that state which largely might be made thence to appear the Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also is of future signification answerable to the time and state of that Prophesie and some Fathers and even some Papists have so understead that time to be Christs second comeing of which much more might be said but this is to me above all I am sure Christ explains all these in this sence in the Revelation as our two last books if rightly understood do manifest I thought to have spoken of many things more in this Epistle so ordered by Christs holy Spirit as I find them to this purpose as in ch 11. many things of the sufferers and Covenants to Abraham Isaac Jacob and others but we have spoken of them partly in our Key p. 7 8 9 c and in our said last Books and of the Communion in the New Testament state then ch 12. which also we spoke of in the said Books and more in our Tract on Jer. 3.17 and because we have but a short Introduction in hand to our intended short Scheme if God will we will be satisfied with thus much at present to our present purpose The like exposition I have from Christs Revelation of what St. Paul saith of Christs first comeing and the first Resurrection of the Saints 1 Cor. 15. after he had risen above 1600 years before as their first fruits to sanctifie and effect their Resurrection afterwards at his second comeing v. 23. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deinde intends 1000 years after as Christ teacheth shall be the end which will be when he shall have put down all Rule and Authority and Power that is chiefly as Scripture witnesseth Ezekiels Gog and Magog and shut up Satan in the bottomless pit for 1000 years and after that destroy the last Gog and Magog Rev. 20.8 9. and cast the Devil into the lake of Fire and the last Enemy Death will be destroyed with the Author of it the first Soul Murtherer and sin the effect of his wickedness and also the matter for death to work upon will be taken away which are the destroying of death none remaining from thence in the world in the natural life but after the said 1000 years shall be that Mistery of the general Rapture which he speaks of v. 51 52. at the last Trump at his descending with a shout as also the same Apostle speaks at his last comeing which I believe from the same warrant he speaks of 1 Thes 4.15 16 c. as distinguishing his bringing with him all that sleep in Jesus which he had called the appearance of Christ with all his Saints before ch 3. ult from this last when those dead in Christ viz. all that departed in 1000 years before shall rise first then that is before the wicked at the last Trump then both which sorts are these our Saviour calls the rest of the dead that rose not till 1000 years after or till the 1000 years were finished v. 5. the first said Resurrection of the Saints is Rev. 20.4 5. as Christ there exactly distinguisheth both of them and this may be observed by humble and conscientious seekers to be resolved which Resolutions of these Texts I do upon good grounds believe shortly will be approved by Christ himself at his comeing and how matchless a Resolver that Revelation so called with a witness is and in some things with Daniel also such as rightly seek by it as they ought I doubt not but may more and more by their own Experience find and in the interim after all present gainsayings yet with declared willingness to give a Christian-like account to all serious persons c. I bless and magnifie the holy name of God my heavenly Father in Christ my gracious merciful Redeemer of the Lord the Spirit my Sanctifier Teacher to my great comfort and satisfaction of these and many like Divine Truths couched as he hath been pleased to lay them down in his holy Word for others I only here pray saying Blessed and Holy Trinity of Persons in the Unity of the Divine Essence open the eyes of thy faithful servants in these times to understand the holy Scriptures respecting that said world to come at Christs second comeing as our blessed Saviour after his Resurrection opened his Disciples understandings Luke 24.45 then to see the things before and at his first comeing and especially respecting his Death and Refurrection then newly past c. Amen We might here note hat strong confutation might be taken against Pelagian Arminian Popish Socinian Errours many others excite all to get true Grace as the best security of all good to that end lay aside worldly wicked projects in the world and keep close to God in the use of all good means and that Great Persons should kiss the Sun c. Psal 2. but we are forced now only to hint thus much FINIS
