the Saints in this life which may very well be rendered as a wildernesse-condition two of which are to be accomplished in spiritual Babylon as Babylon may be rendered a State and a National Church both which particulars concerning this wildernesse are to be understood in a spiritual sense Now the Scripture to prove is Hosea 2. 3. where God doth denounce his judgements against his people in case they do not put away their adulteries from between their brest and because they do not the judgement follows which is to be stript naked and sit as in the day wherein she was born in being made as a wildernesse and set as a dry land and slain with Christ and so it goes on to vers. â—4 Now in this Scripture the condition of the Church of God is remarkably set forth in respect of us who have committed spiritual adultery as it is here spoken of at large And so the first wildernesse condition is accomplished in the last and dreadful desertion of the Church immediately before her great and glorious deliverance out of mystical Babylon which deliverance is as well temporal as spiritual even from the bondage of the creature as in Isai. 9. 4. and 10. 27. and then follows the wildernesse-condition Hos. 2. from vers. 14. to the end We may see the like in Isa. 32. Jer. 30 and 31 Chap. I pray compare these Scriptures which speak of the wildernesse-condition that doth befal the Saints in this spiritual desertion when God hath bereft them of all Now there is another wildernesse-condition in reference to the Saints whilst they are in Babylon which is of another nature as in Revel. 12 where there is mention made of the womans fleeing into the wildernessâ— before she hath wings given her as is spoken in vers 14. to flee into the wildernesse in respect of a local separation which hath been the condition of the Saints ever since the defection from the Faith for the space of one thousand two hundred and threescore days but now it is accomplished in the condition of the Saints which have brought forth a man-childe which man-childe is caught up to heaven unto God and to his throne which shews that the spiritual man in those who are enlightned with that light of God in whose light we see light I say the spiritual man in such a one lives in God though as we are in the flesh we are in Babylon amongst our hateful enemies And so our being in God in this sense may be understood to be that wildernesse into which the woman flees immediately after she hath brought forth a man-childe where she is kept in respect of her spiritual subsistence And this we may likewise observe she is fled into this wildernesse before she is persecuted by the dragon and so hath wings given her to flee away And so I see that this wildernesse in a spiritual sense may be said to be God himself as in Isai. 33. when the Spirit shall be poured down from on high even that wildernesse spoken of in Hos. 2. which we were made in our spiritual desertion shall be a fruitful field and the fruitful field a forest Now having spoken of the wildernesse in the spiritual desertion and after the resurrection into which the woman flees now the main businesse is to prove that the Lord will gather his people into a wildernesse as a wildernesse is to be understood in the letter when the Lord shall gather away his Saints in respect of a local separation from Babylon Now the Scriptures to prove this are as followeth Isa. 35. thorowout Isa. 48. 20 21. Isa. 51. at the beginning Jer. 31. 1 2. Ezek. 34. 25. you may take notice of the whole Chapter Hos. 2. from vers. 14. to the end Revel. 12. 14. I pray compare these Scriptures And so with this I shall close up nothing doubting but that the Lord will in his good time reveal unto his people those things which have been hidden from the beginning of the world whilst that others shall promise to themselves peace and safety when sudden destruction shall come upon them as travel upon a woman with childe but the Saints shall foresee the evil and have an escape The Third Letter Concerning the Resurrection of the dead Dear Friends IT is the will of God to call me forth to heark what he shall say and so accordingly to communicate it in the same giving forth of the Spirit in that here I must make it known to you before I can conceive it in my self Now the main thing that God will speak by me at present is concerning the condition of mankinde after natural death and so likewise of the Resurrection of the body and in this God doth condescend unto my weaknesse in that some few hours since I did retain sad thoughts concerning the state of the Saints departed with those who shall before the glorious manifestation of Jesus Christ in the flesh and so likewise of the redemption of the body which redemption shall be as well temporal as spiritual Now the faithful who are departed this life already with those who shall before this glorious manifestation it doth not appear that they do partake of that glory which they do who shall live unto that time and if that we do not expect the resurrection of the body after the natural death Unto this I answer Though we do not expect such a resurrection as formerly yet we do expect a resurrection of the body mystical for when some of the people of God as in 1 Cor. 15. might object according to their conceiving as the Apostle speaks in that place Some may say How are the dead raised and with what bodies come they forth Thou fool saith he that which thou sowest is not quickned except it die as in vers. 35. and that which thou sowest thou sowest not the body which shall be but bare grain it may be of wheat or some other grainâ—â— but God