and repent of the same and take heed of all such vain aspiring thoughts of greatnesse here of pride of covetousnesse and of all carnall and worldly deâ—ires and that they scorn not to bee admonished Let them be content with any low estate in this world and preferre godlinesse for their gain and not think much nor envy at it that they of Rome should have the priviledge and honour to bee the onely thousand yeares monarchy that ever was or shall bee in this world Nay but let them alone with it to have it for it is all the portion of happinesse they are ever like to have which will shortly cost them deare And ye that are the children of the promise and heires with Christ of the everlasting Kingdome to whom chiefly I present all these things Take heed also and remember the words of Christ Luke 21. where he having fore-told of the great troubles and signes that should goe before the day of his coming and end of the world exhorteth you saying And take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcome with surfeiting and drunkennesse and cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares vers. 24. Meaning by surfeiting and drunkennesse that of the soule with the wealth pride fulnesse pleasures profits and prmotions of this world which will assault you and are apt to entangle even your minds they being things pleasing corrupt nature of flesh and blood Nor on the other side with the cares of this life which doe much quench the Spirit and take off the affections of the minde from the love of Christ and his truth and from minding the heavenly and eternall things to come And therefore left that day should come upon you unawares the Lord fore-warneth you to take heed to your selves and giveth you a strong Reason to perswade you to it saying For as a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth vers. 35. Meaning by All them that dwell c. all the ungodly reprobate people of the world whose soules are drunk with all those things their hopes their hearts delights and dwellings being there with them And therefore he exhorteth you again that are his pilgrimes and dwell not here saying Watch ye therefore and pray alwayes that yee may be counted worthy to escape all these things and to stand before the Son of Man vers. 35. And meaning by Watâ—hing praying always always indeed in the spirit every houre of the day and watch of the night according as he had said before Lâ—ke 18. 157 8. And as Paul saith Eph. 6. 18. 1 Thâ—ss 1. 5 7. 1 Pet. 4. 7. And be ye ware of those learned Authors of the Millinarie Doctrine who would make ye beleeve that the words and exhortations of Christ Luke 21. 9 34 35 36. and of the Apostles Hebr. 10. 23 24 25 35 37. Iam. 5. 7 8. 1 Pet. 4. 7. did concern the Christian Jews onely in that time and were to be understood of the coming of the Roman power against Ierusalem and end of the Jewes State fulfilled above 1500. yeares agoe but was then neere at hand to come judging it a senslesse thing to watch and pray in respect of the coming of Christ and end of the world so long before it should be Aâ— in a Book intituled The Apostasie of the latter times pag. 88 89 90 91. By Iosâ—ph Mede approved by D. Twissâ— Whereas it is very plain that Christ and the Apostles in all 〈◊〉 places speak of the coming of Christ in his glory and end of the world and have respect to the Christian Gentiles as well as to the Christian Jewes which those learned men ought to have known and that it was no senslesse thing nor without reason or cause to watch and pray in hope and expectation of the same especially considering that all the wise virgins in all ages and times did so watch and pray and though they being weak did some times slumber and sleep yet they had their lamps alwayes burning and oyle with them expecting with fervent desires in their heart the coming of their Lord the Bridegroome For they well understood by the word of the Lord that all those evill servants and foolish Virgins which say in their heart My Lord delayeth his coming and begin to smite their fellow-servants and to eat and drink with the drunken not caring to watch or pray in respect of his coming nor to have oyle or light in their lamps and so live and die will be so found in that day of the Bridegroomes comming and shall then be shut out from entâ—ing into the Bride chamber for ever Therefore ye that are the Lords faithfull and wise Servants and of the wise virgins watch ye and pray alwayes in the Spirit as Christ and his Apostles have exhorted you and in meeknesse doe ye minister unto your fellow-servants in the House good things whatsoever those evill servants and foolish virgins say or doe And take ye heed also of those who would make ye beleeve that the Bridegroome Jesus Christ is already come and fitteth now in the Throne of his glory judging the quick and the dead That the resurrection of the Body spoken of 1 Corinth 115â— and other places the perfection the salvation the glory and all whatsoever the Scriptures have spoken