and Earth given him Mat. â—8 18 A Kingdome which lasteth for ever Luke 1.33 And this Kingdome he had at or neare his ascension at which time and a thousand and some hundreth yeares after the Roman Kingdome stood and as some affirme yet stands Therefore the Roman Kingdome is not the fourth Kingdom in Daniel Argum. 2. The fourth Kingdome in Daniel is to bee destroyed before Christs Kingdome to which all Nations and not the Jews onely are to submit Dan. 7.14 not before a Kingdome of a thousand yeares as some conceit yet to come begins But the Roman Kingdome was not destroyed before Christs Kingdom began to which all Nations were to submit for it began about the time when Christ sent to all Nations to obey what hee commanded Maâ— 28.20 At which time and thence to this present the Roman Kingdome continues Therefore the Roman Kingdome is not Daniels fourth Kingdome Argum. 3. If the fourth Beast Dan. 7. expresses the Roman Kingdom then the Beast Rev. 13.1 to the 11. sets forth the very same Kingdome and not one like thereunto For most Exposisitors hold and that aright that that Beast Rev. 13.1 sets forth the Roman Kingdom But the Beast Rev. 13.8 to the 11 verse expresses not the very same bnt a like Kingdome to the foure Kingdomes Dan. 7. Therefore the fourth Beast Dan. 7. expresses not the Roman Kingdom That the Beast Rev. 13.1 to 11. expresses not the very same but a like Kingdome to the foure Kingdomes Dan. 7. I thus prove The chiefe mysticall and figurative termes in the Revelation having reference to something in the Old Testament expresso some new matter like the Old and not the same with the Old But the Beast Rev. 13.1 hath in the figurative and mysticall termes thereof reference to the Old Testament namely to the foure Beasts Dan. 7. Therefore that Beast Rev. 13.1 expresses not the very same but a like Kingdome to those foure in Dan. 7. What â—asfirmed of the chiefe mysticall and figurative termes in the Revelation is evident For Egypt Babylon the New Jerusalem the Wildernesse Paradise Manna and other the like termes expresse new matters like the old and not the same And that there is a manifest reference of that Beast Rev. 13.1 to the foure beasts Dan. 7. is most manifest For In Dan. 7. The 1. Beast is a Lion 2. A Beare 3. A Leopard 4. A Beast with ten horns The Beast Rev. 13.1 Hath 1. A mouth like a Lion 2. Feet like a Beare 3. A body like a Leopard 4. It hath ten hornes And as the foure Beasts Dan. 7. have seven Heads The Lion one the Bear one the Leopard foure and the fourth Beast one So the Beast Rev. 13.1 Hath seven Heads Thus the reference is most evident Answ. To this Argument is answered Bee it granted that Christs providentiall Kingdome over all things and his spirituall Kingdome over his Church were administred by him when hee lived upon earth yea even from the beginning of the world and shall continue unto the worlds end Yet his Monarchicall Kingdome in which hee shall govern and raigne as earthly Monarchs have done universally over the world is not yet begun Mr. Archer Replicat Christ in his Kingdome above mentioned is the most absolute King and Monarch that ever was is or shall bee and you much debase and vilify him and his Kingdome in comparing it and counting it inferiour to earthly Monarchies and Kingdoms For they rose out of the Sea or Earth Dan. 7.3 17. Rev. 13.1 11. But Christs Kingdome is set up by the God of Heaven and is often called the Kingdome of Heaven in the Gospel Christ is the Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15.43 and therefore is above all Joh. 3.31 The kingdoms of other States were destroyed Dan. 2.44 But Christs kingdome is everlasting and can never bee destroyed Dan. 7.27 Other great kingdomes of the world ruled over one hundred twenty seven Provinces or the like But Christ is to have all Nations to serve him Psal. 72.11 Even the uttermost parts of the Earth for his possession Psalme 2.8 In all things Christ hath the preheminence And therefore Christ at the time mentioned was a more absolute Monarch then any King ever was is or shall bee and had a lawfull authority to give out his commission for all Nations to be taught to observe his commands Mat. 28.20 But to come close up to the Point Thus I argue Argum. 1. When Herod Pilaâ—e and the Jewish Rulers rose up against Jesus Christ God set him up to bee his King on Mount Sion his holy Mountaine and gave him so eminent a Kingdome that to it all Kings Judges and people must submit or else bee crusht with an iron Scepter Psal. 2. Act. 4.26 27. Pnt Herod Pilate and the Jews rulers rose up against Jesus Christ one thousand five hundred and moe yeares agon This is undeniable Therefore God set up Christ his King on Sion his holy mountaine and gave him a Knigdome so eminent as above one thousand five hundred and moe yeares agon What ever men conceive Wâ—e must to the Law and testimony to the sacred authority of Scripture and seeing wee have good ground thence so to doe wee may and doe averre that notwithstanding worldly potentates not subtle reasonings onely but mighty oppositions also aganst Christ God set him up King on mount Sion and laughed to scorn the vain and frustrate designes of his Adversaries agents for and friends of Rome the then most potent Kingdome on Earth So that it must bee granted that Christs Kingdom then set up was more powerfull then Romes which to this very day never could though assisted by the Gates of Hell either by might or policy prevaile against Christs Kingdome Argum. 2. Christ in St. Johns time was the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1.5 had all things given him by his Father Luke 10.22 All power in Heaven and Earth Mat. 28.18 before his ascension so that hee was the head of the Church his body and in place farre above all principality power and Domination and every title and name that is named not in this world onely but in the world to come Ephes. 1.21 22. Therefore at Christs being here on earth or neere unto that time he had an absolute and boundlesse Soveraignty farre above all Monarchs and Kings that heretofore lived or ever shall hereafter For though many of them had very large Dominions and great prosperity both in Peace and Warre and subdued and vassalled many other Kings to their Scepters yet none of them had all power in heaven and earth committed into their hands by God They were not capable of such honour nor fit to be intrusted with so great a charge Chap. III. The Answer to many Objections of sever all Divines who would provetha Christs famous Kingdome is not yet begun T Is sufficiently above proved that Christs eminâ—nt Kingdome was long since begun yet against this truth as against
his Ascension hee did not bring under all the earth and haughtinesse of people that is Kingly power that he alone might be exalted Esa. 2.11 17. Archer p. 22 c. Answ. Christ was the Stone Dan. 2.25 which did strike break and destroy the foure kingdomes there mentioned and was avenged of them for their pride and Idolatry which are the sinnes for which God threatens in Esay As God in his due time punished those foure Kingdomes so when Romes sins were come to ripenesse hee spared iâ— not For hee tooke peace from the earth and left the Roman forces to kill one another Rev. 6.4 And for being drunke with the blood of God people when her sinnes come in remembrance before God bee is fully to bee rewarded and at length to bee left desolate and burnt with fire Rev. 17. 18. How Christ at the comming to his Kingdome was and is exalted above all I have formerly declared how Christian Kings are his substitutes and nursing fathers of the Church See Esa. 49.23 60.3.11 c. Object Antichrist hath set up himself as Lord and God and prescribed Laws to the consciences of men so that Christ hath been cast out of his Throne and to this day hath raigned little outwardly The Devill himself in regard of multiplicity of Subjects is a greater King then hee For the greatest part of the world is beathen Antichristian or â—isked Glimps p. 9 10. Answ. Anitichrist hath indeed magnified himselfe as much as possibly hee could and attempted to throw Christ out of his Kingdome But Christs Throne abides firm for ever and ever Heb. 1.8 Antichrists Babel fals but of Christs Kingdome there shall bee no end Bâ—ke 1.33 And though the Devill hath many moe Subjects then Christ if you account the faithfull alone to bee Christs Subjects and the rest the Devils yet if you judg aright you shall finde that Christ hath moe subjects then the Devill and that Christs power over all is greater then the Devils For even the Devill himselfe and all his Subjects as you call them are at Christs command and if they doe any good 't is by their true â—orde exciting them and evill neither can they nor the Devill their Lord by usurpation doe except Christ permit them Besides every faithfull Servant of God and subject of Christ is as deare to God as the apple of his eye is as David Zach. 12.8 worth tenthousand of the Devils Vassals If the least in the kingdom of Heaven bee greater then John Baptist how much more pretious to God is any true Christian then millions of Reprobates Object Kings have their royall Thrones their Palaces their Attendants they appeare many wayes both in these and other matters what and how great they are Now what I pray you was there in Christ formerly answerable to the glory power and Majesty of some mean Kings in the world in these times Answ. If you will further urge to a comparison between Christ and Earthly Kings I doubt not but that you will easily discern your misprision For what Kings palace and Throne on Earth is comparable to Christs which is in Heaven 1 King 9.27 Psal. 11.40 VVhat Kings Attendants and messengers like in fidelity agility strength and observance to the Spirits holy Angels who are at Christs command Kings have their potent and puissant Hosts but infinitely inferiour to Christs Hosts that is all Creatures in Heaven and Earth far unlike to the thousand thousands that minister unto Christ and ten thousand thousands that stand before him Dan. 7.10 God gives to Kings great Majesty and glory Dan. 5.18 But Christs glory is above all Principalities and powers and all names of created excellency and into his hands God hath given all things Ephes. 1.21 Job 13.3 16.15 Kings send their Edicts to the utmost parts of their Dominions but Christ to all parts of Heaven and Earth Kings command their Officers and have them responsable for their services but Kings themselves are Christs Vicegerents and must bee countable to him for all Christs laws are most heavenly most perfect far surpassing all humane inventions The honours that any one receives from his King are but mean and momentary in regard of the honours which God â— gives Kings can punish the bodies of their Subjects with prison and death but God can cast both their soules and bodies into the lake of fire and brimston Kings stand in need and make use of their Subjects help and advise but Christ nor needs nor will use his subjects counsel and will use though hee needs not their services VVhat should I say more Christ in all things doth {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} not onely surpasse all that is in Kings but even all that can be spoken or conceived of them So great then is the glory and Majesty of Christ that the Moon may bee abashed and the Sun ashamed take the speech literally or else figuratively for Princes and such as they lend their light unto when Christ raigns on mount Sion and shews his power to bee above all created might whatsoever The Sun never saw any King doe such wonderfull workes as Christ here on Earth did effect If some subject bee ignorant of a Kings Majesty and eminency it is because his meannesse hath not accesse to the Court nor converse with such as can inform him but a good christian cannot but know Christs kingly glory and highnesse For though hee cannot approach that light and Majesty in which Christ now is yet may hee search the Scriptures which in excellent manner discover the same so far as it pleased the holy Spirit to describe them or is needfull for us to know Object But Christ himself saith My Kingdome is not of this World Therefore there was some power and royalty which was either denyed Christ or which hee would not take upon him Answ. A Kingdome may bee said to bee of this world in two respects First because the administration of it is by humane and worldly means and tends to worldly ends as namely to get a large extent of wordly Dominion a glorious name among men abundance of earthly matters and there is terminated In this sense not Christs but Alexanders and the Caesars kingdoms were of this world Secondly because it is so administred that Men conversing in this world may thereby take notice of Christ use the things of this world in an heavenly manner have on earth a conversation as it were in Heaven each man in his severall calling and place of worldly employment serve God and advance his kingdom of grace in this world and so submit themselves to Christs government here that they may bee heires of glory in a better world Such a kingdom Christ both had and hath in and over this world such a kingdom hee affirmed himself to bee born unto And as Christ governs this world and all things therein in ordine ad câ—lestia with reference to the world to come so Moses who
