[*] It being formerly cleer'd that these things are spoke of Jer. in person Jer. evidently to be meant on earth to be establisht In the Dayes of their Messiah or David their Prince David being dead long before these things were spoken The Lord our Righteousness is his name But it can not be pretended that these things were fullfill'd in the Messiahs first coming for then Judah and Israel did not [a] We well know when they were separated but 't is hard to say when they met unlesse we make the sending of a single priest to instruct the Pagans planted in Samaria to be the return of the 10. Tribes from their captivity 2 Kings 17.27 'T will proove but a very pinch'd Synechdoche to cramp 10. Tribes in one person dwell together I am sure they did not dwell as one Nation Ezek. 37.22 The Samaritan woman is a competent witness Joh. 4.9 Much lesse did they dwell safely without molestation from their enimies Ezek. 34.28 Therefore these of necessity as the Jews and the old Christians expected are to receive performance at the Messiah's second comming You will not I am sure denie but the same thing is promis'd in this place of Ezek. and its complices as in Js 60. for that appears by comparing Ezek. 37.21 with Js 60.14 15. Besides the whole description matcheth in each place The forecited Chap. of Holy Daniel is worthy of a second survey being questionlesse the sacred store I use from whence the description of the day of judgment is deriv'd in so many correspondencies of the New Testament viz. That the [*] The ground on which the New Testament calleth our Saviour the son of man is most certainly taken from this place in Dan. son of man shall come in the clouds In the Glory of his father with his Holy Angels in reference to the 10. and 13. v. That Antichrist shall be destroyed with the brightness of his coming as Daniel had foretold of the little Horn. v. 26. That the Destruction should be by fire it being said v. 9 10. His throne was a fiery flame and his wheeles as burning fire A fiery stream issu'd and came forth from before him c. And why I would fain know may we not bring hither St. Johns parallel from Rev. 20.4 I saw thrones and they sate upon them and judgment was given unto them answering Daniel 7.9 10. I beheld till the thrones were pitched down and the judgment was set and v. 22. judgment was given to the saints of the most high What difference I pray betwixt St. Johns and the saints lived and reigned with Christ and Daniels The Saints possessed the kingdom viz. with the son of man who came in the clouds Think other men as they please I cannot for my own part be perswaded considering the wonderfull twist of agreement running through the whole scripture but that this kingdom of the son of man when the saints shall reign with him and all people nations and languages shall serve him v. [*] Vid Rev. 7.9 All nations kindred people and tongues a description of the same kingdom as the context and citations justisâ—e 14. is the very same with what hath been so unanimously inculcated from the rest of the Prophets concerning the Jews conversion and the Gentiles inlargement One thing In the mean time I think will scarce be question'd that Daniels date seems to be the day of judgment agreeably to Js 66.10.12.15.16.19.20.22 Where mention is made of the fiery indignation to be powred forth The Glory of Jerusalems restauration and the Gentiles fullnesse with New Heavens c. in one and the same particular Prophecy By this time we may I hope make a shift to sift out St. Peters meaning in referring his Readers to the Prophets about the same glory and the same commencement viz. New Heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness to be founded at his coming 2. Epist 3. Chap. 2.4.13 v. c. From which Chapter though some busie heads may possibly frame objections to frustrate the expectation raised namely from the conflagration and dissolution here mention'd yet let them know that by the same industry they must disappoint St. Peters meaning too who notwithstanding such dissolution teacheth us to expect the accomplishment of that mystery mention'd by the Prophets of New Heavens c. By which if after recourse to the Prophets we find any thing els that can be meant consonant to the other scriptures than what I have hitherto instanc'd I shall willingly retract all this for the advantage of so desiderable a satisfaction Till then may these following considerations be accepted as neither impertinent nor tedious First Whether St. Peter since he sends us to the Prophets v. 2. had not probably an eye amongst other Prophecies to Js 65. from the 17. to the end and Js 60. through the whole Chapter but especially v. 21 The which allegations who ever shall decline from affixing them on the consolation of Js let him weigh maturely before he speak lest his praecipitancy impeach [*] See before what was observ'd from Rom. 11. 