the Lord they pitched as Long as the Cloud abode upon the Tabernacle they rested in the Tents and when the Cloud tarryed long upon the Tabernacle many days â—hen the Children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and Jornyed not c. And therefore it is said Exod. 15.13 Thou in thy Mercy hast led forth thy people which thou hast redeemed thou hast guided them in thy strength to thy holy Habitation and again Psal 78.52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep and guided them in the Wilderness like a flock and he led them on safely so that they feared not And Deut. 32.11 12 13. As an Eagle stirreth up her Nest fluttereth over her Young spreadeth abroad her Wings taketh them beareth them on her Wings so the Lord alone did lead him and there was no strange God with him he made him ride on the high places of the Earth that he might eat the encrease of the fields c. Thirdly As a Captain saved deefnded and protected them as Exod. 14.19 20. And the Angel of God which went before the Camp of Israel removed and went behind them and the Pillar of the Cloud went from before their face and stood behind them and it came between the Tents of the Aegyptians and the Camp of Israel and it was a Cloud and darkness to them but it gave light by night to these so that the one came not near the other all the night And therefore it is said Numb 23 2â— The Lord his God is with him and the shout of a King is among them God brought them up out of Aegypt he hath as it were the strength of an Unicorn surely there is no inchantment against Jacob neither is there any Divination gainst Israel according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and Israel what hath God wrought And again Deut. 33.24 to the end There is none like the God of Jesurun who rideth upon the Heaven for thy help and in his excellency on the Skie the Eternal God is thy â—efuge and underneath are the Everlasting Arms and he shall thrust out the Enemy from before thee and shall say destroy them Israel then shall dwell in safety above the Fountain of Jaoob shall be upon a Land of Corn and Wine also his Heavens shall drop down Dew Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O People saved by the Lord the Shield of thy help and who is the Sword of thy excellency and thine Enemies shall be found lyers unto thee and thou shalt tread upon their high places Fourthly For Counsel and direction in all Cases and to that end was the Breast-plate of Judgment made called the Vrim and Thummim that the people might approach the Throne with it and enquire of the Lord on the peoples behalf as the matter required Num. 27.21 And Joshuah shall stand before Eliazar the Priest who shall ask Councel for him after the Judgment of Urim before the Lord at his Word shall they go out and at his Word they shall come in both he and all the Children of Israel with him even all the Congregation of which Breast-plate of Judgment you may read Exod. 28.15.29.30 And again Numb 27.1 That difficult case of the Daughters of Zelophâ—ad was in the fifth Verse brought before the Lord who gave direction therein as appeareth 6 7 8 9 10 11. And Fifthly as a great Captain General To fight their Battles and to give them victory over their Enemies whereof you have divers instances Num. 10.35 36. And it came to pass when the Ark set forward that Moses said Rise up Lord let thine Enemies be scattered and let them that hate thee flee before thee and when it rested he said Return O Lord unto the many thousands of Israeliâ—â—â— Josh 5 14. Nay but as a Captain of the Lords Host am I now come and Joshuah fell on his face to the Earth and did worship him c. From whence Caleb and Joshuah fetcht strength for faith in that difficult hour Numb 14.9 saying to their Brethren only Rebel ye not against the Lord neither fear ye the people of the Land for they are Bread for us their defence is departed from them and the Lord is with us fear them not and it is said the Glory of the Lord appeared in the Tabernacle of the Congregation and by the Ark compassing of Jerico Joshuah 6. the Walls thereof fell down which therefore gave Moses Cause in his Song Exod. 15.3 to say That the Lord was a man of War Jehovah was his name and in the 11. verse that there was none like unto him amongst the Gods being glorious in holiness fearful in praises doing wonders who doth but stretch out his hand and the Earth swallows up his Enemies where y that promise was fulfilled Lev. 26 7 8. And you shall chase your Enemies and they shall fall before you by the Sword and five of you shall chase a hundred and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight and your Enemies shall fall before you by the Sword Deut. 32.30 And again Num. 14.24 Behold the perple shall rise up as a great Lyon and lift up himself as a young Lyon he shall not lye down until he eat of the prey and drink of the Blood of the slain whereby Jerusalem became a burdensome stone to all people for all that burdened themselves with them was cut in pieces and the Governours of Judah became a Harth of fire among the Wood and a Torch of fire in a Sheaf devouring all the people round about on the right hand and on the left Sixthly As a potent Monarch to give them ease and rest Exod. 33.14 And he said my presence shall go with thee and give thee rest Joshuah 2â— 43 44 45. And the Lord gave unto Israel all the Land which he sware to give unto their Fathers and they possessed it and dwelt therein and the Lord gave them rest round about according to all that he sware unto their Fathers and then stood not a man of all their Enemies before them And the Lord delivered all their Enemies into their hand there failed not ought of any good which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel all came to pass From which six Considerations it might well be said as Jer. 8.19 Is not the Lord in Zion is not her King in her and by Gideon when they would have made him King Jug 8.23 I will not rule over neither shall my son rule over you the Lord shall rule over you And well might the Lord say to Samuel when the people would have a King like the Nations 1 Sam. 8.7 That they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not Reign over them the Lord God being their King 12.12 And no wonder that such Rebellion should be reckoned as one of their greatest sins and iniquities 1 Sam. 12.16 17 18 19 20. with Hos 9.15 Which said Throne with
Salvation Heb. 2.28 Acts 11 1. 1 Cor. 15.23 Thes 1.8 Secondly His spiritual coming is either when he comes by his spirit to convince call and convert a Soul as Eph. 3.17 1 Thes 2.13 Rev. 4.20 or to confirm seal and establish by his Spirit John 14 20. Acts 23.28 Eph. 1.13 Thirdly It is mistically considered either in his coming in the type in the shadowy and legal dispensations Acts 7. 1 Cor. 10. or in the Evangelical Antetype or Gospel dispensation Fourthly He cometh in his Providence either to redeem deliver and save his people Exod. 3.8 Lam. 18.8 Heb. 10.37 or to execute Vengeance in the destruction of his Enemies Isa 63. Luke 18. Hab. 2. Mal. 2. And it is the mind of wisdom that must rightly and duly apply each of these according to the scope drift and meaning of the holy spirit and not mistake the one for the other Secondly What are we to understand by Christs being with a people or a people with Christ can that be otherwise than personal for it is expresly said They Reigned with Christ Christ may be said to be with a person or people when he is so virtually by his spirit or spiritual presence or when he is so by his Word Rule Law or Precept Judah was said to rule with God Hosea 11.12 when they cleaved to Gods Word and Rule When Israel rejected the Government by Judges which was Gods Ordinance and Appointment for a King after the manner of the Nations they were said to reject God from being their King who vertually went in and out before them and sought their Battles for them 1 Sam. 8. And therefore said Jer. 8.19 Is not the Lord in Zion Is not her King in her why have they provoked me to anger with the graven Images Solomon was said to sit upon the Throne of the Lord. And Jehoshaphat in his charge to his Judges 2 Chron. 19.6 bids them take heed what they did for you judg not for man but for the Lord who he told them was with them in the judgment being called forth as verse 8. for the Judgment of the Lord and for controversies Christ is said therefore virtually and spiritually to dwell to rest to walk amongst his people 2 Cor. 6.16 Rev. 2.1 Isa 57.15 and they with him to live with them and they with him to suffer with them and they with him Psal 91.15 Acts 7.9 To dye be buried quickned raised with him Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.15 2 Tim. 2.12 To work with him 2 Cor 5.6.1 Sup with him and he with them Rev. 3. To war and fight together with him and he with them Rev. 17. Joshuah 5. To be Captain of the Host and General of the Army Rev. 19. When all is but virtually and spiritually so So Satan is said to be with his Servants Subjects acting and instructing when he is not personally nor visibly so Satan shall cast some of you into prison Rev. 2.10 Where Satan dwelt and Satans Seat and Throne was Rev. 2.13 When he was only so by his substitutes in his Authority not really and personally but virtually and mistically And so to Reign and Rule as God King'd it in Israel by his Word Law and Authority by his influence and spirit As the Dragons Rule is called the Devils because the Devil influences acts and spirits his principal Agents and Instruments though not personally present So may the Rule in the hands of the Saints be called Christs Kingdom or Soveraignty though he be only virtually not personally present It is no new thing so to take it in his mistical Kingdom in the Church where his Laws Statutes and Ordinances are dispensed in his name and by vertue of his spirit It was no new thing to have it so esteemed in Israel in the Typical Kingdom when the Law was his the Rulers by his choice and spiriting the policy his called therefore his Rule Government Soveraignty Throne Kingdom And why then should it be thought strange in the Antetype When his Law Rule Policy and Rulers called according to his qualifications and influenced by his spirit shall according to promise and Prophesie come forth again in the world why may they not as well be said to Reign with Christ as suffer with him If we suffer with him we shall Reign with him We do not think it any absurdity to say The King of Spain fights and Conquers in America and Rules and Reigns there though never personally present in that other world but only vertually so by his Commissions by his Laws Civil and Ecclesiastical that he hath transferred thither by his Officers and Vice Roys that he hath appointed in his name to Rule and Govern there Did not the Roman Senate of old Govern the world at Rome by their Laws and Edicts and Rulers of Provinces that they Commissioned and appointed But by this Reason you seem to exempt Christs person from any share of Rule or Soveraignty in any Kingdom here whereas it is expresly said He is to judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and Kingdom by which it is most manifest that at his appearing he hath a Kingdom and you owning that appearing to be personal what do you make that Kingdom to be And what share hath Christs person in it In answer whereto I conceive it necessary in the first place to give you the distinction of a five-fold Kingdom the Scripture takes notice of belonging to Christ viz. a Providential Spiritual Monarchical mistical or Davidical and Misphatical Kingdom and then I shall give you my understanding and conceptions of this Kingdom hinted at that he is to have at that his appearing And for a want of a right distinguishing herein proceds as I humbly apprehend all the mistaken notions and differences about the Kingdom of Christ treated of in these papers First Therefore understand there is a providential Kingdom which Christ hath and doth as God manage over all the world and that from the beginning Secondly A spiritual Kingdom which he doth and hath all along managed in the hearts of his people from the beginning of the world to this day Thirdly There is a mistical Kingdom or a Rule and Soveraignty that he as Lord and King hath exercised in the Church as well under the Law as under the Gospel Fourthly There is his Monarchical or Davidical Kingdom namely that dignity and Soveraignty that is in time according to promise and prophesie to take place in and over the Nations and to be managed by his Laws and Government by his spirit and vertual presence in his Servants and Substitutes Which hath been the special Subject of this discourse Fifthly There is that glorious Misphatical Kingdom viz. Soveraignty that Christ Jesus in person with all the Saints in their glorified bodies with him shall upon their general Resurrection and Judgment exercise here upon the Earth before all is given up into the Fathers hands which is further cleared to you in the several parts of it in the
