David and as heir apparent to sit upon his Throne Luke 1.32.33 And as he is Seed of David in point of Kingly Right so also the Seed of Abraham to whom in a special manner the Promises of Inheritance were made Which induces the III. Argument Abraham and his Seed are to be heirs of the World Rom. 4.13 Whereas it is said These all died in Faith not having received the Promises c. Hebr. 11.13 Acts 7.5 Inever read that Heaven without the Earth is called the World Only they are not to Inherit the world that now is that is reserved unto fire 2 Pet. 3.7 but the world to come Luke 20.35 36. in the renewed State Hebr. 2.5 Wherein they shall reign upon the Earth Rev 5.10 For before the Resurrection and day of Judgment there is no time imaginable wherein they could be heirs of the world for they are with the Lord in Glory till then And After the Resurrection of the Just follows the burning up of this World and the Works thereof 2 Pet. 3.10 So that No other World remains to the blessed Seed for an Inheritance but that of New heavens and earth after the end of all things in this world Rev. 21.1 2 Pet. 3.13 IV. Argument We read Hebr. 2 5 of a World to come wherein Christ is to have all in subjection under him ver 8. Ephes 1.20.21 As to which observe 1. That That World is alotted to the time at and after the Resurrection Luke 20.35 36. in a State of perfect Glory called that World 2. Hebr. 2. Speaks of the Dominion in the World to come as accrewing to Jesus Christ by reason of his humane Nature as recovering what was lost in the first Adam being head over all things to the Church both in heaven above and earth beneath Phil. 2.10 both in this World and that to come Ephes 1.21 22. 3. Hebr. 2. Speaks of Mans possession by Creation Which is the Earth and visible Heaven Onely upon occasion of Mans fall the Lord from Heaven acquaints us with That Glory also Yet notwithstanding the heavenly Glory of Christ he descends to a state lower than the Angels put himself into the Case and Place of Gods Elect took the seed of Abraham on him Hebr. 2.16 and so became heir as before and purchased the possession that had been sold under the Curse Ephes 1.18 Revel 21.3 4. Hebr. 2.8 'T is said We see not yet all things put under him But in Heaven he has all in perfect Subjection from the very first Therefore it must be on Earth V. Argument Acts 3.21 The Restitution of all things Which must respect the Visible things of the Creation Spoken of Rom 8.19 20 21 22. which the Apostle calls the Glory that was to be reavealed in the Saints then alive and therefore not to be till the Resurrection of their bodies according to vers 23. waiting for the Adoption to wit the Redemption of our bodies Phil. 3.21 This Restitution will be such as was made under the Law to wit A Fifth part added to the principal Exod. 22.3 4. Levit. 6.4 5. So in this No Sun Moon or Stars in their Courses for there is no night there Rev. 21.23 25. and no Temple ver 22. But an infinite Glory supplies the place of both And here I conceive will be the ultimate fulfilling that saying Cant. 2.17 c. till the shadows flee away c. Whereas now the Lights of this World being finite and remote from us do necessarily cast a Shadow by the Substantial form they shine upon So is it Light on the one side but dark on the other And so in the Absence of the sun the shadows of the Evening draw upon the Earth But when the Light shall be omnipresent there shall be no Shadows any more No night there Revel 21.25 Again though the Thousand years Reign admits of a good Degree of this glory of the Restitution yet the time of the Restitution of all things is expressly reserved to the Revelation of Jesus Christ from heaven Acts 3.21 and then to be fulfilled which if he comes not to restore he comes to Destroy 2 Pet. 3.10 But he will Restore after he hath Destroyed vers 13. Revel 21.1 VI. Argument From John 1. last Verily verily I say unto you hereafter ye shall see heaven open and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man Observe that the word is open and notes a state of Continuance and nor opened as it was opened to Stephen for a moment Acts 7.56 And to Peter in a Trance Chap. 10.11 The words allude to Jacobs Dream Gen. 28. and imports a transcendant union to be between Heaven and Earth through the riches of the Grace of Christ and by the Recourses of Angels By the Manhood of Christ fallen man is dignified to a fellowship and equallity with Angels Luke 20.35 36. and shall be also Restored to his created possession the Earth The Angels of God ascending and descending c. This cannot be before but in the new Heaven and Earth after ther day of Judgment For first Christ appears then the Tribes mourn at the sight of him then the dead are raised then the living Saints are Changed then all of them caught up to the Lord in the air then the Earth to be burnt up c. then begins the Judgment Now in any time before the Judgment what Ascending or Descending of the Angels as in a fixed state for the Dead Saints are raised by a Word quickly John 5 28. and the living Saints changed in the â—â—inkling of an Eye 1 Corâ— 5.52 And in the Judgment it self the Angels seem otherwise disposed as being present Auâ—iâ—oâ—s of Christs owning and disowning persons Mark 8.38 Revel 3.5 and at last bundling the Tures and casting them to the fire Matth. 