of the creation nor the throne of the beast or Antichrist but the throne of God and of the lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him to the fulfilling of Rev. 22. 3. There are some general notions and common sayings amongst persons religious and professing much love to the Lord Christ and desire of the advancement of his glory both here and hereafter and yet they do greatly obstruct and hinder the advance of the knowledge of his coming The first obstruction we mention is a decrying of it as a thing not orthodox but a thing newly started up or revived the Milleniant Tenent which they that are orthodox meddle not with it is much to hear any that professe love to the Lord Jesus to speak so at this time of the day and to fright themselves and others with such a bugbear and thereby to hinder themselves and others from searching or making enquiry into the scriptures concerning the good things to come whenas some have outlived the notions and wayes they counted orthodox and have closed with and adhered unto in notion and practice the things they counted heterodox and it may be they may do so again This fallacie of being orthodox is but an aiery notion a name only the religious tenents and practises setled by power in any nation or countrey are orthodox there where they are so setled and all other dissonant tenents to the establishment are counted heterodox though they be never so right tenents the Papists will so decry the Protestants of all kinds the Protestants do the like and will when they are setled by power decry as heterodox the Papist and every different party amongst all sorts of Christians are apt to baptize their own opinion as orthodox and all dissenters as heterodox and the dissenter will do the like back again so as in effect this bugbear signifieth nothing at all but is as a shaddow Another thing obstructing is a common notion and speaking inconsideratly of the world to come of which the holy scriptures speaks Heb. 2. 5. As that which sball take place when this world sball give place be burned and be no more which by many is quite overlooked and by some counted as heaven above as if nothing was to be here below after the burning and end of this world but heaven and being in heaven Nay in common speaking some tell of going to heaven before this world have an end not taking notice of the world to come at all and very hardly admitting it to be any other thing then heaven above as was said before by which notion and speaking they make void insignificant much of the holy scriptures and the sayings of the Lord Christ the Apostles and prophets therein as concerning things to come And to help in the case they adventure to allegorize and put spiritual meanings on plain prophecyes prophesying thereby themselves instead of believing and receiving the sayings of the prophets though the prophets declared nothing but what God commanded them to speak and declare And in like manner they do by the holy visions of John and others declared and set forth in the holy scriptures whereby the minds of persons are diverted and taken off from searching into the prophecies and looking out after the good things to come and from the believing of them any otherwise then they conceive they will sute with heaven and the state of heaven above So as the coming again of our Lord Christ the coming of his kingdom and his will done on earth as in heaven which himself hath so greatly foretold witnessed to and exhorted his servants to pray for Math. 6. 10. The blessed restoration of all things when he shall be sent again spoken of by Peter Acts. 3. 19. 20. 21. The creatures deliverance from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God called the adoption or redemption of the body which they who have the first-fruits of the spirit viz. the hints of the glory thereof upon their spirits and the whole creation by a secret instinct are said to groan travel in pain and wait to be delivered into Rom. 8. 21. 22. 23. The new heaven and new earth and all things made new the true and faithful sayings which our Lord Christ sent and signified by his Angel to his servant John The reading hearing keeping whereof hath the promise of a blessing annexed to it equal with if not beyond any other part of the holy scriptures Rev. 1. 1. 3. with very many things more that might be mentioned will signifie little or nothing but as they are made by some to hold forth some attainer or enjoyment in heaven above Another hindrance of the knowledge and looking out after the great good things to come and which takes the mindes of persons from searching and looking out after them is a narrow notion received and held forth upon little ground but tradition namely that the Lord Christ will come at the day of judgement to judge the quick and the dead according to that short summary in the Creed and in and under this is by some wrapped up all the things spoken of in the scriptures concerning the ends of his coming again without taking any notice of them at all so as if you speak of Christ our Lord coming in glory to take unto him his great power and to set up his kingdom and to reign in the midst of his enemies and to break them in peices as a potters vessel Psal 2. 9. Rev. 2. 26. 27. And his being admired at by and in them that believe when they see his glory 2. Thes. 1. 10. Rom. 8. 17. 18. As the disciples that our Lord told of the sufferings he was to accomplish at Jerusalem Luk. 18. 31. to 34. It is sayd they understood none of those things and those sayings were hid from them so in like manner speak now of the great things that will take place when the Lord Christ shall come again in his glory and they understand none of these things and these things are hid from them and they understand nothing but Christ our Lord his coming to judgement and that they seem to minde as a transcient thing and not a set solemn and formal thing a real judicature and incline to think it will be in heaven rather then here below on earth speaking as if they thought that the Lord Christ will but come to the Clouds and then return again to heaven Thus as the former notion concerning the world to come so these in their notions do make insignificant much of the holy Scriptures as if written in vain unlesse allegorized or making them speak out some spiritual meaning which is put upon them with the which some please and content themselves without further enquiry or looking out after our Lords coming and the good things that shall attend the same otherwise then heaven above as is said before Whereas if the Scriptures be well minded and considered it will