and authority thereby to bind or to loose to acquit or condemn in his name Mat. 16.19 By this means they had a greater power then Earthly Judges who passe judgment onely upon mens bodies liberty and goods But Christ gave the Apostles power to remit and retain sins Joh. 20.23 and tels them that what they hind or loose on earth is bound and loosed in Heaven Mat. 18.18 The Apostles and their successors were good and faithfull Judges and indued with wisdom directing them to kisse the Son Psal. 2. and were not like Pilate and Herod and other Judges who opposed him Thirdly the Apostles for I will not deny them any their just titles were {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} rulers under Christ Acts 15.22 For Christ is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the Ruler Mat. 2.6 and hath his rule and authority as hee is the great Governour above all feeding his people Israel expressed by this title Hence I suppose the Apostles to bee called Princes in all lands or all the Earth Psal. 45.16 for Christ sent them to all Nations They had their attendants who ministred unto and were directed by them These seeing and imitating the courses taken by the Apostles 1 Cor. 4.17 did work the work of God as the Apostles had done 1 Cor. 16.10 What is said of Paul and Barnabas and others Acts. 15.12 was true also of Peter James Matthias Silas Apollos and the rest they all had rule and authority given them by Christ according to their places And what authority Timothy and Titus had wee read in the Epistles wriâ— unto them The witnesses of Jesus Christ and of his Word who did not worship the Beast nor his image neither took his mark in their foreheads nor in their hands they lived and reigned with Christ and sat on the Thrones spoken of Rev. 20.4 and ordered matters in the Christian Church acccording to the direction of Christ the great ruler of the Church Object Before the famous thousand years and the great and terrible day of Christs conquering his enemies and setting up his kingdom Elias must come Mal. 4.5 and restore all things Mat. 17.11 Now Elias is not yet come nor are all things restored nor could the time of Christs incarnation and preaching bee termed a terrible day for it was a most joyfull day Alsted 54. Therefore Christs kingdom is not yet begun Answ. First Christ who had no guile found in his mouth tels the Disciples plainly That Elias was come before him Mat. 17.12 that is John Baptist in the spirit of Elias The Disciples conceived aright that Christ affirmed the Baptist to bee Elias Why then should any doubt of this truth Dr. Alsted might well have seen a figurative speech here as elswhere hee doth when a new State of the old Babels and Edoms spirit is termed Babel and Edom page 44. 53. Secondly the word Nora in Mal. 4. signifies not a day terrible to affright but a day with all diligent and reverend care to bee looked unto Such a day was it when Christ appeared in the flesh and published the Gospel Acts 2.20 a day of much comfort and joy and therefore Joel 2.31 it is called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a glorious day and Nora elswhere is rendred by {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} glorious Deut. 20,21 The Lord did for Israel great and glorious things for such they were to Israel at their comming out of Egypt And hence it is that Joreh Elohim is rendred one that fears God Job 1.1 and that Joseph using the same word saith I fear God Gen. 42.18 not that God was terrible to him but that hee had a filiall and religious fear of the divine Majesty And thirdly if you would know how Iohn Baptist restored all things First tell us how all men beleeved that John Baptist was a Prophet in very deed Mark 11. and how all men honâ—â—red Christ Luke 4.15 And if you answer not your selves wee will assay to find you an answer It must needs bee that all in these and the like places admits some restriction and concerning Iohns performance wee find that all things which he spake of Christ were true Joh. 10.41 That hee told the Publicans and Souldiers and other people their duties Luke 3.12 That the Pharisees and Sadduces and all Ierusalem and the Region round about Iordan were baptized by him Mat. 3.5 His doctrine was repentance for remission of sins and hee prepared the way for Christ by whom all flesh should see the salvation of God Luke 3.3 4 5. and many other matters he preached Now I am assured that no man will conceive that all things absolutely were to bee restored by himâ— for then what need would there bee of one greater then hee to come after him It is enough that hee taught such doctrine as set all matters in order according to Gods will for the approach of Christ the Saviour of mankind But 't is replied Saint Augustine and others say That Elias indeed shall come and restore all things that is confirm the Saints vexed with antichrists persecutions So that Malachies prophecy being once fulfilled in Iohn Baptist yet may a second time hereafter bee fulfilled in some worthy instrument of God Alsted p. 54. Answ I acknowledge Saint Augustine to bee in his time an excellent and bright shining light in Gods Church so other Fathers But I beleeve Christs exposition of Malachi to bee undoubtedly true namely that Iohn Baptist was that Elias spoken of by the last Prophet in the Old Testament and to have appeared in the very porch of the New Testament and that Malachies prophecy was by him perfectly fulfilled Yet because Gods dealings are often alike I say that God who sent Enoch to the Church of old declining Noah to the old World Elias to Israel Iohn Baptist to the Iews become wicked may also send some eminent person or persons to the world neare the end there of who shall give warning of Gods comming to his own people and servants in mercy to his enemies in judgment before the last day Object It is promised That all the ends of the Earth shall bee saved and every knee bow to Christ Esa. 45.22 23. and every tongue confesse unto him Rom 14.11 Phil 2.10 That all Israel shall bee saved Rom 11.26 Mic 2.12 But this hath not yet been performed there was never yet an universall conversion of all Nations nor of all Israel therefore Christs kingdom in which this is to bee fulfilled is not yet come or begun Alsted 89. Arch 11. 28. Glimps 28. Answ The word all in many places of Scripture cannot as was above said bee extended to every particular but must be warily limited It is said that Christ healed every disease Mat 4.23 that hee is a light to every man that is born Job 1.9 That Saint Lukes Gospel was written of all things which Christ had done Acts 1.1 whereas so short a book could not
sayes as to Ezekiel 1 appoint thee a day for a yeare a day for a yeare To him the words are doubled that wee should not mistake In Daniel wee find them not single And must not of our owne heads devise what was never intended 2. The dayes two thousand three hundred in Dan. 8.14 bee properly understood of dayes according to Mr. Brightman and others Why then may not one thousand two hundred dayes Dan. 12.11 be so likewise expounded Reply Dayes one thousand two hundred and sixtie and moneths fortie two in the Revelation expresse a longer time then the bare words import So may the summe here If you say that in the Apocalyps is meant properly so many dayes or moneths you accord with the Papists who hold that Antichrist shall reign but just three years and a half Answ. I know well that Christs servants Rev. 11. witnesse to his truth that the beast Rev. 13.1 rages that the woman clad with the Sun Rev. 12. is preserved in the Wildernesse longer then three years and a half though the limits of their times expressed properly signifie no longer a spade but I say further that phrases and formes of speech in the Revelation have often reference to former matters to which they have some resemblance So Babel and Egypt in the Apocalyps signifie not properly but metaphorically places and States like them for mischiefs done to Gods people and their ruine thereupon So the three years and an halfe of the Saints preaching and persecution is not properly just so long but hath a reference unto Christs preaching and persecution which was in proprietie of speech just so long This is to shew that the Saints case is like Christs and the time not properly but by allusion understood of them So in Scripture the Saints afflictions are called the afflictions of Christ Col. 1.24 and the Saints are said to have {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a share and part of Christs sufferings Phil. 3.10 and to bee {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} partakers of Christs sufferings Heb. 12.8 and to bee {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} comformable and like to Christ Rom. 8.29 and Saint John and other Christians are said to bee companions in tribulation and in the Kingdome of Christ Rev. 1.9 Thus Christ is the great and eminent both Teacher of and sufferer for the truth his servants imitate his actions and are like to him in suffering Such was the course of Christs publick ministery whilst hee lived such must be theirs untill their deaths As hee so they must hold out and continue faithfull in their callings His time was but three years and an half theirs may bee lesse perhaps something more but however it will bee a momentary and short space in regard of the eternall weight of glory which follows it Againe as the seven Churches of Asia some purer some more corrupt some in diverse respects prais-worthy others in as many respects justly to bee blamed shew the state and condition of seventie and more Churches and what Christ hath to say to them in regard of their like obedience or disobedience unto him So the teaching and sufferings of Christ in three yeares and an halfe shew what shall bee the case of his servants in three times three or moe years of their ministry So that time is put for the condition of the time and things done therein As Act. 3.24 The Prophets foretold these times And Esther 1.13 wise men knowing the times that is things done in the times And Christ saith Father keep me from that houre Joh. 12.17 that uphold me in the sorrowes of that houre Thus then you see apparently that I run not into the Papists errour who absurdly bound Antichrists persecution and the Saints sufferings to three years and an half Rome first in its wicked and Idolatrous Emperours secondly in its proud and superstitious Popes hath been an Egypt and a Babel to Gods servants oppressing them these one thousand six hundred years and not barely three years and a half and in all this time God hath had witnesses to his truth The allusion both to the places and the time is most elegant and comfortable They that suffer with Christ shall also reign with him Sixtly If the setling of the dayes one thousand two hundred and ninetie counting them so many years as above bee faultie then Mr. Archers addition of fortie five yeares unto them which are the overplus of one thousand three hundred thirtie five dayes by him counted yeares Dan. 12.12 must also be erroneous Besides Mr. Archer mistakes by making those fortie five years to be a time of great affliction to the Jews For their welfare