share beyond all earthly things or creatures whatsoever The eyeing and well minding what man was before his sin and fall may give some light in the case in hand Adam and Eve were perfect man and perfect woman so made of God little inferiour to the Angels Heb. 2. 7. man and woman at the first making consisted of flesh and bloud bones and sinewes made up of several parts and members with several senses and faculties of soule and body which the posteritie of Adam have and do enjoy unto this day only they have lost the rectitude and have by transgression been clothed with corruption and mortalitie being deprived of the glory of God his Image holyness and righteousnes wherein at first they were created and into which they shall be restored by being so changed The regeneration in this world it hath a tendency unto this but this changing in a moment will fully effect it and at that day in the world to come it will be so fully and perfectly so as Adam and Eve changed for the worse and yet lived in the body as they were made so those of the servants of God which live and remain at the coming of the Lord shall be changed for the better and restored again to their first happy and perfect condition of body and soul parts and members senses and faculties as Adam then had and his posteritie yet have This mistery of not dying but being changed living in the body it is a great thing in it self and great things not much minded will necessarily follow As namely that this change and restoration are different and distinct things and not one and the same with the resurrection but also that there will be it is very likely a difference in condition and estate betwixt them and that those of the resurrection will be of a higher degree then those so changed The Apostle tells us of a difference in the celestial bodyes and there will be also a difference in degree among the caelestial the sun the moon and the stars are different in glory yea the stars differ in glory so is the resurrection vers 42. And it is very probable there will be difference between the raised and the changed and that they will be different in degrees of Glory The raised will be as the Angels of God as our Lord sayth Math. 22. 30. but the changed like to Adam and Eve will be as the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty as they were in the regeneration and as Adam and Eve were before the fall And these changed so and restored to their first condition without dying and living again as the raised it is likely that as they will be restored to what Adam was and likewise Eve at their first making so they will do the things which they did or might have done and enjoy the things which they did or lawfully might do in their innocent condition before corruption seized on them of which we may treat something afterward the raised being restricted not in a condition so to do And because some take no notice of the mistery of this not dying but being changed alive reckoning it as the same thing with the resurrection without any difference or distinction and seem to ground it on that of our Lord his answer to the question made to him whose wife the woman that had had seven husbands whose wife she should be at the resurrection Seven having had her Math. 22. 28. 29. we shall a little treat of it To the question so made our Lord answereth first saying they erred not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God Then further ver 30. he saith in the resurrection not in the changed they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels of God in heaven and so goeth on in a restricted way as to the resurrection but as touching the resurrection so as in Mathew there is nothing that includes the mistery of the change the evangelist Luke hath it more largely Luk. 20. 34. the children of this world marry and are given in Marriage vers 35. but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world to wit the world to come and the resurrection from the dead the saying is restricted to them neither marry nor are given in marriage vers 6. neither can they dye any more having dyed once which I conceive cannot be mean tas including the changed that shall not dye at all for they are equal to the Angels and are the children of God being the children of the resurrection he doth not say of the changed and further he saith vers 37. now that the dead are raised which doth not relate to the living that shall not dye at all This answer of our Lord declared by both these evangelists holds forth much but seemeth to have nothing that relateth to those alive at the coming of the Lord who shall not dye but be changed So as the mistery holds it forth clearly to be another thing then the resurrection of which the Apostle having spoken largely saith behold I shew you a mistery we shall not all dye but be changed He holds it forth as another distinct thing though something like it and related to it in speciall in time when they shall both be That in Mathew and likewise in Luke relate to the resurrection and the raised people it wholy speaks of them and so it answereth the question whose wife shall she be first our Lord tells them they erre not understanding the scriptures then further he tells them that in the resurrerection they marry not nor are given in marriage but are as the Angels and so goeth on in that of the resurrection Luke hath marrying and giving in marriage in this world but denyeth it to those in the world to come for then they shall not do so but be as Angels of God he saith neither can they die any more Which the changed never did and having put on immortality can never do He goeth on further concerning the resurrection Luk. 20. 37. see the place and nothing will appear in a probable way that doth conclude the mistery of the changed people as if it were one and the same And that they are two and not one and differ greatly as hath been sayd let that of the Apostle be considered 1. Thes. 4. 15. We that are alive shall not prevent them which are asleep or dead he speaks so as of two distinct people one dead the other alive and that they shall not prevent one another as some time it is found as Jacob prevented Esau but as in vers 17. they shall be caught up together as two different and distinct people though as we said very like I shall end this chapter and the essays therein proposed how largely the holy Apostle having treated of the doctrine of the resurrection and the order of it and yet after all sayd therein sayth behold I shew you a mistery a rare secret
