pieces as this doth and such a Kingdom is not now to be set up But it may be said what 's this to the Point in Hand viz. to the Coming of Christ or the Thousand Years Let us therefore further enquire and we shall see that Daniel speaks up to the Case Chap. 7.13 14 I saw saith he in the Night Visions and one like the Son of Man came with the Clouds of Heaven and came to the antient of Days and they brought him near before him and there was given to him Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion that shall not pass away and his Kingdom that shall not be destroyed But when shall this Coming of the Son of Man be It shall be when the little Horn viz. the Beast is slain and his Body destroyed and given to the burning Flames agreeing directly with Rev. 19.20 where t is said the Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet and cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone And answerable to this is that clear Text 2 Thes 2.8 whom he shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and destroy with the Brightness of his Coming which is generally understood especially by the learned to be a personal Coming for so much doth the Word in the original import and is no other than his Coming with Clouds above-mentioned and that of Mat. 24 and elsewhere And this must of Necessity be granted except we shall say t is at the End of the Thousand Years which is not yet begun as may be shewed hereafter when Christ comes to the general Judgment which no Man in his right Understanding will affirm and so it will enforce a Coming of Christ personally before the End of the World. And this is further hinted to us Dan. 12.1 at that Time viz. when the Turk shall be destroyed and come to his End Chap. 11.45 shall Michael stand up the great Prince which standeth for the Children of thy People and at that Time shall they be delivered and not long after is that happy Time which he is blessed that waiteth for it and cometh to it ver 12 which is no other then the Thousand Years HOSEA also speaks of the same Thing and of the same Time above-mentioned Chap. 1. ult when the Children of Judah and the Children of Israel should be gathered together and appoint themselves one Head in that great Day of Jezreel and Chap. 14. throughout JOEL also tells us of a Time when Jerusalem should be holy and no Stranger pass through her any more Chap. 3.17 AMOS also speaks of a Day when God will raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen and close up the Breaches thereof and raise up his Ruins and build it as in the Days of old Chap. 9. from ver 11. to the End. OBADIAH also to the same Purpose that upon Mount Sion shall be Deliverance and there shall be Holiness ver 17 and Saviours shall come upon Mount Sion and the Kingdom shall be the Lord's JONAH is a History no Prophesy MICAH 4.1 2 3 but in the last Days it shall come to pass the same with Isai 2. NAHUM speaks of a Time when the Wicked should be among the People of God no more but be utterly cut off Chap. 1.15 HABAKKUK Chap. 2.14 the Earth shall be filled with the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea. ZEPHANIAH Chap. 3 9-20 I will turn to the People a pure Language that they may call on the Name of the Lord and serve him with one consent in that Day it shall be said to Jerusalem fear not and to Sion let not thy Hands be slack the Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty c. HAGGAI 2.7 The Prophet speaks of a Time when God would shake the Heaven and the Earth and shake all Nations and ver 22 that he would overthrow the Thrones of Kingdoms and the Desire of all Nations should come T is true this hath been in Part fulfilled at the first Coming of Christ when the legal Dispensation was taken away and so much the Apostle implies Heb. 12 but that Shaking did not overthrow the Thrones of Kingdoms as this Shaking shall The Apostle who wrote after the legal Dispensation was shaken to Pieces tells us of another Shaking which God had promised which was future And when may this be It may be 't is when the Desire of all Nations shall come the second Time to sit up his own Kingdom then when the Beast shall be slain and his Body destroyed and given to the burning Flames when the Ancient of Days shall sit then and not 'till then will these Thrones be cast down Dan. 7.9 And that Time will be a shaking Time indeed when not only the Earth but the Power of Heaven shall be shaken also Mat. 24. Luk. 21. And these Heavens and Earth so shaken must be removed and a new Heaven and Earth created that shall remain before the Lord Isai 66.22 And so the Apostle tells us Heb. 12 of a Kingdom that cannot be shaken by which we must understand the whole Kingdom of Christ and not only his spiritual Kingdom but his external also which he is gone to receive which is an ever lasting Kingdom and shall never pass away to another People which must remain when those Things that are shaken must be removed See also what the Prophet ZECHARIAH speaks Chap. 8.3 The Lord saith I am returned to Sion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and Jerusalem shall be called a City of Truth the Mountain of the Lord of Hosts the holy Mountain See ver 4 5 6 7 8 Chap. 12 13 14. The Prophet speaks of little else but the Glory and Holiness of the Jewish Church after their Conversion to Christ There is yet one Prophet more who is yet to speak and that is MALACHI and he speaks of the Day of the Lord that shall burn as an Oven and all that do Wickedly shall be stubble and the Day that cometh shall burn them up and ye shall tread them down for they shall be Ashes under the Soles of your Feet But it may be thought that this Burning shall be at the last Judgment T is true there will then be the greatest Destruction by Fire that ever was or shall be for then they will be destroyed all Rev. 20.9 but t is likely it will be otherwise now consisting only of such as are actually in Arms against Christ But that there will be a great Destruction by Fire at this Time the Scripture is clear Isai 66.15.16 For behold the Lord will come with Fire and render his Rebukes with Flames of Fire for by Fire and Sword will be Lord plead with all Flesh and the Slain of the Lord shall be many See Ezekiel 38.22 Words to the same Purpose And when this Burning shall be the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his Wings
was in the Days of Noah and as it was in the Days of Lott Eating and Drinking Marrying Building and planting and knew nothing 'till the Flood came even thus shall it be when the Son of Man shull be revealed ver 26 27 30. And Luk. 19.11 There were some that thought that the Kingdom of God should immediately appear but Christ gives them to understand otherwise and represents himself as a certain noble Man that went into a far Country to receive for himself a Kingdom and to return And ver 15 when he was returned having received the Kingdom then he calls his Servants to account and passes Sentence on them Hence he is said to judge quick and dead at his Appearance and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4.1 And therefore when he come to set up his Kingdom at the Sounding of the Seventh Trumpet at the Time he is said to Judge and to give Rewards to his Servants Rev. 11 15 18. So that at his Return will be the Time when this Kingdom of Christ shall appear and the Thousand Years begin But to enquire a little further concerning THE TIME and see what the Scripture speaks to it and we shall find Rev. 10.5 6 7 that under the sixth Trumpet which is the second Woe Trumpet Chap. 9.12 the Angel which is CHRIST who sets his right Foot on the Sea his left Foot on the Earth and lifteth up his Hand to Heaven and sweareth by him that liveth for ever and ever that there should be Time no longer but in the Days of the Voice of the seventh Angel when he shall begin to sound the Mystery of God should be finished as he hath declared to his Servants the Prophets What Should the World be now at an End that Time should be no longer when the seventh Angel sounded No not so but then Time should be no longer to the Beast and other Enemies of Christ and then the Mystery of God should be finished But what may this Mystery which must be finished after the Sound of the seventh Trumpet be which is the last Trumpet after which none shall Sound but the Trump of God at the last Judgment 1 Cor. 15.52 at the Resurrection of the Dead And this the Apostle calls a Mystery but this is not the Mystery of God here meant for God had not declared this to his Servants the Prophets Much less is it the Mystery of Iniquity 2 Thes 2.7 for that is not the Mystery of God but of the Devil There is yet another Mystery of which the Apostle speaks Rev. 11.25 and that is the Calling of the Jews And this Mystery hath been declared to all the Prophets as hath been shewed before And this Mystery