25 26. St. Paul as an accessory to his rashnesse Secondly Whether it be not rational to conclude that the Apostle at the 8. v. had respect to the common saying of the Jews to whom [a] Vid his entrance to his first Epist To the strangers scattered c. i. e. Jews dispersed c. he writ whose formal words of the Day of judgment were wont to be One day with the Lord is as a thousand years rather than to the 90. Ps where the words One day with the Lord is as a thousand years are not though the latter part of the sentence A thousand years as one day may allude thither And who should not sooner judge that the same form of speaking quoted by Justin Martyr and Irenaeus two renowned primitive witnesses to this truth was taken from this Epist of St. Peter than from the foremention'd Ps Forasmuch as they likewise use it as the Jewish Doctors did for the day of judgment Justin Martyr distinctly alleging in these terms treating of that day we know that that saying The day of the Lord is as a thousand years points hither Thirdly Whether the fiery devastation here describ'd be any greater rubb to this hope of Israel than the same intimation in Holy Dan. Chap. 7. and Js 66. where also the fiery vengeance is mention'd and yet the Iews restoring most pregnantly avouched or than the tenour of the whole Bible which constantly ranketh this glory under the 7. Trumpet Fourthly Whether this wonderfull concordance of St. Peter with the rest of the scripture ought not to perswade us that the coming of our Lord here mention'd v. 4. at which he [b] By comparing the 4. v. Where is the promise of his coming with 13. v. According to his promise appears plainly that the Promise is fixt at his coming pitcheth this stately change is his expected personal coming to judgment
any such stain upon the word Zach. and were it not strange if the sense should be diverse may we not rather think that it hath pleas'd the sweetness of the Spirit to chuse the same word purposely to guide us into the same expectation For unlesse this sight of him were intended as an extent of mercy to them that peirc'd him viz That Nation it had not sure been exprest by Mourning but howling Tell me now doth not the Christian Church constantly understand his coming to judgment by his coming in the clouds for so Holy Daniel hath taught us to speak for from thence is the phrase borrow'd Da. 7.13 which very place for the Rev. and other parts of the New testament concentre as perfectly with the Prophets about this Date of the atcheivement as about the thing it self in the 14.22 and 27. verses as it apparently describes this royalty so it pitcheth it at his coming in the clouds to judgment and overthrowing the proud horn which is most assuredly [b] The controversy about Antichrist hath no way been more obscur'd than by applying to St. Pauls man of sin and the Apocalyptical whore that which is spoke of Antichrist in St. John's Epistles That by the Man of sin and whore is meant the Romanist I dare say is demonstrated by that most incomparable light of our Nation Mr. Mede to unprejudic'd minds As for the Name Antichrist 't is never us'd either in the Rev. or St. Paul so that 't is the liberty of the Churches speaking not scripture appellation that imposeth the term Antichrist on the whore and while we strive to square St. Johns Epist that way too we intangle the case For Rome denies not the father and the son 1 Epist St. John 2.22 'T is most cleer therefore that S. John refers to the false Christs predicted by our Saviour for the immediate Antecedents of Jer. ruin S. Matt. 24.11.23 S. Mark 13.21 22. An abominable false Prophet of which sort being then in the world and of great Note viz. Simon Magus besides Cerinthus and the cursed Gnosticks c. for there were many such Antichrists saith S. Joh. 1.2.18 This to be his meaning appears by these following Characters from the context First 't is propounded by him at that 18. v. by way of citation and reference to some other scripture As yee have heard c. But 't is no where els to be heard than from the Evangelists so treating of the warning peeces to Jer. destruction The words Antichrist and false Christ never occurring in the whole Bible but in the Gospels and his Epist Secondly 'T is instanc'd by S. Joh. as formerly presag'd by some other scripture and now us'd in way of Argument by himself for an immediate forrunner of some last hour for so the Greek speaks and as a plain manifestation that that last hour was then a running forasmuch as the Badge of it viz. Antichrist was so visible All which things were most exactly verified both as forespoken to such a premonition by the Evangel as also fulfill'd in the leud Deceivers of that Age at the time of St. Johns writing these Epist being hard upon the fatal accomplishment of these truths in that remarkable calamity which shortly after came upon Jer. Now after all this will not the intimation I pray of last hour be more naturally appliable to that desolation then at hand than to any thing yet to be expected it being above 1600. years since this was spoken For though the last times in regard to Dan. fourth Monarchy are spoke of us yet sure the last hour so long agoe mention'd is more happily applied to a matter already past Antichrist for all our Synod annotations as every sensible Reader may judge by comparing his description with that of the beast Rev. 13. So that here you see where St. Paul learnt before the Rev. was extant that Antichrist should be destroyed at our Lords coming 2 Thes 2.8 I will subjoyn other Arguments by way of appendence purposely not to tire the Reader with too continu'd a length of any Chapter without taking respite As St. Paul was formerly our warrant for applying those