13.30 40 41 42. And therefore it must be after the Judgment that the Angels will so ascend and descend And this the Lord Jesus proposeth to them as the consummation of the Mystery of Divine Counsel at the end of time and that the Design of God in particular lay upon this to restore the Earth as being indeed great things John 1.50.51 We ought not as not too carnally to think hereof so neither to think the things themselves are carnal Christ himself put a greater Marvel upon the Resurrection of bodies John 5 28 than that of Regeneration by Faith ver 25. And so John 1. the two last verses Again The Gospel that brings life and immortality to Light exhibits the Eternal Glory in the nature of man in Jesus Christ as the Saviour and Object of Worship Whereas the invisible God in the Old Testament was adored but we do not blame Thomat for saying to Christ my Lord and my God Neither think it carnal because the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily in him So the Lord glorifying the Earth as the place of his fect Isai 60.13 it appears to me that it will be accommodate and adapt to
humane bodies though glorified more than an immaterial visional glory can be supposed to be VII Argument To prove the Earths duration Eternal as a place of Glory is these Scriptures that appear to assign the Sea's place to be the place of Hell hereafter Revel 21.1 Isai 66.24 compared with Mark 9.43.44 there was no more Sea but there was a new Earth Isai 66. They shall go forth and look upon the Carcases of the men c. for their Worm shall not dye c. Which Christ expounds of Hell fire Mark 9.44 c. Now the Argument is this If they shall go forth to look upon them then they do not come down from Heaven to do it But being upon the Earth going forth so to do is very proper Again Hell is called a Lake Revel 20.10 14 15. Chap. 21.8 So are some Seas now called Luke 5.1 8.22 And though there be many Seas now and many Islands yet great Transformations may pass upon the terrestrial globe by its Conflagration perhaps to the reducing the many Seas into one Tophet and the whole Earth into one intire Continent for the Redeemed to walk there 2 Pet. 3.10 13. So Revel 6 14. When this day of the Lord is presented to us 't is said The heavens departed as a Scroll and every Mountain and Island were moved out of their places Which is called a shaking Hebr. 12.26 27. melting dissolving burning up 2 Pet. 3.10 11. folding up and changing Hebr. 1.12 But none of these express an Annihilation but destroying the form and surface and the works of men on the Earth In order to its passing into a New State when he that sitteth upon the Throne saith behold I make all things new Revel 21.1 5. Object But if the Sea shall be Hell hereafter then there is no Hell now Answer Hell is called a Prison 1 Pet. 3.19 But being they are spirits only that as yet are therein It s a question whether any spacious place be needful thereunto Whether they reside now in the deep or in the air I leave it Only the Damn'd spirits are in Chains of Darkness Jude 6. VIII Argument To prove the Immortality and Eternity of this New State is to consider That nothing but sin brings Destruction And God will free this New State from both the Cause and Effects of Sin and also secure it from both for the future 1. Satan that was the Occasion of the first Sin in the World is before this judged to the Lake Rev. 20.10 14. 2. And there shall be no more Curse Revel 21.3 So that the first Wound by Mans fall is perfectly cured and the Effect thereof is no other than a perfect Restitution 3. Jesus Christ the Lord from Heaven that was to come down thence to help the sinking Earth when it sailed in its head Man in the manifold Wisdom of God did not only make peace for man by the blood of his Cross but also as Angels also had falnâ— from Heaven Reconciled all things in one in himself both things in heaven and things in catth Col. 1.20 Enes 1.10 as hereafter will be manifest Yea the Creature it self to wit the irrational shall be delivered into the glorious liberty of the Children of God Rom. 8.21 So that I say Man and the Creation of God have a Restorer Colos 1.20 but 't is onely thee Elect that shall come to this time the wicked being judged to hell before See the next IX Argument from Ephes 1.14 