should be swallowed up in victory we shall forbear to speak further to the first part of the mistery namely that we shall not all dye The second part is but we shall all be changed All the just or righteous then alive at the coming of the Lord Christ shall be so changed It medleth not with the unjust we shall be changed the consideration of the change it self and wherein it consists we shall refer to the Apostle his following description of it and shall make some enquiry what other Scriptures speak of it and witness to it first that in Paul 3. 21. who shall change to wit the Lord Christ shall at his coming from heaven make that change our vile body or corrupt and sinfull body that it may fashioned like unto his to wit pure spotless and incorrupt glorious body Col. 3. 4. when Christ shall appear then shall we appear with him in glory be like him and see him as he is as holy John saith 1. Joh. 3. 2. this change is wrought by a mighty hand of power and working whereby he namely the Lord Jesus is able to subdue all things unto himself put them under and subject them even sin and death and the grave and all principality and power he is over them all and he is able to do whatever he pleaseth make this change so as is after declared In the next place minde we that in 1. Thes 4. 15. 17. This we say unto you by the word of the Lord that we that are alive and remain So unto the coming of the Lord implying there will be such living then shall not prevent anticipate or get before them that are asleep to wit in their graves for as in vers 16. they shall be awakened with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the trump of God and shall arise first These dead in Christ they will rise first that being their order Then comes these changed ones as it is said then shall we which are alive and remain be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the aire It is premised that they be first changed in a moment before this conjunction and going together to meet the Lord so mounting up like the Eagles with wings Isa 40. 41. these waiters on the Lord Christ shall be so renewed then as to do as is there said this Prophesy seemeth to relate to that very time and to have its fulfilling then We shall then both the raised and changed together meet the Lord so and be for ever with him Blessed and happy souls indeed Further the restoration of all things spoken by all the holy prophets Acts. 3. 21. it doth speak out fully and in a more general way this change and the time of it also man being the principal thing in that blessed restoration The heavens the earth and the Creatures they grone for it Rom. 8. 19. 21. 22. they shall all share in this change and shall be answered unto in their groning They shall all be changed as a vesture folded up and they being old shall be changed Psal 102. 26. and the new heaven and the new earth taking place 2 Pet. 3. 13. all things shall be changed and made new as the Angel said unto John Rev. 21. 5. behold I make all things new even as holy Paul said behold I shew you a mistery we shall not a dye but be changed The holy Apostle vers 52. doth very positiuely the second time assert it we shall all be changed as it is fully asserted by him so it is ncessary to be fully believed by us That which yet further we may minde about this change whither as a part of the mistery or as an appendix or a relate to it I shall not essay to determine That we may take notice of is how sudden and transcient it will be in a moment in the twinkling of an eye very-sudden and expeditious will this change be The coming of the son of man and this as an attendant thereof will be like the lightning that is very quick and transcient Math. 24. 27. sudden in the shining from the East to the West over in a moment of time as sudden as a thought and while they begin to think it will be over in a moment in the twinkling of an eye it will be over and done A very great work in a very little time done and brought to pass by a mighty and wonderful workman the Lord Christ that is able to do all things it is beyond our reason and thoughts but not our faith What our Lord Christ sayd to Thomas may here be said in this matter blessed are they that though their reason cannot reach it nor their thoughts comprehend it yet their faith believes it because it is written so in a moment in the twinkling of an eye in the least of time very transient will this changing be And we shall be changed Then lastly as relating to the time when said to be at the last trumpet for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised up incorruptible of which in order To the dead raised something hath been said before and at that very juncture of time shall the living be changed This saying of the Apostle at the last trump is considerable Whither it be the last of the seven trumpets it 's very likely or some other this rising and changing we are now treating of seems to contemporize in time with the time of our Lord Christ his coming Mat. 24. 31. when that scripture Rev. 11. 15. the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever will have it 's through fulfilling he then having fully taken to himself his great power and reign for which there will be so great thanks giving as in vers 17. we give thee thanks O Lord God almighty c. because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned CHAP. III. Containing the proposal of some things by way of essay from vers 53. and 54. concerning the Apostles further making out the matter wherein this mystery consists with the manner of the effecting of it THe holy Apostle vers 53. 54. further to shew the matter and contents of the mistery of not dying but being changed he likewise sheweth the way and manner of it saying this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortalitie wherein the matter and likewise the manner is held forth of which we shall dilate a little And first for the matter It is by being freed or rid of corruption defilement and all pollution and by being put into a state of perfect rectitude and uprightness and this beyond the highest degree of mortification that is to be attained unto here And on the other part an attayner of holines purity and clearness from sin an estate beyond the highest attainner of sanctification that the happy estate of
of the father having been a long while before in the kingdom of the son the Lord Christ there enjoying that great glory they with the more facility may take on that greater and higher glory of shining as the sun in the kingdom of the father Our Lord addeth in that verse he that hath an ear to hear let him hear not with the hearing of the outward ear of the body only but with the ear of the minde and understanding by conceiving and understanding the greatness of the thing a high thing a great mistery which few do understand or are able to apprehend or conceive of I know the Lord Christ in Isaiah 9. 6. is called the everlasting father and so minded as he is God coequal with the father God blessed for ever in the unity of the three in one and so he and the father are one Joh. 10. 30. Joh. 17. 