and alienated from the life of God but then he believed that he should return to Judea the Land of the Living which is so called Ezek. 32.23 Judgments are threatned to the Jews Enemies because they caused terrour in the Land of the Living The Woman being in the Wilderness her hope and confidence is to see the goodness of the Lord in a Canaan And the dead Witnesses shall be in the Land of the living 3. The knowledge of these Truths will be matter of encouragement to the People of God to stand it out in an evil day When 't is known what Plagues are ready to come upon Babylon men will take the more heed that they partake not in her sins and that they be not found within the Confines of it If the great Truth of the first Resurrection were well improved what power would it have to keep men upright in apostatizing times Heb. 11.35 The Believers of old did not accept of deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection If the hope of a Resurrection at so great a distance was such a support how much more should it be so now being much nearer This expression of a better Resurrection in Hope did intimate that they might have had a present one then their Enemies that cast them down would have given them a Resurrection if they would have accepted it on their terms Even so the Beast that casts them down will give a Resurrection to the Witnesses of Christ if when risen they will fall down and worship him Now what will better encourage the Witnesses to endure to the end than the hope of a better Resurrection Two great Resurrections are spoken of in Scripture 1. That of the slain witnesses Rev. 11.11 After three days and a half the Spirit of Life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet and after ascended to Heaven and their Enemies beheld them and that 's all they do they cannot kill them again If any in such time accept of a Resurrection from the Beast they must soon fall with him But let them keep the Commandments of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ so shall they stand with the Lamb on Mount Sion 2. That of the dead Saints at the coming of Christ they shall live and reign with Christ Here are two things much for the comfort of Saints 1. The godly shall be raised and be with Christ long before the wicked shall be raised and they shall be the Sheep at Christ's right Hand and after the wicked shall be raised and be the Goats at Christ's left Hand The godly and wicked dye alike and Worms devour their bodies Eccl. 2.16 How dieth the wise Man As the Fool. How dyeth the godly Man As the wicked But though they dye alike yet they shall not arise alike but Saints first and they shall be long in glory and at last the wicked shall be raised to shame and everlasting contempt 2. The Saints when raised shall have glorious Bodies the Wicked shall have immortal Bodies capable of everlasting torments but not glorious Bodies For their vile Bodies shall be raised vile and remain vile for ever Their Bodies are vile whilst they live more vile when they dye and shall be most vile when raised again For as the Souls so the Bodies of the godly and wicked shall be in a contrary State If then the Saints shall have glorious Bodies in the Resurrection the wicked shall have vile Bodies and according to the degree of glory which the Saints Bodies shall have will be the degree of vileness in wicked Mens Bodies What encouragement is this to follow the Lamb withersoever he goes that so you may have assurance of living and reigning with Christ 7. The conclusion of all in some Counsels and Directions 1. Receive Christ now and when he comes he will receive you to himself Open to him and he will open to you Receive him for Life and to be your Lord and then you may say when Christ who is our life shall appear we shall also appear with him in Glory Live in him and live to him so may you hope to live and reign with him If to you to live be Christ then to dye will be great gain and to rise will be greater 2. Look for and love the appearing of Christ To them that look for him he shall appear and give a Crown of righteousness to them that love his appearing If you deny your selves and take up the Cross of righteousness and follow Christ then you shall have the Crown of righteousness 3. Have your Conversations in Heaven mind heavenly things and drive a trade in Heaven buy Gold white Rayment and Eye-salve of Christ Get the Powders of the heavenly Merchant wherewith the Spouse is perfumed Walk by a heavenly Rule imitate an heavenly Pattern and aim at an heavenly End and so look for a Saviour from Heaven 4. Be of the number of wise Virgins be Virgins pure incorrupt espoused to Christ Take him as the Chiefest of ten thousand and altogether lovely and be wise Virgins in getting Oyle for your Vessels Let there be true faith joining you to Christ that you may receive of his fulness grace for grace Rest not in a Form but see that there be the Power of Godliness Thus shall you go in with the Bridegroom to the Marriage 5. Have a righteousness exceeding the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees For without this you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Mat. 5.20 This must be First The righteousness of Faith which is the righteousness of God laid hold on by Faith This the Pharisees would not submit to but went about to establish their own righteousness You can't be righteous before God but in the righteousness of God even of Christ God-Man Secondly A righteousness in your works which must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees in these two respects 1. You must be Servants to righteousness Rom. 6.18 Being made free from sin ye became the Servants of righteousness The Pharisees made their reighteousness a Servant to them in that they sought their own praise thereby Let yours exceed theirs in being Servants of righteousness 2. You must love righteousness and be Servants to it out of love Baalam loved the wages of unrighteousness the Pharisees loved the ways of righteousness but Christ loved righteousness Heb. 1.9 and so do those that are Christ's and therein they exceed the Scribes and Pharisees And if you have this righteousness exceeding theirs consider what Promises are made to you Isa 33.24 Who among us shall dwell with devouring Fire Who among us shall dwell with everlasting Burnings He that walketh in righteousness and speaketh uprightness Interpreters look no farther than Hezekiahs time for a sense of this place as if this and what follows had its accomplishment when Jerusalem was besieged and Sennachrib's Army destroyed which may be part of the sense and somewhat that was typical But doubtless Isaiah looks to the last
