to whom it will belong as being appointed to them by his Father in his own time namely at Christs appearing Here consider that Christ saith he came not to destroy the Law and Paul saith he established the Law and this is necessary to vindicate this Doctrine from scandal and to warn well-meaning persons that they think not upon seeming-fair pretences of good to attempt to do evil God having revealed that he will set up that Kingdom himself and that only in his own appointed time On the other side saith our Saviour He that breaketh the least Commandment and teacheth men so shall be the least that is none in the Kingdom of Heaven As he answered the mother of Zebedees children Mat. 20.23 It shall be given to them for whom it is appointed of my Father appointed as well for the time when as persons to whom These and the like errors being removed from it I think it may have an honourable and comfortable place in matter of true Christian Faith as containing the best times of the most holy Catholick Church upon Earth that we are to believe or hope for and the excellentest Communion of Saints that we are in this world to expect And likewise that we are now specially by our prayers to labour to promote as God of old directed his People when their time of deliverance from Babylon drewon Jer. 39. Then said he they shall call on me and I will answer c. And when Daniel by Books understood the mind of God therein he set himself by fasting and prayer to seek for and help forward if it might be the accomplishment of such revealed Grace So now also that new Babel is abundantly revealed to God's People to be shortly to be thrown down and the New-Jerusalem much more abundantly revealed in Scripture shortly thereupon to be set up The Faith and Prayer of God's People ought in their sphear to seeks to promote it and I observe the Dutch Notes though by men of different Judgments yet in the Preface of the nine last Chapters of Ezekiels Prophecy apply what is there said to some wonderful Glory of a Jerusalem to come of which the former restoring of the Jews from old Babylon was but a Type Besides I observe many Psalms and many passages in many other Psalms more than I reade in Mr. Archers Book to tend so this way that otherwise as such Prophetical-Scriptures besides seem not to have any probable fulfilling but according to Revelation Interpretation as I may call it which I must acknowledge I never did nor ever was like rightly and groundedly to have understood but according to the tenour of that blessed Book And as Israels coming out of Egypt tended to the actual giving of them after forty years space the possession of Canaan of old so God's Peoples coming out of the spiritual Egyptian Antichristian bondage now approaching tends to bring all God's true Israel into the New-Jerusalem that comes down from Heaven Rev. 20. and is it not a main drift of the most if not of all the petitions in the Lord's Prayer to this purpose for when hath Gods Name been so comparably hallowed in Earth as it is in Heaven as then it will be both by Men and Angels in all he is made known by to his People When wil his Kingdom come with such power to any sutableness in Earth as it is and will be in Heaven but when the Kingdoms of this World are the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 And likewise when at the same time Rev. 19. God's People shall so rejoyce when the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth because as it followeth in the next verse his Bride hath made her self ready And consequently when will the Will of God be done in Earth as it is by the blessed Angels in Heaven but when his Subjects are of most obedient hearts and loyal spirits as they will be under such a prevalent reigning of Christ When may daily Bread this day any day be so comfortably and confidently prayed for and expected as when the particular promises of the greatest confluences of Temporal and Spiritual Blessings are to be fulfilled in their proper season to their best purposes c. When may we with such comfort and confidence pray for forgiveness of our Trespasses this day any day as when our hearts shall witness with us we least allow our sins When shall we be so assured of our own pardon as when our spirits are most free and clear in pardoning others in case they offend against us When can we so confidently pray to be delivered from the evil one and evil works with the consequents thereof this day any day as when Satan shall be known to be bound Rev. 20.3 and many great temptations removed and a very great measure of Grace attained and near Communion with Christ enjoyed in this World Yea and will not the following enforcements of Prayer set down by our Saviour be then most clearly applicable when the Kingdom is most manifestly Gods and the Power both to obtain it at his own time and pleasure and so likewise to retain it appears clearly his and consequently all Glory as his due shall be rendred unto him to all eternity Amen Amen And for the Martyrs and Saints to be raised at the entrance of Christ on this his Kingdom to have their part in the New Jerusalem I had the like thoughts before to what I find in other Authors That they should be in a state such as Christ was in after his own Resurrection while he was not ascended to his Father but when I consider the many Prophesies of all those great things in the Old Testament so confirmed in the New and specially applyed in the Revelation to the New Jerusalem not only by allusion but by application of the Spirit of God and Christ himself in a special manner Rev. 10.7 as he declared to his Servants the Prophets And at that time reward is to be given to his Servants the Prophets Rev. 11.18 and to his Saints and to them that fear his Name both great and small as it follows in the same Scripture And it is of main weight in this point that when the Chorus was set about the Throne Rev. 4.1 2 3. c. when Saint John was to receive the Visions of that Book there is a glorious appearance of God described and the Rainbow round about the Throne as doing all to his Church through the Covenant of Grace through the Blood of Christ his only begotten Son and the seven Lamps burning before the Throne deciphering the seven Spirits or the Holy Ghost with his Gifts and Graces as Rev. 1.4 more clearly in Rev. 5. there is a Book in the Hand of him that sat upon the Throne which none was found worthy to open but the Lamb that had been as it were slain having seven Horns and seven Eyes vers 6. which occasioned the four living Wights and twenty four Elders to sing a