begins at the end of one thousand two hundred and ninetie dayes when Jerusalems desolation is repaired and the daily sacrifice renewed and a further accesse of happinesse is made unto them fortie five dayes after So that Dan. 12.11 12. speaks of the Jews welfare not of their misery and fits their condition in Antiochus time exactly for about fortie five dayes after Judas Maccabeus had cleansed the Altar and sacrificed thereon Antiochus became extreamly sick and confessed how unjustly he had tyrannized over the Jews 1 Macc. 6.8.9 c. and soon after in the next year died Seventhly Mr. Archer affirmes that Julian was the setter up of the abomination of desolation spoken of Dan. 12.11 Mr. Brightman is of the same opinion on Dan. 12. Admit this to be true then hee must also bee the taker away of the daily sacrifice for both these go together and have the same time asoribed unto them Now Julian was so farre from taking away the Jewish sacrifices that hee indeavoured to set them up and did much countenance the Jeâ—es against the Christians Socrateâ— Eccl. Hist. B. 3. Eighthly there is no reason why Mr. Archer should hold that after dayes or years one thousand two hundred and ninetie Dan. 12.11 the Jews should bee cal'd to Christianitle The Text faith no such thing but tels how the Jews should bee freed from two miseries first from the desolation of Jerusalem secondly from the taking away their daily sacrifiâ—e Seeing these two are the miseries befalling the Jews untill the end of the time there designed they must necessarily fall in the time that sacrifice was lawfull And therefore they must not bee in the daies of Titus or of the Turk Ninthly These learned men swerve from the truth by not making Christ at his being on earth the strong man who bound Satan and gave his Apostles power to tread on the Serpent whose head himself brok and whom hee made as lightning to fall from Heaven so that from the time of Christs Ascension the devill could not prevail to deceive all Nations as before hee had don but was loosed about a thousand years afterward as hath been declared above Tenthly There is not any passage in the Revelation or elsewhere that I know from which it can bee proved that the Papacy
his feet Ephes. 1.20 21. Therefore Satan was then also conquered and triumphed over by Christ for hee was the grand Boutifeu and chiefe enemie of Christ and was by Christ imprisoned and laid fast up in chaines as conquerors deale with the ringleaders of such as with hostilitie oppose them Arg. 4. The 70. Disciples sent forth by Christ subdued devils by Christs name and Christ thereupon tels them that hee saw Satan fall from heaver as lightning and then did Christ give to his disciples power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions and all power of the enemy so that nothing could hurt them Luk 10.18 c. To which purpose also wee read 1 Joh. 5.18 that the evill one cannot touch them that are born of God Therefore in the primitive times one thousand five hundred years agon the devill was bound and in eminent manner restrained by Christ Chap. X. Objections answered whereby it further will appeare that Satans eminent binding for a thousand yeers is already past HOwever the arguments in the former Chapter sufficiently confirme the truth some there are who will not be satisfied therewith I will therefore answer what they produce to assert the contrary Object How was Satan bound say they when all the Apostles were persecuted Christs subjects distressed and destitute of all comforts and most of them cruelly put to death Gl. pag. 9. had not Satan a manifest hand and plot herein and indevored hereby to hinder if not to extirpate the Gospel Answ. Satan was long agon cast down by Michael or Christ and subdued as is above proved and seeing then hee could not doe the mischiefe hee desired to Gods Saints and hinder the advancing of the Gospel hee Rev. 13. gave his power and throne and great authority to the ten horned beast the Roman Tyrants who by their agents and friends then murthered the Apostles and Saints of God Secondly though the servants of God were persecuted and put to violent deaths yet Christ having conquered death its sting was taken away so that it was but a passage for them to a better life and to endlesse blisse Thirdly Christ when it so pleased him did often deliver his servants from dangerous persecutions and from death it self As namely Peter strictly watcht in prison Act. 12.7 and Paul when fattie persons had sworn not to eat or drink untill they had kild him Act 23.12 and then onely did God permit them to bee slain when they had finished their course and might best glorifie God by their deaths which they underwent willingly couragiously comfortably So that as formerly their lives so now their deaths made the Gospel greatly to bee taken notice of and to bee glorified Object Satan is cold the Prince of the ayre who works in the children of disobedience Ephes. 2.2 Hee is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a ruler of the world in darknesse here beneath Ephes. 6.12 The comming of the man of sin is by the works of Satan with signes and lying wonders 2 Thess. 2.9 Therefore Satan was not in the primitive times bound chain'd and sealed up the bottomlesse pit Answ. That which in Rev. 20. is termed the bottomlesse pit is in other notions cald Earth and Sea Rev. 12.12 and aire or darknesse Ephes. 2.2 The aire saith Philo Jud. is black and dark of its own nature and is cald {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} darknesse Hence the devill is stiled the Prince of the ayre and of darknesse The Sea and Earth also have no light of themselves but from above When therefore it is said the devill hath power in the ayre earth or sea by these are meant men of dark earthly and unquiet minds In which sense it is said Rev. 12.12 Woe bee to the inhabitants of the earth and Sea for Satan being by Christ cast out of the heaven of the Church hee came amongst the inhabitants of the Ayre Sea and Earth that is men who were not heavenly minded The affinitie of these terms appears first because the Beast which Apoc. 13.1 is said to rise out of the Sea is spoken of Apoc. 9.7 as ascending out of the bottomlesse pit And secondly there is a Tehom an Abysse or bottomlesse pit Psal. 71.20 ascribed to the Earth as elswhere to the Sea Now when Satan was cast down from domineering in the Church and had his speciall abode among wicked men hee set up first the ten horned Beast Revel. 13.1 to blaspheme the name of God to war with to overcome and kill Gods people And secondly hee set up the Beast with two horns Vers 11. who did the works of the first Beast and did also deceive the world with signes and lying wonders Vers 13,14 for this second Beast expresses fully the man of sin who 2 Thess. 2.9 is described by his false and commerfeit wonders What mischief Satan bound by Christ could not then work by himself hee endeavoured to act by these two his wicked instruments Quest Suppose it bee denied that heaven in Scripture at any time signifies the Church and that Earth Sea and Aire denote wicked blind and unquiet worldlings how can the contrary bee proved Answ. It is thus proved First The disciples are called the lights of the world Matth. 5.14 The godly Philippians must shine in the world as lights Phil. 2.15 When the teachers of sacred doctrine in the Church were puld down the Stars are said to fall from heaven Dan. 8.10 Rev. 9.1 The Angels or chiefe teachers of the Church are cald Stars Revel. 1.20 Therefore the Church is the heaven in which they move and shine and from which their light and influence proceeds to take men off from their worldly estate Secondly Saint Augustine saith expresly Sancti justi coelum vocantur holy and just men are called Heaven De civ Deilib 2. c. 21. and expounds that in Mal. 4. lest I come and destroy the earth of the wicked upon the Earth qui terrena sapiunt who mind earthly things Ib. c. 29. His judgment herein is sound because wee finde the members of Christs Church called heaven Rev 12.11 where the heavens and they that dwell therein that is such as overcome by the blood of the Lamb are bid to rejoyce And on the contrary the inhabitants of the earth are expounded to bee such as have not their names written in the book of life Rev. 12.9 Thus what was denyed I conceive is sufficiently proved Many learned Expositers give their assent hereunto Repl. The casting down of Satan to the earth and excluding him from heaven Apoc. 12. and Satans binding shutting and sealing up in the bottomlesse pit Rev. 20. are so far from expressing one and the same thing in different notions which some Expositers think they doe that there is no one word the same in both 1 The Angel binding Satan Apoc. 20 came from heaven but Michael in Chap. 12 fights with the Dragon in Heaven 2 Concerning Satan be is 1 taken 2 bound 3 shut up 4 sealed up
Dan. 11. Who battered one another untill they bad no more strength then the two leaâ— of the image part of iron part of clay Dan. 2.41 42. But so dull is man of understanding that in these Kingdomes earthly spleâ—dor and glory obvious to the eye is admired and Cyrus and Alexanders great prowesse highly extold but Gods indulging and advancing their Empires though very discernible by an attentive and heedfull minde is passed over and unregarded But in this very case God hath not left himself without witnesse but tels us both how Josuab was famous through the World for his victories Josh. 6.27 The Heathen people could mark that And tels how also it was God who sought for Israel Iosh. 10.42 This many could not so well observe Scripture also declares how Babel the glory of Kingdomes doth fall by the Medes Es. 13 17. and how also it was the hand of God that overthrew the might of that Kingdome Esa. 14.22 Suppose the world negligent to observe Gods power and goodnesse in these and the like passages can it possibly be so blind so regardlesse when the Sonne of God was incarnate come to undoe the works of the Devill shewed his power by many miracles and wrought mans salvation and divulged the same to all people VVee must needs see what is so often iterated that then the Kingdome of God was at band yea was come to the people then living and that whosoever submitted thereunto was a subject of that Kingdome 'T is true that Satan in those times brag'd that all the Kingdomer in the World were his owne and it is evident that hee had long domineered among the Heathen and usurped power over the Jews and vassalled them in great part to his pleasure Yet by Christs casting out Devils out of many persons possessed by his conquest over Satan at his death by his giving his Disciples power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions and power over the enemy it clearely appeares that the kingdome power and glory as the Church confesses Rev. 4. 5. is truly his and that hee is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev 19.16 The wise men were by God directed to esteem Christ a King though found in a manger Pilate adjudging to death the Lord of life yet resolutely gave him his due stile and Christ himselfe denyed not but witnessed the truth that hee was a King and born so to be Iob. 18.37 This Kingdome Christ began to expresse and make known while hee lived here on earth VVe can not but confesse it when wee consider that hee commanded windes waves diseases devils that hee conquered death and aseended to his Throne in heaven and yet hath his Throne of power in his Church Apoc. 5.6 and hath been is and will bee with the Apostles and their Successors alwayes even to the end of the world Mat. 28.20 Hee is said Apoc. 6. To bee crowned as a King and on a white horse to ride forth conquering and to conquer And therefore the great and famous Kingdome of Christ that mentioned in Dan. 2.44 Dan. 7.13 Psal. 2. hath already long since begun now is and ever will continue and is not as most Jews and some Christians too sarre herein consenting to that deceived Nation affirm hereafter to take its beginning much lesse is it to bee a Kingdome of a thousand years continuance and no more That Christs Kingdom is long since begun thus I punctually prove by these Arguments Argument 1. The destruction of Jerusalem and its Sanctuary was acted a thousand and some hundred yeares agon about the yeare of Christ 73. But Jesus Christ was to bee the Messias or annointed Prince before the desirâ—ction of Jerusalem and its Sanctuary Dan. 9.25 26. Therefore Jesus Christ was the Messias or annointed Prince a thousand and some hundreth yeares agon And is not now to begin that Kingdome Argum. 