that subject he begins with that of the Lord Christ his being risen of the truth whereof were many witnesses as is mentioned by him he taking knowledge of some amongst themselves that said there was to be no resurrection from the dead 1. Cor. 15. 12. contrary to the faith that was preached and beleeved and being a thing that did render the assertors of that truth as false witnesses which he makes good from the tising from death the Lord Christ laying very great stresse on that as a foundation and bottom on which the whole building stands he mentions it again ver 15. and argues from thence to the 20th verse to make out and clear that truth and then in vers 20. he concludes saying but now is Christ risen and become the first fruits of them that sleep so he calleth death This doctrine of the resurrection looketh backward and forward as it looketh backward it eyeth death which came by man to wit Adam as it looketh forward it eyeth living again by man to wit the man Christ our Lord as in vers 21. He is the blessed redeemer from the grave and the restorer to life again after death vers 22. As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive this It looketh backward and forward backward It eyeth Adam forward it relateth to the Lord Christ the new and second Adam as by the first Adam sin entred and death by sin as the effect following its cause Adam was forewarned and it was told him in the garden of Eden that in the day he did eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evel he should die he did notwithstanding take and eat he sinned and death seized on him by sin came death and it went over all Adam being the father of all the stock from whence man proceeded his sin or sin that entred by his disobedience was propagated and entailed to all his posteritie Rom. 5. 12. As by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin c. vers 17. By one mans offence death reigned by one In Adam all sin In Adam all die In the Lord Christ all shall be made alive the just and the unjust the righteous and the wicked all over whom death hath reigned all that dyed in Adam so is the paralel and proportion as and so all shall be made alive by the power of the Lord Christ the great conqueror of sin and death The matter is considerable as it relateth to the resurrection and rising again of the sons of Adam the argument or thing the Apostle was upon and it doth not meddle with that of election and faith or living by faith in a spiritual way neither may it be so understood or made use of without straining and forcing it to speak that the Apostle never intended In Christ shall all be made alive so as to rise and live again in the body There shall be a resurrection of the just and of the unjust some shall be made alive again to everlasting life Dan. 12. 2. And some to shame and everlasting contempt some shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. c. 2. Thess 1. 9. They shall be bid depart ye workers of iniquity shall be bid go ye cursed c. Math. 25. 41. Whereas the just and righteous shall be gathered to the Lord Christ and be for ever with him 1. Thes. 4. 10. The Apostle argueth from the resurrection of the Lord Christ his rising again after his being crucified dead and buried he rose again It was said to the women that came to the sepulchre by an Angel Math. 28. 6. Luk. 24. 6. He is not here he is risen He was buried in the grave or sepulchre but he arose from thence and was not there he was dead but he is alive and liveth for evermore and hath the keys of death and the grave Rev. 1. 18. to open when he pleaseth and as he pleaseth Christ our Lord is risen from the dead a great saying and blessed Christ our Lord is risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that slept so death and lying in the grave is termed 1. Cor. 15. 20. our Lord saith John 5. 28. 29. The hour cometh when all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation Christ the first fruits there is very much in that he as conqueror of death as the captain and leader the beginner and finisher one that hath and ought to have the preheminence he being the beginning and first fruits from the dead that in all things he might have the preheminence Col. 1. 18. the Lord Christ as man is first and chief to him the preheminence belongs in all things for God the father hath highly advanced him and made him mighty Phil. 2. 9. As by man to wit Adam came death so by man namely the Lord Jesus very man and the son of man so he stiles himself came also the resurrection from the dead By the first man Adam came death by the second man the Lord Jesus Christ came the resurrection from death Alas for those sadduces that say there is no resurrection It is good for all the servants of God and lovers of the Lord Christ to be of like confession and belief with the Apostle Paul Acts. 24. 15. And have hope towards God that there shall be a resurrection from the dead both of the just and the unjust The power and vertue of the resurrection of the Lord Christ produceth great effects as to the one so to the other The forementioned words in vers 22. As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made a live are so full and plain as nothing can be said further there needs no dilating on them only keep to the thing in hand to wit death or dying and rising and living again after it As to that of all dying in Adam ask the many ages and generations that are past since Adam since God created man upon the earth ask what is become of the great potentates the mighty men the rich the wise the honorable yea the good and just men also and all free and bond and they will all beare witness in a real wise to this that in Adam all die they are all dead and gone they are all in their graves death hath gone over all as sin went before so death followed after all the sons of Adam as well as he himself have dyed only two or three excepted that dyed not but were translated In like manner and in way of parallel and proportion In Christ and by Christ shall all be made alive sooner or later not one of Adams sons excepted there is no reserve in the case all must arise all must appeare and give an account of the things they have done in the flesh whether good or
the first fruits then a long time since not yet come after those that are Christs expresly declared to be at his coming then cometh the end implying as before neer that time they shall arise and not before towards the end a little before the last session neer a thousand years after the rising of the just as before Then cometh the end the end of time or of a state it may be considered as in a more General way as holding out the latter end of a state or of time as a day year or years neer accomplished is said to be the end of that day year or years as was said by the Lord himself to Noah Gen. 6 13. the end of all flesb is come c. It is at hand It is but a little while and the floud will come and sweep away all it only stays while Noah builds the Ark but the end was come Yet further when the floud was come all were not drowned presently haply some might live twenty thirty or forty days after the floud was come and begun and it is said that the end of all flesh was come But secondly the end may be taken strictly for the utter end of time or being of a thing as the utter end of a day year or years the filling or full finishing thereof nothing remaining an end an utter end According to such an end as was come upon the old world when the floud was at hand so it may be minded and taken here as in order to the rising of the unjust and wicked to judgment towards the end of Christs kingdom and reign on earth a little before he resigns before the utter end be come shall the rising of the unjust and wicked be to judgment And as in the last place it relates to them is the true understanding of what is spoken on that account in John 5. 28. 