21. Moreover Abraham that looked for such a City having foundations is called by the Apostle the heir of the World Rom. 4.12 through the righteousness of Faith by which Faith saith the Apostle he received Isaac from the dead in a figure Heb. 11.19 and accordingly the Apostle seems to apply the divine efficacie of his faith in some resemblance to Gods raising up the dead and calling things that are not as though they were Rom. 4.7 and proceeds to illustrate the power of his faith that neither the deadness of his own body nor the deadness of Sarah's womb did hinder it in believing that he should have that promised Seed and so of the promised inheritance often sworn by God to Abraham Isaac and Jacob Abraham had not of it to set his foot on Acts 7. and that promise was looked for a farr of by him and others Heb. 11.13 and yet believed and embraced by them yea many others set down afterwards which obtained a good report by faith yet saith the Apostle obtained not the accomplishment of the promise v. 39 40. God having provided some better thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect to wit at the said Resurrection from the dead and in the said City which Abraham looked for which hath foundations v. 10. and that City prepared by God himself for the rest of the faithful v. 16. and v. 40 all which seem to point out the New Jerusalem state on earth at Christs second coming with many other great things to be accomplished in those times as we have shewed more particularly in a Tract on Gen. 3.15 and in our 4th Part Obser 31. and well may that condition be called an heavenly Countrey because it will be of an heavenly nature and in an excellent state and condition when there will be indeed an heaven upon earth when Christ will bind Satan and seal him up in the bottomless Pit that he shall not deceive the Nations for that space of a thousand years Rev. 20.3 7. and many wicked men be destroyed from the earth Rev. 11.18 and he will bring all his Saints asleep in him till then with him 1 Thes 4.14 and an innumerable company of Angels to attend upon him Psal 97 and all creatures shall bow the knee Phil. 2. to do him homage which are now in heaven or earth or under the earth whose name is above every name which seems excellently decyphered before us by his own spirit Rev. 5. after he had taken the book from the right hand of him that sat upon the Throne to loose the seals thereof the fulfilling of the contents of which will cause that wonderful praise by the 24 Elders and 4 Beasts or living Wights by Angels and all Creatures from v. 10. to the end and yet of that Countrey saith one it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Countrey where their Fathers dwelt as in many Prophesies and Promises it is stiled c. And the things concerning that State seem therefore to be so strongly and often asserted by the Spirit of God Rev. 19.9 and 21.5 and 22.6 to shew that though many would be backward to believe them yet they should be not certainly fulfilled in the world in due time 15ly It is said to be measured as we have elsewhere noted and likewise many other Prophesies and Promises are applicable from the Old Testament to that said New Jerusalem State as the Spirit of Christ in respect of those forenamed hath directed and which may more largely be observed in our Prodromus Pag. 18 19 20 21. in the letter of Nov. 3 1663. 3ly And so we come to the 3d. way of confirmation of the New Jerusalem to come on earth namely from the Series and Order of the time in Scripture assigned for the setting up thereof in the world to wit upon the destruction of the Beast at Christs 2d coming whom saith the Apostle Christ will destroy with the appearance of his coming 2 Thes 2.8 unto which he also adjoyns his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 at his appearance saith he and his Kingdom And to this purpose it is very observable that when God was about to destroy the Oâ—d Jerusalem for the greatness of the wickedness prevailing in it by the same Prophets whereby he denounced the destruction of the Old to the terrour of the wicked by the same also he foretold the setting up of the New for the comfort of the faithful wherein they in due time should have their shares as Es 29.19 Jer. 31.31 32 c. Ezek. 37. and these do not only speak of the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon after 70. years but of the great restauration of all Israel and Judah which they set forth with many peculiar Marks and Characters belonging to it as we observed from this Text Jer. 3.17 and from Es 60. and many other places But the Prophet Ezekiel in c. 37. of his Prophesie doth not only describe their deliverance to be wonderful like a raising of dry bones from the Grave and making them stand up in a great Army but also largely there also shews the uniting both Kingdoms of Israel and Judah into one under Christ the Great Messiah called there David of whose Seed he was according to the flesh and in