a Fountain springing up and a sowing to everlasting life a progress from glory to glory see Rom. 8. 23. Heb. 6. 4 5. 2 Cor. 1. 22. -5. 5. â—…o 4. 14. Gal. 6. 8. Eph. 1. 13 14. According to which those prophecies of the effusions of the spirit which are fulfilled in part upon our Saviors first coming yet seem not to have their full accomplishment till his second appearing which in those texts is joyned with the first See Act. 2. 17 18. comp 19 20. Joel 2. 28. c. comp Joel 3. 2. c. Mal. 3. 1. c. comp Mal. 4. 1 5. Esai 40. 3 5 10. And the plentiful flowing of those waters of life our Saviors ordinary Metaphor in St Johns Gospel for the Spirit which shall be from the Temple or the Throne of God and the Lamb mentioned Rev. 22. 1. -21. 6. Ezec. 47. 1 3. c. Joel 3. 18. Ezec. 13. 1. -14. 8. Ps. 36. 8 9. for all these prophecies wonderfully accord and speak of the state of the new world yet to come expressing heavenly things by earthly and the truths of the Gospel veil'd under the Ceremonies of the law must needs be understood of the fuller Communications of the holy spirit yet to come Blessed be God for his unspeakable gift The next operation of this spirit is upon our body but upon this as upon our Saviors not till the blessed Resurrection when we shall begin to bear the image of the heavenly Adam as we now bear the image of the earthly 1 Cor. 15. 49. and this vile body shall be changed and made like to his glorious body like it I mean not as it appeared after his rising again to his Disciples with a wound to thrust ones hand in eating and drinking c. where to shew the truth of his resurrection that it was the same body that was crucified he was glad to veil the glory of it But as it appeared to St. Paul in the way to Damascus which glory struck him blind Act. 9. 3. comp Act. 22. 14. or as to St. Stephen the reflection of which made his face to shine as an Angels or as Moses's in the Mount or to his Disciples Matt. 17. 2. at his transfiguration where God to qualifie the sad relation of his sufferings gave them an anticipated sight of that glory which in the apparitions after his Resurrection was necessary to be eclipsed upon which moment of Beatifick vision his transported Disciples quite forgetting all former relations to the world would gladly have set up there their perpetual abode Or as it appeared to St. John Rev. 1. 13 17. at the sight of whose Majesty that beloved Disciple fell at his Masters feet as dead c. And after our body is thus made glorious as his in the resurrection it shall also have an ascension just like his Our bodies caught up in the Clouds c. 1 Thess. 4. 17. as his was Act. 1. 9. And when this perfection is produced in the body as well as the soul then it is that we are properly called the Sons and children of God being the children of the resurrection Luk. 20. 36. as is also noted of our Savior And as the Angels from their spirituality like God are called his Sons Job 1. 6. So is at that time said to be our adoption Rom. 8. 23. The regeneration the restitution to the state before sin the manifestation of the Sons of God see Matt. 19. 28. Act. 3. 21. Rom. 8. 19. comp with 1. 4. Rev. 21. 7. and mean while our life said to be in Christ to be hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3 4. 1 Jo. 5. 11. For this state was such a longing of the Apostle to attain once the resurrection such a waiting of the Saints for the coming of the Lord such a groaning and being burdened in this earthly Tabernacle not to be shut of it and have none but to be clothed upon it with another house from Heaven see Phil. 3. 11. 1 Cor. 1. 7. 2 Pet. 3. 12. 2 Cor. 5. 1. c. Rom. 8. 23. The same individual this shall be which our Savior kept his wounds to shew and perhaps will do for the honorable marks of his sufferings see Rev. 1. 7. Rev. 5. 6. he appearing in glory with them but by the operation of the spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. strangely changed For we sow not in the grave that body that shall be 1 Cor. 15. 37. no more saith St. Paul then the seed we sow in the field is the flower or plant that comes of it who can guess at the beautiful colors of a Tulip by looking on its seed therefore the Apostle speaks of the body raised as a superstructure upon this 2 Cor. 5. 4. as the seed is clothed upon by the flower or the tree sown then in shame it shall come up glorious weak come up in power natural come up spiritual 1 Cor. 15. 42. For there are bodies spiritual and we know not but the Angels are such so spiritual as that there shall be no more belly at least as for meats nor no more meats for it 1 Cor. 6. 13. As Moses and Elias here for the 40 daies they enjoyed Gods presence needed no food There shall be no flesh nor blood 1 Cor. 15. 50. No heaviness 1 Thess. 4. 