Thus the first assertion in part is truth Christ shall reigne a thousand yeares that is many Generations but it will be spirituall and not personall 2. Assertion from thence is that all the Saints from the beginning of the world shall be raised and come and reigne with Christ Ans For the clearing of the truth in this Scripture which wil answer this assertion consider 1. what is meant by the behading for the witnesse of Jesus 2. What is meant by not receiving the mark of the beast 3. What is meant by being raised living and reigning with Christ 4. What is meant by the not living of the rest of the dead untill the thousand yeares were finished 1. What is meant by being beheaded for the witness of Jesus It is a spirituall beheading such a beheading as all the Saints who shake off Antichrists badge and yoake like to meet withall Christ is said to be the head of the Church and the head of every man that is of every Saint is Christ now when the Lord discovers the evill of Antichristian wayes to his people and they forsake it they durst not receive either the Image name or marke of the beast they shall presently be beheaded by the beast that is they will condemn them as those that forsake Christ and cry out unto them that they are revolted that they are Sectaries Hypocrits Heritickes c. And thus they behead the Saints spiritually and that for the testimony of Jesus because they cannot but declare the things that they have seen and heard from him which will overthrow and ruine all things contrary to himselfe in the. 2. What is meant by a receiving of the Image or marke of the beast Answ By the Image of the beast is meant that likenesse that it hath unto the first beast who seemes to receive a deadly wound being compared with Chap. 13.11 to 16. that is this beast seemes to make a change he speakes great words his looke is more stout then his fellows he thinks to change times and Lawes yet when all is done it is but the Image of the first beast the exercise of the same power the same wisdom in the things of God the same worship for substance it is all the same in substance and it is but the number of a man all of the flesh it is from below yet such must the worth and the excellency of it be for a time that whosoever will not receive the Image of the first beast and account it somthing too is likewise to be beheaded and not to be suffered either to buy or sell amongst them and many a Saint is like to be given into his hand and he shall prevail over them but it shall be but for a time times and the dividing of a time and then the Kingdome shall become the Saints Dan. 7.2 The Image is that internal spiritual principle from which the beast acts for none can truly follow the beast but those who have received this Image that is who act from the same principl e those are acted who act for and from the man of sin and it is called an image because it resembles Christ both in the internall as well as the externall part yet acts from his own wisdome by its own power according to its own mind to its own end and this in all resembles Christ Now these who refuse this Image in the spirit and cannot be contented with a wisdome like Christ a selfe-acting in the roome of Christ a rule short of Christ and end besides Christ from hence casting off this Image is caerrid on in another track then before they come to be beheaded for Christ because they cannot receive the Image who is the Antichrist in the spirit and not Christ so that here is not onely the Image of the first beast with relation to patern and power but likewise in relation to holiness the first will be for Christ and so the second yet are both but Antichrist 2. What is meant by the marke of the beast in the forehead and in the right hand by the marke in the forehead is meant the visible profession of Antichrist in the externall part those that would not visibly professe the wayes of Antichrist or in the right hand that is to act for him these were denyed to buy or sell Chap. 13.17 to sel that is to preach the Gospel for Antichrist under the notion of preaching the Gospell sells his wares but a time is comeing that none will buy their wares any more so they deny any who own not the Image name or marke to sell hence they may examine those who preach upon such and such intergatories and if it appear that they deny the Image name or marke they may not sell that is give forth freely what God communicates unto them when others sel or buy that is partake of any spirituall good amongst them if they could prevent it and those were beheaded for the witnesse of Jesus but they were at last raised and lived with Christ 1000. yeers that is raised up from their low condition taken up into heaven in the sight of their adversaries lived with Christ in the spirit reigning triumphantly over all spirituall enemies selfe sathan world and those Merchants that sell all yea the soules of men too shall be weeping and crying alas alas Rev 18. when the Lord shall make good that word of truth Esa 66.5 Heare the word of the Lord yes that tremble at his word your brethren that hated you that beheaded you that cast you out for my names sake said let the Lord be glorified that is it tends to the Honour of God to behead