concerning Christ and his Kingdome and reign with all his Saints are now at this present time in a secret mysticall manner fulfilled turning all Scriptures into allegories and making Jesus Christ a mysticall thing and all persons names matters and things therein spoken of and written to have my-sticall meanings which they undertake to declare in a kind of Philosophicall way And is well pleasing to those wandring professors that could never yet learn to repent of their sins unto God and deâ—ire mercy through faith in Christ like the similitude of the lost Sonne and poore publican but having turned from one opinion and form of Religion to another and now at last meeting with this readily entertaine it and especially such men as are most delighted with their Philosophy tending so much to liberty and such wanton women as like to fulfill their carnall pleasures of which sort the most are that embrace the doctrine as experience proveth And strong reason ariseth from their doctrine that it should be so For if Christ be already come in his glory c. And that the resurrection of the body is now while men live and that when they dye they return into their first principles and so remain for ever as they were before they knew they had a Being as they say Then well may they eat and drink and take their pleasure for who knoweth of any felicity or pain he had before Therefore take heed hearken not unto them but know yee and beleeve it assuredly that the Lord Jesus Christ shall come personally and truly and be seen in his glory with all his Saints as hee was by Peter Iames and Iohn with Moses and Elias in the holy mount And the bodies of the Saints shall be truly raised and changed as before is proved by cleare Scriptures And be ye ware also of those that shall offer to perswade you that the Scriptures which we have in our native language is not nor do declare unto us the word or minde of God but that we must looks for some new Apostles endued with such miraculous gifts as Peter and the other Apostles once had to be sent from God to instruct us and to plant new Churches Or that another Elias must come and restore all things before we can know the truth or see a true Church Beleeve them not but know yee that if it were true that some places of Scripture should be by the â—ranslators or by the Copier mistaken or mistranslated yet could not that make the word or mind of God in the same places unpossible to bee understood especially by those servants of God which have that unction from the holy Oâ—e wheâ—eof the Apostle Iâ—hn speaketh and which Chrisâ— promised should be with them to the end of the world or if it could yet doth it not therefore darken or deprive them of the understanding of all or any of the rest Nâ—y the grace and wisdome the Divine power and majesty of the Scriptures as they are in our nativâ— Language proveth the same to bee the word of God declaring hiâ— mind and will unto us And as for miracles to confirm it there is no need because that hath been done sufficiently already Neither is there such necessity of new Apostles or of another Elias or of one to come from the dead to instruct the people Nay but as Christ said once in way of admonition to such persons of the Jewes They have Moses and the Prophets let them heare them c. So now we have Moses and the Prophets as well as they yea more we have Christ and his Apostles and we have the Elias also that was to come even Iohn the Baptist insomuch as we have his and their words their testimonies and examples And Christ himselfe prayed for those that should beleeve in him through their word Iohn 17. And if we will not heare nor be perswaded by them to repent and beleeve neither will we if new ones or some of them should come and preach anew unto us And as concerning the Church or House of God the Apostle Paul declareth unto us plainly that it is and hath been ever since his time built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner stone There are no new builders to be looked for to lay a new foundation And the living stones of this House are those wise Virgins that have their lamps alwayes burning waiting and attending the comming of their Lord the Bridegroome whose great Day is so neere aâ— the Dore And so unto your sensure who are the children of the Bride-chamber I refer all these things And the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you all Amen And if any man shall conceive that I have herein been to bold let him consider what one saith We having the same Spirit of Faith according as it is written I have beleeved and therefore have I spoken We also beleeve and therefore speak FINIS