whose Throne he is to sit so long as the Sun and Moon endure from the time of the raising up the Tabernacle of David that was fallen Acts 15 c. Yea this 37 of Ezekiel seems with the remainder of that book to the end to be as a comment or exposition of the main drift of divers of Daniels Visions respecting the latter times for as he by Visions as we said set forth how wonderfully God would raise and restore them c. 37. so in the two next chapters he largely by Prophesie fore-tells the stupendious destruction of their Potent Enemy Gog and his Multitudes with Magog which he specially declares twice shall be in the latter dayes c. 38. v. 8. and v. 16. with many expressions agreeing to their great Enemy the Turk and thereby God undertakes for the comfort of the faithful to remove him which is to be the great hinderer of their freedome And from thence in 9 chapters to the end he sets down his large Vision of the New Jerusalem and in the end declares the name thereof shall be Jehovah Shamma the Lord is there which is also by Scripture order to be set up when the Enemies are destroyed as Dan. 11.45 and Dan. 12.2 3 c. But Daniel in a more special way of Mercy from God to his faithful people from his time had for their more abundant consolation in divers Visions set down in order the times to pass over the Jews in their said Dispersions and the several Oppressors of them in order to be destroyed until their full deliverance come and this both more generally in 4 wicked Monarchies before the fift came that should destroy them c. 2. by
Christ amogst which the sitting on the Throne of David as man will be one 1 Iohn 4.2 3. And as for the raising of the dead Saints at the Resurrection of the Just as it is called Luke 14.14 or the blessed first Resurrection above a thousand years before the rest of the dead shall be raised Rev. 20.5 they being such as will be counted worthy of that world called the world to come Heb. 2.5 where those Children of the Resurrection as our Saviour speaketh Luke 20.35 36. shall be as the Angels in Heaven since at his appearance and coming into the world Christ will bring his Saints with him and such as sleep in Jesus with him 1 Thes 3. ult 4.14 Zac. 14.5 to the end that being raised from the dead he may reward them Rev. 11.11 22.12 or recompence them at the said Resurrection of the Just Luke 14. when they shall behold the glory of Christ which the Father hath given him as Mediator Iohn 17.24 when his Disciples shall sit upon twelve Thrones judgeing the twelve Tribes of Israel Luke 22.30 and his faithful servants according to the improvement of their Talents shall rule over so many Cities Luke 19.17.19 Psal 49.14 and shall have power over the Nations Rev. 2.26 Psal 45.6 their bodies being then redeemed from the prison and Corruption of the grave Rom. 8.23 and their former mortal bodies shall then be powerfully raised by the same spirit of him that raised up Christ from the dead Rom. 8.11 that so then such as suffer for Christ in the body may reign with Christ in his Mediators Kingdom in their bodies 2 Tim. 2.12 and those raised bodies when he shall appear being like him shall see him as he is 1 Iohn 3.2 when the Tabernacle of God shall be with men and he be with them in the new Ierusalem come down from God out of Heaven Rev. 21.3.10 in that City whose name shall be Iehovah Shamma the Lord is there Ezek. 40. ult and which shall then be called the Throne of of the Lord as in the text that City prepared for the faithful fore-fathers yet so as without the faithful that died since Christs first to his second coming they shall not be made perfect Heb. 11.40 or perfect in one as our Saviour prayed Iohn 17.23 and declares his will in the presence of his Father and before his Disciples that such as were given him should then be with him to behold his glory which his Father had given him v. 24. who will then be that spiritual and mystical Bride the Lambs Wife Rev. 21.9 in the time of his thousand years reign Rev. 20.4 when as saith the Apostle Paul Christ must reign till he hath put all his enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15.25 even till he deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father having put down all rule and all authority and power that stood in his way as in the verse before the last enemy Death being destroyed v. 26. Many of these texts of holy Scripture our blessed Saviour by his book of Revelation hath given much evident light unto as whosoever carefully compares them and duly weighes them with humble and faithful seeking the guidance of his spirit may hopefully find till which time many of these and divers others were darkly delivered have not otherwise so clear and fit exposition given of them as that they will be fulfilled at that time of the restitution of all things when the times of refreshing shall come for his people from the presence of the Lord when God will send Jesus whom the Heavens must contain till then Acts 3.19 20 