whilest that Priest-hood oeconomy stood in force 't was the duty of all the Saints to attend diligently to the commands of the Lord relating to them not to have done so had been Rebellion High-treason against him Till a Prophet greater than Moses a Priest greater than Aaron even Jesus the Son of God came and put a Period to the whole of that Ministration and erected a new one by that Authority that was given to him of the Father as Mediator of the New-Covenant every tittle of that Law contained in Ordinances they were obliged to Whilest that Church-state continued they were concerned in them And so by a parity of reason are the Saints with all the Laws given by Jesus Christ in the New-Testament 'till either a greater than he come which can never be or he by his own Soveraign Authority supersede them by his second personal glorious coming introducing a New State of things without any Institutions or Ordinances put a Period to them Demonstration XI IF there be not a continuation of the Church-state with Institutions thereunto belonging 't is either because Christ could not or would not continue it The first connot be asserted All power is given unto him in Heaven and in Earth Matth. 28.18 He is King of Kings Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6.15 Rev. 17.14 19.16 The Almighty Rev. 1.8 Is above Principality Power Eph. 1.21 Hath all Angels and men at his foot can order dispose of them as he pleases Nor the second for he hath promised its continuance engaged his presence with it for that end These are all the visible ensigns he hath in the world of his Authority Soveraignty not a relation he stands in to them his concern in point of honour and glory in their preservation the prophetick discoveries of his resolution that they should Continue of which we have already treated amply discover that his will is their continuation They then that oppose advance themselves against the Churches of CHRIST resist his will and are found fighters against G0D Demonstration XII THe Lord hath both under the Old-oeconomy and the New made special promises to his people as they attend him wait upon him as a Church in the Observation of Institutions and Ordinances So in the Old-Testament Exod. 20.24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me thou shalt sacrifice thereon thy Burnt-Offerings and thy Peace-Offerings thy Sheep and thine Oxen In all places where I record my Name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee The latter words are variously rendred In every place in which shall be the memory of my Name V.L. Where ye remember my Name Sy. Ar. Wheresoever I shall name my Name Seventy Where I shall cause my Glory to dwell Ch. Where I shall make my Name to be remembred Pi. Where I shall make the memorial of my Name or cause the remembrance of my Name to be or make you to remember my Name Ainsworth The meaning is in every place in every institution of mine where I command you to Attend me as a Church in publick Worship and Service as at the Tabernacle Temple c. there I l'e come to thee meet thee manifest my gracious presence to thee assuredly bless thee Exod. 29.42 43 44 45. This shall be a continual burnt-Offering throughout your Generations at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation before the Lord where I will meet with you to speak there unto thee And there I will meet with the Children of Israel and shall be sanctified by my Glory the Tabernacle is not in the Hebrew some render it Israel others the Place or the Tabernacle shall be sanctified by my Glory And I will sanctify the Tabernacle of the Congregation And I will dwell amongst the Children of Israel and I will be their God That the Tabernacle was at that day the place that Jehovah had appointed for the Church of Israel as a Church to Worship him is known As you do so saith the Lord I le meet with you or as the Greek translateth will be known unto thee to speak there unto thee c. 'T is the special presence of God with them that is intended by those Expressions And the Tabernacle is call'd the Tabernacle of the Congregation Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tabernacle of Assembly or Convention because there God and his people met together he to Instruct them by his Word they to Worship Him and to receive His Oracles See Exod. 40.34 Lev. 1.1 and 9.23 24. Num. 1.1 and 7.89 and 12.4 5. and 14.10 and 16.19 42 44. So also in the Gospel-day Isa 4.5 6. The Lord will Create upon every dwelling-place of mount Sion and upon her Assemblies a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of the flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence And there shall be a Tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat and for a place of refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain The word translated the dwelling-place is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an ordinary dwelling-place or common Habitation but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a prepared place of and for God They are the Church-assemblies he intends by it To these he promises his Presence Favour Direction Guidance Defence Protection under the notion of the Cloud Pillar Tabernacle which were the signal visible Ensigns of these to his people of old Zach. 2.10 sing and rejoyce O daughter of Sion for lo I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee saith Jehovah And many nations shall be joyned to the Lord in that day and shall be my people 'T is evidently of the Conversion of the Gentiles and their walking together in Gospel-fellowship that he speaks and I will dwell in the midst of thee Mat. 18.20 where two or three a few Saints walking together in the fellowship of the Gospel for these two or three are call'd the Church v. 17. are gathered together in my Name or Authority there am I in the midst of them 2 Cor. 6.16 Ye the Church of God at Corinth v. 1. are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people Rev. 3.10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation that shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth The words are a promise made to the Church in Philadelphia and so to all Gospel-churches especially to such as are the Antitype to the Philadelphian-Church of preservation from the temptations snares distresses that are coming upon Professors others shall fall by them sink under them she shall be kept because she kept the words of Christ's patience i. e. the Doctrine Precepts Institutions of CHRIST he deliver'd in the day of his patience when he Tabernacled amongst men and endured the contradiction of Sinners The sum is as