admirable glories mention'd by the Prophets to the Jews reinfranchment so he seems full as cleer in ranking its accomplishment under the contemporaries of the 7 Trumpet I know not how it may appear to others but I must confesse I cannot so undervalue the Holy Apostles Logick as to judg that he should fetch a Medium from a prophecy of the Jews restitution to prove the day of judgment by and yet not intend to lay the date of that Restitution at the time of judgment look Rom. 14.11 We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ For it is written As I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow to me c. But where is it written save Js 45.23 being a peece that belongs most assuredly to this matter from the 14. v. to the end of the Chap. Compare I pray that 14. v. There shall come over to thee in Chains c. with Js 60.14 and give your judgment if they mean not the same thing for so I am sure the [a] Can any impartial Reason despise the strength of universal Tradition amongst the Jews whilst yet the True and onely Church of God as is evident This truth flourisht by in their Ages And yet so much magnifie the same sort of Argument in our Christian â—ases Jews alwayes expound it And however we through mistake are wont to affix a mark at the 20. v. of the 45. Chap. intimating a different argument yet that the whole sequele naturally appertains to the same discourse let any impartial peruser judge by the genuine characters emergent from the context especially the very last verse being doubtless not an abrupt parcell of a changed theme but the united member of a continu'd one In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory Nor is this the onely text where the Apostle pitcheth the Epocha of this admirable royalty at the coming to judgment What lesse can amount from 2 Tim. 4.1 I charge thee before the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearance and his kingdom See A kingdom joyn'd with his appearance to judge the world and yet not the final kingdom for ever in the Heavens for after the universal resurrection our Saviour resigns up the kingdom to the father that he may be all in all 1 Cor. 15 24 28. That kingdom therefore which is neither before his appearance not yet after the last resurrection must necessarily be concluded between them Who can but wonder that this Truth should be so boggled at which is so harmoniously accorded to through all the Prophets Jer. 23.5.6 c. In his dayes c. Ezek. 34.23 c. Ezek. 37.22 23 24 c. Zach. 6.12 13 c. Zach. 14. from the 16. to the end All which expresse a Glory to
tradition to this purpose farr Elder than the dayes of our Saviour though of this I am certain that the Apostles in their writings alluded to divers passages for which there is no other Testimony extant in the earth save Jewish traditions 'T will I dare say pose the concordance to find where the Arch-Angel disputed with the Devill about the body of Moses vers 9. of S. Jude And who could be angry with me if I should tell him the Apostle seems to speak wide enough from their sense that presume this catching up to be our immediate transport to heaven He expresseth himself me thinks warily enough to avoyd that mistake by Cloudes and Air lest possibly we might imagine Heaven to be meant whereas we meet with many other places where this caution is not so curiously prompted e. g. The fowles of heaven or of the air indifferently for in the Hebrew notion the air is comprehended under the name of Heaven but here though the hebraism would have allow'd it no mention of heaven but clouds and air Consider well the context 1 Thess 4.14 Those that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him not carry with him Does not Bring with him imply the immediate stage after the fiery vengeance to be the earth not heaven Again Those that sleep in Jesus not all the dead will God bring with him So v. 16. The dead in Christ shall rise first What think you of the first and second resurrection most exactly parallel to 1 Cor. 15.23 24. Of an order in the resurrection Christ the first fruits afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming not all the dead at Christ's coming but they that are Christ's remember that [a] If any one tax me for rendring it Afterwards I demand why our Translation turn'd the former word so the two words being of the very same cognation and extent the one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some I perswade my self will tax them of partiality here and not me The truth is they observ'd the former had allow'd a great latitude betwixt Christ the first fruits and those at his coming viz 1654. years now besides what may be And lest the Millenaries should catch hold on this handle and require Why may not the latter also afford the extent they plead for betwixt the â—wo resurrections being words of equal force aad meanâ—ng differing no way but one made of the other To avâ—id this rock they Englisht the first Afterwaâ—d implying the respit of above 1600. years but the second Then as if forsooth it had been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intimating an immediate prosecution of the same action whereas 'T is in the Greek not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Truly this is somewhat but I would to God this had been all