2. Princes upon or presently after their being declared to be annointed Princes begin their Kingdome Scripture and common experience confirm this But it was declared that Jesus Christ was the Messias the annointed Prince before the end of the seventy weeks Dan. 9.24 25 26. which no Expositor extends further then the destruction of Jerusalem and that was one thousand five hundred yeares agon Therefore Jesus Christ began his Kingdome before the end of the seventy weeks one thousand five hundred yeares agon and is not now to begin it Argum. 3. No good and lawfull King sends out his commands and requires them to bee obeyed before hee hath begun his Kingdome But Christ sent out his commands and required obedience to them at his being here upon Earth one thousand five hundred yeares agon Mat. 28.20 Therefore his Kingdome then began and is not hereafter to begin Chap. II. The chiefe and common Argument produced against my Tenent answered and confuted AGainst the Tenent above confirmed this Objection is commonly made Christ comes not to that his Kingdome in Daniel untill the fourth Kingdome in that propbesie bee destroyed Dan. 7.11 13.14 27. But the fourth Kingdome in Daniel is that of the Romans which is yet in being Therefore that Kingdome of Christ is not yet begun Answ. In speech of foure great Kingdomes without reference to Daniels propheâ—ie the Babylonian Kingdome is the first the Medes and Persians make the second the Grecians is the third and the Romans is rightly counted the fourth But if question bee about the foure great Kingdomes in Daniel Alexander the Great and his foure chiefe Captaines who after his death were made Kings of severall Nations and were more famous then the rest are the third Kingdome in Daniel Afterward Seleâ—cus Nicator King of Syriâ— and Ptolomie Lagides King of Egypt and their posterity became potent for a long time above all other Kings They being two and endeavouring by marriage to agree in one and by their frequent dissentions much molesting the Jews whose Country did lie between Syria and Egypt make the fourth Kingdome in Daniel expressed by the two legs of iron with feet part of iron part of clay and by the fourth beast Dan. 7. which was more savage and cruell to the Jews then the three former Kingdomes That the Kings of Syria and Egypt are the fourth Kingdome in Daniel is averred and suâ—hciently proved by these learned skilfull and most diligent searchers into the sacred Text Namely Fr. Junius Im. Tremelius H. Broughton Robert Rollocke Am. Polanus And. Willet Is Genius Joh. Borelius Joh. Scharpius Joh. Woolebius Mr. Diodate and some others That their judgement is sound and good and that the Romans bee not the fourth Kingdome in Daniel I thus prove Argument 1. The fourth Kingdome in Daniel was to be destroyed before God gave Christ the great and most eminent and everlasting Kingdome and Dominion Dan. 7.11 13 14 27. But the Romane Kingdome was not destroyed before God gave Christ the great most eminent and everlasting Kingdome and Dominion mentioned Dan. 7. For Christ had all power in Heaven
was in Gods place and his Deputy to direct Aaron and the Israelites and David who was Gods shepheard to govern and feed the Jews did {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} perform the best service they could for the bringing the people in those times of the world under them to a more blessed estate in another world Replicat But when the people would have made Christ a King hee did not assent thereunto but went from among them Joh. 9. Answ. The people there out of a sudden apprehension of Christs power who miraculously fed many thousands with five barly loaves and two fishes were not fit instruments nor had a calling to fit them for conferring on Christ so great a dignity Scinditur incertum studia in contrariavulgus is a true and cleare verdict upon them as the schism Joh. 10.19 plainly shews they which to-day would make Christ a King will to morrow depose him if not they some others in a like but contrary heat upon some sleight distaste will doe it Their Hosanna one day their Crucifige soon after shew the mutability of their fancy Secondly had Christ accepted of the kingdom at these few Jews instance this might have been an occasion of a grievous combustion in that seditious and discontented people because the chief Rulers of the Jews consented not thereunto and had much people blindly led by them If the chiefe builders refused the head corner stone and said Wee will not have this man rule over us and further conspired saying Come this is the heire let us kill him Christ who well knew Gods law for the government of that people would not bee made King unlesse hee was orderly called thereunto by the chief Elders and Rulers of their Tribes Thirdly Christ did not deny or publikely gainsay his being made a King but perceiving their intention to take him and make him a king hee withdrew himself and thereby both avoided civill dissention to which that people were too too prone and continued also his humble course of life that as a Lamb hee might come to the slaughter and die for us Hee well knew the time appointed for his humiliation and waited his Fathers good pleasure for his exaltation Fourthly when hee was set as a king upon the holy hill of Sion his purpose was to propagate his kingdom by other courses then suited with these peoples plots and devises Their thoughts and wayes were not Christs thoughts and wayes For his mind was to demonstrate his glorious might and Sovereignty and his Infinite and all-seeing wisdome by means in the worlds eye and humane esteem most unlikely This in his good time he accordingly peformed Object The Saints are said Apoc. 20 to raign with Christ a thouand yeeres this is not yet fulfilled Therefore there shall be hereafter a thousand yeeres of Christs raign in which the Saints shall raign with him on earth For their raign with him in Heaven is everlasting Answ. Obsrve well that 't is no where said that Christs raign on kingdom is of a thousand yeares continuance His kingdom foretold Dan. 7.14 begun long since and continues for ever hee neyer reversed his command of teaching all Nations Ever since that edict people of all Nations and languages have been called to Christianity shewed their faith by their practise and sealed their Testimony such as have been called thereunto by their deaths Secondly for the space of a thousand years after Christs time many were called in severall Nrtions and in every part of that thousand yeeres many lived and raigned with Christ and the true doctrine of the Gospel was held in some good measure untill neare the end of the thousand yeeres at which time there was a declining Mr. Fox Mart. Pres. pag. 5. Then matters grew worse and worse Fox p. 215 vol. 1. Sylvester a Sorcerer about that time held the Popes Chair And Hildebrand soon after appeared to rule not by Gods but by Satans spirit Id. pag. 237. So that soon after these wicked beginnings error and superstition spread very much in the Churches proceedings Quest When then did the thousand years of the Saints raigning with Christ end Tell us the time punctually Answ. As wee cannot design the very year and day of the beginning of Christs famous kingdom Gods setting him up King upon the hill of Sion nor doe wee hold it necessary but onely in generall aver with Scripture that it was begun in Christs life time on Earth So for the end of the thousand yeares of the Saints raigning with Christ wee will not point out the very yeare and day â— but wee say that about a thousand yeers after Christs time Satan being loosed did with the full height of his malice infuse into the Pope and his instruments Pride error and other impieties insomuch that by the Popes power and craft conjoyned the Nations in al the kingdoms of this western part of the world in great measure yeelded to the Popes supreme authority over all Kings to his pretended infallible determinations to many superstitious observances and were led blind fold into a multitude of false and currunt doctrines In this grand Apostasie Christ had faith full servants who saw Romes declining from truth and growth to an height of wickednesse These as the rest of the Saints formerly continued to inhabit the holy City the new Jerusalem though they were assaulted with bloudy and most violent persecution and were extremely oppressed and tyrannized over untill Luthers time Object The Saints are said to reign with Christ the thousand yeares in which Satan is bound Rev. 20. Their reigning with Christ imports more then when it is said that Christ reigns in or with them This their reigning with Christ hath never yet been performed For Christ hath never yet visibly and personally come again to the Earth that they might reign with him as the words import And therefore hereafter he must so come and they reign with him Archer Answ. 1. There is nothing spoken Apoc. 20. which may assure us or indeed give us any the least warrant of Christs personall and visible comming again to reign here on earth If such a matter had been it might much better have been concluded from this Lo I am with you always to the worlds end Matâ—ult Or from Christs walking amidst the golden Candlesticks Rev. 1. that is the Churches of God That hee then did perform and in the same manner which is there meant he will ever do it to the last day These speeches and the like put together would soonerafford which indeed they do not a personall presence of Christ still on earth then any speech Apoc. 20. And 2. where t is said The Saints reign with Christ on earth how can that be more emphaticall and imply more then this Wee shall suffer with Christ Rom 8.19 No man ever hence inferred that Christ must again come down from Heaven that wee may suffer with him In both speeches of reigning with and suffering with Christ
Christ is the chief men are his members and partake with him their head in both Sometimes the frame of the like expressions is different As thus Cornelius beleeved with his whole house Act. 10.2 even here Cornelius is the chief so had hee been had it been said The whole houshold beleeved with him And what can there bee more in this speech Wee work together with Christ 1 Cor. 3.4 then in this Christ works together with us Mar. 16.2 Christ is the chief in both Let us not gull our selves with niceties and wrest that from Texts which was never intended Wee suffer wee co-worke with Christ and both these wee doe on earth but may not hence conclude that Christ comes down to us personally and visibly for that purpose So neither can wee conclude Christs visible and personall presense on earth because it is said that we on Earth shall reign with him Dr. Alstede who hath laboured most earnestly in his proofs about this point of the thousand years never makes any conclusion for Christs visible and personall comming down again to earth Hee was a better Logician then to conceit that such an inference could bee wrought from these words Apoc. 20. The Glimps is unresolved pag. 13. Mr. Cotton denies it p. 4. Mr. Mede most modestly and ingenuously as in his other writings so in his Comment on the Apocalyps lashes not out so far but keeps to generall termes Onely Mr. Archer is bold as to wrest some other Scriptures so here and to make Christ visibly come from and return to Heaven according to his fancy rather then any text well understood Repl. Bee it so that Dr. Alstede sayes not that Christ shall visibly and personally reign on earth as Mr. Archer doth yet bee asserts the resurrection of the Martyrs who are to reign with Christ to bee demonstrated {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as clear Apoc. 20.4 as if our eyes saw it p. 8. But the Martyrs are not yet risen from their graves therefore the Saints and Christs eminent Kingdom is not yet past The speech cannot bee of the Martyrs rising from sin but from their graves For 't is mentioned after speech of