them that are sleep as to receive aâ—y glory before them but the dâ—ad in Christ shall riâ—e first and thâ—â— they that are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord c. as in ver. 17. he declareth And so they would understand him 1 Cor. 15. The first fruits is Christ then afterwards they that are Christs at his coming to intend a resurrection of those that are not Christs a thousand years after as Christ the first fâ—uiâ—s was a thousand years and more before whereas the words spoken there concâ—rnâ— not them at all they are not fruits neither is death to be counted an enemy in respect of them but of those that are Christs unto whom death will then be swallowed up in victory although they shall then bee raised also as Christ saith The houre is coming wherein all that are in the graveâ— shall heare his voyce and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evill unto the resurrection of condemnation Iohn 5. The hâ—â—re cometh saith he he saith not the day nor the thousand yeares but the houre for no doubt in the same houre that the Lords voyce goeth forth it shall be done The Trumpet shall sound the dâ—ad shall be raised and we shall be changed in â— moment But there is yet one thing more which hath been a long time held as an Article of faith that notonely at first drew them oâ— to the opinion but doth still hold them fast to it the thing is this That Christ at the end of the world after the generall resurrection and judgement shall ascend with all his Saints into heaven and there remain and dwell for ever and the creation of the Heavens and the Earth passe away and be no more as is commonly beleeved by the multitude and they judge to be true which if it be then of necessity the glorious Kingdome of Christ with his Saints so much spoken of in Scripture to he on earth and not yet fulfilled must be before the end of the world and then at the end thereof cease as they say The Scriptures they alledge for proofe are Iohn 14. 2 3. 2 Cor. 5. 1. 1 Pet. 3. 4 5 6. Heb. 6. 19 20. 1 Thess. 4. 17. This likewise I request ye to consider not so much the common opinion of the multitude or judgement of the Millinaries which proves nothing as the Scriptures they alledge for their opinions which ought duly to bee weighed And first the words of Christ In my Fathers House are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you I goe to prepare a place for you and if I goe and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my selfe that where I am there ye may be also Christ doth not say nor mean here that he would goe and prepare his Fathers house or the many mansions that are therein for them as some think but a place as he saith which no doubt is that whereof God spake before unto David saying Also I will prepare a place for my people Israel and will plant them and they shall dwell in their place and shall be mâ—vâ—d no more c. 1 Chron. 17. 9. Where he promised likewise to establish the Kingdome and Throne of Christ for evermore vers. 11 12 13 14. Neither doth Christ say I will come again and receive you up into heaven to the Throne of God from whence I shall come but unto my selfe that where I am there ye may be also And Christ is then to be in his Kingdome which the Father hath appointed unto him in the world to come where all things shall be in subjection unto him when there shall be new heavens and a new earth as the Prophet Esay testifieth and Peter also and as Iohn foresaw with the new Ierusalem coming down from God out of Heaven even that heavenly Countrey and Citie having foundations which all the holy Fathers thers looked for And this is the place which Christ went to prepare for them and for all their children and wherein when he cometh and receiveth them unto himselfe they shall be with him and he will be with them and God himselfe also and will dwell with them and they shall be his people and he will be their God as he hath said Rev. 21. And concerning the words of Paul 2 Cor. 5. 1. For we know that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God an House not made with hands eternall in the Heavens Here the Apostle speaketh of our bodies which hee calleth 〈◊〉 earthly House of this Tabernacle and before chap. 4. our outward man if this be dissolved we have a building of God c. By which he declareth plainly that as wee beleeve the resurrection of our bodies at the last day so we are to know they shall not be then earthly naturall vile corrupt mortall weak dishonorable without glory as now they are but they both the dead that are risen and the living being changed shall be heavenly spirituall incorruptible immortall powerfull honorable glorious for so he had testified before 1 Cor. 15. And in another place again saying For our conversation is in heaven from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body c. Phil. 3. 20 21. And that this building of God or House is not temporall or fading but eternall and not lying now in the grave nor being anywhere now in earth in respect of this glorious change of cloathing but in Heaven from whence it is to come as he saith v. 2. For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be cloathed upon with our House which is from Heaven c. And he calleth it a building of God an house not made with hands as having respect unto the day of the Lord that great day of the generall assembly of them all his first born so cloathed and adorned when they shall manifestly appeare to be that true and heavenly Tabernacle spoken of Heb. 8. 2. and 9. 11. that holy Citie the New Ierusalem which Iohn saw coming downe from God ouâ— of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband such a glorious change shal there be of the bodies of the Saints at the resurrection And as touching the words of Peter Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time this inheritance incorruptible c. is the same spoken of before reserved in heaven ready to be revealed from thence