17. nor grosness Luk. 24. 31. Jo. 20. 19. and so no sensual pleasure suiting to corruptible substances of which for the most part some foregoing pain is the parent Luk. 20. 36. what then shall we be like Angels nay like the Son of God the second Adam our Father like him when he shall appear in his greatest glory 1 Jo. 3. 2. but what this likeness shall be we know not yet nor how far the spirit shall be united to us in similitude of that unity which Christs human nature now hath with the deity but as in some kind we are now partakers so much more then shall we be of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. nay filled with all the fulness of God Eph. 3. 19. Glorious in body Esai 13. 12. and enriched with all knowledg wisdom holiness joy security in soul after the similitude of that wisdom and holiness and glory which Christs humanity hath received from the Deity some beams of that Sun being united to us the body of which dwells in him Col. 2. 9. Jo. 17. 21 23. To whom be all preeminence and glory for ever by all the partakers of his glory O foelix culpa said one quoe talem meruit habere redemptionem Ad aliquid majus humana natura perducta est per peccatum And God permitted that great evil of mans fall to raise him to a far greater honor finishing all his works in goodness and mercy Meanwhile as not we so neither is our Savior compleat every way before our resurrection being without us a Head glorified without its body Therefore is the Church called His fulness Eph. 1.
eye on the beauty of God the Original of all that is called fair in that Sanctuary is struck infinitely in love therewith and enamoured cries out whom have I in heaven c. Ps. 73. 25. the vehement longing after which 't is supposed drew those expressions from the High Priest himself in this his exile from it How am I straitned Luk. 12. 50. and with desire have I desired Luk. 22. 15. and from his servant St. Paul I am in a strait cupiens dissolvi c. Phil. 1. 23. And then this love to the Deity of the Temple will naturally produce the service of it In his Temple doth every man speak of his glory Ps. 29. 9. eternal singing of praise and giving of glory unto him even like those inflamed Cherubims that rest not night nor day nor no more do the Saints Rev. 7. 15. crying one to another alternately Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus Rev. 4. 8. Esai 6. 3. whose imploiment we envy not only because we love not God grant that we may not slothfully or heavily perform that duty here which must be our eternal imploiment hereafter unless we be eternally miserable To conclude the last act of our Savior as High Priest is coming again out of the Sanctuary For as the people waited without praying Luk. 1. until the Legal High Priest having made a full attonement came forth again and blessed them from the Lord. Numb 6. 23. Lev. 9. 22. So unto them that look for him shall Christ who was once offered to bear the sins of many appear a second time here without sin i. e. bringing us full remission hereof unto our final salvation Heb. 9. 28. For tho before it was noted how he staying there blessed us from the Sanctuary yet 't is not a compleat blessing till his return when coming forth with his face shineing like Moses from the glory of him before whom he stands he shall also glorifie us not only in soul but in body like himself and take and carry us in with him into the Sanctuary to see his glory and his Fathers glory Jo. 17. 24. and to be for ever with them 1 Thess. 4. 7. Which coming forth and glorious appearance of the great God and our Savior therefore all the Saints as the Israelites did of old are said by the Apostle to love to look for and patiently to wait for 1 Cor. 1. 7. 2 Tim. 4. 8. 2 Thess. 3. 5. Tit. 2. 13. Who yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10. 17. Amen CHAP. VIII Jesus Christ the Lord and King governing protecting the Church GOD in the beginning made the world by his Son the second Person of the Trinity Jo. 1. 3. Heb. 1. 2 10. God the Father working by interior purpose or decree the Son in exterior production of the effect The Holy Ghost by an internal virtue residing as it were in the thing that is produced God the Father in or thro the Son doth all things by the spirit The Father resolves the Son commands the Holy Ghost works The first the Agent the second the wisdom the third the power See 1 Cor. 12. 4 5 6. the three persons And by him sustained and conserved it into its being Heb. 1. 3. Col. 1. 17. And by him governed it in all its motions and changes The divine eternal relations of the Son to the Father must needs conclude this since he is the word Jo. 1. 1. the wisdom 1 Cor. 1. 24. of the Father without which none will say the world was made or is governed See Prov. 8. 