glory but as an addition to their felicity that they are made Kings and Priests unto God that they may reign with Christ upon the Earth For where they reign Christ shall reign Apoc. 5.10 20.4 where his Throne is erected there they are enthroned To him that overcometh Apoc. 3.21 will I grant to sit with me in my Throne c. Sing and rejoyce O Daughter of Sion Zech. 2.10 for lo I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee the Lord. And the Lord shall inherit Judah Vers 12. his portion in the holy Land And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem Zeeh. 14.4 Vers 9. And the Lord shall be King over all the Earth in that day shall there be one Lord Jer. 30.9.33.15 Ezech. 34.33 34.37.22 24. Dan. 7.14 Mich. 4.7 Zeph. 3 17. Zech. 2.20.6.13 and his name one Many more Scriptures might be produced to confirm this Gospel-truth that the same Lord Jesus Christ who did ascend into Heaven shall come again to reign upon the Earth Luk. 19.12 But if these do not satisfie neither will credit be given if an Angel speak from Heaven or one should rise from the dead to affirm it For my own part I do not know any point of Faith throughout the whole Book of God more clearly proved then this in hand as certain as he ascended and is now receiving his Kingdom Luk. 19.11 12. so sure will he return again to reign in his Kingdom Read Psalm 72. And these and many more Scriptures do superabundantly ratifie this assertion Vse 1. What then remains on our part but first to believe this truth of his coming here to reign we can do him no greater honour then to believe his Word nor no greater disgrace then to reject and refuse so great a cloud of Witnesses of himself his Prophets and Apostles Vse 2. To pray fervently as himself hath taught us Mat. Thy kingdom come for though it is true that neither this nor any other mercy shall be detained from us one minute longer then the appointed season Yet know O house of Israel Ezech. saith the Lord I will for this be enquired of Vse 3. And thrice blessed those that are counted worthy to be the Lords Remembrancers to watch wait for and constantly expect the coming of this King of Glory Blessed is that servant Mat. whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Isai 30.18 Yea blessed are all they that wait for him Secondly how and in what manner shall this King our Christ come to reign upon the Earth First he shall come in Majesty Power Mat. 24.30 2 Thes 1.9 and great Glory not in the form of a servant not riding upon a Colt the foal of an Ass not to be laid in a Manger abused condemned and crucified but now the voyce is Gird thy Sword upon thy thigh Psal 45.3 4 8. O most mighty with thy glory and thy Majesty and in thy Majesty ride prosperously All Garments smell of Myrrh his Aloes and Cassia out of the Ivory Palaces He shall also have dominion from sea to sea Psal 72.8 and from the River to the ends of the Earth yea all Kings shall fall down before him 11. all Nations shall serve him Secondly 2 Thes 1.7 Mat. 24.31 25 31. Zech. 14.5 Jude 14. He shall come attended with all the Angels in Heaven and all his Saints that ever were now are or ever shall be never such a King never such a train Thirdly Mat. 24.27 1 Cor. 15.52 He shall come swift as the Lightning in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at unawares O dear Christians watch for your lives Fourthly Mat. 24 30 Apoc. 1.7 2 Thes 1.8 1 Cor. 3.13 He shall come in Clouds and flaming fire look carefully to your works actions and conversation for this fire will try every mans work of what sort it is Fifthly Mat. 24 30 Apoc. 1.7 He will come in view of all the world and every eye shall behold him And what wilt thou do or how wilt thou be able to look on his glorious face that canst not now endure the sight of his Saints Sixthly and lastly He will come in person with the same body that was born of the Virgin crucified upon the Cross raised from the dead and ascended into Glory only here 's all the difference it will be a Spirituall Immortal Glorious Body but the same Body If we believe that he was a perfect man and had a real Substantial Body here on earth and that he hath exalted the same Body to the right hand of the Majesty on high then certainly he shall come in person here to reign in the same Body with his Saints for proof hereof many Scriptures might be alledged I shall only produce two and they are very full and clear the first is in the first of the Acts Acts 1.11 vers 11. and it is the Doctrine of Angels 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 I am even amazed that men professing godliness should have a vayl so thick upon their hearts and their understanding so wonderfully obscured as to reject the serene brightness of this impregnable Testimony The second Scripture is the first to the Thes 4.16 For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout c. 1 Thes 4.16 there needs no further proof if these two convince not what will If any shall yet continue in darkness and unbelief of this so necessary glorious truth thus measured by the line of the Word and weighed in the ballance of the sanctuary it is because there is no light in them The use that I would have my fellowbrethren to make of the personal Reign of Christ is this if ever we expect to see his face with joy if ever we hope to be sharers in his Glory at his personal coming in his Kingdom let us get a large proportion of his spirit in our hearts his personal presence will be no comfort to us then unless we are filled with his spirituall presence now Gen. 43.5 Ye shall not see my face saith Joseph except your Brother be with you Can we think of entertainment in his Royal Palace without the wedding garment the Lord make us wise betimes Thirdly the next thing to be enquired into is where this King of Glory will establish his Throne at his coming and this hath been proved already in general to be upon the earth but more particularly I affirm because the Word of truth affirms it will be in the Valley of Jehosaphat for so the Prophet Joel speaks in plain words Joel 3.2 I will also gather all Nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehosaphat and
revealed with his mighty Angels in flaming fire 2 Thes 1.7.8 For further illustration and confirmation of this glorious truth I shall now particularly cleer by Scriptures those fifteen remarkable Changes which as so many Trophees of Victory shall attend this Prince of prayses at his taking to himself this his great power and Soveraignty 1. The Saints Deceased Royal Jesus brings THis will be the first Act of this King of glory according to the express Testimony of the Spirit 1 Thes 4.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him And this will be a total not a partial Resurrection of all departed Saints not the Martyrs only as some conceive not only those that have lost their lives for Jesus but the Scripture is plain and full that whoever they be that sleep in Jesus Apoc. 20.4 God will bring with him not only those that were beheaded for the Witness of Jesus but all those also which had not worshipped the Beast nor his Image neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years These are they * Rev. 5.9 10. Pro. 8.31 Heb. 12.2 that are so exceedingly transported with that more glorious condition of reigning with Christ upon the Earth for as the joy and delight of Christ from Eternity was placed with his Saints on Earth so the Saints filled with the same spirit place their joy and delight with this glorious King in his high exalted state on that Earth and in that part of the Earth where he was so shamefully abused and so cruelly crucified When therefore I shall see with these eyes my blessed Redeemer in the clouds attended with all his holy Angels and departed Saints then and not till then shall I see the end of Ordinances and all those glorious Prophesies and blessed promises fulfilled and accomplished which concern this high point of my belief in the personal reign of my Redeemer I would not for ten thousand worlds be deprived of this Light which leads to the glory of this blessed day 2. The Rest Released mount on Angels wings OUr blessed Jesus O most wonderful loving Jesus counts not his joy entire nor his glory compleat while any one of his beloved Lambs is absent and therefore he makes it his great request to his Father and our Father Joh. 17.24 O saith he that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me 'T is granted saith the Father our most gracious infinitely loving Father and accordingly Paul is informed That we which are alive 1 Thes 4.17 and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the Ayr and so shall we be ever with the Lord. 