resurrection Blessed and â—oly is he that hath part in the first Resurrection on such the 〈◊〉 death hath no power But they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall reigne with him a thousand yeares All these words doe the Millinaries take as spoken to their purpose which I request ye beloved of the Lord well to consider ANd first this how Iohn could with any sense or truth say And I saw thrones and they sate upon them c. and mean by They as the Millinaries expound him the sâ—uls of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Iesus c. which were shewed him afterward Or why Iohn if he had so meant would not then rather have said first And I saâ— the souls of them that were beheaded c. and then have said after this And I saw 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 upon them c. but that he had respect unto some other personâ— whom he had seen and spoken of before and who may they 〈◊〉 thought to be but the Beast and the false Prophet and those Kings of the 〈◊〉 that gathered themselves together against him that sate upon the white Hoâ—se and against his Army Chap. 1â— For they 〈…〉 and had power and great authority and judgement given â—nto them and they beheaded the Saints for those causes mentioned as by Chap. 13. 1 2 15. 14. 12 13 14 appeareth according to Dan. 7. 25. But because Iohn had seen another vision of binding the Dragon before this of the Thrones c. therefore that we may the more clearly understand these things we are to consider of the same in the first place as a thing going before Vers. 1 2 3. And I saw an Angel come down from heaven having the key of the bottomlesse pit and a great chain in his hand and he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the Devill and Satan and bound him a thousand yeares and cast him into the bottomlesse pit and shut him up and set a seale upon him that he should deceive the Nâ—tions no more till the thousand yeares should be finished and after that he must be loosed a little season What is to be understood by this Dragon called here that old Serpent the Devill and Satan and what this binding of him should meane and what his deceit was wherewith he deceived the Nations before he was bound and when this binding of him should be are things not here exprest Neither is there any thing at all spoken or shewed that the Dragon did or should doe under that name or title of the Dragon during all the time of the Beasts reigne from the beginning of Chap. 13. unto this place except that of giving his power and his throne and great authority to the Beast chap. 13. 2. onely in chap. 12. his doings are at large declared and what was done to him There after Iohn had seen that great wonder in Heaven A woman clothâ—d with Sunne and the Moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve Starres and grâ—at with child crying and pained to be delivered he sâ—iâ—h And there appeared another wonder in heaven and behold a great red Dragon having seven heads and ten horns c. veâ—se 3 4 5. This great red Dragon thus described with these hâ—ads and horns cannot be taken for the Devil Satan onely and alone consideâ—ed but must needs be understood of those Pagan Emperouâ—s of Rome in whom Satan dwelt and by whom he ruled and wrought all thâ—se wâ—cked workes there described This was he that so cruelly used that heavenly woman the Church and Spouse of Christ drawing down with 〈…〉 of Deâ—fied Cesâ—rs a third part of the Starres of heaâ—â—â— with whoâ—e Dâ—ctrine she was crowned and in the light whereof she waâ—kâ—d and cast them to the earth and that stood before the woman ready to devoure her child as soon as it was born even all the fiâ—st fruits of spirituall off spring that man child which her Lord promised should 〈◊〉 all Naâ—ions with a rod of Iron Rev. 2. 