22. I and my father are one weigh but the places and the difference between father and son will appear CHAP. VIII Of the mistery of God and the father and of Christ so in like manner the kingdom of God the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of the father BUt there is also a different count and consideration and likewise a different denomination betwixt God the father the creator of all things and God the son the redeemer the mighty God sent of the father sent of the father the first time in the state of humiliation and will be sent again the second time in power and great glory Great is the mistery of God manifested in the flesh the consideration of minding the matter so is so necessary as to deny it or decry it as an errour hath very ill consequences attending of it of which more hereafter Here I say only this let the context be minded and the close be weighed that of the Lord Christ the son delivering up his kingdom that God the father may be all in all the righteous shining as the stars in the kingdom of the son and shining as the sun in the kingdom of the father succeeding the delivering up of the kingdom of the son to the father that so the father may be all in all I say let it be minded and see if it doth not hold forth the distinction as betwixt the father and the son so betwix that of the kingdom of the son and that of the father succeeding that God the father may be all in all And it may be taken notice of that the Lord Christ speaketh very often of the father and of his father and ours but no where doth he call himself father but stiles himself the son of man very often and sometimes the son of God also Many in a general way seem without any distinction at all or putting any difference between the kingdom of God the creator of heaven and earth the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of God the father and accordingly they speak and apply but how rightly they do in so understanding and applying the Scriptures so may be considered Further in the 26th of Mathew we have something that seems to look that way our Lord Christ having eat and drank with his disciples says to them in vers 29. I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine untill that day when I drink it new with you in my fathers kingdom The father will have a kingdom as the son will have a kingdom these seem to be distinctly spoken of in the holy scriptures The son will have a kingdom in the which he will reign and which he will deliver up to the father and the father become all in all the end of the one to wit that of the sons being the beginning of the fathers when he shall be all in all As there is the kingdom of Christ spoken of very plainly expressed and the righteous there shining as the stars so there is the kingdom of God the father spoken of and the righteous there shining as the sun as is before set forth and these seem to be very distinctly set forth in the scriptures As the son is not the father nor the father is the son even so it seemeth to be in regard of the kingdom of the son given him of the father and the kingdom of the father When he shall be all in all The son will have a kingdom which the father hath appointed him Luke 22. 29. And he is gone to receive it Luk. 19. 12. He will come again and his kingdom will come with him vers 15. 2. Tim. 4. 1. In his kingdom he will reign to the end and then deliver it up to the Father and the Father be all in all In his kingdom when and where our Lord Christ will drink with his of the fruit of the vine in his fathers kingdom Our Lord Christ Luk. 22. 30. speaketh of eating and drinking in his own kingdom in expresse words and very distinctly that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom c. But in the 26th of Mathew he saith I will not henceforth drink of this fruit of the vine till I drink it now with you in my fathers kingdom We reade of the father and the son and take them distinctly and do not take them as on Ephes 5. 5. This we know that no whoremonger c. hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God to wit God the father and not that the kingdom of Christ and of God there is all one kingdom as some apprehend We cannot without offering losse to the scripture and counting it a kind of tautologie but count them as distinct kingdoms We read Col. 2. 2. The Apostles prayer unto God in the behalf of the Colossians was that the eyes of their understanding might be opened to the acknowledgment of what of the mystery of God and the father and of Christ Very distinct the three in one is a great mystery the three distinct are three great mysteries The mystery of God to wit the creator of heaven and earth a great mysterie the mysterie of God the father reconciling the world unto himself to believers by Jesus Christ our blessed redeemer and Saviour 2 Cor. 5. 9. a great mysterie the mystery also of God manifested in the flesh 1 Tim. 3. 16. is a great mysterie As we reade of the mysterie of God the father and of Christ so we reade of the kingdom of God and of the father and of Christ very distinctly held forth in the holy scriptures and to be able to understand them aright seemeth a great attayner To take them and make them all one and the same seemeth to be an offering of loss to the holy scriptures as if they had spoken in vain To say that the mysterie of God and the mysterie of the father and the mysterie of Christ are one and the same thing without any difference at all and so in like manner to say the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the father
Joh. 1. 14. Holy Stephen he saw heaven opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God Acts. 7. 55. Paul likewise saw him and it is said When he cometh in the clouds every eye shall see him Rev. 1. 7. But God the father the great Jehovah told Moses he could not see him and in great condescension shewed him his back parts He is the invisible God Col. 1. 15. The holy scripture tells us that no man hath seen God to wit the father at any time 1. Joh. 4. 12. 20. His brightness is so serene where he dwelleth that no mortal no created eye is able to approch unto it or to abide the beholding of it But the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Image of the invisible God as we have seen him as before is said so we shall see him and behold him in his glory and be with him for ever as he made it his prayer unto his father that it might be so When he shall again appear we shall then appear with him in glory and as holy John saith When he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Joh. 3. 2. The close of that scripture seemeth to relate to God the father likewise to whom be honour and power everlasting Amen the great Omega That is and will be all in all Further that of Daniel 7. Is of like consideration vers 9. likewise vers 22. It speaketh of the ancient of days God the father very high things are spoken of him that in vers 13. One like the son of man seemeth clearly to be meant of the Lord Jesus Christ Much the same seemeth that to be in Rev. 20. 11. I saw a great white throne and him that sate thereon from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away and there was found no place for them and I saw the dead small and great stand before God to wit God the father it seemeth to be spoken of him but that which follows in that verse relating to the judgment it is very likely to be meant of the Lord Christ to whom all judgment is committed all judgment is given to the son by the father and as Peter sayth 1. Pet. 4. 5. That he is ready to judge the quick and the dead all must appear before his tribunal and be judged by him this of judicature to the end of that 20. chapter relateth in a tacit way to the Lord Christ That in the second Psalm seemeth to be of like consideration and other scriptures that I shall forbear to name being of an interwoven way and manner of speaking of the power and dominion of the father and likewise of the son the Lord Christ I shall end these essays with that prophetical Psalm of the kingly prophet David in Psal 72. speaking to his son Solomon as the type but chiefly relating to a higher and greater Solomon in the antitype namely the Lord Jesus Christ very high and great things are spoken of in that Psalm concerning the kingdom of our Lord Christ how that in his days as in vers 7. The righteous shall flourish and abundance of peace shall be so long as the Moon endureth vers 8. he shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth Then he speaketh of the submission of kings and of their bringing of gifts saying vers 11. Yea all kings shall fall down before him all nations shall serve him Then he speaketh of his great kindnes to the poor and needy and of how high esteem they