regard that the words were true as antiently delivered by the God of Truth that cannot lye or deceive or be deceived but secondly they are likewise faithful grounded upon many gracious promises and Covenants as we hope farther to manifest Come we now to consider the main thing declared that God at such a time or state of things occurring in the world makes all things new being Emphatically called by the Apostle Peter The times of Restitution of all things which Renovation of all things is three wayes considerable first Negatively what it is not Secondly Privatively in respect of what God will then remove or take away Thirdly Positively in respect of what God will do in the performance of that great and gracious work 1. Negatively in respect of what he will not do it doth not imply that God will then bring a total destruction upon the Created World by destroying it and the Creatures in it with wicked men then to be destroyed out of it and other Creatures to be placed in a New world which we have no Scripture grounds for but for the contrary for that is to be done at Christs sitting upon the great white Throne at the dissolution of all things Rev. 20.11 above 1000 years after neither in reason can it be conceived for what use Creatures should serve when good and bad men were removed before out of it c. 2. Privatively by Gods removing and taking away many evil things out of the world which have been brought into it since he first in 7 days Created finished his great and good work of Creation by Satan Sin and wicked men such as the Curse Corruption Bondage and Enmity of the Creatures since abiding in it in an eminent degree with the causes thereof by destroying many wicked men out of the Earth Rev. 11.18 and binding Satan for the 1000 years in the bottomless pit that he deceive not the Nations any more till that 1000 years shall be finished therefore I say with the causes thereof for sublata causa tollitur effectus and contrarily to bring the world into a capacity to be made better and to be put into a New and better frame than when they prevailed in it he will then also eminently remove and take away those many evils caused and brought into the world by them first the curse brought in by them will then be taken away for saith Christ there shall then be no more curse Rev. 21.3 the earth which was cursed by these means upon the Fall shall be eminently restored unto its native fruitfulness peculiar to that time and state Ezek. 34.26 27. There shall then be showers of blessing upon it and the trees of the field shall yield her fruit and the Earth shall yield her increase and with that fruitfulness they shall then have safety and peace for they shall be safe in their Land and shall know that I am the Lord being delivered from their Enemies as there follows c. So also Ezek. 36.8 Ye Mountain of Israel ye shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people of Israel and ver 11. I will multiply upon you man and beast and they shall increase and bring fruit and ver 29 I will call for the Corne and increase it and lay no famine upon you c. yea their Land shall become for fruitfulness like the Garden of Eden ver 35. and Joel 3.18 The Mountains shall drop down with New Wine and the Hills shall flow with Milk which are high expressions of the fruitfulness of those times also Hos 2.21 In that day will I hear saith the Lord I will hear the Heavens and the they shall hear the Earth and the Earth shall hear the Corn and the Wine and the Oyle and they shall hear Jezreel Again the Enmity of men and other creatures will then be also removed which have prevailed in the world from the fall first among men there hath been since the fall Murther Slaughter Blood shed prevailing and so will still untill those times amongst them but then Nation shall no more rise against Nation neither shall they learn War any more yea they shall beat their Swords into Plowshares and their Spears into Pruning hooks Esa 2.4 and Hos 2.18 I will break the Bow and the Sword and the Battel out of the Earth and will make them to lie down in safety and for the peaceableness of other Creatures which not only Allegorically as some understand the Promises to that purpose but they will litterally be performed when that Savage Cruelty in their corrupt natures since the fall will then be taken away that the Wolfe shall dwell with the Lamb as the Prophet Esa speaks chap. 11.6 and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid c. and they shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy Mountain and Esa 65.25 The Wolfe and the Lamb shall feed together and the Lyon shall eat straw like the Bullock c. So the hurtful influence of the Heavens and the distempers of the 4 Elements and the noxious qualities of the Creatures will be then wonderfully refined that the Heavens as God promiseth may hear the earth and they hear the Corn and Wine and Oyl c. And the Inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not