Marriage of the Lamb then what is it but Christ's coming and receiving to himself his espoused ones to be with him in the holy City that they may have the refreshing of his presence Let the Husband dwell with the Wife this Christ will do And when the Bridegroom shall come then what was done before in a way of espousals betwixt Christ and the Saints in a state of absence shall be compleated in a Personal meeting and cohabitation in the New Jerusalem 3. How the Bride is made ready for the Marriage Rev. 19.7 The Marriage of the Lamb is come and his Wife hath made her self ready Which in the general is to be adorned with Beauty and Glory like to Christ's The Kings Daughter must be all glorious within and her clothing of wrought Gold and she must be brought to the King in Rayment of Needle-work More particularly this readiness consists in two things First Unspotted Holâ—ness and Righteousness Rev. 19.8 To her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine Linen white and clean which is the Righteousness of Saints this will be the Wedding Garment At this Marriage Christ shall present to himself a Glorious Church without spot or wrinkle And Christ will say Thou art all fair my Love Secondly Bodies raised or changed and fashioned like to Christ's glorious Body The Lamb's Wife will consist at this time of Spirits of just Men made perfect dwelling in glorious Bodies like to Christ's For the adorning must be of Bodies as well as Spirits to make them ready for this Marriage and thus the readiness will be compleat and full The Bodies of Saints are Christ's as well as their Spirits 1 Cor. 6.20 And their Bodies are for the Lord and the Lord is for their Bodies v. 13. And therefore Christ will have his Wife made ready for the Marriage with himself in Body as well as Soul Psa 17.5 I shall behold thy Face in Righteousness and when I awake I shall be satisfied with thy likeness Righteousness and Likeness make this Readiness and it must be Likeness in a glorified Body for 't is when I awake And when this shall be done the Saints shall have Blessedness and that even to satisfaction Christ shall see his Bride and be satisfied and Saints shall see Christ and be satisfied 4. When this Marriage shall be This we see Rev. 19.15 When Christ shall tread the Wine-press of the Fierceness and Wrath of Almighty God and when the Beast shall be taken and destroyed then will be the time of the Lamb's Marriage For then 't is proclaimed The Marriage of the Lamb is come And at this time will be the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb v. 9. Blessed are they which are called to the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb. Which is called the Supper of the Great God v. 17. To which the Fowls are called to eat the flesh of Kings and Captains and of Mighty Men. And why blessed Because now the Righteous shall rejoyce in seeing the Vengeance executed on their Enemies and this Joy will be their Supper By this it 's very evident that when the Beast shall be taken and the false Prophet and the Remnant slain at that great Battel of Armageddon then the Bridegroom will come and then will be the Lamb's Marriage and the Churches Glorious Estate will then begin The Marriage will be at this time because now will be the Marriage-Supper and when the Marriage shall be Christ must be personally present unless we will conceive a Marriage without a Bridegroom Compare Matth. 25.6.10 The Bridegroom came and they that were ready went in with him This all do understand of a Personal coming Arg. 4. There will be a Resurrection of all the dead Saints at the time of the Battel of Armageddon when the Beast shall be taken and if so then a personal coming of Christ 1 Cor. 15.23 They that are Christ's at his coming Now that there shall be at that time a Resurrection of dead Saints may be proved from Dan. 12.13 Go thou thy way till the end be for thou shalt rest and stand in the Lot at the end of the days Where observe these particulars 1. Go Let thy Soul go its way to Heaven thy Body its way to the Grave 2. Stand Which intimates a Resurrection stand up from the dead 3. Stand in the Lot Canaan was divided by Lot To this there is allusion here More persons than one are concerned in that about which the Lot is cast So then at this time Daniel shall have a Lot in the New Jerusalem and if he then others of the dead Saints shall have their Lots there also 4. Stand in the Lot at the end of the days Go till the end be What end is this It hath reference to v. 6. How long shall it be to the end of these wonders v. 7. It shall be for a time times and a half and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy People then all these things shall be finished Whereby he understands the end of the Jews trouble which will be at the Battel of Armageddon Now at the end of these days of trouble and immediately after this tribulation as Christ shall appear so Daniel shall stand up from the dead even in the end of the days What days Doubtless the One thousand three hundred and thirty-five days which were last mentioned Blessed is he that cometh to them because then the Saints trouble will end And in the end of these days Daniel and the rest of the dead Saints shall stand in their Lot and inherit the Kingdom prepared for them and promised to them So here we find the First Resurrection of which it 's said Blessed and holy is he that hath part in it Arg. 5. Luke 19.11 c. He spake a Parable because they thought the Kingdom of God should immediately appear The scope of this Parable shews that there was to be a Kingdom of God and such a Kingdom which was not in Being at that time neither was immediately to appear but after a long time Matth. 25.19 For Christ was first to go to Heaven to receive a Kingdom and after that to return to the Earth to administer the same v. 12. Now this is not meant of his Spiritual Kingdom alone for that was then in being and immediately to appear more eminently Of this Christ said Luke 17.21 The Kingdom of God is among you which cometh not with observation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it doth not now come with Splendor and Majesty for Christ came not then to be Ministred to but to Minister Somewhat more then must be understood even that Kingdom which shall appear at Christ's return which will be the Spiritual Kingdom growing up to its due height and perfection And also that outward and visible Kingdom which Christ shall have over the whole Creation so that all shall bow to him and neither evil Spirits nor wicked Men shall have any thing to do in matter of Rule