shall be in his sight and how he shall take care of them and do for them for which he shall be dayly praised Vers. 17. It is said His name shall be continued for ever his name shall endure as long as the sun and men shall be blessed in him And all nations shall call him blessed Great will be the glory of our Lord Christ in his kingdom and when he shall come in his glory and reign in his kingdom of which there seemeth little doubt but that this Psalm treateth of it and blessed will they be that shall enjoy their share therein But towards the end of the Psalm the prophet seemeth to turn and addresse himself to the Author and giver of all this glory and blessedness namely God the father with the which he closeth the Psalm and in the two last verses sayeth thus Blessed be the Lord God the God of Israel who only doth wondrous things and blessed be his glorious name for ever and let the whole earth be filled with his glory Amen and Amen With the which he closes as I shall also these essayes referring the whole to the serious consideration of the wise in heart A MYSTERY I. Shewed by holy Paul That the Saints alive at the Coming of the Lord Christ shall not then die but be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye II. Something treated of concerning that change wherein it will consist and the Standard or Measure of it III. That many of the great Prophecies in the Holy Scriptures do eye that Time and those Changed People and state for their Great Fullfilling IV. Something held forth concerning the Restoration of all things and the world to come that shall take place when our Lord Christ shall come again V. Of the Great Happiness of that day and the Flourishing Estate the Righteous shall then Enjoy Proposed to consideration With sundry other things occasionally Discussed By P. G. B Joh. 11. 26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me to wit in Christ at his coming shall never die believest thou this Psa 31. 19. O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee which thou hast prepared for them that trust in thee before the sons of men Joh. 20. 29. Blessed are they that have not seen me yet have believed Printed in the Year 1675. To the READER THou hast here offered to thy view and consideration that which few haply have much minded though it be a very great thing a mistery no less and that which it is likely will be found as a key that will help to open divers great prophecies and high sayings in the holy Scriptures which some have been very ready to allegorize and put some notion of a spiritual meaning on them as if that were all whereby they have drawn a veil over them rendring them another thing This mistery it relateth to the very time of the second coming of the Lord Christ when those servants of God believing in Jesus shall be changed in a moment without dying they shall put off corruption and mortallity and put on incorruption immortality and everlasting life and be rechanged into their former state as man was before his fall and it is very likely they will be the blessed inhabitants of the world to come and such as shall inherit and dwell in the new earth Consider of it and what is offered about it it
remove in one day Never yet done and though much of it may be done before yet is it not likely to be so fully and throughly to be done till that day of the restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began Acts. 3. 21. and the time of the glorious manifestation of the sons of God which the creature grons for Rom. 8. 19. when the Lord Jehovah shall bring forth again his servant the branch this will then be fully performed and then according to his promise we shall have a new heaven and a new earth wherein shall dwell righteousness 2. Pet. 3. 13. In the which iniquity will not be found In 2. Cor. 5. The like we may finde not only something of the matter before treated of but of the manner we know saith the Apostle that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an house not made with hands c. If our mortal bodies dye and perish we have better provided we shall have such hereafter And therefore as in vers 2. we grone earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven with more pure incorruptible and immortal clothing with glory and honour and immortality and life eternal Rom. 2. 7. the condition then will not be righteousness imputed as now but righteousness in us perfect rectitude in our own persons we shall be like the Lord Christ The attainer then it will be sure beyond that of the attainer in the state of regeneration and that of imputation it is likely will cease The clothing with our house from heaven as it will be very pure so it will be lasting and durable and therefore we groan or desire to be clothed with it to be in that state that condition vers 3. if so be that being so clothed with it we shall not be found naked as Adam and Eve were when they had sinned eating the forbidden fruit they were stripped of that clothing of the Image of God righteousness and holyness in the which they were made Gen. 1. 27. it is said they were naked sin and shame entred together Adam made garments of figtree leaves because of shame and being naked as in like manner his posterity have done and yet do make garments upon that account In vers 4. the holy Apostle speaks further we groan being burdened with our heavy clothing of sin corruption and mortality not for that we would be unclothed namely dye and be dissolved that the Apostle denyeth to be the tendency of the creature or man such as have the first fruits of the spirit to groan for death or dying it being as an instinct in every creature as well as man to preserve life by all means whatever they can attain death is an enemy to life and is as an enemy shunned That 's a rare case and a kindly spirit indeed that is so disposed as to desire to be unclothed so which the Apostle denyes not that we would be unclothed but be clothed upon with a better clothing to be changed for a better and a more durable clothing incorruption immortality and life eternal when and where we shall not be found naked that is the tendency and earnest desire which the servants of God goes out after and the creatures also Vers. 54. of this 1. Cor. 15. the Apostle adds further when this corruptible hath put on incorruption and this mortal hath put on immortality as it will at the time of the raising and changing of the servants of God then will be brought to passe accomplished and done fully that which is written Isay 25. 8. death is swallowed up in victorie as mortalitie shall likewise be of life to wit life everlasting compared 2. Cor. 5. 4. then the conquest and victory over death will be brought to passe and the righteous freed from being under his dominion any more for ever for then they can dye no more but be immortal and live for evermore There are very many great things as well as this victory over death that do attend this time very many great and high prophecyes contained in the scriptures relating to that time will then be fulfilled and made good of which something shall be said hereafter yea many of the prophecyes of holy Isaiah little minded or understood in this day will then be brought to passe and made good seem they never so strange It was so at our Lord his first coming as the holy scriptures do hold out unto us as Math. 1. 22. Mat. 2. 17. Math. 4. 14. Luk. 24. 44. with very many the like which I shall forbear to set down That of Luke is the saying of our Lord Christ very full that all things that are written concerning me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled not one jot or tittle of the word of prophecy as to things relating to the Lord Christ and his kingdom but it must all be fulfilled As it was in relation to his first coming so it will be also as to his second coming when he shall come in power and great glory seem the things never so strange or unlikely the power and faithfulness of the Lord Jehovah whose word it is will make them good of which more hereafter But for a close take we knowledge of one place more in holy Isaiah because it is of like tone with what we have treated of concerning clothing and garments and putting on and off Isa 52. 