'T is true the raising thus the dead Saints 1 Cor. 15.51 and changing the living Saints is such a Mystery as most wil give no credit to for who indeed can take delight in this doctrine but those that shall share in the glory of it it hath no rellish upon other mens palats they cannot digest it though never so cleer in Scripture but God hath revealed it to many of his dear ones by his Spirit in his word which plainly tels them Mat. 24.31 That he will send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet and they shall gather together his Elect from the four winds Zech. 14.5 from one end of Heaven to the other And can I believe my Lord is yet come to reign while I see poor Saints scattered here and there in various straights and fiery tryals Away with thy conceits deluded Notionist and shallow prophane man my Lord comes not in the Desart nor in the secret chamber but when he comes to take the Kingdoms of the world to his own Government thou shalt see it may be to thy terror that word of Zechariah fulfilled Zech. 14.5 The Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee 3. To Israel mourning sounds a glorious call WHen all eyes shall see him Rev. 1.7 Zech. 12.10 Ezech. 37.21 poor Israel must not be excluded they also shall to their unspeakable joy and comfort behold him whom they have pierced Zech. 14.2 even then when they have greatest need of him when their new possessed City shall be taken their houses rifled their women ravished and all miserably enslaved in this time of so great trouble Dan. 12.1 Rom. 11.26 Isai 4.3.43.5 6. such as never was since there was a Nation shall they behold Michael the great Prince that blessed deliverer who shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob and now all Israel shall be saved Jer. 30.10 Joel 3.1 even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem for now the singing of Birds is come and that blessed voyce is heard in their ears Awake Isai 26.19.60.1 and sing ye that dwell in the dust Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Zeph. 3.17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy he will rest in his love he will joy over thee with singing Multitudes of Scriptures might be produced for the confirmation of this truth but these may suffice or nothing will especially considering that not one Scripture nor indeed any Author of credit that I know of doth seem to deny it This then in brief is my judgement with many deer Saints grounded upon the word of truth concerning this wonderful work of the Jews conversion First That they shall have an outward Call Secondly That they shall be inwardly converted The former is thought to be at hand if not already in being since it is well observed by Merchants of credit and others that they have these two or three years been gathering wonderfully from places more remote towards Palestina the Lord seeming now to make good his word first Isa 5.26 Zech. 10.8 in moving them to come in person to the Land of their Inheritance according to these Promises Vers 6. I will hiss for them and gather them for I have redeemed them and I will strengthen the house of Judah and I will save the house of Joseph and I will bring them again to place them And I will make them one Nation in the Land upon the Mountains of Israel Ezâ—ch 27.22 and one King shall be King to them all for When the Lord shall build up Zion Vers 24. Ps 102.16 he shall appear in his Glory Therefore thus saith the Lord Ezeck 39.25 26. now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel And the ransomed of the Lord shall return Isa 35.10 and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting joy shall be upon
their heads they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away And thus will he perform the second more glorious work upon their souls for a through conversion And now I do heartily desire for the confirmation of Saints and for the confutation of such as deny the glorious personal Reign of Christ that they will seriously consider and weigh those cleer proofs of Scripture that do so fully establish this truth viz. That when the Jews shall be thus wonderfully converted Jer. 33.14 15 16. Joel 3.1 2. even then and not before shall this King of glory take to himself his great power and Reign what can be more plain and clear then this In those days and at that time see those other Scriptures now will this glorious Mystery be fulfilled which hath been so largely held forth by all the Prophets Rev. 10.6 7. the seventh Angel is now sounding who swears that time shall no longer be delayed but the Lord Jesus that high and mighty one shall gird his sword upon his thigh and wonderfully bring in this his ancient people to whom shall all Saints be joyned with transcendent glory Wilt thou admit such a one as I into this glory Lord 4. To Babel burning an eternal fall SIons restauration must be Babels confusion the same blessed day that brings forth Jerusalems safety and felicity will also produce Romes ruine and everlasting misery I do not undertake which of these shall precede whether the Jews Call or Romes Fall I believe they will neither of them be long a doing it may be as sudden as our change shall be Zeph. 1.18 Joel 3.4 he will certainly make a speedy riddance swiftly and speedily will he return Romes recompence upon the accursed heads of all her children But that which the word of truth is full and clear in is that Rome Antichrist and all their adherents Rev. 14.8.16.17 c. 17 1â—.18.2 c. Jer. 51.8 c. shall certainly be destroyed and that I may prosecute my design or rather the design of the Spirit of God it is plain that Antichrist and Rome shall be destroyed even then and not before the Lord Jesus shall come in Person 2 Thes 2.8 he is now consuming him with the Spirit of his mouth but he shall give up the ghost at the brightness of his coming But since this is the day of Antichrist's consumption in which we live it behoves all true hearted Saints diligently to consider what the will and minde of the Lord is concerning us how he would have us be acted in order to the accomplishment of this great design First we must joyn in prayer with our fellow brethren under the Altar Rev. 6.9 10. and give the holy One of Israel no rest till Babylon be consumed and Jerusalem be made a praise in the Earth And secondly we must set hand and heart purse and person to the work even the great work the strange Act that he is doing for and by his Saints yea let every one that is the redeemed of the Lord say I will have a hand in her destruction Jer. 51.1.2 c. Psal 137. â— 9 yea blessed yea happy shall he be that hath his hands deepest dyed in the blood of her children 5. The world combined hath a fatal blow THis is the fifth remarkable change that will help to celebrate the triumphs of the glorious day for as the long enthralled Jews and Israelites are entred into their ancient Land and have newly got Possession of the present Jerusalem their potent Enemies Turk Pope c who have long detained them in a miserable slavery shal raise huge Armies to pursue them Dan. 11.45 and shal plant their Tabernacles in the glorious holy mountain see this fully Ezek. 38.4 5 6 9.15 16. and Chap. 39.6 And shall begirt their new-obtained City Zâ—ch 14.2 which they shall speedily storm and take and reduce these most miserable distressed people into such dreadful calamities Dan. 12.1 Zâ—ch 12.10 11. as the like was never heard of since there was a Nation