like manner also doth the Glory here return to Jerusalem and that in so visible a manner that all are enlightned by it to fulfill the words of the Prophet Isa 60.1 2. Arise shine for thy light is come and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee for behold darkness shall cover the Earth and gross darkness the people but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his Glory shall be seen upon thee c. and which will be so splendid and shine to that perfection that to follow the simile Rev. 22.5 there shall be no night there and they need no Candle neither light of the Sun 21.23 compared with Isa 60.19 And again The Gentiles shall see thy Righteousness and all the Kings of the Earth thy Glory Isa 62.2 And then shall also be accomplished what is further said Isa 52.9 10. The Lord shall make bare his holy name in the eyes of all Nations and all the ends of the Earth shall see the Salvation of God So that not only the Glory of his presence and the Glory of his Grace but the Glory of his power shall be manifest for his people to the fulfilling also that word Isa 4.5 And the Lord will Create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon her Assemblies a Cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon or above all the Glory shall be a defence alluding to the presence and Glory of old the type hereof that came up with them out of Aegypt Exod. 13.21 that was with them in the Wilderness Exod. 33.9 10. which was so to be their guide that without it they must not stir Numb 9.15 Exod. 33.15 that accompanied the Tabernacle Exod. 40.34 and both the Temples 1 Kings 8.11 Hag. 2. 6 7. in the enjoyment whereof consisted their Counsel Comfort Blessing Protection Strength and therefore must the High-Priest begging that Mercy bless the people Numb 6.23 and in the loss whereof the contrary attended viz. all misery and mischief But so eminently shall this new Jerusalem be blessed herewith that her name shall be called Jehovah Shamah viz. the Lord is there Ezek. 48.35 whilst it may truly be said of her Opposite that other City that by the smoke that cometh out of the Bottomless-pit and by the indwellings of Satan whose Throne and Seat is therein that darkness incompasseth her as a Cloud and thick darkness as a covering that the height of her Glory is but in her own shame which will hasten her inevitable ruine and utter confusion and for whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever Of the Wall And had a Wall great and high and had twelve Gates and at the Gates twelve Angels and names written thereon which are the names of the twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel 12. On the East three Gates on the North three Gates on the South three Gates on the West three Gates 13. And the Wall of the City had twelve Foundations and in them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. 14. And he that talked with me had a Reed to measure the City and the Gates thereof and the Wall thereof 15. And he measured the Wall thereof a hundred forty four Cubits and the building of the Wall of it was of Jasper c. HAving spoken of the City in general he comes to speak of her strength and splendor being a City compact together and the first thing he begins with is the Wall A Wall is for safety security and defence as well as for Ornament and Beauty It is said The Canaanites had Walls reaching to Heaven Deut. 1.28 And that Babylon had a great broad Wall Jer. 51.58 That Jerusalem after the Captivity had a Wall with twelve Gates And so had Ezekiels City also lying four-square and upon each quarter three Gates In allusion whereto the new Jerusalem is here described to have a four-square Wall and twelve Gates therein but such a Wall that in all respects transcends all that ever was heard or read of in the world Which in its constitution several parts dimensions and proportions you have thus laid down viz. 1. In its regularity laid out by the Golden Reed in the Angels hand 2. In its materials of which it is built all of Jasper stone 3. In its foundation viz. twelve precious stones garnishing the same 4. In its figure Quadranguler four square lying upon the four Quarters East North South West 5. In its breadth 144 Cubits 6. In its heighth which if agreeing with the City is twelve thousand Furlongs or 1500. Miles 7. In the number of the Gates which according to the number of the Patriarchs and Apostles as the Gates of Jerusalem of old are twelve 8. In its Emblematical inscription twelve Tribes names upon the Gates and twelve Apostles names upon the foundation-stones 9. In its Porters assigned to keep the Gates twelve Angels 10. In the admirable and wonderfull matter of the Gates twelve entire Pearls In all which no question singular Mysteries are intended which for want of light we may come very short in the understanding of yet according to what we have attained you may upon the whole take these following general hints from whence light may be fetcht to look into the particulars viz. 1. By the exact mensuration of both Wall Gates and City it self in all their dimensions We may understand that as of old both in the Tabernacle Exod. 25.4 as in the Temple first 1 Chron. 28.19 and second Zach 2.1 2 3 c. Ezek. 43.11 12. all things relating to the worship and service of God was to be exact according to Rule even to the very Pins and Nails of the Temple c. So also in this Glorious state of the Church how large and extensive soever yet is she not it seems in an arbitrary way to order and regulate her affairs either relating to the worship and service of God or to her whole Oeconomy of Rule and Government but must in all lie truly level to the square and even to the pattern of the Golden Reed of Gods Word which must try both Members Doctrine Worship and Manners 2. By this wonderful great and high Wall that is said thus to encompass this glorious City we may conclude that the Protection Salvation and defence of the Church shall be very singular and that then that Word of the Prophet shall be fulfilled Violence shall no more be heard in thy land nor wasting and destruction within thy borders but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation and thy Gates Praise And that when Gods encompassings and encampings shall be so visibly without as Isa 4.5 Zach. 9 8. 2 Kings 6.16 17. And his co-habitation within as Rev. 21.3.22 23. Chap. 22.3 Then may the Church safely conclude that Song may seasonably be Sung Isa 26.1 We have a strong City Salvation will God appoint for Walls and Bulwarks 3. That the matter of the Wall being of the same glorious substance that the
Mankind shall now be restored to its primitive luster and purity when there shall be to accomplish the word of promise Judges restored as at first and Counsellours as at the beginning that the City may be called the City of Righteousness the faithful City Isa 26. When her Officers must be made Peace and Exactours Righteousness Isa 60.17 When their Nobles shall be of themselves and their Governours shall proceed from the midst of them Jer. 30.21 And Princes shall no more oppress Gods people Ezek. 45.8 Nor any oppressed shall pass through them any more then may we expect that the Lords Law will be magnified and made honourable Isa 1.42.21.23 And the Law must go forth of Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem Mich. 4.2 Then Righteousness Truth and Peace shall kiss each other Psal 45. And the people shall be judged with Righteousness and the poor with judgement when there shall be a Spirit of judgement to them that sit in judgement and strength to them that turn the battle to the Gate Isa 28.56 For the Spirit of the Lord must then eminently be given to Rulers and Judges who must be annointed for the due execution of that great Ordinance as the 70 of old Numb 11 17.27 Numb 27.18.20 21. as the Joshua's Deut. 34.9 the Othniell's Jud 3.9 10. the Sampsons Jud 14.6 the Samuels 1 Sam. 3.20 the Davids 1 Sam. 16.13 14. when the feeble shall be as David and the Davids as Angels Zach. 12.8 When righteousness shall run down as a mighty stream and peace shall be extended like a River Isa 66.12 And Wisdom and Knowledge shall be the stability of these times Isa 33.6 And this shall be the season when there shall be no more Curse as the Text saith when the Throne of the Lamb shall thus take place intimating that the abuse of the Throne has brought in a Curse which is a great truth for righteous Rulers are not more to be esteemed a blessing than evil and wicked Rulers are esteemed a Curse which are given therefore as a judgment and Curse for sin as well as to be a Curse as Lev. 26.17 Judges 2.14 Deut. 28.47 48. 2 Kin. 17.19 Isa 10.5.42.24 Isa 3.4 Eccles 10.16.4.13 14 Isa 3.4.13 Thus have we taken a view of that Throne of God and the Lamb that is to be in new Jerusalem the City of God We shall also observe to you that Babylon hath a Throne in her also but it is the Throne of the Devil Rev. 2.10 The Throne of the Beast Rev. 16. even that Seat or Throne that the Dragon gave him Rev. 13 who resigned to him his Power Seat and Authority Rev. 13.2 A throne of Violence Mischief Blood and Iniquity from whence has proceeded all manner of unrighteousness they having thereon established mischief by a Law and because it hath been in the power of their hands therefore have they exacted it with all manner of cruelty and oppression for in her is found the Blood of the Prophets and of Saints and of all that are slain upon the earth Rev. 18.24 And therefore has the holy Spirit portraied the Beast and where the Chief Rulers upon this Throne are to have their Garments all stained with Blood of a Crimson and Scarlet Colour and to be drunk with Blood Blood within and Blood without a Scarlet Whore riding upon a Crimsom Coloured Beast and therefore is that cry under the Altar How Long ere thou avenge our blood at her hand But the day is hastening when Inquisition shall be made after this Blood Psal 9.12 And when the Earth shall disclose her Blood and no more cover her slain Isa 26.21 When the Righteous Sentence shall go forth from the Throne give her Blood to drink for she is worthy Rev. 16.6 with the reason of it for they have shed the Blood of Saints and Prophets Fill her double in the Cup she hath filled when that Song shall be Sung even the Song of Moses the song of the Lamb viz. Great and Marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy ways thou King of Saints who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy holy Name for thou only art Holy for all Nations shall come and worship before thee for thy Judgments are made manifest And again Allelujah Salvation and Glory and Honour and power unto the Lord our God for true and Righteous are his Judgments for he hath judged the great Whore which did corrupt the Earth with her Fornication and hath avenged the Flood of his Servants at her hand And again they said Allelujah Rev. 19.1 2 3. If you desire better information into the Idolatries Hypocrisies Treasons and cruel Butcheries of the Popish Antichristian Generation if you have forgot the Amarian Cruelties the Bloody Irish and Peidmont Massacres with the burning of London read two late pieces writ one by Dr. Stillingfleet and an other giving you the History of these things out of their own writing by Mr. Foulis A Paraphrastical Exposition JOhn having seen a Vision of the Destruction of Babylons old World viz. in the passing away of her old Heaven in her Whorish Ministry or Church state and her old Earth in her Beastly Magistracy or Civil state has now a Vision of Jerusalems new World wherein all things are made new viz. In her new Heaven-Bride-like ministry or Church state and in her Lamb-like Magistracy or Civil state and which in Conjunction is discovered in the emblematical representation of a Glorious City hereafter expressed 9. And there came unto me one of the seven Angels which had the seven Vials full of the seven last Plagues and talked with me saying come hither I will shew thee the Bride the Lambs Wife And there was one of the seven Angels that having shewed me the destruction of the false Church by the burning of a gaudy Whorish woman Rev. 17. shews me here the exaltation of the true Church by the representation of a Beautiful comely Virgin prepared and trimed as a Bride for her Husband And then me thought I was carryed unto the top of a great Mountain and had spiritual discoveries of the new Testament Church that is built upon a Hill Mat. 5.14 10 And he carryed me away in the Spirit to a great and high Mountain and shewed me that great City the Holy Jerusalem discending out of Heaven from God And as the Angel had discovered to me Babylon the false Church in the figure of a great City was pleased by the emblem of a famous City to shew me new Jerusalem the true Church and by the situation grandeur beauty and excellent descent of the one would have me to understand the Divine original perspicuity stability greatness and holiness of the other And then by observing to me that Divine Glory 11. Having the Glory of God and her light was like unto a stone most precious even like a Jasper stone clear as Chrystal Ver. 23. And the City had no need of the