and to cast out these men but he shall appeare to your joy you shall be raised up with Christ and I will give you a new name but they shall be ashamed Obj. John saith the Saints that had not worshipped the Beast he speakes in the Preterpluperfectence therefore it seemes not to be the Saints raised who at present were beheaded in the mysticall sense but the Saints that had been beheaded in the litterall sense Ans First it is the use of the spirit or the spirits Language to deliver it selfe in darke and mysticall termes so the Apostle saith in another case 1 Thes 4.5 that we which are alive and remaine till the coming of the Lord c. the Apostle speakes of wee as if he had intended the Thessalonians and Himselfe which was least intended but the Saints who being all one in the spirit and but one mysticall body in Christ while there are any Saints in the world the Apostle makes it to be all one as if he and the Thessalonians were them and so delivers it in the present tense when he might have said rather to speak after the manner of men then they which shal be alive at his coming c. as in Rev. the word might have run thus and so questionlesse it is to be understood then they that were beheaded
14.26 That if they loved him they would not reason because he said he would goe away because his spiritual presence was the most glorious presence we see it by experience that the Disciples of Christ were most spirituall and had most spirituall enjoyment of God when Christ was gone from them in person and they enjoyed him in the spirit That the presence of Christ in the latter dayes will be most glorious appeares by all that have been formerly spoken and I think none of light deny it then the conclusion holds true that the presence of Christ with his people in the latter dayes wherein they shall enjoy most light and glory will be a spirituall presence 2. Argument If Jesus Christ be known of the Saints no more after the flesh but after the spirit then his regne in the latter dayes of the Gospel will not be personall but spirituall but he is no more to be known of the Saints after the flesh as you have formerly heard 1 Cor. 5.16 Therefore his presence so and his Kingdome wil not be a fleshly or personall presence and Kingdome but a spirituall 3. Argument Spirituall glory and spirituall enjoyment is that which most of all suites with the Majesty and glory of God John 4.22 23 24. Col. 3.1 1 Cor. 2.9.10.14 The glory of the Saints shall be spirituall and their enjoyment spirituall in the latter dayes spirituall knowledge Esa 11. and spirituall conformity unto Christ Zach. 12.8 and spirituall joy and rejoycing Esa 35.10 Ergo the presence and Kingdome of Christ in and with his Saints will be a spirituall Kingdome and not a personall 4. Ar.g. Christs Kingdome and presence shall be with all his people filling them with spirituall glory Esa 25.7 He shall take away the veil spread over all Nations and v. 6. And they shall say Loe this is the Lord we have waited for him Christs personall presence cannot be with all his at once therefore his presence and Kingdome will be spirituall and not personall Objections answered concering the personal reigne of Christ Obj. 1. That Christ was promised to the Jews to come as a King they to this day expect him to come as a King to deliver them from their captivity Ans 1. It is is true he was promised to come as a King Isa 9.7 and so he came King although not in outward appearance Mat. 2.2 Where is he that is borne King of the Jewes we have seen his Star in the East and are come to worship him He was the King of the Jewes when he was born he was a Child and yet a King 2. he is King of all spirituall Jewes For he is not a Jew that is one outwardly but he is a Jew that is one inwardly and Christ reignes spiritually in all his people the Kingdome of Heaven is within you 3. Christ will appeare a spirituall glorious King to the Jewes the natural seed of Abraham in the latter dayes gathering them from among the Heathen to himselfe in the spirit and so will reigne in and over them in the spirit gloriously Ezek. 37. throughout see ver 24 25. That they shall be gathered in with all the beloved of God by the spirituall working of Christ and not by his personall appearing is cleare from this ground They shall be gathered unto Christ from the beholding of Christ crucified and not from the beholding of his glorious personall appearing Therefore Christ shall come a King in the spirit to his people and not in the flesh see Zach. 12.10 They shall looke upon him whom they have pierced and mourn over him c. The eying of a pierced Christ shall be the way of bringing in Jew as well as Gentile Obj. 2. Christ suffered reproach and shame in the flesh from his enemies therefore it is likely he shall be glorified in the flesh before his adversaries Answ Christ shall without question be glorified in the presence of his adversaries and all Nations shall be gathered together before him when he shall appeare from Heaven in flaming fire to render vengeance to them that know not God and obey not his Gospel but whether Christ shall appeare personally or in any personall form will be a great question but with much spirituall power manifesting