even to that same time but in the midst of these sad straights fearful horror and dismal darkness when nothing but black despair or a second more miserable slavery then ever is before them the great Prince of the Kings of the Earth shall appear in some wonderful manner to them Dan. 12.1 and shal go forth and fight against those Nations and put such terror into their hearts and such courage into the hearts of his unarmed people Isa 14.2 that they shall take them captives whose Captives they were and they shall rule over their oppressors 6. Satan confined to his den below HIs present condition is a Princely Rule in the ayr and in the hearts of the children of disobedience but in these Halcyon days will that blessed voyce be heard amongst the Saints Now is come salvation and strength Rev. 12.10 20.1 and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast down For the Angel shall binde and shut him up in the bottomless Pit to which he shall be confined for a thousand years during which restraint he shall not be able no not to tempt his own vassals but they shall willingly serve the Saints for the preservation of their lives till the thousand years be fulfilled Vers 3. And after that he must he loosed a little season Of which I shall speak in its place Some have fancyed that Satan hath been already bound and the thousand years are already expired but without any shadow of truth since there hath not been the least intermission of Satans rage and fury since the Book of the Revelation was written For what with the gross Idolatry of Pagans obstinate blindness of the Jews wonderful defection of Turks strange Errors Sects and Heresies of Christians abominable Superstition Idolatry Ignorance and all kinde of wickedness with bloudy persecution of Saints by Antichrist Alstedius Dr. Hakewill Apol. pag. 476. which things cannot possibly stand with the confinement of Satan and consequently this Prophesie is yet unfulfilled and the time of the binding up of this Bandog will be the glorious triumphant state of Saints when they shall be marryed to Christ the universal Monarch of this great Universe 7. The whole Creation finds a full Release FOr now this second Adam shall compleat his work Rom. 8.19 and reduce the whole frame of Nature to its primitive purity and perfection which by the sin of the first Adam hath been so long subjected to vanity and corruption this is that great Deliverer and this time of his personal Reign wil be the blessed state as of the redemption of our bodies from sin Acts 3.21 sorrow corruption so of the restitution of all things the Elements and all that are produced by them to that goodness wherein they were first created how often have we like Parrots prated
over in our Popish Liturgy this heavenly Doctrine which to this day we understand not Psal 67 4. O let the Nations be glad and sing for joy for thou shalt judge the people righteously and govern the Nations upon Earth Selah Mark that but now Saints have experience of this blessed Mystery Jer. 35.5 that at the same time when this King shall reign and prosper and execute judgement and justice in the earth Ezech. 34.23.24 then shall the earth bring forth her encrease when David the great Prince shall reign here in highest glory then and not till then shall the whole Creation brought into this glorious Liberty of the Sons of God fill the Universe with abundance of all rich blessings I have little to say to those who knowing nothing of this wonderful Mystery of the glorious Reign of our King and know as little of the meaning of Rom. 8.19 c. Yet because they must say something are pleased in their grave wisdoms to affirm that this glorious liberty with the children of God which the whole Creation shall enjoy is nothing but the annihilation of the creature as if all Creatures which in their kinde do wonderfully endeavor the preservation of themselves should yet groan and earnestly long to be made nothing what is this but to speak daggers and introduce a secret Atheism 8. And every Nation flourishes with Peace HOw can it be otherwise when the Kingdoms of the world are ruled and governed by the Prince of Peace what the glorious Peace of the Saints shall be hath been in part and shall be more fully declared But there will be universal peace over all the earth for all the wicked of the world shall as earnestly seek peace as ever the Gibeonites sought it of the Israelites when the great seducer of mankind is shut up in prison his Vassals will neither have skil nor courage to stand in opposition against the Saints for he that hath the disposing of all hearts will so mould their spirits that they shall be glad to crouch for safety at the Saints feet and blessed be the Name of our exalted King he hath already given his people in this Land a taste hereof when in many places the proudest enemie thinks himself in a safe condition that can obtain the favor of a child of God to serve himself and his forfeited estate But in this glorious Reign of Christ it will be universally so Psal 72.8 for when his Domiminion shall reach from sea to sea even to the ends of the earth then they that dwell in the Wilderness shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust The Kings of Tarshish and of the Iles shall bring Presents 10. the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts 11. yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him This is that blessed time when the Righteous shall flourish and abundance of Peace so long as the Moon endureth Mic. 4.3 Isai 11.6 7 8 9. then and not till then shall they beat their Swords into Plowshares and their Spears into Pruning-hooks no more contention no more war for ever 9. The Mount asunder cleaves t' enlarge the Plain IF all the Prophesies that are fulfilled already concerning Christ were performed in the very Letter Psal 8.2 Ps 22.18 Isai 7.14 Zech. 9.9 I desire any man to show a substantial Reason why those that are yet unacccomplisht should belookt upon in a mysterious obscure way till such a reason be given I must look upon this as upon all other Prophesies to be fulfilled in the same way as others have been and therefore must expect according to the Word that this day of Wonders will produce this Wonder amongst the rest that the Mount of Olives that stands over the Valley of Jehosaphat shall cleave indeed Zech 14.4 to enlarge that Vale to a sufficient capacity for the reception of the New Jerusalem it is clear Ver. 10. that it shall reach from Geba to Rimmon but of what extent that will be is I think unknown only this it seems to extend over the whole Land of Palestina Psal 60.6 what else means the Royal Psalmist I will divide Shechem Vers 8. and mete out the Valley of Succoth Moab is my washpot Psal 87.3 4. and 108 7 8 9. over Edom will I cast out my shooe Philistia triumph thou because of me and that of the Prophet In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is faln Amos 9.11 12. that they may possess the remnant of Edom and of all the Heathen they shall possess the Mount of Esau Obad. 19.20 21. and they of the Plain Philistia c. And Saviours shall come upon Mount Sion to judge the Mount of Esau Isai 10.29 c. and the Kingdom shall be the Lords All which compared makes good the word of Zechariah That the dividing of this Mount of Olives shall produce a very great Valley Zech. 14.4 till which Valley appear in its lustre and beauty not any of the notions of Giddy brains shall stagger my faith to conceit That my Lord is already come to Reign That Vale of Wonder where the Lord must Reign AS once the eyes of Elisha's servant were opened to see the Mountains full of Horses and Chariots of fire 2 Kings 6.17 so certainly were the eyes of this Prophet in a wonderful manner enlightened to see the glory of the Lords Day Joel 3.14 the Day of his great Power in this mighty Valley of Jehosaphat at which glorious apparition he raiseth up his voyce as one transported with this heavenly rapture Multitudes multitudes in the Valley of Decision for the Day of the Lord is neer in the Valley of Decision but what will the transcendent joy of this Prophet be with all the blessed Prophets and Saints of Christ when this Day of the Lord is come in the Valley of Dicision when we shal see all the heavenly Host gathered together in this spacious Mount-dividing Valley Psal 45. Matth 25.31 Jude 14. 2 Thes 4.14 Joel 3 2. the Lord of Glory riding in his Glory and Majesty attended with all the holy Angels in heaven and all those Myriades of Saints that sleep in Jesus this mighty Potentate How unconceiveably glorious how wonderfully spacious will this Valley of Jehosaphat then be which must contain all the Saints and Angels in heaven with all both good and bad that are found living upon the earth this is no private fancy but the express words of the Spirit of God I will also gather all Nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehosaphat Verse 11. and will plead with them there Assemble your selves and come all ye Heathen and gather your selves together round about thither cause thy mighty Ones to come down O Lord Let the Heathen be wakened and come up to the Valley of Jehosaphat 12. for there will I sit to