in Torment Beast and False-prophet 4. By the extremity and endlesness of it And shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever Then what follows the damning of the Dragon viz. The general judgment wherein is to be considered 1. The Majestical Enthronement of the Judge upon his Tribunal or Judgment seat partly by the glory thereof partly by the power of his presence And I saw a great white Throne and him that sat upon it from whose face the Earth and Heaven fled away and there was found no place for them 2. The order and manner of his judicial proceeding 1. By his conventing all before his Tribunal that were to be judged And I saw the Dead both small and great stand before God the Sea giving up the dead which were in it and the Graves delivering up the dead which were in them 2 By his final dooming or sentencing of them wherein note 1. The matrer of fact 2. The evidence produced for coviction And the Books were opened and another Book was opened which is the Book of Life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books according to their works 3. The Exccution of the judicial sentence both upon Things and Persons 1. Things And Death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire This is the second Death 2. Persons And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire Having thus laid down the parts the next thing to be considered and enquired into is the meaning of the Spirit and what is held forth to us by this Parabolical and misterious Prophecy For this Book of the Revelations as Mr. Mead well observes is not usually to be taken accoridng to the Letter only as of a certain bare History of things done but as a Prophesie involved with Mysteries Allegories and Types Therefore must we labour to get a right discerning of the meaning of those Parables and Prophetical Misteries which for the most part are Figurative and Tropical and in part borrowed from the Condition of affairs under the Old Testament And that it is alike injurious to truth to take a misterious Allegory in the Letter as to make an Allegory of the plain Scripture to Litterize the Allegory as to Allegorize the Letter Bernard p. 130. As it is composed of similitudes so the words are Figurative the whole Prophesie full of Metaphors and almost altogether Allegorical so as we must take heed that we look further than into the Letter and naked Relation of things as they are set down Otherways the book should be full of absurdities impossibilities falsities and flat contradictions unto other truths of Scripture which are far from the words of Gods holy Spirit which are ever holy and true For who can believe a Lamb to have seven eyes a mountain burning to be cast into the Sea and this thereby to become in a third part blood a star to fall from Heaven Locusts to be of so monstrous a shape as is set down in Chapter 9 h and Horses with Lions heads fire smoke and brimstone coming out of their mouths Dragon and Beast with seven heads and ten horns c. Therefore we must not stick in the Letter but search out the Historical sense which is the truth intended Also we must note this carefully that all this whole prophesie is framed after the state and condition of the antient people of God the Jews and after the words and visions of the antient Prophets as we may see by comparing the words and visions of this Book with Moses and the Prophets First to their sufferings under their three Enemies as Pharaoh in Aegypt called a Dragon 2. By Babel and the Beasts noted in Daniel 3. By Gog and Magog 2. To their whole state viz. By the twelve Tribes the Wilderness Thunder Lightning Earthquake to the Tabernale the Ark of his Testament the Priests to white Raiment a Golden girdle about the paps the Altar Incense Odours Lamps Candlesticks Golden Censer Temple Singing Instruments of Musick smoke filling the Temple to the Trumpets To Jerusalem Kings Thrones Crowns Elders c. Therefore for our better guide herein these known necessary and approved Rules are laid down to be observed in the Exposition of the difficult things in this Chapter viz. That taking it for granted as previous to all there is an absolute necessity of a James 1.17 1 John 1.20 27 Prayer b Rev. 1.3 Acts 8.28 29.30 Reading c Psal 1.12 Meditation d Dan. 12.4 8 13. Conference e Rev. 1.3 Psal 119.98 99. John 7.17 Dan. 12.3 Practise we must diligently observe Rule 1. First to compare any obscure passage or phrase with other Scriptrues and Prophesies alledged or alluded to whereby much light will be gained to many dark places in this book and so Scripture shall expound Scripture which is the best Interpreter as for instance Rev. 11.4 5 6. Wherein the two witnesses are compared to Moses and Aaron Numb 16. to Elijah and â—lisha â— Kings 1. to Zerubbabel and Joshua Zach. 73.11 12 14. The Song of Moses Rev. â—â— 3 with Exod. 15.1 Psal 145.17 mistical Babylon Rev. 17.24 with litteral Babylon Jer. 51.7 To seperate from her Rev. 18.4 with Jer. 51.6 her destruction Rev. 18.7 8. with Isa 47.7 8 9. To rejoyce at it Rev. 18.20 with Jer. 51.48 Saints coming forth in vengeance Rev. 19.13 Isa 63.2 Rev. 19.15 with Psal 29. Isa 63.3 New Heavens and Earth Rev. 21.1 with Isa 65.7 2 Pet. 3.13 c. Rule 2. Secondly To consider what vision or obscure passage the Holy Ghost hath interpreted in the Revelation it self For of all such the Exposition is undoubted and infallible and so will the Revelation be the best Expounder of the Revelation and from those Expositions proportionably borrow light for the discovering of other obscure passages depending thereupon relating thereto or contemporaneous therewith As for instance Rev. 1.20 The mistery of the seven Stars in his right hand and of the seven Golden Candlesticks interpreted by Christ viz. The seven Stars are the Angels of the seven Churches and the seven Candlesticks are the seven Churches So Rev. 17.7 The mistery of the Woman and of the Beast that carryeth her which hath the seven heads and ten horns and of the waters she sat on explained and expounded by the Holy Spirit The Woman is interpreted to be the great City that then reigned over the Kings of the Earth And the waters where the Whore siteth to be People Multitudes Nations and Tongues The Beasts seven heads to be seven Mountains and seven Kings Ten horns to be ten Kingdoms concerning which interpretation Mr. Mead hath this Remark viz. This is singular in this place nor to be passed over with a slight observation That this vision concerning the great Whore and the Beast bearing her is opened to John and to us by the Angel contrary to his wonted manner with a most plain
six of those heads was in Johns time and the seventh afterwards to come and they also signified seven hills interpreted to be that City that then ruled over the Kings of the Earth which was no other than Rome the seat and Metropolis of the Empire as it was then standing upon seven Mountains So that the seven headed red Dragon and seven headed scarlet coloured Beast his Image and Successour in that part of the World Europe was no other by this interpretation than the Soveraign Empire and Rule that first was exercised in Rome Heathen that drew the third part of the Stars of Heaven or powers or potentates of this world during the Dragonical state and in Rome Antichristian during the Beastly state And further it appears that by Dragon we are to understand here the heathen Empire from the extent of his power and jurisdiction For it is said Rev. 16.13 14. that the emissaries of the Dragon Beast and False-Prophet go forth unto the Kings of the Earth and of the whole world to gather them to the Battle of that great day of God Almighty The Beast and False-Prophets power extend no further than the ten Kingdoms But it is the Dragon that commands the rest of the world deceiving the nations and whole world Rev. 12.9 Therefore it is said of him after he is loosed again 20.8 that he goes out again to deceive the Nations which are in the four quarters of the Earth Gog and Magog which great army the number of whom is as the sand of the Sea is said to come up upon the breadth of the Earth and to compass the Camp of the Saints so that it appears plainly to be that power that influences and commands the greater part of the world And again it appears to be the Heathen Empire or State of Government because it is judged to the same ruine and destruction that the Beast and False-prophet were they who were interpreted Rev. 7. the ministerial and magisterial part of Antichrist and said to be taken and cast alive into the lake of Fire und Brimstone viz. that frame of Rule and Government as utterly to be cancelled reverst and vacated and never any more to appear in this world so is the Dragonical Satanical state being adjudged to the same lake of Fire and Brimstone with the Beast and False-prophet utterly also damned and destroyed never any more to appear in the world And again it appears to be no less if you examine thr scope of the place and order of the Prophesies The scope of the Book is to shew as the rise and rage so especially the ruine of the Enemies of Christ and his Church in order to their triumph and Glory which is excellently held forth by Mr. Thomas Goodwin in his Interest of States and Nations in that brief Epitome he gives of the Revelations Which Book saith he is a Tragi-comedy beginning with a Kingdom given to be won by conquest Rev. 6.8 and ending with a Corronation of a King and the Marriage of his Bride and all between is but the removing of all such lets and impediments as stand in the way Now the principal Enemies that Christ and his Church hath to deal with are held forth under the types and terms of a Dragon Beast and False-prophet The Dragon acts two parts one before the rise of the Beast and another presently upon and after the Beasts fall The twelfth Chapter gives an account of the victory that Michael obtained over him when he was cast out of Heaven into the Earth upon which he resigned up his power seat and authority unto the Beast viz. in those territories for 42. Months or 1260. days or years At the latter end of the Beasts or Antichrists Dominion viz. under the sixth Vial there is a confederacy and combination of Dragon Beast and False-prophet to gather the Kings of the Earth and whole world to the Battle of the great Day of God Almighty Accordingly they are assembled and ingage Battle with Christ and his followers not that we are to suppose that all the world viz. Europe Asia Africa and America are to be gathered into one place But holding out the Universal enmity and opposition that with mutual consent shall be made in the powers of the Earth against Christ his people and Government but with what success this Hostile league and confederacy is struck you have already heard Their powers are broken their Authority is dissolved The Beast and False-prophet viz. the ministerial and Magisterial part of Anti-Christ is taken and cast alive into the lake of Fire and Brimstone They are wholly gone off the Stage with a stink who have so long Lorded it in those ten Kingdoms of Europe And then also is the Dragon taken and bound and imprisoned in order to the taking place of Christs Kingdom not only in Europe but over the whole world throughout the whole Earth which was the Dragons or Devils dominions or that Heathenish Empire and Rule that extends all the world through both Asia Africa and America in distinction from the Beastly state that hath been visible in the Europian Territories Now during the time of the Dragons binding the Church hath peace rest and rule over the whole world but after he is released and that Empire permitted to perk up again fresh disturbance will be given to the Church called the Camp of the Saints or the beloved City all the world through till the Dragons total doom and judgment which then immediately follows In further confirmarion hereof take these following instances The Assemblees Annotations upon Rev. 12.3 A great red Dragon viz the Heathen Roman Emperours succeeding one another who did the Devil service as in other things so chiefly in persecuting the Church Psal 74.13 14. Isa 27.17 18.51.9 Ezek. 29.3 He is great because of his large Empire Red that is bedewed with the blood of the Saints as if dyed with it seven heads sitting on seven hills Chap. 17.9 Ten horns ten Provinces the strength of it as horns are of Beasts Dan. 8.3 4 5.6 Seven Crowns seven kinds of Governments one after another on her seven hills Rev. 17.10 on his heads not his horns for the Supreme Authority was in Rome on the seven hills not in the Provinces as after His tayl drew the third part of Heaven he subjected the third part of the Provinces of the world Did cast them to the Earth viz. Put down these Princes whom he subdued from the Royal Authorities And upon Rev. 20.2 Dragon the Pope being destroyed the Devil would bring in the Turk who seemeth yet to stand or some other Enemy like the Heathen Emperour called the Dragon before Rev. 12.3 to persecute and war against the Christians but God will not permit it till the thousand years of the Churches prosperity be done and upon the 10th verse The Devil viz. the Turk the Devils new Agent another Dragon like the Heathen Emperour or some other Enemy no Christian by Profession shall be