the foull play Translations had offer'd to this opinion I shall make thee start in the next Chapter Reader Afterwards comes the end the universal resurrection c. How close to this runs Rev. 20.4.5 and who might not marveil if the sense were divers If now universal tradition through the whole Church of the Jews and the constant doctrine in the first three centuries of Christians acknowledg'd by the Adversaries founded on so harmonious concordance of old and new Testament be not sufficient to vindicate a truth against the scoffings of flesh and blood objecting carnally to what is deliver'd for a Mystery I know not what can The Lord open our Eyes CHAP. III. Prooving from what hath been premis'd Christs personal reign on earth THat the foremention'd Beatitude is to be perform'd on earth will I think scarcely be doubted by reasonable men for most certainly the 60 Chap. of Js all over and the 65. from the 17. v. to the end to which two the 21. Chap. of the Rev. is in many verses adaequate can no way be satisfied but on earth and 't is as cleer that the rest of the prophets hold an even proportion with those two Chapters That all this blisse takes rise at the Blessed Jesus's coming to judgement in fire and vengeance for I desire to be understood without any amphibology I am at present strongly perswaded that the second Chapter makes good The onely demand that can remain is this How for all this can Christs personal reign be asserted To which I first retort thus if such an incomparable mystery to receive atchievement on earth must enter at his next coming how well can it be avoyded it being mâ—st irrefragable that the Jews restauration and the Gentiles fullness neither was ever or can be imagin'd a beauty of a dayes term but a continu'd state of some very considerable permanence and if no more but this be granted 't will proove a good step to the Tenet it being I doubt not more than ever the Adversaries expected to find proof But that 's not all See Jer. 23.5 6. The Lord our righteousness shall execute judgement and justice on the earth If on the earth be not English I have no more to say The prophecy is [*] As hath been sufficiently proov'd certainly yet unfulfill'd * vide supra weigh the verses following Look Ezek. 34.23 24. I the Lord have spoken it may help to asswage incredulity See Ezek. 37.24 25. To this purpose is Zach. 6.12 Where the Righteous branch must build the temple and in a prophecy for certain to be verified on earth v. 15. So Zach. 14.16 where the King the Lord of Hostes is to be worshipt at Jerusalem I am sensible enough how these places are commonly frustrated by answering that they may all be made good though Christ abide in heaven I yield so too they might and would be true if that onely were the meaning But then remember that the [*] At the former Chap. prooves fulfilling is to be at his coming at what time that admirable Prophecy amongst the rest is to be completed Js 54.5 Where Jerusalems maker becomes her husband in most admirable harmony to Rev. 21.2 Js 62.4 5. As also that other Rev. 21.3 The Tabernacle of God is with men and shall dwell with them it being formerly averr'd and cleer'd that by Tabernacle is meant the humane nature of Christ I would fain be satisfied what other sense can amount from these sayings If the humane nature's being and dwelling with men which Ezek. also praedicted c. 37. anâ— Christ in his body exercising righteousness and executing justice in the [*] Jer. 33.15 land and this in such a state which can not possibly be Momentary to wit the conversion of the Jews c. require not a meaning and performance in this world we must despair of any assurance in expounding scripture 'T is very remarkable in passing that St. Paul interprets this particular prophecy of Js 54. which yet I perswade me will not be imagin'd accomplishable any where than on earth See v. 3. to the New
Jerusalem that is above Galat. 4.27 How think you is not this the very same Jerusalem which S. John tells us at the appointed time comes down from God out of Heaven Which hath been before proov'd to be the mystery describ'd by the Prophets of Jews and Gentiles c. From the new Testament view Rev. 11.15 The Kingdoms of this World c. Sure This world is English For the earth doubtlesse and this lower world shall be the scene of some most eminent transaction meant by Christs kingdom Howbeit it was never imagin'd by any but base carnal and ignoble tempers to be lesse than [*] Rev. 21.27 Js 60.21 All righteous spiritual and of quite another mode than the fashion of this world which consideration alone I am deceiv'd if it doe not fully extricate those words of our blessed Saviour which some have made use of for their cheif argument against this apprehension John 18.36 My kingdom is not [*] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 see Joh. 15.19 Where the knot is unti'de in S. Johns own phrase ye are not the World viz. not wordly of this world 'T is not said in but of viz. not after the manner of worldly pompe or administration not of the same notion with what flesh and blood suggests or our shallow capacities are wont to apprehend briefly as himself expresseth it not from hence but out of Heaven from God Rev. 21.2 and every way a Heavenly glory though on earth Mean what it will for I never