1. Awake awake put on thy strength O Zion put on thy beautiful garments O Jerusalem c. It seems as to the last and full fulfilling of it to look at this blessed state and day we are treating of when the mariage of the lamb is come and the bride the lambs wife is made ready Rev. 19. 7. Likewise that of Isa 60. 1. Arise and shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee All of like tendency and import all prophetical and eyeing a time not yet come and though it may in a great measure have its fulfilling before and more especially when the Jewes are returned to their own land and converted yet no time so likely to have its full fulfilling as then when the Lord Christ shall come again and the dead in him raised and live again and the then living saints changed in a moment corruption and all defilement done away and glory and honour purity and holyness immortality and eternal life put on with beautiful and precious clothing For Zion sball then put on her beautiful garments and shall shine very gloriously indeed being so richly adorned as a bride prepared for the bridegroom the Lord Jesus rich and pure clothing then without spot or wrinckle and that will be found true eminently to the very life thou art all fair my love and there is no spot in thee cant 4. 7. And then also will it
not the things he had been speaking of but a case wherein there should be not dying or rising again but a changing in a marvellous manner in a moment in the twinkling of an eye Let the reader judge CHAP. VII Containing the holding forth that the righteous living and remaining at the coming of the Lord Christ changed in a moment In special the Israelites the seed of Abraham will be the inhabitants of the new earth and habitable world to come with some scriptures discussed that seem plainly to speak it forth THat there will be a new earth and an habitable world to come something hath been sayd before and that the righteous alive at the coming of the Lord then changed in a moment shall be the inhabitants of it not excluding the raised then living in the body again We shall now dilate a little by way of enquirie what the holy scriptures speak and hold forth concerning the same First the Apostle Peter 2. Peter 3. 13. speaking of the hebrews commonly called Jewes who are said to be the first in order Rom. 1. 16. chap. 2. 10. To every man found working good glory honor and peace to the Jew first and also or after to the gentile It was so in regard of the offer of grace and salvation it is very like it will be so then Peter he sayth we according to his promise look for a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness or righteous men and women according as the prophet Isaiah saith Isa 60. 21. 22. Thy people also shall be all righteous they shall inherit the land for ever to wit the land of promise the land of Canaan a little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation a nation born in one day I the Lord will hasten it in his time when the redeemer shall come again to Sion and all Israel shall be saved which shall more fully be fulfilled at the time of their being so changed in a moment as declared by him And on the other side holy John tells us Rev. 21. 27. There shall in no wise enter into it to wit the holy city any thing that defileth or is unclean neither whatsoever worketh abomanation or maketh a lie but they which are written in the lambs book of life those shall dwell in Gods mountain then or his hill Psal 15. 1. namely those raised and changed ones not excluding the children of the resurrection The Lord Christ shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven Mark 13. 27. Very like to be made good in these changed ones not excluding the raised And that this will be made good then see that in the fore going verse And then shall they see the son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory comporting with this And that in a special wise it relates to them take we knowledge of that in Zech. 10. 6. 8. 9. 10. which as to its more full and through fulfilling seems in my apprehension to eye that time This seeing of the son of man at his coming may minde us of that of our Lord Christ Math. 23. 39. Ye shall not see me henceforth till we shall say blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord when every eye shall see him and they also which peirced him Rev. 1. 7. Further we may take notice what Ezekiel holds forth Ezek. 36. Ezek. 37. In the 36th chapter He declares the great displeasure of God against his people the children of Israel and speaks of great calamitie that had been upon them the heathen people being the instruments in Gods hand who dealt cruelly with them and that when God hath pitty upon them and returns to them to take them again to be his people then he would cause his fury against those enemies to break forth and they should bear their shame and punishment this from the 1. to the end of the 7th vers Then followeth very high and great promises vers 8. 9. For behold I am for you and will turn unto you c. vers 10. And I will multiply men upon you all the house of Israel c. vers 11. And I will multiply upon you man and beast and settle you after your old estates and will do better unto you then at your beginnings c. And so goeth on to the 16th verse in a promissary way Where the prophet begins again a further relation of their sin and the wrath that attends and the reason of the stop and staying of their misery namely the pitty and compassion he had to them and the regard he had to the honor of his great name Vers. 24. God speaks of gathering Israel from all countries and bringing them to their own land the iniquity of it being removed in one day And vers 25. and 29. he speaks of full cleansing promised vers 26. a new heart promised and a new spirit to be given the stony heart to be taken away and a heart of flesh given corruption wholly put off and incorruption put on a great change indeed much the same we are treating of vers 27. I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes Verse 28. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers which land shall have the iniquity of it removed in one day And ye shall be my people and I will be your God The fulness of the blessing of the new covenant See what followeth to the end of the chapter and weigh the whole Chapter 37. First we have that of the dry bones set together with flesh and synews and covered with skin and life breathed into them with the interpretation of it vers 11 12 13 14. These bones are the whole house of Israel The opening of graves as to the full or utmost fulfilling of it seemeth to eye the resurrection We have likewise the two sticks made one to wit Israel and Judah made one as vers 17. explained in vers 21. behold I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen whither they be gone and will gather them on every side and bring them into their own land vers 22. And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel and one king shall be king to them all and they shall no more be two nations neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all Then in vers 23. There is the promise of preservation from pollution the promise of full cleansing of full salvation and being kept in that happy condition they were changed into and God to be their God and they his people And as in vers 24. David Gods servant to be king over them and they to have one shepheard Then followeth that very observable and remarkable vers 25. And they shall dwell in the land that I