his own Blood And hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever Daniel 7.17 These great Beasts which are four are four Kings which shall arise out of the Earth viz. the four Monarchies as interpreted Chap. 2.18 But the Saints of the most high shall take the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom for ever 2â— And judgment was given to the Saints of the most high 26. And the judgment shall sit and they shall take away his Dominion to consume and destroy it to the end 27. And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve and obey him Which is the very same spoken of Dan 2.44 and in the days of these Kings viz four Monarchs typed out by the Image the God of Heaven shall set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdom shall not be left to other people but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever Psal 110 2. The Lord shall send the Rod of thy strength viz. his Septer or Ensign of Rule and Dignity out of Zion the new Testament Church Rule thou in the midst of thine Enemies Mica 4.8 And thou O Tower of the Flock the strong hold of the Daughter of Zion unto thee shall it come even the first Dominion the Kingdom shall come to the Daughter of Jerusalem Rev. 2.26 27. And he that overcometh and keepeth my Works unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations and he shall rule them with a Rod of Iron as the Vessels of a Potter shall they be broken to pieces even as I have received of my Father and I will give him the Morning Star Which glorious reign is held forth to us in the particulars following viz. First In the Great Extent Secondly in the Glorious Administration which is first in dispensing Laws 2ly Administring judgment both punishing the Evil and rewarding the Good to the encrease of 1. Peace 2. Plenty and 3. Protection Sixthly the great conversions both of Jews and Gentiles Seventhly the encrease of holiness Eighthly Freedom from sorrow Ninthly Restauration of the Creature First The extent of this Kingdom is no less than the bounds of the Beasts and Dragons Territories even the whole Earth Rev. 16.14 No less than the limits of the four preceding Monarchies as Dan. 7.27 And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve and obey him So Dan. 2.34 35. The Universality whereof is confirmed also by these following Scriptures Isa 60.11 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 12. For the Nation and Kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish Yea those Nations shall be utterly wasted Isa 2.2 And it shall come to pass in the last deays 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 thereunto Agreeable to the first promise to Abram Gen. 12.3 And I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee and in thee shall all the Families of the Earth be blessed Ratified also by an Oath Gen. 22.16 17 18. By my self have I sworn saith the Lord that in blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the Stars of Heaven and as the sand which is upon the Sea Shore And thy seed shall possess the Gate of his Enemies And in thy seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed Rev. 11.15 And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voices in Heaven saying The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever So Psal 2.8 Psal 29.10 Isa 19.23 25. The glorious Administration consists First in dispensing the Righteous Laws of the Lord in opposition to the Laws of the Nations the Statutes of Omri the Lord alone being the Law-giver Mica 4.2 And many Nations shall come and say Come and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord and to the House of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths for the Law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem Therefore it is said Isa 51.4 Hearken unto me my people and give ear unto me Oh my Nation for a Law shall proceed from me and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people 5. My Righteousness is near my Salvation is gone forth and mine Arms shall judge the people the Isles shall wait upon me and upon mine Arm shall they trust Therefore verse the 7th Hearken to me ye that know Right the People in whose heart is my Law Fear not the reproach of men c. Isa 42.2 He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgment in the Land and the Isles shall wait for his Law Verse 21 The Lord is well pleased for his Righteousness sake He will magnifie the Law and make it Honourable And further as a precept for the day Mal. 4.4 Remember ye the Law of Moses my Servant which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel with the Statutes and Judgments Ezek. 44.23 24. Secondly In Administring Justice and Judgment and Righteousness to the encrease of Peace and plenty and protection the blessings of good Government Isa 1.26 And I will restore thy Judges as at the first and the Councellors as at the beginning afterward thou shalt be called the City of Righteousness the faithful City Ps 72.7 In his days shall the Righteous flourish and abundance of Peace so long as the Moon endureth Verse the 2. of that Psal He shall judge thy people with Righteousness and thy poor with Judgment Verse 11. All Kings stall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him 12. For he shall deliver the needy when he cryeth the poor also and him that hath no helper 13. He shall spare the poor and needy and save the Souls of the needy 14. He shall redeem their Soul from deceit and violence c. Isa 60.17 18. I will also make thy Officers peace and thine exacters Righteousness 18. Violence shall no more be heard in thy Land wasting and destruction within thy Borders But thou shalt call thy walls Salvation and thy Gates praise 21. Thy people also shall be all Righteous they shall inherit thy Land for ever the branch of my planting the work of my hands
feet that were of Iron and Clay and brake them to pieces Interpreted to be the fourth or last Monarchy Chapt. 7 and Verse 40. of this Chapter 35. And the Stone that smote the Image became a great Mountain and filled the whole Earth Rev. 17.14 These viz. the ten Horns ten Kingdoms or ten Toes of this Image make War with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful Spoken as though personally present in the work and parallel to this Rev. 19.11 And I saw Heaven opened and behold a white Horse and he that sat upon him was called faithful and true and in righteousness he doth judge and make War 13. And he was cloathed in a Vesture dipt in blood taken out of Isa 63.2 c. And his name is called the Word of God 14. And the Armies which are in Heaven followed him upon white Horses cloathed in fine Linnen white and clean 15. And out of his Mouth goeth a sharp Sword that with it he should smite the Nations and he shall Rule them with a Rod of Iron and he treadeth the Wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God 16. And he hath on his Vesture and Thigh written King of Kings and Lord of Lords And then there is an invitation to the Fouls of Heaven to feast themselves with the flesh of Kings Captains and Mighty Men in the Supper of the great God And in the 45 Psa a Prophecy of the Kingdom Verse 3. Gird thy Sword upon thy Thigh O most Mighty with thy Glory and thy Majesty 4. And in thy Majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things 5. Thine Arrows are sharp in the heart of the Kings enemies whereby the people fall under thee And then after this Conquest as though in it in person 6. Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever The Scepter of thy Kingdom is a right Scepter c. So Psa 66.3 Isa 42.13 Haggai 2.22 As in Page 23. Isa 35.4 Secondly The Peaceable part of the Kingdom or the Kingdom of the Mountain so spoken of as if Christ was personally present Ps 72.1 Give the King thy judgement O God and thy righteousness unto the Kings Son 2. He shall judge thy people with righteousness and thy poor with judgement 3. The Mountains shall bring peace to the people and the little Hills by righteousness 7 In his days shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the Moon endureth 8. He shall have dominion also from Sea to Sea and from the River to the ends of the Earth c. 11. Yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him c. Dan. 7.14 And there was given him viz. the Son of man Christ Jesus Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him His Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away and his Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed 27. And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all Dominions shall serve him Jer. 23.5 6. Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute justice and judgment in the Earth 6. In his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his name whereby he shall called the Lord our righteousness Ezek. 34.23 24. And I will set up one shepheard over them and he shall feed them even my servant David he shall feed them he shall be their shepherd 24. And I the Lord will be their God and my servant David a Prince among them I the Lord have spoken it Jer. 39.9 They shall serve the Lord their God and David their King whom I will raise up unto them Luke 1.32 He shall be great and shall be called the son of the highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David 33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end And so again upon the sounding of the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11.15 The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever And again Rev. 20.4 And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years Rev. 22.3 Object But why then should not we so take it as the Scripture represents it and so plainly lays it down will you be wiser than what is written why should we not so receive and believe it Answ First it must be taken for granted that as the Beasts Kingdom is a mistery so is the Kingdom of Christ no less and threfore is the mind of wisdom called for to reach into the one as the other And as the Apostle 2 Pet. 3.16 speaking of these things in which as he saith there are some things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest unto their own destruction Which therefore calls for great sear caution and circumspection in our conversing about these great mysteries Secondly It must be taken for granted that in the speaking to these things no sense ought to be given that denyes received fundimental principles nor thwarts the Analogy of Faith nor crosses the current of Scripture Thirdly That it is the genuine sense true scope and intent of the Scripture comparing Scripture with Scripture and spiritual things with spiritual and not only the litteral reading in some places for otherwise the Racovian Catechisme asserting Socinianisme shall go for good pay Nay what Heresie upon that account may not be asserted and proved And therefore Maton well saith whatsoever Text of Scripture is expounded any other ways than god meant by it it is according to its interpretation the word of man and not of God and consequently in adhearing to such interpretations we believe not what God saith but what man doth make him say Lastly That we cannot receive these Scriptures in the sense that many give of them that thus seem to assert Christ personally to be present either in the smiting or peaceable part of his Kingdom during these thousand years Take these following Reasons and weigh them in the fear of the Lord in the true ballance of the Sanctuary wherein we shall first shew why they cannot so be received Secondly In what sense truly according to the mind of Christ they may and ought to be received First That Christ Jesus cannot properly be said to be personally present in the smiting part besides the five Reasons to this thing Page â—5 26 27. Because it is expresly said Psal 110.2 The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou
divided into four and twenty courses whose duty and priviledge is held forth in Deut. 33.10 Levit. 10.11 Numb 16.9 Thirdly Judaical of the Tribe of Judah of which Melchizedek the Type Gen. 14.18 Hebr. 7.1 And Jesus Christ the Antetype our great High-Priest Heb. 3.1.4.14 And under him the Spiritual Royal Priesthood Exod. 19 6. Rev 1.6 2 Pet 2.5 9. Importing separation and consecration to God and a nearness and constant communion with him Numb 16.9 Ordering in special the affairs of his Church being appointed and anointed thereto Now as in the Kingdom of Israel the Type of Christ's Kingdom there was an anointed Priesthood a Ministry to manage the affairs of the Church and an anointed Kingship or Magistracy to govern and manage the State So Hath Antichrist in his â—surpations in Imitation of them the Type and as if they were this Kingdom of Christ the Antitype pretended not onely to the Kingship but the Priesthood to the Ministry as well as the Magistracy to the Government of the Church as well as the state putting their Holy Oyl upon the one and the other as most Holy and Sacred things Dedicated to the service of Christ in both Which nevertheless their glorious entitling themselves to such his peculiar service he is pleased as to foretell this horrid blasphemous usurpation so to renounce it with great detestation calling their Magistracy an unclean filthy blasphemous bloody Beast that comes not from him but out of the bottomless Pit and must go into Perdition and the other their Ministry or Priesthood a vile filthy Idolatrous Strumpet that must for her lewd Whoredoms Drunkenness and Witchcrafts have her flesh torn off and burnt with fire But his faithful Saints and Servants that will neither bow the Knee to the one nor the other as being Blasphemous Idolatrous Usurpers not only to the opposing but outing Christs Ministry and Magistracy shall be found in this his Kingdom during this thousand years to administer in both these blessed Ordinances being received in Truth Power and Purity to the advantage of his name and Glory viz. as anointed Kings to manage the Affairs of State as Rulers and Magistrates under Christ the King of Kings and as anointed Priests shall under Christ their High-Priest manage his pure Worship and Govern the Affairs of the Church as his Elders and Ministers which in happy conjunction makes up this Blessed and Glorious state of Christs Rule in this his Kingdom Of the second Death On such the second death had no power THis is another Priviledge of the Saints in this happy Estate that they shall not be lyable to the second death By second death in the Letter is to be understood Hell-fire the place of the damned as interpreted Rev. 21.9 But Mistically and Metaphorically taken for utter ruine destruction and perdition As for instance it is said in Rev. 19.20 that the Beast and False-prophet were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with Brimstone which must Metaphorically be understood because as before explained Page 2 by Beast and False-prophet we are not to understand two persons but states viz. the Magistracy and Ministry of Antichrist who being vanquished in the great Battle are now as utterly extinguished and put into perdition never ony more to do mischief as if two persons were cast into Hell fire which gives light to Dan. 7 11. Rev. 17.8 Rev. 18.8 So also Rev. 20.10 It is said the Devil or Dragon that deceived them was cast into the lake of Fire and Brimstone where the Beast and False-prophet are c. which admits the same mistical signification viz. that now the Dragonical or Heathenish power as explained to be Page 2. that was only bound in times past for a season is after the Gog-Magog destruction as utterly ruined raised and destroyed as the Beast and false prophet the Antechristian stare before Yea and as the Devil himself will be when he is cast into the lake at the last day now never more to work mischief in the world And again the Worshippers of the Beast whose names are not in the Lambs book the Beast and Dragon being thus in utter perdition are now to share with the principals in utter ruine and destruction Rev. 14.10 11 13.8.17.8 compared with the 20.15 And lastly it is said that Death and Hell or the Grave are cast into the lake of Fire which is the seconâ— Death Rev. 20.14 viz. Now after the general Judgment there is to be no more Death Death is swallowed up in Victory a full confirmation of the former Of the Dragons Release And when the Thousand years are expired Satan shall be loosed out of his Prison UPon the expiration of the thousand years it seems Hell is to break loose again the Conquered and subdued Heathen Nations and their Authority that during that space have by the Righteous Laws and Soveraign Authority of Christ been as so many imprisoned fettered Captives yea as so many civil dead men kept down and under subjection whereby universal peace and quiet hath been managed and maintained all the world throughout do now by Gods permission and the Devils inspiration and sedition again perk up for him and in a rebellious manner standing upon their feet again do break off their subjection and Allegeance from Christs Rule and Authority and by combination and confederacy make head against him and engaging under their old Captain general the Devil do rally from the four quarters of the Earth an huge and numberless Host like to the Sand of the Sea which mighty gathering is called here by the spirit Gog and Mâ—gog with design by besieging and compassing the Camp of the Saints and beloved City to raze and destroy the Soveraign Power and Authority of Christ that he hath so long managed by the hands of his Saints in this World upon the breadth of the Earth even as the Syrian Host the Prophet in Dothan The Assyrian Jerusalem the Sodomites Lot 2 Kings 6.14 15. 