giveth a body as it pleaseth him and so he goes on to vers 42. so also is the resurrection of the dead it is sown in corruption and it is raised in incorruption it is sown in dishonour and raised in glory it is sown in weaknesse and raised in power it is sown a natural body and raised a spiritual body There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body as it is written The first man Adam was made a living soul and the second Adam was made a quickning spirit And so it follows unto vers 47 where it is said As we have born the image of the earthly so we should bear the image of the heavenly that is as we now bear the image of the earthly that is the image of Christ in the flesh so we shall bear the image of the heavenly Christ who is said to be a quickning spirit and here we are raised a spiritual body for the body is Christ and so the spiritual bodies of the Saints are not distinct one
speaks most of the conversion of the Jews speaks by the spirit of prophecie and sure the Prophets and Apostles though they spake by the inspiration of the Spirit yet they did see no further then the accomplishment of the Prophecies in the letter in that the spiritual meaning was shut up until the end of time as in Dan. 12. You shall finde that when the Apostle had spoken at large concerning the calling of the Jews Rom. 11. when he had spoken all which God had revealed by the Spirit he breaks forth in â—o admiration O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements and his ways past finding out And so when we read in Scripture concerning the calling of the Jews it must of necessity be confined to the Israel of God not Israel in the flesh but the Israel according to election who are the children of God according to the promise which consist both of Jews and Gentiles for the Apostle saith Rom. 3 that he is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is Circumcision in the flesh but Circumcision is of the heart not of the letter whose praise is not of man but of God And the Apostle saith likewise All are not Israel which are of Israel but in Isaac shall thy seed be called So the children of the promise are counted for the seed And in Rom. 11. it is said that the election have attained what they sought for but the election have attained it and the rest were hardened But and if you will needs have it to be the Nation of the Jews which shall be converted it cannot be the natural Jews because they are mixt amongst the Heathens Why then it must needs be a Jew according to profession Why then if it be so we see a good part of the Jews by profession converted to the Faith already and the Lord will make a short work in the earth For do you not see many of the Israel of God which have been under the bondage of the Law in entering into Church-fellowship and do not we see that God does begin to discover unto them their errour in thinking that they were under the Gospel and so possest of the substance but now they finde unto their sorrow that it was but a shadow in that it vanished away But howsoever the comfort is the Lord does begin to pour upon the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of prayer and supplication and though they are in sadnesse in the consideration of what they have done and so look upon him whom they have pierced and shall be in bitternesse for him as one that is in bitternesse for his onely son and in that day there shall be great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo as in Zech. 12. from vers. 10. to the end but though I say it be thus with the Saints at present there is a joyful day at hand when the Lord shall return their Captivity as the rivers in the South And so whatsoever is spoken concerning the return of the children of Israel out of Captivity it is to be understood of Israel in the spirit And whereas the Scripture speaks in the Revelation of the Tribes which are to be sealed it is to be understood likewise in this sense Now as for the judgement that is given unto the Saints the glorious state of the Church it consists most of all in respect of spirituals though I do not deny but that there shall be a temporal power which is begun already for the Kingdom is begun even here in Babylon among the implacable enemies of God as in Dan. 2. Mic. 4. Now I do joyn with the Saints in this their judgement though I must go further for it will appear that though the Kingdom is begun in Babylon yet it shall not stand in Babylon which is Confusion but it is clear that God will gather his people out of Babylon for divers Reasons The first is Because they are to be distinguished from other people in that God will appear in them in glory which cannot be here in Babylon in that the Saints here are as black as pots they are the off-scowring of all things they are vile in name and sore in affliction even as Christ when he was on earth but when he shall appear we shall appear with him in glory and certainly the whole earth shall be full of the salvation of the Lord his holy arm in delivering his people which cannot be until he shall gather us from amongst our enemies and so go before us himself Now another Reason is why God will gather his people from all places whither they have been led captive Because the Saints cannot sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb until the Lord hath given a full deliverance to his Church and brought them into the wildernesse spoken of in Hos. 2. 14. And sure the Lord hath denounced to bring utter destruction on Babylon which assuredly shall come to passe and the Lord can do nothing in this kinde until he have gathered his people out from amongst them Now the Scriptures to prove the gathering away of the Saints out of Babylon and the utter destruction that follows are Isai. the 13 14 50 51 and 52 Chap. Revel. 