of God is to be finished under the seventh Trumpet and at the pouring out of the last Vial For then 't is said It is done What is that which is done Then the Mystery of Gods is fulfilled Chap. 10.7 And at the pouring out of this Vial which is contemporary with the seventh Trumpet there will be Voices and Thunderings and Lightnings to strike Terror into the Minds of Men and there will be a great Earthquake such as was not since Men were upon the Earth so mighty and Earthquake and so great It will shake all the Kingdoms of this World shake the Heavens and shake the Earth the Lord will shake all the World by it and Things so shaken must be removed that what cannot be shaken may remain but of his something hath been spoken before But what may this Earthquake be which shall thus shake the whole World and such as never was since Men lived upon Earth I do not understand it of an Earthquake properly so called but so as it represents to us great Changes in the World and Distrese of Nations with Perplexity Mens Hearts failing them for Fear and for looking after those Things which are coming on the Earth For the Powers of Heaven shall be shaken Luk. 21.25 26. We read of a great Earthquake Rev. 6 at the Opening of the sixth Seal And it was so great that it shook the Pagan Roman Empire for so Interpretors understand that Place the whole Pagan Emperial World Sun Moon and Stars thereof and this introduced a blessed Change for the present So that we see such Earthquakes signify great Changes and affrighting Judgments by Wars and otherwise and such will be at the Sounding of the seventh Trumpet and the pouring out of the last Vial. Rev. 16.14 we read of the Kings of the Earth and of the whole World gathered together to the BATTLE of the GREAT DAY of GOD ALMIGHTY And it is the same Battle spoken of by the Prophet Ezekiel Chap. 38. 39 for that was to be in the latter Day ver 16 And it must be at or after the return of the Jews to their own Land which is yet future And the Prophet Joel also speaks of the same Battle Chap. 3.2 For behold in those Days and in that Time when I shall bring again the Captivity of Judah and Jerusalem I will gather all Nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat and plead with them there A more general War-like Assembly was never known in the World and by Means whereof there will be such an Earthquake as was never heard of since the World began And this will be all at the same Time ' the Calling of the Jews at the same Place Judea Ezek. 39.4 upon the Mountains of Israel Joel 3.2 in the Valley of Jehoshaphat Rev. 16.16 at Armageddon To this Time the Prophet Isaiah refers Chap. 63.1 2 3 c. where Christ is represented as treading the Wine-press treading his Enemies in Anger trampling on them in Fury Garments stained with their Blood Just the same with Rev. 14.15 20. Thrust in thy Sickle into the Earth and gather the Vine of the Earth and the Angel thrust in his Sickle and gathered the Vine of the Earth and cast in into the great Wine-press of the Wrath of God. But more of this when we come to speak of the great Battle of GOD and MAGOG Joel also speaks to the same Purpose and the same Time then will Men go into the Clefts of the Rocks and into the Tops of the ragged Rocks for Fear of the Lord and for the Glory of his Majesty when he ariseth terribly to shake the Earth By this little above-written we may partly judge what this Earthquake is like to be and to do which is so great as was not since Men lived upon Earth For now the old World will be at an End and the new World will begin which the Apostle calls the World to come Heb. 2.5 Thus much may suffice for Answer to the third Question proposed to be spoken to i.e. when the Thousand Years will begin and all the Kingdoms of this World become the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and he to reign for ever and ever And this is one of the most remarkable Periods which hath been
not comprehending all Saints because there are Nations of them that are saved who shall walk in the Light of it Chap. 21.24 and they shall bring the Glory and Honour of the Nations into it ver 26. Besides Chap. 20.9 there is mention made of the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City which seems to imply at least to me that they are distinct Societies No such a Society in the purest Churches and in the best Times Tares will be amongst Wheat till Harvest Mat. 13.29 Coming down from God out of Heaven T is true the Gospel Church is called the Kingdom of Heaven but not coming down from God out of Heaven therefore is not Heaven itself for it comes down from God out of Heaven Chap. 21.2.10 Again the Kings of the Earth do bring their Glory and Honour to it and they shall bring the Glory and Honour of the Nations into it which they cannot bring into Heaven Again Rev. 20.9 t is said that God and Magog went upon the Breadth of the Earth and compassed the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City therefore they were upon the Earth for if by new Jerusalem be meant Heaven is a Thing altogether impossible Furthermore the Saints of the new Jerusalem are free from Sin Sorrow and Suffering 1 from Sin there is nothing in it that defileth Chap. 21.27 but Sin defileth 2 They are free from Sorrow ver 4 no more Sorrow nor Crying nor Pain and also free from Suffering for Suffering is always attended with Pain But in other Saints there will be Sin and therefore Sorrow and Suffering to the End of the World. Again these have attained to Perfection in Grace and Holiness so as they need no further Improvement of external Means of Salvation no Temple therein no Need of Sun and Moon to shine therein for the Glory of God doth lighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof ver 22.23 no Night there nor Need of Candle or Sun for the Lord giveth them Light Chap. 22.5 But we know that external Means of Salvation will be needful for some till the End of the World by which Souls may be brought home to Christ Thus having given what my Apprehensions are in this Matter and shewed what this new Jerusalem is not and also what it is and whence it comes let it be enquired into where such a Society of Saints and Saints only according to the former Description may be found And here as I premised at first I will not be positive but propose to Consideration whether they may not be the Saints of the first Resurrection mention'd Rev. 20 That some Saints shall rise before others is clear in that Chapter in the beginning of the Thousand Years as before whether all Saints or no I shall not determine that some shall not then live when these are raised is as clear whether Saints or Sinners or both is left to Consideration That there will be Saints and Sinners in the World during that whole Term of Time and so until the End thereof and to the End of the World we have good Ground from Scripture to believe that Christ will appear long before the End of the World or ultimate Day hath been formerly proved that when he cometh he will come with all his Saints Zech. 14.5 Jude 14 and why not these Saints that come with Christ be the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven who are to live and reign with Christ a Thousand Years Chap. 20 and that on Earth Chap. 5.10 Again why may not these be the Spirits of just Men made perfect and Church of the first born to which we are come Heb. 12.23 or what else is the Meaning of that Place Once more why may not these be those who stand on Mount Sion with the Lamb Rev. 14 and follow him whithersoever he goes which are redeemed from among Men being the first Fruits unto God and to the Lamb who were without Fault before the Throne of God and are distinct from the four Beasts and the Elders which I understand to be the Church which will be at that Time. If these or some of these be not the new Jerusalem I know not where to find it I know that very few are of this Opinion that the raised Saints are the New Jerusalem but rather think that the New Heaven and New Earth of which Peter speaks 2d Epistle 3d Chap. 13. are the New Jerusalem for Resolution in this Case and as an Addition to what hath been already written I shall propose to Consideration 1. Whether thinking so or saying so without any Proof will make it so 2dly the Apostle John makes them two distinct Things Rev. 21.1 2. The New Heaven and New Earth seems to be quite another Thing and I understand it to be no other than the Jewish evangelical Church represented to us after a legal Manner by the Prophet Ezekiel under the Name Notion of a City and Temple which is like to be the most glorious Church that ever was in the World 't is more than possible that this may be the New Heaven and New Earth when Jerusalem shall be a Rejoicing and her People a Joy Isa 65.17 18 being called there the New Heaven and New the Earth And yet notwithstanding