their beheading Therefore it cannot be meant of a rising from sin in this life Answ. 1. Let it bee observed that the Thrones were set Apoc. 20. and 1. That wee mostly agree in this that the Apostles and other godly persons are those that sit on the Thrones 2. It is also confessed that these were beheaded or otherwise killed for their testimony to the Gospel both these were fulfilled in the Apostles and other the Saints life time So say I was also their Judging the world by Gods word preached as the word preached by Christ judged it Joh 12.28 Moreover secondly it follows not that because their deaths and martyrdoms were spoken of first Rev. 20.4 that the speech afterward of their rising again must be meant of their rising from death and from the grave and not from sin For after speech of their martyrdom it is said of them that they worshipped not the Beast nor his image nor received his mark as advancers of the Beasts kingdom with reference to their life time but {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is here so to bee rendred lived and reigned with Christ that is as advancers of his kingdom and partakers thereof and that in their life times also Mark the context well and of this there will bee no doubt Mr. Cotton pag. 20 l. pen grants that even now there is a resurrection of many pretious souls and that they reign with Christ in their hearts and families as much as in them lies So the Apostles and all good Christians rose from the death of sin as Christ from the grave Col. 3.1 and on earth sought things above and in Heaven where Christ is they lived with Christ as Henoch walked with God Gen. 5.22 they reigned in this life through and with lesus Christ from whom they received abundance of grace Rom. 5.17 And thirdly I answer that this reigning with Christ is an expression like others denoting the excellent priviledges of Christians and the great honours which Christ confers on them As namely Christ treads Satan under his feet true Christians also tread on him Rom. 16.20 Christ rules the Nations with a rod of iron Christians also doe the same Rev. 2.27 Out of Christs mouth went at we edged sword Rev. 1.16 The word of God in the Ministers mouth is a two edged sword Heb. 4.12 Christ treads on the aspe the lion and dragon Psal. 91.13 Christs Apostles tread on serpents and scorpions and nothing shall hurt them Luke 10.14 Christ inherits the earth Psalm 2.8 So doe good Christians Mat. 5.5 Psalm 37.9.11 Esa. 60.21 As Christ hath a kingdom here on earth Psalm 2.6 Rev 19.16 So the Saints are made Kings unto God not Kings over men as David and shall reign on the Earth Rev. 5.10 Thus as is the heavenly man such are they that are heavenly 1 Cor. 15.48 49. True Christians are the body of Christ hee is their head 1 Cor. 12.27 Col 1.18 As they partake of sufferings like his so they have their share of honours which Christ enjoyes of his fulnesse they receive in their measure as by the particulars here mentioned and some other the like doth clearly appear The speech of reigning with Christ may not bee stretched further Repl. Sitting on Thrones and having judgment given to the Saints imports a far other matter then you conceive Beleevers shall rule the world as Kings and discipline mens soules as Priests Christ will depute the Saints Governours upon Earth Arch. p. 23. The wicked shall bee ruled with a rod of iron and bee Tributaries to the Saints as the Gibeonites to the Israelites Arch p 22. The first part of Christs kingdom shall bee ruled by them For they shall sit on Thrones c. Mat. 19.28 At last Christ will bee visibly on the Throne and constantly there sit and judg Id. 23. p. Answ. Nothing here spoken doth prove the Saints to bee Kings in any other manner then I have above declared They who continued with Christ in his tentations that is were tryed by asâ—lictions as hee was they that followed him in the regeneration that is rose from sin as hee from death sit upon twelve Thrones and judg the twelve Tribes of Israel as the Presbyters Rev. 4.4 sit upon Thrones and preach the Gospel to the twelve Tribes as Peter a Presbyter 1 Pet. 5.1 did And to them Christ appoints a Kingdom as his Father appointed to him that as they partake of the benefits of his kingdom so doe all the Saints converted by their and their successors sermons Mat. 19.28 Luke 22.28 29. Rev. 5.9 10. And secondly concerning the Saints judging others wee know that it belongs to the office of a judg to bind or to loose to acquit or condemn which power that the Apostles might exercise Christ gave them the keyes
live godly must suffer persecution 1 Tim. 3.12 This is their portion in this life as usually Gods Word describes it The godly are trees planted by rivers Psal. 1.3 Esa. 14.8 and as trees endure many a sharp frost and bitter storm to make them take root the better They are Vines Psal. 80.9 but must bee pruned else they will bee luxuriant in boughes deficient in fruit What Son is there whom the Father chastiseth not Heb. 12.7 Christ himself hath told us how these things may bee competible and consistent In the world saith hee yee shall have trouble in mee yee shall have peace Joh. 16.33 So there may bee terrours within and fightings without but God is the comfort of his people 2 Cor. 7.5 6. The joy the quiet repose the happinesse of the faithfull is to have God for their God Rev. 21.3 And having him they can want nothing needfull things present and things to come all are theirs 1 Cor. 3.22 They shall not want any thing that will work for their good nor have any thing which may procure their harm Thirdly it is not alwayes conclusive God hath promised this or that therefore undoubtedly it shall bee fulfilled interminis according to the expresse words For first many of Gods promises bee conditionall free in the promiser and not deserved by us though by Gods work upon us wee obey him and hee fulfill his promise but many promises by mans neglect of the condition deserved to bee cut off from beeing fulfilled God promised that a man should not stand before Israel in battle Josh. 1.5 yet sometimes their sins so provoked God that the Canaanites foyled them God said that Elies house should walk before him for ever but now saith hee upon their offending him it shall not lee so They that honour me I will honour 1 Sam. 2.30 And secondly wee must ballance the promises of God made to his people with the threats against them God doth so Lev. 26. Deut. 28. Rom. 2 6. c. And makes both take effect as to him seems good These good things saith Zachary shall come to passe if yee obey the voyce of the Lord Zach. 6.15 and by the rule of contraries the evils shall come to passe if they disobey Fourthly many promises are made good to Gods people in heaven with greater advantage then they could bee on earth God promises length of dayes and prosperity to such as keep his Laws Prov. 3.1 2. yet Henoch lived not half so long as his fore-fathers and Josias had his years cut off in battle though both Religious God made them a recompence in Heaven Fifthly Temporall promises are often fulfilled in this life with much advantage in spirituall favours God promises that the wives of such as fear God shall bee as Vines on the house side their children as Olive plants about their Tables Psal. 128.3 That the meek shall inherit the Land Yet often good and faithfull men lose wives children brothers lands and the like but God then gives them spirituall graces in this life Which are a hundred fold better for them and in the life to come everlasting blessednesse Mark 10.30 Object Christ visibly and personally came first to bee incarnate secondly he so comes to receive his Kingdom and thirdly to judg all men at the worlds end Some confound the second and third comming of Christ and think there shall bee no comming of Christ to judgment but to the last and finall judgment His comming to receive his Kingdom hath been overlookt since the first hundreth years of Christ Arch. 15. p. Answ. Dr. Alstede who is most zealous in your way and ready to maintain your conclusion for the thousand years yet accords with many Expositers before him and approves but of the first and last visible and personall appearing of Christ If a middle comming of Christ could have been justifyed hee wanted neither will nor skill to have asserted it Here Mr. Archer who censures otherâ— for dim-sighted and over-looking what hee conceived hee saw will bee found not single cied but to have mistaken and made three commings of two as hee whose sight failing him said Geminis consurgit mensa lucernis that there were two candles where in truth was but one If the Texts hee brings for a second visible and personall comming of Christ at the beginning of the thousand years yet to come were in any least measure conclusive I would particularly examine them But that labour may well bee spared If hee demand Quest Is there no comming of Christ to judgment untill the last judgment I Answer There is no visible and personall comming of Christ to any other judgment Yet Christ judges and punishes the wicked of the world by bloodshed famine pestilence Rev. 6. and 18.8 and 19.2 Many remarkable wayes hee hath judged and plagued the Churches enemies on earth by his instruments as a King punishes his disobedient Subjects by his Judges and Justices yet Christ leavs not nor comes down from Heaven his Throne no more theâ— an earthly King from his palace Repl. But there is a partiall judgment at the beginning of Christs Kingdome For after this judgment the Temple is opened the Ark of the Covenant is seen there are lightnings thunders c. Rev. 11.18 This Text is manifest and proves a judgment performed by Christ when his Kingdom to come begins and before the Temples opening c. Arch. p. 13. Answ. First The judgment spoken of Rev. 11.18 is the last judgment at the worlds end for there the dead are judged small and great and therefore all of them There Gods servants according to Christs promise are rewarded and his enemies destroyers of the earth destroyed Secondly I Answer that that which followes of the Temples opening the Ark seen of lightnings and thunders and the like is but a preparation and passage to the vision next in place And may much better begin the twelfth Chapter then end the eleventh Chapter This I prove because wee finde the like addresse to other visions in this book Namely Chap. 4.1 and 5. and Chap. 8.5 such a preparation was made at the giving of the Law Exod. 19.16 Object Christs Kingdom is said to bee at the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11.15 and then all kingdoms in the world are subject unto him Arch. p. 11. Likewise after the condemnation of the great Whore and the avenging of the Saints bloodshed by her Christ is said to bee Lord of Lords and King of Kings Therefore then towards the worlds end the eminent Kingdom of Christ begins Answ. Christs eminent Kingdom began as was shewed above and from his being upon earth hee hath had the kingdom power and glory for ever But as the Lord is evidently known by executing judgment Psal. 9.16 so hee is especially known and taken notice of by men to bee King when hee in evident manner shews his power in defending his servants and in plaguing his enemies Hence it is that when hee ruined Pharaoh and his Host Moses said