22. But yet in a more special manner by him in all ages governed the Church of which God the Son was alwaies the Head Eph. 1. 22. and the careful Conductor amongst all its enemies even from the Creation as it were in a preludium of its redemption by him And the Holy Spirit that guided the Prophets as now so then was sent from him by which he alwaies preached the will of his Father unto men 1 Pet. 3. 19. and he was alwaies in the world tho the world knew him not and alwaies the light of men that enlightned every one coming into the world See 1 Pet. 1. 11. 2 Pet. 1. 21. 1 Pet. 3. 19. comp 2 Pet. 2. 4 5. Jude 14. 2 Sam. 23. 2. Jo. 8. 56 58. where note that St. John every where much vindicating for in his time it received some opposition the eternal divine nature of our Savior whence in honorem he was stiled Theologus John the Divine speaks frequently of his operations not only as come in the flesh but also as the eternal Son of God and as working all things with the Father before incarnate Jo. 12. 41. 1 Cor. 10. 9. Heb. 11. 26. Exod. 23. 20 21. comp 33. 3 14. 1 Cor. 10. 9. By which it appears our Savior was the Conductor of the Church in the wilderness refusing afterward upon their sin to go with them himself least his holiness and hatred to wickedness should consume them c. Exod. 33. 2 3. and deputing another Angel for this office but deprecated by Moses vers 12 14. Deut. 4. 34. Esai 63. 9. and reassuming their conduct c. see Act. 7. 38 39. Eph. 2. 20. He called the Corner stone and foundation of the Prophets as well as Apostles Gen. 32. 24 28. and Hos. 12. 3 4. Anciently assuming many times an human shape as a fore-personating of his Incarnation See Josh. 5. 13 14 15. comp Exod. 3. 5. and Rev. 19. 10. -22. 9. Head of the Army of God Judg. 2. 1 5. Exod. 14. 10. comp 13. 21. Judg. 6. 12 14. c. And as by him all things were thus made and governed c. so being the eternal Son of God the Father he was alwaies the Heyr of all things Heb. 1. 2. -3. 3 4 6. and for him they were made Col. 1. 16. Thus was our Savior before his Incarnation enthroned in the bosom of the Father Jo. 1. 18. and the most High in his glory before the world was Jo. 17. 5. And all power and government and judgment committed to him from the beginning and in a particular manner the protection and Headship of the Church In which office he gave his spirit as since to the Apostles so also of old to the Prophets and when he came into the world is said to have come to his own and to be born King c. Jo. 1. 10 11. Yet this he did first out of an infinite desire of his Fathers greater glory and to If I may so say recover his kingdom and reduce it into peace first by the rebellion of the Angels and then the revolt and falling away and enmity to him of man also by the instigations of the Prince of the air much troubled as it were and diminished from what at first it was Not that all things forced by his overuling power do not still yield subjection unto God for who hath
Abraham and the glad tidings he brought him in them of that coming which the Jews then yet without rejoycing as Abraham beheld And might not Abraham be said thus to see his glory as well as Esai it must be granted did 2. And next the descent of the Lord in the times of Noah how like is it to this in Abraham's time before the firing of Sodom And his conference with and complaint to Noah see Gen. 6. 3 7 8 12 13. -7. 1 16. and his promises to him and Covenant with him and his seed Gen. 6. 18. -9. 9. c. to those with Abraham And his preserving of Noah with his family and his shutting them up in the Ark Gen. 7. 16. to his delivering of Lot and his leading him forth by the hand And his causing it to rain those miraculous waters by opening the windows of heaven and springs of the deep Gen. 7. 4 11. to the fiery rain upon Sodom and how well do these agree with that expression 1 Pet. 3. 19 So that it seems without doubt these two of the firing of Sodom and of the flood and that of drowning the Egyptians in the Red sea with the salvation of Noah Lot and Israel being the 3 grand types to the world of the last great judgment to come see 2 Pet. 2. 5 6. Jude 5. 7. that they were executed by the same hand see 2 Pet. 2. 5 6. Luk. 17. 26 28. that the other shall be even the Son of God to whom the Father for ever hath committed all mercy and judgment 3. The same person it seems to be that first wrestled with as he doth in afflictions with all the pious and then blessed Jacob Gen. 32. 24. That appeared to and was adored by Joshuah Josh. 5. 13. 14 15. comp Exod. 3. 5. To Gideon Judg. 6. 22. To Manoah Judg. 13. 15. c. all which may be gathered from the arguments forementioned And I can call to mind in the sacred story only 2 apparitions or visions which certainly appear to be of God the Father That of the Ancient of dayes Dan. 7. 