this New Heaven and New Earth as it is discribed by Ezekiel differs in many Respects from the New Jerusalem as will appear by comparing John Ezek. together For first In the New Jerusalem there is no Temple for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple thereof Rev. 21.22 but that City mentioned by Ezekiel had a Temple Chap. 41.1 4 implying that there should be external Worship And what else is the Meaning of the Priests and Offerings so often mentioned there See Zec. 14.16 Again in the New Jerusalem the River of the Waters of Life proceedeth out of the Throne of God and the Lamb Rev. 22.1 but in that House mentioned by Ezekiel Chap. 47.1 the Waters not the River of the Waters of Life issueth from under the Threshold of the House at the South Side of the Altar Thirdly In the new Jerusalem is the Tree of Life on either Side of the River ver 2. but by that River that shall issue out of the Sanctuary of that City in Ezekiel shall grow Trees for Meat Chap. 47.12 Again once more and once for all this City new Jerusalem comes down from God out of Heaven and whither doth it come but to the new Heaven and new Earth for the first Heaven and Earth were passed away Rev. 21.1 2 they shall not be remembered nor come into Mind Isai 65.17 All these Things being considered it seems to me impossible that this new Heaven and new Earth should be the same with the new Jerusalem The Sum is this Peter tells us of a New Heaven and new Earth and Ezekiel of a City and Temple but neither of them tells us that either of these is the new Jerusalem It remains
THE AUTHOR's PREFACE To the READER READER if thou begin to read read through and pass no Censure on any Thing 'till thou hast read every Thing 'T is not Wisdom to judge of a Matter before we hear it and if it be not Wisdom 't is Shame and Folly Prov. 18. It may be thou wilt say as those did Acts 17 What will this Babbler say Thou bringest strange Things to our Ears to tell us of Christ's Coming before the general Judgement and of a first Resurrection before all be raised and of Saints reigning a Thousand Years upon Earth and of a new Heaven and a new Earth and of the burning of the Old and of a great many other new Things which we never heard of before we would fain know what they mean. I trust it will appear they are not new but old they may be new to some Men but I cannot say 't is their Honour and though these Things be not accounted as Truths with some Men now yet not with all 't is more than possible they will appear to be so when I shall be here no more But 't is not a new Thing to mock at the Resurrection of the Dead as they did Acts 17.32 nor to scoff at the Coming of Christ as those 2 Pet. 3 4. But Be not Mockers lest your Bands be made strong Why should it be tho 't incredible that God will raise some from the dead before others or that Christ will come before some Men look for him The Resurrection of Christ seemed to the Apostles themselves but as idle Tales when they first heard of it Luke 24.11 And though Christ himself had hold them of it before ver 7. All Things will seem new to such as never saw or heard of them before And there will be a Time when all Things shall be made new Rev. 21.5 And there is a Treasury which some Men have in which are Things new as well as old And now it may possibly be that some are of a quite contrary Mind and will say that here is nothing new but what hath been said over and over by others and that long ago But what hath been said by others every one doth not know and it may be here may be some Things said which have not been said by others that I know of But let it be granted that others have written of these Opinions And if so methinks it should gain the more Reputation and be the better credited in the World by them that are wise Yea but some of those who held these Opinions have been foully mistaken in some other Things and therefore little Heed is to be given to them 'T is possible it may be so humanum est errare who durst to east the first Stone at them Neither are some Failings in Men Rules to judge of Truth and Error To the Law and to the Testimony was the good old Way Detraction from some Men will add nothing to the Detractors Some others refuse to study Prophesy as being too high and too hard for them to understand and many that have expounded Prophesy have been mistaken There is a Lion in the Sluggard's Way 'T is true there are some Things in the Prophets hard to be understood and so there are in Paul's Epistles as Peter tells us and yet being given by inspiration are profitable And as to PROPHESY We should do well to give Heed to it as to a Light shining in a dark Place 2 Pet. 1.19 And they are pronounced blessed that read and hear Prophesy Rev. 1.3 These will lose the Marrow rather than take Pains to break the Bones I know 't is beyond what any Man is able clearly to determine all Matters and Thing relating to what is here written and to answer all Questions concerning the same yet by runing to and fro Knowledge shall be increased Dan. 12.4 And what if I a poor lame Man run also But the Wise shall understand ver 10. Yea but other Matters and Things are of higher Concernment than these To such I say tho' some Things may be of higher Concernment than others yet no Part of Truth but is of Concernment And he respects not any Part of Truth as he ought that hath not respect to every Part of it And he that thinks the subject Matters of this Discourse are of little Concernment will be found to be mistaken 'T is more than possible that his Script may fall into the Handds of some that are eminent in their own Understandings and are very sensible of their own Sufficiency and Abilities in these Matters who have read these and those learned Men that are of other Opinions call this and that Man Master a Vanity reproved by the Apostle 1 Cor. 1.13 yea by Christ himself and so conceive they are able ex tempore to give a full and clear answer to all these Things and are resolved to enquire no further nor to search the Scriptures whether it be so or no. There is more Hope of some others than of these Let such know what the Authors quoted in Favour of what is here written are infallible and cannot err A Catalogue of whom are to be seen at the End of this Manuscript But some others will say that this is an immethodical Thing and done by an inconsiderable Person I readily comply with those that so think and that it may want that which is called Method if any do not like it I cannot help it I had no Scheme of Things in my Head when I first began You have it as I had it Besides I do not pretend any Thing to human Learning being much a Stranger to it What Time I have spent about these Things have been short Interims pincht out of my other Occasions And if may be if it were to be done again it might be otherwise I might mention some others not a few who are of Gallio's Mind that care for none of these Things having other Things to care for looking on them as cunningly devised Fables I have nothing to say to such careless ones but this that Christ will care as little for them another Day It may be I have said too much already to the Reader and more than a wise Man would have said and more than I should have said had not there been some Necessity of it But I have done when I have told you that I am a very old Man and very near another World having lived far beyond the stated Age of Man and do not know whether I shall be able to speak when I come to die and therefore shall leave this behind me which will speak when I shall speak here no more penned partly for my own Satisfaction and partly with Respect to some of mine whose Salvation I am caring for and am willing they should be acquainted with such Truths as these are 'T is possible and more than possible that I may be mistaken in some Things here written my Way being little if not too