we reade again in the 14th chapter vers 1. And I looked and lo a lamb to wit the Lord Christ stood on the mount Sion whether the redeemer will come and with him an hundred fourty and four thousand having his fathers name written in their foreheads By the way we may take knowledge that sealing on the forehead and writing on the forehead and marking on the foreheads are one and the same Vers. 2. and I heard a voice from heaven for the company were on earth much joy and gladnes manifested by them for vers 3. They sang as it were a new song before the throne and before the four Beasts or living creatures and the elders in that great assembly of the one hundred fourty and four thousand so sealed and having the fathers name written in their foreheads Further which were redeemed from the earth being found alive at the coming of the Lord Christ according to the mistery shewed by holy Paul It is not sayd out of their graves but from the earth where the burning was as to that of coming forth of the grave see that of our Lord Joh. 5. 28. 29. All that are in the graves shall come forth The song that they sung none could learn but they and haply such as they were The cause or reason why they could not I shall forbear by way of assay to shew it is sayd none could learn that song haply not so as to expresse it not so as to understand it or sing it it being a peculiar like the white stone with the new name in it which none knows but they that have it it being a peculiar to himself that hath it Rev. 2. 17. In vers 4. There is a description of them they are such as were not defiled with women the corruption that came by Eve and all her daughters they were rid of and freed from having put off corruption They are said to be virgins in a pure virgin state And they are such as attend the lamb and follow him whithersoever he goeth As in his providences keeping faithful to him and his truths before so when he is come down among men on earth the second time in power and great glory Further it is said these were redeemed from among men As from the fear and favour of men before so hapily at the burning being marked or sealed for preservation taken one of two in the field at the mill women as well as men and in the bed as is said one shall be taken and the other left being it may be sealed or marked in the foreheads before a very great thing And they are said to be the first-fruits to God and to the lamb the first-fruits to God of his blessed designe of restoring some of Adams fallen posteritie to their former happy estate and condition then fully perfected and finished for his praise and glory that as his servants they should serve him They are the first-fruits to the lamb namely of the travel of his soul Isa 53. 11. In his great humiliation he took on him the first-fruits of his purchase and full redemption the first fruits of his conquest and saving to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. So as that may be minded here as being then fully fulfilled Rev. 12. 10. Now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ c. to wit full and perfect salvation of the spirit soul and body the whole man that of regeneration and the life of faith was a kind of first fruits and mens imbracing and believing the Gospel is so called also Rom. 16. 5. 1. Cor. 16. 15. Rom. 8. 23. But these of the changed sealed ones are the first fruits to God and the lamb in a more eminent wise the mistery of God and of Christ as to mans restoration and full redemption and salvation to the uttermost and blessednes being then fully finished and made good Rev. 10. 7. A new virgin-state then not hereby excluding what of that kinde may be before as the forerunner of it without defilement spot or stain fitted to attend and follow the lamb and to serve him Lastly vers 5. it is said in their mouth was found no guile no hypocrisie then and further it is said for they are without fault or blame before the throne of God All spots stains and corruption being off and done away the design and undertaking of our Lord Christ which cost him so dear a price as his own bloud being then fully accomplished Ephes. 5. 27. to present his Church to himself blamelesse without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but holy and without blemish or fault What hath been said concerning the sealed and changed ones hath not been intended in the least in an exclusive way to the prejudice of the children of the resurrection or raised ones from the dead for that they will be of the highest degree then in their attainers and enjoyments of the great blessedness of that happy day Abraham Isaack Jacob the holy Prophets and Apostles of the lamb with the blessed martyrs for the Lord Jesus they will have the greatest share chiefest intrest then with all others that sleep in Jesus till they are awakened by the great trumpet of God at that appearing of the Lord Christ they will be very eminent in the kingdom of God of Christ Math. 8. 11. Luk. 13. 28. 29. the faithfull followers of Christ and sufferers for him among them and such as were beheaded or executed for his sake shall be eminent in the rule and government and sit on throns of judgment Math. 18. 28. Luk. 22. 28. 29. 30. Rev. 20. 4. Rev. 3. 21. yea our Lord Christ saith of the whole raised they shall be as the Angels of God Math. 22. 30. It is not so said of the changed ones they are changed alive and restored into their former good estate with some additions of blessedness as before is said To conclude it is very probable that the world to come will be here below on earth That the promised land to Abraham and his seed will be the center of the new earth That the Israelites those sealed ones together with the gentile Saints then also changed will be the inhabitants of the new earth and world to come and the Israelites of whom chiefly so high things are spoken and in whom chiefly those high Prophecyes shall be fully made good shall have the prehemence above the gentile Sains The whole matter is submitted to the considerate readers to judge and to take or leave as they see cause CHAP. VIII Containing a further proposall of some Prophecies and sayings in the holy Scriptures not yet fulfilled in the utmost extent eyeing that happy day of the coming of our Lord Christ likely then to be fulfilled and made good to the utmost to the seed of Abraham the Israelites when they together with the gentile Saints shall in a moment in the twinkling of an eye be changed
so SOmething hath been said before concerning the great things that attend the coming of the Lord Christ and come to passe then as the restoration of all things Act. 3. 21. A new heaven and a new earth the raising the dead saints out of their graves the changing the living in a moment the beginning of the world to come with other things very many that have been mentioned before and may be further said after that are held forth in the prophecies and sayings in the holy scriptures relating to the latter day not yet fulfilled nor like to be in the full made good till that happy day in that blessed world to come of which we shall dilate a little In the former chapter we treated of what Ezekiel hath foretold Ezek. 36. Ezek. 37. Of the dry bones and the two stiks with the interpretation of the same The matter relating to Israels restoration and re-union and their full enjoyments of the promises made to Abraham Isaack and Jacob which had not been made good in Ezekiel his time but were after to be fully made good according as he declared which to this day hath not been made good and not very likely so fully to be so in any time yet to come in this world but much more probable to be made good then to the full when that nation shall be so born in one day and be no more two but one nation for ever they and their Childrens children for ever at that blessed day when the world to come shall take place when that of the redeemers coming to Sion and to such as turn or are turned from iniquity in Jacob hath its full fulfilling which is not very like to be till the Lord himself comes for he himself hath said ye shall not see me henceforth till the time come when ye shall say blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Luk. 23. 