62.12 whereupon they shall come to her Isa 60.3 and that with earnest desire and high estimation of her Zech. 8.22 23. and be joyned to the Lord and become his People also with her Zech. 2.11 These Nations and Kings shall bring to her Sons and Daughters Isa 60.4 and 49.22 Enrich her mightily with abundance and precious things Isa 60.6 17. She shall eat the Riches of the Gentiles Isa 61.6 and suck the Milk of the Gentiles and the Brests of Kings Isa 60.16 who shall be her Nursing Fathers and Queens her Nursing Mothers Isa 49.23 bringing her Presents and Gifts Isa 60.6 and 45.14 they shall fall down and make supplication Isa 45.14 they shall worship with their Faces to the Earth and lick the dust of her Feet Isa 49.23 Zech. 14.16 Strangers shall be her Servants Isa 61.5 Yea such as will not serve her shall be destroyed Isa 60.12 Zech. 14.17 She shall be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a Royal Diadem in the hand of her God Isa 62.3 And this her Excellency shall never be changed her days of mourning shall be ended Isa 60.19 20. Her Joy everlasting Isa 61.7 For ever shall her Land be inhabited Isa 60.21 Zech. 14.11 For to the Lord is she married Isa 62.4 who sweareth by his right Hand and the Arm of his Strength to give her no more over to her Enemies Isa 62.8 At that day the Lord shall be King over all the Earth and in that day shall there be one Lord and his Name one Zech. 14.9 Thus we see what glorious Promises are made to the New Jerusalem when the Promises of the New Heavens and the New Earth shall be accomplished with many other of the like nature whence it may appear how strongly pre-possession of prejudice against an Opinion or Doctrine may carry grave and otherwise judicious men away from the Way of Truth sometime upon one advantage or other as by Prescription by Multitudes of wise learned or even good men if they try not all things to hold that which is good which was mine own late Error in this particular or at least want of defecation of appendant Errors cunningly by Satan affixed on this Truth as we observed in ancient and modern seducements not distinguishing between the Depravation and Corruption of that Truth and Truth it self which in its Original was pure and untainted as in other cases many times when the corrupt super-additions of men have long prevailed to mingle themselves with anciently untainted Truths which when men can learn to view with unprejudiced minds and adhere to with uninterested Affections will soon appear to them in their native excellency But for the said New Jerusalem the more I observe many places of Scripture not onely in the New Testament and Revelations but in the Psalms the Prophets and even the Historical Parts the more I am minded thereof from time to time And besides Psal 2. 8. 96 98 99. which one mentions specially I have taken notice of sundry others since God hath opened my eyes as he did Hagars of old to see these refreshing Waters of Comfort as Psal 89. 50. and divers passages in others which seemed to tend that way as Psal 146.5 6 7 8 9 10. 148.11 12 13 14. 149. throughout and those nine last Chapters of Ezekiel which the Dutch Bible reckons like Daniels to be Revelations of the Old Testament which set forth things to be accomplished in the New though they seem not to own the Opinion yet sometimes again lay grounds of it The second and seventh of Daniel speak much of Christs Kingdom and many other places too largely here to rehearse The Spirit of God seems to me to have spoken so largely thereof and in many specialties likewise to these purposes and the things themselves seem so to approach as evidently may appear from the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ the best Expositor of the meaning of his own Prophetical Spirit that it much concerns all Gods People diligently to search and examine all such Truths as he hath set down there for our now seasonable Instruction and Consolation being sunk down near to the very dregs of the Worlds evil Times And as our Saviour on Earth directed to search the Scriptures for Salvation so now being in Heaven he directs his People to search them in this for consolation And as then he said In Moses the Prophets and the Psalms it is written of me for the former so for this he not onely points out Moses the Prophets and the Psalms in the old Testament but hath likewise taught the Apostles the Evangelists with many other persons divinely inspired in the New Testament to give witness to these things Vide the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or peaceable consideration of Christs Kingdom c. and lastly by his own wonderful gracious divine though mystical Revelation to the beloved St. John wherein very much is held out concerning his own Kingdom and the New Jerusalem and as it was when by the Ministry of Christ and his Apostles the Doctrine of the Resurrection had been more cleared then in former times yet afterward the Apostle Paul shews a further Mystery concerning the same 1 Cor. 15. We must saith he all be changed though not all dye so many things are still Mysteries to us concerning both the New Jerusalem and the Resurrection though concerning both our Saviour in his Revelation hath last super-added greater further Discoveries in both than any were before at least in evidence and clearness Yet how are the Eyes of very many with-held from discerning these things and in great part it is like to be so to all save to them to whom it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God which he uses to do as Christ himself informeth us to Babes and Sucklings when they are hid from the Wise and Prudent Mat. 11.25 and therefore to be humbly and faithfully sought And though the Apostle Paul concerning the Jews general Conversion had discoursed largely in the ninth tenth and eleventh Chapters of the Epistle to the Romans yet still he reckons that Doctrine mystical v. 25 c. Let all such therefore as are of truly Christian Spirits wait upon God as by other means so by faithful and earnest Prayer to the true Teacher of his own Mysteries as may appear requisite in a matter of so great importance concerning all Gods faithful People who seem to have their peculiar interest therein Rev. 3.21 and 20.4 5. and 10.18 which is incomparably greater and better for that thousand years then all the Crowns and Scepters and Kingdoms of the World not improved in Christs service in the mean time Part of a Letter dated May 20. 1664. tending to the opening of the seven Seals Trumpets and Vials with the Order of their Times useful for such as are unacquainted with Revelation-Mysteries with some Additions to the like purpose THe first six of the seven Seals
