likewise his Deputy King in Jesurun and so all along in the Wilderness Moses was King and Prophet and Aaron and his Sons Priests So after that when they were to pass over Jordan to enter into the promised Land Joshua is then made Captain to fight Christs Battels under that great King that appeared to him Joshua 5. the Priests carrying the Ark dry-shod through the then overflowing waters of Jordan and Joshua again as a Prophet reveals the pleasure of God unto them not onely in civil affairs as to dividing the iâ—â—eritances but also in spiritual admonitions and instructions upon many occasions c. Again many times in the Judges days when Moses and Joshua's counsels were forgot and their predictions concerning that peoples revoltings were fulfilled yet even then Christ who was from the beginning the powerful great King of his Church ruled many times amongst them and their enemies too apparently as the Scriptures witness even then likewise he raised up his Deputies called Judges as Gedeon Jeptha Deborah Barack Sampson and others again to restore his instituted worship and Priesthood and be deliverers to his revolted and oppressed people as occasion did require instructing them by his prophetical spirit therein But from the beginning of Davids time as we noted these three great Offices were more remarkably and eminently set forth especially while things continued in any tolerable order in the good Kings raigns that followed wherein the glory of Christ the Mediator in his three said Offices as Prophet Priest and King was still set forth in their following times to shew that therein consisted the glory of Christs Mediatorship as much more might be observed in this kind Rev. Chap. 5. The further illustration of the former Doctrine from Rev. 5. chapter where after the summary consideration of that Chapter is briefly hinted the Doctrine of the New Testament therein comprized which first was set down largely before the giving of the Revelation in the writings of the Evangelists and Apostles But secondly there more especially is Christs the Lambs Revelation and execution of the affairs of that book but so as to erect his Kingdom in the issue for which they so exuit vers 10. and we shall reign upon earth wherein the representative Church doth so eminently rejoyce v. 11. and the four living Wights add their fiduciall Amen after the praise of all creatures and the twenty four Elders fall down and worship v. 14. PRoceed we now to the fifth Chapter the Scene and the Chorus being so excellently set in the former Chapter as respecting God the Creatour worshipped on the seventh day Sabbath especially to glorifie him for his great and good work of Creation who as three in persons one in essence Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty so worshipped in the Old Testament untill the coming of Christ the Redeemer who having finished the work of Redemption as the Lord of the Sabbath changed it from the seventh to the first day of the week who in this fifth chapter is said to be a Lamb that was as it were slain who is therefore praised by men Angels and all creatures with him on the Throne for that most glorious work of Redemption and acknowledged in the great benefits that redounded to his Church thereby Where again consider First The Vision with the effect of it Secondly The Doctrine and Use of both 1. By Men. 2. By Angels 3. By all creatures The Vision for the greatest part is the same in substance the decyphering of the Father the Holy Spirit and the Church the same but God the Son who is represented as a Lamb that had been as it were slain whose glorious work of Redemption and Grace towards his true Church is the substance and drift of the Vision wherefore he is accordingly praised First Consider the Vision v. 1. to 8. and the effect on the four beasts v. 8. In Verse 1. A book was in the hand of him on the Throne In Ver. 2 3. A proclamation by a strong Angel for one to open the book Verse 3. None was found worthy in heaven or earth Verse 4. Is the great discouragement of St. John thereupon he wept much as without hope c. In Verse 5. One of the Elders comforts St. John that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah the root of David had prevailed to do it In Verse 9. The former description of the true Church but with the Lamb in the midst of it Who is set forth first by his suffering he was slain Secondly By his victory 〈…〉 killed death and was thence but as it were slain and consequently by his dominion over all things in heaven and earth therefore set forth by seven horns denoting his perfect power Secondly by seven eyes denoting his perfect wisdom and providence in all the earth where by his holy Spirit he worketh as he pleaseth In Verse 7. The Lamb as was told St. John vers 5. takes the book out of the hand of him that sate upon the Throne whereupon follow the effects of the Vision in the Church First Worship by the Beast and Elders v. 8. Secondly Praise by a song Where I. The nature of it A new song for new Testament mercies II. The matter of it Thou art worthy v. 9 10. In the matter of the new song consider 1. An acknowledgement that the Lamb and onely he was worthy to take the book and open the seals thereof 2. The reason of the acknowledgement First from the greatness and extremity of his suffering thou wast slain Secondly By the efficacy and prevalency of his suffering Thou hast redeemed us unto God Where 1. The price by thy blood 2. The extent Out of every Nation Kindred and Language And thirdly the benefit redounding to the Church by such redemption vers 10. Thou hast made us to our God c. and we shall reign Where 1. Here is what all the faithful in the true Church spiritually here obtain They are made Kings and Priests unto God now in this life 2. For advantage and advancement which they shall have in that place where they have served Christ or suffered for his name there they shall reign with him We shall reign upon earth In Verse 11. A Vision of innumerable company of Angels about the Throne the Church In Verse 12. Their song of praise where first the Object i.e. the Lamb whose worthiness they likewise acknowledge for being slain Secondly The right and due belonging to him thereupon viz. That he receive power and riches and wisdom and strength In Verse 13. is the general concurrence of all creatures 1. In Heaven 2. In earth 3. Under the earth In the like acknowledgement and praise to be 1. To him that sits upon the Throne 2. To the Lamb for ever and ever In Verse 14. First The fiducial Amen of the four living Wights Secondly The assent and consent of the twenty four elders manifested 1. By their falling down 2. By worshipping him that lives for ever