18. Now the Scriptures which do speak of the wildernesse that the Lord will gather his people into when they are delivered out of Babylon are likewise many in which wildernesse though there shall be nothing in sight in respect of spirituals and temporals yet the glory of Lebanon shall be brought into it and the fruitfulnesse of Carmel Now this wildernesse which is prophesied of that shall be a receptable to the Saints it was never yet accomplished in the letter and therefore we do verily expect to have it accomplished both in the letter and in a spiritual sense Now it is not needful for me to speak any thing concerning this wildernesse for the Scripture it self is so clear that he that runs may read it The Scriptures to prove are these Isai. 51. 1 2. Isa. 43. from vers. 4. to the 12. Isai. 35. thorowout Isa. 51. 3. Isa. 48. 20. Hos. 2. from vers. 14. to the end Rev. 12. Ezek. 34. Isai. 34. from vers. 20. to the end Now I had thought to close up this Discourse that concerns the wildernesse-condition which we do expect God will gather his Church into when he shall separate them from Babylon which is to be understood as well literally as spiritually But seeing it is so incredible a thing to the Saints I conceive they will have but little minde to compare the Scriptures which speak of such a condition And therefore since it is the will of God to call me forth to make it forth more clearly I do here gladly follow him In the first place you may take notice of three particular estates which shall befal
themselves I say That Babylon and Antichrist is over all States which govern by an Arbitrary power and over all Churches whether National or others and all Worshipâ— whether the Worship of the Heathens or Antichristian Worship that comprehends all which hath formerly been understood to be the Worship of the Papists but we have found it otherwise and not onely is Confusion and Errour in all false Worship but Babylon is in the purest Worship that is most agreeable to the letter of the Word because the Saints have no rule for what they practise in taking up the Ordinance never since the defection from the faith for though the Apostle speaks of a falling away yet he never speaks of the restauration of the Truth in the same form of Worship which at the first was given forth And so we must look for new discoveries such as have not been yet as the Prophet speaks The things that have not been shall be told you and the Apostle Peter speaking unto the Saints in general and in them he spake to us whom it doth more immediately concern even we which live in this age wherein the Prophecies are to be accomplished in a spiritual sense the Apostle Peter says 2 Pet. 1. the three lâ—st verses You have a more sure Word of prophecie to which you shall do well to give heed as unto a light shining in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts Now Babylon you see is not onely the Church of Rome which doth appearto all that are enlightned to be so because their Religion consists of so many particulars which is needlesse for me to recite being so well known to all but Babylon doth more mystically appear to be in this present State and Church of England I put them together because they are so involved that they make but one Beast which is the second Beast spoken Revel. 13. 11. which is distinct from the Beast that rose out of the Sea who had power given him over Kinreds Tongues and Nations But howsoever though that Beast that did rise out of the sea did rise first and so did act according to his power in the first place yet sure Babylon falls first in this glorious State and Church of England which may well be understood to be the feet and toes of the great Image spoken of Dan. 2. 34. which are different from the legs which are altogether of Iron which did shew the great strength of the Roman Monarchy But here it may be objected That this glorious Church and State of England hath appeared to be a golden cup in the Lords hand Jer. 51. 7. in respect of the Spiritual excellencies which have been seen in her and therefore how can it be compared to the feet and toes of the great Image which is the meanest part of the body To this I answer Though the feet and toes are the meanest part of the body yet it will appear that there are more excellencies in them then the head of gold for though the feet and toes be thus mixt part of Potters clay and part of Iron which shews that the Kingdom is partly weak and partly strong but though this part be not strong by reason of the mixture yet I say there is more excellency in this mixture then in the head of Gold for it is said of this State that they did mix themselves with the seed of men which is a great mystery And so though Babylon may be in all manner of Professions and all States who govern in an arbitrary way yet I may boldly say that Babylon concerning whose destruction the Prophets of old and John in the Revelation speak that spiritual Babylon as it is a State and Church and mystically Babylon in our gathered Churches and Antichrist rendered in a mystery in the Saints all which out of question is to be accomplished in this Island of Great Britain which by the learned is made evidently to appear to be the tenth part of the great City which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified Revel. 11. 13. that falls first Now if this can be proved as very probably it can that this State and National Church of England be Babylon then I pray take notice of that which the Lord speaks Jerem. 