29. for sutable to the several resurrection both of the just and unjust so also is their judgment to be and also what is spoken in Math. 25 34. concerning the judgment and salvation of the just and in vers 41. of the judgment and destruction of the unjust is thus to be understood and will be found to be truth in the day thereof CHAP. III. Containing sundry things of the reign of our Lord Christ of his putting down all his enemies and how long his reign will be THe Apostle in his proceed seemeth to make a digression from the matter in hand namely the resurrection which he returns unto and speaks largely of afterward but here having mentioned the coming of the end he falls on speaking of very high and great things that shall attend the end in order to our Lord Christ his kingdom and reign and having put down all enemies his then delivering up his kingdom and God the father becoming all in all he waves the mentioning of the resurrection of the unjust and speaks no otherwise then thus then cometh the end and so takes on another thing that shall be at the end also Vers. 24 Then cometh the end when he shall have put down all rule and all Authority and power that which is first set down is the last thing that will be done at the utmost end when all things relating to the reign and dominion are finished then he shall deliver up the kingdom to God the father when all power and authorities are put down all enemies under his feet then he shall deliver up the kingdom to God the father of whom he received it Then all that are under our Lord Christ then shall give up their power also and God the father shall be all in all When he shall have put down all rule and authority and power Great kings and monarchs use to have all rule authority and power derived from them by all that are under them and what they meet with in their dominions that is not so derived they put down and suppresse Our Lord Christ a mighty king and monarch then will do in like manner put down all rule and authority not derived from him all that make opposition his enemies that would not have him reign over them that will not subject themselves the princes and rulers of the unsaved Nations Gog and Magog and the captains and mighty men with all that excercise rule and power they will then by our Lord Christ he utterly dispossessed of their power and put down The prophecy of Malachi will then in the reign of our Lord Christ be made good to the life they shall be so burnt up as there shall be left neither root nor branch there will be none to succeed them to take their dominions and thrones after them as now the son succeeding the father but it will not be so then their places will be no more sound for ever All authoritie and power and rule in the time of the kingdom and reign of our Lord Jesus in the thousand yeers he will subject and put down all that have enmity in them sooner or later he will put them under his feet This is one of the great things to be done before the utter end come the putting down all rule authoritie and power in an active visible way and until then he must reign and his kingdome continue for so it is said expresly in vers 25. He must reign until he himself hath put all his enemies under his feet All his enemies great and small high and low one and all by what name or title soever they be named or called he shall subdue them and as a mighty mighty Monarch shall subject them under his feet and put them down all that have enmity in them against him sin and death and the grave they shall all be destroyed by him the last enemy that shall be destroyed will be death as after is exprest the Apostle layes great stresse upon it he must he must reign until then This until seemeth not to be the same with that in the 110. Psalm mentioned by our Lord Math. 22. 44. Also by the Apostle Heb. 1. 13. Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool Which scriptures some urge against the personal coming of our Lord Christ the second time and his reigning here on earth saying thus he must stay in heaven until all be done here his enemies made his footstool So as if all the scriptures that speak of his kingdome and reign shall be made good in a virtual way and that 's all To dilate the matter a little First that in the 110. Psalm and the other alledged scriptures is done by God the father himself he said to the son the Lord Christ as those places do shew but this is done by the Lord Christ himself he must reign until he hath made c. Again that 's done by God the father in heaven this is done by the Lord Christ himself on earth That 's done by the father in heaven where the Lord Christ is sitting at
Heb. 2. 14. Enemies there will be in the time of the reign of our Lord Christ to be put down and to be destroyed by him but the last enemie to be destroyed will be death Rev. 20. 14. it is said death hell or the grave were cast into the lake of fire and then presently followeth the end of Christ his kingdom and reign here on earth and a delivering up all to God the father Vers. 27. For he hath put all things under his feet he to wit God the father hath so put all things under the feet of our Lord Christ He hath highly advanced him over all far above all principalities and powers and mights and dominions and every name that is named to wit of power and dignities all God the father put under the feet of Christ as before is more largly held forth But here the Apostle comes in with a caution or reserve for God the father in putting all things under him namely the son he did not subject or put under himself there 's an exception in that there 's a but there so saith the Apostle in the words that follow but when he saith all things are put under him it is manifest he is excepted he is not meant or intended he is not comprehended in this all things but the contrary God that put all things under it is manifest he is excepted so the Apostle that did put all things under him the sum of all seemeth to be this that God the father in the high advance of the Lord Christ did not subject or make lower himself for saith the Apostle it is manifest he is excepted Vers. 28. He goeth on further saying and when all things shall be subdued unto him by the way the words subduing subjecting putting under putting under feet are all of like import and tendenoy when the Lord Christ in the time of his reign hath subdued and actually put down all authority and power when all enemies are put under his feet and the last enemy death destroyed for till then he must reign then shall the son himself be subject unto him namely the father that put all things under him that God may be all in all When the Lord Christ that great and mighty monarch king of kings and Lord of Lords shall have finished his reign and done what he had to do here on earth then shall he deliver up the kingdom to the father of whom he did receive it God the father that so highly advanced him and put all things under him shall have all surrendred and delivered up to him and be all in all An end a final end of that happy kingdom of our Lord Christ here on earth and of our living and reigning with him therein a 1000 years and all the time of the last Session of judgment following the same which is the last and most glorious administration of his kingdom and as worthy Mr. Archer apprehends will last neer a thousand years more which I leave to the day to declare all which is comprehended in Christ's and the Saints reigning together therein though not so particularly expressed and also a mentioning of one to succeed to wit the kingdom of the father Of which something after These being very high and great misteries CHAP. IV. Containing something of the beginning and end of Christ our Lord his kingdom and of such things as will be at the beginning and end of the same TO dilate a little concerning the beginning and end of the kingdom of our Lord Christ so often mentioned to be a thousand years the beginning and end have a medium or middle time to make up the whole so as to suppose if a hundred or if fifty years be reckoned to the beginning in a general way and a like number to the end then the middle or body of the time will be eight or nine hundred years the Apostle speaketh of the beginning at our Lord Christ his coming when will be also the resurrection of the just mentioned Luk. 14. 