35. The lambs standing on Mount Sion with the sealed ones having their fathers name written on their foreheads and the singing the new song which none could learn but they that pure virgin state and being without fault before the throne of God it will not I conceive be so fully in this world but in that blessed world to come All those forementioned things will very fully contemporise with that blessed time and state without any allegorie interpretation or framing a spirituall notion to make the matter good for it will be even so in the letter visibly and be made good without the least failer Further that of the Prophet Isaiah is very considerable as to this matter Chap. 65. 17. where the new heaven and the new earth is held forth with a behold a great thing behold I create new heavens and a new earth vers 18. I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her people a joy And therefore in the beginning of the vers it is said be glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create for behold I create a very great thing so he goeth on to the end of chapter In Isa 66. 8. Who hath heard sach a thing shall a nation be born at once in a moment in the twinkling of an eye as those alive at the coming of the Lord shall be changed then As soon as Sion travelled she brought forth see the whole to the 22. vers And that in special in the 14. 15. 16. See if they do not eye the very time of the destroying of this world by fire and the taking place of the blessed world to come when the new heaven and the new earth will take place of which before And the certainty and stableness is confirmed by that vers 22. For as the new heavens and the new earth which I shall make shall remain before me saith the Lord so shall your seed and your name remain This comporteth with that Isa 59. 21. very considerable As for me this is my covenant with them saith the Lord my spirit that is upon thee being changed so and my words which I have put in thy mouth to wit of thanksgiving and praise shall not depart out of them mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed from henceforth and for ever And this I conceive relateth to the coming of the redeemer to Sion when all Israel shall be saved Rom. 11. 26. then as Isa 60. 1. arise and shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Jerusalems happy day will then be come We might mention much more of holy Isaiah for that he had great light in this matter and hath held forth much as in chap. 60. and so to the end of his prophecy which the reader may please to consider As likewise in divers other places which I forbear to mention lest we should be too large All that hath been said as to its full fulfilling seemeth to relate to the time of the world to come and the Israelites the seed of Abraham principally not excluding the gentile Saints from sharing in the blessedness of that day and walking in Jerusalems light when it shall be very great indeed The light of one day being from the sun then as the light of seven dayes Isa 30. 26. that that changing in a moment will effect it to the highest degree of being translated out of darkness into this marvelous light 1. Pet. 2. 9. In the next place we may take notice what the Prophet Ieremiah holds forth Ier. 30. 31. and 32. of which we shall dilate a little Ier. 30. 10. Iacob is bidden not to fear nor Israel to be dismayed for God will save them from afar and their seed from the land of their captivitie and Iacob shall return and be in rest and quiet and none shall make him afraid he goeth on with further promises and threatnings against the wicked then at the same time to wit in the latter days when God will perform the intents of his heart reade on to the 22th verse where he sums up all and they shall be my people and I will be their God very happy will their condition be for blessed is the people whose God is the Lord. Ier. 31. 1. he saith at the same time will I be the God of all the families of Israel and they shall be my people In an eminent wise they shall be so to God and he so to them a very great thing the one hundred forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel those sealed ones with their fathers name written on their foreheads will be so Gods people and God their God so The twelve thousand of every tribe and all Israel when they shall be saved by the coming of the deliverer to Sion and the two sticks according to Ezekiels vision and the interpretation of it one nation and no more two for ever but one born in a day changed in a moment then will God be their God and they his people so at that day So he
goeth on vers 4. I will build thee and thou shalt be built O virgin of Israel vers 6. there shall be a day wherein it shall be said arise ye and let us go up to Sion to the Lord our God vers 7. the Lord saith sing with gladness for Jacob. vers 8. behold I will bring them from the north and gather them from the coasts of the Earth vers 10. he that scattered Israel will gather him and keep him as a shepheard doth his sheep or flock vers 11. the Lord hath redeemed Jacob. vers 12. therefore shall they come and sing in the height of Sion for Sion will be very high indeed then and shine forth very gloriously this is much the same with that of holy Isaiah chap. 2. 2. When it shall come to passe in the last days the very time we are treating of that the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow unto it He goeth on and speaketh of great things that shall be done for Israel Gods people At vers 31. He speaketh of a new covenant God will make after those days with the house of Israel and Iudah Reade the matter at large What it is he declares vers 33. of Ier. 31. Namely he will put his law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and he will be their God and they shall be his people There is much of grace in it in that he undertakes to do it without any condition vers 34. Seemeth to look further and to eye another time then that of grace and the state of regeneration as to its full fulfilling it is said they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know the Lord the reason is For they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord. This new covenant it seemeth not only to eye the day of grace but the day of glory Not only the day of Christs first coming when he confirmed it with his bloud Heb. 9. The comfort and blessed fruit whereof all the servants of God in all ages since have enjoyed and yet do and still shall enjoy till that happy time come when they shall enjoy the high and full enjoyment of it in that blessed world to come when the great fruit and blessedness of it shall then be made partakers of so as was never attained unto or enjoyed before in that happy time that is coming it will have its full fulfilling and be made good in every particular That in vers 34. of this Ier. 31. which seemeth to eye another time in order thereunto for in the day of grace whilest this world lasteth there will be need of teaching and exhorting one another as it is commanded Heb. 3. 13. But exhort one another dayly whilest it is called to day whilest the day of grace lasteth so chap. 10. 25. But exhort one another and so much the more as we see the day approacheth wherein there will be no need of doing it Here in the state of regeneration there will be but knowledge in part but then in that happy state and time there will be the full vision and knowledge of God that man will be capable of the greatest according to the greatness and the least according to their littleness every vessel bigg or little will be brim-full that it can receive no more The earth to wit the new earth will be full of the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea Isa 11. 