9. comp 13. and Rev. 4. 2. comp c. 5. 5. 4. Lastly he was the Angel that conducted the Church in the wilderness as is shewed above and by consequence that gave them the law in Mount Sinai for tho the law is said to be given by the disposition and promulgation of Angels Act. 7. 53. Gal. 3. 19. Heb. 2. 2. multitudes of whom appeared in the Mount Deut. 33. 2. Psal. 68. 17. by whom those voices were formed in the Air. Heb. 2. 2. In which speaking of the law to the people the Angels were Mediators as afterward in receiving from the Angel and carrying the law to them Moses was Gal. 3. 19. which is taken notice of several times in the new Testament to shew the preeminence of the Gospel since the law was delivered to men by the intermediation of Angels and Moses Servants and Ministers but the Gospel by the mediation of his only Son made flesh that he might familiarly converse with man without those terrors that accompanied the law yet the supreme Legislator was God Deut. 33. 2. Exod. 20. 1. Exterior loquela Angelorum interior Dei per Angelum and that the Son the eternal word and Vicegerent of the Father called the Angel Act. 7. 38. that spoke with Moses upon the Mount from whom he received the law written with his finger the same Angel that appeared in the bush vers 35. that conducted them in the cloud Which soveraign Legislator for the glorifying of his Father and the saving of man humbled himself afterward to become Himself the Mediator The type of which mediation of his Moses then was both in delivering the will of God to the people coming down to them from the Holy place in the Mount and also ascending and interceding forty daies to God for the people Deut. 9. 18 25 26. As he since hath both descended in flesh from the bosom of the Father to declare and reveal all his will to us Jo. 1. 18. who only saw his face but Moses only his back-parts and in whose face the glory of the Gospel shone as of the law in Moses his face see 2 Cor. 4. 6. comp 3. 7. and is ascended again to the Father to intercede for us this Real Moses remembring him not of our righteousness c. but of the promise he made to them of the blessed sced Dâ—…ut 9. 27. and of the triumph the spiritual and temporal enemies of God would make over the deserted tho most worthy to be deserted Church vers 28. By whose prayers and intercessions it now standeth and shall stand for ever Amen Thus much that the Government of the Church of God also under the old Testament was by the Son of God Next for the Holy Ghost The operations also of Holiness in men under the old Testament was by the same spirit By it then Regeneration Gal. 4. 29. and our Saviour wondred at a Doctor in Israel Jo. 3. 10. that he was ignorant of it Tho therefore Christ not yet ascended and this Holy Spirit not then received and poured out in so full a measure upon all flesh yet as of the Son the Author so of the Holy Spirit the promise of the Gospel there were made some predescents in the old Testament Esai 63. 10 11. Nehem. 9. 30. Zech. 4. 6. some sprinklings and drops of those large effusions which have been poured out in the latter daies and of almost all those several kinds of its rich graces mentioned 1 Cor. 12. c. some first fruits as it were and samplars we find in the Ancient Church of God The spirit of wisdom eminent in Solomon 1 King 3. 12. and Exod. 31. 3. The power of miracles eminent in Moses Elijah Elishah and in these a specimen of almost all sorts of them that are exhibited in the new Command over the waters Exod. 14. 21. 2 King 2. 8. fire 2 King 1. 10. Dan. 3. 27. Air 1 King 18. 44. The Heavens Josh. 10. 12. The multiplying of oyl meal bread like that of our Saviours 1 King 17. 14. 2 King 4. 6 43 44. The Resurrection 1 King 17. 21. 2 King 4. 34. -8. 5. The Ascension in Enoch and Elijah Pentecost in the spirit descending upon his Disciple Elisha from ascending Elijah the type of Christ. Gifts of healing 2 King 5. 10. -4. 41. -2. 19. Esai 38. 21. Prophecy that called the proper season of the Prophets Helps in Government see the operations of the spirit upon Joshua and the Judges of Israel and the 70 Elders Interpretation of tongues and hearts too of dreams c. eminent in Joseph and Daniel see Dan. 5. 12 25. Only one the gift of tongues we find reserved as a property to the Gospel upon the enlarging of the Church from one before at this time to all nations and languages We find this Holy Spirit also represented of old both in