surely it may be expected that upon diligent search accompanied with prayer much may be understood of this so dark a Prophecy 'T is again prest chap. 44.5 Mark well and behold with thine eyes and hear all that I say unto thee See and set thine heart as in the former place it is commanded behold with thine eyes the Frame and set thine heart to know the signification of it behold with thine eyes the shadow and set thine heart upon the substance and if the heart be set upon these things it shall be given to know the Mystery of them This Prophecy then should not be lookt on as unprofitable or that which cannot be understood Surely if all Scripture be profitable then this also and if all things were written for our learning then these things likewise how dark soever they may seem to be Luke 2.20 Christ read out of Isaiah the Prophet and then closed the Book and expounded the place to the Hearers saying This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears And in this the Ministers of the Gospel should be like Christ they should read and give the meaning of Scripture But as to this Prophecy what do the most when they have read it but close the Book and lay it aside and are like those reproved by Christ Isa 29.11 The vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed which men delivered unto one that is learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I cannot for it is sealed and the book is delivered to one that is not learned saying Read this and he saith I cannot for I am not learned The Preachers excuse is the book is sealed the Peoples we are not learned but God hath not sealed it therefore let not men seal it either to themselves or others God saith Behold with thine eyes and set thine heart to all that I shew thee Let not any then shut their eyes nor turn away their hearts from these so admirable and glorious Discoveries For as God hath not said to the Seed of Jacob Seek ye me in vain so he doth not here say See in vain Prop. 2. What is in this Prophecy given forth as a Precept and as shewing what ought to be is to be taken under the notion of a Promise and as declaring what shall be in the glorious state of the Church here set forth as chap. 45.9 O Princes of Israel remove violence Now as Princes at all times ought so then the Princes of Israel shall remove violence according to that promise Isa 60.18 Violence shall be no more heard in the land Chap. 44.24 The Priests shall judge according to my judgments Though 't is their duty yet it hath not been always their practice but in the estate of the Church here foretold it shall be as their duty so their constant practice Plato gave an Idea of a Commonwealth not such as ever was in the world but such as ought to be now here we have an Idea of a Church and Commonwealth not onely which ought to be but also which shall be Prop. 3. In this Prophecy one and the same Church is set forth by these two representations of a Temple and City by the Temple is set forth a pure and glorious Church constituted according to the mind of God wherein he shall be purely worshipped In it shall be the true Worshippers who shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth The Father seeketh such to worship him and here they shall be found By City is meant the same Church as a spiritual and heavenly Commonwealth As the same people of Israel were a Church and Commonwealth so as that all that were of the Church were also of the Commonwealth of Israel and all of the Common-wealth were of the Church so will it be in this time and State here foretold In this Temple Christ is the High Priest and Priest upon a Throne ministring for men in things pertaining to God In this City he is a King in the Temple he is Head of Saints as a Church leading them in and out and being in the midst of them chap. 46.10 giveth counsel life grace strength and acceptance to all As the Heart is in the midst of the body the Fountain of Life as the Sun is in the midst of the Planets giving light to all so is Christ in the Church And in the City he is Head of the same Saints as a Commonwealth Prop. 4. The Church which is here set forth as a Temple and City is that glorious Church which shall be after the calling of the Jews even that Church whose Windows shall be of Agates and Gates of Carbuncles and all her borders of pleasant stones And as this is meant of the Church of the Jews when they shall be called so therefore it is described by a Temple like the Temple at Jerusalem and by Jewish Rites and Figures The Substance is given forth under the names of the Shadows and the Holy Spirit speaking of things which shall concern the Jews speaks to them in the Jews Language That the Church of the Jews when they shall be called is here meant appears because the Names of the Tribes of Israel are mentioned as having Portions in the Land and Gates in the City and the Strangers that is the Fulness of the Gentiles who shall be brought in shall have an Inheritance with them Prop. 5. There is an Outer and an Inner Temple mentioned in this Description the outer Temple with its Courts and Gates and the Chambers of the Courts and Gates are described chap. 40. and 41. and the building of the separate place chap. 41.13 which is there called the Inner House and Inner Temple verse 15. and 17. In this Inner Temple are North and South Chambers even many Mansions Here are Priests which approach to the Lord and eat the most holy things Without in the Outer Temple are Ordinances which are holy things but in the Inner Temple the most holy things are eaten that is Christ himself in a Beatifical Vision of him Here is also a City described with its Gates and without that Portions for the Tribes of Israel each Tribe having a Portion in the Land and a Gate in the City Now what doth this signifie but that there will be a Church 1. In the City New Jerusalem and in the Inner Temple that is the Church Triumphant consisting of Saints come up to the measure of the stature of the Fulness of Christ of Saints I say both raised and coming with Christ and also of those which shall be then changed 2. It shews that there will be Churches also without the City consisting of Saints which shall have Portions in the Land and Churches of the Outer Temple and Saints in the Chambers of the Courts and Gates as well as in the Inner Temple Those in the chambers of the Courts and Gates and Outer Temple shall have the Perfection there required and that measure
