of Gods indignation with misery unconceivable but if they would wisely provide for the body which they chiefly seem to regard they should lobour to get into a capacity of the blessed New Jerusalem state with all the said Saints that will produce a speedy return for the time draws neer of the happiness of the whole man Soul and Body present or speedy possession is a great motive in earthly purchases but much better is this and that for a long enjoyment of 1000 years with Christ and his Saints c. which will also be perfected in Eternity ordinarily mens hopes for body and soul together is not till the last Trumpet but Christ that is thebest Teacher hath evidently shewed the Bodies of all that sleep in him when he comes at the first Resurrection will in their order be united with their Souls for that happy state 1000 years before if worldly men were sure the present state of things would continue but half 1000 years how would they be encouraged to lay out for Purchases for that time but when there seems to be good reasons that men may not groundedly hope it may continue the twentieth part of 500 years how wary have they cause to be in laying out their Treasure in such a shaking tottering fading World unto which the said New Jerusalem will suddenly succeed in that world to come whereof we speak If men be born again by sound Regeneration spiritually then they shall rise from the dead with the Saints bodily a thousand years before the rest of the dead Rev. 20.5 which is like to prove a speedy possession incomparably above all worldly enjoyments in the best way they can be had here as we showed before in many particulars but by the way which bad men love pursue or by Gods long sufference enjoy the world it were better not to have had a being in this world than so to have had it without Repentance for the abuse of what they have had therein for all that such persons find in it is the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes the pride of life the matter of their present sin and the cause of their future misery and now this world of it self is most vanishing standing upon its last leggs as we say and though that deluding old Harlot like Jesabel or old a little before her death paints her self to hide her wrinkled face and gastly countenance and adorns her self in gorgeous Attire yet is she for very age ready to give up the ghost and leave all her Paramors like old Mystery Babylon the Mother of Harlots to make them crye out there Alas alas alas alas when all is lost and destroyed ch 18. Oh then for a Saints part in the New Jerusalem state for so excellent long secured happiness which will end in eternal blessedness what would such men give for it if it could be then had and they had withal to purchase it If men would befriend their bodies what good policie would it prove to get them befriended there and take advise speedily in that case when God begins to shake not the earth only but the Heavens also the Scripture tells us that he that ought to be the desire of all Nations is about to come and are there not great shakings of both at this present time it seems from Script very probable that that next great shaking fit of the world is not far off described Esa 2.17 to the end with Rev. 16. Dan. 12.1 will shake most impenitent unreformed sinners from off the worlds stage into the bottomless pit to bear their Master company whose servants so they are for that shaking Earthquake will be such as never was mighty an Earthquake and so great Rev. 16.18 and such a time of Trouble as men never saw Dan. 12.1 I point out these things only I cannot now press them saving by my Prayers that God would set them home for good that poor sinners may now at last be plucked like sire brands out of the fire And let all sorts consider now they use the world at present though they abuse it not as some sensual bruitish persons wallowing in grosly notorious courses of licenciousness hardning and priding themselves in their gross impieties yet what do they with their enjoyments all that men have in the best way are Talents that God will have account of how will the great tryal be when Christ shall Judg at last in as much as ye have not done it to the least of my Disciples you have not done it unto me Mat. 25. go therefore ye cursed c. If men would take off every yoak and comfort the distressed feed the hungry cloath the naked if less was spent in vanity more bestowed on designs to promote works of piety and charity men would make better accounts than it is to be feared most rich and great men will then do who if they pervert not their power and wealth to hinder good and promote evil yet will be condemned an guilty in Christs day for not hindering evil and not promoting good every Commandment of God hath a positive scope but otherwise let such look to have all pride and hautiness of men in honour in wealth in any worldly abundance to be humbled and then driven from their Places and Possessions or perish with them when their perpetueties here will utterly end their worldly honour will vanish so far as they have not honored God therewith their great and costly buildings will tumble down upon their heads or otherwise be destroyed or burnt up and then they shall leave all their Treasure buried for ever in the worlds sudden ruines and neither they nor theirs have any good of those things that they would not suffer others to have good of before Esa 2.17 c. and then will be no time to do it when those things shall be no longer theirs nor any left to confer them upon within their reach and yet must unavoidably be called to an account for them and condemned without early reformation and our Saviour tells he comes as a thief in the night and his coming will be as a snare upon the whole earth but what then will become of those that by Rapine or Violence have increased in wealth that have abused their Power and Authority to Oppress and Persecute the plenty of Gods Creatures to consume them in riot and excess in many sorts of sinful vanities the heavier load will hereby lie upon them that they are not only privitively evil but possitively also make to your selves then friends sinners as Christ your Judg formerly commanded of the unrighteous Mammon whilst ye have time but if ye will not quickly do it Christ himself will provide for his meek ones who shall then inherit the earth and delight themselves in abundance of peace Psal 37. 7. Vse of Inform. Hence all Christians may be instructed that many comfortable Doctrines may be drawn from the said Foundations of such consolations to be enjoyed
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR The Saints Rising Out of the Heap or Mass of dead Bodies contained in the Globe of the Earth and Sea at the first blessed Resurrection Decyphered by Christ Rev. 20.5 Whereunto by way of Preface is here prefixed The Comprisal of the Substance of our former Parcels With further and more evident Discoveries which may fitly be called The Marrow of Divine Revelation Mysteries Opened by that Key given By Christ himself for that use and purpose Rev. 20. 21. 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If by any means I might attain unto the Resurrection of the dead Phil. 3.11 The rest of the Dead lived not till the thousand years were ended Rev. 20.5 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a Minister of the Circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the Promises made unto the Fathers Rom. 15.8 By William Sherwin Minister of the Gospel London Printed 1674. The first Bodily Resurrection of the Saints a Thousand Years before the rest of the Dead Rev. 20.5 1. Proved four wayes 1. From the Text with its dependancy as a Revelation and compared with Christs Doctrine thereof Luke 20.35 36. 2. From the Context as an explication of Daniels Vision of the same matter and time Dan. 7.9 10 c. 3. From many other Scriptures Reasons and Arguments together with our whole System premised proving the same 1. Positively that it is Bodyly 2. Negatively that it is not spiritual c. 4. From sundry Texts in the Old and New Testament speaking of the same thing of which this Revelation ch 20 c. is a sure Explication with Answers to sundry Objections 2. Improved to divers uses 1. For Information in nine particulars 2. By Reference to Uses of Terror and Consolation before 3. For Admonition and Warning to all that profess Christian Religion now in the due season to approve themselves as Wise Virgins both in preparing and watching for the Bridegrooms coming shortly approaching Rev. 16.15 4. For Exhortation also to all such to thankfulness c. The Comprisal of our whole work and the Divine Mysteries therein explained and confirmed by many sorts of Arguments deducted and drawn from the same Principles by way of Preface unto a following Tract on Rev. 20.5 DEar Christians whose part shall be in the first blessed Resurrection a thousand years before the rest of the Dead We having been by Gods special Grace formerly lead in the way of Discovery as by many other useful distinctions contained in our Key and applyed in our whole work so particularly by our Distinctions Assert 6. of the same of the several senses of the comings of Christ and more especially having first thereupon been led on in the composing of our Practical Tract upon Rev. 22.20 setting forth Christs second Personal coming to destroy Antichrist 1 Thes 2.8 Dan. 7.9 11 13 14. many ways distinguished from his descending a thousand years after at the last Trump and general Rapture and glorious change of all the Saints 1 Thes 4.15 16. 