purity and simplicity through the actings and lustings of their owne wills till he fix them at last in an unchangeable defection from and enmity against God that created them and Christ that bought them We shall here therefore declare what effect the power of Satan hath in the renewed natural consciences of men causing them to deteine the truth manifested in them in unrighteousnesse and rendering them unworthy either of keeping the good they have or of receiving any further or gre 〈…〉 by the blood of Christ who hath more grace and mercy in store for those that approve themselves faithful in the lesser measures committed to them For such is the long-suffering and forbearance which by Christs ransome is procured from God on the behalf of fallen man that he will have none to perish for want of meanes to be saved but does so provide for them according to the state they are in that all may if they will be led unto repentance and come to the knowledge of the TRVTH which the witnesse of God set up in them faithfully hearkened to will enable them to feele after but when it so comes to passe that in stead hereof they do abuse this good will of God towards them and through the impenitency and hardnesse of their hearts go on to despise and neglect the grace tendered to them then does God think fit to reveale his wrath from heaven against such ungodly and unrighteous men that hold the truth of God in unrighteousnesse accounting them unworthy of more favour who under all their receivings of the witnesse of TRUTH declaring it self in the work of their consciences and the protection and encouragement which in the practice of and conformity unto the same is afforded to them in this state from the wholesome and good impressions of the holy Angels as the benefit of their Ministery and charge do despise all this already shewed them being willing to be hardened by Satan and bid defiance thereunto walking on in wayes of unrighteousnesse highly provoking and displeasing unto God notwithstanding all the faithful dictates inward motions of light and impressions in their owne minds and consciences to the contrary of which number are they of the Nations Kindreds and Tongues throughout the whole world whether acquainted with the holy Scriptures and things contained in them or not being such as live without Law and perish without Law who being founded upon the principles of right reason or the common enlightning work of God in the conscience according to the measure and degree received do refuse to reteine the Truth thus manifesting it self in them in a way of righteous and holy operations and walkings according to the rule of that first dispensation and as taking pleasure in the contrary and preferring before it the corrupt conversation of the old Adam consisting in vanity foolish uncleannesse and noisome lusts do prosecute the same with all greedinesse till they come to be wholly alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them and affected by them because of the blindness of their hearts rendering them at last past all sense and feeling of the evil they commit being given up by God to this uncleannesse of spirit through the lusts of their owne hearts as the due reward unto their wilful disobedience that as they did not like to retaine God in their knowledge but rather chose to break with God so also he held it just to break with them and give them over to a reprobate mind to do things that were not convenient and to be filled with all unrighteousness fornication wickedness covetousness becoming full of envie murder debate deceit malignity whisperers back-biters haters of God despightful proud boasters inventers of evil things disobedient to parents without understanding Covenant-breakers without natural affection implacable unmerciful who knowing the judgement of God by that self-evidencing TRUTH with which all are enlightned more or lesse that come into the world do most wickedly and profanely imprison the workings thereof suppresse slight and reject all its motions and counsels declaring to them continually that they that do such things are worthy of death and going on in opposition and defiance thereof not only to do the same things that bring downe finally the wrath of God but take pleasure in them that do them Under this head of openly prophane persons what multitudes of subjects unto himself as their Lord and Ruler does the Prince of the aire gaine who works in these children of disobedience carrying them captive unto his owne will to accomplish his designes and maintaine his quarrel against all shew and appearance of godlinesse even in the very forme of it as well as the power and to render them in this corrupt interest of theirs the more formidable he embodies them as it were in one corrupt love and desire filling them with one common spirit of uncleannesse alienation and enmity to the life of God and godlinesse in any kind which influences them in all their operations whether considered as private persons in their actings betweene man and man or as publick persons in their Ministery of Rule and Government over one another according to the various formes and administrations thereof under which through Gods providence they are placed and become related to all which conspiring as it were together in one spirit and combined in one corrupt interest are as a universal Dominion and Rule which the god of this world maintains greatens and manages against Christ and his spiritual seed considered either under the first or second Covenant as a distinct jurisdiction of his owne keeping all that are under him in this sense as much as lies in his power without all appearance or influence of any other God but himself So as they are properly described in the Scriptures to be such as live without hope and without God in the world Therefore it is that this