21. in which times the many great things are to be accomplished which we formerly set down on Gen. 3.15 and Christs explication of them will at last be most certainly found the best and the mean time let it be observed that the Doctrine of the Resurrection was a long time but darkly set down in Scripture and but by degrees were the mysteries thereof revealed 1 Cor. 15.51 52. Rom. 8.11 as we have else where observed and as Mr. Mede saith that the Prophets in the old Testament except Daniel spake darkly or promiscuously of the first and second coming of Christ so we may say of the whole Scriptures speaking of the first and second bodily Resurrections till Christ explained them and chiefly in Rom. 20. yet by the guidance of that many others fall in with it See more in the Appendix after the Irenicon page 97. to 109. for I have in a manner but touched upon these texts of Scripture because I study brevity and have spoken there more largely of the first bodily Resurrection and because the Scriptures carry with them so great evidence in their consent one with another and bearing witness in their order to the same truth which serious Christians may in their Meditations more inlarge and improve that being rightly from the word informed of these things and the like they may both frame their prayers make other improvements thereof accordingly to help forwards Gods work in the fulfilling of some of them having such sure and comfortable foundations from the Word to raise up their affection to such purpose and especially in those latter dayes when their fulfilling approacheth near as may be observed from the fulfilling of so many Prophesies already and for the accomplishing of those that remain tends in a special manner that prayer at the end of these Visions with an even so as if it had been said that these great things in the said thousand years of Christs reign may be fulfilled Rev. 22.20 Even so Come Lord Jesus And that happy estate of Christs Church in that time of his said reign upon earth seems to be the main drift and scope of the three first petitions of the Lords Prayer which will then have their greatest fulfilling on earth as they are now fulfilled in Heaven when Satan shall be bound and sealed up in the bottomless pit from deceiving the Nations for that thousand years Rev. 20. and wicked men destroyed that destroyed the earth Rev. 11.18 the blessed and holy Saints raised from the dead at the first resurrection Rev. 20. and the holy Angels be Christs attendants in Christs Kingdom as the Courtiers of their most glorious King Heb. 1.6 Psal 97. where also his terrible coming into the world then is decyphered eminently with the joy of his people thereupon and that which will make it an Heaven indeed will be the Tabernacle of God will then be with men c. and the Lamb will be the visible light of that City and the living waters of divine grace will flow so abundantly from the Throne of God and the Lamb c. with many other heavenly excellencies of that state Rev. 21. 22. but that this may yet further appear to be then on earth all other inferiour Creatures must then also do their homage to their heavenly King by bowing the knee or yeilding their subjection to him
whose name is above every name for as those in heaven do it so shall those in earth and under the earth in their due time do it Phil. 2.9 10. and so in such a glorious condition will those new Heavens and new Earth then be that his Name will be sanctifyed his Kingdom will be come and his Will then be done on earth as it was before in heaven For Christ when he was upon earth taught not his Servants to pray all along to his coming for those things which shall never be and God hath not made so many promises and given forth so many prophesies of such things as never will be performed and fulfilled But then will be that great Sabbatisme of such holy refreshment from the presence of the Lord and rest which remains saith the Apostle for the people of God Heb. 4 9. when those promised mercies to the Fathers shall be fulfilled on earth that his people may serve him without fear of their enemies in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of their Life Luke 1.73 74. and as Rev. 22.3 now these promised mercies were to Abraham Isaac and Jacob not yet fulfilled but seen a far off Heb. 11.13 c. There are also sure mercies of David not yet fully accomplished 1 Sam. 7.15 16 c. that his House and his Kingdom should be estabâ—ished for ever before him and his Throne shall be established for ever which he there largely by Faith applyed and by grateful acknowledgement praised God for as if it had been performed and then Job and Esay will find the effect and fruit of their own Faith Job 14. Esa 46. and Daniel shall then obtain his promised Lot with all the holy Prophets and faithful servants of God in those times Oh how should our Faith be exercised in these things that with faithful Abraham we may rejoyce aforehand at the day of Christs visible