began in the year four hundred and six T is true that about this time Constantine left Rome and made Constantinople his royall Seat but the Bishop and Church of Rome did not then so apostate and degenerate from what they had been that grosse popery and Antichristianism may bee laid to their charg Constantine who erected Churches placed new Bishops in them countenanced other good Bishops already placed so held his Imperiall autority and Vicegerency under Christ that the Bishop of Rome never in his time exalted himself above the royall Scepter or challenged an universall autority over all Churches There were faultâ— in Churches and errours in Bishops and teachers before Constantines time and in it But wee see by Christs judgment upon the seven Churches in Asia Rev. 2. and 3. that some faults and errours do not presently unchurch a people as rank Popery and Antichristianism doe Eleventhly If the ten Kings received their kingdom Apoc. 17.12 and imployed their power in oppressing the Church together with the beast namely the persecuting Emperours then they received that their power from the Câ—sars long before the year four hundred and six And if it bee meant of receiving their power from the Popes it is manifest that they submitted not their necks nor took their Scepters from the Popes untill many years after four hundred and six namely untill about the year of Christ one thousand and odde Herein therefore Mr. Archers ground-work fails him Twelfthly How can the year one thousand two hundred and sixty bee attributed to the Pope alone Suppose so many years given to the warring Beast Rev. 13.4 5. that is the Emperours which make the sixth head and theâ— ruled in Saint Johns time I finde nor the like time ascribed to the beast with two horns or to any particular type whereby the Popes alone are expressed Mr. Brightman holds the beast Rev. 13.1 not to bee the Emperours or civill State of Rome but the Popes because the Imperiall State was risen before St. Johns time and Christ shewed to Saint John matters onely which were to bee don after the giving of those visions Rev. 4.1 To this I Answer Christ did shew St. John matters which for the most part were to bee don after the Vision Rev. 4. But hee shewed him also first some things absolutely don and past as namely five of the heads of the Beast seen by John were faln and gon Rev. 17.11 Christ appeared to him as a Lamb that had been stain Rev. 5.6 This was don long before that vision And secondly some things shewed to John were formerly in part fulfilled and were yet more and more to bee fufillled in and after his time As these God doubtlesse before sat gloriously upon his Throne as hee is said to sit Rev. 4.2 The Elders namely John himself and the other Apostles and the whole Church of God before Johns Visions ascribed praise honour glory c. to the Lamb as they doe Rev. 4. 5. The New Jerusalem spoken of Rev. 21.10 was before Mother of the beleeving Galatians and other Christians Gal. 4.26 Heb. 12.22 I might instance in diverse other the like passages Observe this well or els Mr. Brightman will by a false fire mislead you in diverse other matters Thirteenthly Mr. Archer and some others though they decline the grosse millenary opinion of one thonsand years victory pleasure Joviality yet in ascribing to their refined thousand years plenty of all things without sin and making the Martyrs raised from death partakers thereof c. palpably as I conceive mistake For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink nor which is consequent other matters lesse necessary And to what end should the bodies of the Martyrs and Saints raised up immortall and glorified such they are described to bee 1 Cor. 15. live again on earth to make use of such poor accommodations and not rather enjoy glory and immortality in heaven for which the resurrection fits them as it did Christ risen from the dead and ascending into heaven Fourteenthly See how they jar and differ in their judgment Mr. Brightman to the summe three hundred and sixty in Julians time addes the one thousand two hundred and ninty in Dan. 12.11 and the forty five years more there in verse 12. and saies that the Turks power will bee extinct in the yeare one thousand six hundred ninty five to which summs those numbers doe amount Mr. Aâ—cher from three hundred sixty six and the other summes saies that in the year one thousand seven hundred the thousand years begin Dr. Alstede to the year ninty six in which saith hee Jerusalem fell addes the same one thousand two hundred and ninty and one thousand three hundred thirty five and affirms that the thousand years Apoc. 20 end in the year two thousand six hundred ninty four which Mr. Brightman ends about the year one thousand three hundred Mr. Archer to the year four hundred and six when saith hee the Papacy began addes the one thousand two hundred and sixty Apoc. 11.3 and 12.6 And tels us that the Papacy falls in the year one thousand six hundred sixty six Mr. Brightman from the same summes and an addition of years for the heads cure which Apoo. 13 was wounded which cure some others that think themselves Surgeons not inferior to him little thought of makes the Pope-doms fall to bee in the year one thousand six hundred eighty six See his Comment on Apoc. 13.5 Hereby it appears what liberty is taken to dispose of these Propheticall accounts of time rather according to humane fancy then clear evidence of Scripture whence their opinions become different and leave us more uncertain and unresolved then when wee consulted them except wee will confide and relie more on mens persons then on their proofs and arguments In opinions thus disagreeing it necessarily follows that some of them bee faulty and t is not improbable their grounds beeing so sandy and weak that all of them may bee false What Reasons I have here alledged to disprove them I humbly submit to the censure of such as are judicious in these matters Chap. VI The Arguments and autorities from the Rabbins brought by Mr. Mede on Rev. 20. answered MR. John Mede on Rev. 20. produceth diverse reasons for his opinion about the thousand years And thus first hee argues Gorists kingdom is joyned with his appearance to judge the quick and the dead 2 Tim. 4.1 But at Christs last appearing to judg the quick and the dead he is so sarre from beginnâ—ing a new kingdom that bee delivers up the kingdom to his Father That kingdom therefore which neither shall bee before the appearance of the Lord nor after the last resurrection is necessarily between them And this kingdom is said to bee for one thousand years Rev. 20. Answ. Saint Paul sayes not that Christs Kingdom was not before his appearing to judg the quick and the dead and Mr. Mede himself grants That Christ long before had a crown given
Gods and they but sojourners with him Vers 23. That they might observe how God blessed them when they in the seventh yeare labored not and that it was hee that gave the encrease when they did labour and so depend on his goodnesse to them It served also to bring them to the seventh seven and so come to the Jubilee the famous year of rest So they might rather conclude that the world should stand but this also would bee but a sandy foundation fortie nine thousand years and then have a great Jubilee and rest in which the last Trumpet should sound as in the Jubilee year the Jews Trumpets were wont to doe Obj. The ancient Jews understood Esa. 2.11 and 17. of the great day of judgement where it is said and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day The later Iews speak something to the same purpose and thence they say that the Lord shall be King over all the earth Answ. In Esay 2. is an excellent prophecie of the preaching of the Gospel and of the calling of the Gentiles by the Word going out from Sion and Ierusalem This was fulfilled when God set up Christ his King on mount Sion as I proved above Peruse the Chapter ballance each passage and particle thereof and try whether there bee any the least warrant for a day of judgment of a thousand years continuance It is true that when the Gospel began to bee taught Christ was by all true beleevers exalted alone and preferred above all the high looks and loftiness of men many idolatrous and superstitious persons then turned to Christ and cast away their silver and golden Idols as there it is foretold And if any unbeleevers saw not then Christs glory they were justly to bee blamed His glory was then such and hath so continued that the gates of hell could never prevaile against it It is true that many worldly Potentates then strove to exalt themselves above Christ and were highly exalted by others saying Who is like this our Lord who can war with him But Christ in due time did manifest that these brags were vain and foolish Because Christ by overthrowing them will shew his might to bee far above them and that all their forces are inconsiderable And at the day of judgment when all quick and dead shall stand before him all both small and great shall see and consesse him alone to bee exalted But neither in Esay 2. nor in the whole prophecie is there any ground for two resurrections and a day of judgment between them of a thousand years continuance Obj. The Rabbins think the title of Psal. 92. Lâ—jom â—assâ—abat for the day of the Sabbath to bee the argument of the Psalme and to be understood of the Sabbath of a thousand years Answ. Wee find the Rabbins often extravagant in their opinions therefore their bare affertion cannot bee a sufficient warrant unto us they say that Psal. 92 is for the day that shall bee all rest On Talm. Sanedr Ch. 11. and adde that a thousand years in Gods sight are but as yesterday from Psal. 90.4 Wee must attend more why they thus speak then that they thus speak and try what they say against their assertion thus I argue First if the title of the Psalm import that it was onely for the Sabbath of the thousand years that is then to bee used as the title Libnei Korch implies a Psalm to bee used and sung by the sons of Koreâ— how is it that some Rabbins say that it was sung by Adam in the evening before the Sabbath after the promise made to him and others say it was sung in the Sanctuary by the Levits Secondly If the title bee so expounded that Lejom Hassh meane concerning the Sabbath as the objection intimates by making this title the Argument of the Psalm this cannot bee For the Psalm intreats not of the thousand years of Christs reign making it such as some now doe Yea it speaks of Gods being the most high and the King exalted above all not for a thousand years but for evermore and touches matters usuall in the gracious course of Gods governing the world and his goodnesse to man in the same Thirdly What day is all rest none I think on this earth Here the Church is militant The dead that die in the Lord rest from their labours Revel. 14.13 The time of all rest is in heaven onely 4. The speech of a thousand years being but as yesterday in Psalm 90. hath no more reference to the title of this Psalm then Harp and Harrow have each to other Fiftly The 90 Psalm speaks of mans birth his flourishing his decay If hee live threescore and ten or eightie years as men did in Moses in Davids in our times his dayes seeme as soon past as a thought To it they are compared If man could live a thousand years as Adam almost did these in Gods sight are but as yesterday as a watch in the night that are past What are they to God that is eternall Sixtly what reason hath any one to refer the words of a thousand years being as yesterday more to the seventh thousand years then to the fourth sift or sixt thousand years of the world Obj. Wee desire the conversion of the Iews and is it not the easiest way to deale with them for the same end not to wrest plain Prophecies which pertain to the last and glorious comming of Christ to his first comming So that wee hold the main truth and prove to them that Iesus of Nazaret was the true Messias and that they ought not to expect any other Answ. Here Mr. Mede answers himself saying That a Christian must consent no further to the Jews then his profession rightly I suppose grounded on Gods truth will give him leave The rule is good Now let us try what things hee holds to belong to the second comming of Christ not to his first as others affirme First Instance in Mr. Mâ—de in Revel. 1.7 it is said That Jesus Christ who bath washed us from our sins by his blood comes in the clouds of heaven and every eye shall see him even they that have crucified him and all Tribes of the earth hall mourn before him These passages are verified onely at Christs last and glorious comming Answ. The mourning of all kinreds of the earth in regard of their sins for whose expiation Christ was crucified is foretold Matth. 24.30 and Luke 21.27 where it is also said that hee comes with power and great glory {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with or upon the elouds of heaven that is say the Rabbins the Angels Coch-Nathon Sanedr pag. 370. answerable to Jude 14. Where God comes with thousands of his holy ones This was fulfilled before that generation passed Mat. 24.34 Luke 21.32 Some that heard Christ preach are told that they should not taste death untill they saw the kingdom of God come with power Matth.
