very same night In that day the Heavens shall passe away with a noise and the Elements melt c. which shall not be done simul semel together and at once as is manifest in the words dissolved melt burnt up which require an order of time for their accomplishment But when that is done v 13. we expect a new Heaven and a new Earth according to his promise which is in Esay 65.17 wherein dwells righteousnesse Mark it I pray you a new Heaven and a new Earth is expected in the second coming of the Messiah But what is meant by Heaven and Earth in the Prophetick stile when they lose their literal signification surely nothing else but the Church and Commonwealth and when it is said that we look for these new it is in one word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a new world to come or in two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 new Heavens i. e. new Churches and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a new Earth i. e. a new Common-wealth all is new all old Church and Common-wealth fashions passe away Rev. 21.1 and there will be new Churches and new Commonwealths wherin dwells righteousnesse And truly it must needs be a new world Ecclesiastical and Civil Polities must needs be new when Satan who did rule is bound and Christ who was rejected reigns when righteousnesse dwells where sin did rage when all tears shall be wiped away and there shall be no more crying sorrow or pain ¶ Lastly the Apostle John not only in that 20th chapter of which I have already spoken but also elsewhere frequently in the Revelation speaks clearly of this glorious Kingdom of Christ upon earth Of those many places I shall name a few See therefore Rev. 2.26 He that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations Surely this refers not to Heaven but to this time of Christs Kingdom we are speaking of So we have that which is as plain as words can make it Rev. 5.10 We shall reign on the earth What can be the meaning of this is it not what Christ promised Mat. 5.5 Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth and what shall be fulfilled when the Kingdom is given to the Saints and Christ shall reign So Rev. 11.15 In the dayes of the seventh Trumpet which is a Trumpet of consummation these voices were heard Now all the Kingdoms of the world are becom the Kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever And v 17. Thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned And that you may know that this Reign and Kingdom is circumscribed within the Great day of Judgment he tells you v. 18. That this is the time of the dead that they should be judged And that saith the Text thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the Prophets and to the Saints and to them that fear thy Name small and great and shouldest destroy them that destroy the Earth Also Rev. 19 6. speaking of the same time the Church breaks out in a song of oy saying Halleluiah for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth The Marriage of the Lamb is come and his Wife hath made her self ready Also when John tells us Rev. 20.4 that the Saints lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years we must ever remember which is the only thing I shall here adde that it is one thing for Christ to reign in his Saints and another for the Saints to reign wiâ—h Christ the former was all the time of the Beast the latter is not to be till the Beast be destroyed and Saâ—an bound and the Messiah corn again But though it were easie to be almost infinite in the proof of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this point yet knowing that as some will think I have been too large so others will yet think all too little to convince them I shall therefore only suspend any further proof until I have given you som reasons of this Interpretation of these and such like texts and answered some of those common objections that against this are usually objected unless these may be so ordered as to contain yet further proof And first I shall offer these following Reasons of this Interpretation and why I chuse to believe this to be a truth however by many much decried 1. Because all those places of Scripture in the Old Prophers which foretel a certain glorious and happy estate of the Church upon earth should never be fulfilled here upon earth unless there be a long tract of time appointed for the fulfilling of them wherein Antichrist being conquered and the devil chained up in the bottomless pit the Saints might live safely in the enjoyment of all spiritual and heavenly delights Let us see amongst many two or three Scriptures for this Isa 60.11 to the end Therefore thy gates shall be open continually they shall not be shut day nor night that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles and that their Kings may be brought For the Nation and Kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish yëa those Nations shall be utterly cut off The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending to thee and all they that despised thee shall bow down themselves at the soles of thy feet and they shall call thee the City of the Lord the Zion of the Holy One of Israel I will make thee an eteâ—nal Excillency a Joy of many generations Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles and shalt suck he brèast of Kings and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer the mighty One of Jacob. I will also mâ—ke thy Officers Peace and thy Exactors Righteousnesse Viotence shall no more be heard in thy Lend wasting nor destâ—uctiâ—n within thy borders but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation and thy gates Praise The Sun shall be no more thy light by day neither for brightnesse shall the Moon give light unto thee but the Lord God shall be unto thee an everlasting light and thy God thy glâ—ry Thy Sun shall no more go down neither shall thy Moon withdraw it self for the Lord shall beâ—th ne everlasting light and the dayes of thy mourning shall be ended Thy people also shall be all righteous they shall inherit the Lana for ever the branch of my planting the work of my handâ— that I may be glorified A little one shall becom a thousand and a small one a strong Nation I the Lord will hasten it his time Isa 65.17 to the end ' For behold I creare new Heavens and a new Earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind but be you glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her people a Joy And I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her nor the voice
that time of truth without mixtures of errour a time of light without mixture of darknesse a time of knowledge without mixture of ignorance from whence all Heresie doth proceed The light of the Moon shall be as the Sun and the light of the Sun shal be seven-fold as the light of seven days The Ordinances aso will then be pure without mixtures of superstition humane inventions and will-worship There are those Rivers of water of life clear as chrystal Great also will be the holinesse of that day Zach. 14.9 Rev. 22.1 Isa 2.2 For it shall come to passe in the last dayes that the Mountain of the Lords House shall be established in the top of the Mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all Nations shall flow unto it And many people shall go and say Come ye and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord to the House of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths for out of Zion shall go forth the Law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem See also Zach. 8.19.20 21 22. The streets of the City are all gold and golden will be the lives and conversations of the Citizens yea God shall be known in her Palaces for a refuge the foundations of her City are all of Pearl her streets paved with precious stones her Gardens fragrant with all manner of pleasant flowers her delightful walks are always green her Springs are living waters her months are one continued May her Trees bear all manner of lovely fruits