Dominion as he did both at that and his Incarnation Heb. 11.13 c. And so we should proceed to a second Use of thankfulness for such great mercies now manifest to the Church of Christ from his Word and chiefly from him the faithful and true witness but because we have been somwhat large to that purpose upon a like occasion towards the end of a former Treatise on Gen. 3.15 we here wave that and only touch upon some hints of further improvement by way of admonition and exhortation and so leave them to be enlarged by Christians in their private meditations c. Vse 2. For admonition to two sorts of persons First to such as own these Doctrines of Christs Kingdom of visible power to come c. so much the more to be careful to make sure their interest first in Christs spiritual Kingdom of grace here in this present life and state of things before they look or hope for any part in his Kingd of visible power on earth at his coming or in Gods eternal Kingdom of glory ensuing upon it for grace and Gods spirit here is the earnest and evidence of all blessedness hereafter only Wise Virgins will be admitted into the Bride-chamber when the Bridegroom comes and such only will he receive to himself to make them inheritors of everlasting blessedness in the Kingdom of his Father for though all divine Scripture truth is written for our learning as the Apostle Paul teacheth yet all divine knowledge not being duly improved will aggravate the sin and misery of all formal professors thereof both in the whole of Christian religion or in any remarkable branch thereof much more if such knowledge be perverted contrarie to the holy just and good laws of Christs Kingdom of grace that teacheth his people to deny ungodly and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously Godly in this present world Tit. 2.11 12. But for such as own these Doctrines are indeed faithful servants and subjects of their great Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to look upon all Doctrine respecting Christs Kingdom on earth as a great ingagement unto duty and thankfulness not only in word and outward profession but most especially to endeavour to manifest it in heart and conversation buth before himself and in the sight of men and that they may so labour the more to act thankfulness by walking so much the more Christianly and obediently to his Laws seeing by such Doctrine a greater engagement is laid upon them thereunto for as their expectations are greater than otherwise they could be from the evidence they have of their interest in Christs glorious Kingdom of power on earth to come by the redemption of their bodies and the union of them to their souls in that blessed condition appointed to the faithful in their order besides what others shall enjoy who then remain in their natural life that upon that account they study and labour to be more ready and forward to do such acceptable service for Christ as he assignes them unto though unpleasing to flesh and blood because it will be acceptable unto him and he requires it of them and it will be found no loss as some misapprehend but occasion of great rejoycing for those spirits of just men made perfect to be brought with Christ at his appearance and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 to attain to that desired Union with their bodies there to behold Christs glorie c. in that blessed condition above a thousand years sooner than the last resurrection as was manifest by that great exultation of the Representatives Rev. 5.10 as an addition to their spiritual joy and praise to the Lamb And say they we shall reign upon earth where they knew aforehand that they should personally enjoy in body and soul the blessed vision of Christ and all such happiness as is appointed for them in his visible Mediators Kingdom of power upon earth who will then be so admired of all his Saints as the Apostle Paul teacheth and glorifyed in them that believe 2 Thes 1.10 Vse 3. For Admonition to all real and faithful Christians that as yet own not these Doctrines of the Millennium which I confess till of late years I my self have often opposed as I shewed in the Irenicon to take heed and beware of slighting and over-looking so much divine truth as the fore-named and many other texts and portions of holy Scripture hold forth evidently concerning those things and to that end consider first some truths of that nature have been antiently received though the great Deceiver then stirred up some to cast unjust reproaches and false imputations upon the owners of them yea they have been owned both by antient Fathers and modern writers and the light and evidence of them is like to break forth more and more amongst faithful Christians as prejudices are removed and more Mysteries are accomplished and by Gods mercy greater discoveries made of what concerns his true Church and if diligent and impartial search were made of those Scriptures which concern these things but especially what Daniel