1 Cor. 15.51 52. For at the former he brings all the Spirits of the deceased Saints that sleep in Jesus with him at the latter they and all the rest of the Saints departed afterwards shall in the twinkling of an eye be rapt up to meet him in the air From the former Christ withdraws at the end of the thousand years after the latter they shall ever be with him the Lord. In the former he comes in the Clouds that through them mortal eyes may then behold him upon the latter all Clouds will be abolished and Heaven and Earth will flee away before his face and no plaee be found for them Rev. 20.11 when the rapt Saints eyes and wicked mens then raised will be fitted to behold his glory on the great white Throne at the former the wicked Quick will be judged with temporal destruction viz. Turk and Pope and such as do offend and work iniquity will be taken out of his Kingdom Mat. 13.41 at the latter the Saints will first be rapt up before the wicked rise to be judged at the former the Saints will be judged with a judgment of reward in this world in the thousand years Rev. 11.19 having before there suffered for Christ they shall then reign with him upon the first said Resurrection at the latter they shall be joyned with Christ in judging the wicked at the former he comes from the right hand of his Father to make his foes his footstoole at the latter he is said to descend with a shout and the voice of an Arch-angel and the Trump of God at the first he puts down all Rule and all Authority and Power that stood against him 1 Cor. 15.24 at the latter he destroys the last enemy Death v. 25. above a thousand years after at the former Ezekiels Gog and Magog ch 38. 39. viz. the Turk and Pope will be destroyed The Turk with a complication of Judgments v. 22. the other by the last Vial Rev. 16. Rev. 19. Rev. 11. 19. before the New Jerusalem called Jehovah Shamma shall be set up Ezek. 40. to the end of that book wherein Daniel agrees ch 11.45 and ch 12.1 2 3. at the latter the last Gog and Magog shall be consumed with fire from God out of Heaven Rev. 20.9 at the former will be the New Heavens and the New Earth being the time of the restitution of all things at the latter will be the end of the world and the dissolution of all things at the former only the Saints will be raised at the first bodily Resurrection which Christ brought with him but at the latter all the rest of the dead viz. Saints departed since that former coming and all the wicked at the last Trump These or the like we considered in the foresaid Tract We also found from Acts 3.19 20 21. that God had spoken of things to be before in and after the said thousand years as we have set down in 36. particulars in our first convincing Argument in the Word Written by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began which we have in order made manifest from page 44. of our Irenic but more especially in ch 5,6,7,8 of the same which may deserve your serious reading and consideration as being another Divine Foundation of the same Truths Likewise upon the drawing up of those 16 Divine Theses or Positions page 3 4 5 6. of the Irenicon in the 11 and 12th of them is contained that needful Distinction of the two fold Consideration of Christs execution of his three great Offices 1. In respect of his Universal Church in the three great Periods of the world as the work the Father gave him to do in all times of his Mediatorship 2. In regard of the benefit always flowing from that undertaking to all Gods faithful people by the operation of the holy Spirit in their Souls c. The former we have handled in our next Practical piece on Gen.
such manifold great happiness will be then derived unto them in that world to come Heb. 2.5 in the renewed state thereof which I doubt not to manifest by the same Divine Assistance very evidently to all serious unprejudiced and understanding Christians in the following Systeme of Gods most gracious Oeconomie or ordering his Houshold the Church in the same respects of such revealed promised or convenanted Mercies chiefly respecting those times but passing thence to eternal blessedness for on such the second Death shall have no power c. Now as the glory of Gods wonderful free Grace first published by himself to Adam and Eve Gen. 3.15 was by their faith applyed as to redound to all their faithful Posterity so hath God been graciously pleased to derive many rivolets of like grace from the same fountain head running their several courses in their several times but all falling in their fullest streams Divine Wisdom and Goodness so ordering the same as it were into those more narrow Seas or Streights of the said 1000 years and from thence passing into the vast Ocean of Eternity whither they Saints shall all be conveighed in due time order and manner from their happy enjoyments in that state appointed for them wherein in the mean time his Wisdom Mercy Truth and Faithfulness will in such respects shine out gloriously to them in so great enjoyments as they shall then obtain and will be thereby many ways more fitted with the blessed Angels to glorifie God the Father Son and Holy Spirit in their rendering all due praise unto him for the same both then and for ever more which they could never do if the raised Saints at the first said Resurrection of their bodies had not a part in all the happiness of that tryumphant state of Christs Church in the said 1000. years and in all the benefits and priviledges thereof viz. of the said revealed Promises and Covenants to the Fathers of old and their spiritual Seed which we hope to manisest in what follows to be according to the word of Gods said Revealed Grace c. And to that purpose we now proceed to the said Systeme of Gods declared Mercy at the fall of Man and in all the succeeding Millenniums or thousands of years in order following The System of Gods declared Mercy at the Fall for a thousand Generations or seven thousand Years as by the Divine Guidance of his Word and Spirit which we shall ever humbly and thankfully desire to acknowledg to his Praise he hath discovered to us from the Fall of Man to the end of the World Especially as is further disclosed by a double Key First of Daniels Sealed hints of Prophesie to ch 20. of Rev. Secondly of Gods most antient Revealed and Promised Mercies to the end of the Revelation Hinted also from Daniels Lot Dan. 12.12 Of the order of the latter in the first Millen or thousand years WHen God in the begining had finished his great and good work of the Worlds Creation in six days and made Man his Deputy Ruler in it and the Devil maliciously by the Serpents subtilty and upon the advantage of the womans weakness had brought about the womans sin and mans fall The Trinune Diety of his own meer grace was mercifully pleased to manifest his most glorious divine goodness by a wonderful Declaration of his said free and infinite mercy towards lost mankind and by himself to publish that Foundation of all future happiness containing in the Womb of it all future revealed and promised mercies and Covenants to his Church and People in all succeeding times by declaring that the seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 which Christ in his Mediatorship from that time undertook and hath and doth and will still carry on until he shall make his Foes his Footstool Psal 101.1 eminently at the beginning of the 1000 years by destroying Turk and Pope and taking out of his Kingdome all things that offend c. And by binding Satan for that time and totally and finally destroy all his Enemies at the end Rev. 20. which is largely considered in our treatise upon that Text And will not these things greatly concern the raised living Saints too at that time especially to see the last most obstinate and desperate Enemies both taken of and taken away for ever Oh how will then the Heavens rejoyce and the Earth be glad What Halelujahs will then be sung by Angels and men c. Secondly When the old world was much heightened in wickedness God also by Enoch the 7th Adam his blessed translation as a worker of Righteousness excited men to well doing by Faith and as a type of Christ upon whose ascention all his Followers shall twice ascend by Christ First in this Souls by his powerful grace during their natural Life Secondly In Soul and Body both together at the first blessed bodily Resurrection of the just and at the general Rapture of all the Saints at the last Trumpet when the said 1000 years shall be ended And may not real good Christians by their first ascending into a state of grace by Christ guess what degrees of joy and happiness they shall rise unto in Kingdom and Glory with