THE Seventh Angel sounding Presents A glimps of the glorious Raign of Jesus Christ whose personal appearance is royally attended with these fifteen Changes full of wonder as so many Trophie's of his absolute victory and universal soveraignty 1. The Saints Deceased Royal Jesus Brings 2. The Rest Released mount on Angels wings 3. To Israel mourning sounds a glorious Call 4. To Babel burning an eternal fall 5. The world Combined hath a fatal blow 6. Satan Confined to his Den below 7. The whole Creation finds a full release 8. And every Nation flourishes with peace 9. The Mount asunder That vale of wonder cleaves t' enlarge the Plain where the Lord must raign 10. The glorious City from Gods throne doth glide 11. The Nuptial ditty ushers in the Bride 12. Thus Saints regaining an immortal state 13. In glory reigning while the Sun bears date 14. The Nations bending Virgins voyces Raise 15. All Duties ending in joy love and praise Joel 3.9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles Zech. 14.5 9. The Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee And the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day shall there be one Lord and his name one Psal 102.16 When the Lord shall build up Sion he shall appear in his glory THE Two Witnesses Their Prophecy Slaughter Resurection and Ascention OR An Exposition of the eleventh Chapter of the Revelation wherein is plainly proved that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the witnesses there spoken of who have Prophesied in Sackcloth one thousand two hundred and sixty years compleat That they are already slain revived and ascended That the tenth part of the City is fallen by our late Earthquake wherein seven thousand Names of men were slain The second wo is past This is the first part of the Chapter the second Part follows By Tho. Tillam a weak Labourer in the Lords Harvest 〈…〉 4.20 We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard 〈…〉 .11 We speak that we do know and testifie that we have seen 〈…〉 and ye receive not our Witness Printed by R.W. for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at the 〈…〉 lack spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1651. TO My Honoured Col. George Twissleton Esq Governor of Denbigh SIR BEsides your many favors conferred upon my unworthy self for a thankful acknowledgement I am also many ways as I conceive obliged to present unto you this Treatise as having its spring and first appearance under your Command where your faithful endeavours are imployed for the advancement of the glory of God in your many encouragements to those under your charge to be daily exercised in such duties and services as being religiously improved will be your Crown and their comfort in the day of the Lord Jesus when all present shadows of honours will be swallowed up in that immortal glory which is prepared for all such as are free in laying out themselves for the honour of this King of Glory as your self dear Sir have often been in improving your interest with Christ on the behalf of this Commonwealth and our Neighbour Nations upon emergent occasions Another motive enducing me to prefix your name is your affection to those Changes that attend the coming of Christ as they are digested in the Title Page which your Worship caused me to write down in a Book which I am perswaded you dearly love above all the world Sir I doubt not you will be more affected to finde each of these wonderful Changes distinctly cleared and proved by the Word of Truth as I suppose they are in this little Book Truly Sir The holding of them forth hath cost me dear upon the rising of a spirit of emulattion in some who could not brook that applause which was openly given to these Truths upon the delivery thereof But I have heard such expressions from you which have savored of another spirit as loving Truth for Truths sake by whomsoever declared One word from you hath made a deep impression upon my spirit by which I desire my affections may be regulated namely Of loving men for Religions sake and not Religion for any mens sake these with other of like nature have raised my affections to present this Treatise to your much honored name if you find Truth evident I have confidence you will give it entertainment and though any thing herein should seem to be New Light yet I hope it will not be the less welcome if it appear True Light Sir I might have inlarged this Epistle upon good and subslantial grounds in reference to you as your unwearied Service and constant fidelity as of all your flourishing Family to this State your present Employments in the faithful administration of Justice and the like But for sundry reasons I forbear Closing with my unfeighned desires of the welfare of your pretious soul that it may flourish in that full Society of Glorified Saints in New Jerusalem as it is daily expected to be manifested in Power by SIR Your real faithful servant Tho. Tillam An Exposition of the eleventh Chapter of the Revelation THe Lord by a special Providence guiding me to a People daily exercised in reading his Word and opening the the same in order now having before them the eleventh Chapter of the Revelation they desired my help in Expounding this Mysterious piece which sudden and unexpected motion did somewhat surprize me as knowing that it hath been accounted one of the hardest knots in the revealed will of God and withall considering how various the Opinions of Writers are upon the subject matter thereof and how little satisfaction I had ever received from any of them I therefore intended to speak a word or two from the two first verses and to discover my ignorance of the great Mystery of the Witnesses by passing it over in silence But while I was reading the Chapter I was most sweetly warmed by a secret heavenly heat quickning my spirit which was as it were transported by this soft gale of life and light and even constrained to declare this which with full and cleer evidence was communicated to me which also making some notable impression upon the spirits of the most judicious hearers they importuned me to give it them in writing at whose request I set to the work and in the review of these impressions upon my heart comparing them with such Ecclesiastical Histories as till then were unknown to me I found such harmony so sweet consent in Time Place Person every thing that hath left no place in my spirit for any further disputes reasonings or objections against the truth of these teachings And the Lord so open the Readers understanding that he also may receive the like full and sweet satisfaction in this Divine Mystery and so may obtain the blessing promised to such as read Rev. 1.3 hear and obey the words of this Prophesie The eleventh Chapter of the Revelation THe great God cals it a Revelation