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR THE SAINTS FIRST REVEALED AND COVENANTED MERCIES Shortly Approaching As being the Main Scope of Revelation-Prophesie Opened and Resolved by Christ's Divine Key of Prophesie in the four last Chapters thereof In exceeding much Mercy lately Discovered to the Weak and Unworthy Pen-man of the ensuing Work and especially by the help of the more late and very Useful Key and Covenants An. Dom. 71. with Parallels of Dan. and Rev. more directly leading us to the last said great Discoveries Explained in our last Books And for the better Improvement of them all here is prefixed a Summarie of the Clearest and most Aboundant Scripture-evidence of that Blessed State of the World to come In Reference to a Scheme or short Prospective View of the Whole from God's Word By W. Sherwin Minister of the Gospel LONDON Printed in the Year 1676. The Introduction to our Scheme or short Prospective View of the most strong and clear evidence of the blessed state of the 1000 Years Rev. 20. as is manifest in our late Works Shewing 1. THat such a state shall be in the World in the seventh Millen 2. What that state is declared to be from the Word of God 3. Shewing in a fit Latitude the time when or the neer approach of that said state 4. How or by what means it shall be set up 5. Unto these we shall add somewhat of the Usefulness of that excellent gracious Discovery thereof chiefly from Parallelling Dan. and Rev. both in connexion of Matters and Times as leading us to the fourth Gentile Monarchie wherein Gods Kingdome of the Stone Dan. 2.44 was to be set up An. Dom. 34. for 1666. years from Christs Ascention to his Descending again to break all adverse Kingdomes and Dominions until it self become a Mountain v. 34 41. about An. Dom. 1700. with the allowance of Bishop Vshers four years lost or more and so probable to be sooner Concerning the first three things are here to be done first to prove as in the method Iren. Chap. 1. the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 namely to shew that such a Sate or Kingdome shall be which is abundantly proved in our said work first from the seven Foundations in our Irenic mentioned in the beginning thereof â—dly From the other seven Convincing Arguments besides that Third in the Word Written all which are of very large comprehensiveness and if duly weighed will be found to be of very great force And all our Parallels of Danniel and Revelation do also very greatly establish these Truths all which we refer to the Judicious and Impartial Readers perusal together with the Twelve Foundations of our Faith thereof proved all along from Gen. 3.15 to the end of the Revelation which Faith was also much formed by our 31 Useful Observations to understand Mystical Prophesies and by the short Assertions and useful and needful Distinctions in our Key To the due consideration of all which we advise the serious reading of our Account of the whole Work first more generally of the subject p. 1 2. and 2dly of the Nature Use and Order of the Parts of the said Work in page 2 3 4. with the two first leaves of the General Title Page or of the said Twelve Foundations and in the two first leaves of the last Book on Rev. 21.5 shewing what parts serve for Explication what for Confirmation and what for Illustration and Application c. page 1 2 3 4. 2dly To shew this said state shall be in the World which is sufficiently done by our 15 well approved Reasons by the Learned in those Studies to which many more may be added See our New Jerusalem on Jer. 3.17 page 9 10 11 12. Of the most Certain Infallible and Vnresistable farther Evidences ANd now from Gods gracious late Discovery to us that the said blessed state will be the fulfilling of his declared and Covenanted Mercies then in the said seventh Millen unto the Fathers themselves and to their spiritual seed through and with that their own Divine Seed Christ Gal. 3. and 2 Sam. 7.16 to the end as in our two last Books on Rev. 20.5 and Rev. 21.5 is largely explained which Christs said Revelation Key Divinely opens and which we endeavour here to the best advantage we can in a business of this nature to communicate so briefly to all faithful Christians herein concerned and for all others who may be such by setting before all men yet more strong clear and irresistable evidences from the word of God concerning the said Mercies as eternally decreed by God after carryed on in the said Covenants Prophesies of the Old Testament witnessed to through the New to manifest how in the said 7th Milen as Christ by his Revel also hath infallibly resolved us that all shall answerably be done as in good part was shewed in our Picture of Christs most Divine Key p. 63. of the Resur which I doubt not but will farther make the evidences thereof so strong clear and irresistable and as I verily believe of so great weight as greater cannot be had to prove any Truth nor need to be expected for these and greater then for any other Truth in the whole book of God this containing the summ of all namely Christs great work of Redemption as the work so eternally appointed by the Father to be so carryed on by him in the time of his Mediatorship