We are all therefore one day to take holy orders to be made Priests and Kings or Priests Melchisedechical Indeed we are already Priests not only some of us in respect of the rest which I have mentioned before who officiate for them in the publick assemblies but even all the people of God in comparison of the rest of the world the Church being a chosen generation out of all the rest an holy Nation a Kingdom of Priests Gods peculiar treasure the Israel of God separated and sanctified for to serve him See Exod. 19. 5 6. Gal. 6. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 5 9. Rev. 1. 6. Every one of whom not only by the Priest in publique assemblies but by themselves also in their hearts may offer sacrifices immediately to God the Father acceptable thro Jesus Christ Heb. 7. 19. and hence are we also called not only Priests by whom but Temples also and that not our souls only but our bodies inhabited by Gods spirit as that Ancient one was by his Glory in whom such sacrifice is offered as our Saviors body also more eminently was stiled a Temple See Jo. 2. 21. 1 Cor. 3. 16. -6. 19. Eph. 2. 22. But this Temple is yet but in building as it were we being here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and hereafter more perfectly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here Tabernacles hereafter Temples see Eph. 2. 21 22. But these we shall be made yet much more hereafter 1. After the day of judgment For then shall every place become a Sanctum Sanctorum and every one a Priest See Rev. 21. 22 23. where the new Jerusalem that after the final judgment Rev. 20. 12. comes down from heaven where perhaps as God expresseth elsewhere earthly by heavenly things so here heavenly by earthly hath no Temple at all in it For that which indeed makes a Temple whereever it resides the glory of God and of the Lamb being now spread all over it irradiating and illuminating it throughout in which respect there is said to be neither Sunshine nor Night there it is all of it nothing but a Temple vers 3. or God being the Temple vers 22. all over it See the same thing prophecyed Esai 4. 3 5. that every one should be â—…alled holy and every house and assembly in Sion have the same glory upon it cloud by day and fire by night that was on the Tabernacle And in this Sanctum Sanctorum Gods Servants shall see his face without a cloud of Incense betwixt and stand before his glory with his name Holiness unto the Lord in their foreheads Rev. 22. 4. and there they shall serve him vers 3. See Esai 61. 6. -66. 21. night and day in his Temple Rev. 7. 15. before the Throne of Glory in singing eternal glories and praises to him for there shall be no more confession where no sin nor praier where no more want not infirmity nor affliction the nations being healed by the tree of life Rev. 22. 2. no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any curse or excommunication of any Rev. 22. 3. there And secondly As then Priests and Servants to God the Creator so are they also Kings or Lords over the Creation sit down on thrones with Christ and Rev. 3. 21. and reign for ever and ever 22. 5. reign on the earth 5. 10. over the Nations 2. 26 27. Judge Angels Judge the 12 Tribes be rulers over Cities Luk. 19. 17. see Matt. 25. 21. -24. 47. Luk. 16. 10. which expressions so far as they have reference to Christs kingdom after the final day of judgment and not to that prosperous condition of the Church which is promised before it are metaphors expressing the unintelligible things of the next by the more acquainted things of this world which cannot be no more then those Ezek. 43. c. c. speaking of the same things litterally fulfilled 2. Priests also after Death before the great judgment day in the better part of us the soul the estate of which tho it was Gods pleasure that it should not be fully revealed to us yet we may not neglect to take notice of that which is so It seems plain then 1. That tho there is no formal judgment or sentence passed upon any man at the day of Death or final reward appointed or any convention or appearance of the soul before the eternal Judge for why then have not other spirits that are void of bodies as yet received that judgment see 1 Cor. 6. 3. And tho the soul as well as the body attain not as not extensively so neither intensively its full beatitude reward and crown nor vision and communication of God and glory nor a full satisfying of its desires Ps. 16. 15. or punishment pain and torment until the general day of judgment and retribution which is true not only of men 2 Pet. 2. 9. but devils more great and more Ancient offenders then men 〈◊〉 6. as may be gathered from both our Saviors and the Apostles frequent expressions commanding us to depend and cast our hope on the expectation of the coming of Christ in glory at the last day and deferring the receit of our salvation of the reward and of the crown of glory c. till that time See Luk. 14. 14. 2 Tim. 4. 8. -1. 12 16 18. 1 Pet. 1. 5 13. 2 Pet. 3. 11 12. Act. 3. 19 20 21. Luk. 21. 27 28. Phil. 2. 16. -3. 11. 1 Cor. 1. 7 8. -15. 