powerful wonderful gracious and glorious to his Church upon earth as her great Prophet Priest and King Eleventhly Christs execution of the said three great Offices is two ways to be considered 1. More generaly for his universal Church in respect of the several seasons wherein in order he was to execute them severally most eminently until his work of Mediatorship should perfectly be accomplished and full reconciliation made between God and all his elect people his mystical body the true Church being compleat in all the members of it and perfect union and communion attained with himself as their mystical head together with the Father and the Holy Spirit as also with the glorious Angels and one with another in most happy enjoyment of all good to all eternity 2. It is again considerable particularly and specially in respect of every truely beleiving soul in the particular application of the efficacy of those three great Offices to them by his holy Spirit making good means and ordinances effiâ—acious to every faithful soul so exhibiting himself to them 1. As their great Prophet inwardly powerfully and savingly teaching them all necessary truth and doctrine 2. As their great High-Priest in the like way evidencing their peace and reconciliation with God through that expiation he should or hath made for their sins 3. In the like-way also to evidence to them at one time or other that he is their powerful King and Protector that hath and doth and will subdue all his and their enemies and keep them in a loyal and good condition by Faith and Grace unto salvation Twelfthly Consider that the general more eminent and glorious execution of those three great offices for his universal Church more remarkeable in the world is in those three great periods of his manifesting himself in the world according to all that his father had given him to do 1. As the great Prophet of his Church by his spirit of wisdom and revelation in all his immediate Messengers till his coming in the flesh and so Christ is said to preach in the time of Noah to the Spirits in prison as St. Peter speaketh 1 Pet. 3.19 20. 2. As the great High-Priest in the second Period after his coming in the flesh where putting an end to all the types and shadows of his Priesthood he actually undertook in his person and executed the work and office of Priesthood as the great High-Priest having made a full and perfect attonement and satisfaction for the sins of all his people he ascended into the holy of holies the highest Heavens there sitting at the right hand of God the Father powerfully and gloriously there to execute and improve that office by making intercession for his people till his coming again 3. In the third great period of the world under or after the seventh Trumpet Christ will appear most eminently in executing the great office of a King in this general confideration in respect of his universal Church subduing wonderfully and manifestly in the world his own and his Churches enemies powerfully and graciously enabling his Saints to walk in the obedience of his laws taking away in a great degree the evil of sin and suffering with the causes of both by binding Satan and destroying the wicked powers of the world c. I say in a great degree though not then totally nor finally Lastly Consider how Christ hath and doth and will work in these three great Periods of the world In the first he wrought by his Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation making known the Will of the Father in all things for substance respecting Faith and Obedience In the second by his Spirit of grace and truth powerfully sanctifying his people more eminently and largely then in the former In the last when he will take to himself his Kingly power Rev. 11.15 and 19. He will work by his Spirit of Power and Domination Now from the former Theses duly weighed and considered these particulars ensuing or the like may be inferred viz. That 1. If the design of the Trin-Une Diety was to be eminently glorified in Christ the Mediator his three great Offices of being the great Prophet Priest and King of his universal true Church then that greatest glory must needs shine forth in the most eminent way of executing of them But the general performance thereof in the said three great periods is the most eminent way of executing them Therefore That design hath and will be therein most accomplished 2. If the drift and end of the great works of Creation Support and Providence in all things ever since time was and until time shall cease to be was in reference unto Gods glorifying of himself in such general management of these Offices of Christ for his universal true Church then in that respect he is most glorified But their drift and end is so in reference thereunto Therefore God is most glorified in such management of them 3. If such general execution of them in reference to the universal true Church be the foundation and securing thereof to particular beleiving souls or secondly in respect of any more special times or special conditions of the Church as will hereafter appear then all the good of the other is procured and secured by that general execution of them But such Christs general execution of these Offices it he soundation and securing of both the other Therefore The good of both the other is secured and procured thereby 4. If the great works of Creation Support and Providence have been all along ordered in reference to Chrifts carrying on of his great work of Mediatorship cheifly in those three great periods forenamed then such consideration of them is of great concernment to the true universal Church But all those said great works have been ordered all along in reserence to Christs carrying on his great work of Mediatorship therein Therefore Such consideration of these three great periods fore-named for the general managing of all the Mediators Offices is of great concernment to the true Universal Church 5. If such Christs general prophetical Office in the first great period hath revealed the substance of the whole counsel of God in respect of all to be done successively in such Priestly and Kingly Offices so generally considered in the other two succeeding great periods it shall so be done But it hath so revealed and in a great part hath been so fulfilled accordingly by suitable dispensations at all times hitherto Therefore What is so revealed for the future shall accordingly be fulfilled also 6. If according to Scripture experience hath manifested the glory of the Mediators office most eminently for what is past in such general consideration and doth witness the like for the time to come then in due time will be like execution for the general in regard of what remains to be done But according to Scripture it hath been so accomplished in experience in what is past Therefore According to Scripture it shall be so in the time to
1. In their falling down shewing their humble subjection 2. In their worship their sincere affection to the glorious object Him that lives for ever So that in this Cap. there is an excellent testimony of Jesus set forth by the spirit of Prophesie being the main substance and scope of New Testament Doctrine as in the Gospels are excellently set forth whereunto the Lamb as it were slain hath reference being eternally slain in the Fathers decree but then actually slain in due time and yet alive again and was but as it had been slain being the All-sufficient Mediator that had conquered Sin Death and Hell and had perfect power and providence over all the earth but by his Divine Spirit holily and wisely ordering all for the good of his universal true invisible Church and so according to his glorious excellency hath thence forward both the said Testimony and Spirit of Prophesie and power to reveal and execute all the holy pleasure of his Father in what remaineth to be accomplished upon the earth to the end namely in revealing and fulfilling all things contained in the Book of * The Book given to the Lamb to look into and to open the Seales thereof viz. The Book of Revelations is diversly apprehended by severall persons some describing it as a book bound containing many folio's or pages and yet to have seals upon it closing it up Others more probably to be a Volume or Roule containing the Prophesies of many things to be unfolded successively in order being one rouled upon another and on the outside to have 7 seals hanging down each by other as on 7 labels but it