Christ at the Resurrection and Rapture And also by Enochs Prophetical Vision of Christs coming to Judgement in the first and second Act thereof recorded by Jude v. 14. Loe he cometh with 10000 of his Saints to execute Judgement c. to warn all men to avoid evil the first judicial Act thereof is set down Dan. 7. at the the beginning of the 1000 years the second Rev. 20.11 after the 1000 years are ended and will not all the said Saints magnifie Gods Holiness Power Justice and Truth in both his so revealed and then executed Acts of Judgement c. In the 2d millen or 1000 years GOd about an 1656. did also by Noah a Preacher of Righteousness 1. Typifie 2. Covenant 3. Prophesie concerning these times and things after he had warned the wicked world then by his Preaching of Repentanae to them in the time of the Arks preparation 120. years when their wickedness was arrived to the height which Ark as it was for the saving of his own house then or all such penitent or believing Sinners that would then come into it wherein safety then as salvation at all times is onely to be had in the Church of Christ So Christ will be the true and safe Ark of his Church or Family when the the world in part or in whole shall perish by Fire at the beginning or end of the 1000 years and will not the remembrance of Noah Ark illustrate Christs glory then being the Antitype thereof in doing such works for his Saints how will he then be admired of them c. 2. God also made a Covenant with Noah confirmed by the Rainbow the Token thereof for the worlds preservation from drowning to the end and also gave his blessings to men and all sorts of
Creatures upon the Earth to make them fruitful Gen. 8 9. whereby the world continues with its fruitfulness ever fince by Seed time and harvest as the great Stage for all Gods future actings in Mercies or Judgements which his word testifieth have cheifly their fulfillings in the said 1000 years after which time it must continue the little space of Satans loosing And as the world will so long be the Stage for such actings of God until the New Heavens and the New Earth shall cease so its fruitfulness was to be the accommodation for all such purposes but especially the Earth in those times must power out its plenty in abundance for the Churches-accommodation in that State then saith the 67th Psal The Earth shall yeild her increase of those times c. so Joel 3.18 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Mountains shall drop down with new Wine and the Hills shall flow with Milk see more in our Key of Noahs Covenant And as the Saints grace and Gods goodness in the Earths fruitfulness will be inlarged after it s so many thousand years bearing Fruit before so it will be much more fruitful in those last times of its being yet in its renewed condition whence also the praises of the Saints will be inlarged and their rejoycings also in such fulfillings of such promised Mercies c. 3. For his prophesie when aftor the sin of that cursed Cham occasioned by the hainous offence of his Father Noah for the best Saints have need of their Saviour yet when he through grace was awakened by Repentance from his drunkenness God manifests his grace by him in a like wonderful manner not only to Shem at present entitling him to himself to be the Lord his God But also foreshews his purposed mercy to come to the Gentiles the posterity of Japhet and accordingly his word gives witness to a twofold call which they were after to have to dwell in the Tents of Shem as Gen. 9.27 the first was foretold by Hos ch 1.10.23 and applied by the Apostle Paul Rom. 9.25 26. upon the rejection of the Jews after Christs first coming Acts. 13. which was the riches of the Gentiles saith the same Apostle ch 11. which time of grace continues to the Gentiles to Christs 2 d coming when upon the great Restauration of the Jews and Israelites the Gentiles will have their 2 d call when their great fulness will come in which was foretold also by Moses in his excellent song for pesterity Deut. 32.43 Rejoyce ye Gentiles with his people applyed also by the same Apostle Rom. 15. when Christ being the Minister of Circumsion as he there stiles him v. 8. for the truth of God to confirm the Promises made unto the fore fathers as he there plainly tells us with several other Prophesies there which shall also be thenfulfilled in the said 1000 years And will not the Saints then be greatly affected in seeing the accomplishment of such a mercy and greatly praise God for it when his glorious grace will shine out so abundantly to them therein c. In the third Millen or 1000 Years WHen Lot about the year of the world 2440. had upon worldly allurements chosen Sodom and after thereupon was captivated by his Enemies but delivered by faithful Abraham God sent Melchiscdeck to bless him who had the Promises as a Type of Christs prevailing perpetual Priesthoed to be of his order to whom he then paid Tythes of all as the payment of all due honor will be rendred unto Christ by all his Saints in the said 100 years and by all Creatures also Rev 5. but especially by all those whose great High Priest he shall then appear to be and probably will by a presential intercession appear to be then for such as shall be in the natural life viz. a Priest upon the Throne as Zach. 6.13 and also the raised Saints security then and for ever And as this Melchisedeck Priest of the most high God was also King of Salem so also Christ will then be the great King of the New Jerusalem Mat. 5.35 all the said 1000 years And as Abraham was blessed by Melchisedeck after the slaughter of those Kings so Abraham and his faithful Seed will appear really blessed when Christ maketh his own and their Enemies his footstool so the Saints will then find the mercies derived to them from many currents of long conveyances and still more matter to them of praise and rejoycing c. When Abraham that righteous man as by Esay he is called was sent on his foot by Gods Divine Call Gen. 12. about the year of the World 2460. God was gracioufly pleased to make free Promises and Covenants seven distinct times to and with Abrahans as they are particularly set down in our Key and after him to Isaack and Jacob successively to give the Promised Land of Canaan personally to themselves which Promise the Apostle declares Heb. 11. they saw a far off by Faith and died not having received the same wherefore as he also shewed they did not in their lives seek to possess it but as men expecting to have the said Promise of God made good unto themselves at the Resurrection of the just they bought burying places there to have their bodies interred as also Josephs bones after were untill they should all rise again then to possess it in the renewed state thereof for they looked for an heavenly countrey such as then that state will be excellently fitted then by God for that their condition At first also the said Promise was made to all Abrahams Seed natural and spiritual through that one Divine feed Christ as the Apostle teacheth to spring in time from Abrahams Loins according to the flesh Gal. 3.16 by whom also all the spitual seed by faith should obtain their lot in that blessed state by Promise v. 29. concerning which two sorts the Scripture sets forth many differences The natural Seed was to inherit the Promised Land after Abrahams Isaacks and Jacobs death 430 years after the Promise was first made but the spiritual will be joint heirs not only with Abraham but also with Christ in the said renewed state when he shall sit upon his own Throne as the Son of David The former were to be in Bondage long after the Promise the spiritual are made free indeed by Christ the Son of God so soon as they are made the Sons of God by Adoption and Grace besides what will after appear they shall be when Christ shall appear 1 Joh. 3.2 The former were compared to the dust of the earth for multitude Gen. 13.16 but the spiritual Seed was compared to the Stars of Heaven not only for multitude but excellency Gen. 15.5 explained by the Apostle Pom. 4.17 18. and Gal. 3. the whole Chapter The natural Seed entered into a Covenant with God in their own strength and brake it but as for the other God makes a new Covenant with them and undertakes the keeping