14. he mentions the end when the Lord hath reigned his time and done or finished his reign what he had to do therein and had received that honour he was to have done him on earth he saith then cometh the end but he speaks little expresly touching the middle time and what shall be done therein only inclusively he saith he must reign till the end untill he hath put down all rule authority and power till his enemies be made his footstool and death the last enemy destroyed But as to the Beginning and likewise as to the end he speaketh of very high and great things that will fall in with and be done in both the one and the other of which we shall dilate a little and first of the things that concur with the beginning First then will be the coming of the Lord Christ in the glory of his father and of all the holy Angells Math. 25. 31. then when he appeareth we shall appear with him in glory Col. 3. 4. When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory then will he fit on the throne of his glory and before him will both the good and the bad the saved and the unsaved nations that are then living be gathered the righteous will have the preheminence then they will be set on the right hand vers 33. then will be the resurrection of the just Luk. 14. 14. to live again and to reign with the Lord Christ a thousand years upon the earth Rev. 20. 4. Rev. 5. 10. no mention is made of the wicked dead rising at that time then will be the redemption of the body and an entertaining again of the soul or spirit Rom. 8. 23. A great thing a high misterie then will actually be made good that great misterie the holy Apostle hath told us of vers 5. We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye and be caught up with the raised saints to meet the Lord Christ together 1 Thes. 14. 17. Then will be the time of our being unclothed and clothed upon when corruption shall put on incorruption and mortallitie put on immortalitie 2. Cor. 5. 4. 1 Cor. 15. 53. Then shall be the refreshing from the presence of the Lord and the restitution or restoration of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began Acts. 3. 19. 20 21. Then shall the new heavens and the new earth wherein righteousness will dwell take place according to the promise of God the father 2. Pet. 3. 13. Then will the new Jerusalem come down from heaven and the bride the lambs wife be richly adorned and exceeding glorious Then will be also the mariage supper of the lamb Rev. 21. 2. 10. Then shall all things be made new as at the beginning For these sayings are faithful and true Rev. 22. 6. then God shall wipe
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
dwell and reside with his for a thousand years Rev. 20. 6. Further he saith if I go or though I go and prepare a place for you I will come again good newes and comfortable the Lord Christ gone into heaven will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also Very comfortable and gladding to all his that love him and are sad for the absence of him but shall abundantly rejoyce when they shall see him again Joh. 16. 22. They shall be with him in his kingdom they shall never be severed from him or deprived of his presence any more but be for ever with him 1. Thes. 4. 17. with the which the servants of the Lord Jesus may comfort themselves and one another as the Apostle Paul bids them to do with the considerations of those sayings But where will our Lord Christ be then to wit when he is come from heaven may some ask answer he will be in his kingdom for he is the noble man that is gone into a far countrey to receive for himself a kingdom and to return Luk. 19. 12. And being returned and come again he will send and gather all his elect to himself and they shall then be with him where he is he prayed so to his father afore-hand Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that those that thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which is the same with those words aforemontioned Joh. 14. 3. I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there ye may be also If it yet be asked where our Lord Christ will be then to wit at his coming we say as before in his kingdom in the new earth where those that are his shall live and reign with him a thousand years Rev. 20. 6. The Lord Christ hath made those that are his kings and Preists unto God the father and they shall reign on the earth Rev. 5. 10. he the Lord Christ when he hath received his kingdom must reign till the end and then deliver up to the father While he stays they stay with him when he goes they go with him a higher and greater attayner of glory they shall proceed unto then they shall have mansion places prepared they shall shine as the sun on the fathers kingdom they shall be still with Christ they shall drink of the fruit of the vine with him in the fathers kingdom be it in heaven or wherever it shall be The father and great Lord of the house that good householder will keep the highest and best enjoyments till the last and so great it will be as the eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man the things which God to wit the father hath prepared for them that love him which they then shall enjoy in his kingdom when they shall shine forth as the sun for ever It is true in respect of the kingdom of the Lord Christ also and the saints enjoyments there it is not manifest what we shall be for happines and blessednes then and there 1. Joh. 3. 2. But higher and greater shall the saints enjoy and be made partakers of in the kingdom of the father when God is all in all This distinction of kingdoms and gradual way of proceed from glory to glory or to higher and higher glory may hapily seem strange to some that think of nothing but stepping into heaven presently when they leave this world but I shall forbear CHAP. IX Something held forth concerning a mixed or interwoven way of speaking in the holy scriptures when the kingdom of God and of the Lord Christ are spoken of FOr the better minding and taking knowledge of this matter I propose how that in sundry prophecies and high sayings in the old and new Testament concerning kingdom and glory to come there seemeth to be an interwoven or mixed way of speaking some part of the matter relating to the Lord Christ his kingdom and glory and some part relating to the kingdom of the father and the high soveraignty and glory when he shall be all in all the matter warily minded it may hapily appear to be so in way of instance we shall propose a place or two That in the 1 Epistle to Timothy Chap. 6. 15. 16. seemeth to be so Paul having layd a charge on Timothy vers 13. as likewise he had done before chap. 5. 