Vntil the Redemption of the purchased Possession Here it may be Qâ—aeried How Heaven if that were the Possession spoken of can or â—eed be redeemed then It was never under the Curse tho the Earth is and the Creatures subjected in hope to the bondage of Corruption until their deliverance at the manifestation of the Sins of God ver 19 20 21. And therefore the Redemption of the Possession appears to be by way of Deliverance and Restoration as the Resurrection of the Saints Bodies from the dust of Death is called ver 23. the Adoption the Redemption of their Body Christ purchased the Eternal Inheritance and he is the Heir of all things Hebr. 1.2 and the Saints joint heirs with him Rom. 8.17 18 c. And what Inheritance see Rom. 4.13 and page 3. X. Argument That as neither the Soul nor Body of man hath lost any Essential part by the Fall but only depravity and misery in both so no essential powers of Heaven or Earth are lost by the Fall Still the Course of Nature is Lord in the Universe in the Vegetation of Plants Courses of the Luminaries procreation of Animals bounds of the Seas Tides c. Only evil qualities a curse instead of a Blessing And now the promise There shall be no more curse Revel 22.3 will turn the thorn and brier into pleasant plants as the tenour of these Promises in Isai 55.13 Chap. 41.18 19. See page 7. Though they have also a spiritual fulfilling in the New Creature even now yet when the Creation it self as a general good shall be brought forth that will be the absolute and ultimate fulfilling Or else what is the meaning of the Restitution of all things before spoken to p. 3 4. XI Argument To prove the literal and eterral fulfilling the New Heavens and Earth is that utter inconsistency of any other sense to be put upon the words in 2 Pet. 3.13 Rev. 21.1 For 2. Pet. 3.13 Nevertheless we according to his promise look for New Heavens and a New Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness this evidently referrs to that Destruction of this present World by Fire that he was treating of ver 10. But the day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the night in which the Heavens shall pass away with a great neise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up Now if this be a literal visible Destruction and the Apostle comforts himself with a New state upon the loss of the Old as ver 13. Then what more apparent than that the New shall both be after the Old and as visible as the Old had been in the same way and sense And if it be a Visible material New State then it shall not be only fulfilled in a Mystical way in Church and State in this Life Besides after the Old World is destroyed there will be no Church or State in being to receive such a fulfilling And then for Revel 21.1 it also evidently referrs to Revel 20.11 where the visible Earth nd Heaven fled away at Christs Appearing to Judgment and Chap. 11.1 Asserts a new Creation of both in the room thereof And therefore why not taken as visibly as the former OBJECTIONS against the Literal and Eternal fulfilling of the New Heavens and Earth Answered 1st Object 'T is expressly sard of this State Isai 65.17 c. they shall live long and build Houses plant Vineyards c. which plainly belongs to this
A TREATISE OF The New Heavens and New Earth Proved to be Perpetual and Eternal in that Visible State of both in the Restitution after the destruction of the World by Fire Whereunto is added A true State of the Thousand years-time proving it to be before the second Coming of Christ As also the Succinct Order of things from Christs first Appearing in the Clouds unto the Eternal State after the Day of Judgment By T. M. a Lover of TRUTH Psal 119.162 I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoil Prov. 25.25 As cold waters to a thirsty Soul so is good news from a far country Isa 33.17 Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty they shall behold the land that is very far off London Printed in the year 1680. A TREATISE OF THE New HEAVENS and EARTH THE main Subject of this Treatise is the Mystery of New Heavens and Earth as restored in the State of Eternal Glory As an Apology for the Impression I must say The Destruction of this Visible Heaven and Earth by Fire is a Truth I was bred up in from a Child from 2 Pet. 3. though I find divers question it Though it hath been pretended many others have wrote of this Subject I never yet saw one that Treated mainly or purposely or positively on it and but one that mentions it at all and that so by the by and as probable that he left it in doubt And moreover the same Book and Author is so erroneous in other points that I think it unsafe to commend any Reader to it Which Errors have been soundly answered by another with the harmonious assent of divers able Ministers Except about the Sonship