then say I am sick when the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity Esai 33.24 The Creatures which since the Fall have been held under the bondage of corruption under which the whole Creation still groaneth shall as the Apostle teacheth Rom. 8.21 in that state be delivered from it and that also into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God The bodies of all Saints saving some few as Enoch Moses Elias have lien rotting in the Grave and so will till then but they shall all in that time and state receive the Adoption Rom. 8.21 the faithful Gentiles then receiving that with all benefits belonging to them as the spiritual Seed of Abraham Gal. 3.29 as well as to his faithful natural Seed both Jews and Israelites which he explains in the next words even the redemption of our bodies N.B. which as was shewed before will be the inlet to all those Saints into the happiness of that time and state c. And thus briefly of Gods removing the said evils or the like with the causes thereof When Christ the Universal King of Kings and Prince of the Kings of the earth Rev. 19. and Rev. 1.5 will not only rescue the great and excellent building of the World out of the power of the Prince of the Air but repair the ruines and desolations he and his retinue of wicked men and Devils have wrought in it and reduce it for himself and his Spouse the Saints into a far better condition than ever it was in before which will be by Gods said removal of the said evils then when he makes all things new Thirdly this renovation is to be considered Positively in respect of Gods conferring good upon
us the world will then be dissolved chap. 20.11 all Creatures destroyed or removed the Saints rapt in a moment to meet Christ before and all be changed and thenceforth ever to be with him the Lord the Devil cast into the Lake of Fire and wicked men sent into Hell c. What use can be then of the New Heavens and New Earth after the great day of Judgment But these Heavens will not be the making a new frame of the material Heavens when the old are passed away as after may be shewed but will be Prophetical Heavens grounded upon Gods Word both for the Nature Times and Use of them when as follows there will be no Sea viz. such an unsteady state of things as the seven headed and ten horned Beast rose out of when the Barbarous Nations had broken the Western Empire in pieces to make way for the ten Crowned Horns or such Waters as the Whore sate on ever since unsteady rolling Wayes No such Mystical Sea will have room then in that Kingdom of Christ and his Saints that cannot be moved or shaken Heb. 12.9 as the frustrating of Satans attempt with his last Gog and Magog will certainly manifest But the New Heavens will be those Heavenly Creatures coming with Christ when he removes his Court from Heaven into this World for the time of his great day of Judgment which were formerly the Inhabitants thereof in which sence our Saviour upon the Whoren destruction calls upon the Heaven of Saints to rejoyce Rev. 18.20 Rejoyce over her thou Heaven then to manifest what Heaven he meant he adds and ye Apostles and Prophets which shall be Inhabitants of the New Jerusalem chap. 21. v. 2. So also the Heaven of Angels that comes thâ—n with Christ to attend on him in his Davidical Kingdome when the Tabernacle of God will be with men And where Christ will then be there Heaven must needs be And there will also then be such a Prophetical New Earth too wherein will dwell Righteousness as the Apostle Peter speaks 1 Pet. 3. for a King shall then Rule in Righteousness as the Prophet speaks and Princes in Judgment Esa 30.1 among the Nations of them that shall then be saved their Rulers shall be Peace and their Exactors Righteousness Esa 60.17 which will be the stability of Christs Throne then and such Heavens and Earth appear to be the Object of this Holy Apostles Vision ver 1. and the 2d verse confirmes the same I John saw the Holy City descending c. as we may have occasion afterwards more fully to shew and the Tabernacle of God is then said to be with men and he to dwell with them viz. for that said 1000 years reign in his personal presence in that body which God gave him Heb. 10.5 which was typified by the Tabernacle of old wherein the then acceptable services of God were performed and that body whereby at Christs death all acceptable Sacrifice for sin was wholly fulfilled to which purpose is that expression of this holy Evangelist John 1.14 of Christs living but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little while here lower than the Angels as Heb. 2. that he Tabernacled amongst us as the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do properly signifie Now that Tabernacle of his body in the Type and Antitype being perfected in glory at the Fathers right hand in this said state and time personally comes in the Clouds of Heaven in his own glory and of the Fathers and of all his holy Angels and that is the