51. 49. that as Babylon caused the slain of Israel to fall so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth Not that all the earth shall be slain with a temporal sword but the earth is slain in a spiritual sense for natural Babylon did not slay Israel in the flesh for the Prophet Jeremiah and other of the Saints had good usage in Babylon And a slaughter to be slain in this sense as here it is spoken it is to be slain by following their wicked ways in being led in Errour and so slain by their sin And sure natural Babylon did never use such cruelty on the Saints as the Scripture speaks of onely on some which were not Saints but the enemies of God which did go contrary to his command in rebelling against the King of Babylon unto whom the Lord had given commandment by Jeremiah the Prophet that they should subject themselves unto his yoke And so whereas it is said that Babylon did cause the slain of Israel to fall it's Babylon in the Saints that is Confusion and Errour have slain the Saints in a spiritual sense as the Lord says concerning his people that they were slain by their iniquity as in Hos. 13. it is said that the iniquity of Ephraim is bound up and his sin is hid but when it did appear see what follows even the sorrows of a travelling woman and death it self Now this is Babylons causing the slain of Israel to fall So Babylon causeth the slain of Israel to fall by her false teachings as in Isai. 9. 13. Jerem. 51 5. and so forward again vers. 25 of the same Chapter which shews how Babel did destroy the people of God by their false teachings Again Babylon causeth the slain of Israel to fall by her cruel hatred and most deceitful usage and by her vile reproaches by which she slays the people of God with the sword of the heart and with the sword of the tongue concerning the nature of which is fully made forth in Psal. 11. So as Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth which is flesh in the Saints when the Lord hath judged with fire and the sword all flesh as in Isai. 9. 5. and 66. 16. Revel. 19. 10. Now though sinful flesh be slain in the Saints whilst they are in Babylon yet this is not done till we are slain by Babylon and so have attained unto a resurrection with Christ as in Isa. 26. 19 20 21. I pray take notice of this Scripture for it makes forth clearly that state of the Church which hath been or shall be slain by Babylon
and risen with Christ being secured in that chamber here spoken of in respect of the spiritual man in that there is no more sin nor hell nor death though hell and death remains in the flesh as yet insomuch that we have cause to cry out with the Apostle O wretched men that we are who shall deliver us from this body of death But now the Lord is come into his temple in many of the Saints though we have a being as yet in Babylon amongst the dens of lions and the mountains of the leopards but though the Lord is come into his temple even the Messenger of the Covenant in whom we delight yet it is said Mal. 3. 1 2 3. who can abide his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth what flesh can endure his presence Flesh must die when God appeareth in it So God sits in his temple to destroy sinful flesh in his Saints which is done even here whilst we have our being in this strange land amongst our cruel enemies But when the Lord hath accomplished his work on mount Sion which he will effect by the cruelty of the inhabitants of Caldea to the mortifying of the flesh in the Saints then the Lord will visit the proud heart of the King of Babel and gather all his from among the Heathen and so give rest unto his people and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon Now I shall sum up in brief the particulars of the fall of Babylon which is begun in some and shall be accomplished in all even in this Island of Great Britain In the first place Babylon is fallen in a very inconsiderable part of the Saints even in the least number but in a spritual sense it is fallen in the least number so when Babylon was thus fallen in them Light did appear in that they had brought forth a man-childe spoken of Rev. 12. 1 2. Isai. 9. and 66. which man-childe is understood in the first place to be onely the glorious manifestations of God in the flesh of that number of Saints in whom he doth appear Now when God doth thus appear in any then that dragon which of late hath made war in heaven Rev. 12. who did not prevail because Michael did withstand him I say when that dragon was cast to the earth even that glorious State which is now come to confusion and so he saw his power he did presently begin to persecute that part of the Church who did represent the woman which had brought forth a man childe but the woman had fled into the wildernesse where she is kept as is spoken of in the Scripture which wildernesse in a spiritual sense is onely that place of safety in which the spiritual man doth reside which is God himself who does manifest his presence most unto his Saints in their desolate and disconsolate condition and the Saints live more in God in the want of all help and comfort from the creature then in the enjoyment of all But though that part of the Church is secured in that place which is God in respect of the spiritual man yet as she is in the flesh she is in Babylon amongst her hateful enemies who have procured the greatest evil unto themselves in persecuting of the Saints In that the violences done unto us unto our flesh be on Babylon shall the inhabitants of Sion say not onely in that which God hath done already in the fall of this glorious State and Church which shall never be rebuilt again but our blood be on the inhabitants of Caldea shall Jerusalem say Now here we may see the fall of Babylon whose fall is first in an inconsiderable part of the Saints and when it is in any light doth appear and you know the Prince of darknesse hates the light so as they hate the light they persecute them in whom God doth appear and in persecuting them they dash themselves against the rocks and so are broken and sure the stone that is cut out of the mountain without hands shall fall on all the enemies of God and grinde them to powder even as Babylon is fallen in some of the Saints and fallen in the State and National Church of Great Britain which out of doubt is the great part of the tenth City spoken of Revel. 