2 Kings 25.1 Of Gog and Magog ANd shall go out to deceive the Nations which are in the four quarters of the Earth Gog and Magog to gather them together to Battel This is the Name the Holy Spirit is pleased to give this great and last enemy of the Church upon the Earth which for your better understanding take the pithy exposition given by Mr. Mead. It is saith he to be observed that the Revelation is a Book of the Future estate of the Christian Church set forth by Resemblances and Parables borrowed from the condition of affairs of the Jewish Church under the old Testament in which the Worship of the true God flourished alone the rest of the Nations serving Idols universally Hence therefore that Egypt Babylon in the Revelations are not the Babylon and Egypt of the Israelites but the enemies of the Church of the Gentiles like that Babylon and Egypt being Types and Figures of these In like manner Gog and Magog in the Revelation are not the Gog in Ezekiel
Amethyst 21 And the twelve gates were twelve Pearls every several gate was of one Pearl and the street of the City was pure gold as it were transparent glasse 22 And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it 23 And the City had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof 24 And the Nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it and the Kings of the Earth do bring their glory and honour into it 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day for there shall be no night there 26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie but they which are written in the Lambs Book of life CHAP. XXII Vers 1.2 3 4 5. And he shewed mea pure River of water of life clear as crystall prodeeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it and of either side of the River was there the Tree of Life which bare twelve manner of fruits and yeelded her fruit every Moneth and the leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the Nations 3. And there shall be no more curse but the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him 4. And they shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads 5 And there shall be no night there and they need no Candle neither light of the Sun for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall Reign for ever and ever The City of God or Kingdom of Christ in the thousand Years Reign further asserted from the 21th and part of the 22th of the Revelations THis portion of Scripture viz. the 21. Chap. to the 6. verse of the 22 doth very elegantly hold forth the happy and Glorious condition of the Church in the thousand years upon her deliverance from her Enemies by their just ruine and destruction wherein the Angel gives John a larger and fuller discovery of that blessed state whereof he had given him some hints and glimpses in the foregoing Chapter so that what he called an enthroning verse 4. and a City state verse 9. he here declares to be no less than a new World a new Heaven and a new Earth Babylons old World her old Heavens and Earth viz. Sun Moon Stars Sea being burnt up and consumed and no other than the taking place of the New Jerusalem that holy and beloved City after the ruine and destruction of that filthy and bloody City or the coming forth of the Spouse the Lambs wife in all her beatiful array prepared for her Husband after the desolation ruine and destruction of that beastly filthy Strumpet that gaudy painted Harlot For you will find it naturally linkt to the foregoing story of the thousand Years and belonging to the State of Grace before the Judgement and not because it is put down after the Vision of the Judgement therefore it must so in order be reckoned and then consequently to belong to the State of Glory as most Interpreters judge For you will find nothing more frequent in this Book then to give brief hints of things in one Chapter and then to prosecute them more fully in the next several occurrences of after dates intervening and coming betwixt As for instance that passage in the eleventh Chapter where he mentions first the slaughter of the witnesses by the Beast then of the Witnesses Resurrection enemies Destruction and Christ's Kingdom yet afterwards in the 13th Chapter returns again to the Beast and gives an account of his rise and rage which must not therefore be supposed to be a Beast rising up after Christ's Kingdom takes place because it is mentioned after it but a further and larger account of that Beast that he had but briefly hinted at before in the eleventh Chapter And that we are not mistaken herein Let first the Prophet himself from whom the Prophecy is fetcht about these new Heavens and new Earth and new Jerusalem which are both one be the Judge For you will find the time when he foretells such a state to take place is not to be in a state of immortality and glory but in this World short of the Resurrection and Judgement because he saith in the 21 22 23. Verses of that 65. Isa It must be in a time when Building Planting and Procreating will be proper which cannot possibly be in the State of Glory and Immortality as our Saviour himself hath over ruled Luke 20.34 35. And Secondly Let it be considered that this new Jerusalem or beloved City was in the thousand Years otherwise why should it be said upon the expiring thereof in the 9th Verse of the 20th that the Gog-Magog Army encompassed the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City And Thirdly Consider that the Church is called here the Spouse the Lambs wife only prepared and made ready for her Husband and not following the Allegory yet in that full enjoyment and fruition which the state of glory brings her to And Fourthly It may be considered that in this state God is said to Tabernacle and dwell with Men which discovers it to be a state of grace here and not in that state when they shall always be with God in the state of glory And that we are not alone herein you have Mr. Forbs upon the 21. Rev. delivering himself thus viz. All the dispensation of God towards this City being committed to the Lamb the Mediatour bespeaks it to be accomplished in this World because in the World to come he gives up the Kingdom to God that he may be all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 And further That nothing is here so magnifickly spoke which the Prophets before have not almost in the same terms uttered of the state of the Church here in Grace we will easily perceive that no such thing is here meant as whereto most part of interpreters have drawn it But even by this amassing together of all the goodly promises in the Prophets of the Churches graceful and peaceable state to let us see that all this time shall be the full performance never any more to be disturbed and so therein the Mystery of God to be finished nothing now resting to be either expected or wished but that the Lord Jesus come quickly And the Assembly in their Annotations upon Rev. 21.1 viz. As the Church is altered so must her dwelling it may be spoken of a Glorious Church on Earih and then the day of Judgment is set before it in the former Chap. That the downfall of the Enemies of Gods Church might be set down altogether and then the Churches felicity after the destruction of the Whore Beast Dragon and
the World which is displayed 1. In her self 2. In her Accessories First In her self Jerusalem is display'd according to 1. Her glorious beauty 2. Excellent Fortifications 3. Accurate Symmetry or proportion 4. Pretious Materials First Her glorious Beauty consisting 1. In her greatness 2. Holiness 3. Original or Heavenly Descent 4. Divine Glory 5. Her Orient Light And he shewed me that great City the Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God having the Glory of God and her light was like unto a stone most precious even like a Jasper stone clear as Crystal Secondly Her strong and excellent Fortifications consisting in a Wall about the City which is described by 1. It s Constitution 2. Gates 3. Foundations First By the Constitution and Fabrick of it and had a Wall great and high Secondly By the Gates which excell 1. For the Number which is Patriarchal and Apostolical And had Twelve Gates 2. For their Keepers or Porters And at the Gates Twelve Angels 3. For their inscriptions upon them And names written thereon which are the names of the Twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel verse 12. 4. For their uniform order viz. On the East three Gates on the North three Gates on the South three Gates and on the West three Gates Thirdly By the Foundations of the Wall which in Number and Name inscribed upon them relate to Christs Twelve Apostles And the Wall of the City had Twelve Foundations and in them the Names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb verse 14. 3. Her Symmetry or proportion as most exact and accurate wherein we may consider First The measurer an Angel Secondly The measuring Instrument a Golden Reed Thirdly The things measured viz. The City and Gates thereof and walls thereof verse 15. Fourthly The figure of the City And the City lyeth four-square and the length is as large as the breadth equilateral Fifthly The measure of the City and wall of the City And he measured the City with the Reed twelve thousand Furlings the length and the bredth and the height are equal verse â—6 And he measured the wall thereof a hundred fourty and four Cubits according to the measure of a man that is of the Angel 4. Her costly and precious materials First The matter of the Wall And the building of the Wall of it was of Jasper Secondly The matter of the whole City And the City was pure Gold like unto clear Glass verse 18. Thirdly The matter and Garnishment of the Walls foundations all manner of precious Stones And the Foundations of the City were garnished with all manner of precious Stones The first foundation was Jasper The second Saphir The third Chalcedony The fourth an Emerald The fifth Sardonix The sixth Sardius The seventh Chrysolyte The eighth Berill The ninth a Topaz The tenth a Chrysophrasus The eleventh an Hyacinth The twelfth an Amethyst verse 19.20 Fourthly The matter of the Twelve Gates And the Twelve Gates were Twelve Pearls every several Gate was of one Pearl Fifthly The matter of the City And the street of the City was pure Gold as it was transparent Glass verse 21. Secondly In her Accessories viz. in those supplies from without her self making up her Beauty and Glory consisting 1. In that singular Spiritual presence of God in Christ in the purity Truth and Spiritualness of Gospel-worship First God and the Lamb are the Temple of it And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it verse 22. 2. God and the Lamb are the light of it And the City had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the Glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof verse 23. 2. The Conflux and great Resort of the Nations unto this City And the Nations of them which are saved shall walk in the Light of it And the Kings of the Earth shall contribute to the happiness thereof And the Kings of the Earth shall bring the Glory and Honour of the Nations into it verse 26. Amplified by the security that shall be there And the Gates of it shall not at all be shut by day as well as freedom from from fraud by night for there shall be no night there As also the purity and integrity of all comers And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lye but they which are written in the Lambs Book of life verse 27. 3. The plenty of all things both for necessity and delight which abundance is comprised under the Water of Life against Thirst and the Tree of Life against Hunger both for the supply of outward and inward man both for Meat and Medicine And he shewed me a pure River of Water of Life clear as Chrystal proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the Street and of either side of the River was there the Tree of Life and yielded her fruit every Month and the Leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the Nations Chap. 22. verse 1 2. 4. The perpetuity of this City and its happiness to compleat its Beauty and Glory which is demonstrated First By removing the Evil that might corrupt or oppose its happiness And there shall be no more Curse Secondly By continuing the Good in which its happiness doth consist viz. the blessing and presence of God and Christ viz. But the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it Thirdly By the abiding integrity of the Citizens in new obedience and habitual service as their eminent priviledge therein And his Servants shall serve him and they shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads and there shall be no night there and they need no Candle neither the light of the Sun for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall Reign for ever and ever verse 3 4 5. viz. Their Reign shall be begun on Earth and be continued till consummated in Heaven Having thus gone through the parts of this Scripture we shall in the next place further enquire into the Spirits meaning of these Heavenly Mysteries and shall begin at the ninth ver of the 21 Chap where the particular and larger Vision begins The Exposition of the Principal things in the Vision Of the Angel that discovereth the Vision And there came unto me one of the seven Angels which had the seven Vials full of the seven last Plagues THis Angel may be supposed to be the very same that shewed John the Vision of the great Whore in her filthiness abomination and judgment Rev. 17.1 who here discovereth to him her Antithesis the Bride the Lambs wife in all her Dignity Glory and Exaltation Of the Bride the Lambs Wife And talked with me saying Come up hither I will shew the Bride the Lambs Wife verse 9. THus Bride the Lambs Wife one of the Emblematical Characters here given the Church in