Appearance by his Spirit of Grace and Truth In setting down therefore what concerns this third and last Period I shall endeavour to express them either as matter of Faith or as things that are probable or lastly as things onely conjectural as the nature of the things may be and as the clearness or obscurity of the grounds of them may give occasion First I believe there is abundant evidence from Scripture that Christ our Saviour will after the coming of Elias Personally in a glorious manner appear with Clouds as Rev. 1.7 or in the Clouds at or about the great destruction of Antichrist which will be as Lightning shining from one end of the Heavens to the other and such appearing of his to the Jews seems to me probable to be the means of their more general Call and Conversion when that Nation will be born in a day as it were Isa 56.8 and thereupon will be their mournful contrition promised as a Mercy Zach. 12.10 And then will likewise be the Conversion of many Nations of the Gentiles not yet called to bring in their fulness as the Apostle speaketh Rom. 11. And then Satan being bound from seducing the Nations for the thousand years the Glorious Kingdom of Christ upon earth will be set up wherein the New Jerusalem coming down from God in the time of the new Heavens and new Earth wherein Righteousness shall dwell or a King shall Rule in Righteousness as the Prophet speaketh The State of that New Jerusalem whose Maker and Builder is God will be exceeding glorious a kind of Triumphant State for the raised Saints in their Order who probably shall have their chief Mansions there till all the deceased Just shall be raised and to the end of the world the Apostles or other eminent Saints probably shall be Rulers there by Christ's appointment and all other Governours that are converted to the Truth and live their Natural Life shall have their directions in Government from them in the New Jerusalem and all the Teachers in the Church shall probably have much instructions from them as they from Christ in whose Light they shall see Light the Lamb being the Light of the City Rev. 21. and that both Spiritual and Visible whose Tabernacle is then said to be with men when I conceive he will be in some glorious manner manifest unto the raised Saints there whose glory they shall then behold visibly being then made capable to behold it that none else then living can do except so as it was made discernable to them by Clouds at his first appearing Yet they likewise shall all be abundantly filled with his Grace and Wisdom and exceedingly rejoyce in all manner of his goodness then manifest to them according to their then present capacity yet in different degrees and measures and this state will be as intailed to the posterity of the Faithful that they and their Seed shall be blessed they shall live long lives but how long I dare not say but as the dayes of a Tree shall their lives be nor what way of removal or manner of death or translation or change I know not but I believe much Mercy and Grace will be bestowed upon them and their off-spring suitable to such an happy Reign of Christ wherein he shall be acknowledged Sovereign by all the Faithful and all authority mannaged under him and for him Isa 49. When Kings shall eminently be Nursing-Fathers and Queens Nursing-Mothers to his Church and People and the Government upheld in good hands to promote good and restrain evil as it was for the most part contrary before but when Satan being loosed out his Prison for a little space shall seduce the wicked Hypocrites of those times and draw them from all quarters of the Earth against the Camp of the Saints and the Beloved City upon which attempt God will destroy them casting the Devil into the Lake of Fire where the Beast and false Prophet had been long before and put an utter end to the World by the dissolution thereof at the consummation of all things with the last general Resurrection of the wicked and general momentany change of the Saints at the sound of the last Trump and Voice of an Arch-Angel 1 Thess 4.16 both such as were alive on Earth and such as were asleep to meet Christ in the Air from thenceforth ever to be with the Lord whereupon follows the general Judgement Many particulars of these natures it is probable will in God's time be apparent from Scripture which we can now but guess at which God to his Faithful Servants may discover concerning which we shall only say with the Antients Elias cum venerit nodos solvet Now for the main substance of all this Doctrine what is it but the explaining of such Articles of Christian Faith as we all profess to believe concerning these things in the true Scripture sence wherein Christ hath taken special order to have his Faithful People rightly instructed as in many particulars forenamed First When we Profess We believe that Christ shall come from the Right Hand of the Father to Judge quick and dead He will so come at his glorious appearing to destroy Antichrist to begin his Judgement and make his Foes his Footstool Ps 110. until which he was to sit at his Fathers Right Hand in Heaven then the Scripture saith He judges quick and dead as Rev. 11.18 and elsewhere though afterwards likewise in this sence Rev. 10. the Angel Christ Swears Time should be no more which seems to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 28.20 so the end of the dayes Dan. 12. for the same Period vide 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that it is the day of Judgement at least begun Mr. Mede largely and excellently shews in his fourth Letter to Mr. Hain and to Dr. Twisse c. both from Scripture and Antiquity and that he will wonderfully Reign with his raised Saints a thousand years Why should it be doubted when his Word speaks so much and evidently for it though the Truth hath by Satans slights been clouded for a time wherein there seems to be as it were an appointing of the great last Assizes and calling together the Assessors thereof the Saints doth not the great Law-giver and Judge inform his Church of these things and he must needs be the best Expositor of his own Will c. Sept. 27. 1664. A Paper sent upon occasion of some discourse concerning the great and glorious Appearance of Christ about the time of finishing his Kingdom of Patience and of setting up his Kingdom of Visible Power on Earth the first being the Kingdom of the Stone cut out of the Mountain Dan. 2. Then the Kingdom of this Stone becomes a Mountain as Mr. Mede fitly distinguisheth their times by Regnum Lapidis Regnum Montis AS for the personal appearance of Christ at the destruction of Antichrist and the general calling of the Jews when that Nation shall be born in a day as Isa 66.8 many