10. so Babylon shall fall in all gathered Churches and in all the Saints shortly and so not onely shall the stone break the feet of the great Image buâ— when the feet are broken then all falls with it the gold and silver which is the truth it self that is held forth in Babylon Howsoever truth shall return from the land of the enemy as Jerem. 31. and the fire shall try every man his work and we know that gold and silver shall abide the trying and refining and so truth shall be tried and appear to be truth the Saints themselves shall be tried and appear to be Saints so in this fall and refining the Truth loseth nothing but its drosse and the Saints nothing but their corruption and when this is done the whole body shall go out of Babylon and flâ—e out of the land of the Caldeans with a voice of singing Isa. 48 20 21. When we shall trust God in a wildernesse-condition in respect of temporals having so good experience of his supplying us in spirituals so assuredly as God hath already and will gather all his out of Babylon spiritually in respect of Errour so likewise he will gather all his from all places whither they have been led captive as well as out of this Land which doth more evidently appear to be spiritual Babylon then any other place which gathering shall be out of doubt a local separation The Scriptures to prove are as followeth Isai. the 8 9 13 14 25 26 27 34 35 43 52 and 66 Chapters Jerem. the 30 31 50 and 51 Chapters Ezek. the 37 and 39 Chapters Hosea the 5 6 and 13 Chapters Malaâ—h the 13. and Revel. 18. Compare these Scriptures which shew the great tribulation which shall befal the Church of God immediately before her deliverance out of Babylon in respect of Darknesse and Errour and her deliverance likewise temporally from the bondage of the creature the hateful enemies of God and so the Church shall be secured in that chamber spoken of in Isai. 26 and the wildernesse Revel. 12. as well in a temporal sense as in a spiritual which is a place of safety as we may understand it in the letter which God will provide as a resting-place for the Saints which I say is an undoubted truth in respect of the judgements of God which are coming on the earth an utter destruction of the wicked by Sword Pestilence and Famine which is one of the main motives which God doth use to perswade his people to depart out of Babylon Jerem. the 50 and the 51 Chap. Rev. 18. Unto this it may be objected If this were a truth that you speak concerning the gathering away of the Saints surely God
would not hide it from his chosen ones and certainly God would not suffer them to act as they do as to endeavour to build up the State that is fallen and shall the Saints build Babel sure this is a very preposterous thing and certainly this is not a truth hold Answer That the Saints shall endeavour with all their might to heal Babel according to the appointment of God as in Jerem. 51. 8 9. where it is said Babylon is suddenly fallen howl for Babylon take balm for her pain if so be she may be healed And when the Saints have endavoured what they can to heal her then they take up this sad expression We would have healed Babel but she is not healed let us leave her and depart every one to his own Country for her judgement reacheth unto heaven and is lifted up to the skies Now I shall give an Answer to some Questions and some Objections and so close up The first Question How it can be said that when the Saints depart out of the land of their nativity they go unto their own Country if it be to be understood of a local separation Unto this I answer The Land of our nativity is not their own Country to the Saints if in such a place they are in bondage for how was the land of Egypt the own Country to the children of Israel though it was the land of their nativity and so was Babylon to many of the people of God but the land of Canaan was the place of their rest and so God hath prepared a wildernesse for the Saints to depart into when he shall gather them from the land of their Captivity not a wildernesse where there is want of all things but where there shall be abundance both of spiritual and temporal enjoyments as can be proved by the Scriptures before quoted which is an undoubted truth as well in a literal sense as spiritual I say it may appear to be a wildernesse for the present to the carnal sense but it shall not be so long for the Scripture doth prefix a time Rev. 12. a time and half a time that is three yeers and a half and then when that time is accomplished as in Isai. 31. the solitary places and the wildernesse shall rejoyce for them and the desarts shall blossome like a rose The second Question What is the reason if God will gather his people out of their land he doth so hide it from the generality of the Saints for there is not one amongst a thousand