corrupt interest and prophane spirit considered as dispersed through the Nations Kindreds People and Tongues in the whole world is called the beast Rev. 13. which John saw coming out of the sea foaming out its owne filth in a way of open profanenesse having seven heads and ten hornes and upon his hornes ten crownes and upon his heads the name of blaspemy or evil speaking against godlinesse in any kind unto whom the Dragon gives his power and seat and great authority that is does so influence and advantage them in all their actings of Magistracy in the capacity of publick Persons and Rulers in order to render and keep them subservient to this corrupt interest that he gives them all manner of prosperity and successe in the exercise of all power and tyranny to the greatning and advantaging of themselves in the things of this life and of their worldly being who finding and experiencing the sweet of this gaine do shew themselves obedient and faithful in all their actings to the interest of the god of this world which they serve and are
most cruel and fierce like Leopards Beares and Lions to flie upon devour and tread under foot all opposition whatsoever that does stand in their way or would weaken and take away this interest and power of theirs which as it is put forth in a way of Magistracy worldly Rule and Dominion is described by the seven heads and ten hornes which this beast wears as the Ensigne of its universal Dominion over the whole world and that throne which Satan under all the variety of forms and administrations of Rule and Government hath gained unto his interest and made instrumental to accomplish his furious designes against the people of God in all ages of the world This seven headed and ten horned beast that is here described in the likenesse of a Leopard having the feet of a Beare and the mouth of a Lion is the same with the four great beasts that came up from the sea divers one from the other Dan. 7. The first like a Lion the second like a Beare the third like a Leopard and the fourth dreadful strong and exceedingly terrible having ten horns and these beasts are said v. 2. to be brought upon the stage or into their actings by the striving of the four winds upon the great sea This great sea signifies the wavering unstable principles of the first creation which is here presented as the matter the Devil works on for the raising up of his throne intimated by the striving of the four winds thereupon to the bringing up of the four beasts which this old Dragon or universal evil spirit that evil one signified by the four winds for the comprehensivenesse of evill nature that is in him by his contestings and strivings in the hearts and consciences of men does forme to himself and set up as instrumental to his designes in all generations from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof The greatnesse of the growth and extent of this Dominion reaching unto heaven and to the ends of the earth was signified unto Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 4. under the similitude of a great tree which grew and was strong whose height reached to the heavens and the sight thereof to all the earth whose leaves were faire and the fruit thereof much and it was meat for all upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation which was interpreted to signifie this universal Rule and Dominion throughout the whole earth capable to be corrupted and wrought over as it were out of the hands of Christ through God's permission as the meanes whereby to bruise the heele of Christ and his members throughout all the ages of the world and suffered to be actuated by the Devil and his Angels living in the several branches of it and keeping it up over the Nations as that which is argued to be better then no Rule and Government at all as conteining the meanes for the giving of meat in due season and maintaining orderly life and conversation amongst men upon grounds of common equity just and right The countenancing of all which is no way inconsistent with the Magistrates subserviency to him in the exercise of that enmity and implacable rage with which he is prosecuting Christ and his seed by his Lawes and Decrees for that purpose whereby the throne of iniquity growes and spreads it selfe throughout the whole earth By comparing these Scriptures we shall find it evident that this universal Monarchy or Dominion exercised upon these principles and interests and made the throne and seate of the Dragon in all times of the world from beginning to end is that which we are to understand by the four Monarchies nor are we to think it strange that one Monarchy which as in the four parts of it it does comprehend all worldly Rule and Dominion should be described as by four distinct Monarchies since the Scripture it self leads us hereunto when the four beasts mentioned Dan. 7. are summ'd up into one beast Rev. 13. 1 c. signifying but the same Antichristian Rule and Power comprehensively in the one which is to be found distributively in the other four in its successions variety of formes and administrations wherein it hath had its being in the world propagating and continuing it selfe in the same spirit and interest which neverthelesse is still in and under all that variety but one and the same evil spirit and corrupt interest in and by the meanes of civil Rule and Government domineering over the Saints in the world and alwayes making warre with them as that one beast that hath seven heads and ten hornes in which way of interpretation I would not be understood to exclude the literal or historical sense and common acceptation of the four Monarchies which very well consists with this in the fall of which universal Monarchy and Government the four beasts do all of them expire and the Rule of the fourth Monarchy determines as the thrones that are to be cast downe that the Ancient of dayes may sit and set up an everlasting Dominion a Kingdome that shall receive no end And whereas Dan. 4. 