State that Portion and Lot in this sure mercies of David Isa 55.3 In the fourth Millen or 1000 Years TOwards the end of the third and the beginning of the fourth Millen We may place what concerns both David and Solomon whose Buildings of the Temple is reckoned by Vsher to be about the 3000th year of the world and about the middle of the time of the first 6000 years though haply the little space of Satans loosing after the seventh Millen may be allowed to make up some part of the sixth before it yet there are some differences by several learned Persons discovered in Chronology both under the Old and New Testament And therefore Chronological Conjectures ought to be in some probable Latitude c. Come we then in the next place to Davids Kingdom not as it was given him as the Son of Jesse specially appointed thereunto by Gods peculiar designment to be Anointed by Samuel But as by a new divine Character it was by Nathans Message confirmed for ever through his one divine seed Christ 2 Samuel 7.8 9. to 17. and accordingly by Davids Faith Thankfulness and Prayer afterwards improved from v. 16. to the end of the Chapter which we largely considered in our seventh Foundation of Faith which great and most excellent confirmation was after Davids grievous fall in the matter of Vriah and his Repentance and his many Scourges suffered upon that account for a long time for the freeness and seasonableness of such Gods promised mercy to David ought to be well observed by us as in all the former said Examples given from time to time for the glory of Gods divine Wisdom Mercy Truth and Faithfulness to be then manifest throughout all Ages and Generations of the world until the Saints especially in those times when they shall see and enjoy all their greatest accomplishments both praising Gods holy name for the same and exceedingly rejoycing in them in their several conditions of both such saved and newly raised Saints Therefore by Nathans said Message to David God took occasion upon Davids good puopose to build God an house when David injoyed peace after his former troubles which God well accepted of as to the matter intended but yet for some Reasons he assigned that work over to Solomon his Son yet I say took occasion thereupon to make to David the largest Charter and to give the greatest assurance of Davids sure mercies in respect of the several States of his Kingdom for ever that was ever given to any mortal man in many respects there observable as we shewed the one was conditional for his immediate natural Seed his Son Solomon if he stood upright who was to build that same glorious Temple at Jerusalem which after he did being therein a Type of Christ yet afterwards did by his grievous fall also cut off that long intayl of his Kingdom otherwise to his natural race which was soon after divided by the loss of ten Tribes in his Son Rehoboams time being then engaged in Idolatry upon politick accounts the Cause of the misery and speedy captivity which afterward was in both parts by the succeeding provocations of others taken away from Israel first and after from Judah also But the second was absolute to Davids divine spiritual Seed Christ the Son of God that was to become man in an extraordinary way and most wonderful manner by being born of that blessed Virgin that was to come of Davids Race who as the Angel told her at his birth should sit on the Throne of his Father David Luke 1.32 as the Prophet Isaiah had foretold that there should be no end of the encrease of his Government and Peace upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it with Judgement and with Justice for ever as he had promised in the said Message by the Prophet Nathan to the end of the World or as in Psal 89.29 That his said Divine Seed shall continue for ever and his Throne as the days of heaven and that in the greatest extent over Sea and Land with the highest Exaltation many ways illustrated as for Gods first born higher then the Kings of the Earth ver 25 27 c. and to be then the Prince of the Kings of the Earth as he is styled Rev. 1.5 And though for the successive great provocations of others also of Davids natural Seed and especially of Manisseh and Zedekiah from whom that Crown was then last taken away with a manifold Declaration of Gods heavy displeasure against him the last of Davids said natural Seed as the prophane wicked Prince of Israel saying by Ezekiel ch 21. Remove the Diadem take away the Crown this shall not be and I will overturn overturn overturn till hethat is Christ the spiritual Seed of David come Whereupon was that long interim or interruption of Davids Kingdom in the four Monarchies following revealed to Daniel twice ch 2. and ch 7. during the Gentiles Dominion all that time probably for the space of 2300 years Dan. 8.26 for which observe the Reasons in our summary of Daniel yet God did also there declare himself even when the Tabernacle of David was falling mindful of Davids sure mercies in and by his said blessed Seed Christ to come when all the said four mettle Kingdomes at once shall pass away as the chaffe of the Summer threshing floor Dan. 2.35 saying further by the Prophet Ezekiel with whom all other Prophets some wayes concur in the same matter when he whose right it is shall come namely Christ that he would give it him who is now gone to Heaven to receive it Luke 19. and when the 〈◊〉 long interim of the said four Monarchies is passed of which now but little remains he will return and the fallen Tabernacle of David shall in him be raised up again as the Prophet James applyed the Prophesie of Amos ch 9.11 at that famous Counsel at Jerusalem Acts 15. with reference to the Gentiles great fulness under Christs said Kingdom then to come in also By whose first coming to take mans nature in a Tabernacle of our Flesh for at that time God according to his prediction Dan. 2.28 set up the spiritual Kingdom of the Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands in the first State of it in the time and height of the Roman Dominion being one and the last of the said four Gentil Kingdoms which by Daniel and Christs one Revelation was thence to continue above sixteen hundred years wherein Gods said spiritually powerful and prevailing Kingdom of the Stone should Divinely in the said time of the Dragon and Beast after to come and continue to act their parts so long proceed powerfully by degrees to bring on the ruine of that said last of the four Monarchies viz. the Romane and therewith all the broken parts of the three former which shall be certainly performed at Christs appearance and Kingdom as the Apostle Paul plainly declares 2 Tim. 4.1 And then all
Satans Babilonisn designs in all his three Babets will come to utter confusion viz. the confusion of tongues and divisions in the first will then be dissolved by oneness of language and unity Tyranny and Cruelty by Meekness and Peacefulness and the great Mystery Babylon fully be discovered defeated dissolved when the Mystery of God shall be finished which we largly considered chap. 5. of our Irenicon of the said three Babels The foundation of all which was laid by Nimrod in Assyria which Title of the Assyrian seems upon that account to be given to the Turk at his ruine Mich. 5.5 This man Christ shall be our peace when the Assyrian shall come into our land and v. 6. Thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian c. To which purpose In the fifth Millen or 1000 years GOd the Father in a glorious Vision of the substance of Revelation Prophesie both for the order and end thereof Rev. 5. gives the book to the Lamb that had been slain and was alive again to open the contents thereof under the seven Seals to that coming of Christ and makes him also his Commissioner as we noted impowering him also to execute the same as being that Lamb that hath seven horns and seven eyes that is hath perfect power and perfect wisdom fully by degrees in due order to accomplish the same according to the double Scheme of Prophesie contained in the Book of Revelation First in the Seal-prophesie for the ruine of the Civil State which under the first five Seals after rejected the offers of Christ and bloodily persecuted his Saints in the time of the ten great Persecutions with others by Satans prevailing power amongst them who under the sixth Seal as a great Red Dragon was by Constantine the Great after 320 years cast down from his heaven of Paganism-worship to the earth since which time he hath sought upon a new design to pervert Christian Religion and the Worship of the true God First by Errours and Heresies against the Father Son and Holy Spirit above an hundred years following and after that to Paganize Christian Religion it self by his new design then of two Beasts Rev. 13. giving thereunto his great power and authority to contrive and promote a new Paganism or Idolatry under a specious Visour of seeming and pretended Christianity of which in the little Book ch 10 c. But from under the seventh Seal proceed the seven Trumpets sounding out the wrath of God by degrees of Judgments against the Civil State of Rome by the four first milder Trumpets to destroy it in the West in Empire City and Senate And after in the East by the first Woe Trumpet the Saracens to take away one half thereof Rev. 9.1 from about An 600. and forward being that King of the South Dan. 11.40 that in the time of the Holy Wars so called seemed to push at the Roman Armies c. And in the sixth Millen or 1000. years CHrist hath since according to the Fathers said Commission by that second Woe Trumpet of the Turk who is therefore Christs Servant as Nebuchadnezzar was said to be Gods from about An. 1300. hath taken away by his overflowings with his multitudes the other part of the Eastern Empire being that King of the North Dan. 11.40 described also in his actings Rev. 3.11 c. who is to continue his day and hour and month and year to destroy the third part of men in the same 396 years of his Date till