general name therefore in a figure to the Church of God both under the Law and under the Gospel And which famous City as considered under the Law passed a threefold state all very significant viz. 1. Her pure and primitive state in the days of Solomon 2. Her ruined desolate state in the time of the Babylonish Captivity 3. Her renewed restored state after the return of the Captivity All which were eminently Typical to the Gospel Church First Because her pure and primitive state in the days of Christ and his Apostles answered that of Solomon wherein a City state was asserted Eph. 2.19 Heb. 12.22 A greater then Solomon being there Math 12.42 Secondly Because her Apostate and ruined state in the time of Antichrist wherein her City state was defaced and ruined trode under foot Rev. 11.2 answered that of the Babylonish Captivity Thirdly Her renewed and restored state here foretold and Prophecyed of is to answer that eminent and glorious restoration in the Type wherein the glory of that latter House excelled according to Prophecy the glory of the former Hag. 2.9 Therefore called New Jerusalem because in all respects she is made so in this her Renovation and held forth in all this beauty and splendour not only to answer the Type and to fulfill the words of the Prophets that under the terms of an illusterious beautiful City foretells the Churches order peace purity pollicy gifts grace and flourishing state in the latter day but also that she might confront and utterly confound her Antithesis that great City Babylon that as the Lady and Mistress of Kingdoms a well favoured Harlot has by her counterfit glory inchanted and bewitched the Nations called Great Because as Jerusalem in the Type bore sway over the Nations and had her Inhabitants all the World over and as great Babylon extended her Territories as well as her rule and authority all the world over so must this great City Jerusalem extend â—â— her rule authority and influence all the ver become the joy of the whole Earth to whom the Kings of the Nations must bow and bring presents even all their honour and glory Ps 72.8 9 10 11.15 Rev. 21.24 Called Holy 1. Because of that purity and holiness that through the powering out of the Holy Spirit upon her shall now abound in so much that upon the very Bells of the Horses and upon the Poâ—s in the Sanctuary shall then be Holiness Zach. 14.1 Held out by this golden state the City being all of pure transparent gold as well as the streets thereof of the same implying that the constitution thereof is not only so but the whole course of the conversation is the same also 2. Because of that exact keeping to holy rule and order in the faithful observation of the form of the House and the fashion thereof the Laws Statutes and Ordinances thereof the comings in thereof and the goings out thereof c. which being the law of the House upon the top of the Mountains the whole limit thereof shall be holy Ezek. 43.11 12. Rev. 22 14. 3. Because there is no unclean person or thing to enter or abide in it as Verse 8. and 27. Isa 35.8 9. Rev. 22.15 Zach 14.21 Joel 3.17 4. Because of the abiding of holy presence therein the Tabernacle of God being now with men who himself will dwell and walk with them 21.3 The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is to be the Temple thereof and the Throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it 22.3 Babylon its true her opposite is represented to us as great and called the great City and reason good Because she is said to Reign over the Kings of the Earth Rev. 17.18 Yet is she not said to be holy but the quit contrary being the unclean filthy polluted and bloody City compared to Sodom and Egypt and apostate Jerusalem Rev. 11. Being the hold and receptacle not onely of every soul Spirit viz. Filthy locusts Rev. 9. Vnclean Frogs said to be the spirits of Devils Rev. 16.13 14. Zâ—im and Jim Esai 13.21 But the cage of every unclean and hateful Bird 18.2 viz. Owls and Satyrs and such like doleful Creatures Isa 13 21. Whose Inhabitants therefore we have set forth under eight Characters Rev. 21.8 viz. To be the fearful the unbelieving the abominable the Murderers the Whoremongers the Sorcerers the Idolaters and the Lyers Of the Cities descent from Heaven And descended out of Heaven from God THat the City or Church of God especially in this state did descend from Heaven may appear if we consider First That all her Members are Heaven-born viz. born of God born of the Spirit born from above John 3.7.1.13 begotten of his Will by the Word of Truth Jam. 1.18 and brought forth in Zion where it must be written that this and that man was born in her Psal 87.4 And therefore called Jerusalem from above the mother of us all Gal. 4.26 Secondly That all the Rules Orders Laws Governments are the Statute-Laws of Heaven her High-priest Prophâ—â— and King coming from thence John 3.13.31 32 33. Heb. 1.1 Thirdly That her raising out of the dust her coming up out of the Grave the return of her Captivity the advancement to this pitch of Beauty and excellency is by the special ordering of Divine power and Providence from first to last and that in such an eminent and visible manner that as the Prophet saith It shall be seen known and understood that the hand of the Lord hath done it and the Holy one of Israel hath created it Fourthly That the Glory and special presence of the Lord hath descended from Heaven resting and remaining upon her The quite contrrry is true of that other opposite City Babylon who ascends with her Head and Governours from beneath even out of the Bottomless pit and therefore hath all her affairs transactions and concerns be managed by that wisdom which cometh from below which is Earthly Sensual Devilish Of the Glory of God upon her Having the Glory of God and her light was like unto a Stone most precious even like a Jasper Stone clear as Chrystal verse 11. THis is a further and fuller discovery that the Church is returned out of her Captivity because the Lord hath returned his Glory unâ—o her When she went into Captivity her Glory departed from her now she returns again she receives therewith her former Glory which begins upon the pouring out of the Vials Chap. 15.8 in allusion to Exod. 40.34 1 Kings 8.10 11. Thus it was in the type when Jerusalem went into Captivity under the King of Babylon it is said the Glory of God departed from them and went by degrees first out of the Temple to the Threshold of the house then off from the City then to the Mountain and so by degrees quite away Ezek. 10.4.18.11.22 23 c. But when their Captivity returned so did the Glory also and that in the same way it departed as Ezek. 40.1 2.3 4 5 6. In
and having on the white Robes the pure fine Linnen which is interpreted to be the righteousness of the Saints in allusion to the linnen Ephod of old do stand at the Altar with much incense in the Golden Censer offering it with the Prayers of all Saints Rev. 8.34 and so serve him day and night in his Temple Rev. 7.15 And this to fulfil what Christ himself affirmed to the Woman of Samaria John 4.23 24. That the hour was coming and then was that the true Worshippers should worship the Father in Spirit and Truth and that he sought to worship him and that in opposition to their going up to this or the other Consecrated and Dedicated place of worship as Samaria or Jerusalem Holding out hereby the truth purity and spirituality of Gospel worship that by the Lords Ministry according to his own order and appointment shall now be performed that will make it like the figure of Heaven it self as before The quit contrary is true concerning Babylon for there is a Temple to be seen in her yea and such a Temple too that is afteâ— the old pattern which is as great a demonstration as any of her Apostate state and that she is old Ierusalem not new the Harlot and not the Bride for have you not there the Cathedral that is just built after the figure and pattern of the Temple with the Porch the Holy and most holy Place with solemn dedication and consecration to Divine worship with all the holy ground it stands upon and is surrounded with and richly adorned with gold and silver and precious stone having also its holy Water Oyl Incense and rich Perfumes Lamps Tapors Candelsticks and Instruments of Musick c. And is their not a Priesthood belonging thereto after the pattern of Aaron to serve at the Altar for have you not a Higst-priest the Pope and chief Priests the Cardinals Bishops Deans Abbots as well as an inferiour Priest-hood like the Levits consisting of several orders and ranks distinguished by their names and Vestments as Parsons Vicars Curates Cannons petty Cannons Bural Deans Choristers Musitians singing Nuns Monks and Fryers of diverse Orders Votaries unnumerable who serve at this Alter day and night and have their tenths first Fruits Oblations to support and maintain the same with their Jubiles new Moons Feasts Fasts and Saints days and a hundred Heathenish additions and inventions to make this their Temple compleat Babylonish and for none of which is their the least sylable in Christs Gospel concerning his new Testament Temple and service Fully demonstrating and fulfilling what the Apostle Paul foretold 2 Thess 2. Concerning this mystery of iniquity and man of sin that shall thus sit in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God who by his thus changing times and Laws Dan. 7.25 Esa 24.5 shall oppose and exalte himself above all that is called God and worshipped And who hereby is truely said Rev. 13.6 To open his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven and to tread the Holy City under his feet Rev. 11.2 Of the Kings of the Earth that bring their glory to it And the Kings of the Earth do bring their glory and honour into it 21.24 AS it was in old Ierusalem the Type in Solomons day when it was said 2 Chron. 9 23.24 That all the Kings of the Earth sought his presence and brought every man his present Vessels of Silver and Vessels of Gold and Raiment Harness and Spices Horses Mules a rate year by year So must it be in the new Ierusalem there shall be a coming up of the Kings of the Earth with their glory and honour which are to be understood either such Kings or Rulers that are converted to the faith that being instructed become wise do kiss the son Serving the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Ps 2.11.12 Whilst others are broken to pieces in their opposition or of such that being holy and gracious are made Rulers and Governors for only such that are men of Truth and fear God are to be intrusted therewith And these Kings in the Text that come in to the City can be understood no other for we cannot suppose any wicked unconverted persons have their admission because it is said Rev. 21.27 That in no wise there shall enter into it any thing that defileth or that worketh Abomination or that maketh a lye or that are not written in the Lambs Book of Life And in such a sence that these following Scriptures be fulfilled viz. Beeause of thy Temple which is in Jerusalem shall Kings bring presents to thee the Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents to thee the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall Offer gifts yea all Kings shall fall down before him and all Nations shall serve him the Kings shall see and arise and Princes shall worship because of the Lord c. The Kings shall come to thy Light and Princes to the brightness of thy rising the Kings shall see thy Righteousness and all Kings thy Glory All the Kings of the Earth shall praise thee O Lord when they hear the words of thy mouth yea they shall sing in the ways of the Lord for great is the glory of the Lord Ps 68.29 Es 49.22 23. Ps 72.10 11 12. Isa 47.6 7.60.2 3 4 5.62.2 Psa 138.44 It is true Babylon indeed hath had the Kings of the Earth bringing glory and honour into her whereby she hath gloryfied her self at that monstrous rate saying therefore she shall sit as a Queen and see no sorrow the ten Kings having to fulfil Gods words given their Power Strength and Kingdom to her Rev. 17.4.17 â—ut what Kings are they not such Kings as are before mentioned but such as being made drunk with the Whores Cup commit leudness and fornication with her Rev. 18.9 But yet thus much for her comfort let her know that the day is hastning when the Nations that have supported her shall fall off from her and the ten Kingdoms that by their Power or Horns have born her up shall by their Horns also push her down yea they shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire when those other words of Prophecy shall be fulfilled The delicates that thy soul lusted after thou shalt find them no more at all and Babylon the glory of Kingdoms shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah Isa 13.19 20. And God will be avenged of thee and will not meet thee as a man Isa 47.1 When all that knew thee amongst the people shall be astonished at thee thou shalt be a terrour and never shalt thou be any more Eze 28.12 to 20. And when thou art spoyled what wilt thou do though thou cloathest thy self with Crimson though thou deckest thee with Ornaments of Gold though thou paintest thy face with painting in vain shalt thou make thy self fair