23 25. by the Decree of the watchers that strong and beautiful tree under which also this universal Monarchy is represented was to be hewen downe and destroyed yet so as to leave the stumps of the roots thereof in the earth with a band of Iron and Brasse in the tender grasse of the field to be wet with the dew of heaven and have its portion with the beasts of the field till seven times passe over him this signifies the depraved degenerated state of this Government as it is left in the hands of Satan and managed by him and his instruments during the time that the Saints heele is to be bruised thereby which continues so untill it be renewed and restored in subordination unto Christ and his Kingdome at his second appearance when seven times will have passed over it and the seventh Angel will have sounded to the bringing in of Christs Kingdome whereby he is to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron reigning with his Saints upon the earth a thousand years when it shall be knowne that the most High rules in the Kingdomes of men and not the Prince of darknesse giving them to whomsoever he will in a subserviency unto himselfe as restored to their Primitive constitution and perfection Thus we have taken notice of that first beast coming up out of the sea in the constitution designes and periods thereof Rev. 13. 1. comprehending all Nations kindreds Tongues and Languages as they deteine the TRUTH in unrighteousnesse or in opposition to just and holy operations and stand armed with the power of worldly thrones and Civil Judicatures for their greater instrumentalnesse unto Satan in rage fiercenesse and cruelty fitted for the use he makes of them in bruising of the holy people and redeemed ones of God CHAP. XXII Shewing in particular the workings of the mystery of iniquity in the consciences of the children of the first Covenant
therefore armed with the same power which the first had for publick acting in and by the use of civil Rule and Government exercising all the power of the first beast before him or in superiority to him and by way of greater eminency causing the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast or the old Adams image and perfection as having the deadly wound thus healed In which administration great wonders are wrought so that he maketh fire to come downe from heaven upon the earth in the sight of men presenting to the judgement of man the fire and zeale of holy actings and righteous operations of the right impression exactly answering unto Rule whereby they that dwell on the earth are deceived taking this image of God in which they appeare and shine forth for the highest and best discovery of God they are to arrive at which thus mistaken and abused is compared Rev. 13. to the making of an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword and did live having power to give life to that image in righteous and holy actings in which to cause the old Adam or first beast to speak and go forth in such vigour and perfection as not to beare with any that will not receive the image of the beast and take his mark in their right hand or in their fore-head in their actings or professions denying liberty to any to buy or sell to have any worldly commerce that have not the mark or name of the beast or the number of his name All this he does from the great credit he hath gained in the sight of men by giving plaine evidence and visible testimony of the life that is brought into this image and of the spiritual gifts and enlightnings from heaven that accompany it as a fruit and effect of Christs owne workmanship which therefore he would exalt above all that is called God causing all to fall downe to it and worship it as the highest and fullest discovery of God beyond which he will allow nothing to be owned or received though this image be but the number of a man of the first man made of the earth earthly as the summe of his natural perfection which all the children of wisdome know how to count finde out and unriddle This second beast is the same with the little horne Dan 78. before which there were three of the first hornes plucked up by the roots and behold in this horne were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking proud things and v 11. I beheld sayes Daniel because of the voice of the great words which the horne spake even words against the most high v. 25. who shall weare out the Saints of the most high and think to change times and lawes I beheld sayes he untill the beast was slaine and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame v. 11. All which does lively describe the usefulnesse of this second heast as he is diverse from the first being set out and adorned with the purity and perfection of the first Adam renewed up-upon him by the blood of Christ to make warre with the true Saints of the most high and to weare them out with his cruelty and rage pretending to visible Saintship himself and by the power of his Rule and Government in the Magistracy that is subservient to him to give Lawes and Rules in Gods worship under colour of warrant from the Scriptures making himself Umpire of all controversies in matters of Religion and declarer of Heresies Blasphemies and the like in the exercise of which power he speaks great words against the most high and tramples as dust under his feet the spiritual seed or inhabitants of the heavenly Jerusalem thinking upon this faire pretext to change times and Lawes and over-turne all that stand before him in the managing of so glorious a designe as to bring in upon the prophane wicked world the Kingdome of Christ and at the same time to slay the right heirs that the inheritance may be his and that he may