that Empire cease to be v. 45. probably about An. 1700. with which the Beast was in great part to contemporate with the Churches time times and half in her wilderness condition and also the two sackcloth Witnesses to feed the Church and consume the Beast by their Prophesie 1260 years as by the breath of Christs mouth till he at the end of the Beasts 42 months all being of the same time shall destroy the Beast and the false Prophet at the appearance of his said coming and Kingdom 2 Thes 2.8 2 Tim. 4.1 To which purpose upon the Jews Captivity and sad fall of Davids said Tabernacle God did in that time by his contemporary mystical Prophets Ezekiel and Daniel reveale the time of Israels Restauration more darkly by Ezekiel ch 37. also shewing Gog and Magog must be removed ch 38 39. before the New Jerusalem should be set up called Jehova Shamma ch 40. to the end of the Book But then to Daniel God was pleased more fully and clearly to set forth the interim or time of the four Monarchies 1. Of Babylon 2. Medo-Persian 3. Greece 4. Rome which were to pass in the said 2300. years before Davids Tabernacle should be raised up again in Christ But that the Kingdom of the Stone should first be set up as God foreshewed Dan. 2.28 which was done above 1600 years past in the time and height of the last or Roman Empire utterly as was said to beat to dust the said four Mettle Kingdoms And God shewed the same to Daniel in Vision of the four Beasts destroying each other until the last should be destroyed by Christ at his first act of Judgment against the Beast Dan. 7.11 Whereupon he had the Vision of Christs coming in the Clouds of Heaven when the Kingdom and Dominion of all Nations should be given to him and that under the whole Heaven v. 13 14 27. which will be Davids sure mercies for his Kingdom and Throne to continue for ever upon that raising again of his Tabernacle fallen above 2000 years before and will be also Christs Davidical Kingdom of his 1000 years Reign with his Saints revealed by himself Rev. 20.4 whereby as was said Gods wisdom power mercy truth and faithfulness will gloriously shine out to all those Saints in that respect as in all the former before both for his destroying the wicked then as foretold and so exalting his Saints to their great rejoycing and triumphant happiness in that excellent state of the New Jerusalem and restitution of all things by Christ their great King Saviour and Messiah In the seventh Millen or 1000 Years 1. SAtan is bound for 1000 years but to be loosed again for a little season when the 1000 years are ended Rev. 20.3 2. Christ Reigns with his then raised Saints at the first blessed bodily Resurrection the same 1000. years v. 4 5. 3. The said raised Saints remain in the happy enjoyment of the Vision of Christs glory Joh. 17.24 in his Kingdom given to him by God the Father in the New Holy Great and Beloved Jerusalem enjoying then happy communion with Christ their head and with one another in that state being so made perfect in one as Christ prayed Joh. 17. and as his Spouse or Bride one with himself Rev. 19. and Rev. 21.9 and with the holy Angels all joyning with the inferiour Creatures in their orders to praise God the Father Son and Holy Spirit for his great and glorious work of Creation and Redemption as by that glimps of
the end of Revelation Prophesie ch 4 5. may be discerned being all then in an undisturbed happy state in their several degrees whilst Satan is bound and sealed up in the bottomless pit that he may not tempt the nations any more till the 1000 years be ended v. 3. all remaining in an happy peace so long without being attempted against by any enemies 4. Christs Servants viz. the raised Saints chiefly will then serve him Rev. 22.3 as their business and happiness so to do ch 7.15 5. Christ will be their light to them both spiritual and visible and both glorious in whose light his Saints will then see light at the Revelation of all things probably as to Mysteries Creatures and Providences when the mystery of God is finished and the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of one day as the light of seven days Is 30. 6. The Nations of them that are then saved will walk in the light of the said great holy and beloved Jerusalem come down from God out of Heaven all the said 1000 years being the Spirits of just men before made perfect to receive then from Christ their spiritual Bodies also Rev. 21.24 7. The Kings of the Earth shall bring their Glory and Honour to it in the same v. 8. Also they shall bring the Glory and Honour of the Nations to it v. 26. 9. God will then dwell amongst them and all Tears shall be wiped from their Eyes ch 21.3 4 7 16 17. 10. All the glorious Priviledges of the Paradise of God of the Tree of Life whose Leaves are for the healing of the Nations and of the pure River clear as Chrystal proceeding from the Throne of God and of the Lamb and all the glorious excellencies assigned and belonging to it which all those happy raised Saints will then know by experience how wonderful great and excellent they are in their Fruition thereof the said 1000 years 11. And though Satan when he is loosed will seduce his last Gog and Magog to attempt to besiedge the beloved City and the Camp of the Saints yet Christ hath afore hand resolved them that it shall onely be an attempt and the Devil and all his Agents shall then be consumed by Fire from God out of Heaven in the said attempt and the Fabrick of the world shall suddenly then be dissolved upon the sounding of the last Trumpet and the general rapture and change of all the Saints to meet Christ in the Air coming to sit upon that great white Throne at the last Judgement Rev. 20.11 From whose Face the Earth and the Heaven shall fly away and no place shall be found for them Rev. 20.11 And hath not Christ himself revealed all these things in an evident manner That may suffice all Christians and rational men of their reallity and how then should all sound serious and consciencious Christians from the consideration of these things now hinted to them with many more that might from Gods word be set before them to such purpose be stirred up to love the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Apostle professed for himself with that great encouragement to all others to partake with him of a Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 2. To long for his said appearance when he cometh without sin having fully satisfied for that at his first coming but then onely for salvation to his People to deliver them from all their Enemies and even the inferiour Creatures with them from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Rom. 8.21 And to have their own bodies redeemed from the Prison and the corruption of the Grave and have powerful grace as the Angels in Heaven in their condition and even those also in the natural Life shall serve Christ in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of their life Luke 1.74 75. 3. And that they may love his appearance and long for it let them labour continually to be fitted for it c. and this rather because many wayes the time thereof seemeth to be near approaching not only in regard that most of the preceeding Predictions are fulfilled but also because we find the computations of years which the Holy Ghost seems to set down of the Jews great Restauration and of the destruction of the Churches Enemies are shortly to be compleated of which two in Daniel and two in the Book of the Revelations appear very considerable to that purpose which we shall endeavour here to set down as some of the Grounds and Reasons of such our Conjecture From those 4. Computations of the said mystical Numbers formerly more fully explained in our Parallel of Daniel and the Book of the Revelation and upon the ruine and desolation of the Remane Monarchy as follows The first is from the 2300. days of years in Daniel 8 26. by Palmomi or the secret Numberer seeming to refer to the end of the Jews Captivity referring to the time of the end v. 17. to the last end of the indignation viz. of God against that captivated People The like to the same purpose is also observable where Daniel declares the Roman Kingdom shall prosper till the same time viz. until the indignation shall be accomplished for saith he that that is determined shall be done Ch. 11.36 So again upon the same account The Sacrifice and Oblation shall cease for the over spreading of Abominations he shall make Jerusalem taken by Titus and Vespatian desolate even until the Consummation and that determined shall be powered out upon the desolate Dan. 9.27 See many other Reasons upon Dan. 8.26 In our Summary of Daniels Visions This Computation of 2300 years was from the destruction of the Temple by Nebuchadnezzers Army then carrying the Jews captive to Babylon to their great Restauration at Christs appearance is by Scripture and Chronology thus computed at Babylon 70. years under the Medes and Persians about 80. years till Daniels 70. weeks when the Edict went out for building the City Jerusalem about 3549 when is reckoned by their Kings Reigns to be about 80 years more and Daniels weeks to the end of the half week when Christ had finished his Sacrifice of himself for our sins which was in all 640 years more and from thence to about that year which we reckon will be 1700. will so be made up 2300. years Secondly For the 2335. years in Dan. 12. from the effectual taking away of Sacrifice in Julian the Apostate Emperours time when not only many Heathen Idolatries were encouraged by him but he also in opposition to Christian Religion allowed the Jews out of the publick charge to Rebuild their Temple for Sacrifice whereupon Historians Record that God by miraculous Tokens of his displeasure by Fire Tempest Earthquakes c destroyed such as were employed in the said work and not only burnt up the very Tools they wrought with But cast out the very Stones which they had laid