himselfe to the salvation of his people and to the confusion of all his and his Churches enemies Matt. 5.25 Obj. 3. It is said Rev. 20.4 That those that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the Word of God that had not worshipped the Beast nor his Image nor received his mark in their fore heads and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yeares and the rest of the dead lived not againe Answ For clearing the mysterie of this Scripture it will be requisit first to set downe the things asserted from hence Secondly to unfold the mysterie intended which will answer the things asserted the things asserted hence are these 1. That Christ shall reigne a thousand yeares personally 2. That all the Saints departed from the beginning of the world shall be raised and come and reigne with him 3. That the wicked shall not be raised till after the thousand yeares be finished For answer unto and clearing of the truth 1. I conceive it to be a glorious truth that Christ shall come and reigne a thousand yeares a long time spiritually in his people but not personally amongst his people that Christ shall reigne thus gloriously see not onely this Scripture but Rev. 11.15 And the seventh Angell sounded and there weare great voyces in Heaven saying the Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord. and of his Christ and he shall reigne for ever Thus you see Christ shall have a Kingdome and for the time of it it is said Rev. 20. to be a 1000. yeares and in Isa 60. to be many Generations I will make thee an eternall Excellencie a joy of many Generations Obj. But it s said Rev. 11.15 That the Nations and Kingdomes of the world are become the Nations of Christ and he shall reigne for ever therefore it seemes that his Kingdome shall be personall Answ The Nations and Kingdomes of the world may be said to be the Nations and Kingdomes of Christ in a two fold respect and yet Christ not reigne personally and this the Scripture clearly holds forth 1. In respect of the abundance shall be converted unto Christ in all Nations that in comparison of what hath been formerly the Nations and Kingdomes shall become the Kingdomes of Christ Esa 66.19 20.60 ch from 5. to 12. verse 2. Christ may be said to be the King of Nations in respect of the ruling of his Saints over their enemies for in this Kingdome of Christ shall the enemies of Christ be subjected and shall serve the Saints the Nations that will not serve thee shall perish and Christ reigning in his Saints over them may be said truly to reigne over them Psal 149.7 8 9. Rev. 2.26 27. Rev. 5.10
for the witness of Jesus were raised or lived and reigned with Christ as the sense of the former then they that shall be alive at the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep so that the spirit of God might as well deliver a truth which is in the Present tense in the Preterpluperfect tense as a truth in the Present tense which was in the Future and yet is all to exercise the mind of him that readeth and to let us know there is mystery in the Gospel Secondly very few Saints have been beheaded in the litterall sence those that have dyed for Christ have dyed other deaths and not beheaded therefore we cannot understand it in the Letter but in the spirit The fourth particular propounded was what was meant in that the rest of the dead were not raised untill the 1000. yeares were finished that is none that had been bodily dead Saints or wicked good or bad were raised till after the 1000. yeares were finished and then you shall see the resurrection of all which is called the second resurrection the first is called a resurrection and the first resurrection because it shall be a resurrection from shame and disgrace in the world And secondly it shall be a glorious resurrection in the spirit this first all the Saints have in some measure been partakers of it Thus it appeares that Christ shall have a Kingdome a glorious a spirituall One Quest But when shall this Kingdome be Ans It is already begun in the spirits of Saints The Kingdome of Heaven is within you 2. I beleeve that the time of the 1000 years which is a more glorious estate in the spirit is not yet begun but the beginning of that time shall be when the 7. seales are fully opened c. the 7. Trumpets fully sounded and the 7 vials powred forth they being but effects of each other the opening of the seales occasions the sound of the Trumpets the sound of the trumpets occasions the vials the opening of the seales the unfolding of the mysteries of the Gospell which have been hid Rev. 5.1 2. As light breaks forth the Trumpets sound the servants of Jesus preach forth the mystery of the Gospell in the power and puritie of it occasions the vials of wrath to fall upon the Antichristian estate both in the spirit and in the letter which work is now adoing Wait the Lords time and it will come on apace But first we are yet like to be given into the hands of the little horn who changes times lawes the two witnesses are yet like to be slain and to lye dead 3 dayes and a halfe and the Woman cloathed with the Sun to be driven into the wildernes for a little space a time times and halfe a time the beast with two hornes like a Lambe hath yet a