not the things he had been speaking of but a case wherein there should be not dying or rising again but a changing in a marvellous manner in a moment in the twinkling of an eye Let the reader judge CHAP. VII Containing the holding forth that the righteous living and remaining at the coming of the Lord Christ changed in a moment In special the Israelites the seed of Abraham will be the inhabitants of the new earth and habitable world to come with some scriptures discussed that seem plainly to speak it forth THat there will be a new earth and an habitable world to come something hath been sayd before and that the righteous alive at the coming of the Lord then changed in a moment shall be the inhabitants of it not excluding the raised then living in the body again We shall now dilate a little by way of enquirie what the holy scriptures speak and hold forth concerning the same First the Apostle Peter 2. Peter 3. 13. speaking of the hebrews commonly called Jewes who are said to be the first in order Rom. 1. 16. chap. 2. 10. To every man found working good glory honor and peace to the Jew first and also or after to the gentile It was so in regard of the offer of grace and salvation it is very like it will be so then Peter he sayth we according to his promise look for a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness or righteous men and women according as the prophet Isaiah saith Isa 60. 21. 22. Thy people also shall be all righteous they shall inherit the land for ever to wit the land of promise the land of Canaan a little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation a nation born in one day I the Lord will hasten it in his time when the redeemer shall come again to Sion and all Israel shall be saved which shall more fully be fulfilled at the time of their being so changed in a moment as declared by him And on the other side holy John tells us Rev. 21. 27. There shall in no wise enter into it to wit the holy city any thing that defileth or is unclean neither whatsoever worketh abomanation or maketh a lie but they which are written in the lambs book of life those shall dwell in Gods mountain then or his hill Psal 15. 1. namely those raised and changed ones not excluding the children of the resurrection The Lord Christ shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven Mark 13. 27. Very like to be made good in these changed ones not excluding the raised And that this will be made good then see that in the fore going verse And then shall they see the son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory comporting with this And that in a special wise it relates to them take we knowledge of that in Zech. 10. 6. 8. 9. 10. which as to its more full and through fulfilling seems in my apprehension to eye that time This seeing of the son of man at his coming may minde us of that of our Lord Christ Math. 23. 39. Ye shall not see me henceforth till we shall say blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord when every eye shall see him and they also which peirced him Rev. 1. 7. Further we may take notice what Ezekiel holds forth Ezek. 36. Ezek. 37. In the 36th chapter He declares the great displeasure of God against his people the children of Israel and speaks of great calamitie that had been upon them the heathen people being the instruments in Gods hand who dealt cruelly with them and that when God hath pitty upon them and returns to them to take them again to be his people then he would cause his fury against those enemies to break forth and they should bear their shame and punishment this from the 1. to the end of the 7th vers Then followeth very high and great promises vers 8. 9. For behold I am for you and will turn unto you c. vers 10. And I will multiply men upon you all the house of Israel c. vers 11. And I will multiply upon you man and beast and settle you after your old estates and will do better unto you then at your beginnings c. And so goeth on to the 16th verse in a promissary way Where the prophet begins again a further relation of their sin and the wrath that attends and the reason of the stop and staying of their misery namely the pitty and compassion he had to them and the regard he had to the honor of his great name Vers. 24. God speaks of gathering Israel from all countries and bringing them to their own land the iniquity of it being removed in one day And vers 25. and 29. he speaks of full cleansing promised vers 26. a new heart promised and a new spirit to be given the stony heart to be taken away and a heart of flesh given corruption wholly put off and incorruption put on a great change indeed much the same we are treating of vers 27. I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes Verse 28. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers which land shall have the iniquity of it removed in one day And ye shall be my people and I will be your God The fulness of the blessing of the new covenant See what followeth to the end of the chapter and weigh the whole Chapter 37. First we have that of the dry bones set together with flesh and synews and covered with skin and life breathed into them with the interpretation of it vers 11 12 13 14. These bones are the whole house of Israel The opening of graves as to the full or utmost fulfilling of it seemeth to eye the resurrection We have likewise the two sticks made one to wit Israel and Judah made one as vers 17. explained in vers 21. behold I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen whither they be gone and will gather them on every side and bring them into their own land vers 22. And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel and one king shall be king to them all and they shall no more be two nations neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all Then in vers 23. There is the promise of preservation from pollution the promise of full cleansing of full salvation and being kept in that happy condition they were changed into and God to be their God and they his people And as in vers 24. David Gods servant to be king over them and they to have one shepheard Then followeth that very observable and remarkable vers 25. And they shall dwell in the land that I