of your judgement Unto this I answer that the Lord doth thus hide it from his Saints for divers Reasons First Because he will have them endeavour vi armis id est by force and might to heal Babel which if it were made known unto them that all their labour were in vain they would not trouble themselves any further but God will have it so because he will render his Saints a righteous people unto the whole world and that they shall acknowledge shortly when as they shall say in the words following The Lord hath brought forth our righteousnesse let us declare in Sion the works of the Lord our God The second Reason why it is thus hidden Because if it were revealed the people of God would be so impatient under these sufferings that they would make too much haste and be gone before that God have finished his work on mount Sion which he hath appointed for Babylon to do in the cruel using of the Saints unto the mortifying of the flesh in them And the onely and true reason that God doth reveal it to so few is because there is no considerable part of the Church in a capacity to apprehend such a mercy as to have a deliverance out of such bondage as we are in to whom the Lord is pleased to reveal these things unto our great consolation in the time of our greatest dolour and extremity Now I shall answer to some Objections First of all it may be objected How can it be made appear that there is more excellency in the feet and toes of the great Image then in the head of gold Unto this I answer that there is in divers particulars as it is held forth in the letter As first There is more excellency in the feet and toes then in the head of gold because the feet and toes which were partly of potters clay and partly of iron have mixt themselves with the seed of men and so upon this account the seed of men is more precious then the golden wedge of Ophir for none will deny but that the body of the meanest man in the world is more worth then raiment and so of gold and whatsoever we look on as excellent Now this is clear in the letter In a spiritual sense the feet and toes of the great Image is more excellent because they have mixed themselves with the seed of men Now the seed of men in this nature is the Saints Unto this it may be objected How can that be for the Saints are but men as others as it is spoken of Elias and Moses and all the faithful and so they have their infirmities as the Scriptures speak Unto this I answer It is true that the Saints are men and subject to infirmities none will deny but the Kings daughter is all glorious within the Saints do not appear to the world as yet but when the Witnesses Rev. 11. shall ascend in a cloud into heaven then the enemies shall behold them and then the Saints shall appear as they are unto the confusion of their enemies which shall be very shortly Now it may be objected If it be so as you say that the seed of men which are mixed in the State is the Saints as you call them yet sure they have done no good And are they not over-voted and accounted as the worst of men because they will not joyn with the rest of the body insomuch that they are the means to bring all to confusion which if they had held together it would have been otherwise It is true that though the State have mixt themselves with the seed of men thinking thereby to joyn themselves to the Iron which is the Monarchical power yet it cannot be so for iron and clay will not hold together insomuch that the stone that was cut out of the mountain hath but smote the Image upon his feet and hath broken them already Now here may arise a Question How it can be proved that there can be more in the seed of men then in the head of gold for if the seed of men be the Saints in a spiritual sense then the head of gold must needs be understood to be the Truth and so I say How can it be made appear that there is more excellency in the Saints who are but men then in that whereby they are sanctified for Christ prays the Father that he would sanctifie his by the Word and the Word says
so after that the glorious state of the Church follows Others likewise do conceive that the Jews shall be converted to the Faith before the end And so concerning the glorious state of the Church most conceive it in a spiritual sense yet some do not deny but that there shall be a temporal power which shall go forth from the Saints as in Revel. 2. 16 17. and Psal. 2. which is the Kingdom of the Saints that is begun even here in Babylon amongst their implacable enemies as Mic. 4. from vers. 8. unto the end Dan. 2. 41. Now I shall not undertake to confute any of these particulars by force of Argument but I shall shew how far I can joyn with them and where I differ Now in the first place Whereas the Saints do expect a dissolution of all things at the last day when the Son of man shall come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory and all the Saints with him in like manner who shall be gathered together by the sound of a trumpet as in 1 Cor. 15. and 1 Thess. 4 and 5 Chap. concerning which time the Scriptures are as follow Isai. 2. towards the end Isa. 13. Isa. 51. 6. Isa. 66. Psal. 50. Revel 6. 13. unto the end Reveâ— 20. all which Scriptures and many more speak of the day of Judgement and unto this I will assent in that I do verily believe that the glorious state of the Church shall not be until all these things be fulfilled which are spoken in these Scriptures as our Saviour saith Heaven and earth shall passe away but my word shall not passe away for that cannot be shaken because it is the foundation of the new heaven and the new earth as Isa. 51. 