plainly appear that many if not most of the exhortations in the new testament to believe to repent to add to faith vertue c. To grow in grace and so all other duties towards God and man are from the consideration of the great glory and happiness that is to be brought to and enjoyed by the saints at the fore mentioned glorious coming and kingdom of Christ here upon earth and not so much from the consideration of the glory of heaven above save only as it is in the last place comprehended therein and to be enjoyed by them to wit after the last judgement here upon the earth is ended and our Lord Christ hath delivered up the kingdom to God the father There are yet other hindrances of which briefly Some say it is a controversie and they do not care to meddle with controversies what doth this signifie at our Lords first coming it was a controversie among the people whether he was the Christ or no some said he was others denied it and said he was a deceiver and those deceived that did own him have any of the rulers or pharises belived on him but this people who know not the law are cursed Joh. 7. 48. 49. John sent to him to know art thou he that should come or do we look for another Indeed so great a thing and of so high concernment as the coming of the Saviour vailed and so much opposed should make men to search and seek into it the more lest haply they be found at a losse when be comes And yet further some say and upon that account look not after it but let it alone namely That the ancient fathers and some add the modern Divines were not for it but rather against our Lord Christ his coming to set up his kingdom and reign here on earth this is taken for granted though very questionable and not likely to be true which if it were what doth it signifie little or nothing at all the high Preist and elders were against Christ and the Gospel do any of the Priests or rulers believe on him They did not then and if they do not now or have not done what doth it avail But notwithstanding all before said of the obstructions the knowledge of it increaseth and is very likely so to do till that be made good that the Gospel of the kingdom and coming again of the Lord Christ to reign be preached to all nations then shall the end come Math. 24. 14. great things will attend that great day and though now it is dark and hidden it will come to be preached on the house top and received and entertained more and more as it begins to be being as the present truth of the day and that which is much on the spirits of many of the good servants of the Lord who look for the return of their Lord and are in great expectation like good old Simeon who waited for the consolation of Israel and was glad and greatly satisfied when he had seen the Saviour as those blessed expectants now will be with the signes of his coming and much more when they shall see him come in the clouds of heaven when they will be changed in a moment and caught up to meet him when he cometh when he cometh Fully to take unto him his great power and to reign at which the nations will then be fully angry Rev. 11. 17. 18. when he cometh to judge the world in righteousness and the people with his truth Psal 96. 13. when he cometh to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in and by all them that believe 2. Thess 1. 10. when he cometh in flaming fire to render vengeance c. as in vers 8. when he cometh to make inquisition for blood Psal 9. 12. to wit the blood of the righteous from Abel to that day shed by cruel and envious ones and wicked oppressers on the earth Rev. 16. 6. Rev. 18. 24. that cry will be a sad tone to the wicked and will make them shake and tremble Psal 96. 13. for he cometh for he cometh to judge the world with righteousness c. as on the other hand it will be gladsom to the Saints they may lift up their heads and hearts with joy for their redeemer their redemption and full blessedness is at the very door If these proposalls and essays come into the hands of the learned their favourable censure is desired and that they would overlook any failer if in want of art and well dressing the matter or over often mentioning of of things called tautologie which could not well be avoided the things relating to Christ his kingdom and coming having so many great things and various attending of them And besides those for whom this principally was intended and made common may not have that acuteness but what they may want that way they have in love and affection in zeal and readiness to receive and embrace the truth at all times In the time of our Lord Christs being here they owned him the poor then received the Gospel when those of higher rank stood at a distance and rather made opposition The Apostles were men of low rank fisher-men and the like yea the women were very forward in the then owning our Lord Christ and great lovers of him and such as our Lord Christ being risen first appeared unto and made them messengers to the Apostles to inform them of that great truth of his being risen again from the dead his way is so to make men humble that they might learn not to dispise the day of small beginnings or things Consult the holy histories and the histories down and since the histories of France Germany the Waldenses and others and it is likely as it hath been so it will be found still not but that sometimes God annoints persons of higher rank and maketh known his mind unto them and makes use of them but it seemeth not to be his ordinary method but the contrary If any advantage by the things proposed come to any either for the furthering of their knowledge or their being encouraged to believe hope and wait for their fulfilling the proposer of them will think himself well appaied read and consider well of what thou readest nothing is imposed on thee try all things hold fast that which is good Farewell P. G. B. CHAP. I. Of the Resurrection in general 1 Cor. 15. THe great doctrine of the resurrection of the dead was a thing that holy Paul the great Apostle of the gentiles had a great insight into as he had also in many other high mysteries which were revealed and made known unto him the which he imparted for the benefit and profit of others That truth looking forward eyeing a future time when it shall be made good but in all times necessary to be made known and believed by all the servants of God whose hope is not in this world This of rising again after death in his proceed on