goeth on vers 4. I will build thee and thou shalt be built O virgin of Israel vers 6. there shall be a day wherein it shall be said arise ye and let us go up to Sion to the Lord our God vers 7. the Lord saith sing with gladness for Jacob. vers 8. behold I will bring them from the north and gather them from the coasts of the Earth vers 10. he that scattered Israel will gather him and keep him as a shepheard doth his sheep or flock vers 11. the Lord hath redeemed Jacob. vers 12. therefore shall they come and sing in the height of Sion for Sion will be very high indeed then and shine forth very gloriously this is much the same with that of holy Isaiah chap. 2. 2. When it shall come to passe in the last days the very time we are treating of that the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow unto it He goeth on and speaketh of great things that shall be done for Israel Gods people At vers 31. He speaketh of a new covenant God will make after those days with the house of Israel and Iudah Reade the matter at large What it is he declares vers 33. of Ier. 31. Namely he will put his law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and he will be their God and they shall be his people There is much of grace in it in that he undertakes to do it without any condition vers 34. Seemeth to look further and to eye another time then that of grace and the state of regeneration as to its full fulfilling it is said they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know the Lord the reason is For they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord. This new covenant it seemeth not only to eye the day of grace but the day of glory Not only the day of Christs first coming when he confirmed it with his bloud Heb. 9. The comfort and blessed fruit whereof all the servants of God in all ages since have enjoyed and yet do and still shall enjoy till that happy time come when they shall enjoy the high and full enjoyment of it in that blessed world to come when the great fruit and blessedness of it shall then be made partakers of so as was never attained unto or enjoyed before in that happy time that is coming it will have its full fulfilling and be made good in every particular That in vers 34. of this Ier. 31. which seemeth to eye another time in order thereunto for in the day of grace whilest this world lasteth there will be need of teaching and exhorting one another as it is commanded Heb. 3. 13. But exhort one another dayly whilest it is called to day whilest the day of grace lasteth so chap. 10. 25. But exhort one another and so much the more as we see the day approacheth wherein there will be no need of doing it Here in the state of regeneration there will be but knowledge in part but then in that happy state and time there will be the full vision and knowledge of God that man will be capable of the greatest according to the greatness and the least according to their littleness every vessel bigg or little will be brim-full that it can receive no more The earth to wit the new earth will be full of the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea Isa 11. 9. Holy Paul semeth to eye this of not teaching one another 1 Cor. 13. 9. we know but in part we prophesy in part so was it at the present but there was another time to come when it would not be so Vers. 10. When that which is perfect is come that blessed time that perfect state takes place as it will do when the raised and changed ones shall appear with the Lord Christ then an end of things in part and of teaching also For prophesying or teaching as to them will then cease Here we are but as children then as perfect men here we see but as through a glasse darkly but then we shall see face to face clearly and fully we now know but in part but then we shall know as we are known for God will fully take away the face of the covering and vail that lets and hinders Isa 25. 7. when there shall be a changing so that vail will be done away Very high knowledge of God then our Lord will shew us plainly of the father and in him we shall behold his glory In the eighth and ninth chapters of the epistle to the Hebrews this is treated of by the Apostle under the term of a new testament A covenant and a testament differ something strictly minded though in substance they may be the same There were many covenants made by Almighty God as with Noah and Abraham Isaack and Iacob with the Israelites with David and with Levi c. But he made but two testaments a first by Moses confirmed by the bloud of Bulls and Goats A second by the Lord Christ confirmed by his own bloud or death as a testament must be else it is of no force but a covenant is of force whilest a person liveth and is otherwise confirmed The new testament as a testament of the Lord Christ he is the blessed mediator or surety of it as Moses was of the first It relates chiefly to the time of grace and the estate of regeneration in this world and is of high concern and great fruit and benefit to all believers much of the mistery of godlines and of the Gospel being contained in it but as a covenant it seemeth to eye and look at a further time not yet come and a covenant that shall then be made good when they shall not teach for there will be no need of it they shall know as much as they shall be capable of knowing for such fullness they shall enjoy as nothing can be added to it No great question but the Apostle had this in his thoughts in order to that blessed time to come the last verse seemeth to speak out so much to them that look for him to wit the Lord Christ shall he appear the second time as he appeared the first without sin to wit the imputation of sin in a low condition in the form of a servant so the first time but the second time in power and great glory without sin unto salvation Heb. 9. 28. to wit to full and perfect salvation of body and spirit united in one at that happy day There are many blessed expectants that look for the Lord Christ his appearing this second time as good old Simeon Hannah did the first time there are blessed servants that look for their Lord his return from a far country whither he is gone to receive for
