay rather not be denied For neither shall the men who for all that time shall live on earth be so blessed that either they themselves shall be voyd of sinnes or seperated from the company of sinners It shall not be so There shall be a great difference between the happinesse of these thousand years and that of everlasting life The godly men then except the Martyrs for the whole space of these thousand years shall be subject both to sin and death and shall have the wicked intermix't with them But there shall be no such matter in the life Eternall XXXV Object The Church is sufficiently reformed Therefore no
other reformation ought to be expected The Antecedent may be proved from hence because the Doctrine of the Fundamentalls of our Salvation is proposed so that it cannot be done more cleerly or with greater light Answ. The great Reformation which we declare shall come to passe shall concerne matter of Life as well as Doctrine As for matter of Doctrine the foundation thereof shall remain But as for those infinite contentions whereby the Body of Christ is torn in pieces an end shall be put unto them Again many places of Scripture whose expositions have hitherto troubled the most learned men shall more cleerly and better be understood As for matter of life what should I say The matter it selfe speaks loud enough that in the whole course of our lives as good and as great as we are we have little or no Divinity at all There is great need therefore of a Reformation XXXVI Object It was an ancient Distinction that the kingdome of God is either of Power Grace or Glery But this Distinction is taken away by this Millenary so much pleaded for because it cannot be referred either to the Kingdom of Grace or to the Kingdome of Glory Answ. It belongs to the Kingdome of Grace which doth consist of divers degrees Neither is this opinion any way prejudiced because in the former discourse I have sometimes made mention of glory and Majesty as part of the happinesse of this Millenary For this glory is only inchoative or in it's beginning and shall be broken off by the War of Gog and Magog But the Glory of the Life Eternall is perfect and never at all to be interrupted V. The Doctrines arising out of this Chapter 1. According to the Order of the Heads in the Catechisms I. THe XI and XII Articles of the Creed concerning the resurrection of the flesh as also concerning the last Iudgement and eternall life are treated of II. The first and third precepts of the Decalogue or Tenne Commandments are here illustrated in the 4 verse where mention is made of Godly Confessors who worshipped not the Image of the Beast III. The second and sixth Petitions of the Lords Prayer may be explained out of this Chapter 2. According to the Order of Common-places This Chapter makes mention of Gods Providence of Angels of Predestination of the Church and it 's enemies of Martyrdome of the Resurrection of the flesh of the last Iudgement of Life and Death Eternall 3. Doctrines out of the severall Verses Vers. 1. 1. God instructeth men sometimes and teacheth them extraordinarily by Visions as also by divine Extasies or Raptures 2. The Angels are ministring Spritis who receive their commands at God's hands 3. Good Angels are endowed with great power and strength Vers. 2. 1. Good Angels have power over evill Angels or Spirits 2. The Devill is stronge and crafty as being both a Dragon and a Serpent 3. The onely and continuall work of the Devill is to calumniate and falsly accuse both God and Man and to endeavour the hinderance of the Glory of the one and the Salvation of the other 4. The Militant Church hath severall and differing times here on earth namely both of oppression and refreshment after the divers degrees thereof according to the dispensation and good pleasure of God Vers. 3. 1. The Devill is bound and tyed up by the reines of God's Providence 2. The Devill is the author of the generall seduction of mankinde 3. Warres shall cease for a thousand years 4. The Warre which shall begin after these thousand yeers shall not last long Vers. 4. 1. Christ is a Iudge appointed by God to whom the holy Angels are joyned as Assessors or inferiour Iudges 2. The Professors of the Gospel are hated in the sight of the world 3. Constancy is required in the Profession of the Truth 4. They are Idolators who worship Antichrist and follow his doctrine 5 The Martyrs shall reign with Christ for a thousand years in the Militant Church Vers. 5. 1. The generall resurrection shall be in the end of the world 2. The first resurrection and particular of the Martyrs is the proeme unto the second or universall resurrection Vers. 6. 