carried above them there came a Voice out of the cloud Hear him After they had thus seen they were commanded to hear and we may well conceive that thus it will be in the New Jerusalem state some will be as Moses and Elias in the presence of Christ and like him in glory so the Saints in the New Ierusalem others will be as Peter Iames and Iohn who may sometimes see Christ and yet be under a command of hearing so the People of the Land Secondly Paul had a sight of Christ after he was received up into glory 1 Cor. 15.8 Last of all he was seen of me also And this sight of Christ was with his bodily eyes even as the other Apostles and five hundred Brethren had seen him But notwithstanding this sight Paul remained under Ordinances Consid 2. The Members of Churches shall have true holiness and righteousness Isa 60.21 Thy people shall be all righteous Chap. 43.7 The place of my throne shall the children of Israel no more defile No carcase shall be here none dead in sins shall be admitted into this spiritual house Eliashib was guilty of this evil thing in relation to the material Temple He prepared a chamber in the courts of the house of God for Tobiah which grieved Nehemiah and therefore he cast the housholdstuff of Tobiah out of the chamber Nehem. 13.7 8. But no Tobiah shall have a chamber prepared in the Courts of this House of God neither shall any of Antichrists Housholdstuff be found in this House to defile it Chap. 44.9 No stranger uncircumcised in heart or flesh shall enter into my Sanctuary All shall put off the body of the sins of the flesh and be circumcised to the Lord both in heart and flesh inwardly and outwardly they shall be holy in heart and life and in all manner of conversation There shall not be any who under a form shall deny the power of Godliness In the later perillous times it is so but in the last pure and peaceable times it shall not be so Rev. 22.3 His servants shall serve him him and not their Enemies him onely and him throughly All shall be an oblation to God and shall present their bodies a living sacrifice Chap. 45.15 16. One lamb out of the flock out of the fat pastures of Israel for a meat-offering Ordinances and means of Grace shall then be fat Pastures for the Saints to feed in The Church hath been in the Wilderness and nourished there Rev. 12.14 but at last it shall be brought out of the Wilderness into the fat Pastures of Israel and the Saints feeding in them shall be fat and flourishing whereby he that is feeble shall be as David and he that is as David shall be as the Angel of the Lord. And mark what follows All the people of the Land shall give this Oblation for the Prince or be this Oblation to the Prince in Israel And how shall this be Veâ—se 1â— It shall be the Princes part to give Burnt-offerings and Meat-offerings making good that Promise I will cause you to walk in my Statutes Now to set forth this more fully consider 1. All the Sacrifices shall be holy and without blemish Chap. 46.4 Lambs without blemish The Saints of that time shall be Lambs in innocency and Lambs without blemish Now there being much spoken in this Prophecy about Sacrifices and Offerings I shall take this occasion to unfold somewhat of the Mystery of them And in the first place shall take notice that mention is made of the Princes Offerings and of the Peoples Offerings The Prince is Christ and of his Offerings we read chap. 45.22 On the day of the Passeover shall the Prince prepare for himself and the People of the Land a Bullock for a Sin-offering and seven Bullocks and seven Rams for a Meat-offering the Sin-offering for the People of the Land the Meat-offering for himself and the People of the Land The Peoples Offerings are mentioned chap. 46.24 These are the places of them that boil where the Ministers of the House shall boil the Sacrifices of the People â—n the next place we may observe the several kinds of Sacrifices mentioned in this Prophecy being four the Sin-offering the Burnt-offering the Meat-offering and Peace-offering 1. The Sin-offering and this is Christ who maâ—â— his Soul an Offering for Sin Q. How shall Christ be offered when this Temple shall be built A. 1. There shall be a full discovery of the Mystery of Christ crucified of his being made Sin and fulfilling righteousness We may observe that where Christ crucified was preached and his death was shewn forth in the Lords Supper there he is said to be crucified Gal. 3.1 Before whose eyes Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you So that he was crucified at Galatia that is evidently set forth as crucified In like manner when this Temple shall be built Christ shall be slain that is evidently set forth as slain The price of his Bloud and his great love in laying down his Life will be fully manifested and the Doctrine of Justification by Free Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ will be fully cleared up and all Errors about it will vanish Christ was crucified at Ierusalem without the Gate and at Galatia now at the time here meant Christ will be crucified not as at Ierusalem but as at Galatia in being evidently set forth as crucified 2. Christ crucified shall be applied by Faith The Jews shall not establish their own righteousness then but shall submit to the righteousness of God and the Benefits of Christ crucified shall flow in abundantly upon them as in reconciling them to God so in purging them from dead works to serve the living God Chap. 45.20 The bloud must be upon the posts of the house the settle of the altar and on the posts of the gates so shall ye reconcile the house And this is to be done for every one that erreth and is simple The least sin can't be done away but by the Bloud of Christ and then all from the least to the greatest shall be done away Concerning this Sin-offering one thing more is to be observed against Popish Altars and the Mass Chap. 40.39 There are Tables to slay the Sin-offering upon we do not read of Tables for this use under the Law but onely of an Altar Christ will not be sacrificed and offered on an Altar as the Papists dream they do supposing the consecrated Bread and Wine to be the very Body and Bloud of Christ which their Priests pretend to offer up upon an Altar as an Expiatory Sacrifice But Christ shall be onely slain upon Tables that is evidently set forth as slain both in the Word preached and in the Lords Supper which as hath been before shewn will be then administred among the People of the Land and the whole Mystery of Christ crucified will be made so plain upon these Tables that he may run that shall read it 2. Burnt-offerings