in the first six Millen as by and by we doubt not to prove to redeem the souls bodies persons outward conditions of his Saints and servants then from the Power and Tyranny of their Enemies the World Creatures in that state from the Corruption Curse Bondage Enmity in it since the Fall of Man as in Restit p 45 46 37 c. Whereupon we must lay down this needful Caution by the way viz. That we must distinguish the said General work of Redemption from that Spiritually Powerful work of Reconciliation for his Saints at Christs first coming according to the warrant of the holy Scripture 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling us unto himself and now by his word of Reconciliation Rom. 5.10 When Enemies we were reconciled to Grd by the death of his Son and Eph. 2.16 That he might reconcile both Jew and Gentile in one body by the Cross c. Christ by his death so making an Attonement in his blood by his own oblation of himself once for all his people and thereby laid the sure foundation at his first coming for his powerful and glorious carrying on of all the parts and degrees of the other as being made the Fathers Commissioner during his Kingdome of the Stone whilest he sits upon his Fathers Throne at that glorious delivery of the Book with 7 Seals Rev. 5. to him the Lamb with seven Hornes and seven Eyes to open and execute the Contents thereof unto chap 19. until his second coming at the end of the said 1666. years when he will sit upon his own Throne Rev.
all these may be observed in our Scheme of Revelation and Summary of Daniel in one sheet of excellent use if well perused and frequently But for the matter of the four last chapters briefly handled Dan. 2. and Dan. 7. after the fourth Monarchy our Saviour explains Divinely many things as referring to the other Prophets from first to last chiefly respecting the said antient Predictions Covenants with wonderful exactness which the latter Prophets and New Testament confirm as they are so explained by Christs said Revelation Yet many allusions to other Prophets are made in that whole book to the Old Testament Dispensations both of the Camp of Israel in their Wilderness condion and when the Temple was built and to Rulers the 24 Elders and to Church Guides the four Beasts full of Eyes Rev. 4. to Ezekiels Vision ch 1. 10. and Es 6. to Zacharies two Olive Trees ch 4. the Witnesses Rev. 11. c. wherein we may note the passing of the handle of Christs Key as we may fitly call it by Promises and Incouragements as in our seventh Convincing Argument to their times of fulfilling in the 1000 years as the Souls beheaded and their fellow Servants and Brethren Rev. 6.9 10 c. are raised to Reign ch 20.4 6. which is a very weighty and useful consideration therein We only by the Abridgments mentioned in our Account p. 3. passed per Saltum as we said pag. 3. of Resur unto the twentieth ch referring Christians for the former part to ch 19. now almost fulfilled to Mr. Medes Commentary and Clavis chiefly but the Observation of Decem. 7. 1664. in the Prodr on Mr. Durhams book do explain many things from ch 5. to the end but note here that as Daniels twelfth ch is a Key to that Book so Rev. 17. to the times of the Beasts 1660 years as in our useful Observations where that and many other excellent matters respecting both books are set down Observ 7 8 9 10 11. next after the Tract upon Rev. 22.20 Thus we see the Holy Spirit so many wayes joyns Daniel and the Revolation both in times and things as was shewed in both Books through the 2300 years of the four said Gentile Monarchies from the falling of Davids said Tabernacle which points Unto us this consolation that God will be mindful of that covenant when the time comes as also of all the former whose Period is the same and their mercie in substance will be the same and it is no wonder it should be so long before that peoples reducement since their Sin was so great at first but especially at their last and longest and sorest Captivity when they had killed the Lord of life with so great a curse upon themselves and their Children Upon all which said confirmations and evidences Gods Design in Christs redemtion was at his first coming to be manifest to be the son of God in the flesh and to have a body given him Heb 10.5 as in both respects foretold by the Prophets when as God-man he by dying laid the foundation of all future good Reconciling both Jews and Gentles by his death Rom. 5.10 and meriting the salvation of all his Saints souls about An. Mun. 4000. but towards the end of the Sixth millennium at his 2d coming he shall powerfully destroy his great Visible enemies and bind Satan the 1000. years and raise the Saints bodies from the grave freeing the persons and outward conditions of his people and the the world and Creatures in it from the bondage of Corruptions as largly is explained Restit p. 44. 45. 