little trodden by others But if so being made sensible of it I shall not be backward to acknowledge my Failings But 't is no good Logick nor will it be a convincing Argument to me to say that what is here written is not so If such an Answer would suffice and Disputes would soon be ended and it might possible satisfy all but such as have their Eyes in their Heads And if these be not Truths which are here asserted or proposed to Consideration those that are of another Opinion may do well to let us understand our Mistakes and declare their own Sentiments herein W. T. Of the Coming of CHRIST MATT. XXIV 3. Tell us when shall these Things be And what shall be the Sign of thy Coming and of the End of the World THESE Words contain three Questions proposed by the Disciples to Christ for Resolution 1 when shall these Things be which Words refer to the Destruction of the Temple and City 2 What shall be the Signs of thy Coming This Question seems to be grounded upon the last Verse of the former Chapter ye shall not see me henceforth till c. implying a Time wherein the Jews should see Christ again visibly when they should say Blessed is be that comes in the Name of the Lord. The 3 Question was about the End of the World when that should be and what Signs would precede That the World should have an End Christ had told them Mat. 13.40 Now that these are three distinct Questions is evident by three distinct Answers which Christ makes to the Disciples His first Answer concerning the Destruction of the Temple begins with a Caution ver 4. Take Heed that no Man deceive you and afterwards describes the Misery of that Nation in many Particulars as Signs and Forerunners of their Ruin unto ver 23. See Luke 21.20 But this being past no Notice shall be taken of it here The Answer to the second Question begins at the 23 ver of this Chap. and continues to the 31 ver of the 25 Chap. and from thence to the End we have a Description of the general Judgment and of the End of the World But no Signs preceding either there or any where else in Scripture that this Writer knows The main Thing intended in this Script is modestly to enquire not positively to conclude any Thing concerning a right Understanding of the second Question and the Answer of Christ thereunto viz. What Kind of Coming of Christ is here to be understood And here we must know that there are more Comings of Christ than two There is a spiritual Coming in the Ministry Christ came and preached in the Ministry of Noab 1 Pet. 3 and by the Ministry of Paul Eph. 2.17 There is also a providential Coming of Christ in stupendous Providences and it may be of this Coming James speaks Chap. 5.8 the Coming of the Lord draws nigh Neither of these seems to be meant here nor will the Signs laid down of the Coming of Christ agree to either of them For first it cannot be meant of his Coming in the Gospel spiritually for so he hath been always Coming and will be to the End of the World and no Signs can be given of this Coming The like may be said concerning his Coming in extraordinary Providences Other Comings of Christ might be mentioned but this Coming of Christ seems to be a personal Coming and therefore t is said they shall see the Son of Man Coming viz. personally Christ is seldom if ever stiled the Son of Man in any other Coming Again t is said he cometh in the Clouds of Heaven Dan. 7.13 One like the Son of Man came with the Clouds of Heaven Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds and every Eye shall see him and they that have pierced him viz. the Jews Zech. 12.10 This Description of Christ's Coming in the Clouds of Heaven so often mentioned cannot be understood of his Coming in the Gospel But it may be said by Clouds may be understood his Ordinances as in Isai 5.6 I will command the Clouds that they rain no more Rain upon it To which it is answered 't is not said there the Clouds of Heaven as in the fore-mentioned Texts Secondly t is answered that Clouds are for Protection from Danger Exod. 14.19 Isai 4.5 for a Defence upon the Glory and so it may be well understood here But if this satisfy not we must know that parabolical Divinity is not argumentative against plain Texts of Scripture and we may not forsake the literal Interpretation where t is not contrary to the Analogy of Faith. Let us consider a litter further of some of the Signs foregoing this Coming of Christ and see how they will agree with any other Coming but a personal Coming For the Suddenness of it is compared to Lightening which is most quick visible and also terrible ver 27. described also by gathering together of the Eagles ver 28. It cannot be understood of he Roman Eagles called the Abomination of Desolation For that was past long ago before the Destruction of the Temple ver 15. and therefore such an Interpretation is foreign from the meaning of that Text. By Eagles therefore are to be understood Saints rather By the Carcass or Body as Luke renders it Chap. 17. ver 24-37 is to be understood Christ and the Apostle 2 Thes 1.3 speaking of this Coming of Christ speaks also of our gathering together to him foretold by Jacob long before his Incarnation Gen. 49.10 To him shall the gathering of the People be and the Psalmist speaking of such a fiery tempestuous Time as is like to be at this Coming of Christ tells us that God calls to the Heavens above and to the Earth to gather together his Saints Psal 50.3 4 and in ver 31. of this Chap. t is said he shall send his Angels with a great ' Sound of a Trumpet to gather together his Elect from one End of Heaven to the other which it may be is the same spoken of Isai 27.12 13. when the great Trumpet shall be blown and the Children of Israel which are ready to perish in the Land of Assyria shall be gathered one by one and shall worship the Lord in the holy Mount of Jerusalem Now t is probable these Gatherings together will be of all Elect Jews and Gentiles done partly by a Sight of our Lord Jesus Christ and partly by the Ministry of Man of which we may possibly speak more fully hereafter Another Sign of Christ's Coming is The Sun shall be darkned and the Moon not give her Light and the Stars fall from Heaven c. Let us consider here what may be meant by Sun Moon and Stars and then see how t is a Sign of Christ's Coming in the Gospel There are some that understand it literally that these celestial Bodies should be darkened by frequent Eclipses and that the Stars should really fall to the Earth But we know that Eclipses are ordinary and common
Things and are and have been in all Ages and are prodvced by natural Causes and therefore this so understood cannot be a Sign of Christ's Coming in the Gospel or any other Way much less by falling of Stars to the Earth which is a Thing impossible the Diameter of the Earth not being able to contain one Star. Besides they are by an Ordinance of Heaven set to give Light to the Earth Gen. 1.18 and those Ordinances cannot be changed Jer. 31.36 therefore something else is here meant Let us see what the Scripture speaks to this Those Words then are metaphorically to be understood For there are other Suns Moons Stars which we read of in Scripture Gen. 37.9 10. There is mention made of Sun Moon and Stars where Superiors both supreme and subordinate are represented under that Notion of Sun Moon and Stars It may also signify the Fall and Ruin of States Monarchs Monarchys Hence we read at the Fall of the Babylonian Monarchy of the darkning of the Sun and the Moon not giving her Light nor the Stars of Heaven nor the Constellations thereof Isai 13.10 and Chap. 14.12 the King of Babylon is said to fall from Heaven and call'd Lucifer Son of the Morning The Fall of Idumea is represented to us by the Host of Heaven being dissolved i. e. Sun Moon and Stars being darkened Hence we read Rev. 6 at the opening of the sixth Seal of the Sun 's becoming black as Sackcloth and the Moon as Blood which some understand of the Fall of the Roman Pagan Empire And Chap. 8.12 at another remarkable Period we read of a third Part of the Sun Moon and Stars darkened And Chap. 16.8 the fourth Angel poured out a Vial on the Sun i.e. the antichristian State or some eminent Person in it We read also in Joel 3.15 of the Sun and Moon being darkened and the Stars withdrawing their Light and Chap. 2.31 that the Sun shall be turned into Darkness and the Moon into Blood And when will this be When he will gather all Nations into the Valley of Jehoshaphat and plead with them there both Pagan and antichristian Enemies this seems to be their great and last Overthrow at Armageddon when the Kings of the Earth and of the whole World shall be gathered together to the Battle of that great Day of God Almighty Hitherto may be referred that in Psal 110.6 when he shall judge among the Heathen and fill the Places with dead Bodies and shall wound the Heads over many Countries And it may be t is THEN they i. e. the Jews shall go forth and look on the Carcases of the Men that have transgressed against God Isai 66.24 for then by Fire and Sword will the Lord plead with all Flesh ver 16. A Scheme of this Battle we have in Ezekiel Chap. 38 39 and Expressions of the same Import of pleading against them with Sword Pestilence and Blood and Fire and is all one with that mentioned Rev. 19 and Joel 2. And when this shall be it will be a dark and bloody World indeed when these Suns and Moons are thus darkened and turned into Blood and so many Stars of the first Magnitude fall But when will this be It will be in the latter Days ver 11. and yet long before the last Day It will be at or about the Calling of the Jews Joel 3.1 and spoke of Ezekiel 37 immediately before this great Destruction then these Suns and Moons will be ashamed and confounded when the Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem and before his Antients gloriously Isai 24. Thus