may seem rather probable they were 7 narrow Scrowls each one sealed down at the end upon the Roul one by another in the length of the Roul to hold it together till all the said 7 seals were loosed and that at the loosing of each seal the contents of each Seal-prophesie was made known thereupon successively but when the last was loused in what part soever of the length of the roul it was upon the taking of that came off the larger Volume of the 7 Trumpets which so proceeded out of the seventh seal being thenceforth loosened to be unfolded successively from the whole length the roul which in such case must needs greatly abate the bigness of the Book or Volume as first delivered to Christ the Lamb and thereupon the remainder of the same book might well be stilled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little book in the Angels hand c. 10. which was open not sealed as before which St. John was afterwards bidden to take and eat up whereupon he was enabled from that Book-prophesie to set down what concerned the affairs of the Ceurch more especially begining at the same time with the first Seal-prophesie all along to the end of the world contained in Chapter 12. and so forward to the close of the Book Revelation in two distinct Prophesies through all times both first in the Seal-Prophesie of State matters respecting the Roman Empire in chap. 6 8 9 and 11. some things to ver 15. respecting both Church and State And secondly Of the Book-prophesie chap. 12. concerning the Church affairs to the end of the Book which was in the hand of the Angel Rev. 10. 1. Concerning the Seal-prophesie in chap. 6. are contained the six first seals containing all to be done in the first three hundred years till the woman in travel obtain'd a man-child from God to wit Constantine the Great the famous Christian Emperor after all those ten throws of persecution while Michael the Dragon fought hand to hand as it were whether the Devils religion of heathenish Idolatry or Christs true Religion should prevail and out of the seventh Seal proceeded the seven Trumpets containing all time succeeding both the interim untill Antichrist arose and his time and times and half a time or forty two moneths took place wherein as Christ in the first Seal rode upon a white horse and by the preaching of the Gospel went on conquering by bringing in the faâ—thful to the Gospel thereby so to conquer afterwards all his enemies by the red black and pale horse and other judgements to subdue his enemies successively and in the three first Trumpets took away the very seat and mansion of the Dragon that he that till that time letted might be taken out of the way that Antichrist might come in his room as the Apostle Paul foretold 2 Thess 2.7 But from the time Antichrists forty two moneths begun to the end of the sixth Trumpet or the second woe we have the fourth Trumpet proceeding in the ruine of the Empire in the West and the fifth Trumpet is the beginning of the ruine of it in the East cap. 10. by the Mahumetan Saracens those locusts out of the bottomless pit hurting all but the green fruits sealed to be preserved from that first wo Trumpet as was foreshewed chap. 7. who destroyed one half of the Eastern Empire and after the other Mahumetan Locusts under the sixth Trumpet namely the Turks took away the other part of the Eastern Empire whose 396 years are not yet expired till the end of the sixth Trumpet and the second woe as is said Rev. 11.14 which is to be at the rising again and the ascention of the Witnesses And from ver 15. of the 11. chap. is a brief comprisal of the seventh Trumpet to the end of the Seal-prophesie which ends all time yet in the first part of that 11. chap. is contained a Cronological Table having reference to both the Seal-prophesie and the Book-prophesie in the Angels hand Rev. 10.2 which begins again chap. 12. and so forward to the end But here first observe the table of all the times of both Prophesies Rev. 11. where the first verse hath reference to the primitive times when the Temple and the Altar and they that worshipped therein were regular and measured Verse 2. contains the time of Antichrist set forth by the Court without to be left to the Gentilizing Papists to be trodden under foot 42 moneths From that Verse to the 14. is the contemporary two Witnesses prophecying in sackcloth to the finishing of their testimony and last great killing and resurrection at the end of the aforesaid second Woe and beginning of the said seventh Trumpet to the end of the chapter But the second or Book-Prophesie in the Angels hand Chap. 10.2 contains all the former times in the Seal-Prophesie and to end at the same Period going over them again begins at Chap. 12. wherein was again contained what is given to Christ the Lamb to reveal and execute in reference to the affairs of the Church In Chap. 12. are contained chiefly in that respect the state of the true Church in the primative times before Antichrist arose both in regard of her primative glory and the rage of the Dragon against her till her flight into the Wilderness to be fed there by the two said Witnesses in
a known tradition recorded by Jude in his Epistle concerning the said times of Christs Kingdom namely that of celestial Enoch both living and dying if at all he may be said to dye set forth by the said Apostle Jude 14. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints So Moses in his time gives Testimony to all Christs offices in their seasons 1. Of his being a Prophet saith he Deut. 18.18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren like unto thee and will put my word in his mouth and he shall speak unto them all that I command them which testimony delivered to Moses by the Spirit of Christ was applyed to Christ John 1.45 Act. 3.22 and 7.37 2. He foreshews Christs Priestly office in Melchisedecks and in Abrahams sacrificing of his Son besides all typical and ceremonial worship which was to cease when Christ the substance thereof was come and the records of his Kingly Office he first sets down in Jacobs prophesie Gen. 49. concerning the Tribe of Judah whence he was to spring according to the flesh and at what time though darkly yet really sulfilled in the season thereof and so of his Kingly Office in giving them laws and defending his people vers 10. whereby the great gatherings of people Israelites and Gentiles should be and that in the times of great prosperity in the promised Land abundance of Wine and Milk vers 11 12. which are the Viands which Christ affords his people Isa 55 1. And after expresseth his waiting for such salvation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—eptuag 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which his speaking of the last times vers 1. seems cheifly to have reference unto and as for the gatherings of the Jews and Gentiles together in the Apostles times seems but to be but the first fruits and preludium of what the Scriptures speak of neither was that in such a prosperous condition as it is there expressed and a like Prophesie Moses himself left concerning Judah Deut. 33.7 which seems to respect Christs Kingdom whom he prays the Lord to bring unto his people and that his hands may be sufficient for him and that he would be an help for him from his enemies which will be fully answered when Christ hath made his foes his foot-stool And the like he utters â—n Josephs blessing vers 16 17. for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush foretelling his glory and the bornes of his strength to push the enemies to the end of the earth