16. which is not to be understood of the written Word for that shall passe away when all things are fulfilled Now that Word of God which continues for ever is God himself as Joh. 1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and that Word was God so that as God was from all eternity so this Word of God continues to all eternity and sure this Word begins to be manifested in the Saints 1 Joh. 4. though it hath been a long time hidden Howsoever though I do joyn in this that the glorious state of the Church shall not be till these visible things are passed away yet I differ from them in the matter which shall passe away and in the manner how it shall passe away and by what means it shall passe away Now that matter which shall passe away is generally conceived to be this visible heaven and earth at the last day and by what means by fire and in what manner it is made forth at large 2 Pet. 3. where it is said that the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night wherein the heavens shall passe away with a great noise and the element shall melt with fervent heat and the earth with the works therein shall be burnt up Now I say I do differ in all these particulars in some sense for I differ First in the matter which shall passe away for I do not conceive that these visible heavens shall be dissolved and so consequently of that which follows Unto this some may reply Doth not the Apostle Peter speak plainly that the heavens and earth are reserved to fire against the day of judgement and perdition of wicked and ungodly men To this I answer If you do observe the Apostle Peter in the words foregoing you shall finde that he makes distinction between the world that perished by water and the heavens and earth which now are which are said to be reserved to fire whereas this visible heaven and earth as it is understood in the letter to be the firmament and the earth that we live in as it was distinguished in the Creation it is the same as it was from the beginning as the mockers say vers. 4. Now whereas the Apostle makes this distinction between the heaven and earth which was before the flood and the heaven and earth that now is whereas it is the same in the letter none will deny I say from this distinction of the Apostle in this Scripture and many other Scriptures which joyn in this I do conclude that these Scriptures which we have formerly conceived to concern the dissolution of this visible heaven and earth do onely concern the passing away of the Ordinances which is that heaven wherein God hath appeared gloriously unto the unspeakable consolation of the Saints and this earth here spoken of is the best part of man as his natural wisdom and humane learning and gifts not onely common gifts but spiritual gifts whereby they are enabled to speak unto edification which may be comprehended under the same notion for the Apostle speaks as if the wicked may have the common gifts of the Spirit Now those gifts that the Saints have been carried forth in of late do evidently appear to be that element which melts with servent heat But here you may observe that though heaven in our sense is thus on fire 2 Pet. 3. 12. yet it is but dissolved and the element is but melted onely here is a difference between heaven and the element for heaven onely ceaseth to be in that manner as it was in grosse yet there is no alteration in the nature of it as when we say the Parliament is dissolved the men continue the same onely it ceaseth to be a body Politick and likewise our precious Cordials as Bezer are not effectual to our good untill they be dissolved into some liquid matter so God who is our heaven in the Ordinance for there can be no heaven without him And so when God which is our heaven shall be thus dissolved and cease being covered with a vail then this vail shall vanish away like smoke which vail is the Ordinance and heaven being dissolved the Saints are in a capacity to contain this heaven in the flesh and surely God who is our heaven shall appear in the flesh of all his Saints shortly in his glorious manifestations for as the Apostle Peter saith We according to his promise look for a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse which is not a heaven without us as before in the Ordinances and the teachings of men but it is a heaven within us even God manifested in the flesh of his Saints as in the humanity of Christ Now the Saints stand in the same relation to God as our elder brother Christ whilst they are in the state of imperfection as John saith We are the sons of God but it doth not appear what we shall be but when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is and then are the sons of God manifest Now we see that we are no losers though our heaven being on fire hath been dissolved for now we have our heaven within us that cannot