we see what may be meant in this Text by Sun Moon and Stars and what by being darkened by comparing it with other Scriptures Now let it be considered how well this Sign will agree with the Coming of Christ in the Gospel The next Sign to be taken Notice of as preceding the Coming of Christ is touching the Time it will be at such a Time as is unknown to Men or Angels Hence he is said to come as a Thief Rev. 16.15 Chap. 3.3 Behold I come as a Thief And he threatned to come to the Church of Sardis as a Thief and thou shalt not know in what Hour I will come upon thee This Coming will be secretly suddenly unexpectedly and unavoidably Furthermore it will be a Time of general and deep Security when Men shall say Peace and Safety A Time of Sensuality as in the Days of Noah and Lott Eating and Drinking Marrying and giving in Marriage A sleepy World wise Virgins as well as foolish slumbering and sleeping when Christ comes as a Bridegroom which is not at the general Judgment for the wise Virgins will not then be asleep neither will it then be a Time of general Security and Sensuality as it was in the Days of Noah and Lott as we shall show hereafter And the Signs of Christ's Coming extend to the 30th Ver. of Chap. 25th when the Son of Man cometh shall he find Faith on Earth Now let him that Readeth understand and consider whether these Signs or any other will agree with Christ's coming in the Gospel But because most Men understand this Coming to be to the last Judgment and do grant it to be a personal Coming let us now consider how all these Signs will agree and be Forerunners of Christ's coming to the last Judgment And which Coming is spoken of Chap. 25 from Ver. 30th to the End or whether there be any Signs at all mentioned in the Scripture of his coming to the last Judgment And here of Necessity something must be spoken of the THOUSANDS YEARS and of the State of Things here during that Time as also of the first Resurrection the Kingdom of Christ in this World Rev. 20 and other Things coincident And First Whether there be such a Term of Time or no as the Thousands Years Secondly Whether it be past or future and Thirdly The Time when it doth begin or from what Period it doth commence I. To the first of these that there is such a Thing or Term of Time is that which hath been asserted by Men of Note in all Ages since the primative Times a Catalogue of whom might easily be produced if Need were But this Doctrine of the Thousand Years needs no human Testimony We have a more sure Word of Prophesy which we should do well to give Heed unto In Rev. 20 it is express'd no less than five Times over a Thousand Years and The Thousand Years with an Emphasis And the Apostle Peter Chap. 2.3 speaking of the Day of the Lord and Perdition of ungodly Men tells us that one Day with the Lord is a Thousand Years which some think refers to this Time But whether they do or no we must and ought to believe it for this is one of those Sayings that is faithful and true Rev. 22. ver 6 and if any Man shall say otherwise and take away from the Words of this
4 that is remaining to the Saints and People of God. When Persecution ceased the Churches had Rest Act. 9.31 Much more might be written to show that the next or second Coming of Christ will be long before the general Judgment but let this suffice And now let us consider further what Christ will do at this his next Coming He will appear personally and visibly as hath been shewed And as he went Act. 1 he will come with the same Glory as when he comes to the general Judgment sitting on a Throne as a King And he comes with Ten Thousand of his Saints Jud. 14 comes and all his Saints with him Zec. 12. And the first Thing that Christ will do when he comes he will raise up the dead Saints or some of them and this is called the first Resurrection Rev. 20.4 And here we must know that there is a first Resurrection and there is a last Resurrection and that there is a first or inchoate Judgment and there is a last or ultimate Judgment which the Scripture speaks of and it will fall in naturally to speak of them both together And the Apostle 1 Cor. 15 speaking largely of the Resurrection doth imply a priority and a posteriority of the Resurrection ver 23 where 't is said Christ the first Fruit afterwards they that are Christ's at his Coming But what Coming to the general Judgment No but long before that Time For at the general Judgment not only them that are Christ's shall be raised but all that are in Graves small and great all that are in the Sea or in Hell all must appear before his judgment-Seat 2 Cor. 5 the Bad as well as Good and therefore there is a Resurrection of some before that Time. Besides the Apostle says every one should be made alive in his own Order Christ was the first Fruit above 1600 Years ago afterwards will be the Saints or some of them at his Coming AFTERWARDS for so is the Word in the Original as I have been informed cometh the End. What End Not only the End of the Thousand Years but the End of the World as to the present State of it and then as I conceive will be the last Resurrection and the general Judgment After the End of which the Kingdom shall be delivered to God even the Father and God shall be all in all The Sum is that as there is a long intervall of Time between the Resurrection of Christ and the Resurrection of those that are Christ's at his Coming so more than a few Hours or Years will be between the Resurrection of these and the last Resurrection and so much doth the Word Order import and imply a Distance of Time there being no mention made that I know of of any Rising of any at Christ's second Coming but of those that are his And if this be not the Meaning of this Scripture I know not what is The next Scripture we shall mention to this Purpose is that so much controverted Place Rev. 20.4 John in a Vision saw the Souls of them that were beheeded for the Witness of Jesus and for the Word of God and which had not worshipped the Beast nor his Image nor received his Mark in their Foreheads or in their Hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a Thousand Years but the REST of the Dead lived not again till the Thousand Years were finished So that t is plain by this Text that some shall rise a Thousand Years before others and that is here called the first Resurrection But because most Men think that this is not to be understood of a bodily Resurrection but of a spiritual Resurrection in Regeneration let us enquire what the Scripture saith to this Point and what may be said in Answer to those that are of that Opinion And here t is readily granted that Regeneration in Scripture is called Resurrection but this seems not to be the Resurrection here meant but this Resurrection is rather to be understood of a bodily Resurrection and that it cannot be meant of Regeneration for these Reasons First Regeneration or this spiritual Resurrection did begin shortly after Man's Fall and hath continued ever since and shall to the End of the World but the first Resurrection here spoken of did not begin so early as Adam's Fall but is to begin with the Thousand Years of Christ's Reign therefore Regeneration is not the Resurrection spoken of Again Secondly They were the Souls of Men already beheaded which John saw and their Resurrection did follow their Death and not go before it and t was never known that ever any Man was regenerate after Death and therefore by Resurrection here cannot be meant Regeneration Again Thirdly If by Resurrection here be meant Regeneration it would follow that many of the Saints should rise many Hundred Years before their Reign there being no less Time between their Calling or Regeneration and the beginning of Christ's Kingdom or the Thousand Years of the Saints Reign Again Fourthly If by Resurrection be meant Regeneration how can it be that they should reign immediately after their Resurrection or Regeneration or begin their Reign all at once or continue it but a Thousand Years Or if any should say this Reign is the Saints reigning with CHRIST in Heaven such must know that t is on Earth Rev. 5.10 And if it were in Heaven it would be more than a Thousand Years And besides after the Thousand Years there will be an Attempt of War Rev. 20. but no Enemy was ever so bold as to engage in a War in Heaven And thus we may see what lamentable Consequences if not Absurdities will follow upon such Metaphorical or Allegorical Exposition of Scripture where a literal Interpretation is not contrary to the Analogy of Faith. The next Scripture we shall take Notice of is John 5.25.28 The Hour cometh and now is when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and live ver 25. We are not ignorant that this Scripture as well as that of Rev. 20 is by many if not most understood of such who are dead in Sin who shall hear the Voice of Christ in the Ministry of the Gospel and shall live spiritually or be regenerate But whether this be the Meaning or at least the proper Meaning of the Apostle in this Text we shall Enquire And here if we view the Context we shall find that Christ speaks of raising the Dead in a proper Sense ver 21 and of Judgment to come in a proper Sense ver 22. 27. And the Occasion of this Discourse was the Cure of the impotent Man at which the Jews were offended and did therefore persecute Jesus and sought to slay him ver 16. Christ tells them they should see greater Works than these that they might marvell ver 20. he tells them that the Hour was coming and now is when the Dead should hear his Voice and live as if Christ should say do ye marvel that I have healed