in the three Nations who had so long oppressed the Reformed Churches And I do also conceive that the third wo yet to come doth properly belong to and shall miserably torment the Antichristian Train and all prophane wicked men and false Professors who will slight and reject and contemn the voyces of the feventh Angel For the seventh Viall Rev. 16.17 which will produce this wo is to be poured forth into the common Ayr in which all the cursed brood do breath So that those who will not receive embrace the voyces of the seventh Trumpet proclaiming the Lord Christs personal Reign now at hand must shortly quickly whether they will or no receive the voice of the seventh Vial and that wil be a dreadful direful voyce saying It is Done That is all power of the Enemy is destroyed Babylon is ruined and all the Prophesies and Promises made to Saints are accomplished in this glorious coming of our King and the utter ruine of the king of pride And that which makes this voyce woful and dreadful to purpose is Math. 25.10 Rev. 18.19 with Rev. 11.19 that it is attended with that soul-confounding voyce that will reach the hearts of those fools that now slight the Gospel of Grace viz. The door is shut Mercies door is shut never to be opened any more nothing remains now but Thunders Lightnings terrible Earthquakes such as never was fierceness of wrath blackness of darkness Jude 13. wo and alas for evermore Wherefore my humble advise and earnest request is that you will diligently hearken to receive embrace and walk up to the ensuing voyce of the seventh Trumpet Ah dear friends The door will be shut THus have I endeavoured to hold forth the Light I have received by those soft sweet soul refreshing gales of the blessed Spirit concerning this deep Mystery of the Prophesy Slaughter Resurrection and Ascention of the two Witnesses With the rise raign and ruine of Antichrist which will be fully compleated in the days of the Voyce of the seventh Angel Whereof I shall now speak as of the second part of the eleventh Chapter of the Revelation The Fifteenth Verse And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voyces in heaven saying The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever TO give an account of my judgement concerning the Seals Trumpets and Vials it appears cleer to my understanding that the opening of each Seal is the Discovery of some Gospel-light one glorious Truth after another as the day approacheth and no sooner is one Gospel-Truth made known by the secret breathings of the Spirit according to his word but presently the Trumpet sounds that is The Ministers of the Gospel publish it abroad as the Prophet speaketh The Lord gave the word Psal 68.11 great was the company of those that published it Thus did Luther upon the discovery of new Light sound such an alarum as made the Throne of the Beast to stagger like a drunken man I will not say the first Seal was opened to Luther nor that he was the first Trumpet but this I can speak that a further degree of Gospel-glory new light though the word be odious amongst some was discovered to Calvin and after him to others who as they received it presently became the Lords Trumpets to declare it to the world upon whose refusal of it the Vials are successively poured forth so that first a Seal is opened secondly a Trumpet sounds declaring the truth discovered within that opened Roll thirdly a Vial of wrath is poured forth upon those that hear and reject it but because the Seals Trumpets Vials are not contained in this Chapter I shall forbear to enlarge upon them at this time and prosecute the work of this present Chapter If we look back to the former Discourse of the Witnesses and consider the seven thousand names of men there discovered to be slain or supprest by this present Parliament and observe the sweet consent of things attending it will be no harsh or improbable Conclusion that the seventh and last Trumpet is at this instant sounding yea sounding at present such an Alarum that there are scarce any other voyces heard among watchful Saints but the Lords at hand the Bridegroom is coming The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord c. Which as it is the earnest expectation of all waking Virgins and the unspeakable support of many a poor dejected disconsolate drooping soul to think in the midst of afflictions temptations and fiery tryals My Lord is a coming to put an end to all my sorrows to wipe all tears from mine eyes to tread Satan under his feet to set me free from sin and sorrow and so I shall by way of improvement of my small Talent least it be found hid in a Napkin for the augumentation of the joy of every waiting longing breathing panting spirit and for the information of such poor souls belonging to Christ who are yet in the Dark as touching this great Mystery hold forth what the Lord hath entrusted in this earthen vessel of the unconceivable Glory of this his universal soveraignty In which glorious discovery I shall shew 1. That he will come to reign upon earth 2. How and in what manner he will come 3. Where he will establish his Throne at his coming 4. When he wil take his great power reign 5. The signes of his coming 6. His ends in thus coming 7. Events succeeding 8. The uses we are to make of all And if these and each of these shall be fully cleared by the pure Word of the Lord without wresting or any other subtile invention of mans brain then let all the sons and daughters of Sion with joy embrace them as intelligence and sweet tokens of love from their King and Husband whose bowels yearn whose high endeared affections are upon the wing unsatisfied with his present glory in Heaven till the fulness of time come that he may be inebriated and overcome with the soul ravishing embraces of his purchased Spouse on Earth But if any circumstance belonging to this glorious Subject shall be found wanting of cleer testimony from the fountain of truth Let it be detested abhorred and rejected as the froath and vanity of a deceived and deluded creature but to the particulars First That the Lord Jesus Christ who did ascend into Heaven shall come again to reign upon the Earth is clear from divers Scriptures Jer. 23.6.33.16 Isai 4.2 first that of Jeremiah Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a Righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute Judgement and Justice in the Earth and he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness Secondly That in Rev. 5.10 where the glorified Saints in Heaven do exceedingly exult and rejoyce not only that they are redeemed from amongst men and possest of heavenly
Judge all the Heathen round about None so blind as those that will not see 10. The glorious City from Gods Throne doth glide EXcept by clear Scripture it be disproved I must believe therefore affirm Rev. 21.2 Ioh. 14.1 2 that the City described by Saint John is a material City that the Carpenters Son hath been these 1600 years preparing it for his Saints and that the cleaving of the Mount of Olives producing that wonderful spacious plain already proved is to receive this glorious City of twelve thousand furlongs Rev. 21.16 or one thousand five hundred miles compass wherein his Saints shall raign in glory with this Jehovah our Righteousness as long as the Sun and Moon indureth If it be said by a mistake of Rev. 21.9 10. That the holy City is call'd the Bride I must answer plainly it is not so but on the contrary if the 9. and 10. Verses be compared with the 24. we shall find them manifestly distinguished and it appears plainly that the design of the Spirit is to shew the Apostle the City where the Bride dwelleth Psal 45.14 Isa 65 18. Ezech. 14.11 and if we shall further consult these Scriptures it will be yet more clear that the City is one thing and the Bride the Saints the glorious Inhabitants in that City another thing But if it should be granted that the City is call'd the Bride there would be little gained by it as to the opposite of this Point because it is ordinary in the Scriptures to term the Inhabitants of the City the City it self as Matt. 11.20 21 22 23. sure it will not be affirmed that the buildings of Capernaum c. are threatned to be thrown into Hell Let the Prophet Ezechiel decide this Controversie from the mouth of the Lord Ezech. 