26 27. This was he that with thoâ—e his evill Angels forced the woman from her most eminent bright shining primitive estate and to betake herselfe unto those two wings which her Lord then gave her of his word of Truth and 〈◊〉 into the Wildernesse there to have some refreshing from the face of the Sespent and be sed of God a thousand two hundred and sixty dayes For then was that great warre in heaven Michael and his Angels fighting against the Dragon and the Dragon and his Angels against Michael For the Name and Gospel of Jesus Christ and worship of the true God that made heaven and earth by Michael and his Angels that is to say Christ and his Apostles and their faithfull followers And in opposition to the same with sword and fire by the Dragon and his Angels those bloody Cesars for their open profest Idolatry Paganisme and superstition â—triving by all wicked means to root out the Name of Christ and worship of the true God from the earth and so settle himselfe in his throne to be worshipped and adored for ever But they prevailed not as the Text saith neither was their place found any more in heaven Michael and his Angels overcame them by the word of their testimony and their patient suffering their most cruell murders and tortures And the great Dragon was cast out as there it saith ver. 9. where he is described even as he is here ch. 20. 2. by the names of that old Serpent the Devil Satan which deceiveth the whole world c. his deceit being that of his Paganisine before mentioned and now was the time for Michael that Archangel Jesus Christ he having overcome the Dragon and cast him down to lay hold on him and binde him that he should so deceive the Nations no more nor so universally pursue the blood of the Saints slaughtering all that professed the Name of Jesus Christ as he had done for a thousand yeares space at the least during all the time of the Beasts reigne that was to succeed him whilst the true Church and Spouse of Christ should remain in the Wildernesse close and hidden as it were out of his fight till afterward that she should be seen abroad again with her graces shining and he loosed for a little season out of his prison This was he which Paul spake of that untill he was thâ—s taken out of the way letted the 〈◊〉 of Sin to be revealed 2 Thess. 2. 7 8. that Beast which Iohn saw rise out of the Sea Rev. 13. 1. All these things confidered and understood who now can be thought to be they that sate upon the thrones which Iohn saw after he had seen the Dragon bound Revel. 20. but the Beast and the false Prophet his Clergy and those ten hornes that had crowns on them who received power as Kings one houre with the Beast mentioned chap. 13. 1. 11. and 17. 12. and 19.
19 20 21. These though professing the name of the true God and of the Lord Jesus Christ his Word and Sacraments and themselves to be his Church yet being possest with unclean Spirits of Devils should by another more secret way than the Dragon used deceive a great part of the world And having changed times and lawes and power and judgement being given unto them for a time and times and half a time should consume the Saints of the most High kill them behead them for those causes mentioned Rev. 13. 5 6 7. 14. 12 13. 17. 6. 20. 4. where the souls of them they should behead are shewed according to that of the pale Horse on which Death sate and Hell followed Rev. 6. 8. whereupon Iohn seeth also the soules of them that they should kill for the word of God c. vers. 9 10 11. and to that of the second Woe upon the sounding of the sixth Angel chap. 9. 13. and chap. 11. where they are said to tread the holy Citie under foot fourty and two months vers. 2. Every place agreeing to that in Dan. 7. 25. speaking in order of one and the same things the Dragon or Pagan Empire first tyranizeth the Beast or Horn that had eyes succeeds him in his throne the Saints are slain for the word of God and not worshipping the Beast the great day of the Lord followeth in every place Now concerning the soules of them that during the reigne of the Beast should be beheaded for not worshiping the Beast c. I request you unto whom I present all these things wel to consider Iohn doth not say And I saw the souls that were beheaded as if such a thing could be Neither doth he say I saw the bodies that were beheaded they lived reigned with Christ a thousand yeares as the Millinaries would seem to expound him or turn the words conceiving that Iohn nameth the Soule for the Body and would have a resurrection of the body to be meant and it to be the first resurrection Iohn speakes of which is not so for the words are plain And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded c. And they that is to say their souls livâ—d and â—eigned with Christ c. not their bodies that were beheaded but their souls onely Neither may the soule be named for the body in the resurrection of the body as to rise from the dead with it or for it or for both because it is a meere falshood and a contradâ—ctory thing Iohn might as well and as truly have said I sâ—w the sâ—uls that were beheaded and so have named the soule for the beheading of the body as for the resurrection of it if it had been a thing sensible or true but he saith and that sensibly and truly And I saw the souls of them c. When those bodies of Saints which slept arose Matth. 27. 