thereof was dryed up that the way of the Kings of the East might be prepared Ver. 13. And I saw three unclean Spirits like Frogs come out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the false-Prophet Which three unclean Spirits according to Paraeus may be first those Legati a Latere or Plenipotentiaries sent to Princes 2dly Popish Bishops and Doctors 3dly Priests Jesuites c. by a joynt mission 1. from the Devil the old Dragon by instigation 2dly From the Popes Council of Cardinals and their Associats by advice And 3dly from the Beast himself viz. the Pope by his authorized Commission Ver. 14. For they are the Spirits of Devils working Miracles which go forth unto the Kings of the Earth and of the whole World to gather them to the Battel of the great Day of God Almighty Ver. 15. Behold I come as a Thief Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame Ver. 16. And he gathered them into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon Ver. 17. And the seventh Angel poured out his Vial into the Air and there came a great Voice out of the Temple in Heaven from the Throne saying It is done Ver. 18. And there were Voices and Thunders and Lightnings and there was a great Earthquake such as was not since men were upon the Earth so mighty an Earthquake and so great Ver. 19. And the great City was divided into three parts and the Cities of the Nations fell and great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the Cup of the Wine of the fierceness of his Wrath. Ver. 20. And every Island fled away and the Mountains were not found Ver. 21. And there fell upon men a great Hail out of Heaven every stone about the weight of a talent and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the Hail for the plague thereof was exceeding great That probably this Prophecy hath already begun to take place see further in the second Letter dated the 20th of May 1664. But the latter part of the former Prophecy seems again to be decyphered according to Mr. Mede Revel 14.14 to the end which he conceives may be fulfilled in the utter ruine both of Pope and Turk by an immediate hand of Christ at his coming with his glorious Angels at the beginning of the Thousand years Rev. 20. Which great Destruction is set forth by two resemblances of the ripe Harvest of the Earth and the ripe Clusters of Grapes of the Vine of the Earth by the first namely the ripe Harvest of the Earth he understands the Turk with his Adherents in ver 14 15 16. as follows Rev. 14.14 And I looked and behold a white Cloud and upon the Cloud one sate like the Son of man which description he observes alwayes in the Scripture belongs to Christ having on his head a Golden Crown and in his hand a sharp Sickle Vide Joel 2.13 Ver. 15. And another Angel came out of the Temple crying with a loud Voice to him that sat upon the Cloud Thrust in thy Sickle and reap for the time is come for thee to reap for the Harvest of the Earth is ripe Ver. 16. And he that sate on the Cloud thrust in his Sickle on the Earth and the arth was reaped This he understands of the Turks ruine then follows the Popes under the resemblance of the ripe clusters of Grapes of the Vine of the Earth ver 17 18 19 20. Ver. 17. And another Angel came out of the Temple which is in Heaven he also having a sharp sickle Ver. 18. And another Angel came out from the Altar which had power over fire and cryed with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle saying Thrust in thy sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the Vine of the Earth for her grapes are fully ripe Ver. 19. And the Angel thrust in his sickle into the Earth and gathered the Vine of the Earth and cast it into the great wine-press of the wrath of God Ver. 20. And the wine-press was trodden without the City and blood came out of the wine-press even unto the horse bridles by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs Thus of the Pope and his Adherents likewise though that last destruction is like to be of both Turk and Pope at once as making up in both the whole mystical Antichrist Dr. Homes as another learned man conceives when they are gathered unto the Armageddon-Battel at the great day of God Almighty as before Chap. 16. for they may both be said to sit in the Temple of God the Turk holding the Land in his possession where the material Temple of God formerly stood keeping out the Jews which shall be converted and possess it and yet holds in part the Old Testament and Circumcision though grosly perverting both the other namely the Pope sitteth where the mystical Temple should be glorious but he hides the glory of it and sets up himself there as if he was God being as it were the one Eye one Arm and one Leg making up one half of the mystical Antichrist as the Turk doth the other according to the said learned Authors illustration Or further saith Mr. Mede The Harvest may denote the destruction of the great City and the Vintage of the ripe Grapes of the Earth may set forth the destruction of the Kingdom of the Beast soon after to follow even as the Vintage followeth speedily after the Harvest which seems to be most probable and suitable to Rev. 19. But a third mystical Prophecie as Mr. Mede again observes seems more fully to set out this last destruction of Antichrist in the utmost latitude as follows Rev. 19.11 to the end of the Chapter which is set down after that excellent description of the Jews Conversion Isai 66.8 when that Nation will be born in a day Ver. 7. when there will be such joy and gladness that that Bride especially hath made her self ready for the marriage of the Lamb yet probably with other Gentiles likewise and after those many Hallelujah's both for that and the destruction of Babylon first by much people vers 1 2 3. then secondly by the four and twenty Elders and thirdly by the great multitude vers 6. but in the seventh verse follows the exceeding joy for the great Grace bestowed upon Gods Israel with other Gentiles coming in at that time saying Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his Wife hath made her self ready c. But after all these ver 11. begins a peculiar Vision given to St. John in what a glorious manner Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords would come to destroy those great Enemies at that time formerly mentioned with an utter sudden and irresistable desolation Rev. 19.11 And I saw Heaven opened and behold a white horse and he that sat upon him was called