16.28 Mark 9.1 and many of them might live untill what was shewed to St. John Rev. 6 by the horses and riders upon them was in some sort fulfilled The high Priest and his assistants might live to see the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God and come in or with the clouds of heaven Matth. 26.24 to punish the Jews and ruine Jerusalem as Henoch bid the old word behold God comming with thousands of his holy ones or Angels to destroy the old world Jud. 14. In the same manner the Son of man is set forth with a Crown on his head and a Sickle in his hand when bee comes to fill up the Wine-presse of his wrath Revel. 14.18 The mourning here spoken of was in part fulfilled Act. 2.37 in the Jews who seeing that is pondering in their minds how they had kild the Lord of glory as Peter there told them Were with griefe pricked at their hearts repented and beleeved in Christ Now what was done by them was and is in like manner done by all converts of all Nations whatsoever from Christs time to the worlds end Thus it appears that the passages above instanced in may bee said to bee done at the Gospels first progresse and yet must continually be done by all who become Christians in after times Instance of Mr. Mede The royall Kingdome of Christ who feeds the innumerable multitude that have palms in their hands Revel. 7.17 and Christs victory over the ten Kings vassals of the Beast Rev. 17.4 are better referred to Christs last glorious coming then to his first comming Answ The multitude with palms in their hands are converts of all nations kinreds tongues and people who praise God for their salvation Rev. 7.10.11 The like is done Revel. 5. where the redeemed out of all Nations acknowledge all power riches wisdom strength honour glory and praise to belong to Christ who sits crowned upon his throne This vision in Chap. 5. Mr. Mede himselfe holds to bee fulfilled in the beginning of the Apocalypticall times The Palm bearing multitude bee they in what time they shall continue the same course of ascribing all praise honour power c. to Christ sitting on his throne And Christ Revel. 17.14 conquering the ten Kings shews himself to bee Lord of Lords and King of Kings Now before the visions here mentioned Christ was exalted far above all principalities powers and dominations and every title and name that is named not in this world onely but in the world to come Ephes. 1.21.22 and in the very entrance of the Revelation in stiled the Prince of the Kings of the earth Revel. 1.5 Therefore the royall Kingdom and all power and honour c. begins to bee due to Christ at his first comming and must in all times afterward even to his second comming at the worlds end be ascribed unto him Instance The mariage of the Lamb Revel. 19.7 The New Jerusalem Revel. 21.9 The Lamb the light of the new Jerusalem Vers 23. are better applied to the last and glorious comming of Christ then wrested to his first comming Answ. To these Instances I purpose to answer in their due place where now I come to speak of divers passages in the two last Chapters of the Revelation Chap. VII Objections out of Revel. 21. 22. answered AMong learned expositers many controversies and doubts are moved about the two last Chapters of the Revelation I will briefly handle that which especially concerns the matter here to bee discussed Obj. Many most excellent and admirable promises are made unto Christians Apoc. 21. and 22. which must bee made good at one time or other Many of them have not yet been fulfilled therefore they are to bee fulfilled hereafter and that must bee either in the thousand years of the Churches prosperitie in which the Church and Saints of God shall reign with Christ before the end of the world or else in the world to come in heaven The promises are these of new heavens and new earth of a new Jerusalem of its being prepared and trimmed for Christ the bus band thereof of freedom from tears death sorrow pain of all things made new and many other the like Read the Chapters Answ. I grant that the promises in these two Chapters are for this life And thus by severall arguments I prove it First the new Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven and is on earth if it were to bee in heaven then it should ascend from earth to heaven which it is not said to doe And this ascending to God befals not Gods servants both in body and soulâ— untill the last judgment bee past whereas in this life the Ephesians and other converts become fellow Citizens with the Saints Ephes. 2.19 And secondly there can bee no tears in heaven which need to bee wiped away from the Saints eyes Thirdly T is on earth that the Saints thirst Revel. 21.6 and there Christ refreshes them with the water of life Joh. 4.14 In heaven they thirst not but are fully satisfied with all joy and pleasures for evermore Psal. 16. Then fourthly the Nations that are saved Revel. 1.24 walk a phrase usuall for conversing in this life in the light of Christ who is the light of the world and glory of his people Israel Luk. 2.32 And t is on earth that Kings doe their service to God and bring their people to the New Jerusalem or the true Church On earth are civill distinctions of Kings and people of master and servant but in heaven a Lazarus is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in an Angelicall condition no lesse then a great Monarch all there rest from their labours Fiftly Christ who is the wisdom of the Father is the Tree of life Prov. 31.18 and 22. Rev. 22.2 and is the life of men in this world 1 Ioh. 5.20 As hee is the spirituall Manna so hee is the fruit of this tree every moneth fed upon by beleevers Sixtly The leaves of this tree serve to heale the Nations Rev. 22.2 Now in heaven there is no account kept by moneths nor are there any sores of the Saints to bee healed or that need cure The soules of all faithfull are purified by faith in this life Act. 15.9 And their bodies lie down and leave what was sinfull and corrupt in them in the dust of the grave and rising glorious and immortall ascend to heaven Thus by these Arguments it appears that the condition of Gods people in this life is in these two Chapters declared Secondly I will shew that many passages in these Chapters which seem to belong to the Saints state in heaven expresse their happy condition not onely in the thousand years from Christs time but in all the dayes of the Gospel to the worlds end and thus I prove it First Every one that is in Christ is a new creature and not onely so but all things are become new 2 Cor. 5.17 This is answerable to Apoc.
more saw him that is invisible Thus a Christian may in this life by faith see take comfort in and rejoyce most heartily in the glorious estate of the life to come and as wee use to say have an heaven upon earth whence it is that the Church on earth is called Heaven Of which hereafter I shall speak Secondly the comforts joyes blessings of Gods people in this life are exceeding abundant his gifts {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} unutterable 2 Cor. 9.15 their rejoycing for the same is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} unexpressible 1 Pet. 1.8 They have peace {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that passes all understanding Phil. 4.7 If they lose wife children brothers lands or the like they receive in this life {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} things an hundred fold better Mat. 19.29 And if Paul count all things dung in comparison of Jesus Christ and the enjoying of him the old Jerusalems richly beautified Temple the resplendent Jewels in the new Jerusalems walls and gates composure the gold transparent as glasse with which the streets are paved the Cry stall rivers the fruitfull trees with which the City is furnished and adorned cannot fully and to the life set forth the wonderfull glory of Gods Church in this life Let what can bee said of the Kings daughter Christs Spouse of the Churches excellency from outward matters Psal. 45. in the Song of songs and elswhere this addition Sâ— is all glorious within surpasses all So there is an ward beauty a spirituall glory superadded to the outward excellency of the Church that goes beyond the highest strains that can by words bee uttered Let but the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ the enjoyment of his favour the comforts of the holy Ghost which in this life must bee gotten by them that hope to enjoy his presence in the other world bee put into the ballance against all worldly matters to whose lustre allusion is so often made in these two Chapters they are of more weight and greater worth then all such outward things Wherefore the lofty and stately expressions in these Chapters cannot be denyed to belong to the Christian Church of which Christ is the light from his being here on earth untill he give up his government of the same at the last day and take up with him his servants to those heavenly mansions which he hath prepared for them Chap. VIII whether the binding of Satan for a thousand yeers bee already past The Question stated THE Angels which in the beginning of the world fell from their happy condition were east down into Tartarus and were there reserved in everlasting chains under darknesse to the judgment of the great day Jude 6. Therefore they are at all times so bound that they cannot work any mischief to man without especiall commission from God who gives them liberty and looses their chain so far onely as to him seems good This sometimes God doth and that either for triall of the godly as in Jobs case or for to humble them as when Paul was buffeted by Satans Messenger 2 Cor. 12.7 Or for punishment of the wicked as when Ahab bent to believe false Prophets was deceived by a lying Spirit 1 Kings 22. or upon some other the like cases Of this restraint and loosing of Satan the question is not Scripture informs us further First of an eminent and notable binding up of Satan for a thousand years after Christs time in the Abysse or bottomlesse pit wherein hee is so fast sealed up that hee cannot deceive the Nations Secondly of an eminent and manifest loosing him after the thousand yeers are ended After which time hee works much mischief against Gods people and draws the Nations in all coasts of the world into combustions of war The controversie here is whether this notable binding up of Satan bee already past or yet to come This I am now to discusse Chap. IX The famous and notable binding up of Satan is already past and is not yet to come THis position I thus prove Arg. 1. The famous kingdom of Christ and Christians and this notable binding up of Satan for a thousand years begin both together Dr. J. Alstede Mr. J. Mede Mr. Archer The Glimpse joyntly hold this undeniable But the famous Kingdome of Christ and Christians began moe years then one thousand five hundred agon as I have above proved Therefore the notable binding up of Satan began one thousand five hundred years agon and therefore is past long before our time Arg. 2. Hee that did in eminent manner by the Spirit and finger of God cast out devils and did {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} annul and undo the works of the devill and spoyled him of his power did first eminently bind Satan Matth. 12.29 Luk 11.20 c. But Christ at his being on earth above one thousand five hundred years agon did in eminent manner by the Spirit and finger of God cast out devils and annull and undo the works of Satan and spoyle him of his power Therefore Christ then bound Satan as above in an eminent manner Of Christs casting out of devils is often mention made in the Gospels as Luk 11.10 and elsewhere and this hee did in such manner that all man were astonied thereat Matth. 9.33 Mark 1.27 and never saw it in the like manner That Christ did annull and undoe the works of the devill and take from him his power is manifest The devill was the Prince of darknesse Christ was the light of the world Joh. 1.9 The devill blinded the minds of unbeleevers Christ commanded light to shine out of darknesse and gave the Nations knowledg of himself and the Gospel 2 Cor. 4.4 The devill caught men in his snares Christ by bringing men to repentance and faith freed them from those snares 2 Tim. 2.26 Zacheus of a Publican and sinner and lost man was by Christ made a son of Abraham Luk 19. So were other the like converts The Ephesians were children of wrath as other Gentiles and walked according to the Prince that rules in the ayre or darknesse but Christ inlightned the eyes of their understanding quickned them by grace saved them through faith Ephes. 1.2 The devill drew men at first into sin and thereby brought as other calamities so death on mankind but Christ by his death destroyed him that had the power of death that is the devill Heb. 2.14 and tooke away the sting of death 1 Cor. 15.55 So that Satan did but bruise Christs heele Christ crushed Satans head Thus Christ did overpower and conquer Satan in those primitive times as the Texts cited shew Arg. 3. Christ hath already become the head of all principalitie and power and spoyled them and made a shew openly and triumphed over them Coloss. 2.10 and 15. and being raised from death sate on Gods right hand and was above all principalities and powers and dominions and had all things subject to him and under