reigne as sitting upon Christs throne when he cannot any longer carry it as detected and laid open in the falsenesse of his owne spirit and principles This second state of Antichrist and his Kingdome is that which John Rev. 17. beheld with a holy kind of wonder and great astonishment as little suspecting so foul and unchast a spirit unto Christ should come forth in so fair and neere a likenesse and similitude to him in life and operations and therefore describes it under the name of the great Whore whom God was about to judge that is to lay open and to destroy She is found sitting upon many waters to wit people and multitudes Nations and tongues inhabitants as we have said of the holy City spiritually called Sodome and Egypt with whom the Kings of the earth or Princes of the world men in the honour and dignity of the first Adams purity and principles have committed fornication trusting to this beauty and reteining it in opposition to Christs heavenly appearance as unwilling to veil it and let it fall into the grave with Christ that the way thereby into the most holy might be set open making all the inhabitants of the earth drunk with this wine of her fornication This is the Character of that unchast spirit that acts and influences the subjects of this branch of Antichrists Kingdome under a fair shew in the flesh a likenesse and conformity in life and actings unto Christ himself But the beast that carries this Whore is the spirit of man made drunk with the wine of her fornication who in his actings of understanding and will whether in his private or publike capacity of a Magistrate and Ruler gives up himself to the service interest and love of this Whore or Antichristian spirit which beast compared with the other is set out in an adorning of scarlet colour yet full of names of blasphemy having seven heads and ten hornes the like power of man by counsel and force to carry on the designs of the old Dragon as the first beast hath The woman that rides this beast or this false spirit that influences this sort of enlightned men makes a very faire shew and is exceeding beautiful and alluring to the eye and judgement of man being arrayed in purple and scarlet colour decked with gold and precious stones and pearls many admirable and excellent spiritual gifts received from Christ having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthinesse of her fornication and upon her forehead written Mystery Iniquity or Babylon in mystery or its hidden deceit Babylon the great the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth But under all this tempting ensnaring glory she is famous and eminent for two things whereby Antichrists work is exceedingly advanced and carried on by her after such a dexterous manner as could not possibly be contrived by the first beast with all his power For
no beast might stand before him neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand So he did according to his will and became great But to encounter him Behold a HE-GOAT that came from the West on the face of the whole earth none touched him in the earth and he had a notable horne betweene his eyes and he came to the RAM and ran unto him in the fury of his power and he came close to him and he was moved with choler against him and smote the RAM and there was no power in the RAM to stand before him but he cast him down to the ground and stampt upon him and none could deliver the RAM out of his hand Therefore the HE-GOAT became very great and when he was strong the great horne was broken and for it came up four notable ones towards the four winds of heaven and out of them came forth one little horne which waxed exceeding great towards the South and toward the East and toward the pleasant Land Dan 8. In which description under the type of this HE-GOAT and this RAM we are given to understand the root and cause of this opposition and division betweene these two branches of Antichrists Kingdome which is occasioned and maintained by Christ in the Ministery of his first appearance in and by which for a season he associates in principles Councels actions and interest his owne Saints in their fleshly state and as children of the first Covenant with those that in the conclusion prove Hypocrites and Apostates binding them up together in one Covenant as with a staffe of beauty and of bands Zach. 11. and making as yet no discrimination or difference betweene the servants and the true heirs that are Lords of all but embarquing them together in one common interest and exercise of power owned and supported by himself in opposition to the Rule and Kingdome of Satan under the first beast and signified by the One horne which was betweene the two eyes of the HE-GOAT which came not to be broken untill he had mastered and quite subdued the RAM and then it fell back by way of degeneration into the interest and power of the first beast making head and opposition thereby against the HOST OF HEAVEN from whom till then he had beene assisted and in the confidence of this united strength being waxed great he sets himself against this Host of Heaven the true and right Heires differenced from the state of servants by the spirit of true sonship or adoption and in his violence and rage he casts some of them down upon the earth and stamps upon them as the off-scouring of the world yea he magnifies himself against the PRINCE OF THE HOST Christ himself and bruises his heele upon the Crosse the consequents whereof are the taking away of the daily sacrifice or whole visible worship of the Jews the casting down of the place of Gods Sanctuary which God delivered up into the hand of the beast by reason of transgression whereby the truth was cast downe to the ground and the Rule of Antichrist prospered and practised against the HEAVENLY HOST to give both the Sanctuary and the Host to be trodden under foot in respect of the transgression or abomination THAT MAKES DESOLATE For no sooner does the King of the South or earthly Jerusalem oppresse the spiritual seed and prevaile against the true Sanctuary and Heavenly Host to tread them under foot but the King of the North comes up against him like a whirlwind Dan. 11. 