37.27 saying My Tabernacle also shall be with them yea and I will be their God and they shall be my people this is that royal Palace into which the Bride with her Virgins shall enter to solace themselves with our King in unconceivable spiritual delights for ever 11. The Nuptial ditty Vshers in the Bride THe Ancient people of the Lord the natural seed of faithful Abraham after their tedious time of divorcement Isai 62 2 3 4 5. Hos 2.19 20. shall not only be espoused as formerly but now in view of all the world marryed with transcendent joy in highest Glory to the King of glory This is the Royal Bride the Gentiles Saints or Churches are the Virgins her Companions All the Angels in Heaven joyn in Consort to celebrate the Nuptials in that triumphant ditty Alleluja Rev. 19.6 7. for the Lord God omnipotent reighneth Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her self ready so shall she be brought unto the King in raiment of needle-work Psal 45.14 15. the Virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee with gladness and rejoycing shall they be brought they shall enter into the Kings Palace There is a great question but of no great importance whether the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in before Israels conversion for my own part I am satisfied in this that in respect of a full conversion the work among the Gentiles shall precede but after the Jews effectual Call so glorious will that dispensation be Isai 60 3. That the Gentiles shall come to their light and Kings to the brightness of their rising Yet when all is known and understood which the word discovers of this wonderful Mystery what a small spark is it to the exceeding unconceivable glory of that day of wonders and who would hazard his interest in the glory thereof for all the bewitching painted seeming glories of this luxurious Age 12. Thus Saints regaining an immortal state HOw miserably are they handled by men of corrupt minds that stand for the honour of Christs Kingdom as though it were carnal delights and earthly pleasures they lookt after if any such there be they will see their vanity and folly perhaps when 't is too late The Saints are of another stamp and are hereby chiefly discerned from hypocrites by seeking holiness rather then happiness it is the pure spiritual immortal glorious state of Christs Kingdom that they believe and profess and expect and that which makes their spirits dance and their souls to leap for joy is the consideration of being fashioned like his glorious body when being free from corruption Phil. 3.21 they shall never sin against God any more not any kinde of pleasure can stand in competition in their pure affections with desire of freedom from sin their King hath taught them and they have learned to know Luk. 20.35 That they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they die any more for they are equal unto the Angels This is that blessed state of immortality that Saints believe Phil. 3.11 1 Cor. 15.54 and with the blessed Apostle press hard after When this corruption shall put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality and death shall be swallowed up of victory Rom. 8.23 This adoption is that redemption of our bodies that now we wait for Luk. 22.30 Isai 62.9 and shall then enjoy when we shall eat and drink at Christs table in this glorious Kingdom There will be eating and drinking but not as now for in this state of mortality other creatures lose their lives to support ours for so is the word * Acts 10.13 Isai 65.21 in the state of immortality the fruit of the Vine the food appointed Adam in Paradise And only the state of Eternity is supported by God himself 13. In glory reigning while the Sun bears date THe Lord Jesus Christ is not now in his own proper and peculiar Throne Rev. 3.21 his present station is at the right hand of the Majesty on High even in his Fathers Throne but the glorious Throne that he hath purchased with his precious bloud he will shortly erect upon this Earth for himself and his beloved Saints then shall he have and enjoy the actual return of that request of his Joh. 17.24 That where I am they may be also and this the Saints in Heaven are wondrously affected with and do therefore exceedingly rejoyce in the consideration of this glory which they with their fellow brethren shall enjoy as an addition to their present glory with Christ in his Throne upon the Earth Rev. 5.9 10. for then and not till then will the glory of our King be compleat when the great voyces of all the heavenly Host shall be heard in the words of the Scripture I am now opening the Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 And
power in which after he hath reigned with his Saints a thousand years in full beatitude such wonderful Changes will ensue as will make a ready entrance to that great change when changes shall be no more 1. 1 Cor. 15 2â— Rev. 20.7 Vers 8. As first Satan shall be loosed for a little season wherein he will so bestir himself in all quarters of the Earth exciting his vassals that have gladly served the Saints this thousand years to shake the yoak from off their necks which they as his sworn servants shall readily yield to and this will produce 2. The second Change which will be the combination of these his Instruments whose number is as the sand of the Sea and in confidence of their great strength they shall surround the beloved City think by their huge multitudes to devour it at once but how little does this trouble the Saints within all tears were wiped away from their eyes long ago they know not what belongs to sorrow or trouble for the Prince of peace and Author of eternal felicity is among them if they can hurt him they may harm them but both being above the reach of these poor deluded creatures they are only making way for their own eternal ruine for while they are thus besieging the Camp of the Saints 3. The world is fired about their ears Vers 9. 2 Pet. 3.10 Rev. 20.11 12. with it themselves are devoured and this produceth the final conclusion of this great day for now 4. The Lord is seated in his great white Throne before whom the Earth and the Heaven vanisheth 5. Then shall the dead smal and great be raised stand before his great Tribunal upon his left hand as so many cursed goats Math. 24 32. vessels of wrath fitted to destruction where they shall receive the final sentence of eternal condemnation which is a perpetual separation from the presence of Gods love to be tormented with reprobate Angels and men the objects of his wrath and fury to all eternity oh what will they do in this estate of eternity oh that they would now consider of it Why are not the sinners in Sion now afraid Isa 33.14 why doth not fearfulnes now surprise the hypocrites who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire who among us shal dwel with everlasting burnings 'T wil be in vain then to cal to the Mountains Rocks for a hiding place 6. But the Saints are securely hid in the great Rock and sure Refuge of his people who are long since acquitted by vertue of their marriage with the Kings Son Ephes 5.27 2 Pet. 3.14 who now presents his Spouse pure spotless a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing and so having also justified them before Angels and men he makes a free surrender of his Office of Mediator with his purchased Spouse into the hands of his and our Father 1 Cor. 15.24.28 who is the eternal infinite Ocean of that fulness of happiness 1 Joh. 3.2 1 Cor. 13.12 which we must and well may admire but shal never fully understand till we come to see him as he is know him as we are known O thou infinite Ocean of transcendent sweetness for this Jesus sake whom thou so deerly lovest raise up thy Saints by the divine influence of thy eternal Spirit to such a heighth and eminency of faith zeal love holiness and all heavenly qualifications that we may be able to comprehend with all Saints Ephes 3.18 19. what is the bredth and length and