blessed Tabernacle there said to be with men c. as we have many wayes proved namely that that coming will be personal his appearance to the Jews personal his feet standing on Mount Olivet personally his bringing his Saints with him his personal act his command to slay his Enemies before him personally his raising the said Saints his peculiar personal act his sitting on Davids Throne as the Son of David personally and the many great things wherein he will be admired of his Saints then in all his said great day of Judgment will be all personal 2 Thes 1.10 Se farther Assert 7. of our Key for his Personal Appearance and Reign A second Question may be Why the Reign of Christ in his Davidical Kingdome with his raised Saints being the last promised to the Posterity of Shem Abraham and David is here the first spoken of as performed in the 1000 years Answ It is the chief thing promised to Christ as the Son of David And the Promise of Canaan made to Abraham and his spiritual Seed before wherein the Holy City Jerusalem is said to be prepared for the Fore-fathers was also contained therein as Heb. 11.16 and hence the state of his people in Canaan did by degrees grow up into a Kingdome as the Scripture manifests as the main thing intended for after the Promise to Abraham both he Isaac and Jacob were Pilgrims and Strangers in the world a long time and their natural race long after in bondage in Aegypt 400 years in their Wilderness condition and when they possessed Canaan they were under many oppressors above 400 years in the times of the Judges but at last they grew up into a Kingdome in Davids and Solomons time c. but when their Posterity had forfeited both Land and City c. they have since remained in bondage all the times of the Gentiles Monarchies almost 2300 years and so must probably do till Davids Tabernacle as the Apostle James speaks from Amos 9.11 shall be raised up again for Christ with his raised Sts. at the times of Restitut of all things that therefore being the last chief thing promised and the rest seem to make up the glory happiness thereof it is therefore here first spoken of again in the table of the good times So that where God left off before in fulfilling Antient Promises to the Fathers for the sins of their natural Race in that chief Mercy of the Kingdome there likewise he here in revealing his Restauration for the comfort of their spiritual Race begins with again in that said glorious Kingdome of Christ to come in both which respects it being the chief thing promised and also shortly now to be performed for Christ and his Saints it may appear very meet and congruous that it should here be set in the Table of these good times in the first place as the measure of all the rest that follow which do all but make up the happiness of that Kingdome as Christ reckoned his Sufferers and two Witnesses chief in the bad times Rev. 11. which times also are chiefly measured by the 1260 dayes of years during their Prophesying in Sackcloth So in the Renovation God seems to begin chap. 20. where in their natural Race by reason of their sins he had left and in chap. 21 and 22. proceeds backward to speak of the rest and lastly of the Paradise of God the first lost and last to be restored by Christ the second
be part of the Restitution which God will then effect as we hope in due place farther to manifest from this Text. But for the clearer discovery of what hath been said let us a little look back again to the beginning of this Chapter where it is said this Holy Man had the Visions of the New Heavens and the New Earth which as to their time was not after the last Judgment as was said neither is there placed before it that usual expression in this Book when things which follow are spoken of After this I saw as chap. 18.1 chap. 19.1 but are 1000 years before it as is very evident neither is it any New making of the Material frame of them but they will be Prophetical Heavens and Earth as was said suitable to that Kingdome wherein Christ will reign with his raised Saints as the wood witnesseth of which Kingdom these are to be considered as the integral parts for never came such a King into the world before that must not only have all Nations to do him service and the Heathen to be given to him for his Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for his possession but when he comes all the Elohim Angels or Gods must Worship him yea all knees in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth must then bow and be subject to him owning him to be Lord but he must also then have those New Heavens and New Earth then made for him and his Spouse As Satan had his Mystical Heavens before when the Pagans worshipped Sun Moon and Stars Their Mercury Jupiter Mars Apollo with the multitudes of their Heathenish false Deities And hence it was under Christs spiritual Kingdome of the Stone that there was in the primitive times a great Battel in Heaven betwixt Michael and his Angels and the Dragon