Faithful and True and in righteousness he doth judge and make war Ver. 12. His Eyes were as a flame of fire and on his Head were many Crowns and he had a Name written that no man knew but he himself Ver. 13. And he was clothed in a Vesture dipt in blood and his Name is called The Word of God Ver. 14. And the Armies that were in heaven followed him upon white horses clothed in fine linnen white and clean Ver. 15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp Sword that with it he should smite the Nations and he shall rule them with a rod of Iron and he treadeth the Wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God Ver. 16. And he hath on his Vesture and on his thigh a Name written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS Ver. 17. And I saw an Angel standing in the Sun and he cried with a loud voice saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of Heaven Come and gather your selves together unto the supper of the great God Ver. 18. That ye may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of captains and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and them that sit on them and the flesh of all men both free and bond both small and great Ver. 19. And I saw the Beast and the Kings of the earth and their Armies gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse and against his Army Ver. 20. And the Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet happily Mahometan as well as Popish however all Antichristian Enemies that wrought miracles before him with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the Beast and them that worshipped his image These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Ver. 21. And the remnant were slain with the Sword of him that sat upon the horse which Sword proceeded out of his mouth and all the fowls were filled with their flesh Thus largely is explained this conquest of Christ at the Armageddon-Battel when his Enemies shall eminently be made his Footstool as Psal 110.1 Thus having briefly touched on these three approaching Prophecies out of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or little Book given to St. John to eat up Chap. 10. we shall adde one contemporary with them out of the same Prophecie about the end of the Roman Empire and the entrance of Christ's Visible Dominion in the room and place thereof and of all other being a short abridgment of the Seventh Trumpet which there ends all time Rev. 11.13 And the same hour there was a great Earthquake and the tenth part of the City fell and in the Earthquake were slain of men Seven thousand viz. Men of eminent name or note though haply civilly and the remnant were afrighted and gave glory to the God of Heaven Ver. 14. The second Wo is past and behold the he third Wo cometh quickly Ver. 15. And the Seventh Angel sounded and there were great Voices in Heaven saying The Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Ver. 16. And the twenty four Elders which sate before God on their seats fell upon their faces and worshipped God Ver. 17. Saying We give thee thanks O Lord God Almighty which art and wast and art to come because thou hast taken to thee thy Great Power and hast reigned Ver. 18. And the Nations were angry and thy Wrath is come and the time of the Dead that they should be judged and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy Servants the Prophets and to thy Saints and them that fear thy Name small and great and shouldest destroy them that destroy the Earth Ver. 19. And the Temple of God was opened in Heaven and there was seen in his Temple the Ark of his Testament and there were Lightnings and Voices and Thundrings and an Earthquake and great Hail Now as this last Prophecy with all the former speaks terror to the enemies of God in these latter dayes so much comfort to his faithful People to ensue thereupon as likewise did the fore-mentioned first part of the 19th Chapter And therefore upon both considerations let all such as would approve themselves in the number of wise Virgins seriously consider and diligently enquire into the series and order of these Prophetical Predictions the better to discern the seasonableness of the matter contained in them that so they may be enabled to make a due improvement thereof especially by earnest and faithful prayer which is God's Peoples usual prevailing means for obtaining both the removing of evils and the enjoyment of good as Daniel David Hezekiah and others have frequently by experience found In reference whereunto there are part of two Letters with other Papers hereunto subjoyned The one containing some affecting previous apprehensions concerning the New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven from God Chap. 21.10 The other containing some subsequent serious considerations in reference to the order of Revelation-Prophecies and other things the better to set home such due consideration and improvement thereof which are now so much the more necessary by how much the times of any of their accomplishment may be near approaching the one of the said Letters preceding the other occasionally following a Tract intitled A peaceable Consideration of Christs peaceful Kingdom upon Earth in the thousand Years Rev. 20. under or after the seventh Trumpet Unto which are annexed certain Theses or Positions agreeing to holy Scripture and the Analogy of Faith tending to make way for the Doctrine of the said Kingdom of Christ All being apt to be premised before the said Tract I shall here set down these Theses or Positions agreeing to the Scriptures and Analogy of Faith which hold out the Symmetry and fit proportion suiting with the Doctrine of Christs Kingdom upon Earth from the most general and eminent manifestation of Christs three great Offices of Prophet Priest and King in the three great Periods of the World whence are drawn six Inferences to prove the Kingdom of Christ in the Tract called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THe first thing we named to be done was the laying down of those Theses or Positions agreeing to the holy Scripture and the Analogy of Faith that may make way for Doctrines of this nature Which are these that follow First That as the a Job 11.7 8 9. infinite excellencie of the Nature and Being of the Trin-Une-Deity b Deut 6.4 1 Cor. 8.4 6. 1 John 5.7 Mat. 3.16 17. 28.19 was everlastingly c Psal 145.3 incomprehensible in it self saving onely so far as the same Divine Essence hath been pleased to communicate any discovery of it self by d Exod. 3.13 14 15 16. Exod. 34.6 7. Word or e Psal 19.1 145.10 Rom. 1.20 Works or both unto any Creatures in Heaven or Earth so hath the Trinity of Persons in the Unity of the