21. And this charge it being as is set forth before God or in the sight of God who quickneth all things and before Jesus Christ who before Pontius Pilat witnessed a good confession that thou keep this commandement c. How long it might be asked he answers until the appearing of Jesus Christ vers 15. Which in his times he shall shew to wit them himself in his glory for that is a sure word and shall be made good the Lord Christ shall be manifested and shewn forth in his times to be the only potentate the king of kings and the Lord of Lords the words are Who is the blessed and only potentate the king of kings and Lord of Lords That hath all power in heaven and in earth given unto him of the father Math. 28. 18. He being highly advanced far above all principallitie and power and might and dominion and every name that is named to wit of power and dignity not only in this world but also in that which is to come Ephes. 1. 21. In the world to come will his kingdom and reign be for that will not be subjected to the Angels Heb. 2. 5. but to the Lord Christ and those he shall authorize to rule with him over ten cities and over five cities Luk. 19. 15. 17. 19. When that blessed time shall take place when the kingdom of the Lord Christ shall be come then the Lord Jesus that great potentate king of kings shall rule and reign in his kingdom before his antients groriously Isa 24. 23. That this thus far is spoken of the Lord there is I conceive little doubt or question to be made of it But that which followeth in vers 16. seemeth to be spoken of God the father who in vers 13. of this 1. Tim. 6. is named the quickner of all things who only hath immortallitie c. The Lord Christ he had no Immortality the scriptures do not attribute that to him he dyed he suffered according to the design of heaven he redeemed and purchased the Church with his own bloud Acts. 20. 28. He was humbled to death even the death of the Crosse Phil. 2. 8. and was afterward advanced highly by God the father It followeth dwelling in the light which no man can approch unto whom no man hath seen or can see this seemeth to be spoken of God the father and is true in him and is not applicable to the Lord Christ touching whom it is said we saw his glory as the glory of the only begotten son 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
may be very true though thou dost not understand it or at first resent it Remember how it was with the disciples of our Lord Christ Luk. 18. 31. 34. our Lord told them vers 31. of what he was to suffer and that all things that were written by the prophets concerning the son of man should be fulfilled and that at Jerusalem he should be spitefully dealt withall c. and delivered to the gentiles as they did vers 34. it is said they understood none of those things these sayings were hid from them neither knew they the things that were spoken in like manner our Lord Christ the Apostles and prophets have spoken and declared many things concerning his coming again in power and great glory and that every eye shall see him They have spoken of very many great things that wlll contemporize and take place then and amongst them in particular this mistery shewed by the Apostle Paul of the not aying of the servants of God but being changed whilst alive and put into their former happy estate which was lost in Adam but many of the servants of God and followers of the Lord Christ understand none of those things and the saying is hid from them and they know it not Haply it may be even so in this our day and in particular concerning this mistery this being changed whilest alive in a moment It is likely it may be better resented and understood hereafter and therefore I shall leave it to the giver of light and understanding to give forth as he shall please The day hasteneth the time it draweth nigh he that shall come will come and will not tarry In the mean time the just shall live by faith Farewell P. G. B. The Mystery of Not Dying but being Changed whilest alive Discussed 1 Cor. 15. 51. CHAP. I. Something offered in a brief and general way touching the resurrection of the dead from that in 1 Cor. 15. from the 34. to the end of vers 50 In order to the better taking knowledge of some other matter THe Apostle Paul having mentioned a question that some did or might make vers 35. How are the dead raised up and with what bodyes do they come He in an upbraiding manner answereth in an allusive way to the sowing of grain in the earth vors 36. Thou fool that which thou sowest is not quickned except it die vers 37. And that which thou sowest thou sowest not that body which shall be but bare grain c. a grain sowen becomes a stalk with ears and grain For vers 38. God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him and to every seed of this or that kind of grain his own body his own in nature and kind wheat bringeth forth wheat barly and all kind of grain their like In vers 39. the Apostle alludeth to flesh and mentions the several kindes all not being the same there is one of men another of beasts another of fishes another of birds then in vers 40. He tells also of celestial bodyes and bodies terrestrial And in vers 41. he speaks of the difference that is between the celestial bodyes in glory that there is a difference in degree and in the greatnes of their glory as in the sun and the moon And how one star differs from another in glory and this he doth in an allusive way to the matter in hand In vers 42. He applies that before spoken of to the resurrection saying so also is the resurrection of the dead it is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption c. And so according to that allusive way of speaking of sowing mans body is so sown in corruption and raised in incorruption God giveth a body as he pleaseth so as he giveth to the grain A body incorruptible as is set forth in vers 43. it is sown in dishonor it is raised in glory It is sown in weakness it is raised in power it is sown a natural body it is raised a spiritual body There will be a difference betwixt what they are when sown and what they will be when raised in sundry considerations In the latter part of vers 44. the Apostle doth positively assert that there is a natural body such is the present condition of all the sons of Adam and there is a spiritual body so will be the case and condition of all the just hereafter when they are raised again He speaketh as the holy Scriptures use to do of things that as yet are not as if at present they were There is a spiritual body it will surely be so What he means by spiritual body the matter following in vers 45. doth shew he confirms the differencing so by what is written saying and so it is written the first man Adam was made a living soul a living man Gen. 2. 7. God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life man became a living soul The last Adam to wit the Lord Christ the prince of life Acts. 3 15. He was made a quickning spirit being the first-fruits of those that rose from death vers 46. He shews that the natural state is first the spiritual state is afterward vers 47. the first man is of the earth earthly Adam was formed of the dust of the earth the second Adam or man the Lord Christ from heaven Vers. 48. As is the earthy such are they that are earthy as was Adam such are all his posteritie as is the heavenly such are they that are heavenly as is the Lord Christ such will be all the just they shall be like him 1. Joh. 3. 