which the greatness of Ephraim and Manasse were but shadows of and was to be really in Christ So diverse of his prophetical threatnings and tenders of mercy appear to have the force of prophesies as in other things so in things respecting the grace of God to the Jews in Christs Kingdom on earth As first Lev. 26. of the captivity of Babylon and their return from vers 30. to 43. but then with an emphasis he seems to speak of another captivity out of which he will deliver them out of free grace as being beloved for their fathers sake as Rom. 11. in the former he told them they should call and he would answer they should cry and he would hear Jer. 39. but this should be in regard of the covenant with their fathers as is remarkeably set down vers 33 34 35. and is applied by the Apostle to the general calling of all Israel Rom. 11. in an other such manner the Prophet Moses brings in a like promise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deut. 4.30 31. making likewise the Covenant with the Fathers to be the reason of such their reducement and saith expresly it should be in the latter days But a very large prediction of this nature is set down Deut. 30. from vers 1 to 11. where he speaks of the manner of their turning unto God with all their heart and all their souls vers 2. and how he would gather them from all the Nations of the earth vers 3. even from the uttermost parts of Heaven vers 4. and how they should have good and be multiplied above their Fathers which yet we read not to have been done as vers 5. and the ground of all Gods powerful grace upon their souls circumciting both their hearts and the hearts of their seeds seed vers 6. and then sets down their freedom from curses and the abundance of prosperity vers 7 8 9 10. c. And so likewise in that excellent prophetical Song which Moses was inspired to write and to command to be taught in Israel and left for posterity wherein are included sundry prophesies of Israels sins and sufferings and bondage and deliverances But the 39. vers seems to be a description of the last destruction of the Jews joyned with a prophetical prediction of their restoring where God saith he kills and makes alive as likewise he decyphers the destruction of all sorts of enemies in the latter days till Jews Jsraelites and Gentiles should rejoyce together for vers 40. alludes to Christs swearing Rev. 10. I lift up my hand to Heaven and say I live for ever and vers 41 42. follows the most terrible destruction of the enemies and vers 43. ends the Song with the joyful union of Israelites Jews and Gentiles Now as Gods appointing rules and laws for a King for his people as Deut. 17. though he never directed them to ask one but declared his displeasure telling Samuel they had not cast off Samuel but himself 1 Sam. 8. yet the giving those laws were vertually a prophesie of a King so the former propounding of threatnings and promises were vertually prophesies and so they have proved and will do and there are therefore of Christs Kingdom because they concern those most beloved Subjects the Israelites in such multitudes with the Gentiles their fellow subjects in Christs most prosperous reign on earth Secondly but Daniel the second eminent Chronologer of the holy Spirit speaks much more clearly who lived under the dominion of Satans second Babel 1. He expounds the Image which Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream to be four great worldly Monarchies which should successively pass away in the world before Christs glorious Kingdom should appear in the world the first was set forth therein by the head of Gold the then present Babylonian Monarchy The 2d By the Breasts and Armes of silver the Medes and Persians The 3 d. By the Belly and Thighs of Brass the Grecian The 4 th By the Legs of Iron and the Feet and toes of Iron and Clay the Roman Monarchy Mr. Mede first Heathen secondly Christian thirdly Antichristian as Dan. 2. from vers 30 to 44. where is explained Christs Monarchy which though it hath wrought long secretly from the eye of the world as it hath been regnum lapidis yet at last shall prevail over all and break the most terrible and long continued Roman power now under her last head and even ready to expire and as that had broken the
things were antiently and all along promised to the Jews and Israelites and foretold by the holy Prophets successively in all ages and much by the Jews in our Saviours own time though both unseasonably and unsuitably expected and as Mr. Mede and others from Justine Martyr and other Ancients Testifie how the things in the said thousand years were usually by Christians beleived in the times next after Christ yet what by the subtilty of Satan teaching the Jews and others to affix such vain fables and sensual delights somewhat like to a Mahumetan Paradise to that time of Christs glorious Dominion in the world that occasioned many ancient and modern worthies as may happily more hereafter appear too much to have declined from truth to avoid such affixed errors And since by mens apprehensions of inconsistency of those things with some Articles of Christian faith some have thereupon endeavoured as may appear to thrust this thousand years of Christs raign into such troublesome corners of times moving Tabernacle where it never could long find that rest and peace wherewith it must notwithstanding in due time be blessed And to give such harsh and forced interpretations of many Prophesies both in Old and New Testament concerning that happy time to come as are unsuitable to the purport of them And an other stratagem of late times Satan hath used upon the breaking forth of some beams of light again appearing concerning that said happy period to come to stir up the owners of such Doctrine to turn Libertines Spoken according to the then present apprehension I had tillfurther light through grace as after may appear upon serious view in the sequel from the bonds of moral obedience due unto Magistrates as Christs deputies yea to attempt even to take away Magistracy it self and Ministry too whereas Christs Saints must not take the Kingdom to themselves till he the great King of Kings give it to them in his own time not in theirs or else so personally to understand his raign in his humane nature upon earth in a bodily presence that it may seem inconsistent with some Articles of Christian Religion when sacred truth allows not so to determine or as others by putting unwarrantable senses upon the Divine Mysteries not accommodated to the scope of the Spirit of God therein observable which Doctrine when the Spirit of truth shall defecate and cleanse from all old dreggs and scum of former and late errors misapplications and mistakes I confidently believe for the substance it will be owned as a precious truth among the beloved people of God though we may not put weight upon the gronndless conceits or fancies of men and the sacredwritings both of Old and New Testament may throughly evince it but especially this Revelation of Jesus Christ will necessarily enforce it if rightly and orderly considered especially compared with Daniel Ezekiel and other Prophets My endeavour therefore shall be by the assistance of the Spirit of grace and truth who will lead his servants in due time into all profitable and comfortable truth to point out such things tending hereunto which my own infirmity may otherwise prejudice unto others which notwithstanding as I shall endeavour I humbly request may be done with prayers and faithful endeavours by others better fitted for such a work all prejudices to the