and his Angels Rev. 12. but the issue thereof was that the Dragon was cast down from his Heaven to the Earth And as God very remarkably by the Ministry of the Prophet Jeromiah caused it to be proclaimed before the Captivity of Babylon chap. 10.11 and that verse is only written as Mr. Mede well observes in the Caldean Language whither that People was shortly after to be led Captives The Gods said he that made not the Heavens nor the Earth even they shall perish from the Earth and from under these Heavens and accordingly chap. 25. God sent by him a Cup of Wrath to be drunk by those many Nations that owned such Gods And afterwards neither Bell nor Merodach of the Caldeans could save themselves or their Worshippers from their Enemies nor the Graecian Monsters and multitudes of feigned Gods and Goddesses could deliver themselves or those that served them and when Pagan Rome had ingrossed the Idol Gods of all Nations which they subdued they were at Christs first coming struck dumb and ceased to deliver their Oracles as formerly and after by Constantine the Dragon was cast out of his Heaven to the Earth and likewise that Beast that rose out of the Earth afterwards with all his Paganized Christianity of Popish Idolatry will shortly also find Jeremiahs Proclamation true That such Idol Gods shall perish from the Earth and from under these Heavens for not only all such supposed Heathen Gods but all Pagano-Christian Idols also will be then totally and finally casheired for ever out of the World Psal 97.7 Esa 2. And such like Heavens were ascribed in Scripture to Kingdoms and States according to many Oriental Notions as Mr. Mede observed who reckoned what was Superiour in their States were their Heavens as Monarchs and Governours and what was Inferiour their Earth But these New Heavens and New Earth being of an Heavenly Excellency not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the Opinions or Customs of the vain World but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to Truth are to be taken for what God hath promised then and as his Word sets them forth the Heaven of Angels will come with Christ then to wait upon him and to worship him and Christ coming personally with them then will make it an Heaven indeed and then also he brings all his Saints that sleep in Jesus with him so that there will also be then an Heaven of Saints also as he speaketh at the Whores Destruction chap. 18.20 Rejoyce thou Heaven ye Apostles and Prophets and even that Mystical Heaven the New Jerusalem shall then come from God out of Heaven as is explained v. 2. which is called the Bride the Lambs Wife ver 9. and for her also with the Lamb be made then also the New Earth wherein will dwell Righteousness 2 Pet. 3. when not only the Tabernacle of God will be with men as ver 3. but her Officers shall be Peace and her Exactors Righteousness Esa 60.17 and all that happiness in that time of refreshment from the presence of the Lord Acts 3. and as follows ver 4. that God will not only wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death nor crying nor pain but Christ will personally dwell with them in that Tabernacle wherein he was before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only for a little while made lower than the Angels as we said but then he will be exalted far above all Principalities and Powers and every Name c. and continue to dwell with them and be their God and they shall be his people and for the assured making of these Integral parts of Chtists said Kingdome viz. the New Heavens and the New Earth is Gods great glorious and gracious undertaking at that time set forth in this text and he that sate upon the Throne said Behold I make all things new c. Now having thus prepared the way by removing these former difficulties and opening the context we shall by Gods assistance proceed to consider the Text it self both in respect of the words and sence thereof which is a farther step and degree of that most excellent Vision given to this beloved Apostle and saith he he that sat upon the Throne said behold I make all things New In which words we have a most excellent declaration of the compleating of Christs outward visible work of Redemption in the world with its Illustration and Confirmation the Declaration is of the happy Renovation of all things in that very determined point of time and occurrence of affairs which the Series and order of this Vision leads to I make that is I now make when the great Enemies are destroyed and Christs Davidical Kingdom is to take place and the Saints raised even in that state of things I make all things New for Christs unalterable order of these things is a doctrinal Foundation as was said and this most Divine Declaration is first Illustrated from the person that spake the words and undertakes the work whole speaking then will be doing as at first so said the Psalmist He spake the word and they were made he commanded and they were created so when the