2. Their vile bodyes shall be changed and made like unto his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. Vers. 49. The Apostle fully asserts it As we have born and do yet bear the Image of the earthy we shall also bear the Image of the heavenly The Apostle saith we shall not that we do bear it now for our present state is a state of regeneration but our future condition will be a state of glorification which we shall then attain unto when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Col. 3. 4. Vers. 50. The Apostle hath another positive assertion and a resolve in the case this I say brethren that flesh and bloud cannot inherrit the kingdom of God What he means by flesh and bloud that which he sayth further explains neither saith he doth corruption inherit incorruption namely man in his corrupt unchanged estate earthy Adam he cannot inherit that incorrupt estate as to dwell in the new heaven and the new earth wherein shall dwell righteousness or righteous ones only so in Rev. 21. 27. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth c. Man clothed with mortallity and corrupt flesh and bloud cannot come there or have any share or inheritance in that blessed state of which holy Peter speaketh 1. Pet. 1. 4. an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away
be that the Lord Christ will present the Church the bride the lambs wife the new Jerusalem to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but holy and without blemish Ephes. 5. 27. she namely the Church is accepted in the beloved now and fair and precious as being clothed with his purity and righteousness All now in the state of regeneration and living by faith is by imputation of his righteousness and as we are in him the reckoning and account stands good on the behalf of the servants of God but then that pure white linnen said to be the righteousnes of the saints their own so given unto them for their clothing at their raising and changing Rev. 10. 8. It was granted to the lambs wife that she should be arrayed in fine linnen clean and white for so is it sayd the fine linnen is the righteousness of saints they shall be like him when he appears Their bodyes that were vile shall be made like his glorious body very glorious and shining upon the whole we may well say with the spirit and the bride O come Lord Jesus come quickly CHAP. IV. Containing something further in a general way proposed concerning the mistery of all not dying but being changed in a moment In which some things neer relating to it with some scriptures of like tendency are discussed in way of essay THe holy Apostle Peter tells us Acts. 3. 20. 21. of a very happy time a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord when God the father shall send Jesus Christ our Lord he that before was preached unto them that came in his humiliation dyed for our sins rose again for our justification ascended into heaven and is at the right hand of God in glory whom the heavens must contain be the place of his stay and abode till then namely till that time of refreshing come and the time of the restitution or restoration of all things that God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began This scripture comporteth in the tendency of it with that of Rom. 8. 23. being for matter and time much the same As in like manner this of the changing in a moment the desire and groaning of the creature as well as the servants of God that have the first fruits of the spirit as the earnest of it to wit that happy day when they shall possess it even their inheritance prepared for them 1. Pet. 1. 4. This groaning and desire after restoration this desire of freedom and the liberty of the sons of God seemeth to imply a former happy estate and condition which they would be at and enjoy again to wit that which Adam was created in He was created in the Image of God a perfect man in perfect freedom from sin sorrow miserie and death in full felicity he sinned he fell lost his happy condition and in him all his posteritie and the creatures also as this they groan under and desire to be rid of so shall they according to their expectation be restored to their former estate with some addition of blessedness at that day of restoration forementioned Two wayes this is attayned unto as the holy scriptures do hold out unto us the one is by dying and after lying a time in the grave rising again or being raised out of the prison of the grave at the sounding of the trumpet of God when they shall hear awake and rise The other way is by not dying but being changed in a moment at the very same time the dead are raised This change is a mistery a secret not much taken notice of These both at the same time at the coming and appearing of the Lord Christ will be raised and changed and caught up together in the clouds to meet him in the air not then to go up to heaven with him but to attend him in his coming to the earth and so will be ever after with him 1. Thes. 4. 17. These shall not prevent one another by getting before one the other the raised shall not so do by the changed nor shall they be occasioned to stay for them for they shall be changed in a moment in the twinckling of an eye and caught up together Very aierie and spriteful shall they be then This change or being changed To is a great thing indeed The change of regeneration or being born again which Nicodemus made so strange and impossible a matter to be effected to be born again to put off the old man with the affections and lusts and to put on the new man Ephes. 4. 22. 24. Col. 3. 8. 9. 10. The new man being after God created in righteousness and true holiness It 's a being quite another person A very great change that hath much of mistery in it But the changing is a higher mistery a greater thing the putting off sin and corruption and mortality at once in a moment in the twinkling of an eye That of regeneration when begun by the spirit of Christ it is carryed on and advanced in a gradual way by the exercise of mortification and sanctification and by fresh supplies of the spirit of Christ while we are in this world till death or this change take place As we may by that before take some notice of this change so we may also of the neer affinitie it hath with the resurrection of the just and how in sundry things they concur and agree together in order to the righteous and saved people who then shall the one be raised the other changed at the same time together They shall both be rid and freed of corruption and mortality together They shall both be caught up together to meet the Lord in the aire they shall be with the Lord Christ together they shall enjoy glory and honor and eternal life together and the blessednes of that happy day for ever The unjust and wicked sinners they shall not share at all in the glory and blessedness of that happy day for as they shall not rise then that not being their order or time of rising so such of them as are then living shall not be changed then but shall be left in their old clothing of corruption and mortalitie they shall have no share or be concerned in the blessedness of this mistery of being changed so for then that of our Lord Christ Math. 24. 40. Luk. 17. 34. 35. 36. will be made good and fulfilled at the coming of the son of man then two shall be in the feild the one shall be taken the other left Two women shall be grinding together at the Mill one shall be taken the other left The evangelist Luke holds it forth more largely thus I tell you in that night there shall be two men in one bed the one shall be taken the other shall be left And as it follows Two grinding at the Mill and two in the feild so taken and left Vers. 37. Our Lord