Such as are dead in some sort to Sin and take up a profession of Godliness of themselves doing it from Self-love or slavish fear or aiming at profit or praise or because they are willing to escape Hell and to get to Heaven at last These may be reckoned among the Righteous but not being truly of them may go out from them For they that forsake Sin out of slavish fear may turn to it out of fear Those that follow Christ for Loaves may forsake him for Loaves 2. Such as are under a force in the profession of Religion and have their Sins as it were torn from them Some by religious Magistrates or Masters may be with-held from Sin and be brought to some outward conformity in the matter of Godliness these are the torn which if admitted to Church-communion may break off from it For those that are torn from Antichrist and but seemingly joyned to Christ may be torn from Christ and so go back to Antichrist again 3. There are such who through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Body not being under a force but are made a willing People to follow Christ and are no otherwise constrained but by the Love of Christ judging that they ought to live to him who died and rose again and of such will all the Churches of the Saints at last consist These three sorts seem hinted John 1.13 Christ gives to them power to become the Sons of God who believe in his Name being born not of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Some are born of the will of the flesh taking up a Form of Godliness from a carnal principle and fleshly will Others are born of the will of Man being religious because Men that have Power over them will have it so The former are the Dead of themselves these the torn There are others born of God who can say as Jam. 1.18 Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth that we should be a kind of First-fruits of his Creatures Now at the time of Jerusalems being made a praise in the Earth such as are born of the flesh which are the Dead of themselves and such as are born of the Will of Man which are the torn shall not be in that Kingdom but such as are born of God shall enter into and be of that Kingdom of God The Priests shall then kill and eat kill and keep company with them and so not eat of any thing which is dead of it self or torn and that in the next place whether it be Fowl or Beasts Beasts are called Beasts of the Earth and Fowls the Fowls of Heaven By Beasts of the Earth are meant Men of a worldly temper who mind earthly things and under a Form of Godliness are Lovers of Riches more than Lovers of God But the Priests shall not eat of such then No covetous man who is an Idolater shall have any Inheritance in that Kingdom of God By the Fowls of Heaven are meant such who seem to fly high in the profession of Religion but do it for praise and applause and trust in what they do that they are righteous thereby The Pharisee that boasted God I thank thee that I am not as other men are or as this Publican I fast c. He seemed to fly so high as to be dead to Sin and to the World but he was but a Fowl dead of himself and therefore unclean Now the Priests in that glorious state shall not eat of such Beasts or Fowls But what temper those of that Church shall be of these following Scriptures declare Isa 60.4 All they gather themselves together they come to thee v. 5. Then shalt thou see and flow together thine heart shall fear and be enlarged Filial fear enlargeth the heart to run the way of God's Commandments The Forces of the Gentiles shall come to thee These Forces shall not be forced but shall come v. 8. Who are these that fly as a Cloud very swiftly and in great abundance and as Doves to their windows very freely and willingly Psa 102.18 When the time to favour Sion shall come the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord or the new created people All of the Church then will be a new created people Isa 54.11 12. O thou afflicted tost with tempests and not comforted I will lay thy Stones with fair colours and thy Foundations with Saphires I will make thy Windows of Agates and thy Gates of Carbuncles and all thy Borders of pleasant Stones Isa 60.21 Thy people shall be all righteous the Branch of my planting the works of my hands that I may be glorified By this we see how much better it will be with the Church every way than now it is better in state and better in frame better within and better without Purity Peace and abundance of Light within and none to make it afraid without Such as it should be within and such as it should be without 9. They shall not do their work for hire or reward but a work done as it ought to be shall be its own reward Chap. 44.28 In the day that he goeth into the Inner Court he shall offer c. And it shall be to them for an Inheritance Their Sanctuary-work and Ministry shall be their reward Verse 29. Every dedicate thing in Israel shall be theirs and the first of all the Fruits When any by their Ministry shall be dedicated to the Lord these shall be their Glory and Joy and Crown of rejoycing and shall be better to them than the First-fruits were to the Priests under the Law Thus much concerning the Ministers of the House 4. This Temple shall never be destroyed as the Temple of Jerusalem was Chap. 49.19 The Priests shall take of the Blood and put it on the Posts of the House and on the four Corners of the Settle of the Altar The meaning is As the Bloud of the Lamb being on the Israelites Door-posts the destroying Angel did not enter so this House being sprinkled with the Blood of Christ no Destroyer shall come near to hurt it No Nebuchadnezzar shall burnt it with Fire v. 20. So shall ye reconcile this House This House will be a reconciled House here 's every where reconciling Blood and there the Lord will not be angry with it to destroy it There hath been a time in which Judgment began at the House of God but from thence it shall go to Babylon and there rest and never come near this House again Chap. 41.18 The Building was made with Cherubims and Palm-trees shewing the Church to be Triumphant and Victorious First Cherubims whereby Angels are meant of whom an innumerable Company will be with the Saints in the New Jerusalem And sometimes Men are called Cherubims as appears by comparing Rev. 4.6 with Ezek. 1.5 The four living Creatures are Cherubims but such as were redeemed to God by Christ's Blood Rev. 5.8 and therefore Men. And