depth and heighth and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that we may be filled with all the fulness of God to behold thy blessed face in that day with joy Come Sions sons with Sions songs Psal 145.45.14 15. Attend your Royal King Joyn consort in coelestial throngs Rev. 19.6 â— His wondrous reign to Sing Heark Virgins that 's the midnight cry Mat. 25.6 The Bridegroom is at hand With burning Lamps full vessels by Verse 10. Stand lovely Virgins stand That 's he who with ten thousand Saints Jude 14. In those bright clouds appears Dan. 7.10 We joyn so cease all sad complaints Rev. 1.7 1 Thes 4.17 All troubles toyl and tears Isai 56.19 Now like his glorious body we Phil. 3.21 Shall all be fashioned Rev. 7.9.14 With Robes and Crowns of Majesty As Kings be furnished Thus to Jehosaphats fair Vale Joel 3.2 11 12. We with our King descend Where vanquisht foes faint feeble pale Psal 72.11 Must at his Throne attend The day is come Micah 4.1 the Lord must reign The Saints must judge the world Dan. 7.27 Satan confin'd Rev. 20.2.19.20 his cursed train Into confusion hurl'd Rom. 8.19 20 21 22. The groaning creature from that snare Which long entangled them Set free Isai 56.26 with Saints in glory share Of new Jerusalem Acts 3.21 These sweet refreshing times Acts 3.19 O Lord From thy sweet presence spring Psal 16 11. With hearts and voyces Saints accord Rev. 11.17 Thy glorious reign to sing What remains then Rev. 11.16 but that all the Saints who expect this appearance of our Lord do with the four and twenty Elders fall down and worship God Vers 17. saying We give thee thanks O Lord God Almighty which art and wast and art to come because thou hast taken to thee thy great Power and hast reigned For this work this wondrous work Isai 52.9 10. is so certain that the Spirit of the Lord presents it like many other Prophesies as already done Great ground of rejoycing is this to Saints as it is ground of terror and vexation to the wicked there 's not more sad news in the world then this to the ungodly this will be a dark day to them according as it follows for I shall but name the rest The eighteenth Verse And the Nations were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the Prophets and to the Saints and them that fear thy Name smal and great and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth Here the portion of the Saints is far different from that of the dead and earthy-minded men and therefore there must be different returns from them While then the Nations are angry at the wrath and judgements of that Lord whom they have so much sleighted let the Prophets and Saints and them that fear the Name of the Lord exceedingly triumph for the time is at hand that they shall be superaboundantly rewarded for all their pains and labours of Love and Charity for all their reproaches scorns and affronts that the world hath cast upon them for all their sufferings and cruel mockings and all manner of persecutions for it is to them that the following words pertain The ninteenth Verse And
twelfth Verse are called The eyes of the Lord which run too and fro through the whole Earth Now what these seven eyes are may be found out by that means which the Lord Jesus hath appointed viz. searching the Scriptures S. John will tell us that these seven eyes sent forth into all the Earth Rev. 5.6 Rev. 1.4 Rev. 8.2 are the seven Spirits of God which are before his Throne that these thus standing before him are the seven Angels with Trumpets which are none other then the Ministers of the Churches as they are plainly called Rev. 1.20 They are called the seven Spirits because as they are abundantly filled so they are imployed by the Spirit which so mightily over-powers them that they seem many times to be nothing but Spirit taking their denomination from the most noble part in them which is the Spirit as Paul speaks Not 1 1 Cor. 15.10 Act. 15.28 Mat. 5 14. but the grace of God which was with me These seven eyes are the light of the world appointed by the Lord Jesus that corner stone upon which they stand Zechary 3.9 for the building of his Church Eph. 4.11 12 13. Rom. 12.6 c. for the perfecting of his Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ And these seven are thus distinguished in the holy Scriptures those faithful Witnesses of truth 1. Prophets 2. Apostles 3. Evangelists 4. Pastours 5. Teachers 6. Ruling Elders 7. Deacons These are the seven sorts of Officers or seven Pillars that the Lord Jesus Christ the wisdom of the Father Prov. 9.1 Gal. 2 9. hath hewn out for the building of his great house the Church These are his golden Pipes so called by the Spirit of the Lord as conveighing this precious liquor this divine Treasure of the heavenly word for nourishment to the poor Church as well in her Wilderness condition as in all Ages though these blessed instruments of Christ term themselves but earthen Vessels that so the excellency of this heavenly Treasure which is conveighed through them 2 Cor. 4.7 may the more redound to the glory of God yet the Spirit cals them golden Pipes These seven mentioned in the second Verse are more comprehensively reduced unto two golden Pipes vers 12. answerable whereunto those seven sorts of Officers mentioned are comprehended under the two chief Eph. 2.20 that is Apostles and Prophets upon whose foundation we are built Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner Stone And thus I suppose it is evident that I have not presumed without clear warrant from the Law and the Testimony to affirm 1. That the two Olive-trees are the two Testaments or those Witnesses of Christ appointed to feed the Church as in all Ages so through the whole course of Papal Persecution viz. one thousand two hundred and threescore years 2. That the Candlesticks are the Churches of the Saints 3. That the two Olive-branches are Doctrine and Discipline 4. That the golden Pipes are the Ministers of the Churches The fifth Verse And if any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their Enemies and if any man will hurt them he must on this manner be killed The Pope and his Parasites had power enough and did exercise that power to the utmost in killing and spoyling tormenting and harrasing the poor Saints in this time of their exile and therefore the Saints cannot possibly be the Witnesses as some have conceived many a precious servant of Jesus lost his life for the Witnesses sake that is for holding close to the Law to the Testimony those Witnesses of Christ against the Antichristian Tyranny of their bloody persecutors but to the wonder and amazement of the World to the high praises of our God be it for ever acknowledged they had no power to overcome or suppress the Scriptures till toward the end of their prophesie or finishing their testimony in Sackcloth I know many had an earnest desire to destroy them they wanted no will to the work but maugre all their rage and malice though they dig'd as deep as Hell leaving no stone unturnd that might seem to conduce to the support of their Tyrannical Antichristian State yet whether they judged the Scriptures of no weight or slighting them as below the glory of their Babel or whether the terror of the Curse Rev. 22.18 like fire in their bones deterred them or what other secret operation it was I know not but by the mighty power of God these heavenly Witnesses have been wonderfully preserved in this Babylonish Captivity through the whole course of their Prophesie in Sackcloth 1260 years The sixth Verse These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their Prophesie and have power over waters to turn them into bloud and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will While the Saints are in Goshen the Kingdom of Antichrist is smitten with sundry plagues the effects of the Saints prayers but none so dreadful as that universal thick darkness that soon over-spred the whole Land of the Beast Rev. 16.10 while the holy Spouse of Christ troden under-foot enjoys the light of her Beloveds shining face to whom it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God