19 32. 2 Cor. 5. 1. c. 2 Thess. 1. 6 7. Heb. 9. 27 29. Rev. 22. 7 12. Col. 3. 3. comp 4. 1 Jo. 3. 2. 2 Pet. 2. 9. Jo. 14. 3. By which it appears that there is a place not to be entered before Christs second coming prepared by his Ascension but before this were many souls in Paradise And this applied not only to the body but the spirit 1 Cor. 5. 5. From the petition and expectation of these souls Rev. 6. 9 10 11. From the just punishments of other spirits much worse and that stay for no bodies yet defer'd till that day See Jude 6. Matt. 8. 19. -25. 42. 2 Pet. 2. 4. Luk. 8. 31. comp Eph. 2. 2. Some at least it seems dwelling in the Air and not yet cast into the Abysse and likewise in this interval between death and judgment tho 't is most probable that some souls attain not so much bliss and glory and priviledg as some others See Rev. 20. 4. comp 5. -14. 4. Nor perhaps so much security I mean not in respect of damnation but in respect of that severe tryal which shall be at that dreadful day and of the measure of their salvation bliss and reward For since some sins shall come into judgment and scrutiny at that day which shall not amount to the condemnation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which our Savior expresseth hell here Matt. 5. 22. as frequently elsewhere See vers 29. Matt. 25. 33. see Matt. 5. 22. comp Matt. 12. 36. And since of those
in all times but only to some generations according to the good pleasure of the Father to whom his kingdom is subject in every country and again to some Countries in every age Matt. 24. 14. How narrow was the sound of the promulgation of his kingdom at first Into any Village of the Samaritans enter ye not How obscure his Sermons And without a parable spake he not unto them How uncapable his Auditors Not able to bear his doctrines Jo. 16. 12. Luk. 24. 21. Great works were done when he was present here but greater to be done after his departing hence Jo. 14. 12. His personal presence with his servants which was a great encouragement to them being advanced into an assisting them with his presence with God in heaven and his spiritual presence not with but in them receiving there from the Father and giving unto them the Holy Ghost by which themselves ignorant whilst his body was with them were enlightned with all truth and thousands now at a time converted to the Truth Therefore was it expedient for the promoting of his kingdom to go hence His Commission before being only from the Jews I am not sent c. Maâ—…t 15. 24. but after his ascent receiving the promise for the Gentiles when he asked of God and had given him the Heathen also for his inheritance Ps. 2. 8. And shedding the gift of all manner of tongues upon his Disciples for instructing them And ever since hath he enlarged his borders and advanced to a further perfection towards his fulneâ—…s which is his body the Church Eph. 1. 21. still bringing more sheep into his fold Jo. 10. 16. and gathering up the children of the kingdom as his Father hath given them him here and there in this or in the next generation not loosing one of those be gives him and sending his Laborers hither and thither according as his harvest is ripe Now forbidding his Apostles to sow their seed in one place where he sees the ground is yet too stubborn to receive it as in Asia Act. 16. 6. and in Bithynia vers 7. They assayed to go into Bithynia but the spirit of Jesus as many Copies suffered them not and in Jerusalem Act. 22. 18 21. They in Jerusalem will not receive thy testimony concerning me make hast depart I will send thee to the Gentiâ—…es Again guiding them and that by appearing himself in person to other places where he saw he had by his Father given him much people as at Corinth Antioch Ephesus See Act. 13. 48. -16. 10. -18. 9 10. -8. 39. Then spake the Lord to Paul Be not afraid for I have much people in this City So in places where they might do him more service pricking them forward extraordinarily with the secret instigations of his spirit See Act. 17. 16. -18. 5. -19. 21. driving Paul without any rest to Jerusalem that he might convey him thence by occasion of a false accusation to sow the Gospel at Rome See Act. 13. 2. -8. 1 4. more spreading the Gospel by a persecution of the professors Gods work being not good without evil But Good out of evil All this zeal toward the Gentile after he had out of his dear affection to his own nation first made tender of their ministry to the Jew where then refused yet in the time appointed his standard shall be set up and they also shall bow unto his Scepter and unto Sion shall come the deliverer Rom. 11. 26. comp with Esai 59. 