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
3.21 for we cannot ascribe enough to that soul astonishing wonder of Gods so free and gracious giving his only Son so to dye for such sinners to reconcile them to himself yea God was in Christ so reconciling them as saith the Apostle to himself nor of Christs Love and Compassion so to reconcile them to God the Father by his own blood-shedding all which were also carried on by the powerful and glorious operation of the Lord the Spirit both for Christ at first overshaddowing the blessed Virgin at his holy Conception and having by the eternal spirit offered himself to God without spot Heb. 9.24 at last by his Resurrection declaring him with power by the Spirit of Sanctification to be the Son of Gâ—d Rom. 1.4 and by his working in his Saints at all times which said work of Reconciliation was to be the sure and necessary foundation of all the following parts of the said General Work of Redemption from Mans Fall to the end taken in the greatest extent as it was Gods said eternal Design by Christ so to carry on the said Work in the said time which we shall here endeavour to set before the eyes and understandings of all such serious Christians for their exceeding great Consolation and satisfaction if duly pondered and improved which will farther appear as we said by the said eternal Decrees Covenants and Prophesies in the Old Testament and the Witnessings of Christ and his Apostles in the New but all most strongly determined by Christs own most Divine Revelation But because the first 6000 years appear to be also appointed by him for the carrying on of his Designe for that state in the seventh Millennium and therefore to run parallel with the said decreed great work of the Redemption of the World viz. both of Men and Creatures as we said we shall upon this third Particular respecting Christs carrying it on in the fix first Millenniums to the seventh consider what proof and evidence we find from the word of God for the same which may double the strength of the said farther remaining Proofs which we are to proceed to speak of therefore we shall first manifest the reality thereof from Scripture warrant before we proceed to the other proofs thereof which will include much also of the condition of that said state from first to last first the Holy Ghost excellently expoundeth them by his resembling of them to the six dayes of Creation before God rested the seventh day and to the Type of the Israelites rest in Canaan under Joshua's conduct signifying thereby that after 6000 years should be Christs Sabbatisme of rest from such his great work of Redemption as the spirit of God explains both Heb. 3 and 4 ch which our Saviour likewise confirmeth by his most sure Revelation interpretation thereof and none like it And 2dly this is also done by God's Spirit comparing 1000 years to one day as first from Psal 90. where 1000 years with God are said to be as yesterday which the Apostle Peter 2 Epist 3.8 sets forth with great Emphasis and declares it to be a great point which he would not have Christians ignorant of that one day with the Lord Christ whose coming he there speaks of is as 1000 years and he puts it both wayes saying and 1000 years as one day viz. in reference to his said coming to be at the end of the sixth Millennium and our Saviour also most exactly determineth that Sabbatisme of the seventh Millennium accordingly by 1000 years six times over Rev. 20.2 3 4 5 6 7. of which more afterwards c. 3. Christs carrying on that said work of Redemption for his Universal True Church as that work which his Father gave him to do in that respect in his execution of his three great Offices in the time of his Mediatorship in the World which was first in his eminent Prophetical Office in â—000 years to his first coming and secondly in his eminent Priestly Office in the New Testament in the next 2000 years before the period of his eminent Kingly Office for his said Universal true Church will begin in that following state in that world to come as is largely proved in our Treatise on Gen. 3.15 4. This also may appear from that frequent Promise of Gods shewing mercy to 1000 Generations that is for the 7000 years of the worlds continuance as we reckon in the middle state of things three lives to be 21 years as in page 6 and 7 of our Key is explained 5. From Scripture Chronologie first of Moses his 2400 years and more revealed to him for time past with what was in Joshua Judges Kings and Chronicles which Bishop Vsher that very good man and great Antiquary computes at Solomons Temple built 3000 years and at the Jews Captivity at Babylon about An. Mund 3450 years as Daniels Divine great Calender ch 8. of 2300 years of their Bondage under the four Gentile Monarchies declares as we shall farther by Divine Assistance manifest Which with Christs 1000 years Rev. 20. make up 6750 years besides the little space of Satans loosing not said what it will be To like purpose is the concinnitie of Bucolcerus in our Table of Chronology in the beginning of our Irenicon of his 50 Jubelies to Israels coming out of Aegypt and to Babylons Captivity 70 Jubelies which is 3550 years unto which part of Daniels 2300 years 'till Christ is to be added and from thence he speaketh as aptly saying The seven Seals and the seven Trumpets out of the seventh Seal and the seventh Vial falling under the seventh Trumpet brings us to the seventh Millinary or great Sabbatisme of the Saints rest with Christ as it is called Heb. 4.9 And as God eternally appointed Christ as after may be shewed in that state to be Heir of all thing Heb. 1.1 2 3. upon his carrying on his three great Works in the world in the 6000 years foregoing for they also pass through the 6000 to the 7th wherein he with his Saints shall enjoy the same as we shall shew the first is his making the Worlds that is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or his Providencial Management of the several states of things 1. in the Old World 2. in this present evil World and 3dly in the world to come Eph. 1.20 Heb. 2.5 the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an habitable world to come For as for Christs creating Heaven and Earth at first out of nothing spoken of v. 10 11 12. that was his Transient act but this his making the worlds as he carries on his said work of Redemption through all the said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against the God of this present evil world and the Children of it both said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this world as the Scripture decyphers them many times as 2 Cor. 4.4 and Luke 16.8 such his making of them is his immanent and so long continued act so providentially disposing what is past and will do so for