1. As the children of God in this life have one above another prerogatives of gifts works and sufferings so shall they also have prerogatives of blessings both in this life and in that also which shall be hereafter 2. The common happpnesse of the godly among other things consists in this that the second death hath no power over them 3. We must certainly resolve that there is a second or eternall Death 4. Though all Christians are Kings and Priests yet in a morâ— speciall manner the Martyrs raised at the beginning of these thousand years shall be Kings and Priests in the Militant Church Vers. 7. 1. The happynesse of the Church which shall continue for theâ—â—thousand years must not be confounded withâ— or mistaken for the happynesse of life eternall 2. Satan can do nothing except by Gods leave he be let loose out of his prison 3. God alone can restrain Satan as if he had him shut up in some prison Vers. 8. 1. Satan when soever he gains power playes over his old pranks again 2. Satan is delighted with the shedding of mans bloud especially of the Godly and therefore useth to seduce and entice men to Warre 3. Whatsoever is said in the Old Testament of Gog and Magog is to be understood partly literally partly typically 4. The Enemies of the Church are in number many Vers. 9. 1. Men seduced by the Devill set slip no occasion so watchfull herein they are of persecuting the Godly 2. The Churâ—h is the beloved City of God 3. It is the duty of Christians continually to be exercised in Christ's warfare 4. God executes wonderfull judgements against the enemies of his Church Vers. 10. 1. The Devill and his Instruments are cast into Hell and shall be tormented there for ever 2. Eternity is nothing else then a continuation of Age to Age for ever 3. Hell is a place full of horrour Vers. 11. 1. The Mâ—jesty of Christ coming to Iudgement shall be very great 2. Heaven and Earth in the day of the last Judgement shall passe away in respect of the fashion of this world Vers. 12. and 13. 1. The last resurrection shall be universall 2. Men in the last Judgement shall be judged according to their works 3. The Conscience of a man is like a book in which all his thoughts words and deeds are as it were set down 4. The book of life or Predestination shall be opened in the last Judgement for then shall it appear plainly who are the Elect and who the reprobate who have truely beleeved in Christ who hypocritically who have truely worshipped God who according to appearance onely 5. The last Judgement shall be universall infallible and just Vniversall because it shall be of the dead and living of great and small Infallible because God is all-knowing and hath
his austâ—rity of life his suffering for the Truth and his preparing a way to reformation but how the Baptist restored all things he tells them not neither can those words as I conceive bee propâ—rly uâ—derstood of him nor yet those of the Prophet Malachy that Elias the Prophet foâ— the turning of the hearts of men each to other and all to God shal be sent before the comming of the great and dreadfull day of the Lord where by the day of the first comming of our Lord in the flesh cannot well be meaâ—t in as much as that was rathâ—r good and gracious then great and dreadfull It should seeme then that either Elias himself or some other great Heroical spuiâ— matchable to him â—s yet to bee sent for the accomplishing of this grâ—at businesse in the restoring of all things I am sure Alstedius a famous professour aâ—Herborne is of that opinion c. ut supra Thus Doctor Hakewill providentiÌ„ae divinae exâ—urius {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Doctor Twisse in his Preface to Mr. Medes Book intituled The Apostasie of the latter times THe beginning of my acquaintance with Master Mede was occasioned by a rumour spread of his opinion concerning the glorious kingdome of Christ here on earth which many hundred yeares agoe was cried downe as the errour of the Millenaries and iâ— seemed wondrous strange to us that such an opinion should after so many hundred yeares bee revived and that in so strange a manner as now we finde both amongst us and amongst out-landish Divines Neverthelesse my selfe being firmely set upon studies of another nature I had no great edge so much as to hearken to it much lesse to take it into consideration But a friend in the country sometimes urged mee to write to an acquaintance in London and to enquire of Master Mede whether he were of the same opinion with Piscator and Alstedius concerning the first resurrection and the glorious kingdome of Christ And hereupon shortly after word was sent me that hee did agree with Piscator in this that some shall rise a thousand yeares before others