GOOD THINGS TO COME OR A Setting forth some of the Great Things that will Contemporize and take place when our Lord Christ shall come again mentioned in the holy Scriptures I. As the resurrection and raising of the dead to live again with the order of it II. The reign of our Lord Christ here on earth and for how long namely till he hath subjected all his enemies and put them under his feet III. The resigning and delivering up the kingdom by the Lord Christ unto the father of whom he received it IV. Of God the Father then becoming all in all in Dominion power and rule the great Omega V. Of the kingdome of the father Succeeding that surrender and giving up by the Lord Christ and something the holy Scriptures intimate concerning the same with sundry other things treated of by way of essay from 1 Cor. 15. The Second Part. Containing the proposing of that great Mystery shewed by holy Paul 1. Cor. 15. 53. That the Saints then alive shall not die but be changed with something concerning the Restoration and world to come and New Earth which at the coming again of our Lord will take place By P. G. B 1 Cor. 2. 9. Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him Joh. 16. 22. But I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you 1 Thess 5. 21. Prove all things hold fast that which is good LONDON Printed in the Year 1675. To the READER HEre is offered to thy view and consideration some of those great good things to come which will take place at the coming of the Lord Christ in power and great glory the certaintie of them is great the faithfulness of God is engaged to make them good and his power none can question for encouragement to hope and wait patiently until the appointed time come of their fulfilling they were collected together and set forth also and likewise that the further knowledge and understanding of them might take place and the vails removed that hinders the breaking forth of the light thereof The time hasteneth the day draweth nigh some further light would be very comfortable to the blessed expectances of his coming It is expected that the making of it publike will be differently resented some it may be will dislike it or something in it as fabulous some haply will decry it as holding forth something erroneous some that those things are not so necessary for these times others it is likely may be well pleased and glad of them and being such things as they have not thought of will consider soberly of them and it may be some fruit may follow for the further advancing the knowledge of the coming of the Lord Christ and his kingdom and all those great things spoken of in the scriptures of truth that shall come and take place at that happy day Though there seems much in the spirits of some against it yet notwithstanding the further knowledge of these things gets ground and is much on the spirits and hearts of many of the good servants of God and lovers of the Lord Jesus whom nothing pleaseth more and maketh their hearts glad and joyful then to hear of the coming of their dear saviour again and it is likely it will be so more and more as the day thereof draweth nigh something of the good spirits of God in the bride will cause this desire and cause it to grow higher and higher the spirit and the bride will say come oh come Lord Jesus come quickly this matter was much on the spirits of the blessed servants of God of old as the Apostle Peter tells us in 1. Pet. 1. 10. 11. who comprehensively speaking of the great salvation not only in the beginnings but also in the full and final compleating of it sayth Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently c. Searching what or what manner of time c. They searched what about the sufferings and glory and what manner of time 1st In regard of his coming in the state of humiliation to suffer And 2ly His coming in glory to reign the spirit of Christ in them did signifie declare and show aforehand the sufferings of the Lord Christ which they also declared afore hand and they came all to passe and the glory that should follow after which is yet to come and looked for by the servants of God and shall be made good as the others were when our Lord shall come in the glory of his father and of all the holy Angels And as the prophets of God in the old testament and the Apostle Peter since in the new as in the last mentioned scripture and in Acts 3. 18. to 21. 1 Pet. 4. 13. chap. 5. 4. 2. 13. 14. have spoken of and looked for his great salvation so the Apostle Paul and John have therein likewise told of the great things that will attend and take place at the time of that glorious coming of our Lord when he appeareth we also shall appear with him in glory Col. 3. 4. Be like him and see him as he is John 3. 2. shall not only behold his glory and admire him but be also glorifyed and admired in them 2 The. 1. 10. shall be ever with him 1 The. 4. 17. His tabernanacle with them and he dwelling amongst them they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God Rev. 21. 3. And being made kings and Preists unto God by Christ shall reign with him upon the earth Rev. 5. 10. Rev. 20. 4. 5. 6. The blessed Restoration or restitution of all things a new heaven and a new earth very heavenly and all things made new Acts. 3. 19. 20. 21. Rev. 21. 1. 5. True and faithful sayings in the general or for the matter of them foretold and confirmed by our Lord himself before his death as in several places in the four Evangelists and also more particularly and plainly since his resurrection and ascention as in this book of the Revelation which is his Rev. 1. 1. and given him by God the father to communicate to his servants for their joy and comfort likewise then and there that blessed potentate king of kings and Lord of Lords the Lord Jesus shall reign gloriously and the kingdom and dominion and greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall come into the hands of the saints of the most high God as Daniel hath foretold Dan. 7. 27. Dan. 2. 44. also Christ himself and John as is before mentioned In the world to come after the burning and destroying of this 2. Pet. 3. 7. to 13. will this it is very likely take place when the righteous will flourish indeed and be happy as now they may comfortably rejoyce in hope of the glory of God for then there will be no more curse neither in respect