52 53. it is not said their souls arose but their bodies onely And although in some other cases while the soule and the body liveth together the soule being the principall part of man may be named for both as Gen. 46. All the souls of the House of Iacob wch came into Egypt were threesoore tâ—n yet in this case it cannot be so except they will make the soule to dye or be â—lain with the body and so lye dead in the grave with it that it may rise with it as some of them have been bold to say and some to publish contrary to many cleare testimonies of Scripture and to the words of Christ Iohn 11. 25. I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeveth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and beleeveth in me shall never dye By which words it is evident that whosoever is once quickned and made alive again in soule by faith in Christ from that spirituall death which it being once alive in Adam was brought unto by the fall and his own sinnes this soule shall never dye more he is passed from death to life as Christ saith Iohn 5. 24 25. and Christ will raise his body up at the last day according to his word Iohn 6. 4. It is true that the soules of the unregenerate reprobates which were never quickned and made alive again by faith from that death they had by the fall and their own sinnes their bodies dying their soules remain spiritually dead in some low place of darknesse where evill spirits are untill the last day when both body and soule shall come forth and live to undergoe the second death So then when Iohn saith And I saw the soules of them that were beheaded for the testimony of Iesus c. and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yeares he meaneth their soules and not their bodies and by a thousand yeares all the time of the Dragons being bound and the Beasts reigne and theiâ— bodies suffering for the word of God c. even to the loosing of the Dragon and end of the world according also to that in Rev. 6. where the soules under the Altar cryed saying How long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth And white robes were given unto every one of them and it wâ—s said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season untill their fellow-servants and their brethren which should be killed 〈◊〉 they were should be fulfilled vers. 9 10 11. which must needs be understood from the beginning of the Beasts reigne when they first began to suffer for those causes unto the end of the world because their brethren that should be killed as they were would not be fulfilled till then and all the Saints are in one kind or other killed for Christs sake as it is written For thy sake O Lord are we slain all the day long and counted as sheep to the slaughter And because this resurrection of the soule is effected here while the soule is in the body by the Word and Spirit of God as Iohn well knew according to that which Christ had said Iohn 5. 21 24 25. and 11 4 5 6. and to that of Paul Ephes. 2. 1 4 5 6. Col. 2. 12 13. Col. 3. 1 2. 2 Cor. 4. 16. Ephes. 4. 23. Titus 3. 5. and other places and was also in those dayes well known to the Saints in consideration whereof Iohn saith This is the first Resurrection The first implying plainly that it is the very fiâ—st in which every Saint hath his part and therefore he saith again to the comfort of them all in their afflictions here Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resâ—rrection on such the second death hath no power but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall reigne with him a thousand yeares even till Christ shall come in his glory and avenge their blood and raise their bodies and receive them body and
rest the reprobate part as verse 7. where he saith What then Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for but the election hath obtained it and the rest were blinded according as it is written God hath given them the spirit of slumber eyes that they should nâ—t see and eares that they should 〈◊〉 heare unto this day vers. 8 9 10. And again v. 15. For I would not brethren that ye should be ignorant of this mystery lest yee should be wise in your owne conceits that blindnesse in part is hapned to Israel untill the fulnesse of the Gentiles be come in Blindnesse in part hee saith not in the whole he still reserveth them of the Election as in v. 7. The Election obtained it the rest were blinded And so vers. 18. As concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your sakes But as touching the Election they are beloved for their Fathers sakes hee still severing them of the election from the repâ—â—bate part against whom in another place he concludeth saying Who both killed the Lord Iesus and their owne Prophets and have persecuted us and they please not God and are contrary to all men forbidding us to speak unto the Gentiles that they might be saved to fill up their sin alwayes for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost 1 Thess. 1. 15 16. According to that which Moses had foretold of them long before Deut. 28. 49. And Esay 6. 9 10. David also Psal. 69. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27. And Christ himselfe Luke 21 22 23 24. All which hath been seen fulfilled not only upon those of that present age who so obstinatly stood out against Christ and his Apostles and their manifest approved testimonies to the very destruction and and desolation of Ierusalem but upon their posterity also to this day even as it was foretold and as themselves in their rage against Christ cryed out saying His blood be upon us and upon our Children For this blindnesse and wrath fore-told was to continue upon them not for a short time like to the captivity in Babylon nor for a thousand and six hundred yeares as already it hath and then or soon after to cease as the Millinaries imagine nay but continually as David said Psal. 69. 23. 24. alwayes even untill the fulnesse of Gods elect Gentiles should come in as Paul concludeth Rom. 11. 25. which must needs be understood to the end of the world because the fulnesse of them will not be come in till then And so the fulnesse of the Gentiles being come in as the Apostle saith All Israel shal he saved as it is written There shal come out of Sâ—m the Deliverer and shall turn away ungodlinesse from Iacob v. 26. meaning by all Israel and by Iacob all the whole house spirituall even every one of that seed of Abraham Isaac and Iacob who are the children of the promise and heires with them according to Rom. 4 13 14 15 16 17. Rom 9. 8. Gal. 3. 7 8 28 29. Not one shall be lost of what Nation Tribe or people soever they that have been in times past are now or shall be hereafter among the blinded Jewes or the ten Tribes wheresoever disperst the Lord that knoweth them all will search them out and gather them together that they with their Fathers and their brethren Gods elect Gentiles whom the Lord will also search out and bring may make up that one fold and one nation to that one King and one Sheepheard Jesus Christ and be the Tabernacle and Sanctuary of God for evermore as Ezekiel prophesied chap. 37. and as Christ also fore-shewed Iohn 10. 10. Rev. 21. 2 3 4. All these things considered what ground or foundation is there to be thought the Millinaries can find in Scripture for a thousand years Monarch of any kind let them search and see Nay if they did rightly understand the Scriptures that speake of those glorious things that are to be manifested at the appearing of Christ and his Kingdome and of the signe going before the same and the end they would know that there is not nor will be found so much as one hundred years time to come here in this world for any Monarch or Kingdome soever And were they not too highly concâ—ited of their own wisdome they might perceive is by that which is 〈◊〉 though in a plain and simple way exprest they would reprove their own thoughts repent of their error and not any longer hold it as an Article of their faith that there must be such a Monarch as they speak of nor think that the present reformation in respect of the Ministery and forme of Church-government is the beginning thereof that Christ is thereby set upon his throne 〈◊〉 some of them give out Nay But would rather know this that if there be any thousand years Monarch fore-told in the Scripture that should in this world rule over the nations under the name and profession of Christ and his Church 〈◊〉 is that of Rome and no other which hath made such a profession and hath so ruled 1240 yeares already there lacking but 20. more at most to make up the 1260. the full time determined in Scripture for that Bâ—ast and his Church to rule which being accoâ—plished and his City 〈…〉 in that yearâ— of his number 666. as will be known throughout the world when it is there will bee thence but 45 yâ—arâ—â— more to the end as the Lord hath diclared Dan. 12. where he having spoken of the abomination of that Man of Sin and numbred the dayes thereof to be according to the Chaldee account 1290. faith Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the 1335. dayes And then faith to Daniâ—l But goe thou thy way till the end be for thou shalt rest and stand in the lot at the end of the dayes vers. 12 13. So that if Daniel was to goe his way till the end should be and shall stand up in the loâ— at the end of the 1335. dayes as the Lord hath there spoken then the end of the world must needs be at the end of those dayes Let this be considered for the word of the Lord is true And concerning the signes that are to go before that day of the Lord end that we may understand things clearly we are to consider first how the estate now standeth as this present and then what iâ— to follow according to the Scriptures That the end was not to come till first the Man of Sinne should be revealed and his dayes ended it is plainly fore-told in Scripture and beleeved by many and that his dayes are now neare at all end And it was also fore-told that those dayes of the abomination and tribulation should for the elects sake be shortned and that the light of the Gospel which Antichrist and his false prophets had obscured should break forth for the saving of the elect and convincing of those their enemies which hath been and is in part fulfilled