but he differed from him in this that Piscator thought this reigne oâ—Christ should bee in heaven but I said Master Mede agree rather with Alstedius and conceive that the thousand yeares reigne of Christ shall bee on earth yet herein he differed from Alstedius that whereas Alstedius was of opinion that the thousand yeares reigne of Christ should be after the day of judgement Master Medes opinion was that it should be in et durante die judicij in and during the day of judgement which day of judgement should continue a thousand yeares beginning with the ruine of Antichrist and ending with the destrâ—ction of Gog and Magog When I heard this my spirit was stirred up in mee to lay aside for a while my ordinarie studies and to take this into consideration and I prayed Master Mede to give me leave to propose my reasons against this opinion of his And the truth is the improbability of it seemed very pregnant unto naturall reason and divers arguments that way offered themselvs which seemed to be of very diffâ—cult if at all possible solution and over and above it seemed very contradictious to divers plaine passages of holy Scripture Mr. Mede very readily entertained the motion and prescribed me a time after which he should bee at leisure for me and in a letter after this in his familiar manner asked me saying when come your Quaerios I accepted his courteous answer and sent up unto him first and last twelve arguments against that opinion of his and at the first I sent him with an answer devised by my selfe to nine of them for so I had promised him namely that I would bethinke my wits of what possibly might bee said in the solution of them according to the straightâ—esse of my invention leaving it to him to approve or correct or adde as he thought good And whereas I could devise nothing at all in answer to my tenth argument he sent me a large answer thereunto in three sides of a sheet of paper whereby I well perceived that my best arguments had been known to him and examined before I devised them After this I came acquainted with maâ—y discourses upon the same argument one printed at Hanow in Germani de die novissimo of the last day a few onely were printed two copies and no more were brought into England Master Med bought them both and sent me one of them to copy it out which we did After this no lesse then seven manu-scripts were sent me from one Divine treating of this and other mysteries Now here I cannot but confesse my corruption for I received them by way of a bribe and indeed I was to doe him a favour and I dealt plainely with him and told him I would not sell my favours Gratis I would be well payed for them And therefore whereas I heard hee had strange nâ—â—ions upon the Revelation and touching the mysteries of the first resurrection and Christs Kingdome I looked to bee fee'd with the communication of them with promise to returne them safely after I had suck't the hony out of them though he had never a whit the lesse for that such is the nature of spirituall commodities The good man sent me word that such bribs should never make me rich but I returned answer that they could make me the more rich then the enjoying of all the treasures of Aeâ—hopia and the hill Amara to boote And here I found rich mines indeâ—d even aâ—l the mysteries belonging to Christs glorious Kingdome set downe a part by wayd question and a solemne resolution thereon with proofes adjoyned out of the holy Scripture Since tâ—at I have met with divers choice pieces of the same argument some prosecuting a few parts thereof onely and others more So farre Doctor Twisse Sâ—mi Pelagianorum bujus seculi acenimus inpugnâ—tor Master Mede of Cambridge Commena tionum Apocalypticarum Part. II. pag. 276. et seqq IDadeo proximi post Apostoloâ— c. This opinion was so approved by the Christians in the age next to the Apostles that Iustiâ—e Martyr doth witnesse that not onely himselfe but the Christian of that time in all respects Orthodox did with a joynt and unanimous consent beleive it Which opinion notwithstanding of the fiâ—st Christians afterward deformed with some additions or as I conceive amisse understood posterity did after an age or two reject Yet so farre did the heate of this contention encrease which deservedly you may wonder at and grieve for before it could be composed that they who could â—ot otherwise get free from the power of the adverse opinion established by the Revelatiâ—n would rather call in question the authority of that divine Prophecy confirmed by all the schollers of the Apostles and their next successours and openly and boldly slight it then yeeld to this opinion till at length happening upon some other likely