come upon that account when Jews and Gentiles shall both rejoyce together according to Moses's Prophesie Deut. 32.43 which the Apostle Paul applies Rom. 15. with other texts respecting the same time and state pointing out the truth of God therein for the truth of God saith he to confirm the promises made to the Fathers v. 8. how will the knowledg of that foundation fitted to the top-stone of Gods performance then affect Gods Saints with joy and redownd to his own praise And was not Baalams Parable clear in many things forenamed which in part have been fulfilled as respecting the Ships of Chittim Dan. 11.30 and others namely setting forth the rise of the last Oppressor of the Jews that should perish for ever or go into Perdition Rev. 17. as we shewed and other things in the 1000 years which Gods word witnesseth shall then be fulfilled which the Saints will also rejoyce in and render unto God his due praise for them And what in Melchisedeck was shadowed as a type towards faithful Abraham that had the Promises will really and compleatly be fulfilled in Christ to faithful Abraham and all his spiritual Seed according to Gods word to the praise of the glory of his grace But especially to Abraham and all his spiritual Seed with him and also to Isaack and Jacob according to Gods Promises and Covenants made to them and their spiritual Seed through their one Divine Seed Christ But the mercy seems to be chiefly invested in Abrahams Covenant in seven Gradations as we shewed in our Key who is thereupon probably stiled the Father of the Faithful and Heir of the world Rom. 4.13 whose natural Seed failed in their first Covenant and polluted their rest in the Typical Canaan which therefore cast them out with a fore Destruction Mich. 2.10 But the spiritual Seed of Abraham by that one Divine Seed Christ whose day he saw by Faith Joh. 8. by Gods undertaking for them the conditions of this New Covenant which then will be manifest to the great glory of his so wonderful free Grace made known and the benefit from that Foundation derived to them as both his faithful Seed circumcised and uncircumcised will evidently know and find the happy experience of in the New Jerusalem state then both filling their souls with joy and making them break forth into praise unto God But for Davids Promise and Covenant upon whose interest the Title of Christs Kingdom then doth immediately depend and who must enjoy it as the days of Heaven upon earth all the 1000 years though what he promised conditionally as respecting Davids Kingdom in his natural Race was forfeited by them upon the fall of whose Tabernacle the Interim or Interruption of his Kingdom took place in the four Gentile Kingdoms for probably 2300 years yet the sure mercies of David in Christ his Divine spiritual Seed all will be performed for the the meek faithful up right spiritual Children of David who shall then have their sure mercies of David also Esa 55.3 in being then joynt heirs with Christ in that blessed Kingdom when they upon that account and foundation shall Reign with Christ in that state of the New Heavens and New Earth wherein will then dwell Righteousness to the superabundant glory of God and happiness of all those Saints who shall have their portion then therein with the representative living Wights and 24 Elders to exult as they Rev. 5.10 not only that in other respects they have been or shall be Kings and Priests unto God through the Lambs Blood but that they then will with them joyntly Reign upon earth when Davids Tabernacle before fallen for the Sin of his natural Seed shal by his Divine one Seed Christ be restored for himself and all his spiritual Seed in that so blessed state and condition to continue the said 1000 years and after remain to the Saints so long as the Sun and Moon shall endure Psal 89.36 37. though once attempted against in vain and after probably be translated into perpetual felicity and were but the spiritual eyes and understandings of men exercised in these things from the grounds of them so Divinely and graciously laid down in the Word and did they but labour by Prayer and due means to acquaint themselves with the same by degrees I doubt not but God would really teach in some good measure all rightly teachable spirits of men by Faith to believe them and apply them to themselves as finding if they walk uprightly with him their own peculiar interest therein with all his Saints that then shall have their Lots there with them both to be freed from all enemies to serve him without fear of any in holyness and righteousness before Christ then if they be in the natural life and walk in the light of the New Jerusalem or if raised Saints then such his servants will serve him Rev. 22.3 it will be found as well their happiness as their business so to do God hath not made so great provision for the marriage of the Lamb his only beloved Son that the Wedding be without Guests yea which is more that the Wedding be without the Bride the Lambs Wife What a reproach would some men by ignorance and unbelief cast upon God the Master of the Feast as if his great design to honour them who before had honoured him in the World should then be frustrate and utterly in vain which must needs be if those who are only capable of such happiness for time and blessedness in both should not then have it viz. the raised Sts. in the New Jerusalem state with those that walk shall then in the light thereof probably not fitted then to enjoy the same with them neither could the Saints departed before be capable thereof were they not in their spiritual bodies prepared for the same and how many sorts of Arguments might be drawn from every of the said Foundations particularly let serious and judicious Christians consider when I formerly found from Gods word what would be before in and after the 1000 years I was satisfied that such things should be in their due time and order fulfilled in 36 particulars in the first Argument of the Word Written But it hath pleased God by this Divine Key Rev. 20 c. to shew me that the chief drift of all his Revealed Promises pitch upon such a state so revealed by himself wherein all his Sts. interests and concernments concur for the best ends respecting God themselves all Creatures in that state in so many and great things as we have manifested from the Word of God whence I am as it were enforced to do that by Faith in my present employment that I assuredly from the same word know those raised Saints with others will then do in the fruition thereof affectionately desiring to set forth Gods special mercy like the Woman in Samaria for others use and benefit also For then the faithful Seed of Adam and Eve that had no other Promise will
Deut. 32.43 6. Or look upon it as the time of the Restitution of all things as the end of Christs undertaking in the world viz. according to his Promise of the New Heavens and New Earth Esa 65.17 c. as the first Adam by the free gift of God possessed all things for himself and his Seed if he had stood c. 7. If as a Scepter or Dominion foretold by Balaam c. or of a Kingdom promised to the Son of David for ever 2 Sam. 7. of which there is very much in Scripture and will then be a comprehensive mercy for all sorts of Saints then 8. If it be enquired how all those Mercies should be fulfilled in that state at once to all sorts of Saints in all times both deceased and living and upon what accounts to Jews Israelites and Gentiles then who it seems should all have their several conditions then to be enjoyed by them 2. In Revelations 1. THis Christ hath manifested Rev. 19.11 to the end in taking of the Beast and false Prophet and ch 20.1 2. in binding Satan and in consuming the last Gog and Magog by Fire from Heaven and lastly by casting the Devil into the Lake of Fire for ever v. 8 9 c. 2. This is answered by the raised Saints eating of the Tree of Life in the middest of the Paradise of God ch 2.7 which is also said to grow in the middest of the street of the City ch 22.2 3. It is answered with the 12 maner of Fruits growing upon the same Tree in each Month with Leaves for the healing of the Nations then ch 22.2 4. That is answered in this Key of Christs by the New Jerusalem state Rev. 21. as the City prepared for the Fore-Fathers Heb. 11.10 16. whose Maker and Builder is God and for all the Saints to be raised then bodily v. 40. 