the Sound of the 7th Trumpet t is said then that the Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ By this Time you will understand what Christ meant John 18 when he said his Kingdom was not of this World and indeed he himself tells us in the following Words but NOW is my Kingdom not from hence as if Christ should say I am a King and shall have a Kingdom but not now not in this World but in the World to come For we must know that there are more Worlds then one there was the old World which was drowned and there is this present evil World and as the old World was drowned and the Wicked in it were generally tho' not universally destroyed by Water so will this present World and the Wicked that are therein tho' not all be destroyed by Fire 2 Pet. 3.7 as hereafter we shall endeavour to shew After which there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness a new Face of Things a new World and this is called by the Apostle Heb. 2.5 the World to come when all Things must be put in Subjection to Christ ver 8. And this is the World in which will be or which is Christ's Kingdom And now to speak a little to this Point about THE END OF THIS WORLD and the BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO COME and see what the Scripture speaks to it In 2 Pet. 3.7 the Apostle tells us that the Heavens the Earth which are NOW are reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment or as some render it a Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly Men. And this cannot be meant of the ultimate Judgment because after this there will not only be a new Heaven but a new Earth also wherein dwelleth Righteousness that is righteous Men and that they shall build Houses and plant Vineyards and eat the Fruit of them Isai 65.21 yea and worship God with external Worship from one Sabbath to another and that not for a little While but these new Heavens and new Earth are to remain Chap. 66.22 But what then may we think will become of the old Heaven and the old Earth Will they not still have a Being For answer hereunto we must understand that the Apostle in the forementioned Chap doth make a Parallel between the Destruction of the old world and the World that now is that as the old World was destroyed by Water so will this World be by Fire properly so called as to that which is to be destroyed For as in the old World there was not an Annihilation of any Thing nor were all Men nor all the Brute-Creatures Destroyed nor were the empyrean or starry Heavens then touched and therefore t is only the aerial Heavens with what is contained in them which are the Furniture of them or what moves in the Air that will be the Subject of this Burning and it may be that which the Apostle means by Elements melting with fervent Heat which distinguisheth from the Heavens for it cannot be that the Elements properly so called should melt with fervent Heat the Water not being capable of burning or melting the Fire is that which burns all Things and therefore not to be burned and for the Earth as it was not destroyed by the Flood tho' much defaced so neither will it be destroyed by Fire so as not to be but this Fire shall rather be for the Restoration of it than the Destruction of it as a Vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed Psal 102.6 But that the Earth shall have a habitable Being after the End of the Thousand Years is clear from Rev. 20.8 the Devil shall go forth to deceive the Nations that are in the four Quarters of the Earth and ver 9 they went accordingly upon the Breadth of the Earth but it may be some may think that this Burning of the World will be at or after the general Judgment but for ought I know it may be otherwise for then the Heaven and the Earth is said to fly away from the Face of him that sat on the Throne to judge the World and it hath been before shewed that after this Burning there will be a new Earth as well as a new Heaven And who can tell but that this may be the Time when that shall be fulfilled Act. 2.19 20 when there shall be Blood and Fire and Vapours of Smoak so as the Sun shall be darkened with it and the Moon appear as Blood as we have lately seen in this Country Vapours of Smoak have caused them so to appear for that was to be in the last Days and we do not know that ever this hath been accomplished and that this is not at the general Judgment but before is clear out of Joel 2.32 For at this very Time when this shall come to pass and the World shall be burned some shall be delivered for in Mount Sion and in Jerusalem shall be Deliverance and the Lord hath said it ver 32. The Sum is that at the beginning of the Thousand Years there will be a great Destruction of the Wicked of the World as hath been before shewed and this will be by Fire as the Wicked of the old World were destroyed by Water and the Apostle Peter saith expresly this Fire is for the Perdition of ungodly Men. Paul also tells us that Christ will be revealed from Heaven in flaming Fire to take Vengeance on wicked Men 2 Thes 1.8 But more clear Isai 66.15 For behold the Lord will come with Fire and render his Anger with Fury and his Rebukes with Flames of Fire for by Fire and by Sword will the Lord plead with all Flesh and the Slain of the Lord shall be many But what then may we think will become of good Men and the irrational Creatures at this Time when the world shall be in a Flame how shall they be saved Indeed this is a Question too hard for me or any Man else to determine neither do I know that it is revealed in the Scripture yet for Resolution of this I propound to Consideration First That when the World was destroyed by Water t is possible some good Men might perish in that Destruction who seeing that Deluge coming on the World might repent and so have their Souls saved and if so why may not some good Men be taken away in this general Destruction by Fire as to their Bodies and be raised to Heaven as Elias was in fiery Chariots and their Souls be saved But Secondly tho' we do not know how they shall be saved yet the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of Temptation when the Unjust shall be reserved to the Day of Judgment to be punished 2 Pet. 2.9 and we know that Faith hath quenched the Violence of Fire Heb. 11.34 and that the Fire that burnt up the most mighty Men that were in Nebuchadnezzar's Army Dan. 3.20 had no Power over
the Bodies of his Saints and there are some who shall dwell with devouring Fire and everlasting Burnings when some shall not but shall be as the burning of Lime and as Thornes cut up shall they be burnt in the Fire Isai 33.12 14 15 And there is a Promise Isai 43.2 that God made to his People that when they walk through the Fire they should not be burnt neither should the Flames kindle upon them Again when God destroyed the old World by Water God found out a Way to preserve Noah and his Family and Creatures of every Kind when as neither Noah nor all the World besides could tell how it would be till God revealed it Nor can any Thing that I know be certainly concluded how he will preserve his Church at this Time but that he will have a glorious Church on Earth when there shall be a new Heaven and a new Earth is a Thing which we must and ought to believe which will be after all this And as for the irrational Creatures as Birds and Beasts of all Kinds we may upon good Grounds suppose that some of every Kind will be preserved as they were when the World was drowned though the greatest Part may be destroyed as they were then That these Creatures shall have a Being after this Time we may gather from Scripture because it is said Rom. 8 they wait groan and travel in Pain But what do they wait and groan for is it to be annihilated and have no Being we may not think so for every Creature by natural instinct labours to propagate their own Kind and to preserve their own Beings and therefore t is said ver 19 that they with earnest Expectation wait for the Manifestation of the Sons of God which whether it be at or during the Time of the general Judgment as some would have it or any Time before as others understand it