all did meet in him So then his Sin-offering might be for himself as made Sin but in the benefit of it for the People of the Land Christ gave himself for himself in this respect even to discharge himself from that guilt which he had taken upon him that so he might save the People of the Lord from their sins Thus much concerning the Temple Concerning the Frame of the City represented in this Vision Consid 1. THis City is the same with that which was shewn to John Rev. 21. even the Holy City New Jerusalem of which such glorious things are spoken by the Prophets This will appear by comparing Ezekiel and John Ezek. 36.27 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean Chap. 37. There is a promise that Judah and Israel shall be one Nation and one King shall be to them all even David who is Christ And observe how Ezek. 37. agrees with John My Tabernacle also shall be with them Rev. 21.3 The tabernacle of God is with men The Gates of Ezekiels City chap. 45.31 have the Names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel upon them so also John's Rev. 21.12 And the Vision of the Waters is alike in both as is to be seen by comparing chap. 47.12 with Rev. 22. In Ezekiel 't is said Vpon the bank of the river grow all trees the fruit being for meat the leaves for medicine Rev. 22.2 On either side of the river was the tree of life which bare twelve manner of fruits and that every moneth and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations Observe Ezekiel saith all trees John the tree of life the Tree of Life is indeed all Trees Consid 2. There is a City of God partly on Earth and partly in Heaven Partly on Earth Heb. 12.22 Ye are come unto mount Sion and unto the city of the living God Mount Sion is the Church on Earth said to be the Joy of the whole Earth the best part of it the Saints therein being the excellent ones of the Earth and partly in Heaven Ye are come to the Heavenly Jerusalem 'T is said that Jerusalem in the letter was distinguished into the higher and lower City this is Mystical Jerusalem and as Eph. 3.15 we read of the whole Family in Heaven and Earth a part of it being on Earth and a part in Heaven which make one whole Family so the Church in Heaven and the Church on Earth make one whole City And upon this account the Saints on Earth are said to be come to the Heavenly City because the Church on Earth and in Heaven make one City Gal. 4.26 Jerusalem which is above and the mother of us all Heb. 11.16 He hath prepared for them a city that is for those that died in Faith verse 13. Those that die in Faith who had here peace by Believing enter into the City prepared for them which is the Ierusalem above and there they have the Vision of Peace In the Ierusalem above is Jesus the Mediator and an innumerable company of Angels and the Spirits of Just Men made Perfect with those that have been raised and changed all these being associated make one body mystically and an heavenly City and this is the Mother of us all 1. Of particular Saints in that they are born from above for as this City is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 above so are Saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from above born of the Spirit which is given forth from this City 2. This is the Mother of Churches on Earth the Metropolis or Mother City and Churches on Earth are her Daughters Rome would be the Mother Church which is a Mother indeed but of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth Jerusalem above is truly the Mother Church out of it came Laws and Ordinances to be observed on Earth The baptism of John was it from heaven or of men Ordinances from Heaven coming out of this City from Jesus the Mediator who hath all power in Heaven and in Earth are to be received and observed Whatsoever ye bind on earth shall be bound in heaven Hence is the Power of the Keys and what is done in Churches on Earth is examined in Heaven and there ratified when there is a due execution of that Power which is from above Consid 3. That Ierusalem which is now above shall come down out of Heaven and so the whole City and Family of God shall be on Earth Rev. 21.9 10. 't is twice affirmed to shew the certainty of it I saw the holy city new Ierusalem coming down from God out of heaven Which we may understand thus 1. Those that are mentioned Heb. 12. as making up this City shall come down for Christ shall come down Zech. 14.5 The Lord thy God shall come down then the innumerable company of Angels shall come down with him Matth. 24.31 He shall send his Angels and they shall gather the elect Dan. 7.10 Thousand thousands ministred to him c. And lastly all the Saints shall come with Christ The Spirits of just men shall be united to their raised Bodies for them that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 2. These shall descend as a City I saw the City descending They shall come as a Body Politick The whole Heavenly City shall come together Christ the holy Angels and all the Saints with him and so shall be on Earth For the Kings of the Earth do bring their Glory and Honour into it and the Nations of them which shall be saved shall walk in the Light of it and Gog and Magog shall gather against it to their own utter ruine and not to the least hurt of the Saints Like the Men of Sodom who compassed the House round where the Lord was who first smote them with blindness and after rained Fire and Brimstone upon them from the Lord out of Heaven Even so will these compass the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City and then shall be destroyed by Fire from Heaven which evidently shews that the New Jerusalem shall be then on Earth And Saints coming down from Heaven lose no Glory thereby because Christ will be with them and they with him to behold his Glory Yea there will be rather an addition to than a diminution of their Glory For 1. They shall have opportunity of doing some Works on Earth which they have not in Heaven They shall be as the Angels ministring Spirits for the good of Saints And as Christ after his Resurrection spake of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God so may the raised Saints 2. They shall reign upon the Earth exercise such a kind of Dominion which they do not in Heaven 3. The Saints of the New Jerusalem shall know and acknowledge the Saints in their Portions in the Land and those of the saved Nations which cannot be said of the Saints in Heaven Isa 63.16 Thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us c. But when Abraham shall be