what remains to be done with the Father and by the operation of the Holy Spirit and so 2dly for his upholding of all things by the word of his power c. verse 3. through all those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or several states of thing and 3dly by purging the sins of his Elect 1. by his word and will revealed 2 by his blood shed or to be shed and 3dly by his Spirit given through all the said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Worlds until from his Personal second coming to the Judgment of the great day he perfects the said work of Redemption and by his carrying on of these 3 things in the first 6000 years and that so his three fold most Just Title and Right may then manifestly arise of his inheriting all things vers 2 3. which sâ—ith he his Saints shall also then inherit with him Rev. 21.7 But here some may object that the sixth Millen will so want above 200 years c. Answ 1. Christ tells us of shortning evil times for the Elects sake he may mean it of these c. 2. The sixth Millen in that respect seems more like the sixth day in the Creation at the end of which most probably the Serpent Satan tempted Eve she seduced Adam and God in the cool of the day Summons Arrains and Sentenceth all the three said Offenders and cast Adam and Eve out of Paradise all which would require some considerable time and we know not but that he hath designed the little space of Satans loosing to make it up being a bad state of things with them who shall act in that wicked attempt which yet will not reach the Saints but only make Christ a little work to perfect his said Redemption then by destroying the Devil and wicked men at once when he lastly delivers his Saints in the world as in our six Conclusions is shewed page 17 18. of Restitut also a Germane Doctor gives an account of much more than 200 years lost in several Computations which he mentions and so the 6000 years should be much past but we insist not upon that only acknowleding God is Sovereign Lord of all times and actings in them and for such particularities we may not be curious where he hath not revealed but we see the Parallel of the sixth day and sixth thousand year from Gods one is considerable and as was shewed we have Gods Spirits Guidance thereto and Christs Explication thereof before the little space we mentioned and by all which it may appear there is Scripture ground for Gods Millenniari me for the first 6000 years as well as for Christs on the seventh c. besides God appointed Christ to be then Heir of all things so the order manner means with the times for the same and those times arev ery punctually exactly set forth by Christ himself We shall now proceed to the further most irresistable evidence of the said neer approaching time and state 1. From Gods eternal Decree manifested by his word in four particulars all to take place in the same time and state all which are also Divinely Gloriously and Graciously resolved ultimately that none may dare to contradict under a terrible Penalty Rev. 22.18 19. by Christ in his Book of Revelation to belong to the same The first is his eternal Decree of appointing Christ then to be Heir of all things Heb. 1.1 2 3. from his 3 fold said right which we but now mentioned when the world to come or last state of things in it shall take place of which more if God will in the instance of the Epistle to the Hebrews when the Revelation also declares Christ shall have the Sovereignty and Dominion of the world given to him as Dan. 7.13 14. Rev. 20. and all things shall be made new for him and his Saints ch 21.5 to become a fit Inheritance for him and them as he promiseth as was said Rev. 21.7 for which purpose when St. James speaks of raising up Davids Tabernacle the Spirit of God directs him to set down that great Truth foreknown to God are all his works from the Foundation of the world as if he would thereby shew that the said raising of the Tabernacle of David was a matter foreknown to God from Eteraity Acts 15.17 when Christ will arise and judge the Earth that he may as the Psalmist speaketh inherit all Nations Psal 82. ult 2. Gods Word witnesseth that God made an eternal Covenant with Christ to give to him all his Elect in the said times to be redeemed by him until he receive his Inheritance and when the Heathen shall be given him for his Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for his possession Psal 2. And so he declares Esa 62.6 that he will give them for a Covenant of the people which the Sep. very appositely and fitly renders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of my Generation not of Bloods or the will of the flesh or the will of Man but born of God as John 1.13 and born of the Spirit John 3.5 6. and of this Covenant the Holy Ghost gives an excellent explication Isa 59 ult As for me this my Covenant with them saith the Lord my spirit which is upon thee Christ and my words which I have put in thy mouth which includes all his Ordinances grounded upon his Word nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed and again he adds saith the Lord for this Scipture is full of Emphasis from henceforth even for ever I do here only briefly touch upon these great things referring what remains to future Discourses if God will and all those so Heaven-born Creatures given by Covenant to Christ from Eternity the Apostle Rom. 8.17 declares where also he speaks of other matters respecting that state of the 1000 years verse 19 20 21 c. that they shall be Heirs and joynt Heirs with Christ and they are also so explained to be the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven called there The Bride the Lambs Wife Rev. 21.2 9. which will be the Spirits of just men made perfect which before that time were in the Jerusalem above Gal. 4. but then coming with Christ at his appearance and Kingdome are called the Bride the Lambs Wife at the Saints first bodily Resurrection Rev. 20.4 5. when as our Saviour prayed John 17.23 they will be then made perfect in one and behold his glory c. verse 24. 3. Gods word witnesseth that God by his said Eternal Decree appointed the Creation of the World for Christ and his said Saints to be possessed by them in the said seventh Millennium for although he made Angels and Men at first in the perfection of their Natures yet he was not then pleased to eâ—gage his Almighty Arm to uphold them in that state wherefore foreseeing they would fall he carries on thereupon his everlastitg designe through Christ for his Saints to his own greatest Glory
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