proves clearly they shall have a Being after this Destruction made by Fire Again they wait for Deliverance from the Bondage of Corruption into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God ver 21. And here we must understand that God in the Beginning made all Things in their first Beings very good free from that Vanity they are now subject to and it was subjected to Vanity after the Fall not willingly yet in hope of Deliverance This Vanity and Bondage of Corruption is the Curse upon the Creature for Man's Sin and this is that it waits to be delivered from and to be serviceable to those Ends for which they were first made i. e. next to the Glory of God for the Use and Service of Man. And here it may not be amiss to enquire whether wicked Men may not make Use of the Creature without abusing them to Sin There is no doubt to me but wicked Men and that by God's Appointment have a right to the Creature and may for any Thing I know make use of them without Offence It was God that divided to the Nations their Inheritance Deut. 32.8 he gave Mount Seir to Esau for a Possession and to the Moabites and Amonites their Possessions and Israel was not to meddle with them Deut. 2.5.9 But more fully Gen. 9.1 2 3 God delivered into the Hands of Noah and his Posterity some of whom were none of the best the Beasts of the Earth Fowls of the Air Fishes of the Sea and every moving Thing that lives and the green Herb to be meat for them and as long as they made use of them for no other End who can say the Creature was abused We may rather think they offend if they use them not for those Ends for which they were appointed even by God himself And therefore do not yet see any Reason to believe that this is any Part of that Vanity and Bondage the Creature waits and groans to be delivered from I am not ignorant that some are of another Opinion who think that the Creatures shall never be delivered from this Vanity and Bondage but still be subject to it so long as any Wicked Men are in the World and make use of them and therefore conceive that the Time when the Creature shall be delivered from the Curse of Vanity Bondage it now groans under is not before the general Judgment but in and during the continuance of it But for further clearing of this let us consider First What 's meant by Adoption and what by Redemption of our Body which the Creature as well as Believers wait for and groan for Adoption I take in Scripture Sense to be the making one a Son who was not so before and this is done to every Believer at his first Conversion so that Believers cannot be said to wait for this which they have already received and therefore Adoption cannot be taken in this Sense here for they that are said to wait for the Adoption had the Spirit of Adoption before whereby they cried Abba ver 15 and therefore by Adoption in ver 23 I understand nothing but the Manifestation of that Adoption they were before Partakers of and this is that the Creature waiteth for ver 19 the Manifestation of the Sons of God. And this agrees directly with 1 John 3.1.2 beloved NOW we are the Sons of God but it doth not yet appear viz. to the World but it shall appear But when shall it appear It shall appear when Christ shall appear which we have proved before will be long before the general Judgment This Adoption is called the Redemption of our Body and the Apostle seems to make it all one with Adoption but whether it be so or no I shall not determine but leave it to the Judgment of the Learned and proceed to examine what may be meant by Redemption in this Place And here we must understand that there are several Acceptations of the Word Redemption in Scripture and it may various Ways be understood but I shall mention only two First a Redemption of our Souls by the Blood of Christ from Curse and Wrath and all our spiritual Enemies and this is done at our first Conversion Eph. 1.7 Rom. 3.24 25. Again there is a corporeal Redemption or a Redemption of our Bodies from outward Enemies when God will redeem his Church out of all their Troubles Psal 25.22 and this is that which hath been spoken of by all the holy Prophets since the World began that we should be saved from our Enemies and from the Hands of all that hate us that we might serve him without Fear in Holiness and Righteousness all the Days of our Lives Luk. 1.70 and this in Rom. 8.23 is called the Redemption of our BODY not Bodies but the Body mystical the Body of which Christ is the Head which is his Church To this Purpose is that in Luk. 21.27.28 when the Son of Man cometh in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory then look up and lift up your Heads for your REDEMPTION draweth nigh And this was the Burden of
that new Song sung Rev. 5 9. that Christ had redeemed them by his Blood and that they should reign on Earth And in this Sense I understand that in Rev. 14.3 4 where the Hundred and forty four Thousand standing on Mount Sion with the Lamb are said to be redeemed from the Earth and redeemed from amongst Men singing a new Song which none else could learn. See also how the Creatures are brought in rejoicing at this Time when the Lord reigneth as if it were the only Thing they waited and groaned for Psal 96 The Heavens rejoicing the Earth glad Fields joyful and all that is therein which comprehend all Land-Creatures all the Trees of the Wood Sion heard and was glad and the Daughters of Judah rejoiced But what is the Ground of all this Joy and Rejoicing Why 't is because of God's Judgments on a wicked World in burning up his and our Enemies Psal 97.3 delivering his Church ver 10. Methinks this looks very well like the Time that the whole Creation groaneth and travaileth in Pain for the Fruition and Enjoyment of But it may be thought that all this Joy and Rejoicing will be during the Time of the general Judgment And it may as well be thought otherwise and that it will be long before that Time For at this Time the Earth shall be established that it shall not be moved and when they should bring Offerings to God and come into his Courts and worship him in the Beauty of Holiness with external Worship which will not be at the ultimate Judgment To all that which hath been already written touching this Matter may be added that there shall be a Time when the Enmity of the Creature shall cease both their Enmity against Man and one against another For there was no such Enmity in them before the Fall and 't is no small Part of the Curse brought on the Creature and that Vanity they were made subject to and they groan travail in Pain to be delivered from being subjected to it in Hope of Deliverance and it shall be delivered from this Bondage of Corruption ver 22. See some Scriptures to this Purpose Hosea 2.16 17 18 in the Day when the Church should call Christ Ishi and the Name of Baalim should be taken out of her Mouth in that Day God would make a Covenant for them with the Beasts of the Field and with the Fowls of the Heaven and with the creeping Things of the Ground and break the Bow the Sword and the Battle out of the Earth and they should lie down safely Moreover God promiseth that in that Day he would hear the Heavens and the Heavens should hear the Earth and the Earth hear the Corn and Wine and Oyl and they should hear Jezreel See here is Safety Peace and Plenty and this will be before the End of the World. But more full is that Isa 11.6 7 8 9 the Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard lie down with the Kid and the Calf and the young Lion and a little Child should lead them and the Cow and the Bear should feed their young ones and lie down together Here we see the Enmity of the Creatures one against another shall cease and not only so but their Enmity against Man also So that the sucking Child shall play on the Hole of the Asp and the weaned Child put his Hand on the Cockatrice Den they shall not hurt nor destroy in all God's holy Mountain for the Earth shall be filled with the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea. The whole Chapter is nothing else but a Description of the Kingdom of Christ in this World as is intimated to us in the Contents of the Chapter and will be fulfilled at or about the Calling of the Jews for it will be in that Day as is clear ver 11 and it cannot without Wrong to the Scriptures be referred to the general Judgment You have the same and much more Isai 65. from ver 17 to the End and this will be when there shall be a new Heaven and a new Earth and none in their right Understanding can refer it to any other Time. And here we are told that by Wolfe and Lyon and Leopard are meant Men of a ravenous Disposition before Conversion which afterward become Lambs but if so then they are no longer Lyons and Leopards but Lambs and t is no Wonder if they feed and lie down together Or if any should think that by these ravenous Creatures