5. They are all comprised in Christs said Key under the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of the said New Jerusalem ch 21.24 being such as are in the natural Life c. 6. It is answered by him that sits upon the Throne ch 21.5 who saith Behold I make all things New at that time and so the second Adam who hath a threefold right Heb. 1.2 3. is now appointed by God to be the Heir of all things who will at the Restitution of all things also make all his said spiritual Seed or Overcomers by him and with himself to inherit all things Rev. 22.7 7. That is to be in Christs Kingdom or Reign with his Saints the 1000 years Rev. 20.4 6. which is of large consideration when the Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of our God and of his Christ ch 11.15 8. Christ hath resolved all those in the raising of his Saints which he brings with him to raise their bodies in their order ch 20.4 when he will reward his Servants the Prophets and his Saints and all that fear his Name both small and great whereby Daniels darker Vision of the same is enlightned and by a strange yet promised both Civil and Spiritual Resurrection of Jews and Israelites Ezek. 37. Dan. 12.1 2 3. Rom. 11. when the Gentiles of Japhets Race shall have their second most full and large Call with performance of great Promises to them also And is not there wonderful Divine Wisdom observable in such a Contrivance and wonderful Goodness in giving such an excellent Key to his Church so Divinely fitted to open those so antient Prophesies and Promises And will not much more wonderful Wisdom Mercy Truth and Faithfulness with all other Gods Excellencies shine out to the Admiration of all those Saints at that time in the said State to their heightning then to a like wonderful Praise of the Divine Grace with Angels Men and all other Creatures as Rev. 5.10 to the end Adam and Eve and all Saints since them shall be present then at once to see all their Interests and well grounded Expectations then made good and how the order of Times and of all affairs which have been suitably ordered and carried on to which purpose a Scripture Harmony might largely and profitably be written upon the account of this Key in all the particulars from the beginning to the end of the Bible whereby the Divine Wisdom and Goodness with other Excellencies might appear wonderful to a believing Soul in any good measure enlightned in such Divine Misteries Yea if men would but rightly improve and not unworthily pervert their very Reason in such things they might discern much more than usually they do and if they were but as forward to imbrace what Evidences are set before them upon due consideration of them as they are studious to find stumbling-blocks in their own way or cast them in the way of others there would soon be more consent to and enquiry after these divine Truths than opposition and resistance of them The Book given by the Father had seven Seals and the Lamb is wise and powerful enough to execute them in their due order and so he hath done almost in all of them already and what now remains may in a good degree appear to such as give their minds to duly use the means appointed for the understanding of them But if others will not and therefore are judged by Christ not worthy so to be taught because as the unbeleiving Jews formerly so they now also shut their Eyes and turn away from such light of Truth the fault will then be their own And it is observeable Christs first revealing and his Spirits teaching of these things is in a different way from many other divine Doctrines Yea Christ questioneth whether he shall find faith of these things Mat. 17.18 upon Earth when he comes although his Spirit three times as we noted confirmed the truth of them chap. 19. and 21 22. and yet of all the matters in that divine Book no part so evident and clear as was said none so exact and distinct in all respects of order time place persons continuance with all useful circumstances as this said 20th chap. which hath many stamps of Divine Excellency set upon it all very useful for the persons concerned for the opening of this great mystery of God by the help of the said Key being rightly used by them in some it hath pleased the divine Majesty according to his infinite wisdom and grace reavealed thus by degrees to set forth by Christ himself the great concerns of himself and his Saints the Lambs Wife then to be in such excellent Communion with him as then will appear to them 1 John 2.3 And let all such critical Persons against these Truths consider Psalm 25.9 14. The meek he will teach his way and his secret is with such c. and the work of Faith must be his own in every branch of Divine truth tendered to any from his written word Such as all these matters are though somewhat mysteriously set down we have
ordered as becometh Christians and then with the Spirit and Bride say come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is a thirst come and whosoever will not linger and be lost let him now whilst it is called to day take the water of life freely chap. 22.17 For he that testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly It is Verbum Diei in die suo a word in its due season for it appears to be in its due order of accomplishment and the Links of the Revelatian Chain have been passing by above 1600 years the last Link draws neer to which Christs Kingdom will immediately succeed Come in poor Sinners get an interest therein and then you will be safe I pitty you all that prize it not I pray God give you enlightned understandings and sanctified affections now the world is vanishing with all her Vanities together suppose it should continue twenty or thirty years longer yet how soon may you die in your sins or be cut off in Gods wrathful displeasure in a moment whether you be secret sinners though nothing is secret to or hid from Gods all seeing eye or open sinners to him all things are naked and open with whom you have to do or if you be great sinners none are so great but the least stroak of his displeasure will shatter them in pieces or small sinners though none that is not a Saint can be a small sinner in the sight of God though comparatively in the sight of men he may and such as have committed great sins upon their Faith and Repentance may be pardoned as soon as the least But you that are great sinners and would fain think your selves out of Gods reach and upon worldly advantages seem to bid defiance unto God saying as they let him hasten his work that we may see it or you that think with the Fool in the Gospel you have enough for many years or you have great Interests great Alliances great Relations great Honour Wealth Authority power to execute your will and pleasure and what not if you came well by them then there is more reason you should serve God and honour him with them the more they are all Talents and you must be accountable for every one of them have you fed clothed visited Christ in his Disciples if not go ye cursed Mat. 25. but if you came ill by them and use them contrary to his will the greater Vengeance hangs over your head for that reason without Repentance Yet to conclude there is yet a time of Grace and Mercy to be had for you great sinners if you will improve it aright before it be quite past be wise therefore at last now now now whilst it is called to day be not hardned any longer by the deceitfulness of Sin then may your Souls safely and comfortably joyn with Christs Spouse in her hearty Amen for the Bridgrooms coming saying with her also verse 20. even so Come Lord Jesus Come quickly Amen Last Vse Lastly for Exhortation to Thankfulness to all that shall have part in this said blessed Resurrection of the just upon this particular account now more especially in these times That Christ Jesus hath not only given this excellent Divine Key to his Church opening the many great benefits of those ancient mercies reserved to be accomplished in the said thousand years and also so fitly agreeing with the Doctrine of the said blessed Resurrection of the Saints with all the concomitants thereof But now in these times is so graciously pleased to discover and vouchsafe unto us the comfortable Use and Benefit thereof by Faith upon such excellent Divine antient most sure Foundations as those before set down and also by holy Scriptures so explained and carried on to those intents in the said times and that the said blessed Resurrection should be the inlet to all former Saints to those happy enjoyments then for their Souls and Bodies in such a blessed Communion many wayes as the said Saints shall then attain unto The abundant strong evidence whereof is not only sufficient if duly weighed to stop the Mouths of gainsayers but to convince all soundly rational men that Gods great Provision for the marriage of the Bride and the Lamb at the time so by his word declared and published will not be in vain and lost for God is not like men to change or be deceived in or frustrated of his end But what Thankfulness