Divine Essence both in the Eternal Decrees and in the execution of all f Psal 33.6 joyntly in their order concurred and so g John 5.17 with John 14.10 11 16. will do from Eternity through all Times unto all Eternity Secondly that all the glory of God the Father was by the Eternal Decree to be manifest h 2 Cor. 4.6 Heb. 1.3 Joh. 1.3 4 5. in Jesus Christ his onely begotten Son the Lamb slain in the Eternal Decree of the Father i Rev. 13.8 1 Pet. 1.19 20. before the foundation of the world was laid And according to the said Eternal Decree the holy Ghost k 1 John 5.7 one God co-essential and co-equal with the Father and the Son l John 15.26 proceeds from the Father and the Son the m 1 Tim. 2.5 Mediator between God and Man as the sole n Gen. 11.2 John 14.16 17 26. efficacious Worker and Accomplisher of all spiritual good in and for Angels and Men o Jam. 1.17 all real good in all Creatures which in their several p Exod. 20.11 Orders and Natures they were capable of receiving Thirdly Accordingly in the Creation God made the q Prov. 3.19 Prov. 8.27 28 29 30. World by his Wisdom the Eternal Word John 1. the Spirit sitting as it were upon the surface of the Waters then covering the Earth powerfully to produce the Creatures then to be made and so both the Heavens with the Angels as Divines conceive and the Earth were made the first day Gen. 1.1 as all that were made in the whole World afterward in the five following days which the word Elohim in the plural number put with the Verb Barah in the singular number denoting the Trinity of Persons in the Unity of Essence seems to declare whose concurrence in the making of man is likewise very remarkably exprest when God said Let Us make Man after Our own Image after Our likeness Gen. 1.26 Fourthly The making of r Ephes 1.11 Angels in Heaven and Man and all Creatures in the World was in the execution of the said incomprehensibly glorious Trin-Une-Deity in their several Orders Natures Stations and Conditions Fifthly As no other but the holy and good Will and Pleasure of the infinitely glorious and incomprehensible GOD was the reason and cause why they were all made absolutely as they were so that they should be for Himself as Å¿ Prov. 16.4 his Word witnesseth as their utmost End and no other inconsistent Reasons or Ends ought to be given or assigned by men Sixthly As the t Gen. 1.31 whole Creation was all good suitable to the Author of it so the preserving ordering over-ruling and disposing of all Creatures according to his good Pleasure by his infinite Wisdom Power Providence and Goodness u Rom. 11.33 is not to be measured or judged by any scantling of any created Capacity who will notwithstanding be w Psal 51.4 justified in his saying and clear when he is judged there being in such his proceedings so many fathomless depths in respect of Creatures which it is not lawful for any men to search into further then Gods Word doth warrant them but in things not revealed or forbidden x Deut. 29.29 they are not to enquire Seventhly Since God according to his said Eternal Decree and good pleasure of his will at the Fall of our first Parents in Paradise revealed and testified his wonderful powerful Grace That the blessed Seed of the Woman should break the Serpents Head there is sufficient ground y Psa 51.5 for ever to humble all mankind and z 1 Cor. 15.10 for ever to exalt Gods free and rich Grace therein and a Matt. 11.28 Tit. 2.11 12. all men are thereby engaged to use all GOD's means to obtain their part therein Eightly According to the Declaration of that wonderful rich and free Grace of God for the Salvation of his People and for carrying on his great Design therein As the Father Son and holy Ghost by an Eternal Decree had purposed so to be wonderfully glorified in the powerful Redemption and Salvation of b Rom. 8.28 30 33. his elect People in such a way of free Grace so in the creation of all things all sorts of Creatures were made c Act. 15.18 in a capacity to carry on that Design and from that very period of their first being holily and most wisely over-ruled and disposed of d Psal 119.91 in reference thereunto and so ever since have been are and shall be most wonderfully holily and powerfully though many times secretly and unsearchably throughout all Ages by the joynt concurrence of all the said three Persons of the most sacred Trinity in their order of working e Eph. 1.11 Heb. 6.17 2 Tim. 2.19 John 13.18 to the infallible perfecting and compleating of the said Design Decree and Purpose Ninthly That the f Isa 42.2 1 Pet. 1.19.20 John 3.16 1 Tim. 2.5 mannagement and administration of the great work of Mediatorship between God and Man ever since the said promised Seed was revealed to our first Parents hath been committed to Jesus Christ the Son of God who in his Word commands all men g Mat. 17.5 Luk. 9.35 to hear him h Psal 2.12 1 Pet. 2.6 by acknowledging receiving and obeying him Tenthly That the mannagement and administration of Mediatorship between God and Man hath ever since been executed by Christ in his three great Offices wherein He and he onely is to appear most powerful wonderful gracious and glorious to his Church upon Earth as her great i Act. 3.22 Prophet k Heb. 5.5 6. Priest and l Psal 2.6 King Eleventhly Christs execution of the said three great Offices is two ways to be considered 1. More generally for his universal Church in respect of the m Gen. 3.15 Psal 110.1 Rev. 11.15 several seasons wherein in order he was to execute them severally most eminently until his work of Mediatorship should perfectly be accomplished and n 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20 21. full reconciliation made between God and all his elect People his o 2 Cor. 12.12 27. mystical Body the true Church being compleat in all the Members of it and perfect Union and Communion attained with himself as their Mystical Head together with the p 1 Joh. 1.3 Father and the holy Spirit as also with the glorious Angels and one with another in most happy enjoyment of all Good to all Eternity 2. It is again considerable particularly and specially in respect of every truly believing Soul in the particular application of the efficacy of those three great Offices to them by his holy Spirit making good means and ordinances efficacious to every faithful Soul so exhibiting himself to them q Act. 3.22 as their great Prophet inwardly powerfully and savingly teaching them all necessary Truth and Doctrine secondly r Heb. 7.15 as their great High Priest in the like way evidencing