incourag'd to too much boldness in this mysterious abyss 'T is certain we find Rev. (*) Vid. 2 Tim. 4.1 The final glory in heaven is surely the Fathers throne 1 Cor. 15.24.28 Ergo the sons throne must mean somewhat els Nor yet can it be meant of his present Kingdom whereby he rules in our Hearts in our mortal state being propounded as a subsequent reward and not as a present fruition for we are but viatores yet not victores To him that overcometh will I give c. 3.21 a distinct throne appropriated to Christ from that which belongs to his Father I will not multiply Texts till I have gain'd some footing at what time some I dare say will wonder to see what otherwise inextricable problemes this clue may disintangle Take one other which if well understood speaks so home that it can never be avoided by any that understands the Greek Hebr. 1.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Our Translators to avoid this proof do strangely transpose Again contrary to the order of the Greek that it may have reference to he saith by way of a new quotation and not to bringeth But how disingenuously let any judge Besides while by such a transposition they indeavour to refer the meaning of the passage to Christs former coming do not they diametrically struggle against St. Paul who determineth his meaning to his next coming Heb. 2.5 and that in the same word too 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which all that understand the Greek know to signify most properly strictly and unavoidably The Earth It being a participle of the feminine gender us'd in single supposing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be understood e. g. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The inhabited Earth Read then the Text according to the original and judge And when he (a) The orig 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath the signification of the future tense being the second aorist of the subjunctive Mood besides 't is joyn'd with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Again so that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ought in strictness to be renderd And when he shall bring again c. bringeth again the first begotten upon the earth he saith c. But Lord what pains some men will take to fool themselves out of truth One thing may not be pretermitted that the text as indeed the whole context implies some very glorious matter which if S. Paul may be allow'd the Judge of his own sense is determin'd to (b) By turning it The World to come they would seem to mean the Kingdom of glory but we shall find that the world in that sense is always 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but no where in all the Bible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Earth to Come What difference now between Saint Pauls state of the earth to come and S. Peters new earth CHAP. IV. Briefly shewing the use of this Tenet BUt to what purpose is all this May we not be sav'd without the knowledge of it Yes I doubt not or els God help But in the first place 'T is I am sure no great blessing to stand in the number of such as S. Peter brands for Scoffers nor certainly any small exemption to be deliverd from that rable Secondly if it were propos'd so many thousand yeers agoe as a matter of so rich-consolation to the hearers at that distance it assuredly cannot want its Treasures of felicity if well examin'd to us who in all likelyhood live just on the borders of so great a mutation I am sure much neerer than the ancient Jews Thirdly it would take off a great stumbling-block and hindrance to conversion from the poor mistaken Jew who being fortified with so universal tradition of Ancestry upon this stock both hates and scorns us And count we it a small thing to be instrumental in so great a work towards Israel for whom the Dearest Jesus hath * See the 137. Psal and the 13. and 14. ch of Is all over yet so yerning bowells that he will bless them that bless her Numb 24.9 What though the plenteous vintage of their return be not expected till our Lords coming yet think we not that some few clusters of grapes would be an acceptable offering unto our Lord How ardently might it affect the despised Hebrew to spie the gracefull portray of his hopes in our New Testament How could his heart persist so irrationally obstinate as not straitway to yield our Jesus to be their Messiah did but our Commentators dandle their rugged soules by the gentle parallels of our Testament with theirs and Kindly point from Revel 1.7 to Zach. 12.10 By which festque they might soon discern that this is He whom they once so barbarously pierc'd and for whom at * The Jews to this day expect not the Messiah before the day of Judgment ut supra his next coming they shall mourn with so deep compunction But while they observe us to distort the Scriptures in avoidance of this opinion by rough and unnatural expositions ingrossing all to * By our Gloss of Gospel-times c. ut supra our selves and defrauding their expectations of such promises in which I dare say they have the better half they are scandaliz'd at our partiality deride our giddiness and grow confirm'd in their infidelity Fourthly it were the way to avoid almost every heresy that now reigns since there can scarce one be nam'd which hath not been