should not enter into that rest Yea Moses himself was so provoked by them that he spake unadvisedly with his lips and they so tempted Aaron the Saint of Lord as Psal 106.16 that neither of them came into the land of Canaan nor any other of the people save Josua and Caleb of all that generation above the age of 20. years that had been delivered out of the hands of Pharaoh yet in Gods own time he accomplished his promise in giving that people possession of that land Josh 23.14 When faithful and holy David was anointed to be the Captain of Gods people even he in fighting the Lords battels found the sheild of his faith so shattered that despondently once he said I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul and thereupon ran himself upon dangerous rocks of temptation amongst Gods enemies from which notwithstanding God graciously delivered him and at last brought him into full possession of the Kingdom over all the tribes of Israel and Judah When Judahs 70. years Captivity in Babylon was almost expired they despise the day of small things and say the time is not yet come to build the house of the Lord Haggai 2.2 by whom God yet foreshewed that the great Mountain of strong opposition that stood before Zerobabel should become a plain and so it came to pass Yea when Christ himself the long expected Messiah came at the time in the place manner condition and in every respect as had been foretold he should come in the flesh how few even in Jerusalem or in Judaea acknowledged or regarded his wonderful birth his holy and wise demeavour and heavenly manner of life after all those divine witnesses of Simeon Zachary Anna Elizabeth c. or the very Angels before and at his birth or any thing afterward that set him forth to be wonderful before the time came wherein he openly manifested himself in the world and after that how was his person despised his doctrine and miracles though such as never man taught or wrought in the world before not only not regarded but even blasphemed by the great ones of those times and by their means likewise not owned by inferiours lest they should be cast out of the Synagogue and though some of the Preists believed in him they durst not confess him If Nicodemus a Mr. in Israel acknowledge and own him it must be in the night when he may not be seen and all the strange wonders before and at his death and resurrection and afterwards for the most part neglected and buried in silence So strangely in the worlds view and even in good mens too many times Gods greatest predictions and promises use to take place And have not since Christ the six first Seals of the Primitive times when Michael and the Dragon fought hand to hand as 't were whose worship should be set up and some of the Trumpets after wards been mystically sulfilled and passed according to the series of their several times which Mr. Mede on the Revelations very appositly applies How have those many Synchronisms of Antichrists tyranny 42. months with the two witnesses prophesie in sackcloth 1260. days of years Rev. 11. The Beast out of the Sea having seven heads and ten horns according to his Politick capacity the other out of the Earth with two horns like a Lamb according to the Ecclesiastical capacity Rev. 13. lyen hidden from most mens eyes And hath not the woman the true Church though gloriously at first adorned Rev. 12. yet since as long been forced into the wilderness Rev. 14. where her place was prepared and all that while the Scarlet Whore the Antichristian or false Church sits as a Queen and not only bewitcheth the Christian World with her Sorceries but also with the Cup of her Spiritual Fornications makes drunk the Kings of the Earth till the will of God shall be fulfilled when they shall hate her and make her desolate and naked and eat her fiesh and burn her with fire Rev. 17.16 17. And how few take notice that the time of her recompence is near Rev. 18.6 7. How many of Gods Vials are already poured out upon her How far she hath done her utmost in killing Christs witnesses even few do seriously ponder And when the second Woe is past how soon may sound the Trumpet of the seventh Angel such who can delare And thence forth many other excellent contemporaries are reveased from Jesus Christ the faithful and true witness and set before us under and after the said Trumpet who as he is about wonderfully to glorifie himself in taking his Kingly power Rev. 19. When the Kingdomes of the world shall become the Kingdomes of our God and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 in a far different manner then they have been formerly So likewise how long the earth shall be blessed with that happy Dominion he as clearly sets before his people Rev. 20.4 namely for the space of a thousand years even near or until the last judgement Vers 7 11 12. c. And after the Chronology of the time and after the time of the said seventh Trumpet in the 20. Chap. vers 7. where first having set down Vers 1 2. the contemporary binding of Satan and casting him into the bottomless pit and