and the leaves of the same are for the healing of the Nations her years are one lasting joyful Jubilee and her strength is always firm her same men leap as Harts and the tongue of dumb men then are loosed O when shall we go how shall we get to this holy and beautiful City of God Her time is coming her year is at hand and the Lord will hasten it in his time Reader thou hast here a little taste of the beginning of Zions blisse held forth unto thee only according unto our weak and short manner of conceiving and expressing the things themselves as far surmount our thoughts and words as the Heavens are above the Earth and as the East is distant from the West Give me now leave to put a period to all in a word or two of Application Vse 1 Let us help forward this Kingdom of Christ on Earth by faith and prayer and so much the rather because the time approacheth the Promises are even come to the birth and they draw on apace Pray we therefore for the ruine of Antichrist Rome must down before Christ will set up his Kingdom and for the calling of the Jewes for the beginning of this Kingdom must be with the Jews they â—uâ—t be Caput Imperii the Head and Seat of this Empire must be among them And let us pray according to Christs direction Thy Kingdom come and thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven which will never be till these thousand years Let as saith David all Nations serve thee O God let all people praise thee O pray that God would take to himself his great power and reign before the Ancients gloriously Vse 2 This may inform us that the day of Judgment is not so far off as many think it For if once Antichrists Kingdom go down Christs Kingdom is set up as we have before heard and certainly Antichrists twelve hundred and sixty days of reigning are not long to continue though we cannot tell justly how long yet in the general we know it cannot be long and Christs Kingdom is durante currente die judicii within and during the great day of Judgment Vse 3 This doctrine speaks comfort to you O ye sons of Zion and daughters of Jerusalem O thou Wife and Spouse of Christ thou art She who hast seen and dost see affliction yea from thy youth up thou hast been slain and killed all the day long the furrows have been made long upon thy back and thou hast been â—â—ptied from vessel to vessel Thy flesh hath 〈◊〉 no rest but troubles are on every side without are sight◠〈…〉 been covered as with a cloud and art for a 〈◊〉 word and hissing to passers by yea accounted as the off-scouring of all things unto this day But he of good chear yea awake and sing thou that dwellest in the dust for thus saith the Lord God O thou afflicted and tossed with tempest and not comforted behold I will lay thy stones with fair colours and lay thy foundations with Saphire and make thy windows of Agats and gates of Carbuncle and borders of pleasant stones For thy Maker is thy Husband the Lord of Hosts is his Name and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel the God of the whole Earth shall he be called Wherefore lift up thy head for thy Redemption draws nigh and the years of thy deliverance are now at hand O wait and pray and bear up yet a little a very little while and thy work shall be rewarded and the wicked train shall be no more but the meek shall inherit the Earth and delight themselves in a very great abundance of peace do but fight stoutly through the pikes and win the field put forth thy strength and spare no pains no cost no sweat no blood O cast about a careful eye use all holy policy rally up thy force afresh it wants but a little and all 's thine own and then thou art made for 〈◊〉 〈…〉 dou◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 pleasure to give thee the Kingdom Thy 〈◊〉 who hath washed thee in his blood 〈◊〉 made thee clean and spotless behold he â—â—mes quickly and his reward is with him â—rise O Lord and let thine enemies be scattered â—â—d those that hate thee flee before thee Lay Babylon in the dust and let her Virgins be cut off O 〈◊〉 the hairy scalp of all thine incurable foes 〈◊〉 Zion be exalted and Jerusalem made a praise 〈◊〉 the midst of the Earth preserve thy Spouse in 〈◊〉 midst of Lions strengthen her faith lengthen her â—â—â—ience hasten thy coming O be as a Roe or â—â—oung Hart upon the Mountains of Spices Ameu FINIS
placing the particle again so as it may have reference to the verb he saith as if it had been thus expressed And again he saith when he bringeth in his only c. But the words in the Greek as here is plain are otherwise placed then in our English Translation word for word they run thus But when again he bringeth his first begotten into the world he saith c. Again secondly for yield me but the ordinary liberty of construction and the words will run thus But when he bringeth again his only begotten into the world he saith c. Again namely in his second coming with a manifest respect to this Psalm And so very many interpret this Text in this psalm Loquitur hic inquit Ribera Com. in Heb. 1 6 de secundo Christi adventu cum ad judicandum veniet quae est secunda introductio in hunc mundum He speaketh saith Ribera in his Commentary on Heb. 1.6 of the second coming of Christ when he shall come to judge which is his second bringing into this world Primb inquit Chrysostomus introductus est Christus in Orbem per incarnationem passibilis mortalis iterum verè sive secundo gloriosus impassibilis die judicii Tunc enim filium quasi inaugurabit eumque mittet reipsâ in possessionem totius orbis terrâ—â—um ait Cornelius à Lapide Firstly saith Chrysostome Christ was brought into the world by his Incarnation passible and mortal but again or secondly glorious and impassible at the day of Judgment For then saith Cornelius à Lapide he will as it were inthrone the Son and send him in very deed into the possession of the whole earth Yea some that deny this reading and interpretation do yet confesse the words may be extended to that dignity and dominion which God shall give the Son over the whole world in that he hath made him heire of all things and given him the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession Psal 2.8 And the learned and godly Annotators on the English Bible deny not but that the words may be understood of Christs second coming as well as his first ¶ See also Psal 97.1 Where it is to be noted that though the Psalm be without a title not only in our English Bibles but also in our Hebrew Copies yet the LXX Interpreters either doubtless had then Copies in which this title was prefixed to the Psalm or else had received it by tradition and knew that the Psalme was fitted to that time and therefore they have prefixed this title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psalmus David quando terraejus restituta est A Psalm of David when the earth is restored As if the whole Psalme were made and fitted to that time and truly he that will seriously reade and consider this Psalm wil see I think that time pointed at if not plainly deciphered and described Thus the Psalmist begins 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Lord reigneth let the Earth reâ—oyce let the multitude of â—sles be glad thereof which words seem clear for the reigning of Christ in his second coming for the Psalmist speaks expresly in the following words of those things that precede it a fire goes before him and burns up all his enemies round about him c. with a clear and evident reference to the Aâ—mageddon battel and that conflagration which at that time shall burn up and consume his enemies Then to omit all other passages at the â— v he speaks plainly of the calling of the Jews or called at that time Zion heard and was glad and the daughtees of Judah reâ—oyced becauâ—e of thy Judgments O Loâ—d Again v 9. for thou Lord art high above all the earth thâ—n art exalted far above all Gods This hath never yet been but shall then be when he shall take to himself his great power and reign and all Nations shall serve and obey him Again that is clear