contrary being wholly laid aside in considering the last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ in the last branch of it now upon proving and therefore at such a time men had need be wary they do not go about even then to disallow and disprove of it when it is neer to be put in execution especially since he upon earth gave this intimation to the world to beware of infidelity upon this occasion Luk. 18.8 as may appear from the former Chapter When saith he the Son of man shall come shall he find faith upon earth He knew well what wiles Satan would use to darken the knowledge of that time which he the Arch-murtherer of mankind beleiving trembles at as is conceived was the mark set upon Cain his first-born murtherer of his Brother Abel when he himself must be shut up in his dungeon of darkness from seducing men which will be his sore torment all that time and the fore-runner of his speedily ensuing perpetual unexpressible misery and that upon his imprisonment the long promised and hoped for happy light and glory of Gods Church shall arise and shine forth Isa 60.1 which will adde to his anguish And as Cain built Cities for his cursed posterity thereby to abate the sence of his trembling but the universal deluge both destroyed them and their habitations so ever since mans fall the Devil to abate the sence of his own horrour hath been building many Castles in the Aair of wicked designes and seducements but knows when Christs raign shall take place they must all perish with their Author And therefore no wonder that Satan should seek to conceal and hide that period from men raging the more because he knows his time is so short Let us therefore the rather by faithful prayers and diligent search of holy Scriptures commend our selves to the guidance of Gods holy Spirit to be led into all truth and particularly in what concern Christs Kingly rule on earth not with respect unto what owning it hath by men but as witnessed unto by the Word of God which is the said holy Spirits evidence which if he once appear to set his Seal unto none shall make it void but it shall powerfully overcome and be victorious in the end as all other witnessings of Christ Jesus have and do and shall overcome the opposers of them though never so great many or eminent in the world April 24. 1664. MVNVS AN Advertisement Christian Brethren YOu may be pleased to take notice that after the evidences in the letter of Novemb. 1663. in the Fore-runner and my serious weighing of many other Scriptures especially in the Revelations compared with Daniel I was abundantly satisfied that such an happy state of the Church was to come on earth but yet it seeming difficult to me for a time to reconcile a personal presence with Christs intercession at the right hand of God and taking it for a truth that the coming of Christ was not to be expected till the last resurrection And not having so fully discerned then the clearness of a personal appearance above 1000. years before as since I beleive to be evident as by the last Paper of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may appear I thought I had fairly-salved the matter and that my reasons against the personal and only for a mystical appearance then had been good and sufficient with the illustrations thereof added as you may observe pag. 35 36 37. c. But besides a remarkable gracious hand of God upon me as you may there likewisy discern both to discover such remarkable passages in Scripture that seem more strongly to hold out a personal appearance then and to
Throne the Church on earth in the face of Jesus Christ the Messiah that was to come as the Apostle speaketh 2 Cor. 3.6 by the workings of the Holy Ghost in all successions of ages to the coming of Christ himself actually in the flesh Still from the Throne to the four living wights and by them to his twenty four Elders in all times hath he so in succession discovered himself of which discoveries we may observe two great Periods under the Old Testament besides many other lesser ones the two great Periods were the Old world before the Flood and the new world after the flood until Christs time and these two the Rainbow as we noted evidently implies in drowning the old world and assuring preservation to the new world from the like In the first period when God did communicate his pleasure to any living wights then neer to his Throne it was not by written word but by voyce or vision or dreams or any ways he was then pleased to use to any sorts of persons either extraordinarily inspired or to the fathers of Families or the first born as sometimes he used or such as were eminently raised up by him as Enoch Noah c. In regard they lived many hundreds of years they might well by tradition and verbal instruction personally teach the will and pleasure of God to his people and then they needed not the use of writing so God most wisely orders all things in their due seasons and indeed if they had had the gift of writing it would have been in a manner endless by reason of their long lives and great knowledge more then in Solomonâ— time who said Of making many books there was no end Some of the first Fathers lived almost two third parts or more of the Old worlds time after Adam and yet lived with Adam the man made immediately by God The other great period from the flood till about the year of the Creation 4000. as Bp. Vsher computes them which was from the time of the flood computed Anno. Mund. 1656. the sum of 2344. years more and for the space of 855. of those years by the said Reverend Authors account till the Law was given by Christ in Mount Sinai in the year of the world 2513. at which time Moses was taught and inspired to write his Pentetuch or five books the substance of the then revealed will of God to his Church there was no written word but then by reason of Gods many institutious to his late redeemed people of Israel out of Egypt and the shortness of their days he knew his written word to be needful to them and all posterities of his Church who might thereby from age to age have more of the Gospel-glory of the Messiah still breaking out in new glimpses of light till the sun of righteousness himself should arise with healing in his wings and that the whole counsel of God concerning him might in substance be revealed in writing and all needful things by his spirit of wisdom and revelation till his prophetical office in matter of Revelation of subostantial truths was fully accomplished under the Old Testament before he actually appeared in his Priestly office and though Gods Spirit in Noah Sem and others after the flood as he was pleased to raise and inspire them till Melchisedech if he was not the same with Sem as some conceive Abrahams Isaac's and Jacobs time and long after God was pleased to supply them otherwise without writing but yet even then he had no less his true and invisible Church viz. his four living wights or living creatures as Ezekiel speaks to be his seers both in respect of himself and his twenty four Elders his faithâ—â— people both to see for them and see to them to teach them and rule them by such special dispensations as he was then pleased to manifest himself to them by and round about his Throne his true Church upon earth where onely his glorious name is extolled in all his gracious manifestations of himself to them but no where else in the world as Psa 145. There his Saints bless him and talk of his power c. we might take occasion from this abridgement of the Old Testament to speak many things of the Ark wherein Noah and they with him were saved from