sealing him up there during that time having also subdued before the powers of the wicked world while he himself with his Saints vers 4.6 will wonderfully gloriously and graciously more then before manifest his Kingly power in the world the said thousand years wherein in the said following Chapters he evidently and strongly informes his people in the substance of many other contemporaries As first of the new Heavens and the new Earth for the thousand years chap. 21.1 and the New Jerusalem descending down from Heaven vers 10. and the Tabernacle of God being with men for the same time vers 3. again chap. 22. there is set forth the pure river of water of life proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb vers 1. and the tree of life bearing twelve manner of fruits the leaves whereof are for the healing of the Nations through the same period Vers 2. for in all the Book of Revelations where things are not said to succeed one another as the Seals Trumpets and Vials but one Table of Chronoligie is assigned to them all such distinct visions are contemporaries as all that concerned the true and false Church in Antichrists time have the same measure though diverslly computed by Moneths Days and a times time and an half So all these Visions under and after the seventh Trumpet have one Chronological Table to compute their time viz. a thousand years all which particulars being by Christs special order so strongly asserted by the Angel and the antient and latter Prophets as earnestly called in for evidence hereunto as we shall endeavour by Gods assistance to point out afterward yet so Providence hath over-ruled and ordered that though the substance of all these
Sack-cloth for a time and times and half a time In Chap. 13. We have the description of the false Apostatical Church from about Anno. 406. as is probably conceived from Honorius the Emperor and Pope Innocent the first his time set forth in a twofold beast wherein Antichrist and his followers are vers 1. described in their politique capacity as taking possession of the seat of the Roman Emperour in the West into which when the Dragon who was before dipossessed cunningly winds in that his substitute the Beast giving his power and place unto him under a new shape of Idolatry and so he riseth out of the Sea having seven heads and ten horns expounded Cap. 17. having upon his horns ten crowns and upon his head the name of Blasphemy By the other Beast vers 11. he is set forth in his Ecclesiastical capacity making up one body with his Clergy so he is said to come out of the Earth of an earthly constitution having two horns of power Ecclesiastick and Civil like a Lamb but speaks like a Dragon But concerning the twofold Beast Christ the mighty Angel described Chap. 10.1 when he gave the Book to John containing the Beasts forty two moneths speaks vers 6.7 that his time should be no longer And to that end had his two Sack-cloth Witnesses prepared Cap. 11. The Pastours to feed the woman in her wilderness-condition 1260. days of years whom in a seeming disgraceful manner he sets up against this great Beast which in appearance is maxime impar congressus they being contemptible in the worlds eye and yet lets them know they should have all along such power that they shall by the spirit of Prophesie overcome the Beast with all his worldly grandure and greatness and by suffering and dying after the Lambs example at last totally and finally overcome him And yet all the while that false Antichristian Apostatical Church of spiritual Babylon that scarlet whore described Rev. 17. Sits as a Queen not onely bewitching the Christian world with her Sorceries but also making the Kings of the earth drunk with the cup of her spiritual fornications the true Church though in a wilderness-condition yet continues to sing a new song on Mount Sion with the Lamb and to follow him where ever he goeth while the destroying Angels by their judgments surprize the Whore Chap. 14. And therefore while the Whore in all her gay gaudery promiseth her self security that she should see no sorrow Christ hath his seven Angels with their seven last plagues or Viale to be poured out upon her bringing her inevitable destruction by degrees upon what ever was of worth in her accompt even to destroy the Kingdom Throne and Empire of the Beast and even to make those Kings which the Scarlet Whore riding upon the Beast had before made drunken to hate the Whore and make her desolate and naked and eat her flesh and burn her with fire And lastly as a mighty Conquerour Rev. 19. Christ overthrows in the Armagedon Battel all the Hosts of the Dragons substitute and possesseth his Empire there and in all other the Dragons dominious besides and casts the Beast and the False Prophet the Pope and his counsel into the Lake of fire and brimstone and then as the most puissant King of Kings and Lord of Lords lays hold on the Dragon Rev. 20. and binds him likewise with a great Chain and shuts him in his Dungeon the bottomless pit And sets up his own Kingdom Dominion