of Life and from the things which are written in this Book Evidently God tyes up his people under Law and Gospel to a strict and sole attendment unto what he hath given forth in the Scriptures And that because V. These are sufficient able and perfect as he affirms of them to instruct and guide us Psal 19.7 The Law of Jehovah is perfect 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure word of Prophesie more sure than what than the voice that came from the excellent Glory when Christ was transfigured upon the Mount whereunto we do well to take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the Day-Star arise in your Hearts The word of Prophesie contain'd in the Scripture is a sure word 't is a light every way sufficient as such to direct us in the way we should take and is carefully to be attended to till the morning of the day of the Son of Man or the Revelation of Jesus 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. Thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are are able to make thee wise unto salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect thorowly furnished unto all good works The sum of what we have been Arguing Proving is this That the Holy Scriptures are our Directory with respect to Worship all then and no more whatsoever Christ hath commanded his people therein Saints are bound to attend and give up to And if so as is clearly demonstrated then Christ having given charges therein touching Saints walking together in the fellowship of the Gospel Worshipping Waiting on him in Gospel-institutions Praying Preaching Baptism breaking Bread is unquestionably the duty of Saints in every generation Quod erat demonstrandum Object T is true these things were once of the institution of Christ but they are now ceased Answ 1. They are the Scriptures of the Lord as we have proved we are solely to attend to both with respect to Doctrine and Worship let but then one syllable tittle be produced there-from that demonstrates the cessation of these Institutions of Christ and the matter is at an issue The honour of our Lord Jesus being so deeply concerned herein no sober Christian except under a great power of temptation will be willing to part with them upon easier terms 'T is not pretensions to Visions Revelations Angelick Appearances that will remove them from their stedfastness to the institutions of Christ those that depart from them upon such pretensions will never answer it in the day of Christ But 2. By the same reason the institutions Ordinances under the Mosaick Ministration might long before the fulness of time for their dissolution have been exploded so all the Authority of God with respect to Worship been rejected To the very time of their passing away by the exhibition of Jesus who was greater than Moses by whom the Law was given John 1.17 greater than Angels whose Ministry was made use of in its solemn Promulgation Act. 7.53 The Lord charges his People to be found in the practice of them Mal. 4.4 And those that were so as corrupt as the then Church-state was were honoured signally blessed by the Lord as Zachary Elizabeth Simeon 3. There 's not the least mention of the freedom exemption of any of the Lords Children from these Institutions till the personal Appearance of Christ but the contrary Object 2. Well then it seems 't will be granted that when Christ doth personally appear on earth there is to be a cessation of and period put to this Church-state with the Institutions and Ordinances thereunto appertaining what if he hath so appeared already Answ 1. As touching the first we very readily grant it upon Christ's next visible glorious appearance there will certainly be a dissolution of this Fabrick But 2. As to the question whatever the pretensions of any are or may be of Christs personal appearance to them it s evidently false and untrue not to be believed heeded or attended to for these Reasons 1. Christ foretels us there shall be such pretenders and charges us not to believe them or go forth after them Mat. 24.26 Therefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desert go not forth Behold he is in the secret chambers believe it not 2. The Scripure mentions but one second coming of the Lord Jesus Heb. 9.28 And unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Upon this pretext there may be must be many comings of Christ 3. The Heavens must receive him till the times of the restitution of all things when and not before God the Father will send him Act. 3.20 21. Of these times there 's nothing appears that bears the least resemblance 4. Christ gives his Church no notice of any such thing which had he designed and for such an end as is pretended viz. to put a period to the present Ministration and to erect a new one send forth new Apostles c. he would certainly have done A total silence herein were there any such thing intended by him is perfectly inconsistent with the Love he bears to his Children 5. 'T is expresly said he must sit at Jehovah's right Hand till his Enemies are made his Foot-stool Psal 110.1 which as yet we are sure they are not 6. The Work of Intercession now in Heaven where he is constantly to attend it will not admit him to come from thence tell he bring the New Jerusalem down with him For he makes Intercession as God-Man in that Nature Body in which he was Crucified which though a glorious Body yet is limited circumscribed else 't were not a Body 7. The Scripture is express that when he comes from thence he comes visibly as he went away so that every eye shall see him Mat. 24.27 30. For as the lightning cometh out of the East and shineth even unto the West so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven and then shall all the Tribes of the Earth mourn and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory Act. 1.9 10 11. And when he had spoken these things while they beheld he Christ was taken up and a Cloud received him out of their sight And while they looked stedfastly towards Heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in White Apparel which also said Ye men of Galilee Why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall SO COME in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him 8. When Christ comes Satan shall be bound Rev.