their Peace and Reconciliation with God through that expiation that he should or hath made for their sins thirdly in the like way also to evidence to them at one time or other Å¿ Act. 2.36 that he is their powerful King and Protector that hath and doth and will subdue all his and their Enemies and keep them in a loyal and good condition by Faith and Grace unto Salvation Twelfthly Consider that the general more eminent and glorious execution of those three great Offices for his universal Church more remarkably in the World is in these three great Periods of his manifesting himself in the World according to all that his t Joh. 4.34 Father had given him to do 1. As u 1 Pet. 3.19 20. the great Prophet of his Church by his Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in all his immediate Messengers till his coming in the Flesh and so Christ is said to preach in the time of Noah to the Spirits in Prison as St. Peter speaketh 1 Pet. 3.19 20. 2. As w Psal 110.4 Heb. 5.6 7. Chap. the great high Priest in the second Period after his coming in the flesh when putting an end to all the Types and Shadows of his Priesthood he actually undertook in his Person and executed the Work and Office of Priesthood as the great High Priest having made a full and perfect attonement and satisfaction for the sins of all his People he ascended into the x Heb. 8.1 Holy of holies the highest Heavens there sitting at the right Hand of God the Father powerful and glorious there to execute and improve that Office by making intercession for his People till his coming again 3. y Rev. 11.15 5.10 In the third great Period of the World under the seventh Trumpet Christ will appear more eminently in executing the Office of a King in this general consideration in respect of his Universal Church subduing wonderfully and manifestly in the world z Rev. 2.27 Rev. 19.11 to the end his own and his Churches Enemies powerfully a Deut. 30.4 5 6. graciously enabling his Saints to walk in the obedience of his Laws taking away in a great degree the evils of sin and suffering with the causes of both by b Rev. cap. 19 20. binding of Satan and destroying the wicked powers of the World c. I say in a great degree though not then c Rev. 20.7 8 9 10. totally nor finally Lastly Consider how Christ hath and doth and will work in these three great Periods of the World In the first he wrought by d 1 Pet. 1.11 12. his Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation making known the Will of the Father in all things for substance respecting Faith and Obedience In the second By e Joh. 1.17 Joh. 14.17 Joh. 17.17 his Spirit of Grace and Truth powerfully sanctifying his people more eminently and largely then in the former In the last When he will take to himself his Kingly Power Rev. 11.15 19. by f 2 Cor. 3.18 2 Tim. 1.7 his Spirit of Power and Domination What things concern this third Period see further after the large Paper December 7. 1664. Novemb. 3. 1663. Part of a Letter sent to a Friend not long after the Writer thereof had more intensively inquired into the last times in order held out in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ contained under the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11.9 and Thousand years of Christ's Reign on Earth Rev. 20. AS for the New-Jerusalem since the bar was taken away whereby I have formerly conceived it to be an Article of Faith which the Scripture expresly declared viz. That the Heavens must contain Christ's Person till his coming the second time to Judgement My meaning was to the last Judgment I have I say found much since in Scripture but especially in the Book of the Revelation to tend to a coming of Christ as the great Monarch to set up his glorious Kingdom upon the putting down all other worldly Powers that stood in opposition to him 1 Cor. 15. when he will begin to judge the quick and dead Rev. 11.17 18. I have lately perused Mr. Archers Book of Christ's Personal Reign and though in all things therein I am not satisfied yet I cannot find solid reason in many things to dissent and in other things it seemeth convincing and doubtless in his time he was a very discerning Christian and I had of late before I read that or any other of the like nature since my most earnest search into mystical Prophecies of the latter times the same apprehensions of divers passages in Scripture which I find to agree with his Book as the applying what our Saviour promised to his Disciples when he came to his Kingdom which I find will be in the Thousand years Rev. 20.4 promised to the New-Jerusalem Inhabitants Rev. 3.21 that then they should sit on twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel And that of our Saviour Luke 21.24 that Jerusalem should be trodden under foot till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled but to be raised up again then And when he wept over Jerusalem he said They namely that People of the Jews should not see him thenceforth till they said Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord Mat. 23. ult denoting that then they should see him And that Promise Zech. 12.10 to the end which is in a way of mercy foreshewing how upon their Conversion they should mourn in humble contrition and look to him at his appearing when that Nation shall be born in a day Isa 66.8 which judicious Expositors apply to the expression Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds and every eye shall see him and they also that pierced him that is the People of the Jews that after their imprecation on themselves and on their children shall be accomplished will as the Apostle Paul speaks Rom. 11. appear to be beloved for their Fathers sake when those times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Act. 3.19 and then all Israel shall be saved both of Jew and Gentile And though many grave Divines for a long time interpreted all that hath been spoken to this purpose for the most part to a spiritual sense yet the things that some hold out to the contrary seem easie to be answered so that if this Opinion or rather matter of Faith be but freed from those evil additions that the subtilty of Satan in the primitive times thrust upon it as if it should be a Kingdom of sensual pleasure for before this misrepresentations or false aspersions rather as Mr. Mede notes it was very antient And freed likewise from that bold presumption and scandalous wickedness of our latter times for any under pretence of Christs Kingdom given to the Saints to go about by the Sword or any other unlawful means to divest Magistrates and Governors of their Offices to take that Kingdom before Christ give it to them