v. 6. All the people see his glory And v. 7. worship him all ye gods Paul to the Hebrews in the place before cited puts this out of all doubt to be fulfilled in Christs second coming Heb. 1.6 worship him all ye Angels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All ye Gods is rendred by the LXX 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All ye Angels which rendring the Apostle follows and approves And thus Arnobius interprets and applies this whole Psalm ¶ So Isa 49.8 I will give thee for a Covenant of the people to establish the Earth and to cause to inherit the desolate heritages namely in a spiritual manner in the restoring the Kingdom of Israel or in the restitution of all things at Christs second coming v. 9. That thou mayest say to the Prisoners Go forth and to them that are in darkness Shew your selves viz. in the resurrection of the just And v. 10 They shall not hunger nor thirst neither shall the heat of the Sun smite them for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them even by the Springs of water shall be guide them viz. after the destruction of Antichrist All which did begin somewhat to be fulfilled in Christs first coming but because they far exceed that mean and low condition of Christ here on earth therefore they shall be perfectly and compleatly fulfilled in Christs second coming and that upon earth after the final destruction of Antichrist at the sounding of the seventh Trumpet contemporary with which are the innumerable company of white-robed palm bearing Triumphers of all Nations Kindred and People Concerning whom the very same words of the Prophet are used and that in the same sense Rev 7.16 17. They shall hunger no more nor thirst any more neither shall the Sun light on them nor any heat For the Lamb which is in the midst of them shall feed them and lead them to living Feuntains of waters and wipe away all tears from their eyes See also Zach 9.10 And I will cut off the Charet from Ephreim and the Horse from JerusaleÌ„m and the battel-bowe shall be cut off and he shall speak pâ—ace unto the heathen and his dominion shall be from sâ—a even to sea and from the river even to the ends of the earth And chap. 13.2 And it shall come to passe in that day saith the Lord â—f Hosts that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the Land and they shall no more be remembred and also I will cause the Prophets and the unclean spirits to pass out of the Land And chap. 14.9 And the Lord shall be King over all the Earth and in that day shall be one Lord and his Name one viz in the day of the second coming of Christ I only name these Texts as being so clear and obvious that they need no Explication ¶ Also Mat 10.28 In the Regeneration when the Son of man shall sit upon the Throne of his glory ye shall sit upon Thrones judging i. e. governing the twelve Tribes of Israel Calvin understands these words de renovato Ecclesiae
second coming Luke 17.20 to the 26. 9. It seems altogether absurd for us to think that Christ should come in Glory and Majesty to the ordering and exercise of his Kingdom his Kingdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim. 4.1 and presently the very same day give over his Kingdom again 1 Cor. 15 24. and so on delivering it up to the Father The King of such a Kingdom might not unfitly be compared to Jonas his Gourd which was a shade to his head and protected him from the heat so that he very much rejoyced in it but that joy was but a short joy for it sprung up in a day and it withered in a day What other men can I know not but I cannot think that the Lord Jesus Christ should descend from Heaven with all his Saints accompanied with glorious Angels enter upon his Kingom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as I said before order it with judgement and justice executing righteousness in the Earth compose a glorious Metropolis of those sinless sorrowless joyful immortal Saints who descended and came with him from heaven and cause the rest who are godly in all the world who are called the Nations that are saved Rev. 21.24 For then there will be a very great and unparallelable conversion but yet in another state to walk in the light thereof and take their directions thence Will he thus make all things new and cause things old to pass away had the Saints an eye to look through all those sad and sharp calamities of a thousand and six or seven hundred years continuance unto this time as they do Rev. 5.10 did all the Prophets so esee and speak of these glorious times and things did the Apostles make so many queries and Christ so many promises referring to this time and state I say shall all this be and many things more that might he named and all but for a day and then to end I can never I freely confesse believe it 10. Because the Church is rightly divided into Militant and Triumphant but this triumphant is one Partial another Total one Inchoate another Consummate The faithful now triumph in heaven in respect of their souls they shall also triumph in respect of their bodies this triumph is inchoate here upon Earth and consummate in Heaven And so great is the affection and inclination of the blessed souls in Heaven unto their bodies to which they were united that they had rather be with them in some kind of conflict though then there will be none then without them in full and perfect triumph 11. Because they who interpret the precedent chapter viz. Rev. 19. of some begun destruction of Antichrist preceding Christs second coming but not of the full and final destruction of Antichrist at Christs second coming do flatly contradict the plain texts of Scripture Rev. 16.14 15. Rev. 17.14 Rev. 19.18.20 21. And do directly oppose themselves to all Orthodox Antiquity yea to Hierom and Aâ—stin themselves to whom they are wont every where to appeal even in this very controversie it self 12. Because this interpretation of the reign of the Martyrs or of the Saints â—or I take them for one and the same and of Christ upon Earth is no more incident to some Labyrinths and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then some other interpretations concerning the second and last resurrection judgement which opinion notwithstanding is no whit to be rejected because by Epicures and some Phylosophers and Stoicks and others that have alwaies been exploded as fabulous and false and are by many others derided as loaden especially as they think who have not well digested and studied it with many absurdities In so great a Mystery it will be sufficient to know the truth in the main and the matter in general and not curiously to tearch into the reason of every circumstance and punctilio The Matter is grounded upon the undeniable sequel of the b See Mede's clavis apochalyptica part 2 synchr 4.5.6.7 where the 1000. years are placed after the ruine of the beast and proved to follow it Apochalyptick order and consent of other Scriptures especially Prophetical which do most wonderfully confirm the same It is known to a Proverb that one fool may object more then ten wise men can presently answer yet I freely professe I finde this truth so plain si dere non de modo loquimur that I know not any thing that can be objected which admits not of a very fair and plain solution Those Objections therefore which are usually urged and may perchance be in the minds of some I shall with the readers good leave speak next to with all brevity Object 1 How can this principle hold good for doth not Christ tell us that his Kingdom is not of this world John 18.36 To this Objection I answer 1. That these words are to be understood of his first and not of his second coming 2. It is not of its world ratione originis in respect of the original but it is in the world in respect of place If my Kingdom saith our Saviour were of this world understand it as he there speaks it of that his first coming then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jewes but now is my Kingdom not from hence i.e. of this world as he said