and the kingdom of Christ given him of the father to hold or say that these are all one and the same seemeth to reflect on the spirit by which the holy scriptures were written All scripture being given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. Holy men of God of old spake as they were moved by the holy spirit 2. Pet. 1. 21. Christ our Lord will drink of the fruit of the vine in his fathers kingdom As to that of difference and distinctnes betweeen the kingdoms forenamed that in Ephes. 5. 5. seemeth to hold forth something the Apostle there speaking of several sorts of sinners sayeth know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 9. In like manner that before Ephes. 5. 5. He saith we know that no whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man that is an Idolater hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God to wit God the father's kingdom such wicked sinners they have no part or Inheritance in the kingdom of the Lord Christ they shall in no wise enter there or dwell there Rev. 21. 27. Rev. 22. 15. There will be no way found or entrance provided for them into the Everlasting kingdom of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ 2. Pet. 1. 11. In like manner they shall have nothing to do in the kingdom of God the father more high and glorious when God shall be all in all no wicked sinners shall ascend thither or dwell there this know as it is said the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God the father it will be too high and too glorious In the kingdom of God the creator they have lived and do live as somtime rich Dives did and had his share and part of good things The case will be otherwise then when the kingdom of the father takes place where God shall be all in all that of the psalmist being very prophetical and spoken prayer-wise may be minded as that which will be made good Psal 104. 35. Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth and let the wicked be no more c. The sinners will be consumed out of the earth in the time of the kingdom of Christ in the new earth and before his kingdom be ended See Rev. 19. 17. 18. 21. Rev. 20. 9. see the places and others of the like import but when the kingdom of the father takes place and God the father be all in all then the wicked will be no more Halelujah Our Lord Christ will drink of the fruit of the Vine there and the righteous will shine as the sun there where those wicked sinners shall not come nor be no more then for ever The kingdom of God as the creator of Heaven and earth of which the holy Scriptures speak very much It is a subject so high and comprehensive and so much spoken of it in the holy Scriptures as that I shall only speak a few things in a General way and that by way of essay This kingdom began with the creation wherein soveranity was delegated to Adam and it lasted till the floud when all flesh perished Then from the floud it hath been carried and will be carried on to the great burning to come 2. Pet. 3 6. 7. of the world that now is when the world to come shall take place and the blessed kingdom and Power and dominion of our Lord Christ shall take place and begin he then a king will take to himself his great power and reign and all rule authority and power rest in him Rev. 11. 17. all power and rule being given unto him both in heaven and in earth Math. 28. 18. of the great Jehovah the maker of heaven and earth This kingdom of God the creator as it hath so it shall rule over all Psal 10. 3. 19. he hath set up and pulled down as he pleased and so he doth and will do while this world lasteth as it was said by Daniell to Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 4. 32. Till thou know that the most high ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will as before he had said in vers 25. and says in vers 24. this is the decree of the most high which is come upon my Lord the King By him or under him kings reign and have ruled been set up and pulled down his ordering is so high and of such extent and largness in order to all things as that a sparrow falls not to the ground without his Providence and the very hairs of our head are numbred Math. 10. 29. 30. we may say with the psalmist Psal 8. 9. O Lord our Lord our King our governor how excellent is thy name thy sovereignty and power in all the earth And shall end with that of the Apostle Rom. 11. 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God c. and as in vers 36. for of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen Of the kingdom rule and government of the Lord Jehovah the maker of heaven and earth we may mind it as from the floud how he ruled and gave power to rule under him in his kingdom from Noah to Abraham and the Patriarchs to Moses Joshua and the judges unto the time of Samuel Acts. 13. 20. then they desired a king and God gave them a king Saul of the tribe of Benjamin a goodly person and some way eminent but in that their desire which was condescended to of God God said to Samuel they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them 1. Sam. 8. 7. Saul's reign lasted not but for his disobedience to the king of heaven he was put down and God the great Jehovah and ruler over all chose David and his seed a type of our Lord Christ Touching David it is said the Lord hath found a man after his own heart 1. Sam. 13. 14. and his race according to Gods promise continued Solomon that eminent one for wisdom continued after him and he advanced the kingdom to the greatest height of glory that ever Israel attained unto A breach was made in that kingdom and state not only in the division but in the departing of the Scepter as it hath been for a long time The kingdoms of this world out of the line of Abraham and David in a more general way they have been ordered according to his pleasure The rulers and sovereigns have been set up and taken down according to the pleasure of the great Jehovah from the beginning it hath been so And to particularize a few Those great monarchs and monarchies the Assyrians the Babylonians the Persians the Graecians and the Romans and all others under them and not under them as the ethnich potentates they have been at the ordering of God Almighty maker of heaven and earth though it may be some of them have said and may say as Pharaoh said