and Soveraignty generally over all persons places and times of the seventh Trumpet and thousand years wherein by his word he declares he will reign with his Saints upon earth Rev. 11.15 and 19.20 where again all time will end And in this last period are set forth as Synchronals the binding of Satan the raign of Christ with his Saints a thousand years on earth The new Heavens and new Earth for the same space of time and the Tabernacle of God with men The new Jerusalem The pure River of water of life and the tree of life bearing the twelve manner of fruits whose leaves are for the healing of the Nations All which are to be during that happy time when the Kingdomes of the world are said to be the Kingdoms of our God and of his Christ as was expressed Chap. 11.15 And when the Lord God omnipotent reigneth as the great multitude of his servants are taught out of the Throne to praise him so enlargedly Chap. 19.5 6. For as we noted before in all the Book of the Revelations where things are not said to succeed one another as the Seals Trumpets and Viols but one Table of Chronology is assigned to them all such distinct Visions are contemporaries as all that concerned the true and false Church in Antichrists time have the same measure though diversly computed by moneths days a time times and half So all these Visions under or rather after the seventh Trumpet have one Chronogical Table to compute their time viz. a thousand years all which particulars being by Christs special order so strongly asserted by the Angel and the antient and latter Prophets as earnestly called in for evidence hereunto for the stablishment of the Faith of Gods people herein since he the Lamb that had power to reveal them to his beloved Disciple Saint John hath likewise power to execute and fulfil them in their seasons till all be done which in his Office of Mediatorship is committed to him having therefore seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth whereby with his perfect wisdom and providence he will accomplish all that his undertaking Which Synchronismes in the last Period according to Mr. Mede in his Clavis Apocalyptiea are as a guiding thread which who so taketh and humbly and faithfully useth may greatly through grace be helped in passing through many otherwise inextricable labyrinths in many dark passages of this book for in this last period the said Mr. Mede hath gone contrary to the stream of Exposituours for many hundreds of years as others since him have done wherein for the substance there seems to be much clearness though the mysteries therein comprised are very high and intricate which in the ensuing and now neer approaching times will doubtless be much unfolded when the mystery of God shall be finished at the beginning of the sounding of the seventh Angel Chap. 10.7 and when likewise Gods Temple shall be opened in Heaven and there shall be seen in his Temple the Ark of his Testament Chap. 11.19 Now seeing in regard of all Christs other actings past since his taking of the book of Revelation at his Fathers hand they have been mystically and spiritually executed though all most really and powerfully so I conceive the mystical manner of understanding his reign on earth the thousand years As I then apprehended seems in regard of the Symetry proportion and suitableness to what hath already been done is here to be understood
thence declares how that the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation both which will be evident at such coming or appearing of Christ To this purpose Peter likewise Act. 3.19.21 First speaks of times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord which vers 21. he calls the times of restitution of all thing where the particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Beza notes is not to be referred to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which saith he namely times God hath spoken of by the mouth of all his Prophets since the world began and therefore there is great reason and good warrant to inquire into all the Prophets since the world began concerning those things that concerne such Christs appearing and Kingdom the third of those three in the Mount is the Apostle James whose eminent Testimony we have Act. 15. when Peter had declared the conversion of the Gentiles James takes occasion to speak of raising up the Church of the Jews and with them as is probable the remnant of the Gentiles that that fulness might then come in and to this end quotes Amos 9.11 for saith he vers 15 16. to this agree the words of the Prophet After this I will raise up the Tabernacle of David which was fallen that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the Heathen namely when the Jews shall be again converted that the residue of the men saith St. James might seek after the Lord and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called and then adds this excellent foundation v. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world And so for the Testimony of St. Paul to whom after his ascention Christ wonderfully and graciously revealed himself First In that eminent place of the destruction of Antichrist 2 Thes 2.8 Whom he shall destroy with the breath of his mouth and with the appearance of his coming So 2 Tim. 4.1 who shall judge the quick and dead at his appearing and Kingdom the quick destroying the enemies then living the dead by rewarding his servants when he takes his Kingdom as Rev. 11.18 1 Tim. 6.15 Keep saith St. Paul the commandment without spot unrebukeable untill the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ which in his time he shall shew who is the blessed and onely potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords as likewise he is deciphered Rev. 19.16 at the very same time of Antichrists destruction and in divers other places of his writings Now if we understand all such places of a wonderful glorious appearing or coming at that time of the setting up of his Kingdom upon earth as before we said if he will in any such way glorifie himself he can then appear as glorious to his people upon Mount Sion so as he did appear to Moses and Israel to be their Law-giver upon Mount Sinai and what neer and happy communion may be in these blessed times between Heaven and earth when the Tabernacle of God shall be with men under the New Testament as when the Ark was in the Temple in Solomons times when Christ was so glorious under the Old Testament may not be hard to conceive but probably much more excellent in regard of the clearness of divine grace and prevalency thereof If Stephen was so strengthened in faith or sight at his death to see the Heavens opened and Christ in glory sitting at the right hand of God Christ the great God can make all good and bad to behold his Majesty in what ever way he will then manifest himself he can make the beams of his glory besides the divine light of his grace and Spirit stream down and rest as he pleaseth to inlighten his New Jerusalem come down from Heaven as to St. Paul at his conversion to inlighten it I say far above the Sun at Noon-day though his Humane Nature should remain in the highest Heavens he can make his Angels his Heraulds to execute his judgements upon his enemies making those Ministers a flaming fire to them and as Reapers to gather out of his Kingdome all things that offend as those Tares the Children of the wicked one Matth. 13. for what execution of judgement is done by the Kings appointment and authority though he is not pleased to be present in his person is as well his execution as if he were so present or did it with his own hand as Samuel did to King Agag what acts of Soveraignty power or grace are performed according to his pleasure and order though in his personal absence are nevertheless to be acknowledged to be derived from him and as the star at Christs birth though not a star in the ordinary course yet served to lead the Sages to the place where Christ was It was thought by the writer hereof to be the safest way not to determine de modo of the manner of Christs appearing whether personally or mystically yet in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Forerunner which like a porch framed to the house since the building of the house upon more mature consideration determines for the personal appearance especially in the paper Sept. 27. 1664. in the clouds and at least some personal glorious manifestation of himself to the blessed and holy raised Saints in the New Jerusalem on earth in the thousand years he being the visible light thereof In the light of which the Nations that are saved shall then walk Rev. 21.22 and Isa 60.3 11. So Christ can shew any glorious appearance to set forth his kingly Majesty and excellency suitable to his own sacred pleasure and purpose however in what way Gods Spirit hath foretold that his appearing or coming it shall be so accomplished in its time though we cannot fully resolve of the manner but as the two Sackcloth Prophesiers cannot be freed from their mournful condition until the date of the Beast be fully expired so neither can the prosperity of Gods people be hindered one moment when once the time of Christs Kingdom on earth shall take place Object But why should we medle with such mysteries or trouble our own or others heads with things we cannot resolve or what good comes there by so doing Answ To be curious or peremptory in what is not clear to us in the Word of God is indeed hurtful and dangerous but in such things as God hath set down largely and fully in his Word and likewise strongly confirmed as may abundantly be shewed concerning Christs reign on the earth the thousand years to come both in Old and New Testament ought not to be over-looked or neglected by us but concerning the glorious estate of Gods Church upon earth under or after the seventh Trumpet in the said reign of Christ upon earth in what manner soever he will execute it the Scripture is plentiful in asserting the same as in part we have shewed already Doth God by his Spirit of his own goodness reveal so much for his Churches benefit