period of this present State shall come God will as by speaking a word of Command make all things new 2. Again in respect of the excellency of his person he is here said to be he that sate upon the Throne who is Hieroglyphically and gloriously described in chap. 4. as God made known in his Church as on a Throne for in Judah is God known and his Name is great in Israel at Salem is his Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Zion Psal 78.1 and he is known to them in the face of Jesus Christ in all his glorious Attributes Nature and Persons as revealed in the Word 2 Cor. 4.4 6. as here compassed with the Rain-bow the Token of the Covenant made with Noah through Christ for all Creatures to the end of the world c. and also hath 7 Lamps burning before the Throne which are the 7 Spirits of God or the Holy Ghost chap. 1.4 and about the Throne 24. Seats for the 24 Elders and within the Throne 4 living Wights full of eyes within continually saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come So that there God is set forth as very gloriously made known in his Church to be three in Persons one in Essence to be ever so worshipped and glorified by them before and since for his great and good work of Creation ver 11. For as at first he Created the world by Jesus Christ Eph. 3.9 the Holy Spirit moving upon the face of the Waters Gen. 1.2 so he hath and doth and will redeem and fully work his Renovation of the world by the Lamb that was slain and hath since lived again and the book with 7 Seals is delivered to him to open and execute the Contents thereof as in chap. 5. by the power and effectual working of the Holy Ghost one God with the Father and the Son and proceeding from the Father and the Son So the 24 Elders and the 4. Beasts or living Wights worshipped him at the Whores Destruction as sitting on the Throne chap. 19.4 c. and in the end of chap. 4. 5. though this last was upon assurance of the fulfilling of all Revelation Prophesie But in the Text he that sits upon the Throne with a Rainbow about it and seven Lamps burning before it saith Behold I make all things new c. Thus then Almighty God Three in Persons and One in Essence so manifest in his Church that so Created the World and also by his Son and Holy Spirit carrieth on his work of Redemption and full Renovation of the World who maketh known this Divine Declaration thereof by his Servant John for the use of his Church in these latter times to be fulfilled most certainly as will after appear in the neer approaching times of the Restitution of all things the next Illustration of it is that usual note of Attention and Observation Behold but here to be more highly considered as a notation of Admiration Adoration Behold Admire the wonderful Mercy herein contained adore him in the Divine excellency thereof the like is done in many like Notations set forth by God respecting his wonderful work begun and by degrees carried on and to be perfected by his Son Jesus Christ as first especially in laying his great Foundation in Sion Esa 28.16 Behold I lay in Sion a chief Corner Stone Elect and Precious as saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 2.6 which the said Prophet sets forth with a great deal of Illustration in the Heberew c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and aptly rendred by Arias Montanus Ecce ego fundo in Sion Lapidem Lapidem munitionis anguli preciosi fundamenti fundati c. Behold I found in Sion a Stone a Stone of defence of a precious corner of a foundation founded and to be adored and admired likewise therein The like of the Womans Seed promised without Man Behold a Virgin shall bear a Son Esa 7.14 and yet a Virgin when she hath a Son but such a Son as should be God as well as Man who should be called Immanuel God with us here was likewise matter of Admiration and Adoration that he that was the Eternal Father as well as the Prince of Peace of the increase of whose Kingdome upon the Throne of David there shall be no end should yet in such a time be born of a Virgin c. Esa 9. The like by the Angel is used to the Shepheards at the birth of that said Virgins Son Luke 2.10 11. Behold I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people c. So when God will make the New World for his said Son Behold I make c. and the season of this work is the Alpha and Omega of this book of Revelation to be observed and admired and desired too by the Saints chap. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds at the Jews Conversion who are there said to have pierced him which I conceive will not only be in mercy to the Jews as Zech. 12.10 but all Kindreds also of the Earth shall wail because of him penitently also when he then comes the second time without sin to Salvation because the Heathen shall be given then to him for an Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for his possession and they shall also then serve him Dan. 7.27 and as the Prophet saith in those times ten men shall take hold of the skirt of a Jew Zech. 8.32 to joyn themselves to them in the service of the God of Israel and the great shakings and dessolations in the world when the glorious Majesty of Christ shall then appear as Esa 2.17 19. so shaking terribly the Earth probably may much prepare all the Kindreds of the Earth that remain then so to wail with Contrition that they have not known Christ before and then so wailingly mourn after him therefore is added by the Holy Spirit Even so Amen to both Rev. 1.7 N. B. to teach us ever after to pray for the fulfilling of these so strongly promised Mercies then which is therefore the chief drift of that Petition Thy Kingdome come that also then Gods Will may be done in Earth as it is now in Heaven for which in that state there is great ground to believe and so his Name will be hallowed then as now in Heaven which is the great end of all Prayer And then he cometh also with reward for his Saints as chap. 22.12 11.18 The way to love Christs appearance as the Apostle Paul perswades all sound Christians is to know the happy advantages that all such shall have thereby at that time when God will make all things New that pertain to Christs Davidical Kingdome as here c. The next thing considerable respecting this comfortable Declaration of God is the Confirmation of it 1. by commanding the Holy man to record it for the comfort of his Church Write saith he 2. He gives a twofold ground of such Confirmation or Record of it first in
them at those times of restitution of all things Acts 3. viz. upon Christ the Lamb and his Bride then which I conceive is taken for both sorts of Saints both then raised and in the natural life though then in their proper different states yet by gracious dispensation will probably be both of one Communion which we are taught to believe according to Gods Word sutable to that of Christ and his Disciples forty days after he rose from the dead Secondly The Positive part is included in the same declaration Gen. 13.15 after explained by many gradual Promises and Covenants We shall begin with the last at first in this Divine Key of our Saviours viz. the Kingdom promised to David and his Seed for ever which is the main thing here spoken of that Christ with his Saints should enjoy in that state comprehending all the rest which all the other tend unto and are to be conferred with it before the enjoyment of which the raised Saints have their spiritual bodies then whereby they are put into a capacity to enjoy all the happiness of that time and state and the Jews Israelites and Gentiles shall be converted and united into one sheepfold c. This Kingdom was foretold by Jacob Gen. 49. and by Balaam Numb 24. and often prophesied of by David confirmed in Nathan's Message seen in Vision by Daniel at what time Christ should receive it over all Nations under the whole Heavens Dan. 7.27 with many other confirmations by the Prophets and declared by Christ that it was his Fathers pleasure to give it to his little little flock Luke 12.32 that they suffering with Christ should reign with him which in the 1000 years they are said to do Rev. 20.4 of which more is said in our twelve foundations of the faith thereof and in the Word written and elsewhere from Scripture-Authority For this great King are the New Heavens and earth to be made without such a mystical moveable Sea out of which the Beast arose in the times of the Barbarous Nations Cmmotions the Whore hath sitten upon those many troubled waters ever since but this Kingdom that Christ with his Saints shall receive is such as cannot be shaken or moved Heb. 12.28 this said Kingdom is the first and main thing here spoken of by Christ though the last promised to David and his Divine spiritual Seed which the Apostles expected should be restored Acts 1.6 and will be at that time of the raising up of Davids Tabernacle which had been fallen in his natural Race 2300 years probably before Acts 15.16 Amos 9.11 The next thing belonging to this Kingdom for which the integral parts thereof the New Heavens and the New Earth are then to be be made as Rev. 21.1 is that which is contained in the Covenant to Abraham and his Seed respecting the promised Land as the Mother City thereof typified by that Jerusalem of old which is now in bondage with her Children Gal. 4. And is now above till the time of the descending of it from God out of Heaven when Christ comes in the Clouds of Heaven and brings all his Saints with him till the Marriage of the Lamb spoken of Rev. 19. and 21. which is called the great and holy and beloved Jerusalem that City with foundations that Abraham expected and is said to be prepared for the forefathers and all the faithful since Heb. 11.16.40 whose Maker and Builder is God which appears to be in great part the New Heavens as Rev. 18.20 as we in part shewed before with the Heaven of the glorious Angels coming to attend on Christ when his Tabernacle of his bodily presence will be