20. and the light of the Gentiles shall also be the glory of Israel Thus the Sun of righteousness goeth on and prospereth and none are hid from the heat thereof but also as the Sun he enlightneth not all this Sphere at once First rising upon the Jew from them shining on the Gentile amongst these first visiting the proselytes and those who were before introducted into the Jew's religion for such were most of the first Converts Act. 16. 14. -17. 4 12 17. 18. 7. but from these by little and little spreading to the rest of the Gentiles those before abounding in all idolatry and amongst these to the Eastern and Asiatick people sooner the light of the Gospel holding the same course with that of the Sun and night also since having succeeded the day in places where it first shined then to the European and the West those whom the Gospel visited later being recompensed in this that they have retained it longer But this so as the light is still increasing and far more here added to the fold of that great Shepheard then have there apostatized from it and still it proceeds and hath passed over the broadest Seas to new discovered kingdoms America and so from them hath made the round to the furthest East China to the posterity of Sem For by him was the East generally peopled as the North by Japhet and the South by Cham and from them shall at last return to the posterity of Abraham the bodâ—… of the Jewish nation from whence it set forth Rom. 11. with whom we hope that a remnant of Cham s seed also out of which hath sprung that great enemy of Christ shall be gathered to the Church Ps. 72. 10 11. and then that wicked one with those that obstinately follow him be utterly destroyed and then Noah's curse fully accomplished And 〈◊〉 observable that at the same time the Gospel began to decay in some parts it began to be planted in others When the Eastern and African Churches began to be overgrown with Apostacy and Heresy the Northern nations Germany Pole Denmark Sweden Norway c. began to be gathered into the Church And after that the West again had been overrun with the grossest superstitions Sects and Divisions the Gospel was hastily transferred to the East and West-Indies From Christian assemblies it hath grown to Christian States and from these again as it has been of a long time generally belived shall encrease into a Christian and the fifth and last Empire not that all that live then shall be Saints or that the world shall be under one Monarch an opinion made to serve the ends of sedition and tyranny but all or most for their religion Christians neither shall Antichristianism be universal either for place or time Of the 10 horns this Enemy shall prevail but over three Dan. â—… 8. and as he shall be toward the end of the world so shall he not continue unto it nor have the honor mundo secum moriente mori but those Kings at last shall make him desolate who before gave their strength unto him And our Saviour shall conquer the world first another way before by setting it on fire His spirit his word first shall prevail over it over the hearts and souls of men and they shall one day before the last become subjects not only to his power but to his truth when Satan also himself before the time that he shall be utterly destroyed shall first have shackles
Esai 63. 9. which seems plainly applyed to our Saviour by the whole description and by 1 Cor. 10. 9. yet the same is called also Gods face Exod. 33. 14. and God himself vers 3. who refusing upon their idolatry to conduct them any longer yet afterward condescended unto it upon the intercession of Moses shewing in the first the malignity of sin in the second the power of Christs intercession for sinners typified by that of Moses See â—…xod 33. 14. -34. 10. Now for the coincidence of these two God the Lord and The Angel c. see Gen. 16. 7. comp 10 13 14. Gen. 22. 11. comp 12. -32. 34. comp 30. and Hos. 12. 4 5. Gen. 48. 16. comp 15. Gen. 31. 11. comp 13. Exod. 14. 19. comp 24. -3. 2. comp 3 4 6 7 14. Deut. 33. 16. and Zech. 3. 1 2. where Joshua appearing before the Angel as a Judge is accused by Satan see vers 4. Mark 12. 26. Act. 7. 38 35. comp 53. Heb. 12. 26. And many more places to this purpose Which interest agency and appearance of our Saviour in the old Testament those other places in the new seem to glance it 1 Cor. 10. 9. comp Exod. 17. 2. Numb 21. 5. Heb. 11. 26 1 Pet. 3. 19. -1. 11. Matt. 23. 37. where How oft would I c. seems to be meant also before his incarnation by the Prophets whom he alwaies sent before and since Neither doth that saying 1 Jo. 4. 12. Jo. 1. 18. No man hath seen God at any time 1 Tim. 6. 16. nor can see him grounded on Gods words in â—…xod 33. 20 22. thwart that which hath been said or oppose the visions and apparitions of God veil'd in created representations and images but only those visions of him in his own nature and essence or that more proper glory wherein he shall be seen by us in the next world 1 Cor. 13. 