before Note also the word NOW now or at this time my Kingdom is not from hence or of this world 3. It is not of this world ratione conditionis in respect of its condition Thus the disciples and Christ himself were not of this world John 8.23 Ye are speaking of the carnal Jews from beneath I am from above ye are of this world I am not of this world John 15.19 If ye were of the world Christ speaks it to his disciples the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you So John 17.14 The world hateth them viz. the disciples of Christ because they are not of the world even as I am not of the world And they are not of the world quantùm ad affectionem mundanam as to worldly affection but they are in the world quantùm ad corporalem praesentiam as to corporal presence We say the like of Christs Kingdom est terrenum ratione loci Coeleste raâ—â—one conditionis it is earthly in respect of place it is heavenly in respect of condition place and condition are two things 4. It is not of THIS world so the words run 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of the world that now is but of the world that is to come For the world that now is shall be changed and in that respect shall cease to be and another world shall be erected or come in place called in Scripture the world to come And in that world to come shall that Kingdom of Christ be Heb 2.5 and 2 Pet. 3.13 Rev. 21.1 Object 2 But it is said Job
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aspicient ad me Significat partem anteriorem a capite usque ad ventrem inclinare ad intuendum aliquid whom they have pierced and mourn c. This seems to be a rea ocular looking upon and beholding Christ for so much is contained in the Verb here used and not barely a spiritual looking upon him by the eye of saith such as the Holy Ghost John 6.40 calls a seeing of the Son of man and believing c. but a bodily vision and a seeing him with bodily eyes So Dan 7.13 And I saw in the night visions and behold one like the Son of man came with the Clouds of Heaven and came to the Ancient of dayes and they brought him near before him And he came as we may see in the following words to receive and enter upon his Kingdom But what Kingdom sure his Davidical Kingdom now to sit upon the Throne of his father David When Christ receives and enters upon this Kingdom it is not like to his entrance upon his spiritual and providential Kingdom that was done in a more spiritual manner by his Session at Gods right hand Psal 110.1 But upon the administration of this Kingdom he enters in a more humane manner or as a man actually when the four great and strange Beasts Dan. 7. princip or Beastly Monarchs are destroyed Then he comes in the Clouds of Heaven v. 13. And they bring him to the Ancient of dayes It is true God coming in the Clouds and his riding upon the Clouds notes out the eminent visible and glorious appearing of his Majesty But this is the appearing of the Son of man in the clouds and the coming of the Son of man with the clouds which I conceive is not to be found in Scripture but when it denotes the coming of the Lord Jesus at the last day to Judgment whose appearance is visible and then doth he receive dominion and glory and a Kingdom that all people nations and languages should serve him And then I conceive I speak it with submission to better Judgments will be that great conversion of Israel and Judah so much spoken of in Scripture then shall be fulfilled what is here spoken ' they ' shall look upon him whom they have pierced c. Mr. Mede favours this whose words are these The Jews saith he are not to be converted unto Christ by such means as were the rest of the Nations by the Ministry of Preachers sent unto them but by the Revelation of the Lord Jesus in his glory from Heaven When they shall say not as when they saw him in his humilitie crucifie him but blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord Whose coming then shall be as the lightning out of the East shining into the West and the Sign of the Son of man shall appear in the clouds of Heaven and every eye shall see him even of those which pierced him and shall lament with the spirit of grace and supplication for their so long and so shameful unbelief of their so merciful Redeemer So far Mr. Mede Matâ— 24.30 31. Then shall appear the Sign of the Son of man in Heaven and then shall ye see the Son of man coming in the clouds happily this may be at and for the great conversion of the Jewes Paul was converted by an appearance of Christ to him it is possible the ewes may be converted by the same way 5. The Scripture holds forth also that the manner of their Conversion and reduction into their ownâ—â— and again shall be exceeding eminent and glorious to the admiration of all Nations that it may be seen how the Lord hath honoured them Isa 60.1 Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Hosea 1.11 Great shall be the day of Jezâ—eel It shall be a glorious day to thein that shall make them honourable in the eyes of all the Nations upon earth Zach 8 23. Ten men shall take hold in that day out of all Languages of the Nations of the skirt of him that is a Jew saying we will go with you for we have heard that God is with you Psal 102.16 When the Lord shall build up Zion he shall appear in his glory They have had and shall have glorious appearances of him such as no people ever had And this shall make them to be the desire of all people As they have been an abject miserable people for along time so when God shall turn their captivity as streams in the South their glory shall excel 6. The Scripture also tells us the time of their calling viz. when the fulness of the Gentiles is come in blindnesse so long hapned unto them and shall no longer For so St. Paul witnesseth Rom. 11.25 26. For I would not Brethren that ye should be ignorant of this mystery that blindnesse in part is hapned to Israel until the fulnesse of the Gentiles be come in and so all Israel shall be saved So likewise Christ Luke 21.24 And Jerusalem shall be troâ—dâ—n down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled But what is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fulnesse of the Gentiles And these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 times of the Gentiles I answer the times of the Gentiles the fulnesse whereof must be accomplished before the full conversion and reduction of the Jews into their own land 〈◊〉 seems to be no other then the times wherein the Gentiles should have dominion with the misery and subjection of the Iewish Nation set forth in the vision of a fourfold image Dan. 2. and four Beasts Dan. 7 which are the four Monarchies the Babylonian Persian Greek and Roman The first began with the first captivity of the Jewish Nation and through the times of all the rest they should be in subjection or in a worse state under them But when their times shall be ended accomplished and fulfilled then saith Daniel the Saints of the most High shall take the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom for ever and ever that is there shall be no more Kingdoms after it but it shall continue as long as the world shall endure Three of these Monarchies were past when our Saviour and Paul spoke and the fourth was well entred If then by Saints there be meant the Jews as well as other Christians as questionless they are not excluded but included then it is plain enough that is the time of their full and compleat reduction and conversion I have said full and compleat because I apprehend it possible yea very probable that some before that time shall be converted and many more gathered together yea and for ought I know they may have some battels with the Grand Seignieur in order to the recovery of their Land before the other be Many other things the Scripture tells us in reference to the calling of the Jews as Ezâ—k 32.27 Ezâ—k 48. nit That there shall be among them a glorious Church in