little time to make use of his power perswading them that dwell in the earth to make an Image to the first beast and that none but those who own it shall buy or sell with them the Saints beheaded under the Alter to wait a little time before they be raised up to live with Christ 1000. yeares but it is not long the vision is for an appointed time in the end it will speak and not lye it will come and not tarry the first 1000. is almost past the second and third are coming on apace and all the Nations and Kingdoms in the world will come apace to be the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall reigne for ever their lives shall be prolonged for a season and a time and other Scriptures are alleaged for a personall reign of Christ as the stone cut out of the Mountain without hands Dan. 2. that is the glorious power of Christ by weak meanes subduing al Antichristian enemies without his Saints all Antichristian things by his spirit within them So that in Dan. 7.10 the glorious company of Saints attending on Christ in the spirit which shall be fulfilled at the raising of the two witnesses up into Heaven in the sight of their enemies Rev. 5.10 11. This is the first glorious work of the Lord Jesus in and amongst the Saints the Lord reigneth let the Saints rejoyce the Lord reigneth let the world tremble see Zach. 14.5 The Lord our God will come and all the Saints with him that is Christ will come in the Spirit and all the Saints shall appear gloriously in him A word of application First if this be truth that the Kingdome of Christ is a spirituall Kingdome and not of this world this may inform us how farr besides the Gospel in the spirit and truth of it those men are who make the Kingdome of Christ to be meerely politicall and a state-Kingdome who turne the world by a humane power into the Church and Kingdome of Christ as they say and Christ must have a worldly carnall Kingdome no better th n the Kings of the earth enjoy or else he shall have none at all it savours exceedingly of the earth and ere long thither it must returne 2. This could incourage the Saints to pres forward after the knowledge of God in the spirit that as the Kingdom of Christ is spirituall and not of this world so may the Saints Kingdome likewise be in the spirit and so all their enioyments may be spirituall enjoyments this is that will make the soule fat and wel-liking in the Lord I l fithe soule with joy and peace which the world is not acquainted with their eyes never saw it nor their hearts conceived it neither are they like to see it unlesse the Lord make them spirituall SECT X. Of Death Resurrection Iudgement and the state of the Saints after Iudgemene eternally with God FIrst of death It is appointed for all men once to dye Dust we are to dust we must returne and therefore it behoves us to to expect it All the dayes of mine appointed time will I waite til my change come Death is certaine although the time be uncertaine it is that none are in a common aid ordinary way exempted from unlesse those Saints who are alive at the last comming of Christ they shall be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye 1. Cor. 15.51.52 and so shall be caught up in the spirit to meet the Lord in the ayre 1 Thes 4.17 Secondly of the Resurrection That there shall be a resurrection of the Body at the last day is evident John 5.28 29. John 11.24 with 1 Cor. 15. throughout Rev. 20.12.13 although this truth is by some denyed and by others too carnally looked upon some thinking that our bodies of flesh shall be raised in the same forme in which it dyed others that it shall be spiritual yet question whether it shall be of the same substance therefore it will be necessary to consider two particulars for the clearing of it First by what power we shall be raised Secondly with what bodies 1 By what Power
comes with all deceiveablenesse of unrighteousnesse and well may be called a man of sinne an Antichrist a mystery of iniquity for in this shape he deceives soules and they are never sensible of it drawn in and never know it until everlastingly undon and he hath his diversities of forms in this kind 1. If the name of Christian will serve and yet live loose and prophane that they shall have and there he will hold them If there must bee a conformity to CHRIST and a more zealous and conscionable walking to quiet the conscience shal have it he will go as neere unto Christ with the soule as may be provided it rest it selfe below and thus Christ saith many shall come under this delusion expecting life from duty and it will apprear to be but workes of iniquity of sin why because acted by the man of sinne acted not from a right principle nor by a right power neither to a right end acting there must be but not Christ acting Hence it is that though he will be a Christian and so talkes much of Christ yet he denyes Christ to be come in the flesh that is in the flesh of his Saints the spirit of Christ acting and working all things in the Saints and they are sensible of it and thus this deceiveable man of sinne carries on hood winkt to perdition many and many a soule And now it is more wicked and deceiveable then when in its proper place acting after