life everlasting to be for ever with the Lord in whose presence is fulness of joy and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. Vers. 4. of Rev. 21. and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain And as Chap. 22. there shall be no more curse c. for the former things are passed away It is not hard to conceive and determine to what time this relateth This world will not afford such full freedom and utter exemption from those bitter things forementioned as it will not afford those high attayners and enjoyments mentioned by holy John it will be in the world to come then will all things be made new as at the beginning sutable to the new heavens and the new earth and the happy restoration of all things of which we shall treat in the following discourse take we knowledge of what he that sat on the throne said further to John Write saith he for these words are true and faithfull and will be made good in their time Alass for those that believe not all is submitted to the wise in heart CHAP. X. Containing the proposal to consideration the great restoration of all things spoken of by the Prophets and the happy change that shall then attend man and the earth and the creatures therein when Jesus Christ shall be sent the second time and the world to come take place With sundry great and high Prophecies set forth that seem to hold forth the same THe blessed restoration of all things Which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began Acts. 3. 20. 21. The first creation and making of all things Gen. 1. may be minded as the Image and figure according to which the restitution or restoration will be a returning again into the same mode and figure state and condition they were in at their first making and framing by God himself liked and testified to be very good which Adam by sin and transgression greatly marred and disfigured sin and the curse following and all manner of woe and misery following as the effect followeth its cause What holy Moses hath writ concerning the creation of man and of the earth and of the creatures therein together with the gathering together of the waters What is said and testified by the Lord almighty the maker of them all concerning the goodness of them and his liking of them the testimony given is very high vers 31. and God saw all that he had made and behold it was very good The weighing and consideratien whereof will be a good coppy to write by a good pattern or sample for us to set before us in order to our better taking knowledge of it Gen. 1. We have a description of the making the world day by day and the making of man as the most principal piece of the earthly creation vers 26. and God said let us make man in our own Image vers 27. so God created man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him male and female created he them And vers 26. God blessed them so made in that marvelous condition and said be fruitfull and multiplie and replenish the earth and subdue it having the grant of power given before vers 26. a very large grant a great charter of power given of God to man in his innocent state before his fall and transgression and the losse he and his posteritie and the whole earthly creation received thereby upon the whole it is said vers 31. and God saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good The restoration it will be proportionable and also very good Adam so made was a very choice piece in the Image of God and in the likenes of God of great rectitude marvellous complete and happy by his transgression and disobedience he suffered great losse and damage as did his posterity and the whole earthly creatures and great enmitie attended them and much thraldom and miserie But at the happy time of our Lord Christ being sent from heaven again then there will be a blessed restitution and restoration of all things Then shall many be rechanged in a moment for the better as he was before for the worse then shall that mistery holy Paul hath shewed take place Then this vile body sinfull and corrupt shall be rechanged and made like his glorious body according to that full and clear testimony of holy Paul Phil. 3. 20. 21. from heaven we look for the saviour the Lord Jesus who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body pure serene and glorious without spot or wrinkle or any such thing as he will make his Church then also and this by changing in a moment by putting off and putting on putting off corruption and sin and putting on purity incorruption and holiness as it is written 1. Cor. 15. 53. 54. holy Paul tells us further 1. Thes 4. 16. of the Lord Christ himself in his own person he shall descend from heaven he did ascend as an Angel Acts. 1. 11. told the beholders and lookers after him when he so ascended and said this Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Even the same Jesus Christ as testifieth the Apostle Ephes. 4. 9. he shall again descend when God shall send him again at the time of the restitution of all things and then shall those believers found alive be changed in a moment into their former happy state with some happy additions of blessednes The old man so called which the servants of God are bidden to put off Eph. 4. 22. Which in this day of regeneration believers have been subduing and crucifying by the exercise of mortification and sanctification of the spirit and yet carry it to the grave with them they shall then be wholy rid of it in a moment in the twinking of an eye and shall then put on the new man indeed and be clothed very glorious by being so changed all new then relating to the servants of God as he from the throne said Rev. 21. 5. Behold I make all things new a new heaven a new earth a new Jerusalem come down from heaven a new covenant new bodyes new hearts and spirits new creatures all things new Adams upright and perfect condition as a man and the goodness of the earth and the creatures therein liked by God himself when he viewed them after he had made them is it is likely the standard and pattern according to which the restoration will be as it was at first before mans fall and the entring the curse so it is very like to be in the restoration In regard of man as man the change in a moment will effect it In that happy time when man will not only be as