with men not for a little time as Heb. 2. at his first coming but he will dwell with them the space of the 1000 years Then will also be according to many Promises to the Saints in the natural life of all the Nations that shall then be saved the New Earth wherein will dwell righteousness when Christ that great King shall reign in righteousness and Princes shall rule in judgment Esa 32.1 whose Officers shall be peace and whose Exactors shall be righteousness Esa 60.17 when Christ sits upon the Throne of David to order it and to establish it with Judgment and with Justice from thencforth and for ever viz. unto the end of the world Esa 9.7 the Prophesies and Promises which respect that state of Gods peoples mercies benefits and Priviledges therein are exceeding great and manifold that would require a large Volume to explain them respecting Saints then in the natural life both in being greatly freed from the evils we now spoke of with the manifold enjoyments of good but especially in regard of their large measure of Grace then promised as in the New Covenant first made in their Book of Deuteronomy after the first Tables had been brok on remarkably set down Deut. 30. to ver 11. for circumcising the heart of that people and their Seed after all their great dispersions who shall be setled in their own Land then and remove no more as 2 Sam. 7. and Gods Sanctuary shall be with them for evermore Ezek. 37.28 when God will pour his Spirit on them generally Joel 3. as he did upon his Disciples and some few at his first coming and those expressions of the New Covenant Jer. 31.33 34. and 32.39 40. and Ezek. 36.25 26 27 c. do chiefly belong to that people and such as are united to them in the natural life in those times that shall then walk in the light of the said beloved Jerusalem Rev. 21. though we Gentiles have now our share in them through faith in some degree but they then in the times of Restitution much more by far and this will then be that special great foundation of all other temporal enjoyments as the strong entail that Christ will make them of all promised good And to all Saints in those times it is probable will arise that great enlargement of Joy for the inlarging Christs Kingdom with praise to God in Christ for it by the powerful operation of the Holy Spirit in that together with the inheriting of all promised mercies to themselves they will see and know then the great confluence of saved Souls then abundantly coming in upon the like foundations from the Word of God when all Nations shall see the salvation of the God of Israel and the Heathen shall be given to Christ God 's King then set upon his holy hill of Sion for his inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for his possession Psalm 2. for if the Angels in Heaven rejoyce at one sinners conversion now how will both Angels and Saints then rejoyce when so many thousands and millions which will then be saved in the prolonging of Christs days when he shall see his numerous seed as promised to the Fathers and the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Esa 53. and his City prepared will be large enough to contain all raised
the Book given unto the Lamb. We might be 〈◊〉 in many particular Promises to this purpose respecting the 〈◊〉 in that time with many excellenties respecting tha◠〈◊〉 as we have specially shewed how concerning Christs Dividid a Kingdom and people then God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began as is manifest by the third of our 8 Conving Arguments in the Word written And the great designe of the All knowing and All working God in giving such Prophesies to his Church from the beginning concerning such great things to be fulfilled at the end of the world in that said Great Day of Judgment appears to be made manifest by such Divine Chronology first set down by Moses and other Penmen thereof before the Captivities of Israel and Judah but after that are in their discoveries chiefly carried on by those Mystical Prophesies of those two beloved Servants of God and Christ the Prophet Daniel and the Apostle John but chiefly by the last to whom these hidden secrets of God respecting those times wore particularly as we shewed commisted to open Danichs sealed Mysteries to Ch. 19. and from thence to the end the most antient Predictions and Promises c. when God would raise unto David that righteous Branch that King that shall reign and prosper and execute Judgment and Justice in the earth in whose days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely Jer. 23.5 6. when they shall have the Mercies promised to their Forefathers performed to them as Zechary is taught Divinely to sing out and in such a manner he would grant unto them that being delivered from the hand of their enemies they might serve God without fear of them in righteousness and true holiness all the days of then lives Luke 1.7 c. which will be the stability of all the happiness of that state when that New