are meant wicked Men under the Power of restraining Grace although t is true there will be wicked Men at this Time in the World and possibly may be much under Restraint yet t is to be doubted whether they shall have such Intimacy of Communion with the Saints as to Eat and Drink and lie down together in God's holy Mountain or that they will be so tame that a little Child should lead them For we know there will still be Enmity between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent when the Enmity of the Creature shall cease But what need is there of forsaking the literal Interpretation of these Scriptures unless Truth were endangered thereby or to make Allegories or Metaphors where God makes none Those that know any Thing in these Matters know or may know that this Enmity of the Creatures amongst themselves and against Man which is a great Part of the Curse shall be taken away and cease and they wait in Hope for it as hath been before shewed and if so why not now Why must it be deferred till the general Judgment is begun or during that Time T is doubtful whether these irrational Creatures will have a Being at the General Judgment or if they should have a Being to be sure they could not be of any Use unto Men which was one great End of their Beings I know no Reason for such an Opinion but this that wicked Men will abuse them Such have been told before that Use either for Meat or any other Use or Employment is not in itself sinful but lawful and good and we may not think that wicked Men will be so apt to abuse them if at all when the Devil is in Chains and they themselves under the strict Government of the Saints And as a further Answer to such if these irrational Creatures should have a Being during the Time of the general Judgment which is yet to be proved what Children will there be then at Leisure to lead them or have nothing else to do but to play about their Holes when small as well as great and Children as well as others must stand before Jesus Christ to be judged Rev. 20.12 and the Earth the Heavens will then fly away from the Face of him that sits on the Throne and no Place found for them ver 11 and if so then no Place for these Creatures to be or not to be sustained in any ordinary Way Methinks Men
Blameless at his Appearing and be like good Servants having our Loins girt and our Lights burning waiting for the Coming of their Lord and looking for that blessed Hope and the glorious Appearnce of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ and blessed is that Servant whom when his Lord cometh he shall find so doing I likewise propose to Consideration that it is a great Duty incumbent on all Christians at all Times not only to wait but to watch Hardly any Duty more prest in Scripture than this Christ foreseeing that wise Virgins as well as foolish would be apt to slumber and sleep when he should come This watching is that which is in direct Opposition to carnal Security we shall give a few Instances The Apostle 1 Thes 5.6 speaking of the Day of the Lord Coming as a Thief he warns them to watch and be sober Luk. 21.36 Christ upon the same Consideration gives the like Council watch pray that ye may be counted worthy to stand before the Son of Man And Mark 13.33 Christ gives Caution to take Heed watch and pray for ye know not when the Time is and ver 35 watch ye therefore for ye know not when the Master of the House cometh Again Mat. 24.42 watch therefore for ye know not what Hour your Lord doth come all which implieth that Christ would come in such a Time when the World would be asleep at Midnight was the Cry made behold the Bridegroom cometh in a Time wherein he is not looked for and in a Time of general Security when Men shall say Peace and Safety and as a Snare that Day will come on all them that dwell on the Earth God hath made every Man a Watchman Mark 13.37 That which I say unto you I say unto all WATCH but some are so in a special Manner by Office and t is very dangerous for those to sleep and cause others so to do by their Example the evil Servant did not say in his Heat that his Lord would never come but he thought as many good Servants now do that it would be a great While first not till the general Judgment and then he knew he would come Oh let none of Christ's good Servants say as he did my Lord delays his Coming and smite your fellow Servants who are in Expectation of him You should be always ready or your Lord will come in an Hour ye think not of And this Coming is not meant only by Death or in any other Way of common Providence for so he is always Coming and ever hath been tho' this may be also intended but there is a Coming of his in an extraordinary Way I mean a personal Coming when he will not come alone but bring all his Saints with him and he hath told us so Zec. 4.5 and told us also why he will come and what he will do at his Coming that t is for the Perdition of ungodly Men 2 Pet. 3.7 and to execute Judgment on them all Jude 15 and to set up his Kingdom which he is gone to receive and to return These are some of the great Businesses about which he comes and this being over I do not know but that he may withdraw his bodily Presence and leave the Government of his Kingdom to his Saints for I see no Scripture Grounds for his personal Presence any longer Sure I am that when he comes to the general Judgment he will come from Heaven and this is that Kingdom the Jews are in Expectation of and which is so little too little taken Notice of by Christians But some may say what doth this concern us we are never like to live to see this Coming of Christ To them I say as Christ did long ago of that Day and Hour knoweth no Man. And now what Matter of Joy and Rejoicing is this to all those that love the Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity Tho' they have never seen him with their bodily Eyes yet believing rejoice with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory who now see him but darkly in the Glass of the Gospel what Joy and Rejoicing may we think there will be when we shall see him Face to Face when he shall appear we shall be like him and see him as he is 1 John 3.2 see him in all his glorious Excellencies and Perfections see him Coming in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory the second Time without Sin to our Salvation see him that hath loved us and shed his Blood for us borne the Curse and Wrath of God for us and is now appearing as an Advocate with the Father for us Oh what a Heart-ravishing Sight will this be to every sincere Soul Abraham saw but a little in Comparison of this and that afar of and he rejoiced and was glad Joh. 8.56 And how did Job comfort himself in this in the midst of all his Misery that he knew his REDEEMER lived and that he should stand in the latter Day upon the Earth and that in his Flesh he should see GOD and that his Eyes should behold him and not another Job 19.25.26 How were the Disciples ravished with but a Glimpse of his Glory which they were Eye Witnesses of when they were with him in the Holy Mount 2 Pet. 1 Mat. 17.4 And good old Simeon was so transported with the Sight of him in the Days of his Flesh and when a Child that he desired to live no longer And t is but a little While before he that shall come will come and will not tarry Oh then all ye his Saints lift up your Heads for your Redemption draweth nigh and comfort yourselves with these Words And now to conclude what remains but that we pray with greatest Instancy and Importunity and that continually for the Accomplishment of all these Things pray that CHRIST'S Kingdom may come that his Will may be done in Earth as it is in Heaven pray for the Peace of Jerusalem keep not Silence Day nor Night give the Lord no Rest till he make Jerusalem a Praise in the Earth pray for the Coming of the new Jerusalem down from Heaven pray for the Destruction of the Kingdom of Darkness pray for the bringing in both of Jews and Gentiles to the Obedience of the Gospel that there may be one Sheep-fold under one Shepherd JESUS CHRIST to this End pray that the Spirit may be poured out from on High pray that the Times of refreshing may come from the Presence of the Lord when God will send JESUS pray for the Times of the Restitution of all Things Act. 3.21 pray for the Accomplishment of all Promises and for fulfilling of all Prophesies pray for the Coming of CHRIST let the Spirit and Bride say come Let him that heareth say come I add Let him that readeth this say come Rev. 22.17 and the Answer will be Behold I come quickly ver 7 and behold I come quickly ver 12 and my Reward is with me surely I come quickly ver 20 quickly quickly quickly AMEN veni Domine JESU veni Cito So Prays thy poor unworthy Creature The Author of this Discourse Written with his own Hand In the Seventy Ninth Year of his Age And in the Year of our LORD 1687. FINIS