of Christ wherein I humbly conceive they did not so understand him though the things they urged against him in it were also sound In a Word if this my Discovery of the New and Eternal State of the Earth as well as Heaven be a Truth 't is no light matter nor any Infirmities in me should make it to be despised But mend that in your own Search after it that you conceive desective in mine I shall be as glad of a further Revelation by another as I am of this Degree by my self As to the Second Subject of the Thousand Years I did not make it my Intention nor had I writ here of it Only I was forced to mention and make out the same as to the Time of it that I might distinguish it in the Scripture-Representations not to be confounded nor contemporary with the main subject Hereof For which cause also I was forced to present a Specimem of the Order of things from Christs First Appearing in the Clouds to the Eternal State which also leads to the Completion of my Design The New Heavens and Earth as to be Eternal Which may be comprized in this Position That after the Destruction of the Heavens and Earth that now are by fire and after the Day of Judgment there will be a glorious Renewed State of both which shall be the Inheritance of the Sons of God and the glorious Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever Arguments to evidence this I. We are taught to Pray Thy Kingdom come thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Mat. 6.10 This Prayer is to be performed in all Ages till the Kingdom come and the Will of God be done in Earth as it is now in Heaven And we must Petition nothing but according to the Will of God and therein he will hear us See 1 John 5.14 15. Now the Will of God shall be done in Earth as it is in Heaven in 2 Respects 1. In Heaven it is done infallibly Not the least failing Mat. 13.41 This proves that the Thousand years Reign doth not perfectly fulfil this for a seed of evil-Doers is left in the Kingdom then who after the 1000 years make head against the Camp of the Saints in the Attempt of Gog and Magog Rev. 20.8 9. Nor yet will the Saints be then perfectly free from Sin being before the bodies Resurrection as page 2. In Heaven the Will of God is done by all and only those that are perfect and glorified Psal 103.19 20 21. Hebr. 12.23 So shall it be also in the Resurrection and world to come Luke 20.35 36. John 1. last See Page 4. And consequently when the Will of God is thus done in Earth and the Doers of it thus glorified It follows that they shall remain upon the Earth That the Earth shall be made glorious as Heaven is And also abide for ever from the ensuing Arguments II. Argument Christ shall Reign on the Throne of his Father David for ever and for ever and ever Luke 1.32 33. Isa 9.7 Jer. 23.5 Hebr. 1.8 Rev. 11.15 To Explain this consider two things 1. His Reign now on the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens Hebr. 8.1 is on his Fathers Throne Rev. 3.21 which Kingdom he is to deliver up at the end to God again 1 Cor. 15 24-28 2. His Kingdom now in the Churches is indeed the budding of the Horn of David Psal 132.17 The New Creature is a kind of first fruits of his Creatures according to purpose ordain'd for this New Creation which as the Creature it self so also the Saints having the first fruits of the Spirit groan for Rom. 8.22 23. And even now this true Israel is their Davids Glory the riches of the Glory of his Inheritance Ephes 1.18 And as it begins in Regeneration so it grows up in the World in succeeding Ages till the Kingdomes become Christs Revel 11.15 Dan. 7.27 Revel 20.4 and to be over all the world for a Thousand years But after the end of this World by fire in the first Death and change upon all Creatures As his Kindom to wit on Davids Throne had been sown in this World so it springs up in the World to come in the New heaven and Earth wherein shall dwell-righteousness 2 Pet. 3.13 And in this World to come is the everlasting Kingdom 2 Pet. 1.11 and the everlasting life Luk. 18 30. Revel 21.1 5. the wicked being Judged and cast into the Lake Rev. 20. end Now whereas his Kingdom is said to be for ever and for ever and ever and everlasting â—â— though those terms in the Old Testament phrase are temporal and but for a set time yet in the New Testament it respects Eternity 2 John 2.1 Thess 4.17 Revel 1.6 Matth. 19.29 So Luke 1.32.33 2 Pet. 1.11 c. Now the present Dispensation of his Kingdom as now upon his Fathers Throne in heaven Revel 3.21 being at last to be delivered up again to God 1 Cor. 15.24 and the Son himself be subject in that respect And yet his Kingdom must be everlasting Therefore it follows That it shall be in the New heavens and Earth Eternally as unto which he was born typically and according to the flesh King of the Jews Matt. 2.2 of the Seed of