the flood as salvation is onely to be had in the Church which God exalts on high above the reach of the worlds calamities and so of many particulars of Gods directing Noah to make it having fitted him both with grace and worldly wealth and power to accomplish it to be able to pay such multitudes of wicked wretches that though they might deride his attempt so long to sail on the Mountains yet for the reward and recompence of their labour would not resist as is probable but rather assist him therein it was a work doubtless for a Mighty Prince to accomplish so there are many other observable things as his going into the Ark his staying there his shutting up the persons and creatures taken in seven of clean creatures some for sacrifice and two onely of the unclean and his going out all appointed by Christ himself who is alway graciously present with his Church but especially more remarkably in the deep floods of her affliction or trouble Yea afterward we may observe that God would have an Ark made that as his Church was before saved in the Ark from the Flood so his Church instituted amongst his Israelites must know that the salvation and help was in him that would have his gracious presence figured to them by an Ark 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sept. from whence and by means of which according to his own direction he would as from a divine Oracle reveal himself and his pleasure to them and where that was by his own order there his throne of grace and mercy-seat was to be attended by his four living wights and twenty four Elders both in the moving tabernacle of Moses Joshua and the rest till king David and all his time till his other type Solomon did afterward build him an house â—p Vsher Annal. p. 118. where the Ark of God was in the King of Judahs reign till the Jews Captivity in Babylon in the year from the creation 3395. which was not much more time after the flood then the world had being before the flood Now as Moses the great Prophet who by Gods direction first made that Ark foretold of Christ the great Prophet of his Church that him the Lord their God would raise like unto himself and that he should be heard in all things that he said unto them and as the Father required at his transfiguration that they should hear him Math. 17. whose spirit both informed Moses and all the Prophets so by himself he was excellently and immediately instructed in making of the Ark and the Tabernacle and all that belonged to them that all should be made according to the pattern in the Mount As Moses
began have spoken of those times of refreshment and restitution of all things Act. 3.19 21. Proceed we therefore to consider the Predictions of these two great Prophets in the Old Testament in reference to what is said by them of Christs Kingdom in the new at the erecting whereof all evil dominion and wicked power must be subdued when God according to his promise Psa 110.1 will make Christs foes his footstool and till which time he must fit at Gods right hand which is the more to be observed in that the holy Ghost in six several places in the N. Test hath since his ascention recorded it viz. Mat. 22.44 Mark 12.36 Luk. 20.42 Act. 2.34 1 Cor. 15.25 Heb. 1.13 and in the fulfilling thereof the wonderful glory of God ever since mans fall is and will be very remarkable over-ruling the evil and mischeif of Satan and wicked men to his own glory and his Churches good but more especially at that great accomplishment when he will take to himself his great power as Rev. 11.17 for as the arch-murderer at first who ever since hath been and till that time will be by usurpation for the most part the God of the powers of this world Ephes 2.2 The Prince of the air ruling in the children of disobedience when he had seduced our first parents to the loss of that happy condition in Paradise to themselves and all their posterity by that onely postern gate alone left for that evil one to enter by viz. The eating of the forbidden fruit and upon that deluding bait of pride to be like God knowing good and evil God then both frustrated his and the offenders designs for by knowing good and evil in that way they became like to the Devil and not like to God and to frustrate the Tempters design through the wonderful goodness of the incomprehensibly glorious God there was even then a way made known for a most happy and gracious design of the Almighty by publishing the first promise of Free grace to lost mankind in a sure work of redemption by the Messiah who should fully overcome Satan at the last and break that old Serpents head And thenceforward Christ Jesus as Mediator having undertaken that office the Devil ever since likewise as cursed Cain his first-born murtherer of his brother by building of Cities as is conceived so he by building of Castles of confusion in the worlds air as it were to abate his trembling by working what mischeif he can all the time of his usurped Dominion in all the long Periods of his wicked rule wherein he hath been remarkably erecting three great Babels of confusion therein as towers and powers to carry on his own wicked designs First The Tower of Babel in Shinar Gen 11.4 for dividing of tongues the main source of confusions Secondly The Babylonian Monarchy in Daniels time for oppressive tyranny over Gods people Thirdly The mystical Babel in the last times for spiritual seducement and thraldom until Christ set up his own perpetual Kingdom The mischeif of the first hath continued through all times since of Satans wicked rule and will do till his binding by Christ The misery of the second hath been felt of Gods people ever since For we read not the Kings of Assyria infested Israel from about An. mun 1700 until Pull Tiglath Pilesur about the year 3170. in the time of Zacharia Shallum Menahen 2 King 15. which is above 1400 years and Nineveh is conceived to be built by Nimrod which was all along the Metropolis of the Assyrian Kingdom and will so be while any part of that Image of the four Monarchies remains unbroken and the spiritual infatuation bondage and thraldom of the third viz. The mystical Babel hath lain heavy upon the Church of Christ many hundred of years past as many talents of lead to crush in peices that weak woman the Church and her spiritual seed if it were possible And as God and Satan have had their designs in these so God in his word hath used three eminent Chronologers to keep records of these three Babylonian designs of Satan and to record such things concerning them all whereby the Devils evil purposes might be discovered and the mischeif ensuing to the seduced might be apprehended and the help and remedies which God ever since hath provided against them might be made known for his Churches support and comfort These three eminent Chronologers are first the Prophet Moses in whose writings three parts are observable First B. Usher p. 33. An historical revelation as we may say of what was done before his time from the beginning for about 2553 years Secondly An historical relation of what things God wrought and taught his people to observe in his time morally politically and ceremonially as his then revealed will Thirdly A prophetical revelation of things concerning Gods Church and Christ the Messiah to come and concerning his three great offices of a Prophet Priest and King though in some things darkly yet very certainly as by Gods assistance we may shew for we must observe that the Spirit of Christ by the ministry of Moses in his Pentateuch or five books written by him hath set down the substance of all Christian Religion