synchronize the effects of the one and the other are the same viz. the total destruction of Antichrist and introduction exaltment of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus But the Stone hath yet not begun to smite for when it begins so to do it shall never cease till the Image be wholly destroyed and it the Stone become a great Mountain filling the whole Earth Dan. 2.34 35. Therefore none of the Vials are yet poured out But of this matter we must not now speak at large That there are particular Churches upon the rise of the Witnesses and the pouring out of the Vials will receive a speedy dispatch 1. Now the Witnesses which we have proved to be particular Churches stand upon their feet Begin openly with their wonted and perhaps greater courage and boldness to assert and give Witness to the Wayes and Institutions of Christ which all the time of their Prophesying they were publickly and in the time of their slaughter they were privately found in the practice of Rev. 11.11 2. Now the Woman that had fled into the Wilderness and was nourisht there all the time of the Witnesses slaughter comes out from thence and shews her self as the true Loyal Spouse of Christ in her visible subjection to him in all his glorious Institutions and Appointments To which time that prophesie seems to have respect Cant. 8.5 3. Now the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Heaven is open'd Rev. 15.5 A few things must be enquired into 1. What we are to understand by the Temple 2. Why 't is call'd The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony 3. In what sense it 's said to be opened 1. By the Temple we are to understand the Gospel-Church-state the Churches Ordinances Institutions of CHRIST which hath been before proved are represented under that notion with the Reasons thereof 2. 'T is call'd The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony because the presence of God his Laws Statutes Ordinances were with them amongst them in a special peculiar manner The Tabernacle of Old was a Type of his special presence with his people then Exod. 25.8 and 29.45 46. Levit. 26.11 12. Therefore God is said to dwell in the Tabernacle it s call'd his Habitation 2 Sam. 15.25 There he promised to meet with and speak to his People Exod. 29.42 43. This Tabernacle is call'd the Tabernacle of Testimony Exod. 38.21 Acts 7.44 because in it was the Ark wherein was the Law or Testimony 'T was at last brought into the Temple at Jerusalem 1 Chron. 8.4 2 Chron. 5.5 This here is said to be in Heaven or appertaining to the Gospel-Ministration perhaps on purpose to obviate any mistake the Jews might have of the restitution of their Temple-Worship q. d. Though I speak of the Temple of the Tabernacle of Testimony don't think that I intend that which was built by Moses Solomon and that your Old-Worship thereto affixed shall be restored no I am treating of another kind of Temple under another Ministration viz. an Heavenly which he that speaks from Heaven hath introduced To which appertains the Testimony Laws Institutions he hath given forth wherein he hath promised to meet his People bless them fill them with his Company Presence Glory 3. By the Opening of the Temple of the Tabernacle in Heaven we are not to understand the introduction of a New-Gospel-Ministration The vanity emptiness ridicule of such an interpretation is from hence manifest that John saith not that there shall be a New-Temple built but only that the Temple shall be opened i. e. the Old Temple of the Tabernacle that was standing all the times of the Pagan-Antichristian persecutions And this very Scripture is of it self evidence sufficient that at least all the times of Antichrist there was an abiding Temple or Gospel-Church-state Worship Worshippers therein For at the rise of Antichrist we find a Temple Rev. 11.1 and now at the going forth of the Vial-Angels this very Temple is open'd not the least tittle syllable of the constituting a new one but the opening the old The word is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to build no nor so much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to restore or repair but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to open that which was already built and sufficiently beautified by the Lord. The words are perhaps an allusion to 2 Chron. 28.24 29.3 The first Scripture tells us that Ahaz had shut up the doors of the House of the Lord the latter that good Hezekiah open'd them 'T was the same House the same doors not others that was shut up and opened The meaning is Gospel-Churches that a little before were Worshipping more retiredly privately are now again brought to publick view returned from their Wilderness retired-state to an open profession owning of the Laws Wayes of JESVS 4. The Vial-Angels come out of this Temple thus opened Rev. 15.6 For they are some of the most Spiritual principal of the Temple-Worshippers or members of these Churches as is evident from their Priestly-array they are clothed in pure and White-linnen having their breasts girded with Golden-Girdles The attire of the Priests Exod. 28.6 8. Temple-Worshippers are a Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2.9 5. During the whole time of the pouring out of the Vials at the close of which as is generally granted Christ comes we find the continuance of this Temple ver 8. And the Temple was filled with Smoak from the Glory of God and from his Power i. e. there was a more than ordinary presence of God with these Temple-Worshippers and no man was able to enter into the Temple viz. to interrupt disturb the Worshippers there as formerly they had done till the seven Plagues of the seven-Angels were fulfilled i. e. till they were all pour'd out Antichrist by them perfectly destroyed the Glorious Kingdom of our LORD and SAVIOVR introduced CHAP. V. Gospel-Churches part of that Ministration set on foot by Christ The whole of that Ministration permanent to continue to the end of the World Mat. 28.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.26 Explained An Objection Answered 1 Tim. 6.13 14. Explained Heb. 1.1 2. Considered opened The Excellency of the discovery God the Father made of his Will by his Son above all other discoveries he had before made nothing new to be added to it Dan. 9.24 Explained The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who Vision and Prophesie what it is The sealing it up what it imports There 's no ground left for any New-Ministration or any alteration in that set on foot by Christ The reasons of the alteration of the Old Testament-Ministration with the Institutions thereto belonging The Gospel-Ministration Ordinances must continue except a greater than Christ come Demonstration V. THe Gospel-Church-state with the Churches Institutions Ordinances thereunto belonging is part of that Ministration that was set on foot by the Lord Jesus when he Tabernacled amongst men as hath already been demonstrated Now the whole of that Ministration that was then set on foot by him is permanent and