which the Presence of the Lord shall dwell so that the name of their City shall be called from that day Jehora shamma the Lord is there for the Tabernacle of God will be with them and dwell with them That they shall have the purest Orainances Rivers of water of life clear as chrystal not running with blood as in dayes of persecution nor mixed with the fire of contentions as formerly they had too often been wont That they shall live the exactest discipline so that all that love and make a lie shall be without those Eagle-eyed times will soon spie out the member that is rotten and the sword of discipline keen enough to cut it off That then the Mountain of the Lords house shall be exalted above the tops of the Mountain and established in the top of the hillâ— and all Nations shall flow unto it That then shall follow great peace and plenty and prosperity in the Church and all persecutions either from enemies without or Tyrants within shall come to an end I say these and many other things the Scripture tells us in reference to the Jews but I forbear to speak of them herâ— because I shall speak of them elsewhere with a refâ—rence to the whole Church and not the Jews only Object 16 This Opinion implies a fulnesse of all temporal blessings as Riches Honours long life a freedom from all offliciions c. under this Kingdom Answ 1 Though some have spoken of a fulnesse of all temporal blessings in ths Millenary Kingdom yet they do not hereby mean a Iewish or Mahumetan Paradise as is by some falsely and uncharitably suggested But they mean hereby peace safety riches health long life or what else was enjoyed under any Kingdom or can be had in the world or may any way make their lives more comfortable yet Withent sin Mark the words without sin in the having of them This is all they mean by temporal blessings and the sinful abuse of the creature 2. To think the Saints the subjects of this Kingdom if they have these temporal blessings shall abuse them to those carnal pleasures of bed and board which have been dreamed of by sensual Turks and Talmudists is to unsaint them and to make them vile gluttons and unclean persons contrary to what the Word of God saith of such persons Rom. 8. 5. They that are after the flesh do minde the things of the flesh But they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit So also 1 Tim. 4.5 Al so Tit. 1.15 And Rom. 8.13 14. And in other places 3. They that make this Objection would make men believe that sensuality is pleaded for in this question but that is but an abuse both to the Assertors hereof and to the question it self for sensuality is not pleaded for but it is indeed holiness that they of this opinion plead for which is so much by most exploded yea derided and hated at this day in the world who cannot abide to hear of the Saints reigning on Earth with Christ a thousand years for then would be such a time such a height and measure of holinesse on earth as never was before and never entred into the hearts of men to conceive of and this in reality is that they cannot endure but it is a death to them to hear of 4. Suppose that some men have dreamed or should of carnal pleasure as Turks and sensual Talmudists have done yet if we will know the minde of God in the matter we ought to look what God aimeth at in this Kingdom and not what sensual dreamers have said or aim at Now what God aimeth at in this Kingdom most evidently appears in Scripture to be a time of holinesse and reformation a time of peace and purity a Kingdom of Saints and sincere Worshippers who may worship him in spirit and in truth according to his own appointment and give him the service which he himself requires And this is it we are to look after in the Kingdom of this question we are to think what holiness what righteousnesse what purity what piety what sincerity what heavenly-mindednesse what knowledge of God what Orthodoxity what pure worshipping of God c. shall be in this Kingdom and not to talk of sensuality and carnal pleasures and so corrupt the point by making a vile and wretched use of so holy and so religious a Kingdom as the reign of the Saints with Christ on earth shall be Certainly this Kingdom is most holy and sacred or else no Kingdom of Christ at all for holinesse becomes his Kingdom for ever 5. The reason why Christ forbids carking and caring for the things of this life is because they take off the mind from thinking on God so often and so frequently as we should And the reason why God will have a plenty of temporal and outward blessings in this Kingdom ready at hand for the use of all those that any way stand in need of them is that the thoughts of his people their time or strength may not be taken off from a close attendance upon God by looking after the things of this world Mat. 6 31 32. 6. To say or think that temporal blessings are not promised to the children of the Kingdom but purely spiritual is against the Scriptures 1 Tim. 4.8 Godlinesse is profitable to all things having the Bromise of the life that now is and of that which is to come Psal 34 10. The young Lions do lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing Matth. 6.33 All these things shall be added to you Rev. 21.24 And the Kings of the Earth do bring their glory and honour into it Those that need these blessiags as the Nations of them that are saved and walk in the light of the New Jerusalem will have the promise of them 7. To say that temporal blessings are not proper for the fruition of Saints is to wrong the Saints of their right for they only have a proper right from God to them which the wicked of the world have not 1 Cor. 3 22 23. 8. Though the worst of then may have these outward enjoyments for the present and the best men want them whereof we see an Example in Dives and Lazarus yet it shall not alwayes be so for in the time of this Kingdom the best shall have them and the worst shall want them Zach. 14 17 18. 9. Though the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink as Paul saith Rom. 14.17 in respect of its essentials yet it is not without meat and drink in respect of additionals as that known place doth testifie Mat. 6.33 10. Though temporal blessings are now but for a moment many times yet are they blessings while they are enjoyed and though the grief of their cessation may more then counterpoise the contentment of their fruition to them that lose them yet it is very clear the Saints shall enjoy them in this Kingdom during life
and shall not lose them Ezek. 34.26 27 28. And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing and I will cause the showre to come down in his season there shall be showres of blessing And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit and the Earth shall yield her increase and they shall be safe in their Land and shall know that I am the Lord when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them And they shall no more be a prey to the Heathen neither shall the Beasts beastly men of the Land devoure them but they shall dwell safely and none shall make them any more afraid Ezek 36.28 29 30. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses and I will call for the corne and will increase it and lay no famine upon you And I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the Heathen And many other places 11. Though long life will keep a man from Heaven whilest it lasteth yet it is counted for a blessing in the word of God to have it In Exod. 20.12 It is promised as the reward of obedience to the fifth Commandement And Paul tells us Ephes 6.2 3. That this is the first Commandment with promise that it may be well with thee and that thou mayest live long on the Earth Psal 91.16 With long life will I satisfie him and shew him my salvation Prov. 16.31 Ahoary head is a crown of Glory being found in the way of Righteousness Is it a blessing a reward and a crown now and would it be a judgement then sure I am had God thought so he would never have made a promise of it to his people as he doth Isai 65.20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days nor an old man that hath not filled up his days and ver 22. At the days of a tree are the days of my people and mine Elect shall long iâ—joy the work of their hands 12. Lastly though long life be one of the priviledges of this Kingdom yet there shal be death I conceive at last that is to the Nations that are saved and walk in the Light of the New Jerusalem but not to the camp of the glorified Saints or which is all one the New Jerusalem And though this is controverted by som that this is so apears ni fallor plainly thus 1. That those whose souls descend and come down with Christ and are reunited to their bodies and are literally and properly the raised Saints who are raised in the morning of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Great day of Judgement or beginning of the thousand years and are that company who are called the New Jerusalem and camp of the Saints that these shall die no more may be taken I think on all hands pro confesso as a thing granted which is also proved Rev. 21.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and THERE shall be no more DEATH neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain all which are applicable to them but not to the other 2. The other therfore who came not down with Christ but are upon the Earth and are called the Nations that are saved and walk in the light or by the direction of the former they as also all who shall afterwards be converted during this Kingdom have sin and pain and tears and Kings and Ordinances and eat and drink and are mortal and die c. Now that they die for this I think will be most questioned by som is plainly hinted by the Prophet Isaiah chap. 65.20 The child shall die an hundred years old it is beyond doubt that the is speaking of this Kingdom and though he tells us of a long life where he that lives the least or but a little time comparatively shall live an hundred years yet he owns death in this Kingdom for all that the child shall die a hundred years old Also the Apostle Paul tells us 1 Cor. 15.26 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death Now Gog and Magog shall be destroyed at or after the end of the thousand years therefore death which is the last enemy to be destroyed cannot be destroyed a thousand years before but is destroyed after the destruction of Gog and Magog when the thousand years are ended or finished Object 17 This Opinion makes the living Saints mortal but the Apostle saith 1 Thes 4.17 That they shall be caught up and be ever with the Lord now if the living Saints I mean those that are found alive at Christs coming be caught up and changed which is somthing equivalent to death and states them in immortality and be ever with the Lord how can they and their posterity be in a state of mortality for a thousand years how can these things hold together Answ This Objection I confesse hath seemed hard to some and is urged as unanswerable by others and Reverend Dr. Twisse in Mr. Mede's Diatribae part 4 pag. 472. having propounded and answered nine Objections against this opinion propounds this in the tenth and last place and leaves it unanswered as not knowing what could be said to it whereupon Mr. Mede takes it for Tythe and answers it whose Answers you may please to see and peruse they are eâ—dens l. p. 473. I conceive submitting my opinion still to better judgments in this mystery that the plain and true answer in this those of Gods people that are alive at Christs coming those shall be caught up together with the raised Saints which shall be don in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the sound of the Trumpet of the initiation of that great day for this is not the last trump or the trumpet of consummation and be changed and so put into a state of immortality and neither marry nor have posterity nor die but be as the Angels and therefore they are not meant by the Nations that are saved that walk in the light thereof But you will say who are they then I answer that when Christ shall thus gloriously manifest himself in person to the world for his people and against his enemies and shall have destroyed the most part of those that oppose him by far at that great Armageddon battel I say then there shall and will be a mighty conversion of very many of those who see these things being such wonders as men never saw before Yea and all or most of those few that escape destruction at that great Armageddon battel being converted shall go and preach the strange things of that day and time to the Nations who are afar off and have not seen and heard them and of these when they shall have heard those things shall very many be converted and these are the
Nations of them that are saved who are mortal and eat and drink and have Kings and Ordinances and marry and have children and their children are all taught of God And many will be converted to God within the thousand years all these walk in the light of the New Jerusalem and these Kings bring their glory and honour to it and take directions from it And then when the thousand years are ended comes the battel of Gog and Magog and the last and general Judgment then sounds the last Trumpet which is as I said before the Trumpet of consummation as the other was of the initiation of that great day and they that are then found alive shall be changed as before and Christ makes an end of his Kingdom after the separation sentence and execution delivering up the Kingdom to the father that God may be all in all thenceforth for ever This Answer if I be not deceived cuts the ham-strings of this objection if it self be good and there are but two things I think to be cleared to make it passeable 1. That the Rapture of the Saints 2. That the Trumpets are such as in this predication they are said to be a word therefore to these 1. This Rapture of the Saints that are alive at Christs coming must be I think in the beginning of the thousand years for they shall meet the Lord in the aire which cannot be meant of the end of the thousand years for then Christ is on the Earth with them so that although 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 first and then may admit a great distance of time as Mr. Mede saith in his first answer to this objection yet I see not how it can do so here And if as he saith in his fourth Answer this Rapture should be to preserve the Saints from that great Conflagration of the Earth and the works thereof 2 Pet. 3.10 that is also held to be in the beginning of the thousand years in the Armageddon battel before the New Heavens and New Earth And that this Rapture should be without their change and stating in immortality I think hardly any man will say for they are thenceforth ever with the Lord on Earth during the thousand years and in Heaven ever afterwards Ergo they neither marry nor multiplie nor die any more but are as the Angels and therefore are nore of the Nations that are said to be saved and walk in the light of the New Jerusalem Rev. 21.24 2. But the greatest question will be about the two Trumpets the one of initiation or inchoation of the thousand years the other of consummation in the end of the thousand years or rather some time after Rev. 20.9 to wit when Gog and Magog's attempts are over and their armies burnt with the fire that falls from Heaven and consumes them for then doth the last Trumpet sound Now that this is so I humbly offer what follows for the clearing of it 1. Because all the dead are said to be raised at the sound of the Trumpet now as we have already heard they are raised at two distinct different times therefore there must be two distinct and different trumpets for otherwise some should be raised with the sound of the trumpet and the rest without which I think hardly any man will affirm or grant 2. Because the text tells us 1 Thes 4.16 1 Cor. 15.52 of a trumpet and the last trumpet which seem to be distinguished one from another for the last trumpet must necessarily be understood in opposition to a former of the som kind and wheras some have