9. Holy Paul semeth to eye this of not teaching one another 1 Cor. 13. 9. we know but in part we prophesy in part so was it at the present but there was another time to come when it would not be so Vers. 10. When that which is perfect is come that blessed time that perfect state takes place as it will do when the raised and changed ones shall appear with the Lord Christ then an end of things in part and of teaching also For prophesying or teaching as to them will then cease Here we are but as children then as perfect men here we see but as through a glasse darkly but then we shall see face to face clearly and fully we now know but in part but then we shall know as we are known for God will fully take away the face of the covering and vail that lets and hinders Isa 25. 7. when there shall be a changing so that vail will be done away Very high knowledge of God then our Lord will shew us plainly of the father and in him we shall behold his glory In the eighth and ninth chapters of the epistle to the Hebrews this is treated of by the Apostle under the term of a new testament A covenant and a testament differ something strictly minded though in substance they may be the same There were many covenants made by Almighty God as with Noah and Abraham Isaack and Iacob with the Israelites with David and with Levi c. But he made but two testaments a first by Moses confirmed by the bloud of Bulls and Goats A second by the Lord Christ confirmed by his own bloud or death as a testament must be else it is of no force but a covenant is of force whilest a person liveth and is otherwise confirmed The new testament as a testament of the Lord Christ he is the blessed mediator or surety of it as Moses was of the first It relates chiefly to the time of grace and the estate of regeneration in this world and is of high concern and great fruit and benefit to all believers much of the mistery of godlines and of the Gospel being contained in it but as a covenant it seemeth to eye and look at a further time not yet come and a covenant that shall then be made good when they shall not teach for there will be no need of it they shall know as much as they shall be capable of knowing for such fullness they shall enjoy as nothing can be added to it No great question but the Apostle had this in his thoughts in order to that blessed time to come the last verse seemeth to speak out so much to them that look for him to wit the Lord Christ shall he appear the second time as he appeared the first without sin to wit the imputation of sin in a low condition in the form of a servant so the first time but the second time in power and great glory without sin unto salvation Heb. 9. 28. to wit to full and perfect salvation of body and spirit united in one at that happy day There are many blessed expectants that look for the Lord Christ his appearing this second time as good old Simeon Hannah did the first time there are blessed servants that look for their Lord his return from a far country whither he is gone to receive for
to the lively hope of he tells us in the words following it is to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away it is safe and in sure hands it is reserved in heaven for believers they are kept by the power of God through faith for that great salvation ready to be revealed and it is kept for them and shall be brought unto them they shall not need to go to fetch it but when will it be at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1. Pet. 1. 3. 4. 5. He wills the servants of God to hope on for that great grace that shall be brought unto them at the revelation of Iesus Christ vers 13. Then will Abraham and Isaack and Iacob be chief among the holy ones as it is said many shall come from the east and from the west and shall sit down with Abraham Isaack and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven Math. 8. 11. This seemeth to eye that in Isa 25. 6. The feast the Lord will make unto all people in his holy mountain a feast of fat things and wine well refined full of marrow and fat things see the place it eyeth in a likely way as to its full fulfilling such a time when Abraham and Isaack and Iacob and the holy prophets and Apostles c. shall feast together in the kingdom of Christ It looketh beyond the spiritual feast of the gospel to a time as vers 8. When death shall be swallowed up in victory Which the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 15. 54. Relateth to a very far time for the making of it good and fulfilling of it even the time of the kingdom of the Lord Christ in the world to come When corruption shall have put on incorruption and mortality immortalitie And as it followeth agreeing with and speaking out that to be the time all tears will the Lord wipe away from the faces of his people and the rebuke of his people shall be taken away from off all the earth This world will not as to the full fulfilling of it afford such a happy day the waited for salvation of the people of God shall then be fully enjoyed and great shall be their joy and rejoycing Redemption from the captivity of sin and satan from death and the grave sore enemies and cruel tyrants believers have redemption from them all in the bloud of Christ and may reckon and account themselves virtually ransomed and delivered by their redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ and that they are redemed ones by the price of his most precious bloud but this is only virtually and in the first fruits in the sure promise in the earnest to wit the spirit the redeemer shall fully come to Sion then shall the great redemption and deliverance take place Rom. 11. 26. the deliverer shall come to Sion and shall turn away ungodlynesse from Iacob or as holy Isaiah expresseth it the redeemer shall come to Sion and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob. It is good and true in both readings those believers that have turned to God by faith and repentance he shall come to them and coming he shall take their iniquities quite away I conceive by chainging them in a moment in the twinkling of an eye putting off their corruption and putting on incorruption so he shall come to the turned and likewise turn away their iniquitie The redemption of the body shall be then from the prison and power of the grave Rom. 8. 23. A great thing which believers have in the promise and in the earnest to wit the spirit they shall have then in the enjoyment of it the whole man Body and spirit with all the parts and faculties of both united in one full and perfect and it will be eternal redemption which the redeemer the Lord Christ hath obtained for his Heb. 9. 12. No more slavery then to sin or death or the grave Christ our blessed redeemer hath fully subdued it then and will set us fully free so as instead of saying as sometime holy Paul did who shall deliver us from this sinful body of death to wit subject to sin death and the grave those great tyrants we by faith may say according to our present interest and hope what shall then be sayd and sung aloud in the full posession and enjoyment of it by way of praise to their redeemer Rev. 5. 9. Thou art worthy c. For thou wast slain and hast redeemeed us by thy bloud out of every kinred and tongue and people and nation and hast made us unto our God kings and Priests and we shall reign on the earth then followeth that great thanksgiving of that great number in the three following verses in praise of the redeemer The time this relateth unto when it will be made good and fulfilled it is very likely it will be then when our Lord cometh the second time when the raised from the dead and the then living changed shall take place when they shall meet the Lord Christ and come with him to the new earth where he will fully set up his kingdom and throne then will that be fully made good Isa 35. 10. Isa 51. 