40 41. with Chariots and horsemen and many ships and he shall enter into the Countreys and passe over yea he shall enter into the glorious Land and many shall be owerthrowne so as the first beast exercising the power of the prophane and unrenewed judgement and will of man armed with seven heads and ten hornes hath a mind put into him towards the Whore to make her desolate and naked and eate her flesh and burne her with fire to the consuming and destroying of one branch of Anti-christs Kingdome by the other Thus the King of Babylon did to Jerusalem in the time of Jeremiah and the Romanes to the Jewes inhabiting Jerusalem after their crucifying of Christ The like is foretold concerning the earthly Jerusalem that now is in the dayes of the Gospel or Holy City Rev. 11. which is given to the Gentiles to tread under foot fourty and two moneths and in the streets whereof the dead bodies of the Witnesses are to lie unburied three dayes and an halfe for saith God Zach. 14. 2 3. I will gather all Nations against Jerusalem to battel and the City shall be taken then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those Nations as when he fought in the day of battel The Nations and the earthly Jerusalem contend it long together the conquest falling sometimes to the one and sometimes to the other accordingly as Jerusalem is faithful with her God and keeps her self as a virgin daughter of Zion chast to her own husband for then she shakes her head and bids defiance unto the King of Syria and all the Nations round about her but when she revolts and back-slides from God and moves him to jealousie by that which is not God then he moves them to jealousie by them which are not a people and provokes them to anger with a foolish Nation their Rock that bought them is pleased to sell them and deliver them up into the power of the Heathen and openly prophane people Thus Antichrist wages warre with Christ serving himself of the power and interests of both his Kingdomes to advance his designes and withstand the coming in of Christs everlasting Kingdome both which are made up but of the principles of worldly wisdome and power managed upon a different account The first consisting of the Dominion and Rule which Satan exercises over the Nations Kindreds and Tongues that he works off from Christ in and under the first dispensation causing them to hold the truth in unrighteousnesse or to imprison the witnesse thereof in unholy and unrighteous walkings wherein being become subject and slaves to Satan and preferring that state before the benefit of restauration by the blood of Christ to their first purity and perfection tendered to them they envie hate and oppose all those men that are better then they and who by their holy professions and righteous walkings condemne them thinking it strange to find any that run not with them into the same excesse of riot speaking evil of them by reason thereof But now secondly because the Devil lies too much exposed to common view in the exercise of this his first Rule and Dominion and is not able to carry through his work against the righteous and holy seed of Christ under so foul a face as open prophanenesse or at best only a state of Heathenisme moralized by civil government but finds by experience that the Saints of God are able to raise up too strong a power and party against
and righteousness by way of counter-ballance to the works of the devil and his kingdom of darkness in the world or outwardly by the books of the creature and daily discoveries of Gods providences that are teaching and instructing to the lowest and meanest natural discernings of men And to enable them to the receiving hereof they have a further taste of the bounty of Christ the Redeemer who doth freely renew and continue their life breath and all things unto them upon a new tenure even by the ransom procured for them in his blood by vertue of which none of them do fail of partaking in a common enlightning from him when they receive their beings in this world and have the lamp or caâ—â—le of the Lord set up in them to be as a witness for or against every man according to his works being a light which searcheth the inward parts of the belly Prov. 20. 27. Over the nations then and people of the world thus considered we say Christ doth dispense his Rule and government and gives unto them judgements and ordinances according to which they are to walk Ezek. 5. and in the doing or not doing of them their consciences are accusing or excusing of them and Christ in this his government shews himself by his ministers to whom he hath committed the mannaging thereof either in wrath and terrour against all evil works or an Encourager and Protectour of all them that do well The prime Minister of God on this behalf is Christ The hands in which this government is betrusted by Christ are the invisible Thrones Dominions Principalities and powers of the holy Angels as we have already declared and shall yet further enlarge made by Christ and for Christ the chief Lords and Rulers of the first world and all the inhabitants thereof Regard seems to be had to this administration of government Iob 2. 