but the scarlet Strumpet in the midst of all her brags that she is no widdow but the wife of Christ that her eldest son is his Vicar that she is Infallible and cannot be deceived is given up to a spirit of slumber and strong delusions to believe lyes Mark 4.11 that seeing they might see and not perceive and hearing they might hear and not understand lest at any time they should be converted and their sins should be forgiven them No dew of Grace descends upon those cursed Families the waters of the Sanctuary are now by little and little stopt from them at first the great burning Mountain the Beneficence of the great Constantine being cast into the Sea of Rome Rev 8.8 9. a third part presently became blood and the third part of the Ministers in that Church with their adherents departed from the Faith a while after the whole Sea was generally poysoned and became as the bloud of a dead man Rev. 16 3. and so there was an universal revolt from the doctrine of salvation to lying Fables vain Superstitions Miracles Signs and Wonders with all deceivableness of unrighteousness and every living foul that drank this poyson in the Cup of her abominations presently dyed How the fire that proceeded out of the mouthes of the Witnesses hath devoured their Enemies and how they have smote their Enemies with all manner of plagues is very remarkable Multitudes of Examples might be produced of which take a taste Surely the fiery indignation of the Lord hath been wonderfully manifested against these desperate Antichristian Enemies in their cursed Attempts to race deface corrupt or any way to hurt these Divine
will plead with them there Thither cause thy mighty ones to come O Lord. 11.12 Let the Heathen be wakened and come up to the Valley of Jehosaphat for there will I sit to judge all the Heathen round about the Heathens must come up to the Valley the Saints must come down And it will be worth our labours to consider the rest of this third Chapter of Joel which will give much light to this truth for after the Lords Throne is thus erected in the Valley of Jehosaphat it is said that the Lord will dwell in Zion and that there shall be abundance of rich blessings there 17 18. And that for ever as long as the Moon endureth But because the Valley of Jehosaphat Psal 72. Dan 7.14 as it now is hath not capacity or extent to receive the New Jerusalem therefore the Prophet Zachary tells us that it shall be wonderfully enlarged by the dividing of the Mount of Olives Zech. 14.4 And the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the East and toward the West and there shall be a very great Valley For the valley of the Mountains shall reach unto Azal Vers 5 All the land shall be turned as a Plain from Geba to Rimmon 10. and it shal be inhabited in her place 11. And men shall dwell in it and there shall be no more utter destruction But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited and how should it be otherwise when the Prince of Peace shal reign in Glory in the midst of it This then is the place of which the Lord speaketh Isa 65 10. Rev. 24.4 I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard in her nor the voyce of crying here Lord let my soul flourish with thee and thy Saints according to thy Word Rev. 3.21 Fourthly the fourth thing to be discovered is when this Lord of Glory and King of Saints will come to reign in this his Kingdom on Earth and first it is plain that it was not in the dayes of his humiliation for as he is answering his Disciples question about his coming to Judgement Mat. 24.25.6 he tells them the time of it is then when all the Virgins seeing the signs and hearing the voyce or cry Go forth to meet him coming as a Bridegroom to marry his Church that is the whole body of his Saints which will be then compleated and brought together into one place Mat. 24.28 Joh 10.16 where in the view of all the world the Marriage will be gloriously solemnized And secondly it is as plain that this Glorious Reign cannot be after the day of Judgement for then there would be a change in Heaven 1 Cor. 15.24 since it is clear that after Christs Reign and subduing of all his enemies he must give up the Kingdome to his Father Then thirdly it cannot be the spirituall Reign of Christ in that way as most dream which they conceive is now in being and that Christ will never come to Reign any other way save onely in greater purity then he doth now by his Spirit Which fond imaginations as they have not the least substantial Pillar from the word of Truth to support them so the contrary is plain and evident from the clear current of that pure fountain namely that the Lord Jesus Christ will come then and not till then to take to himself his great Power and Reign when all the signs that are to precede his coming are visibly discovered which I am sure are not yet as shall be shewed in its place Again the Spirit was given in a most glorious eminent manner far exceeding present dispensations when the Apostles Generally and Saint John more particularly waited for Act. 3.20 21. Rom. 8.23 1 Thes 4.17 Rev. 1 7. and yet expected this Glorious Personal Reign of Christ as abundance of unerring Witnesses do testifie but in special the present Scripture that I am now opening namely Rev. 11.15 which plainly declareth that the Personal * See Rev. 1.7 Reign of Christ is to begin when the seventh Trumpet is sounding at that time and not before when the seventh Trumpet begins to sound Rev. 10.7 shall this great Mystery be accomplished And certain I am that the Spirituall Kingdome of Christ was gloriously eminent before any of the seven Angels began to sound and therefore it cannot be only the spiritual Kingdom of Christ that is here spoken of and so the time is not yet in being of this Reign of Christ As therefore we must not cast off our expectation of nor our diligent constant watching waiting for this Personal Glorious manifestation on the one hand saying with that evil servant My Lord delayeth his coming and so split our selves upon the desperate rock of carnal security Neither must we run upon that other shelf of a vain ungrounded conceit that he is already come Mat. 24.23 24 25 26 27. whereof our Lord himself hath given us fair warning the Lord give us hearts to receive and embrace it It is not then the spiritual Reign which we now enjoy but the personal glorious truly spiritual Reign which we shall shortly enjoy that is the Life and Crown and Hope and Comfort of many precious enlightned Saints who have found such sweet support succour and solace from this sure Pillar of divine truth that all the delusions of Sathan in this luxurious giddy Age hath not been able to shake The ignorance of this soul-ravishing Gospel-truth is that horrible Gulph that hath swallowed up thousands who finding in the words of truth such glorious things spoken of this day of the Lord but through ignorance in this Mystery and the cunning slights of Sathan who transforms himself to an Angel of Light are deluded in their sence and all their intellectuals beleeving that Christ is come already and doth Reign already whereupon they conclude to throw away all Ordinances for say they Christ hath commanded us to use them till his coming and no longer Do this till I come hold fast till I come Occupy till I come Nay so far hath this restless spirit of error prevailed with some as to beleeve that Christ hath already Reigned that he hath already given up the Kingdom to his Father and that now God is all in all that they live in God that they are God c. And now this Prince of darkness hath plaid his part to purpose now he hath possessed them not only with a distast of Ordinances and slighting of them but now away go Scriptures Christ and all they are a lye an Allegory he a shadow a Type c. and now Sathan hath his will having deceived them so far as to deny the Lord that bought them for he well knows that there is no other name given under heaven to bring salvation but this Christ whom they thus reject and now he is cock sure of them and now they are ripe