11. The ransomed of the Lord or the redeemed shall come to Sion with joy and songs and everlasting joy shall be on their heads they shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and mourning shall flee away Their rejoycing and felicitie then shall not be of the length of a kings reign as to instance in Solomon in whose dayes there was great felicity but it lasted not beyond his dayes but this shall be everlasting as long as the sun and moon endureth Psal 72. 7. This world affords it not nor never will it is likely as to the fulness of it Trouble and sorrow and disquiet hath been and is at the present the portion and lot of the righteous here in this world our Lord hath told us so Ioh. 16. 20. Ye to wit the righteous shall weep and lament that is their condition here for a season what shall the men of the world do but the world shall rejoyce it is their day ye namely the righteous shall be sorrowful oh but when that time comes they shall then rejoyce your sorrow shall be turned into joy and their joy shall none take from them As to the fulnes of it it 's the time when sorrow and tears and pain and death shall be no more we know what time that is it is Jerusalems happy day in the new earth in the world to come then it will be so and all made good and fulfilled in the fulness and length of time Of neere affinity with redemption is salvation or being saved which we shall dilate on a little Not after the way of a theam or common place but only as salvation by Jesus Christ the blessed saviour of such as believe in him The beginning of it and first fruits here in regeneration in this world and the full harvest and perfection in the world to come at that
them in a moment for the Lord dwelleth in Sion and his tabernacle will then be with men Rev. 21. 3. And he will dwell with men In the next place see what the prophet Micha sayth also in the matter Mich. 4. 1. It shall come to passe in the last dayes not yet made good that the mountain of the Lords house shall be exalted and established c see the place vers 3. And he to wit the Lord Christ when he cometh especially shall rebuke strong nations and judge many people And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning-hooks nation shall not lift up a sword against nation neither learn war any more a blessed peaceable time then Vers. 4. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his figtree and none shall make them afraid though they have no defensive arms for there will be no need of them sure enough to be made true and good for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Then at that day will be the peaceable kingdom of the Lord Christ and he as vers 7. The Lord shall reign over them in mount Sion from henceforth and for ever See what the prophet Zechariah sayth also Zech. 3. 9. 10. And I will remove the iniquity of that land to wit the land of Canaan chiefly in one day namely the day of the restoration and when it shall be so then they shall call every one his neighbor under the vine and under the figtree The prophet Malachy speaketh of the blessedness of that day even upon the same account Mal. 3. 12. And ye shall be a delightfull land sayth the Lord God There are other high prophecyes in Isaiah as that Isa 49. from vers 5. to vers 13. and from thence to vers 24. See what great things of like importance are said which I shall forbear to dilate on So Isa 52. Isa 54. Isa 55. 11. 12. There are prophecyes in the holy scriptures that speak of inheritances and possessions of Lot and sharing by Lot that seem as to their full fulfilling to relate to that happy day of the restoration and the new earth promised taking place As some time of old the land of Canaan was by promise given Israel for an inheritance by the Lord was after a long time divided to them by Lot and accordingly possessed by them in a way of particular propriety for they had not only a general light in the whole land as so given them of God but they had a particular interest in a part of it as it fell unto them by Lot where the Lord himself was the determiner as Solomon sayth Prov. 16. 33. The Lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord whither that land so promised and after a long time possessed and divided by Lot was not a type of the new earth promised and expected and of some higher division and sharing at the restoration of all things may be considered and the rather because of what Ezekiel hath declared which will have its fulfilling and making good though as yet we understand it not it is very probable it is not yet fulfilled but will sure enough which the day will declare fully though to us it is dark and we understand little Every tribe as well as the whole people will have their share and Lot and the strangers will share with them where his dwelling is with them then Ezek. 47. 22. 23. very considerable The twelve tribes they are to have every one their share or Lot and the prince his and he must not take any of the peoples share from them to drive them out of their possession see Ezek. 46. 18. The twelve tribes will have interest in the city and every one a gate called by their name and the name of the city from that day very probable to be the day of the restoration will be the Lord is there He will be so in the new earth Rev. 21. 3. The prophet Obadiah hath something to the same effect vers 17. But in mount Sion there shall be deliverance and there shall be holyness and the house of Jacob shall possesse their possessions Vers. 19. And they of the south shall possesse the mount of Esau and they of the plain the philistins and they shall possesse the feilds of Ephraim and the feilds of Samaria and Benjamin shall possesse Gilead vers 20. And the captivitie of the host of Israel shall possesse that of the Canaanites even unto Zarephath and the captivity of Jerusalem which is in Sepharad shall possesse the cities of the south Vers. 21. And saviours or judges and disposers shall come upon the mount Sion to judge the mount of Esau And this it will be when the kingdom shall be the Lords for as yet it hath not been nor is it likely so fully to be till that happy time takes place The rather is that considerable because of what the new testament holds forth this way Eph. 1. 10. In the fulnes of times in the Lord Christ he should gather together in one the things in heaven and the things in the earth even in him restore them make them new all good and holy as at first Vers. 11. In whom we have obtained an inheritance or Lot Vers. 13. 14. The spirit of promise is sayd to be the earnest of our inheritance to wit of our interest and right unto it and that we shall in time possesse it we have for the present the earnest we shall have in the appointed time the full purchase it will be redeemed and settled on those it is redeemed and purchased for to the praise of the glory of him that hath done it for his Ephes. 5. 5. It is spoken of by the Apostle as a known thing that no wicked unclean person hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ or of God to wit in that kingdom to come Col. 1. 12. the Apostle speaketh of giving thanks unto the father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light The saints will then have inheritance given unto them at that time when Jerusalems light is come and the glory of the Lord riseth upon her Isa 60. 1. when she will sine gloriously holy Peter in like manner 1. Pet. 1. 4. blesseth God for the lively hope the servants of God are begotten again unto by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance the description of it suiteth with the restoration and change it is incorruptible and undefiled it will be so when it falls in with that time when the iniquity of that land is removed and the curse taken from the earth and it made new in the inheritance then and there then will be no corruption or defilement for there shall in no wise enter any that defileth Rev. 21. 27. it is said further that it fadeth not away as many times in this world mens inheritances do but it will