be made good in its time The testimony of holy Peter 2. Pet. 1. 16. Is very considerable he tells us that the things concerning the kingdom and coming of the Lord Christ are no cunning devised fables but true and real things first that they were eye witnesses of his majesty to wit of the Lord Christs shewn forth at the transfiguration on the holy mount Math. 17. 1. What honor and glory he received when there came a voice to him from that excellent glory this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased This voice they heard from heaven namely Peter James and John being with him in the holy mount where Moses and Elias were also present Here were three good and authentique witnesses that both heard and saw themselves against the validness of their testimony no exception could be made They had it not by hear-say but saw and heard themselves yet he good humble servant of Jesus Christ prefers prophecy before it Pet. 1. 19 We have a more sure word of prophecy to the which we shall do well to take heed A very high and blessed testimony in the behalf of what the holy prophets have spoken concerning the power and coming of the Lord Christ and he encourageth the servants of God to take heed unto it as to a light that shineth in a dark place But it may be asked how long are we so to do He tells us until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts The blessed day when Jerusalems light shall be fully come and the day-star arise in the heart and to the heart when there will be light within and without great light as the light of seven dayes put together When all the prophecyes which concern Christ our Lord his coming in power and great glory and the coming of his kingdom with all the things relating to that happy day shall have their full fulfilling and making good as those former promises relating to his first coming and the day of his humiliation and sufferings had then their fulfilling and making good Of which we shall speak a little in a paralel way with much assurance that it will be even so without any the least failer at all There is mention in the holy Evangelists of many prophecyes fulfilled at the first coming of our Lord Christ observed and written and not in vain God he is the same and his word is the same and the promises relating to his coming again his second coming will have the same fulfilling and making good whether we believe it or not They are all true and faithful they are all yea and Amen touching those in his humiliation there were some of them at his very first coming and some of them were fulfilled at the end and finishing of his suffering In like manner there be prophecyes and high sayings relating to the beginning of his coming in power and great glory and the coming of his kingdom and the things relating thereunto And some prophecyes relating to the latter end of his kingdom and reign which will accordingly take place and be accomplished Take we knowledge of those relating to our Lord Christ his first coming the very beginning thereof Math. 1. 22. His incarnation is sayd to be on that account that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet to wit Ifaiah chap. 7. 14 behold a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel A very unlikely thing and hard to be believed if reason had been consulted yet was fulfilled and made good Our Lord Christ was born in Bethleem so it was written Mich. 5. 2. see Math. 2. 5. Herods enquirie where Christ should be born our Lord Christ being carryed into Egypt and brought thence was that it might be fulfilled which was written Out of Egypt have I called my son Hos 11. 1. This had been fulfilled before in Israel's being brought out of Egyps so the prophet speaketh of it yet it had an eye to annother fulfilling which it had here in our Lord Christ Math. 2. 15. Vers. 17. Herods cruel murthering the innocent children was the fulfilling of a prophecy then was fulfilled that of Jeremie the prophet Jer. 31. 15. In Rama was a voice heard Lamentation and bitter weeping Rachel weeping for her children c. When our Lord came out of Egypt he went and dwelt in a citie called Nazareth that it might be fulfilled that was spoken by the prophet he shall be called a Nazarene Our Lord leaving Nazareth came and dwelt in Capernaum in the border of Zebulon and Napthalie Math. 4. 13. 14. 15. That it might be fulfilled Isa 9. 1. The Land of Zebulon c. The people that sate in darknes have seen great light c. See the places and consider them At the latter end also when he was finishing his sufferings and humiliation Judas his taking of money thirty peeces of silver of the chief preists to betray his master Matth. 27. 9. was the fulfilling of a prophecy then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Zechariah the ptophet Zech. 11. 12. 13. Likewise the parting of his garments and casting lots for his vesture Math. 27. 35. It was that it might be fulfilled that is written Psal 22. 18. His crucifying between two theives was that the scripture might be fulfilled that sayth He was numbred with the transgressors Isa 53. 12. Mark 15. 28. That very remarkable place we may see in Joh. 19. 28. 29. 30. When his suffering was neer over he being then in the very last part of it and knowing that all things were accomplished only one little thing as some might be apt to think that the scriptures Psal 69. 21. might be fulfilled he sayd I thirst and they filled a spunge with vinegar and put it upon hysop and put it to his mouth which when he had received the vinegar he said it was finished to wit fully that being the very last thing and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost So as we see what great stresse lay upon it our Lord could not die till it was done and then he sayd it was finished and gave up the ghost The like stresse was on those other things before mentioned as the parting of his rayment and casting lots for his vesture his going to Nazareth and Capernaum and the like recorded and fulfilled in the very letter of the scripture without any allegorie or spiritual meaning which many are apt to be putting on prophecyes Besides these there are many more recorded in the holy scriptures and are not written in vain which for brevity I forbear to set down In like manner and in way of proportion and paralel we may reckon account and believe that all the prophecyes and sayings of the holy prophets and of our Lord Christ himself and the holy Apostles written by inspiration by the holy pen-men and writers of the holy scriptures relating to Christ our Lord his coming again in power and great glory