of old who is the Lord And as it hath been so it will be his kingdom will rule over all and he shall give the power and dominion to whom he pleaseth for he is God over all blessed for ever Untill the time come that the kingdom of the Lord Christ take place and his dominion and rule begin when he shall take to him his great power and reign and after deliver it to God the father so as God the creator of heaven and earth will be first in kingdom and rule The great Alpha and will be the last in kingdom rule and power the great Omega The middle it will be to the Lord Christ when he takes it on all power in heaven and earth being given unto him and he must reign till the end and then deliver up and God the father be all in all the Alpha and Omega In the kingdom of God Almighty there hath been two great Mediums or two that have been eminent between God and man besides others namely Moses a great Prophet raised up of God of great authority and rule and the Lord Christ sent of the father first to suffer and then to be highly advanced and to reign but I shall forbear to dilate further In the next place we propose that direction of our Lord Christ about prayer Math. 6. from vers 6. to vers 15. which seemeth to speak to the same matter to wit the kingdom of the father and his being all in all after this manner saith our Lord pray ye our father which art in heaven c. thy kingdom come the kingdom of the father we are to pray that it may come implying it was not then come and likewise that it was not that kingdom which had been since the creation then was and now is and also shall be till the kingdom of our Lord Christ takes place but a kingdom that was to come when our Lord Christ shall resign and God the father be all in all and his kingdom shall come and take place and wonderfull shall be the glory of it beyond all conceiving This kingdom we are to pray that it may come I do not here intend the excluding of the kingdom of grace or glory to be comprehended within this desire or prayer the further advance of the kingdom of grace in the increase of the number and the advance of the intrest of God and Christ here may be included in it and likewise the coming of the kingdom of our Lord Christ when he and his kingdom shall appear and come in power and great glory Whatever of God and Christ hath not yet had its time and highest attainer we may pray that it may come as included in this direction of our Lord thy kingdom come But in special as that which was mostly intended by our Lord Christ in this direction was that the kingdom of God the father that it may come being the last and highest in glory when God the father will be all in all in kingdom sovereignty and rule the great Omega This being that it is likely which the voge and spirits of the servants of God in their desires and wishes go out after and that which their dayly expressions are of as the sum of all blessedness to wit heaven and glory and to be with their heavenly father in glory in his kingdom as the uttermost of all their desires The close of our Lords prayer hath much in this his attest for thine is the kingdom the Power and the glory for ever and ever Amen all in all He had in the times and ages of the world delegated and given kingdoms and authorities and powers to others he hath given unto the Lord Christ kingdom power and authority he hath made and appointed him to be king of kings and Lord of Lords 1. Tim. 6. 15 and he shall come and take to him his great power and all nations serve and obey him but when the end of his kingdom is come he will deliver up all unto his father and be subject unto him himself and the father shall take all into his own power and be all in all for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for ever and ever Amen It will be so in an eminent manner then God the father his will be the kingdom and the power and the glory and all in all Holy Paul hath a like close he having spoken of the rejection of the Jewes and taking on the Gentils and the restoring of the Jewes again by the coming of the deliverer out of Sion when all Israel shall be saved high mysteries which he admired and cryed out O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Judgements and his ways past finding out Rom. 11. 33. he closes thus in vers 36. for of him and through him or by him and to him are all things to his glory to him be glory for ever Amen for his is the kingdom the power and the glory for ever and he shall be all in all I further propose as worthy our consideration that consolatory speech of our Lord Christ to his disciples in Joh. 14. 1. 2. 3. they being much troubled at the thoughts of his departure from them he saith to them let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in God to wit the father so is the Creed I believe in God the father Almighty c. believe also in me God the son that he spake of God the father the words following show in my fathers house he doth not say in his own house or kingdom but in his fathers house Whether by house here be meant the new heaven and new earth wherein will be several degrees of glory Luk. 19. 15. to 19. 1. Cor. 15. 41 or whether heaven only or whether both together to wit the kingdom of the son and the kingdom of the father so it may seem to be it being a blessed estate they are to be in after Christ at his coming hath received them to himself or whether it be a borrowed way of speaking I shall not determine but leave it to consideration The tendencie is consolatory to the Disciples in my fathers house are many mansion places places of great contentment happy repose and much blessedness I shall not venture to allegorise this saying of our Lord but rather believe it as it is spoken for that our Lord doth attest it saying If it were not so I would have told you There is such provision such blessednes in my fathers house and I go to prepare a place for you A place our Lord tells his disciples he goeth to prepare for them not expressing where it shall be happily in his fathers house very great and spacious like the master of it the great Jehovah I go to prepare a place for you hapily in his own house or kingdom which he is one to receive Luk 19. 12. 15. in the new heaven and the new earth where he will