46. c. and in the 4. last ch we shall here only farther observe Christs curious exactness that speaking of the beasts destruction at the time of his eminent breaking of the Serpents head at the first act of the Judgment he only saith these are the true sayings of God c. 19.9 but when he speaks of the promised mercies to the Fathers twice to be then fulfilled he saith ch 21.5 and chap 22.6 these words are both faithfull and true And also for the times in respect of the when he sets the mark 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is done at the renovation of all things ch 21.6 which before he had set Chap. 16 17. by a like great Voice from the Throne to shew their coincidence at the same time saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is done as from Ezek. 39.8 is remarkably explained N. B. page 61 62. of Restitut And for the quandiù how long it shall continue Christ set it down in an unparallell'd manner six times over to be 1000 years 3 of them absolutely 1000 years 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and then three times relatively 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those those those thousand years Rev. 20. First of Satans binding v. 2 3. 2dly of the Saints first bodily Resurrection and Reign with Christ in the world v. 4 5. 3dly of the happy condition in that state 1. They are blessed 2. holy as the reason of that blessedness 3. Their security thereupon they shall not be hurt of the second death 4. Their great Priviledge then they shall be Priests of God and of Christ 5. In their supream Authority with Christ then they reigned with Christ 1000 years In such a wonderful glorious manner hath our Saviour determined the said time and state which is the Divine Millenniarism of Christ so exactly and curiously set before us by his Scriptures of Truth And lastly by the comprehensive usefulness of this book it refers to all parts all Holy Scriptures for first Christ explains the last times of the four Gentile Monarchies mistically contained in Daniel as we shewed from the beginning of the Kingdome of the Stone to the end thereof at ch 19. whose Chronology begin when Davids Tabernacle fell for the Sins of his natural Race and those said Gentile Kingdomes reach through the 2300 years of their continuance to the raising of Davids Tabernacle in Christ as the Son of Davids Reign with his Saints New Davids Covenant for his said Kingdome which that state of Israel was then grown up unto carries us back to the former Promises and Covenants to Abraham Isaac and Jacob respecting the renewed state of the Land and the New Jerusalem belonging to their Spiritual Seed and Noahs Type of the Ark sets forth the safety of the Saints in the end of the world by Christ their true Ark the Covenant for all Creatures signified by the Rainbow assures the worlds continuance and the accommodations of its fruitfulness and that chiefly for those times as following Prophets teach us his Prophesie of Shems and Japhets Posterity set forth of what Race mostly besides Proselites haply all along should rise as the Prophets after explain in both their double great Calls and how the Messiah from Adam Enoch Noah and all the rest should lineally descend who should restore his Saints with himself to a much more glorious and happy Paradise of God in that said state
his power upholds all things through all those Worlds viz. the said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or states of them and lastly purgeth the sins of his Elect through them all as was said before and so v. 4. and all the chapter to the end and throughout chapter the second he magnifies Christs Sonship by comparing him with the Angels shewing how far and in how many respects the sacred Scripture sets up this Son of God above the Angels he had said something before of his eternal glory for time past but here he illustrates his Sonship for time present to come wherein we may observe from Scripture ground that distinction of the learned of Christs being eternally 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the wisdome in the bosome of the Father and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word revealed or manifested in the flesh to be the Son of God in whose face as being made flesh and so God-man in one person as saith our Apostle all the Fathers glory is manifest 2 Cor. 3.6 John 1.12 and so he is the Fathers only begotten Son at his conception when the Holy Ghost overshadowed the blessed Virgin upon her Faith of the Angels Message at his holy conception Luke 1. and when the fame spirit of holiness with power raised him from the the Dead Rom. ◠4 Psal 2. Acts 13. and so he is called his first begotten from the Dead Rev. 1.5 for Scripture only speaks of his being the Son of God only in reference to some Divine Manifestation to be made in time towards his humane nature whereby God manifests and owns him to be his Son as he was first