and the coming of his kingdom and reign and all those great things that shall contemporize fall in and take place then of which we have spoken before and are too many to be here set down they shall all have their fulfilling and making good then these of the holy psalmists of Isaiah Ieremiah and Ezekiel of Daniel and the rest of the prophets relating to that time shall then in like manner be fulfilled as they are written We shall particularize a few out of the new testament and draw to a close First that of our Lord Math. 25. 31. With all that followeth to the end of the chapter as it is setdown when the son of man shall come in his glory and all his holy Angels with him then will he sit on the throne of his glory likewise the gathering the nations the setting them on the right hand and on the left the saying as is their spoken and judging and sentencing of them will be fulfilled according as it is written in all the particulars of it As also that Luk. 21. 27. and then shall ye see the son of man come in the clouds with power and great glory Every eye shall see him Rev. 1. 7. As sure as the wise men saw his star and afterwards himself lying in the manger or as they in the time of his humiliation saw him ride on an asse and on a colt the foal of an asse as it was written Zech. 9. 9. Math. 21. 4. 5. Tell ye the daughter of Sion behold thy king cometh unto thee meek and sitting on an asse c. So as sure then when he comes again he shall come in the clouds of heaven in great power and glory and every eye shall see him That Acts. 1. 10. 11. Which the two men in white apparrel to wit Angels told the disciples looking after our Lord being ascended this Jesus whom ye have seen go up into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven it shall then be fulfilled As likewise that Heb. 9. 28. To them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation Then will be fulfilled that which holy Peter and others have told concerning the burning of this world and the taking place of the new a new heaven and a new earth according to the promise of God with tho raising of the dead in Christ out of their graves and the changing of those saints then alive in a moment The restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy Prophets will be fulfilled as sure as those things spoken by them were formerly when he came before Then will that be fulfilled written by holy Paul Rom. 8. concerning the waited for adoption the redemption of the body and the creatures also delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God Then shall Daniel as was told by the Angel stand up in his lot And Abraham and Isaack and Jacob and all the Prophets sit together in the kingdom of God as it is written That which holy Isaiah chap. 60. hath foretold and holy John hath shewed Rev. 21. Rev. 22. concerning Jerusalems glory coming down from heaven and shining gloriously with the pure river of water of life and the trees bearing fruit every moneth which he hath attested to be the true sayings of Almighty God And also that concerning the righteous then that they shall hunger no more nor thirst any more nor suffer pain or death any more for ever nor no more curse the sayings being true and faithfull and will be fulfilled then the righteous shall see the vengence that is written fully made good against their wicked oppressors their wrongs righted their faith and patience rewarded the righteous proceedings of God manifested in punishing them with everlasting destruction from his presence such as sorely afflicted them when they shall have rest together it will be all fulfilled as it is written Great terror and fear will attend the wicked then and they will according as it is written be found saying to the mountains fall on us and to the hills cover us from the presence of him that sitteth on the throne And Gog and Magog the beast and false Prophet the captains and mighty men and all their great numbers be destroyed And the devill that deceived them and death also and the grave or Hell be cast into the lake of sire for ever with very many things of the like kinde which in a prophetical way by way of threatning against the wicked are written it shall then be fulfilled and made good from the faithfulness of the Lord Iehovah that is engaged in it Why should any that believe the the power and faihfulness of God doubt of it why should any think that the things spoken of in the holy Scriptures relating to the Lord Christ his second coming in power and great glory declared by the prophets and holy penmen of the Scriptures that those should not as well be fulfilled and made good as those were fulfilled at his first coming in the state of humiliation and suffering why should any go about to advance unbelief and weak reason into the room and place of faith and conclude that those things of Christs coming and kingdom are divised fables or things impossible ever to come to passe Holy Peter strong in faith and lively in hope saith 2. Pet. 3. 12. seeing so great things are to be done as burning and dissolving this old heaven and earth with the works therein in order to the coming in of the new in the room thereof we should be looking for and hastning to the day of their performance Vers. 13. we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dweleth righteousnes And again vers 14. seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace c. unto those that look for him the second time he will appear Heb. 9. 28. Great good things will attend the righteous hereafter a great change for the better will come when they shall enjoy a flourishing condition and abundance of peace and felicity The blessed morning will come when they will come to have the preheminence The day hasteneth when they as Lazarus had will have the good things and be comforted when the wicked will sadly suffer the righteous being in the height of their enjoyments of blessedness enjoying the presence of God and being for ever with the Lord Christ and having fellowship with just men throughly made perfect and shall live and reign with Christ a thousand years as it is written and will be fulfilled It is impossible that any thing thereof should fail or come short I shall forbear to enlarge The reason and scope of the whole is to infor from what is written as fulfilled of the prophecyes at Christ our Lord his first coming to shew what we may look for and expect at his second coming in like manner remembring holy Peter hath told us we have a more sure word of Prophecy unto which we do well to taken ed Hope we stedfastly therefore for the great grace and blessedness that shall be brought unto us at the revelation of Iesus Christ O come Lord Iesus come quickly Errata PAge line 7. for on reade gone p. 32. l. 2. for on r. in p. 33. l. 27. for had no r. had not l. 22. r. Lord Jesus p. 43. l. 30. for Psalm r. Esa p. 44. for psal r. phil l. 33. for his r. this p. 52. l. 15. for preceher r. preached p. 55. l. 17. for changed r. raised p. 57. l. 36. for world r. word l. 30. r. is come dole which is to come p. 59. l. 22. for many r. man p. 78. l. 13. r. that will attend p. 83. l. 16. for as our Christ r. as our Lord Christ l. 11. r. the regeneration p. 87. l. 12. for must r. might l. 31. for as so great r. is so great p. 91. l. 12. for thee r. him p. 102. dele for a time p. 105. l. 23. for light r. right p. 107. for be r he p. 109. l. 17. for must r. may l. 24. dele save In p. 13. at the close of the 3. chap. some thing intended to have been left out was casually left in concerning a long time after a 1000. years said to be Mr. Archors judgement also p. 16. towards the end these words and as some apprehend will be a 1000 years more Which not being the judgement of the Authour is here intimated FINIS