the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5.19 20.21 then every one almost is sensible of 1. Hence it is that Christ saith Mat. 12.45 The uncleane spirit being cast out that is cut in its unclean form it can no longer be owned he is now content to come in when it is swept garnished prophanesse and filthinesse is gone and now be comes in a more refined forme perhaps legall reformation as the present Pharisees to whom Christ spake or else the name of Christian or the knowledge of Christ after the flesh but Christ saith the latter end of the man thus deceived is seven times worse then the begining he comes in this refined form with seven worse spirits then himself and so makes him seven times more the child of perdition than before Oh then how doth it concern every one bearing the name of Christian to look about themselves if they are not deceived and deluded with this Antichrist under the name of Christ seeing it is the high way of soules ruine now in the dayes of the Gospell for herein doth Sathan declare himself to be the Master of arts in transforming himselfe into the son of light and under the name of Christ and Christian to ruine soules 2. There is Antichrist in the History or in the Letter and this flowes from Antichrist in the Spirit now the soule being possessed with Antichrist he growes up into some forme and now not only in the spirit invisibly but in the letter more visible hee appearee sitting in the seat of God and he may be descryed principally under these three heads as sitting in the seat of Christ and acting those things which properly belong to Christ 1. In making Christians by a humane power it being the proper worke of God in Christ to make Christians Iohn 6.37.44 but now here is Antichrist will undertake the businesse and so turnes the world into Christians or rather Antichristians and pretend that they doe the worke of Christ too when if he did the worke of Christ he would rather keep of all carnall ignorant ones and accept of none untill made willing and spirituall by Jesus Christ for Christ doth not onely own soules when they come but first gives them a will to come and that by a spirituall and not a humane power Hence it comes to pass that there are so many carnall profane ones under the name of Christian because made Christian not by Jesus Christ but by men Oh that the Lord would be pleased to inlighten the understandings of these men betimes that they might not walke in a way so directly opposit to the Gospel and destructive to their own and millions of soules in prescribing rules of worship which is properly onely to Jesus Christ to prescribe rules and 10 carry through the soule in acting according to these rules To prescribe rules this belongs unto Christ whosoever undertakes it puts themselves in the roome of Christ is the Antichrist this is to exercise-creature wisdom in the things of Jesus Christ and indeed to sit in the seat of God it is the worke of Christ in the spirit to help in prayer or any duty we know not what we pray for as we ought but the spirit helpeth our infirmities Rom. 8. It is Christ that helpeth both to see our want formeth by his spirit words within accordingly Therefore those who prescribe formes and rules of worship put themselves in the roome of Christ 2. It belongs to Christ to give in power to act according to those rules but Antichrist gives the command and so carries on an externall acting and not according to Christ but his owne mind 3. Antichrist may be discovered as sitting in the seat of God not onely 1. In making Christians 2. In prescribing rules but 3. In compelling all unto those rules whatever Christ saith that matters not he himselfe will the Christ and must be obeyed let Christ say what he will and all that question his power must be the Antichrist for he exalteth himselfe above all that is called God or that is worshiped so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himselfe that he is God and in all these particulars there is a mysterie lyeth a mysterie of iniquity that is iniquity hid under the name and notion of Christ therfore so much the more to be dreaded To bea Christian is accounted agallant thing and therefore not himself only but others likewise look upon it to be a matter of much piety to make men Christians and cause them to own Christ On I but here lyes a mystery of iniquity many soules made Christians by a humane power are but Antichristians and so under the name of Christian are likely to be undone for ever if the Lord prevent it not an excellent thing accounted in the world to make creaturs Christians as soone as they are borne by sprinckling a little water upon them and so in bearing them in hand that they are so ever after but here lyeth a mystery of in quity and one of the soule-running mysteries of iniquity as ever came from Hell Speak England speak all Nations called Christian whether almost all people of all sorts devoutly slaine in the spirit under this mystery of iniquity to have formes of worships prescribed that all Priests and People may walk in one forme and way of worship and all compelled unto it is accounted an excellent part of Christianity but here lyeth a mystery of iniquity under it First it brings all sorts of people to