though in some things darkly concerning the times of the Gospel and that and all the Old Testament is but Novum Velatum the New vailed as the New Testament afterwards is but in substance Vetus Revelatum the Old revealed Christ having by his Prophetical spirit in the first revealed the whole counsel of his Father for the benefit of his Church The second Chronologer concerning the second and third Babel is the greatly beloved Prophet Daniel and in his record we may observe that he saith nothing of what was done before his time as Moses did from the beginning of the world having none before him for that God from Moses writings had done by others successively in Scripture to Daniels time therefore his records were first of things in his own time secondly of all times after to come though somewhat more clearly then Moses therein the third of those eminent Chronologers was the beloved Disciple St. John who beginning at his own time towards the end of the first Century after Christ from thence proceeds to make known the pleasure of God concerning all times afterwards as Christ Jesus by his Angel in the book of his Revelation had declared unto him to the end of the world mystically set before him in many visions to be sent unto the Churches for their information and comfort unto the end And as these three Chronoclers of Gods spirit speak remarkably of those three Babels under several considerations Yet our main drift at present is to shew how that these three famous servants of the Lord have in all their times foreshewed Christs Kingly glory yet still the latter more clearly then the former Yet here take notice of one Prophesie before any of these as it were handed all along by
kind of studies which afterwards they grosly abused And Moses by means of Pharaohs daughter was afterwards trained up in all the learning of the Egyptians But when God used the Ministry of Moses and Aaron to bring his people out of that bondage he set up an instituted Church and as he wrote the tables of the Law himself So he directed Moses in writing his five Books for the benefit of his Church Yet doubtless that excellent faculty of writing hath been likewise much after that time abused by Satan and evil men likewise to eclipse truth and promote errors amongst all Heathen people For that as God had by that means set down the sum of his true Religion for that generation of the children of the godly Patriarchs and Fathers and after forty years made their posterity a famous Nation and people and by degrees were formed into a glorious state and Kingdom in the end of Davids and beginâ—ing of Solomons reign So Satan had all along an apparent design to raise huge Mountains of tyranny in the world to serve his own purposes in his wicked Dominion thereby to promote Atheism and Idolatry and what ever was evil and to overpower oppress and subdue if it were possible Gods Church and professed people and so far as their sins gave advantage from time to time they did so by the just hand of Gods providence most wisely and powerfully steering and ordering all the affairs of the world to his own glory and the fulfilling of his own holy pleasure when Satan and evil men least intend it making them in such cases like refiners to his people to cleanse them from their dross and though several Infidel and Idolatrous Nations afflicted and oppressed Israel soon after Moses and Joshua's time as in the Book of Judges and the following stories in Scripture may appear many times until Davids victorious and Solomons flourishing Kingdom which in the next succession Satan by his engins of Idolatry and wickedness soon found a way to divide to make way for his own rule in the world and upon the ten tribes revolting got the greatest part even of Israel it self to turn to his side and promote his design for the most part Helvic till at the last the height of their sins and the fulness of their iniquity delivered them up into the hands of their Assyrian conquerours under which captivity they have lain above 2400 years and still by the like means and actings Satan afterward raised a greater mountain of opposition against Gods Church when advantage against them might be obtained and Judahs sin was likewise ripe so that the Assyrian rod that scourged Israel before being burnt in the Babylonian furnace these also might be cast and fashioned that head of gold the Babylonian Monarchy which by its massie weight meeting together with Judahs sins written with a pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond might grind that people almost to powder wherein Satans designs seemed to attain their end But now for a remedy for this God reveals by Daniel as was fore-shewed that though Satan at the present seemed wholly to have wone the victory yet he should not always wear it but that first he would break in peices that head of gold by a meaner mettle and so make use of the succeeding breasts and arms of silver viz. the Medes and Persians and that not onely to destroy the said golden head but also as he promised graciously by his Prophet concerning Cyrus whom he therefore stiled his Shepheard Isa 44.28 to reduce his people in a wonderful manner again to Jerusalem and rebuild by a strange munificence and assistance his Temple there and though for their crying sins they were afterward in the two following Monarchies of Brass and Iron namely the Grecian and Roman long and soar afflicted they were also at length after the Promises of the Messiah were fully compleated by the Iron legs and thighs of the most terrible Roman power wholly made desolate upon their rejection and crucifying the Lord of life and glory the true King of Israel as Nathaniel had acknowledged him Joh. 1. But when diverse heads of that monstrous Roman Beast explained to Daniel Chap. 7. but more to St. John Rev. 17. had successively passed their seasons and when he that letted 2 Thes 2.7 was taken out of the way Satan then found advantage to erect another and worse then the former Babel namely That which is the third Babel to wit the Mystical under the great Antichrist the Pope wherein Satans design by winding that proud cruel and wicked Tyrant cunningly into his own seat and authority by hypocritical pretences to make that foul beast to defile and poyson the waters of life and by strong and strange delusions so to hinder and abolish both the truth and power of Christs new constituted Religion in the world as far as he could reach wherein his evil design hath likewise greatly prevailed for above twelve hundred years past But for help and remedy against this mystical Babel also Christ aforehand shewed unto his beloved Disciple John and by him to his Churches successively the utmost period of his continuance and manner of his now approaching ruine as of the Dragons before and that the said Beast likewise when the term of his Kingnom was out must with it go into perdition and be cast into a Lake of Fire and Brimstone denoting the perpetual ruine of all Antichristian Tyranny and an utter end of all wicked dominion being the last and lowest parts of the said Image to wit the feet and toes according to the interpretation given to Daniel Chap. 2. and at whose destruction the mystery of God should be finished in the world as the expression of the Spirit of Christ is Rev. 10.17 and Dan. 12.7 when the whole of what was revealed to St. John concerning the Beasts rise and ruine as was before noted should all in such ways as he hath set down be accomplished viz. by the prophecyings of the two sack-cloth witnesses and the pouring out of the seven last plagues upon all the Beasts worldly excellency as Rev. 11 and 15 16. Chap. So that then the Kingdoms of the world shall be the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and be given to the Saints of the most high as before Dan. 7. Rev. 11.15 So that as all the Devils designes and Gods had run counter before so by Christ these have all along been so managed that at length the usurped Dominion of Satan will be utterly subverted and the decreed Monarchy of Jesus Christ must be compleated in this world under or after the seventh Trumpet as a step to his eternal perfection of glory and happiness with his whole mystical body the true Church in the Kingdom of his father which as mediatour he will resign up to him at the end as St. Paul teacheth 1 Cor. 15.4 Now as by the miracles of Moses the first of Christs Chronologers the Egyptian Magicians were