Moon and for the chief things of the ancient Mountains and for the precious things of the lasting Hills and for the precious things of the Earth and the fulness thereof and for the good will of him that dwelt in the Bush Josephs Blessing did then consist in precious things and that which made all these precious things more exceeding precious was the good will of him that dwelt in the Bush and when Joseph shall be called and United to Judah under one King then shall he have the good will of him that dwelt in the Bush and a Blessing of precious things added thereto Certainly we may well conclude that as the Tribes of Israel had these their Blessings in some Degree when Canaan was Conquered and divided amongst them so when the Jews shall be called then shall they have these Blessings wherewith Moses the Man of God blessed them in the fulness of them but that the great change which shall be in the Natural state of things may be more fully set forth I shall with such largeness as the Matter doth require whilst upon that eminent place Rom. 8.19 c. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the Sons of God c. The Apostle had said v. 18. I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us Saints after a long time of Suffering must have a time of Glory As there is to be Eternity of Glory in Heaven so a set time also for the Church to have great Glory upon Earth This is proved from the earnest expectation of the Creature and from the Saints groaning within themselves and waiting for the Adoption even the redemption of their bodies The whole creation groaneth and Saints groan What doth this import but that the World is weary of its present state of bondage and longs for the time when it shall pass away in respect of its present corrupt and slavish estate and be in its refined restored and free state of which God hath spoken by the mouth of his Prophets The Heavens would be New Heavens the Earth would be a New Earth they look with outstretched Neck for that happy time when it shall be said The Lord bless thee O Habitation of justice and Mountain of holiness and when the Sons of God that have lyen among the Pots shall come forth and be as the wings of a Dove covered with Silver and her Feathers with yellow Gold and so have their glorious Liberty and Manifestation By Creature here is meant the World which is now subject to Vanity and in bondage to corruption It s condition is much worse now by Mans sin than it was at first This condition is contrary to its Nature It would be restored to its Primitive State and is not at rest till it be so Here are three things to be considered First What the Primitive State of the Creature was Secondly What its present bondage is Thirdly What the Liberty is which it longs for What the Primitive State of the Creature was these Particulars shew 1. The Creature was very good there was no evil in the Creation Gen. 1.31 God saw every thing which he had made and behold it was very good Full of vertue and Vigor of beauty and comliness Gen. 2.27 As Trees so other things were beautifull to the Eye there was nothing hurtfull and grieving No Thorns or Thistles for these were a part of the Curse Salomon complains all is Vanity and vexation of Spirit 'T was the Evil and bitter thing Sin which was the cause of it 2. There was Peace in the Creation a due subordination and subjection and Concord and agreement nothing of Rebellion nothing of enmity no wasting or destruction in any part of the Creation as a Fruit of enmity 3. The Creature was made that it might serve for the Honour of the Creator God made all things for himself Prov. 16.4 All his works were to praise him 4. Man was Lord of the Creation Rule thou over the Fowl of the Air the Fish of the Sea c. Gen. 1.28 And the Creatures did own Mans Dominion over them and became willingly subject to him the Beasts and Fowls came to Adam as it were to do him Homage and he gave them Names 2. What the Creatures bondage is This consists 1. In the loss of very much of its Primitive vertue and beauty Sin hath much defaced and enfeebled the Creation Meat hath not that strength to nourish which first it had Isa 3.1 we read of the Stay and Staff of the Stay of Bread and the Staff of Water If Adam had not Sined this Stay and Staff would have been a sufficient support of Mans life when it s going away 2. In that enmity which is now amongst Creatures There is a war in the Creation Creature against Creature In the Sea the greater Fishes devour the less the dry Land and Air are full of Beasts and Birds of prey 3. In the sinful abuse of Creatures they are in bondage to the lusts of Men and are many times provision For the Flesh to fulfill it in the lusts thereof We may observe that the First Sin was the abuse of a Creature God had forbidden to Men the eating of the fruit of the Tree in the midst of the Garden when Man did eat the Creatures bondage began This sinful a buse was its bondage And this one Creature being thus abused and brought into bondage God did in a way of judgment as a just recompence of Man's Sin leave the rest to be subject to Vanity and less helpful to Man Adam delighted in the forbidden Fruit more then in pleasing God and therefore was left to love and serve the Creature more than the Creator We may take Notice how this bondage is set forth in Scripture 1. Joh. 2.16 All that is in the World the lust of the Flesh the lust of the eye and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the World There are these several Lusts in the World and the World affords them their several Objects carnal Delight are the Objects of the lust of the Flesh worldly riches and Propfits are the lusts of the Eye And do please the Eye Eccles 5.11 When goods increase what good is there to the owners saving the beholding them with their Eyes and when these worldly things are enjoyed and Men prosper and grow great thereby then Pride usually compasseth them about as with a Chain and so they become the Pride of Life Now this is the bondage of the Creatures to feed the lust of the Flesh the lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life We may observe that all these lusts did meet in and made up the first sin the Forbidden Fruit was fair to the eye there was the lust of the Eye there was a lust to eat of it and an eating to satisfy that lust so there appeared the lust