and Glory and Blessing And then every Creature in Heaven and Earth is heard saying Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever To which the Church again Echoes by their representatives saying Amen and falling down and worshipping Him viz. the unity of the Godhead that liveth for ever and ever 6. You have also an evidence of this great truth out of the Mouths of the enemies themselves even Babylon that is to be destroyed Rev 6.15 16 17. And the Kings of the Earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief Captains and the mighty men and every Bond-man and every Free-man compare Rev. 19.18 said to the Mountains and Rocks fall upon us and hide us from the Face of the him that sits upon the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of wrath is come by way of unity and conjunction and who shall be able to stand 6. That as Christ God was King Lord and Law-giver of old unto his Church and People ruling and governing them upon that Throne in all things respecting both Ecclesiastical Civil and Military affairs So is he in all those respects upon his Throne here who after he hath as Lord of Lords and King of Kings judged the great Whore and subdued the Beast Rev. 19. And destroy them that have destroyed the Earth Rev. 11.18 Will then in a more visible way take to himself his great power and Reign Rev. 11.17 When that voice shall come out of the Throne praise our God all ye his Servants and ye that fear his name both small and great and when the Eccho shall be with a joynt consent with great acclamation Alleluja for the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him Rev. 19.5 6 7. And when gathering round about his Throne they shall fall down upon their faces and worship him ascribing Salvation Glory Blessing Wisdom Power and Might unto him Rev. 7.9 10 11 12 To the fulfilling such blessed Prophecies as these viz. Isai 33.22 The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King he shall save us c. Luke 1.32 33. And he shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David and he shall Reign over the House of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdom there shall be no end Isai 9.6 And the Government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellour to the Mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace of the encrease his Government and Peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdom to order it and to establish it from hence forth even for ever the Zeal of the Lord of Host shall perform this that as David of old Ruled the natural Seed so will our David govern all the Spiritual Seed And not only so but the Kingdoms of this World must become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 When the whole Universe will submit to his Scripture and as the desire of Nations that his Government be imbraced Hag. 2.7 And when all Creatures with universal consent shall ascribe Blessing Honour Glory and Power to him that sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever Rev. 5.13 When all Kings â—â—all bow before him and all Nations shall serve him Ps 72. When at his name every knee shall bow and every Tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2.10 Secondly You have the other Throne on which the Lord was said to sit of old hinted at here also viz. that Throne on which the Judge or Elder of old sat wherein the Lord was said more ordinarily to sit and it was called the Throne of the Lord. And not improperly 1. Because the Lords Ordinance of Magistracy was managed thereon 2. Because the Lords Law was to be the rule thereof 3. Because the Judgement thereon given was said to be the Lords 4. Because the Lords Servants men of truth and such as feared his name were only to be intrusted therewith 5. Because the Lords special presence was intayled thereto concerning which you have a particular and brief account in that most excellent charge that good Jehoshaphat give his Judges 2 Chron. 19. respecting the Duty Dignity and Law of the Throne worthy to be written in letters of gold upon every Throne of Judicature Where he chargeth them after this manner viz. Take heed saith he what ye do for ye judge not for men but for the Lord who is with you in Judgement Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you take heed and do it for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God nor respect of persons nor taking of gifts and he charged them saying thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart and what cause soever shall come to you of your Brethren between blood and blood between Law and Commandment Statutes and Judgements ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the Lord and so wrath come upon you and upon your brethren this do and ye shall not trespass deal couragiously and the Lord shall be with the good And to which may be added that of the Apostle Rom. 13. Holding out the great end of the Thrones erecting viz. for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well And which Throne of Judgement is here also intended and included and on which the Lord will sit in this his day to the making his Crown to flourish For the Text saith when that Throne of the Lord and of the Lamb shall be in it that his Servants shall serve him viz his Saints and people shall be subservient to him in this great ministration of managing the Throne viz. they are especially to ascend the Thrones and Judgements as Rev. 20.4 And I saw Thrones and they sat upon them and Judgemene was given unto them c. And in 4.4 And round about the Throne were twenty four Seats or Thrones and upon the Seats I saw twenty four Elders sitting clothed in white Raiment and they had on their heads Crowns of Gold being as Rev. 5.10 Made by Christ Kings and Priest viz. Royal Priesthood l. p. 2. 9. To Reign with and for Christ and as his substitutes in his Name and fear to his praise by his Law through his Spirit with his presence are they to execute the judgement of Truth in continual subjection and subordination to him and therefore are said 4.10 to cast their Crowns at his Feet before his Throne ascribing the Honour Glory and Power to him Whereby that Sovereign Ordinance of Magistracy that was ordained for the blessing and benefit of
Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the Glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof Ver. 25. For there shall be no night there Chap. 22.5 And there shall be no night there and they need no candle neither light of the Sun for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reign for ever and ever which by a continued light as bright as the Jasper and clear as Christal so shined upon it day and night that there was no need of any other light either Candle Sun or Moon to lighten it would have me understand that eminent and glorious presence of Christ that should now rest upon the Church transcending the Glory that shined about the Sanctuary when of old he Tabernacled with men and to which he alludes and by vertue whereof the Christian Doctrine and Grace shall be so splendid and glorious 12. And had a Wa l great and h gh and had twelve Gates and at the Gates twelve Angels and names written thereon which are the names of the twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel 13. On the East three Gates on the North thâ—ee Gates on the South three Gates on the West three Gates 14. And the Wall of the City had twelve Foundations and in them the namer of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. 25. And the Gates of it shall not be shut at all by day for there shall be no night there The next thing that came to be observed in this glorious structure was an illustrious regular and well fortified Wall planted to the four Quarters and accommodated with proportionable Gates and Guards Giving me to understand hereby the salvation stability and security now attending the Church in her freedom from all danger both from within or without being not only incompassed with an infinite Arm and all-seeing Eye founded and invironed with invincible Apostolical and Prophetical Doctrine and Truth but richly furnished with an Angelical faithful Ministry to defend and keep the same who are continually at the open Gates as to receive and imbrace the faith from every Quarter so as vigilantly to keep out and reject whatever may defile Afterwards the same Angel with a Golden Reed in his hand did measure 15. And he that talked with me had a Golden Reed to measure the City and the Gates thereof and the wall thereof and give me the exact Demensions and Symmetry of the City Gates and Walls Giving me to understand thereby the exactness of Rule and holy Order that the Church will faithfully observe in all her Ministrations who in every thing both as to Doctrine Worship and Manners will lye level to the square of Gods Word that Golden Met wand And that the Cubical square thereof so well answering the Figure of the holy place in the Temple bespeaks the Church in its now conformity to Divine appointment even no less then as a Heaven upon Earth The next thing that so signally called for observation and remark 18. And the building of the Wall of it was of Jasper and the City was pure Gold like unto clear Glass 19. And the Foundations of the Wall of the City were Garnished with all manner of precious Stones the first Foundition was Jasper the second Saphir the third a Chalcedony the fourth an Emerald 20. The fifth Sardonix the sixth Sardius the seventh Chrysolite the eighth Beril the ninth a Topaz the tenth a Chrisoprasus the eleventb a Jacinet the twelfth an Amethist 21. And the twelve Gates were the twelve Pearls every several Gates was of one Pearl and the street of the City was pure Gold as it was trnnsparent Glass was the precious materials and the glorious Garnishings of it which was most manifest in that magnificent Jasper Wall astonishing Golden City and street the most illustrious Pearl-Gates and those wonderful precious Stones that bespangled the Foundations Discovering to me no less than the incomparable excellency of Jesus Christ in his Name Nature and Offices the incomparable precious head of their Glorious body together with his pure and precious Doctrines and the inestimable Gifts and Graces of his spirit as manifested in the Hearts and Lives of the Saints 22. And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it The City in all its parts being observed the Accessories to render it accomplished in all respects are nextly taken notice of the first whereof is the extraordinary Temple that was in it God and Christ being the Temple thereof which instructed me that it was no litteral and material but a mystical and Spiritual Temple Christ Jesus God Man 24. And the Nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it and the Kings of the Earth do bring their glory and honour unto it 26. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the Nations into it the living precious foundation corner stone and the Saints as living precious stones built upon him making up together this mystical Temple as 1. p. 2. 5. 2 Cor. 6.16 The next thing that heightens the glory and encreaseth the Grandeur of this famous City is the conflux and great resort of the Nations and Kings of the Earth with their riches and honour into it in allusion to Solomons dayes as exprest 2 Cron. 9.22 Intimating that in those days Christianity shall be esteemed the greatest Honour Grace and Godliness and the presence of Christ will be most prized and regarded When there shall be such Kings that will value Christ more then their Crowns as Rev. 4.10 When goodness shall go for true greatness and Godliness for the best gain 27. And their shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lye but they which are written in the Lambs Book of life Then are the Characters of those given that shall have the honour to be admitted into this famous place 1. Negatively viz. no Pagan Idolaters nor Anti-christian lyers that belong to the Beasts Catalogue But 2. Affirmitively such only as by the Lambs Register ought to have entrance Intimating that how ever there shall be such flocking into the Church of Christ and that it shall so wonderfully increase as Isa 54.1 2 3 4. Yet will she not greaten her self as Babylon used to do by taking in good and bad and letting in the World into the Church No there shall be no such admissions but onely such must enter therein as answer the qualifications laid down in Gods Word or Lambs Book that do by living fruits of Faith and Repentance witness Saintship and testifie thereby that they are called chosen and faithful and so entering the Gate Christ do pass by the Watch-men the faithful ministry to share and partake of the Priviledges of the Church The next blessing and benefit accrewing Chap. 22. 1. And he shewed me a pure River of water of life clear as Crystal proceeding out of the