1 2. where the sons of God or these holy Angels in their administration of this kind of government presented themselves before this Lord Christ and Sathan came also among them having been his circuits walking to and fro in the earth and up and down in it unto whom the Lord propounds the case of Iob as of a perfect and upright man so as there was none like him in all the earth and who accordingly had found Christ owning encouraging and protecting of him as the devil himself alledged Chap. 1. at the same kind of meeting between God and the Angels then held also for saith Sathan to God hast thou not made a hedge about him and about his house and about all that he hath on every side thou hast blessed the works of his hands and his substance is encreased in the land intimating hereby the reward that is administred as to the kind of it by the holy Angels under Christ to the very heathens themselves and the punishment of wrath to consist in the contrary dispensations of God hereunto when he declares himself outwardly a terrour to wicked works and puts forth his hand therein for which purpose these excellent spirits are invested with power might and dominion over all the works of Gods hands in the first world to execute Christs commands as the Hosts and Ministers that do his pleasure in all places of his dominion and are alwaies attending and hearkning unto the voice of this WORD speaking to them as he is the root and head of all natural good and perfection Under these invisible Thrones and higher powers there are visible ones also set up and are Christs ordinance and institution in an inferiour and subordinate ministration of this government of Christ over men which are called the higher powers of the world whether contracted in one universal Monarch as in the time of Nebuchadnezar Dan. 2. or dispersed into many several and distinct forms of Magistracy in the world according as the most high is pleased to set them up pull them down or change them in reference to the present work which he hath to do in the world and to the state and condition of his own people in it either for their bringing into bondage and captivity under the worldly powers or for the leading them out of the same into the glorious liberty by him designed unto them in the last of daies whereof Nebuchadnezars image was a notification once for all and was so interpreted by Daniel himself when he said to Nebuchadnezar the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom power and strength and glory and wheresoever the children of men dwell the beasts of the field and fowls of the heaven he hath given it into thy hand and made thee ruler over them who therefore art this head of Gold Which government in the succession of it shall be dispersed decline and corrupt until it quite break asunder and split in pieces before the everlasting kingdom which is intended by God to be set up in the room thereof Which compared with Cap. 4. 17. makes it yet more evident that this visible government in the hands of the higher powers of the world is superintended over-ruled and influenced throughout by the decree of the watchers and the demand by the word of the holy ones or Angels to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will and setteth up over it the basest of men evidently declaring that promotion cometh not from the East or West or South but Christ who bears up the pillars of the earth when else through sin and the fall the earth and the inhabitants thereof had been dissolved he is the judge he puts down one and sets up another Pal. 75. 6 7. And if then in the inferiour visible administration of this government over men in the hands of men the Rule is given and declared whereunto the governed are to be subject not only for wrath but conscience sake Rom. 13. how much straightlier is every soul obliged to the same Rule as it is administred in the hands of the invisible Thrones at the judgement seat of Angels who next under Christ the supream Minister of God are exercising their Ministry in a way of wrath and terrour against all evil workers and in a way of encouragement and protection unto all those that do well and walk uprightly in the earth Thus according to the orders and decrees of these watchers and holy ones whether declared by their inward ministry in the spirits and consciences of the men of the world or outwardly by the wholsome laws and ordinances of man as the product and fruit of the light by them dispensed or by the visible providences of God is the first administration of Christs kingdom managed and upheld throughout the whole earth and over all the world even the nations that are yet aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise And because it is very cleer from Scripture that the holy ones or Elect Angels are intrusted
see thou do it not for I am thy fellow servant and of thy Brethren the Prophets and of them which keep the sayings of this book worship God by which Christ describes himself to John in his meer creature-nature according to which he saith in the Gospel Why callest thou me good there is none good but one that is God But secondly Michael is the great Prince as he is the WORD also of the final decision of all things the WORD of the oath separating in and by his last judgement and sentence between the sheep and the goats as he is the first begotten from the dead Gods high Priest consecrated for evermore Exercising the mind of God and of the creature made one in an undissoluble bond of love peace and reconciliation In which of twain that they were as first they become one new Creation in which both minds are exercised in perfect harmony and peace All enmity being slain and for ever abolished through the blood of the Cross whereby Christs creature-nature is exalted to be Gods associate or equal in his very throne receiving a Name above every Name even above that of Arch-Angel itself or first-born of every creature unto which all creature-names and natures are to bow and do homage as to him who being thus found in the form of God counts it not robbery to be equal with God A lively figure of Christ the Messiah or Michael the great Prince thus considered the Scripture gives us in the person of