confounded As by the spirit of Wisdom given by Christ to Daniel the second Chronologer the Astrologers Caldeans and South sayers of Babylon were overcome So by the Spirit and Word of Christs Testimony in the mouth of his sackcloth Prophets according to Saint John the third Chronologer the subtilty of the man of fin is quite defeated and he himself with his cheif followers made utterly desolate and cast into the lake of fire and brimstone so that thenceforward as the Devil the wicked one usurped a rule in the world in the hands of his evil powers abusing such their authority for the most part for the promoting of evill and hindering or preventing of any good so afterwards Christ will put all his authority under his reign and dominion in the world into good hands to remove and hinder evil and to maintain and advance good which happily may be the advantage Satan may take at the end of the 1000 years to stir up the wicked at that time in the world to attempt against Christs true Church at the last to cast off their iron yoke as to them it may seem which they have been so long held under by and to strive to break those bands asunder and to cast away such cords of good Government from them as Psa 2. But then He that sits in heaven will laugh them to scorn and by such means destroy both Satan and his followers and while so they seek to encompass the camp of the Saints they will find Christ come at last against them for ever to destroy both Satan and them when the Devil with his host of evil men shall be sent after the Beast and false Prophet into the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death never any more to commit or work or even further to attempt any mischief in the world and so casting Death and Hell with them into the same destruction Revl 20.10 14. Christ will have the perfect victory when all his enemies are so put under his feet And thus we may observe how notwithstanding all Satans Babels of confusion Christs Kingdom shall be set up both to put an end to all such his designs and to put an end to all such attempts save onely that which after he shall be loosed for a little season will put an end to all his actings in the world and of all his seed and usher in all their misery eternally in Hell but in all the thousand years before that neither he nor they shall be suffered to annoy Gods servants but that will really be fulfilled in the time of the New Jerusalem which shall come down from heaven which will be her priviledge Rev. 22.3 And his servants shall serve him CHAP. VI. Wherein are briefly and summarily set down the Testimonies of the Prophets in all the ensuing times after Moses which have been sufficiently cleared from what hath been formerly said to the contrary to belong to the said time of the Kingdom of Christ in the said Thousand years HAving considered what in the three great Chronologers is observably spoken of our Saviours Kingdom upon earth we shall by Gods gracious assistance proceed in the method concerning the rest which our Saviour himself after his resurrection directeth us unto Luk. 24.43 It is written saith he of me in Moses the Prophets and the Psalms endeavouring to observe some things further out of the other Prophets to this purpose and to come to speak of what is recorded in the Psalms likewise of the Kingdom of Christ wherein that eminent sweet singer of Israel did so abundantly tune forth such melodious streins thereof and even upon occasion of his own Kingdom and Solomons delivereth such great things in reference to Christs Kingdom which could not have their accomplishment in any other then him that was the eternal son of God And the like may be observed in all the ensuing Prophesies of Gods ancient people of Israel and Judah the subjects in cheif of that Kingdom as likewise of their most glorious King and Governour who will then be manifest to them and we have the covenant of God in respect both of these Subjects and of their great King made with David for Solomon as a type 2 Sam. 7. but looking at Christ wherein consisted the sure mercies of David which are largely illustrated both by Gods free and gracious promise by both in Nathans message from vers 10. shewing that Israel should be planted in their own place and move no more nor afflicted any more by the sons of wickedness verse 11 And after speaking of the establishing of Davids house though as in Solomon and in his successors his naturall race might sorely suffer yet in a heavenly King the Son of David and the Son of God vers 13 14. applied Heb. 1.5 there is stability ascertained and so Davids faith and prayer improve it with much grateful acceptation verse 19. Thou hast spoken of thy servants house a great while to come and v. 26. Let thy servants house be established for ever and so again vers 29. this covenant Psal 89. could be in none but Christ the Messiah That the Prophesies and Promises that follow concerning both never yet had any suitably fulfilling nor can have other ways then in such a wonderful way and glorious manner as is peculiar to the Kingdom of Christ at such his appearing 2 Tim. 4.1 which as they have been strangely wrested to avoid a litteral sence by some so have they been sufficiently cleared by others to contain it so that the evident clearness and great vigour in so many Scripture Testimonies cannot but work upon such teachable spirits as this abridgement is intended for It is counted policy though wicked in slandering calumniare audacter haerehit aliquid So in so great abundance of Testimonies of truth upon good Christian policy we may confidently assert for in such clearness something will remain to wit to such as are not more disposed to shut their eyes against Scripture light then to open them to behold it I shall but as it were pass through them because I aim at brevity the large discussion being done by others already and especiall in the second and third books of The dawning of the Day-star composed by Dr. Nath. Homes wherein very learnedly and judiciously such Scripture-Prophesies and Texts respecting the quod sit That there is such a Kingdom of Christ to come on earth in the thousand years are very clearly and convincingly opened and applied thereunto which I had opportunity to peruse since these brief collections who both strongly asserts the truth therein and very satisfactorily afterwards answers what things have been objected to the contrary where I am well assured that intelligent persons by Gods assistance may finde more clear resolution as respecting those mystical Scriptures and Prophesies through the whole book of God then in many large Commentaries of most Writers on them for many hundred of years last past which differ therein from the most