in order to the fulfilling of Prophecie to the dissolution of the old material Heavens and Earth and bringing on the new and to the introducing the misphatical Kingdom All these wicked Rebels must not only by Christs appearing be destroyed by fire who cometh in flaming fire to take vengeance of all that know not God nor obey his Gospel but also with the same fire will the material old Heaven and Elements as before melt with heat and pass away the Earth also and all its works be burnt up that the new Heavens and new Earth according to promise may come on And so will the Lord Jesus and the Saints continue therein to judge the quick and dead in that his misphatical Kingdom till he deliver all up into the hands of the Father that God may be all in all 1 Cor. 15.24 28. The second Question WHether the natural Jew is not concerned in the latter day Promises and Prophecies and particularly in those that relate to the pulling down Babylon and building of Zion as Maton and Holmes and others affirm Because as they intimate the promises seemed chiefly to be made in their names and for their sakes viz. to Israel Judea Jacob Ephraim Benjamin and their seed and who by promise are to return to their own Land under one Head Shepherd King to enjoy their Liberty and Priviledge their enemies being all subdued and then the Nations are only to expect good and blessing in and from their happiness to whom must be the first Dominion Mica 4.8 and the Tents of Juda to be saved first Zach. 12.7 and therefore all other hopes expectations and attempts for deliverance short of theirs to be vain fruitless and ineffectual Answ It is true the Prophets do seem in express terms so to carry it in many places which therefore giveth the natural Jew yet at such a distance and enmity to Christ having the Vail before their faces so much confidence to boast of their natural Priviledges looking only at the bare Letter and not at the Gospel mystery contained therein I shall therefore for your better information into this seasonable enquiry do these two things First lay down some certain plain Rules and Principles to help us in the right reading and true understanding of the Prophets relating to the Jews and those good things promised in their names c. Secondly From them draw some sound and safe Conclusions and inferences for the better clearing of this great Question and whereby it will appear I doubt not who are most concerned in the promises the natural or spiritual Jew 1. Rule THat no promise prophesie or precept of the Scriptures be interpreted contrary to the Analogy of Faith and the plain Principles asserted in the New Testament Rom. 12.6 Gospel Principles to be observed concerning the Jews 1. Principle THat Jesus Christ by his death hath broken down the middle Wall of partition and of twain hath made one new man so that the believing Gentile hath the same priviledge with the believing Jew being both built upon the same foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ being the chief Corner stone Eph. 2.14 to the end insomuch that now under the Gospel neither Greek nor Jew Circumcised Barbarian Scythian Bond or Free but Christ is all and in all Col. 3.11 and so he puts no difference betwixt any whose hearts are purified by Faith Acts 15.9 Rom. 3.22 Rom. 10.12 The inward Christian Jew being now the only true Jew Rom. 2.28 29. Rev. 2.9.3.9 Jer. 9.25 26. 2. Principle That the Jewish priviledges of being 1. of the fleshly seed of Abraham 2. Belonging to this or the other Tribe 3. Relating to their holy City or Nation 4. Concerned in their Priest-hood Temple Altar Sacrifices were all Typical and by the Gospel esteemed Carnal and Fleshly and were all done away in Christ Col. 2.17 as may more particularly appear by the following Scripture instances First As to the Natural seed of Abraham Mat. 3.9 Say not within your selves we have Abraham to our Father but bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance and amendment of Life Compared Joh. 8.37 38. and do the works of Abraham otherwise you are of your Father the Devil ver 44. Abrahams true seed which are esteemed the seed of promise is the believer whether Jew or Gentile for if they are Christs they are Abrahams seed and heirs according to promise Gal. 3.16.29.4.28 Therefore whether to introduce a natural seed of Abraham to any Gospel Priviledge out of Christ doth not deny the authority of these Scriptures and thwart the new Testament is submitted to consideration Secondly The distinction of Tribes was also Fleshly and Typical Phil. 3. If any other man thinketh he hath whereof he may trust in the Flesh I more Circumcised the eighth day of the Tribe of Benjamin an Hebrew of the Hebrews which he esteemed but dung and dogs meat for the excellency and Knowledge of Christ And therefore the same Paul 2 Cor. 5. saith That henceforth know we no man after the flesh yea though we have known Christ after the flesh yet henceforth know we him no more The only Tribe now is the Tribe of Judah into which the Kingship Priest-hood is transferred the believers being Kings and Priests the true Jew that is only of that Tribe of Iudah being the inward Spiritual heart Circumcised Jew therefore whether to hold forth any Principles or interpret any Scriptures to uphold a distinction of Tribes in this new body and Corporation under the Gospel whereby the natural fleshly typical seed was distinguished of old is not to thwart Gospel-principles and no less than to deny Christ to be come in the flesh Thirdly The City Ierusalem which under the Law was called the holy City was typical and so reputed Carnal under the Gospel and therefore as belonging to Hagar the Bond-woman was to be done away and is therefore put in opposition to Ierusalem which is above viz. the new Ierusalem which is the mother of us all Gal. 4.25 26. Heb. 12.12 compared with Esay 54. being an explanation to each other Therefore whether now for any to interpret any Scriptures in the Prophets speaking of Jerusalem a holy City to be meant a material City that is to be rebuilt and to become a Metropolis again amongst the Nations and to be esteemed a holy City is not certainly to advance again Mount Zina above Mount Zion is not to set up Hagar above Sarah to bring in the City of Bondage again to the defacing the free City the new Jerusalem which is above all and the mother of us all from whence alone the free Denizens the Believers whether Jews or Gentiles are to fetch their freedoms and Liberties Fourthly That Territory called the Nation of Iudea whether the lesser contained betwixt Iordan and the West Sea and from Dan to Bersheba or the greater from Sea to Sea viz. Mediterranean Aegyptian and Persian and from the River viz. Euphrates to the end of the Earth taking
in the Arabias c. that was called the Land of Promise the Land of Rest was typical and fleshly and belonged therefore to the old Covenant and is done away and no more to be expected by the seed of Promise the Israelites the Believers though it is not denyed but that the natural Jew may according to the Letter become a Nation and dwell even in that Territory again because they now enter into and must yet enjoy another Rest Heb. 4.3 with that promised Land typt out the Believer whether Jew or Gentile being esteemed the only chosen Generation Holy Nation peculiar people in the world that either are or ever shall be 1 Pet. 2.9 therefore whether for any to assert any Doctrines to make the Verge or Bounds of any Countrey upon Earth to be now in the Gospel days to be set apart for holy Ground and entred and possessed in chief and by way of difference and distinction by any of the seed is not to keep up Moses and out Christ and to tye up Christs Kingdom to a particular Region that is to be over the whole World unbounded unlimited Fifthly That Priest-hood under the Law to which belonged the Temple Service Altar Sacrifices was typical and done away by Christ for as the Apostle reasons that Priest-hood being done away and changed and brought into another Tribe there remains of necessity a change of the Law viz. of all the appurtenances thereto Therefore is the Believer the Royal Priest-hood under Christ the high Priest 1 Pet. 2.5.9 Heb. 8.1 they are the Temple Tabernacle the Mount Zion Eph. 2.19 20 21 22. Heb. 3.6 c. Their Prayers Praises Alms Bodies Spirits are the Sacrifices that in this new Testament-ministration are to be only offered as the acceptable services upon that Altar whereof they have no right to eat that serve at the Carnal Tabernacle Heb. 13.11 Therefore whether to bring in any other Seed Tribe City Nation Priest-hood then what is established by Christ in the new Testament is not to bring in Moses again and to rebuild that partition Wall that Christ Jesus by his death pulled down is not to harden the poor Jews in their enmity and superstition and to cast a stumbling Block before the Gentile believer to the bringing back again into bondage 2. Rule THat the new Testament Church and ministtion are by the Prophets frequently repsented under the names terms state and condition that the old Testament Church was known by and found in As Jews Israelites and the seed of Abraham Jacob Jerusalem mount Zion c. Therefore doth our last new Testament Prophet in holding forth the condition of the Church so deliver himself in such phrases and terms alluding in all to the old Testament Church that we might the better understand and comprehend what the prophets under like terms and Phrases hold out concerning it as the Learned Mead Bernard and others have at large observed and whereof you may read something in the 8 and 9th foregoing pages in the beginning of this Book and to which I refer you And therefore do they most excellently unfold the fourth Chapter of Rev. by comparing it with â—he 2 of Numbers the 7th Chapter holding out â—he new Testament Church the sealed ones unâ—er the Jewish Names Tribes and Phraises Therefore whether for any to take these things 〈◊〉 the Letter when the mistery is intended to â—â—ke them in the Figure Type Allegory when the Antitype is meant will not be to invert the sence and introduce great confusion meni legis est lex not the bare words but the meaning of the Law is the Law 3. Rule THat the Israelites after their Captivity had a return and were in conjunction with the Jews under one head David their Prince to the fulfilling of many of the Prophets and that as well in a Literal as a Misterial sence As First under Hezekiah especially in the keeping of that Passover whereto many of the Tribe came viz. Ephraim Ashar Manasseh Issacher Zebulon that it is said had escaped out of the hands of the Kings of Assyria came up to Hierusalem to keep the Passover and to pay their Tithes offerings and first-fruits 2 Chron. 30. So that there was great joy in Hierusalem for since the time of Solomon there was not the like in Hierusalem 20. The separation between Israel and Judah having continued during all the Kings in Israel for the space of 250 years Secondly In the days of Iosiah a thousand years after who in his eighth year reformed all the Tribes breaking down Altars Groves Images taking away all the abominations out of all the Countreys that pertain to the children of Israel and made all that were present in Israel to serve even to serve the Lord their God And all his dayes they departed not from following the Lord God of their Fathers 2 Chron. 34.4 5 6. And kept such a Passover that there was none like to it kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the Prophet neither did all the Kings of Israel keep such a Passover as Josiah kept and the Priests and the Levites and all Judah and Israel that were present and the Inhabitants of Hierusalem Thirdly In Zerubabells time under him When by the Proclamation of Cyrus whom the spirit of the Lord stirred up all the Jews or Israelites within his Territories the 130 Provinces including the place where Israel was carried all Assyria had liberty to return which was in these words That whosoever was amongst them of all his People let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judeah to build the house of the Lord And whosoever remaineth of any place where he sojourneth let the men of his place help him with Silver and with Gold and with Goods c. And who accordingly came up by degrees and did under one Prince in their own Land partake of their Legal rights and priviledges together Fourthly In the Apostles dayes it is said Acts 26.7 Unto which promise or 12 Tribes instantly serving God day and night hope to come and Iames directs his Epistle to the 12 Tribes and Peter 1 Pet. 1. To them also by all which is it not manifest that whatever the received opinion has been that since Israels captivity they were never heard of that there was a return in Hezekiahs time of many of the Tribes and in Iosiahs time a hundred years after many more of them inhabiting their own Land under one King and in Zerubabells and the Machabees time afterwards all of Davids Line as Math. 1. and Luke the 3. And in the Apostles time there were Jews devout men of every Nation under Heaven dwelling at Hierusalem and the 12 Tribes were then known as Paul Iames and Peter discovers Fifthly Mistically did the believing Jews and Israelites whereof there were great numbers gather under David their King the Lord Jesus in conjunction with the believing Gentile in his new Testament Rule Government and Soveraignty which in express Terms is said by the