be shaken but our heaven without us hath been shaken which is the Ordinance and hath likewise been taken away for when God withdraws and doth not appear in it then all is gone But howsoever here is matter of unspeakable comfort to the Saints even at this time wherein the powers of heaven are shaken and shall likewise vanish away because that which remains cannot be shaken though it be dissolved ceasing to appear in that manner as formerly as covered with a vail but now we shall see face to face Now having spoken at large concerning the heavens being on fire which is dissolved to some and shall be dissolved to all when the Saints shall see God as he is because the Ordinance which is that vail that hath hid the glory of God from us whilst we live so lowe in the earth is taken away because we could not see God and live except he had been so covered but when this vail shall vanish away like smoke Isa. 51. and be rolled together like a scroll Revel. 6. 14. and every mountain and hill shall be removed out of his place and heaven shall be shaken and the earth shall be removed out of his place in the wrath of the Lord Isa. 13. 13 14. Heb. 12 God saith that once more I will not shake earth onely but also heaven Now this once more signifies the removing of those things which are shaken that the things which cannot be shaken may remain And our Saviour saith Heaven and earth shall passe away but my word shall not passe away which is God himself Now that which vanisheth and passeth away and is shaken and taken away as in these Scriptures here quoted heaven which is here spoken of is the Ordinances which shall passe away when God appeareth in his glorious manifestations when he comes into his Temple Mal. 3. 1 c. But it is said Who can abid his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth Heaven passeth away now with a great noise there is great trouble in the Saints when this shall be Now heaven which is the Word of God in distinction to that heaven which passeth away with a great noise v. 10. though this heaven which is the word of God shall be dissolved it remains the same in nature though not in such a grosse substance Now when it is thus dissolved there is more spiritual efficacy in it then before in that this Word shall become flesh as is spoken of Christ 1 Joh. 1. And so as the Word of God did become flesh in Christ our elder brother so this Word shall become flesh in all the Saints when God shall be manifested in their flesh and they likewise shall be declared mightily to be the sons of God by the Resurrection from the dead not the Resurrection of the body natural which we do not expect in that manner as formerly we conceived but the resurrection from the dead in a spiritual sense Now concerning the resurrection of the bodies of the Saints which is expected after their natural death it is to me a mystry as yet and so I conceive it is to most of the Saints As for that resurrection which is held forth commonly in the Scripture it is in part made known unto me 〈◊〉 to be dead with Christ and so to be risen with him Now to be dead with Christ the Apostle saith is to be dead unto the Ordinances and all vails and shadows and to be risen with him is to live in God in seeing eye to eye when God shall bring again Sion Isai. 52. And so that resurrection which we do expect is not the resurrection after death but a resurrection in a spiritual sense whilst we are in the flesh before the state of glory and it is a resurrection out of a spiritual defection which we have been brought into being slain by our iniquity as Hos. 13. where God saith O Ephraim thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help Onely here is a difference in the cause of the death of Christ and the cause of this death in the Saints in a spiritual sense Now the cause of the death of Christ was the sin of mankinde as the Scripture speaketh but the Saints are slain by their own sin Now here will arise a Question How can it be said that the Saints are slain by their iniquities seeing Christ hath satisfied for the sins of the whole world Answ. It is true the satisfaction which was in Christ it was a sufficient ransome for in that the whole Creation is redeemed from the curse of the â—aw and if all did believe all should have benefit by this redemption for it is evident that none are damned but for the sin of unbelief as the Scripture declares in divers places So howsoever though there be such a sufficient ransome yet none have benefit by it but those who do believe and unto them the guilt and malediction of sin is taken away but though the guilt and malediction of sin be taken away by this redemption and so the Saints cannot be slain by their iniquity in respect of the spiritual man yet they are slain in their own apprehension when they are bereft of all joy and comfort in the spirit in that God hath withdrawn himself from them And here it may be said they are put to death with Christ in that they are conformable to his sufferings in respect of the spiritual desertion that Christ was in who in the days of his flesh did pour out strong prayers with crying and tears as in the Hebrews and so likewise the Saints are to be conformable to Christ their Head in being slain by the cruel hatred of the wicked in respect of reproach c. And so the Saints may be said to be slain with Christ when they are slain by their iniquities as in the first Chapter of Hosea When Ephraim saw his sicknesse and Judah his wound then went Ephraim to the Assyrian and sent to king Jareb yet could be not heal nor cure him of his wound for saith God I will be unto Ephraim as a lion and as a young lion to the house of Israel I will tear and go away I will take away and none shall rescue And then God returns to his place until they do acknowledge their offences in their afflictions they will seek him early And so the resurrection of Christ follows in the sixth Chapter where those which are thus slain in a spiritual sense take unto themselves these words and say Come let us return unto the Lord for he hath wounded and he will heal after two days he will revive us and the third day we shall live in his sight So in Hos. 13 it is said that Ephraim had destroyed himself as we may see in the words following in that death follows for it is said that Ephraim was an unwise son for he should not have stood still in the breaking forth of children but he doth stand still and in