Melchisedech Hebrews 7. Who in his name descent and office doth most aptly represent this great mysterie First in his name as he is King of righteousness Head of all natural life and perfection and then as King of peace or author of true rest in which he is Head of the new creatures righteousness and everlasting life Secondly in his descent which is most mysterious and incomprehensible without Father without Mother without pedigree or lineal descent from the creature having neither beginning of daies nor end of life but made the likness or figure of the Son of God who was in TRUTH all this through the first and immediate operations of the Trinity bringing themselves to light in him Thirdly in his office of High-Priesthood comprehending the sacrifice as well as the sacrificer and also the first and highest Sanctuary wherein this divine service and holy sacrifice was performed to God from the foundation of the world by Christ the Lamb then slain and passing out of the state of perfection as he was the first-born of every creature into the life and quickning from the dead whereof he was made the beginning and first-begotten and in all things to have the preheminence In both which respects Christ is the Messiah him whom God sends the likeness of the appearance of whose glory considered as the WORD of God whilst as yet he was not made flesh was the subject matter of Ezekiels vision Chap. 1. where he is most lively and expresly held forth in this his twofold ministration First as he is the spirit and voice of the Almighty ver 24. giving life and motion to the four living creatures ver 5. 12. which four are but one living creature Chap. 10. 15. comprehending in itself the variety and fulness the glory and perfection of the whole first creation from the four ends and quarters of it answering therein to the first-born of every creature mentioned Col. 1. 15. Who was before all things and in whom all things consist or stand up together as in their Head which he is described to be in reference to Angels Ezek. 10. 11. where the Ministry of Angels is typed out by the wheels full of eyes whose wings were of such a height that they were dreadful Chap. 1. 18. The same with those Chariots of God Psal 68. 17. that are twenty thousand even thousands of Angels who Psal 103. 20. 21 22 in the mightiness or excellency of their strength are ever doing the commands and hearkning unto the voice of this WORD as his Hosts and Ministers that do his pleasure in all places of his dominion by reason whereof the motion of this WORD or voice of the Almighty Ezekiel 1. 24. is compared to the noise of wings and the noise of an host Now of these wheels it is said Chapter 10. 11. that when they went they went upon their four sides and turned not as they went but to the place whither the Head looked they followed it they turned not as they went meaning the good Angels contrary whereunto the motion of the bad ones is described Jude v. 6. by turning aside from this head not keeping their first estate or principality but leaving their own habitation or dependency upon their head whom therefore he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day Thus Ezekiel saw the Lord Christ the true Messiah in his ministry of Gods first appearance And to shew that Christ in this is but a preparer of the way to the glory that follows and maker of the way for the second voice to be heard and attended unto in the end as he hath been in the beginning it is said that when the first ceased from motion and stood they then let down their wings whereupon there was a voice from the firmament over their heads when they stood and had let down their wings and above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a Throne and upon the likeness of the Throne was the appearance of a man above upon it Ezek. 1. 24 25 26. which Throne is more at large as we shall shew by and by opened Rev. 4. plainly figuring out Gods second appearance even those good things to come which are opened by Christs entrance within the veil and sitting down on the Throne at Gods right-hand expecting untill his foes be made his footstool or as 1 Cor. 15. 24 25. untill he shall have put down all rule and all authority and powers of the first Creation under his feet that would be exalting themselves against him and not be freely and willingly ready with the four Beasts and four and twenty Elders to prostrate themselves with their Crowns before the Throne saying thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were Created Rev. 4. 9. 10 11. which is the true broken frame of spirit in Elect men and Angels as they are built up a-new and brought forth from the grave into the power of an endless and incorruptible life even in their natural beings who considered in that capacity as so renewed are ingraffed into a new stock by life from the dead and are so represented by the four beasts but as withall they have the addition of a better and higher principle of life installing them in a Royal priesthood with Christ and setting them on the Throne of his glory they are represented by the