new Song and afterwards fall down and worship but the top of rejoycing for all that was in the Book and after all that should be done and suffered by and for and in Christs Church which they represented in that vision it was this which was the great enforcement of their joy while the World was to continue And say they vers 10. we shall reign upon Earth And that Subject of such their reign there after all their labours and sufferings of the Saints as their time of refreshment Acts 3.19 and Sabbatism or rest Heb. 4. is largely treated of in sundry Particulars in the 19 20 21 22. the four last Chapters of the Book of the Revelations and that those things therein contained must necessarily be understood of the state of God's Church upon earth according to the series and order of the Book in the last times and therefore were never yet accomplished take into serious consideration the brief abridgment of Reasons and Testimonies following to that purpose 1. The New Jerusalem is said to come down from God chap. 21.2 and not to ascend up or be taken up unto God as the Church Tryumphant at the last day shall be 1 Thes 4.17 Christ will take the Church up to himself John 14.3 it shall not come down after the last Judgment to remain here 2. The Church is said to be prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband I conceive the New Jerusalem that comes down from God will be a kind of tryumphant Church consisting of the raised Saints though in the thousand years it be not fully glorified yet perfectly sanctified and saved Rev. 20. knowing in due season they shall be so glorified as 1 John 3.2 3. But all others of the faithful in the natural life shall walk in the light of that Jerusalem the Mother of us all Gal. 4. Rev. 21.24 and accordingly the several Texts relating to either are to be destinguished vers 2. Now the Church Tryumphant of all the Elect gathered together is not a Bride prepared but a Wife in marriage fully accomplished 3. Because it is called a Tabernacle a removing state and God also said to be with men and to dwell as in a Tabernacle with them but concerning the Church Tryumphant in Heaven the manner of speaking is to say It is with God 4. Because the Holy Ghost so strongly confirms this renovation of all things avouching it again and again vers 1.5 commanding to write and affirming the words to be faithful and true which needed not in so generally approved believed truth touching the state of the Church Tryumphant 5. Because John is made to ascend on high to see this new City below him descending out of Heaven from God 6. Because it is said to be measured and that with the measure of a man v. 16 17. which sheweth it to be the Church on Earth which is only measurable and to be measured c. 11.1 Zach. 1.16 but not the Tryumphant in Heaven 7. Because here is said That Nations shall walk in the light of it and Kings of the Earth shall bring their glory and honour to it vers 23 24. yea the glory and honour of the Nations too v. 26. But none can bring earthly glory and honour for of such he speaketh into Heaven above to beautifie it withal 8. This seemeth not unreasonable though something in the Letter carry our thoughts to a state of full perfection chap. 21.4 22.3 4 5. because the like speeches have been used by the Holy Prophets aforetime to set out the graceful and peaceful state of the Church Isa 65.17 18 19 25. 60.18 20. 25.8 60.21 and yet further observe after those high expressions it is said chap. 22.6 These sayings are faithful and true the Lord God of the Holy Prophets who had spoken of old time sent his Angel to shew unto his Servant John the things which must shortly be done which words shortly be done seem alwayes in this Book to note the state of the Church on earth Now for Testimonies in the next place Some such thing is promised to the Jews in the Books of the Prophets which seem not yet to be fulfilled but deferred till the seventh Trumpet be blown when the Mystery of God shall be finished as hath been declared to his Servants the Prophets by which words it is clear that all things in the Prophets are not accomplished till this Book of the Revelation be fulfilled for the Prophets have formerly spoken of this Mystery to be finished under the seventh Trumpet Now that we may not wonder at the New Jerusalem here set forth look unto the prophesies of old and mark what by them the Lord did promise unto the Jews after their captivity 1. He tells them They shall be brought back again to Jerusalem and to inhabit Judea Zach. 8.7 8. 10.8 9. Isa 60.10 15. 62.10 And this shall the Lord do who shall cause Righteousness and Praise before all Nations Isa 61.11 2. He will pour upon them the Spirit of Grace and Supplication and they shall look upon him whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him Zach. 12.10 14. 3. He will make them strong to overcome all their enemies and they shall inhabit Jerusalem again Zach. 12.6 and build the old wastes they shall raise up the former desolations and they shall repair the waste Cities and the desolations of many Generations Isa 61.4 58.12 and that by the help of strangers and their Kings Isa 60.10 4. Being so built whereas it had been forsaken and hated so as no man went thorow it he will make it an eternal Excellency and a Joy of many Generations Isa 60.15 For 1. Violence shall no more be heard in the Land wasting nor destruction within the borders but her Walls shall be called Salvation and her Gates Praise Isa 60.18 The Sun shall be no more her light by day neither for brightness shall the Moon give light unto her Isa 60.19 20. 2dly All the people shall be righteous Isa 60.21 and no Canaanite there Zech. 14.21 3dly Her Officers shall be Officers of Peace and her Exactors Righteousness Isa 60.17 4thly Her Watchmen shall never be silent Isa 62.6 neither shall her Vision ever be wanting Isa 59.21 But the false Prophet and the unclean spirit shall be cut off Zech. 13.2 So as by this glorious and graceful state she shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name Isa 62.2 that is Hephziba and the Land Beulah for the Lord would delight in her and marry her or Jehovah there shall be the name of the City Ezek. 48.35 5thly Hereupon they shall be known among the Gentiles and People and all that see their Seed and Off-spring shall acknowledge them the Seed which the Lord hath blessed Isa 61.9 An holy People the Redeemed of the Lord fought out and not forsaken Isa 62.12 6thly The Gentiles and their Kings shall see her Righteousness and Glory Isa