Chap 20. In Chap 12. there is no mention of these matters at all M Mede Clavis Apoc. part 2. Synch 4. Answ. First in generall I answer the same thing is often in the Revelation expressed in a different manner As namely first Christ Rev 1. appeares to St. John in Patmos after a glorious manner amidst the seven golden Candlesticks In Chap 5. hee appears on a Throne in the midst of twenty four Elders as a Lamb that had been slain And Chap 6.2 hee is seen on a white Horse armed and crowned and riding with conquest Secondly usually when divers visions run upon one matter in the Revelation what is omitted or not so clearly expressed in one is more fully and plainly opened in another that so the whole matter intended may result from the severall visions compared together Hence Rev 1.7 the godly comming to the knowledg of Christ crucified for their sins lament and waile But Chap 12.12 upon Christs conquest over Satan they rejoyce And Chapter 15.2 3. they harp and sing as Moses and Israel having passed safe thorow the red Sea in which the Egyptians were drowned M. Mede himself grants that divers visions in the Apoc. do relegere run over again and expresse one and the same thing in a different manner Clavis Apoc part 2. Proem So Mr. Brightman on Apoc 11.1 Many Expositors unanimously agree herein Secondly in particular I answer Christ is the Angell of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 That came down from heaven Joh. 6.38 Apoc. 20.1 Hee being on Earth and the chief Ruler of the Heaven on earth that is his Church This exposition I have above confirmed hee I say I fought with Satan 2 conquered him 3 excluded him from heaven 4 cast him into the earth and Sea This Christ doth under the name of Michael Chap. 12. His fighting with and conquest over Satan intimates that the Dragon was taken and as a captive of most malice bound fast shut up and chained The casting of the Dragon into the Earth and Sea and his exclusion from heaven fully expresse his binding and confining to the bottomlesse pit How Earth and Sea are answerable to the Abysse or bottomlesse pit I have formerly shewed Evident it is that these bee forms of speech which humanitus loquendo after the manner of men set forth one and the same thing namely Gods restraining Satan And hence it appears how the twelve and twenty Chapters in divers manner and somewhat different notions expresse the same restraint of Satan and how each Chapter helps to the more clear understanding of the other Many good Expositors judge them so to do Object Satan was not bound in the time of the six former Seals and six former Trumpets For in the time of the six former Seals hee was in Bâ—â—tail with Michael and when Michael had overcome him then only arose the ten horned Beast out of the Sea and bad Satans power and Throne given him which hee exercised against the Church Then also Satan cast a floud of water out of his mouth to overwhelm the woman and prepared to war with the rest of the womans children Therefore Satan was not bound in the time of the six former Seals and in the beginning of the Trumpets time And in Trumpet five is not Satan loose It the Angel of the bottomlesse pit called Abaddon and Apollyon any other but Satan who was cast down from heaven by Christ For none other in all the Apocalyps fell down from heaven to the Earth nor can the title there used well sit any other However Satan was not then bound not the pit shut and sealed but open for out of it a smoak issued c. Chap. 9.2 And out of the mouth of the Dragon the Beast and false Prophet came unclean Spirits of Devils Apo. 16.13 How then is Satan bound in all this time Mr. Mede Clav. Apoc. part 2. Synch 4. Answ. Vnder seal one which Mr. Mede makes rightly to bee at or near the beginning of the Apocalypticall times Christ appears a Conquerer and goes on more and more to conquer And whom here did hee conquer but his grand adversary the Devil For Christ risen from death sat on Gods right hand was about all principalities and powers and had all things under his feet Ephes. 1.20 and therefore the Dovils also among the rest Nor is it possible that any created power can so long as Miâ—Medâ— holds maintain a combate with Christ When he pleases do â—ake all Dominion into his hand and make all powers subject to himself It hath been proved above that Satan at or near Christs Resurrection and Ascension was bound by Christ Then Satan being shut up gave his power to the Beast with ten horns Rev. 13.1 2. that is to the Roman secular power which began its tyranny in the primitive times and continued it against the Christians many years And therefore this Beast began not his devilish persecution many hundreth years after St. Johns time upon the end of the sixth Seal as Mr. Mede holds And whereas it is said that Satâ—mâ—ast a flood of water after the woman the speech is metaphoricall as is that of the Abysse or Sea into which Satan was cast and intimates that Satan going to prison himself raised what waves of trouble hee could against the woman And whereas He formerly stood before the woman to devour her child Apoc. 12.4 his mischief was prevented and himself was cast into the Earth and Sea or Abysse and thither {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} hee went Verse 17. yet by the ten horned Beast Rev 13. Vicarius ejus his Deputy Mr. Mede Clav. Apâ—part 2. Synch 4. invested with his great power He made war with them that dwell in Heaven or the Church Rev 13.6 7. which had the Festimony of Jesus Christ Rev. 12.17 What was done by the authority of the Devill may bee said to bee done by himself So what was done in Baptism by Christs autority is said to bee done by Christ whereas not Christ but the Apostles did Baptize Joh 4.1 So Solomon is rightly said to build the Temple which his Subjects built by his autority direction and charge To the second part of the objection I answer 'T is not materiall whether Satan bee at the fifth Trumpet loosed or no His Deputy hath seope enough to doe mischief though hee bee imprisoned Stars are the Angels of the Churches Rev. 1. and a star faln from Heaven here denotes the Bishops of Rome who before were bright and shining stars in the Church but at length by the height of their pride and their declining to herefie fell to the earth This hath the assent of many learned Expositors To the Bishops of Rome thus fallen was permitted by God and given by Satan {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} imports both as if need bee shall bee proved the key of the bottomlesse pit They having Satans power and depths of crast for lying signes and wonders as the ten horned Beast
had for war and slaughter brought upon the world by Gods just permission strong delusion Thus the Pope became Abaddon and Apollyon the son of perdition the son of the great father of perdition cald usually in the Revelation the Dragon the Serpent the devill and Satan and hee the Pope I say {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with damnable heresies destroyes both himselfe and others So that many of the best writers judge the Pope not unworthy of these unglorious titles And therefore the learned and ever ingenuous Mr. Mede rather questions Is not the Angel of the baâ—omlesse pit cald Abaddon and Apollyon any other but Satan chen asserts the contrary as some precipitate expositer would perhaps have don The devill {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} was in combat thrown down fram heaven Apov 12. There are other fals thence as first of a star into the rivers and fountains Ch. 8.10 which may perhaps denote the hereticks wresting and imbittering the sweet streams of Scripture There is secondly also a fall of Rome which being once an holy spouse of Christ fell to bee the mother of fornication and the notorious whore Apoc. 17.2 18.2 This in the Apocalyps language is a fall from the heaven of the Church to earthly profanenesse Such is the fall of the Star here and most fitly suits to the Pope Wherefore Mr. Medes arguments are not of strength enough to prove that Satans binding is yet to come Come wee to other objections Object Satan is said in the Apostles times to goe about like a roaring â—ion seeking whom hee may devour and the godly are bid to hee sober and watch and to resist him 1 Pet. 5.8 and Revel. 2.10 Satan is said to cast some into prison for ten dayes and to have his throne in Pergamus Therefore Satan was then unbound and not onely did mischiefe to earthly unquiet and darke minded men but to faithfull men also and such as were members of the Church Answ. There are some in the Church who are not of the Church 1 Joh. 2. some pretending to bee members of the true Church which for the present might hee of the Synagogue of Satan Revel. 3.9 In the trâ— Church then there were false Apostles Revel. 2.2 and 2 Cor. 11.13 and false Teachers 2 Pet. 2.1 Hence it is that Satan in the Church serks whom hee may devoure True Christians resist him and persist stedsast in the faith and hee sties from them 1 Pet. 5. But such at receive not the love of the Truth are caught by Sataus wiles believe lies and perish 2 Thes. 2.11 Thence it is said wae to the Inhabitants of the Earths and Sea that is to prophane and wicked men But the Heavens and all therein all true Christians rejoyce Revel. 12.12 And whereas it is said that Satan casts some into prison that is spoken of his instruments of Satanicall bent who acted it In which sense also Satan is said to have his throne where ungracious and bloody persecutors bear sway and tyrannize This was the reason why Judas was by Christ cald a devill Joh. 6.70 and others cald sons of the devill because his works they did Joh. 8.41 in calumniating and persecuting Christ and his servants Wee must distinguish as well as wee may between mischiefs done by Satan immediatly and those done by his instruments Obj. Satan is not by Christ to bee bound for a thousand years untill the Beast and false prophet bee cast into the lake of fire and brimstone for Saint John saw the Beast and false prophet Chap. 19. cast into that lake and then afterward Chap. 20. Satan bound But the Beast and false prophet are not yet cast into that Lake the Secular and Ecclesiasticall power of Rome still exists and continues in the Pope and his substitutes Therefore Satan is not yet taken bound shut and sealed up by Christ This objection is Dr. Alsteds and the others joyntly Answ. The Revelation declares what John in order saw not what should in order continuedly and successively bee acted This truth in generall Mr. Mede approves though hee starts from it in this particular Clav. part 2. Synch 4. The reasons which drew him to this mistake are above answered I say then that Saint John saw the vision of Christs conquest over the Beast and false prophet and how they were cast into hell before hee saw the vision of Satans binding and sealing up and of his loosing and casting into the fiery lake Yet might Satan bee bound in the Abysse and therein incite the Sea Beast the wicked Emperours and Earth Beast the false prophet for both Sea-beasts and Earth-Beasts have their Abysse as above to doe mischief and both they and hee bee at once cast into the lake of sire Mr. Mede judiciously sayes in the end of the Clavis Corol. the 2. that as in histories so in visions divers matters don at one and the same time are not told at one and the same time but one after another and that they will mispend their pains who tie the events of matters mentioned in the Apocalyps to the series and order of the visions The observation is of very great use and proves true often in the Revelation Saint John after that hee saw the vision of the sealed book Rev. 5. and 6. saw the book open Rev. 10. yet the prophesie of the open book according to Mr. Mede and others begins its accomplishment at the very entrance of the Apocalyps times where the sealed books time also begins So the vision of the two witnesses who prophecie one thousand two hundred and sixtie dayes is related Chap. 11. before the vision in which the Beast Rev. 13.1 exercises the dragons power fortie two moneths yet Mr. Mede rightly though I approve not his setling their beginnings makes them contemporary In like manner the Beast false prophet and the dragon may bee all at one and the same time cast into the lake of fire and not Satans two chief instruments a thousand and moe years before himself though one in vision bee related before the other Nor indeed doth the originall Apoc. 20.10 say as some urge it that the Dragon was cast into the lake where the Beast and false Prophet are or were or are or were cast but were seen to bee cast by John as in Chap. 19.19 20. The words and context will bear this sense very well Dr. Alstede pag. 20.1.7 saith that after the thousand years are ended the great Antichrist reflorescet shall flourish again and have great power in the wars of Gog and Magog But how can that bee If the Beast and false Prophet by them the whole succession of them are understood were cast into hell a thousand years before the wars of Gog and Magog and not they onely thus punished but the remnant of their people kild by him that rides on the white Horse Rev. 19.21 Besides the Abetters of this opinion joyntly hold that the Papacy or false prophets Romes power