in these respects do all such true Christians owe to the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ that from all such said Foundations he hath wrought Faith in their Souls to foresee with faithful Abraham Christs day to come by Faith and receive such comfort in so happy news of such manifold approaching mercy wherein they have such particular interest and concernment and all this so strongly founded upon evidences throughout the whole Scripture so clearly explained by Christ and by the Holy Spirit to be words faithful and true three times over and delivered for their use by his Servant John Besides the many renewed particular promises since set down with sundry explications of them both in Old and New Testament which do evidently lead us to the use and benefit of this said divine Key so given by Christ Jesus to his Church for such excellent purposes how should the approaching reign of Christ with his said Sts. in the world in that time of the new Heavens and new Earth fill such beleiving Christians Souls with praise thanksgiving when a double advantage will redound unto them first that the great last Enemies of Christ and his Church will be removed and taken away that so long have obstructed her joy and peace but that the Church of Christ shall also enjoy the end of her hope from all the said Foundations and promised Mercies then to be performed in the foresaid state to be upon the said blessed first Resurrection of the said Saints And what stronger evidence than from that first most large comprehensive Foundation given by God himself Gen 3.15 which about 3000 years after had such a particular explication of Christs carrying on the same upon his Ascention after his actual laying the Foundation of his Churches Redemption by his sufferings at his first coming which should so eminently be carried on by making his Foes his Footstool at his second when he shall come from the right hand of the Father to judge the quick and the dead at the same time of his appearance and Kingdom according to that antient divine Oracle so often repeated illustrated and explained in the New Testament The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right Hand till I make thy Foes thy Footstool Psal 110.1 viz. at that said time as many Scriptures teach 2 Thess 2.8 2 Tim. 4.1 Rev. 19. also consider Ezek. 38. and 39. Dan. 11.45 of the Turk with many others both respecting the ruine of Pope and Turk the first Gog and Magog before the said thousand
years and for the ruine of the last Gog and Magog after the said thousand years Our blessed Saviour hath most orderly exactly and strongly confirmed the same in those many circumstances thereof in the following part of this Chapter when the last Enemy death will be destroyed and the Devil cast into the Firy Lake and I hope no Conscientious knowing Christian of any rank will dare to deny or gainsay any particular in this great Foundation so explained carried on and applied all along in the word of God c. of which much more is said in our Everlasting Gospel on Gen. 3.15 And Enochs Vision of the first Act of Christs Judgement Jude 14. also confirms the same as it is explained by Daniel 7.7 8 9. when the Judgement is said to be set and the Books opened to give the body of the Beast to the burning flame which will be at the beginning of the said thousand years as also Gogs the Turks destruction Ezekiel 38. and 39. before the setting up of the New Jerusalem chap. 40. to the end of that Book with the taking away others that do offend then Mat. 73.41 when also he will judge the Saints with reward Rev. 11.19 so judging both the quick and dead then 2 Tim. 4.1 and likewise Revelations 20.7 8 c. is contained Christs last proceeding in his Judgement after the 1000 years against the last Gog and Magog as by Christs Revelation is here explained to judge those quick and then the dead when their Judgement is said again to be set and the books opened first by declaring the absolution of the Saints written in the book of Life and pronouncing against all the wicked a Sentence of condemnation to eternal death c. Of the first Act of Judgement also Balaam speaks Numbers 24. when the Romane Kingdom should perish for ever explained again by our Saviour Revel 17.8 when in the last Head it should go into predition whereby an utter end will be put to the four mettle Kingdoms or the Gentiles Dominion and so this Prophesie passeth in the same course with the former as another Confirmation of the same Truth How Christ will eminently at the beginning and fully at the end of the said thousand years break the Serpents Satans Head c. And these are strong and clear evidences from Gods Word of Christs taking away the Enemies of himself and his Church in those times and that state of things shortly coming on to these we might add the Type of Abrahams subduing the five Kings and rescuing Lot And of Davids overcoming all his Enemies at last and leaving his Kingdom to Solomon his Son in a peaceable condition c. and as the Enemies destruction will be a great matter of the Saints Praise and Rejoycing at their first said blessed Resurrection so will also their enjoyment of the happy Vision of Christs Glory in his Davidical Kingdom then be given to them as John 17.24 with the happy communion with him and one with another and their inheriting all the promised Mercies of that time and state of the New Jerusalem Revel 21. and 22. by the Divine promised Seed of the Woman who shall then prolong his days in the world and abundantly see his own Spiritual Seed so that he will therein be satisfied when the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand as foretold Esa 53. namely when all Saints are come in at the general Rapture and change of them all 1 Cor. 15.51 52. And that the earth might continue to be the stage for all such actings of God in the world God upon his smelling a sweet savour from Noahs offering through Christ to come makes a Covenant with him after the Flood for all Creatures to that happy time and that then there should be the greatest fruitfulness in it his word is clear and as in Noah as a Type was signified how Christ would be the safe Ark of his Church in the beginning and after the end of the said 1000 years and also by his Prophesie of the Gentiles Japhets Posterities mercies at their foresaid first and second Call and Fulness which last will be performed in the said 1000 years when Jews and Gentiles shall both rejoyce together when all those many Promises concerning that state of the Gentiles happiness in the whole book of God will take their full effect And as surely by vertue of Gods Covenant with Abraham shall all his spiritual seed through that his own divine seed Christ then enjoy the many Promises still remaining in Old and New Testament to be made good to them in the natural life then whether circumcised or uncircumcised and such raised Saints then that are interessed therein will also enjoy by the same Covenant that happy New Jerusalem state in that City prepared for them then Heb. 11.10 16. and also all the spiritual seed of Isaac and Jacob with them in all the priviledges and benefits belonging to the same which the said Saints shall then be raysed to inherit c. as the spiritual seed of Abraham and I doubt not but the greatest part of the Promises in Old and New Testament made to God's people as the spiritual seed of Abraham Isaac and Jacob both circumcised and uncircumcised will chiefly have their fulfilling in that state and time wherein all such their natural race will have the greatest share and such promises as are made to all Israel or to Ephraim or Joseph joyntly with Judah do especially refer unto though not only unto them of which if duly considered a large volume might profitably be written And if lastly we look to that last sure foundation of Davids sure mercies concerning his Throne and Kingdom which Christ the Son of David should enjoy as the dayes of heaven upon earth or as long as the Sun and Moon shall endure though Davids natural race had forfeited their interest before Mic. 2.10 yet God laid sure foundations for the other 2 Sam. 7.8 9. to the end and Psal 89. with multitudes of Scripture evidences to the same purpose and all Believers as Esay shews shall also have their part in the same sure mercies of David Chap. 55.3 appertaining then to that time and state and very many other Promises were made to that end likewise And the interest of Christs said Davidical Kingdom seen by Daniel a long time past in Vision to be at the end of the fourth Kingdom chap. 7.13 14. which at this time Christ continues in heaven to receive and then to return Luke 19.17 it is that that contains in it eminently all the other said mercies to all suffering Saints that must then reign with Christ the said thousand years and joyntly enjoy all the happiness thereof and thence forth and for ever whatsoever things God hath provided for them which eye hath not seen nor ear heard c. though the things of this state may mostly be both heard and sten as decyphered by Gods Word Concerning which I conceive sufficient hath