taken this last trump to be the seventh Apocalyptick trumpet Rev. 11.15 and so called the last in opposition to the former six that cannot be because those are judicial trumpets but these are of another kind and have a distinct use and end from the former Object 18 Our Creed speaks but of one Resurrection not of two Answ 1 So the Creed speaks but of one forgiveness of sins not of two and yet one man hath his finnes forgiven before another so it speaks of but one eternal life not of two or ten or many yet one man enters into eternal life before another and indeed every man in his own order so that if there were as many eternal lives distinct one from another as there is orders or distinct times of entring into the same we must reckon not one or two or ten but many thousands so it is with the resurrection of the dead one man dies before another and one man riseth before another 2. The Church of Christ in her Primitive and purest state taught this without doubt that the resurrection of the body is but once and one and yet in these parts viz. of the just in their place and order then of the unjust after in their place and order or at the Apostle phraseth it 1 Cor. 15.23 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one in his own order 3. All men die but once yet all men do not die at once So all men rise but once yet all men do not rise at once but some at one time some at another 4. When we speak of the first and second resurrection of the body we mean it either of one body or of divers if but of one body there is but one resurrection and no more But if we speak of divers bodies whereof one sort is good the other bad and compare thâ—â— together and ask the question which 〈◊〉 rise first the Answer must be the good shâ—â—â— rise first and have their part in the first reâ—ur rection and the bad shall not arise until the second resurrection The rest of the dead lived not again till the one thousand years were ended Object 19 A spiritual resurrection is before the corporal and every soul riseth spiritually from the death of sin before he riseth corporally from the Grave therefore the spiritual resurrection is the first and the corporal resurrection from the Grave is the second Answ 1 If the spiritual resurrection be the first then why doth Paul say the dead in Christ shall rise first he should have said the dead in Christ shall rise second for a spiritual resuâ—â— rection was before it 2. Though a spiritual resurrection be in som sense before a corporal yet it is never called the first resurrection in all the Scripture that title belongs to the resurrection of the body and no other 3. We may distinguish in this case between a resurrection properly and improperly so called the first resurrection properly so called is of the body though a spiritual resurrection improperly and only analogically so called precede and go before it 4. The first resurrection is so called not abâ—olutely but comparatively and that not in reject of one body but divert bodies Take one and the same body as for instance Peters and ask the question what resurrection did befall him first a spiritual resurrection or a corporal the answer is a spiritual
for one natural day or hour properly so called as 't is commonly thought In Luke 17.22 the Lord â—esus himself speaking of the day of his second â—oming Ye shall saith he desire to see one of the days of the Son of man Which Beza rightly interprets of one of the days of his second coming for in vain should they desire to see one of the days that were past who did certainly expect them to come which they thought also to be at hand but they were deceived in that and should not see them that is so soon as they expected them In Acts 3.20 21 24. Peter speaks of times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord the times of the restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets c. He doth not point at one day in Christs second coming but many certainly so long as all things shall continue after they be restored so long the day of Judgement shall last but all things shall be restored at the day of Judgement and continue in their being after they are restored longer then a day of twelve or twenty four hours long Surely for a man to say that Christ shall come from Heaven at the day of Judgement when all things in the world shall be destroyed and have an end Acts 3.21 Rom 8 21. is to fight against the Scripture which saith all things at his coming shall be restored and therefore not dissolved at that time Or to say all things shall be restored at Christ second coming and be dissolved again by and by is like the fancie of those Heathens who said God made other worlds before this but he did undo them as soon as he had made them because they were not to his minde and thus say they he spent his time until he made this world that now is which pleased him very well Such a fancy they must needs have of God who think all things shall be restored at Christs second coming and dissolved again by and by Without doubt as when God made the world at first he did not make it to destroy it presently but to continue for som length of time for man to live in it to his glory and his praise so when God shall restore the world at the great day of Judgement he will not presently dissolve it but have it to continue some length of time that Christ and the Saints may reign in it to his glory Again John in the Revelation speaking of the seventh Trumpet which is the last Trumpet and the Trumpet I mean of the judicial Trumpets of consummation and so the Trumpet of Christs second coming he attributes many days to it In the days of the seventh Trumpet the mystery of God shall be finished as he spake by his Servants the â—rophets Rev. 10.7 Isaiah calls the second coming of Christ the year of recompences Isaiah 34. ver 8. It is such a day that in the same breath it swells into a year For it is the day saith he of the Lords vengeance and the year of recompences for the controversie of Zion Yea this day in Isaiah 59.21 swells at the least into three generations and least that should be two little into a for ever For saith he my words shall not depart out of thy mouth nor our of the mouth of thy feed or seeds seed from henceforth even for ever And it is apparent this is spoken of Christs second coming both from the text * By which we may judge how to apply all those glorious texis which seem yet to be unfulfilled and context and Paul Rom. 11.26 so applyes the same The same Prophet tells us yet of a longer time Isaiah 65.17 for saith he the days of my people ver 22. shall be as the days of a tree and mine Elect shall lâ—ng enjoy the works of their hands Pliny tells us that the life of an Oak is nine hundred years more or less which comes very near Johns thousand years The words in the Hebrew are the wood of life but the Septuagint renders it the tree of life with which also agrees the Chaldee paraphraft In which words saith Justin Martyr we may understand the thousand years to be secretly pointed at It was the conceit of the same Justine Martyr and not altogether to be slighted that the life of the tree of life or of man in the state of Paradice was to consist of a thousand years that is to say that so long man had he not sined should have lived in this world and afterwards have been translated into a more happy both place and condition But Adam having sinned by eating the forbidden fruit therefore neither himself nor any of his posterity though some of them very long lived should attain to that number of years but should die before they had any of them lived out so great a day But when all things shall be restored that long liv'd day shall be restored to the sons of the first resurrection and they shall live one thousand years So the Prophet Zachariah speaking of the day of Christs second coming chap 14.9 saith the Lord shall be King over all the Earth and in that day there shall be one Lord and his name one And adds ver 16. they shall go up from year to year to worship the King the Lord of Hosts and to keep the feast of Tabernacles which is an allusion to those old Jewish rites and betokens onely their serving God of which see Rev. 7.14 15. Where those Palm bearing triumphers are said to serve God day and night in his Temple Lastly Christ tells us of a certain world to come in which sins may be forgiven Matth. 