four and twenty Elders who both stand thus represented in Christ their head in his being Minister of Gods second appearance or the beginning and first-born from the dead the High-Priest presenting himself within the veil in the immediate presence of God bearing on his brest the names of the Children that God hath given to him from all eternity And for as much as Revel 5. 6. there is mention made of a Lamb as it had been slain having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth that John beheld in the midst of the throne and of the four Beasts and of the Elders which argues them to be distinct from them let me therefore as a further witness to the life and glory had and enjoyed by this true Messiah the Ministring WORD of Gods first and second appearance from the foundation of the world endeavour to open to you the analogie that is between him in the exercise of this twofold Ministry of his and this description of a Lamb as it had been slain having seven horns and seveneyes which is the power and light put forth by him as he is the Alpha and Omega the beginning and ending of the whole Creation of God which the number denotes being in himself the perfect measure line and original exemplar of both Creations the spirit sent forth by God as the light life and influencing power unto them both respectively and so having that in a far greater eminency in himself as Head and Mediator then what they have in themselves As first he is King of righteousness in the Ministry of Gods first appearance and then King of peace in the Ministry of his second and in both Melchisedec a High-Priest that implies a sacrifice a Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Thus the eternal life and blessedness prepared by God according to the free and good pleasure of his will to be communicated and imparted unto his chosen vessels whether men or Angels being too big and full to be received by them in their first make and fashion of building there is a means prepared for a new make and fashion of Creation for them whereby that which is in part is done away as it stands single and alone and yet is found again in the whole when that which is perfect is come and made to be their portion and inheritance whereby Gods peculiar ones are made to have that which other natural beings at their best have in common with them and yet have over and above that height and bredth and depth and length of the enjoyment of Gods love and peace which all the wisdom and discerning of the most capacious natural understanding whatsoever remaining upon the foundation of the first building can not reach nor attain Christ thus considered as Mediator is described Dan. 7. 9 10. by the antient of daies who is brought in fitting upon the same Throne as Rev. 4. whose garment was white as snow and the hair of his head like the pure wool his Throne was like the fiery flame and his wheels as burning fire a fiery stream issued and came forth from before him Thousand thousands ministred unto him and ten Thousand times ten Thousand stood before him the judgement was set and the Books were opened even the Books of the Lamb that was slain from the foumdation of the world And behold one like the son of man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the antient of daies verse 13. Here the offspring and root of David meet in marriage-union and the man Christ Jesus returns and ascends into the glory where he was before or in the beginning and they brought him neer before him so neer as both do make but one blessed Person of the Mediator who laies hold on the seed of David his own off-spring thus to bring him neer to him and gives him dominion and glory and a kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him whose Dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away and his Kingdome that which shall never be destroyed That this Antient of daies is the Son of God considered in the fulness and riches of his Mediatorship as hath been before opened is plain by comparing this with Rev. 1. 13 14 15 16. where the same description is made in most particulars of him as in this seventh of Daniel adding this that out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword which is the proper character of the Living WORD of God Heb. 4. 12. and his countenance was as the Sun shineth in his strength This compared again with Ioh. 5. 22 23. where Christ saith the Father judgeth no man but htah committed all judgement unto the Son that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father doth import that by this Antient of daies is meant that antient state of things and works of old which was set up in the Mediator from everlasting Prov. 8. 23. and was made manifest in the beginning when he became the first-born of every creature and first-begotten from the dead assuming in the dispensation of the fulness of time into neerness of union with himself the man Christ Jesus as the branch his servant the polished shaft hid in the shadow of his hand to accomplish his designs and be in his use and service the means of perfecting all that entercourse into which God thinks fit to admit the particular beings of men and Angels with himself in which state he is prefigured by the two Cherubims made at the end of the mercy-seat for the shadowing of it and by the two Olive-trees that stand by the Lord of the whole earth CHAP. III. Concerning the Creation of all things by Jesus Christ who is the Mysterie that lay hid in God from the beginning and makes himself manifest as well by the works of Creation as of Redemption IT can never be sufficiently observed how the WISDOM of God in the most difficult and knotty points to the reason of man doth without gratifying at all the curiosity of flesh and blood assert the truth of his own operations Thus Heb. 11. the Holy Ghost as taking for granted what he speaks of doth in short down-right terms declare ver 3. That the worlds were framed by the WORD of God and that by faith this is known to be so In which light it is also discovered that those things which are seen by our natural eye had a prae-existence in their proper head and cause and so had also those things that are not seen but to our spiritual discerning relating also to their proper root The method of which relative and radical being of things in their head in gradations one above another so as the inferiour subordinations of workmanship are the typical significations of them that are above is shortly and mystically yet fully and admirably laid down by the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 11. 3. where he saith that the