Kingdom of Israel will be restored the Tabernacle of David that was fullen new raised up again for that said righteous Branch which God then said he would then raise unto David for whom with his Bride God will then make New Heavens and a new earth in that new world to come wherein shall be that New great holy and beloved Jerusalem that City that hath foundations whose Maker and Builder is God for those new Inhabitants that came from God out of Heaven and came with Christ to receive their spiritual bodies at the first blessed Resurrection of the Saints where also will be the New Paradise of God Also the converted Jews and Israelites shall then enjoy their New Jerusalem also built upon its own heaps when strangers shall build her Walls as the Prophet foretels upon the return of the Shulamite who instead of Fathers shall have Children whom she may make Princes in all the earth being the Seed then which the Lord hath blessed Esai 61.9 then shall be her new guides and watchmen upon her Walls probably the new raised Saints that shall not hold their peace day nor night new dispensations new peace plenty security new priviledges new pleasures delights in heavenly visions comunion discoveries in the revelation of such things as are appointed then to be known in the restitution of all things promised then to be done as in the forenamed particulars we before set down and the times of these things are chiefly made known in their fit latitudes by Revelation-prophesie for when we read of the coming of Christ at his appearance and Kingdom the times thereof are so set forth as was shewed by Revelation-prophesie We read of the Saints first bodily Resurrection but the time thereof is only deciphered by Revelation Prophesie we heard of raising Davids Tabernacle which was fallen but the time is only pointed out by Revelation prophesie and that the Saints shall receive their sure mercies of David Esa 55.3 but when can only be resolved by Revelation prophesie we read of Gods setting up the Kingdom of the Stone that should destroy all others and it self become a Mountain filling the whole earth but the times and order of his carrying on these great works by Jesus Christ is in the fittest proportion made known to the Church by Revelation-prophesie The Lord said to Davids Lord Sit at my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool which he hath long expected Heb. 10.13 and the Heavens must receive him till the times of the Restitution of all things but the best resolution of both is to be had from Revelation-prophesie Glorious things are spoken saith the Psalmist of the City of God of the new the holy the great the beloved Jerusalem but what and when and where and for whom we are chiefly informed from Revelation-prophesie We read of the ruine of Gog and Magog the Churches greatest enemies before that City Jehovah Shammah shall be set up but when it shall be we chiefly learn from Daniel and Revelation-prophesie Object But did not Christ reprehend his Disciples Acts 1.6 for inquiring the time of his Kingdom c. Ans Though this and such like hath been sufficiently answered yet know it is only whilst God keeps such things in his own power and in the next Verse he said But ye shall be indued with power which was done about ten days after at the Feast of Pentecost and all that wrote after speak something thereof but chiefly the beloved John And though Christ as man then said he knew not the day and hour of his coming which none now pretend to yet in a fit latitude Christ hath revealed the near approach thereof with many things to be done before very useful for the Church to know and wherein all Saints are greatly concerned which are great mercies in many respects to be known and believed in these later days for which there is great cause of thanksgiving but no reason of cavilling with our mercies or the goodness of the Author of them Thus for the Doctrinal part of this Text wherein we have considered this most gracious Divine Declaration of the set time of such its performance with the glorious illustrations and confirmations thereof and shewed from Scripture wherein it doth consist and the many decipherings of the times of the renovation of all things with Scripture evidences accordingly referring thereunto both manifesting the thing and shewing in a latitude the near approach thereof We shall now by Gods gracious assistance endeavour to make some pertinent improvement thereof 1. We may hence be informed of the many mistakes that have been both of this Text and the Context thereof as respecting the matter time and place thereof the matter not the making new these visible Heavens and earth but the Prophetical Heavens and earth as we have shewed For the time not after the last Resurrection and Judgment but in the interim betwixt the first and last wherein the anciently declared and promised mercies are to be performed to the faithful Fathers and their spiritual Seed through the Promised Seed of the