high-way and the wayfaring-men that go in this way shall have an unerring Spirit to guide them in it for the wayfaring men though Fools shall not err therein Isa 54.11 12. They shall be a holy flock Ezek. 36. ult I will lay thy stones with fair colours and thy foundations with saphires I will make thy windows of agates and thy gates of carbuncles and all thy borders of pleasant stones What doth this signifie but that there shall be a Church at last exceeding pure which shall be called the beauties of holiness Isa 60.2 The Lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seen upon thee The Light of the Glory of the Lord shall shine to the Saints and shall shine from them both for the glorious Works of God wrought for them and upon them and in the Works wrought by the Saints in which the Image and Glory of God shall be seen upon them Rev. 22.4 They shall see his face and his Name shall be in their foreheads Their Professions their Lives their Actings and Conversations shall be a discovery of God Vpon the bells of the horses shall be holiness to the Lord much more upon the foreheads of his people 3. In the time of the New Heavens and New Earth the Sons of God shall have Glorious Liberty And this brings me back again to Rom. 8.21 The Creature shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Now for this we may consider that there is Gracious Liberty and Glorious Liberty there is a Liberty wherewith Christ hath made the Saints free as Gal. 5.1 and a Liberty wherewith he will make them free as in this place which is also called the redemption of the body There is a redemption of the Soul from sin and of the Body from sufferings It hath been for the most part with the Saints as Christ said to Peter Another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldst not But in the time of Glorious Liberty it shall not be so Gracious Liberty is a Liberty from Evil and a Liberty in relation to that which is good Liberty from Evil is from the evil of sin and of punishment Liberty from the Evil of Sin is when a man is made free from the Reigning power of sin as in regard of the Outward committing so from the inward love of it Rom. 6.18 Being made free from sin ye became servants of righteousness There is a Liberty also from the Evil of Punishment Rom. 8. 1 There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus There is now correction to them and therein God dealeth with them as with sons but no condemnation to them they meet with crosses but have escaped the curse die they must but the sting of death is taken away As they look not for life from the Law so they need not fear death by the Law There is a liberty also in relation to that which is good Saints have liberty to go where they are sure to receive that good which they want they may go and that boldly to the Throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in a time of need They can go to Christ to receive of his fullness grace for grace Jam. 1.17 Every good and perfect gift is from above some gifts are good but not perfect others are good and perfect and able to make those perfect who have them Creatures are a good gift for every Creature of God is good but Christ is a good and perfect gift Knowledge is a good gift but the Spirit of wisdome and grace of love and fear of supplication and adoption is a perfect gift Earth is a good gift Heaven is a good and perfect gift Now what a precious liberty is this to have free access to him who gives liberally good and perfect gifts to those that ask them and upraideth not There is a liberty also to the doing of good though there is not free will and power in Nature to do that good which is acceptable to God yet there is by grace when any are made free from sin thereby those that are partakers of the Divine Nature and have the seed of God in them will be free ready and willing to do good I will run the ways of thy Commandments when thou shalt inlarge my Heart Jam. 25. the Law is called the Law of liberty to men in the flesh 't is a Law of bondage to men in the Spirit 't is a Law of liberty The Law in the Head only may be but a Law of bondage so the Law in the Lips but the Law in the Heart which hath the Law of the Spirit with it is a Law of liberty I go bound in the Spirit said Paul 'T is gracious liberty to go bound in the Spirit both to the doing and suffering the will of God and to be constrained by the love of Christ to live to him Thus much of Gracious Liberty for some introduction to what is to be said of Glorious Liberty And as for Glorious Liberty that the spirits of just men have in Heaven going to God the judge of all to Jesus the Mediator to the General Assembly and Church of the First-born But the glorious liberty mentioned by Paul is that which the Saints shall have in the New Heavens and the New Earth For 't is that which the Creatures long for and look to have some benefit by and therefore is not meant of the State of Glory in Heaven Now that some discovery may be made of this let some few particulars be observed 1. To be free from War and the evils and mischief that attend it is a Glorious Liberty And this shall be the Saints happiness at last when all things shall be made New Isa 40.1 Comfort ye Comfort ye my people speak comfortably to Jerusalem tell her that her Warfare is accomplished In the times of restitution after the destruction of the Man of Sin and the calling of the Jews there shall be no learning of War any more Isa 2.4 but swords shall be beaten into plow-shares and spears into pruning-hooks Now there is War Nation against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom And Saints are called to sight the good fight of faith But when the Beast and false Prophet shall be taken God will make all Wars to cease to the ends of the earth 2. Glorious Liberty will consist in being free from temptations Adam was at first free from sin but not from temptations There shall be at last a better Paradise for the Saints than that in which Adam was placed in which there shall be no Serpent to tempt Satan is now following the Saints with his temptations and he hath his Messengers to buffet them but in the time of Glorious Liberty he shall be bound and cast into Prison and never suffered to tempt one Saint any more for when he shall be loosed out of his Prison he shall deceive the Nations Gog and