eternally decreed or Prophetically declared so to be but no otherwise and so at his Baptisme Matthew 3. and at his Transfiguration Mat. 17. at his Ascention as he prayed John 17. to have as the Fathers Son his former glory which he had c. so when the Spirit led him into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil he brought him to that tryal If thou be the Son of God c. Mat. 4. And at his Death Gods power was so manifest towards him that the very Centurion at that discouraging state strongly asserts it Truly saith he this was the Son of God And our Apostle here adds one more to come which is the greatest the most glorious and gracious accomplishment of the end of all others before in the world when he shall be brought again into that world to come N. B. which shall as he there shews not be subject to Angels but to the Son of God so gloriously then above all other times before to manifest him to be the Son of God ad his heir of all things as appointed for that time and state as his First-borne higher than the Kings of the Earth Psalm 89.27 as we shall farther shew as Christs Revelation Explication manifests from ch 2.5 And our Apostle from v. 4. having laid down many glorious Testimonies of holy Scripture for that great Title of Son v. 5. and of his comeing to take his Kingdome at his second comeing v. 6. from Dan 7.13 14. and of his Kingly Dignity v. 8. when Angels are his Ministring Spirits v. 7. but then at his said comeing again his Divine Throne which he shall then sit upon as the Son of David will then gloriously manifest also that he is the Son of God in that it will be to the end of the world being then ordered by his Scepter of Righteousness as Esa 9. as is explained v. 9. and the first Foundation he laid for this Kingdome was his creating Heaven and Earth v. 10. and as he made them he will also dissolve them in his time v. 11 12. with Rev. 20.11 but in the last place Gods spirit directs him v. 13. after his Divine manner to point out the time of his said Inheritance and Kingdome before spoken of v. 2 6 8. and that from that great Oracle Ps 110.1 so often repeated in the New Testament shewing it will be at the end of his sitting there which is at his second comeing or when he brings him again into the world v. 6. and in ch 10.13 until then as he shews he sits expecting the same till that time his foes shall be made his footstool and ch 2. after he had warned them of hearing God speaking by his Son v. 1 2 3 4. as he doth again towards the end of the Epistle ch 12.25 he proceeds to shew the preheminence of Christ in the world to come which is to begin then when God shall bring his Son again into the world as he proved before from Psal 97. which Ps foretels that time state and shews then will be the world he there speaks of and tells them it was not to be subject unto Angels but must be to the Son of God ch 2. v. 5 6 7 c. and to that purpose then adds a great Testimony from Psal 8.4 excellently here explained v. 6 7 8. where he teaches that the Creation at first since defaced by mans fall and Satans Usurpation and wickedness of Men which Christ had undertaken to rescue from his Tyranny for himself and those which the Father had given him for which cause he was made for a little time lower than the Angels and had made the purchase of the world anew which after he was to possess but first he must go to the high Court of Heaven to be gloriously put into possession in due time and then to return as Luke 19. to take his said Inheritance Kingdom possession when it is made fit for him at the Renovation of all things yea for him and his Saints in that time and state here spoken of as the Apostle expressly saith v. 8. we do not yet see all things put under him but our Saviours Revelation Key in the four last chapters gives an excellent account of that time and Gods way of performing them and opens all those things if men would humbly and conscientiously attend to it which I well through Divine Grace still more and more find doth strongly resolve all such things above all that man can say to the contrary and so as I am well from his word and holy Spirit assured he will make good before long time pass Now that this world to come is so be taken besides what was before said all fitly leading to it as by Gods Spirit so Divinely ordered note farther v 5. it is 1. stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an habitable world and 2dly it is spoken of to be when God brings his Son again viz the second time into the world v. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Adverb there is joyned with the Verb and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 points it out to be a special distinct time and matter he speaks of though also another proof of his Divine Sonship because then at his second comeing all the Angels must Worship him and it is as was Prophesied of before Psal 97.7 and of