12.32 not to the sons of the resurrection who are without all sin but to those who are of the Nations that are saved and walk in the light of the New Jerusalem Rev. 21.24 who yet sinning and repenting of their sins obtain remission in Christs blood And now good Reader hark a little to the peculiar priviledges of that day and time yet for brevitys sake take them almost in so many words ¶ I In the time of this thousand years there will be an end for ever of the Beast and false Prophet O! happy riddance to the world for what good did they ever do nay what evil did they not Farewell thou Whore of Babylon Rev. 18.3 who didst inebriate the Nations and their Kings with the wine of the wrath of thy fornications Thy judgements are come in a day Rev. 18.8 death and mourning and famine for strong is the Lord God that Judgeth thee Rejoyce Rev. 18.20 over her thou heaven Church and ye holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath avenged you at her hand That wicked horn Dan. 7.21 is broken off who warred against and wore out the Saints the multitude of thy offences now at last hath broken the multitude of thy forces and thou canst not call back the day that is past
Thy two horns indeed made the world to take thee for a Lamb Rev. 13.11 but thy speech against the Saints was alwaies like a Dragon Therefore full well art thou cast into Rev. 19.20 the Lake of fire for ever as thine own dung to perish though thy branches shot up to Heaven and thy roots down as low as Hell yet the Saints now do reign and rejoyce in thy ruine II. Satan also is Rev. 20.2 now chained up and imprisoned in the pit That 1 Pet. 5.8 roaring Lyon who went about seeking by what means or whom he might devoure O! happy time when Lyons lye in chains and the Dragons dwelling is in the deep III. Moreover now there is a perfect and compleat end of all godless Governours who did alwaies oppress disquiet and vex the Church and Spouse of Christ God then Rev. 11.18 destroys all those that destroy the Earth Yea then and in that day shall our â—ord Jesus Christ the Lamb and the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah the Spouse and husband of his Church the Lord of Lords and King of Kings who at the first went out conquering and to conquer who did before hand signifie all these things to his servants by his Angel take to himself his great power and reign and let the Nations be as angry as they will or can yet in despite of all their fury he shall give rewards unto his servants the Prophets and to his Saints and to them that fear his Name both small and great Then Rev. 19.6 shall the Lord God Omnipotent reign with the shoutings and Hallelujahs of his Elect. Yea the Saints shall sit on Thrones 1 Cor. 6.2 Dan. 7.22.27 Matth. 19.28 and judge the World This well may stain the beauty and dazel the glory of all Earthly powers For then Isa 24.23 the Moon shall be confounded and the Sun ashamed when the Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his Ancients gloriously Then shall Righteousness run up and down and be as a mighty stream IV. Moreover then will be a lasting peace and wars shall cease to the ends of the Earth when Christ the Prince of peace shall sway the Scepter judging amongst many Nations and rebuking many people Then shall their swords be beaten into plow-shares and their Speares into pruning books Nation shall not lift up sword against Nation nor shall they learn war any more Isai 2.4 In that day saith God Hos 2.18 I will break the Bow and the Sword and the Battle ax out of the Earth and I will make them to lye down safely Peace before had been full oft desired but 't will be then compleatly attained V. Also then will all persecution be brought to an end and cease Then the envy of Ephraim shall depart and the Adversaries of Judah shall be cut off Ephraim shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not envy Ephraim Isa 11.13 Ezek 28.24 And there shall be no more a pricking Bryer unto the house of Israel nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them that despised them See also Ezek. 28.25 and 26. then Christ weeds out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that do iniquity For it is a righteous thing with him to render tribulation to them that trouble his Church and to them that are troubled rest 2 Thes 1.7 VI. Then likewise will be an and of all oppression For who is left to oppress the Beast and false prophet they are gone the Dragon is bound all wicked men are now under the Hatches and laid at Christs footstool Violence shall no more be heard in her Land wasting nor destruction within her borders Isa 54.14 Ezek. 45.8 My Princes shall no more oppress my people they shall be far from oppression The New Heavens and New Earth is a place wherein dwells righteousnesse Psal 72.2 He shall judge the people with Righteousnesse and the poor with Judgment v 4. He shall judge the poor of the people he shall save the children of the needy and shall break in pleces the oppressor VII At that day also and in that time there shall not be any that shall hurt or harm one beast shall no more hurt another nor one man his fellow For Isa 11.6 7 8 9. the wolf shall also dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid and the Calf and the young Lion and the Fatling together and a little child shall lead them And the Cow and the Bear shall feed their young ones shall lie down together and the Lion shall cat straw like the Ox. And the sucking childe shall play on the hole of the Asp And the weaned childe shall put his hand on the Cockatrice den They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain Understand we this of men or Boasts and neither shall be hurtful or offensive each to other but great agreement will be among them And this some understand to be the meaning of the Apostle Rom. 8.19 20 21. in which words these four following things seem to be observable viz. 1. That now the creature is under the bondage of corruption that is prone and apt to devour destroy and make a prey one of another 2. That the creature hereafter shall be delivered from that bondage that is they shall not as heretofore hurt and destroy one another 3. That there shall be a time when the sons of God shall have a glorious liberty that is they shall not hurt one another nor receive hurt from any 4. That the creatures in their kind shall partake of their liberty and they shall not be hurtful one to another but live in peace and quietnesse VIII Moreover then shall be an end of fear terrour and dread For they shall no more be a prey to the Heathen neither shall the Beast of the Land devour them but they shall dwell safely and none shall make them afraid Isa 54.14 In righteousnesse saith the Prophet shalt thou be established thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shal not fear And from terrour for it shall not come near thee Jer. 30 10. Therefore fear thou not O my servant Jacob saith the Lord neither be dismayed O Israel for lo I will save thee from far and thy seed from the land of their captivity and Jacob shall return and be in rest and be quiet and none shall make him afraid IX Lastly this will be a time of such purity and holinesse of the fear of the Lord and righteousnesse as never was nor will be till that time This will make it to be Millennium aureum or oureum seculum It will be a golden day and Age indeed for the holy City the New Jerusalem that City of gold and pearl mentioned Rev. 21. doth contemporate and synchronize with the thousand years as might be abundantly proved if Reverend Mede had not done it to my hand so that it would but be act a agere which I intend not This will be