12. which devouring fire and unaccessible light nothing mortal can behold without being melted and consumed the image of which also is sometimes represented so glorious as neither is it beholdable see Lev. 16. 13. and most-what so glorious as not seen without great horror and trembling the ordinary symptomes in all apparitions even those not only of God but of Angels And this invisible glory is called Gods face Exod. 33. 20. Not but that Gods face also hath been seen see Gen. 32. 30. Judg. 6. 22. c. But that face was only a vizard if I may so say over his own face and that glory but a shadow of his own glory therefore Moses after a sight of these Exod. 24. 10 16. Numb 12. 8. still affectionately desired a sight of the other Exod. 33. 18. Sometimes made more sometimes less glorious as when in the form of a man he dined with Abraham But yet except when the divine Majesty personated an ordinary man seldom in any glorious apparition under the times of the law was his figure or at least his face seen this familiarity being reserved in the incarnation of God for the times of the Gospel 1 Jo. 1. 1. Jo. 1. 14. The appearance to Abraham in a vision or reality it matters not for our purpose Gen. 15. 17. comp 12. was a blazing flame issuing out of a Fornace environed with darkness Exod. 24. 16. The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire to the people and to the Elders who had more clear vision vers 10. there is mention only of as it were a Saphire-pavement under his feet and remember saith Moses Deut. 4. 15. that ye saw no manner of similitude Moses his importunity afterward only saw his shoulders passant and was entertained chiefly as also Elijah and as Adam in Paradise Gen. 3. 8 10. like some terrible noise in the air indicating Gods presence with a voice and a proclamation This being the time of hearing his word hereafter of vision see Exod. 33. 19. -34. 6. 1 King 19. 12. Ezek. 1. 26 27. the appearance of the loines of a man and flames covering the upper and the lower parts Esai 6. 1. No description of his person save the posture only sitting on a Throne only a particularizing of the Cherubims Dan. 7. 9. A description of his covering his vestment and his hair but not of his person Rev. 4. 3. no description of any figure only the lustre like a Jasper or Sardin-stone only Rev. 1. 12. In St. Johns vision of our glorified Savior there we find all the parts of his body punctually described much resembling Daniels of that glorious Angel c. 10. 5. which some also imagine to have been our Saviour 3. This appears in that some of the apparitions of God in the old Testament must be granted to be of the second person as that vision Esai 6. 1. which is interpreted expressly of Christ Jo. 12. 41. comp 40. quoted out of Esai 6. where this vision is related and this being the Lord whose glory resided in the Temple and sate between the Cherubims That vision Ezek. 1. 26. must needs be of the same Lord too see Psal. 68. 24. comp 18. now the same Lord residing in the Temple and before in or upon the Tabernacle it follows that the Lord conducting the Church in the wilderness was also the second person And from these which must be granted many other appearances in reason cannot be denyed to have been of the same person Especially most of them being acts of care and providence and mercies toward the Church Amongst which to name only some of them that to Abraham seems to be Gen. 18. where 't is plain that one of the 3 celestial persons was the Lord Abraham speaking in the singular and but calling one of them Lord vers 13 17. And two of them only entring Sodom whilst the third which was the Lord stayed and discovered the destruction of the City vers 22 33. whom see again Gen. 19. 16 17. talking with Lot and vers 24. executing judgment on the wicked after he had saved the Righteous coming then with salvation and promises in one hand for the good promises of himself to come and thro him of the inheritance of heaven typified in Canaan and deliverance from Hell typified in Lot and with judgments in the other hand upon the impious judgment of fire and brimstone and being cast into a bottomless lake in hell typified in Sodom And since our Saviour saith when the Jews asked him Jo. 8. whether he had seen Abraham that he was before Abraham and that Abraham had seen his day and was glad where it seems plain by vers 38 23. that he was discoursing of himself as being the eternal Son of God which the Jews so much stumbled at and St. Johns relations every where so much vindicate And that the day he speaks of is that permanent one of eternity which never ends and to which all time is but as one day 2 Pet. 3. 8. why may he not expressly mean it of these visions of