fulfilled that saying Isa 53. 7. he was oppressed and he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearer is dumb so opened he not his mouth with Mat. 26. 62 63. And thus in silence for the sins of men he suffered death even the shameful death of the Cross and that Scripture was fulfilled Isa 53. 8. He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people was he cut off and verse 9. he made his grave with the wicked c. and vers 12. he poured out his soul to the death and he was numbered with the transgressors for he bear the sins of many Thus have I given you a brief tast of this truth so necessary to be known in this day of grace that Jesus Christ is the true promised Messiah The Lord give you an understanding in this precious truth which in it self is so full of clearness that whosoever runs may read if the vail remain not still untaken away I shall add in the last place that he according to the Scripture came of the tribe of Judah and so was the Son of David according to the flesh and in him were the prophesies fulfilled Gen. 49. 10. The scepter shall not depart from Judah nor the law-giver from between his feet till Shilo come and to him shall the gathering of the people be And that prophesie Isa 11. 1. And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Iesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots with Act. 13. 22 23. I have found David the son of Iesse a man after mine own heart which shall fulfill all my wil of this mans seed hath God according to his promise raised a Saviour Jesus and this is proved both by Matthew Chap. 1. and Luk. chap. 3. in their account of the genealogy of Christ both agree in their account that he was the Son of David though probably there may seem some scruple because they reckon upon a contrary line yet I do believe there is much of the wisdome of God in it Matthew reckoning after the genealogy of Ioseph who was the supposed father of Christ and Luke after the line of Mary the mother of Christ so that take it on which side you will both came of David and so Christ was the son of David and the son of Abraham Mat. 1. 1. and so he was acknowledged in his incarnation by all that had any convictions of heart upon them Mat. 9. 27. The two blind men cryed Thou son of David have mercy on us and the woman of Canaan Chap. 15. 22. Cryed saying have mercy on me O Lord thou son of David and Chap. 21. 9. the multitude cryed out Hosanna to the son of David c. Let this suffice he was the son of David he was made of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1. 3. 4. For he did not only dy for our sins but he was also raised again for our justification according to the Scriptures Rom. 4. 25. and so that Scripture was fulfilled Psal 16. 11. Thou wilt not suffer thine holy one to see corruption David saw corruption but this man saw no corruption being quickened and raised by the Spirit Mark 16. 6. 1 Cor. 15 and being risen he is ascended to the Father Ioh. 20. 17. Act. 1. 9 10. And the heavens must receive him till the time of the restitution of all things Act. 3. 21. Thus much shall suffice at present in confirmation of this truth that that man Jesus who was crucified at Jerusalem is the true and promised Messiah though I might give many grounds more as the wise men coming by a star from the East to Jerusalem saying where is he that is born King of the Jews together with the many and great miracles which he did as to turn water into wine Ioh. 2. heal the sick open the eys of the blind raise the dead preach ed with authority Mat. 7. 29. Never man spake like this by the confession of those that were sent to apprehend him Ioh. 7. 46. Thus his works do witness that he was the son of God Iohn 36. and Iohn was a witness to him Ioh. 1. 15. 5. 33. the father by his Spirit bare witness to him Mat. 3. 17. with Ioh. 5. 37. all his disciples and servants were witnesses to him in their cleaving to him and bearing up of his name though in a way of suffering the Sun being darkened in the day of his sufferings was an evident witness that he was the Son of God Mat. 27. 45. the rending of the veil of the temple and raising of the dead and quaking of the earth convincing witnesses Mat. 27. 51 c. that he was the Messiah And finally your being cast out of your own country amongst the nations your City and temple destroyed according to his word Mat. 24. 2. for your rejecting of him according to that parable Mat. 21. 33. 38. 41. This is the Son come let us kill him c. Read that parable and consider all these with many others that I could produce do confirm that Jesus is the Christ SECT III. THe third general truth I desire to present you with is that the rejecting of this Jesus hath been and is your sin and that its your duty to own him and to believe in him I say unto you as once the Messiah said unto your fathers Iohn 8. 24. If ye believe not that I am he you shall dye in your sins There are several reasons why your fathers did and you to this day do reject him 1. The meaness of his condition in outward appearance Oh you looked for him to come in glory a King to deliver you from all your enemies Oh you did not you do not know the mystery of his humiliation it was hid from your eyes it was hid from his own disciples till after it was accomplished Hence it is Christ saith Luk. 24. 25 26. O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory the meaness of Christ was and is to this day a veil cast over your faces by reason of which you did not you do not know him 2. The meaness of his followers Oh they were too mean for such a presence as was supposed would attend the true Messiah hence it was I will not say and yet is your selves best know that the chief Priests and Pharisees said have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him Ioh. 7. 48. Oh consider that prophesie Isa 8. 14 15 He shall be for a sanctuary but for a stone of stubmling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel for a gin and for a snare
fathers name for ever and men shall be blessed in him all nations shall call him blessed Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who onely doth wonderous things and blessed be his glorious name for ever and let the whole earth be filled with his glory Amen Amen So likewise in Psal 82. 8. after the description of Magistrates what they should be and what they should do defend the poor and fatherless do justice to the afflicted and needy rid them out of the hand of the wicked c. and then what they did judge unjustly and accept the persons of the wicked c. the Prophet seeing no justice to be done by men what ever they should be or whatever they pretend to be even as Gods upon earth pretending to do justly yet nothing less he looks further even to the righteous branch Arise O God judge the earth for thou shalt inherit all nations this is that should be the faith prayers and consolation of the Saints amidst all the troubles of the world and injustice and unfaithfulness of men that the righteous Lord loveth righteousness and his countenance doth behold the upright Psal 11. 7. and that he will take to himself his great power and will reign Rev. 11. 17. Isa 11. 1. there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots that is Jesus Christ the Son of David Act. 13. 23. and he shall be filled by the father through the Spirit of the Father withal accomplishments for so great a work vers 1 2 3. and then with righteousness shall he judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked vers 4. Isa 32. 1 2. Behold a King shall reign in righteousness and Princes shall rule in judgement and man shall be a hiding place even the man Christ Jesus whom the Lord hath made strong for himself Psal 80. 17. and by whom he will rule the nations its true this prophesie hath been is and shall be made good in a mesure even in the day of his humiliation he hath been and is a King and a hiding place to all that truely believe in him but it shall be much more fulfilled in the day of his exaltation when every knee shall bow to him and every tongue shall confess him to the glory of God the Father Psal 45. 23. Phil. 2. 11. Isa 42. 1 2 3 4. Where you have 1. A description of Christ in his humiliation 1. What he is to his Father vers 1. His servant his elect one in whom his soul delighteth c. 2. His humility and patience in his suffering He shall not cry nor cause his voice to be heard in the street 3. His meekness and harmlesness A bruised reed shall he not break the smoaking flax shall he not quench Yet 4. He shall bring forth judgement into truth He shall bring forth judgement in the earth the Isles shall wait for his law all the discouragements shall not hinder him the greatness of his sufferings and the long time of his being rejected by his own nation c. shall not hinder him but he shall bring forth judgement into victory and establish Jerusalem a praise in the earth Isa 62. 7. Jer. 22. 5 6. Chap. 33. 15. Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper and execute judgement and justice in the earth c. this is the King promised in Ezek. 37. 25. and my servant David shall be their Prince for ever this is the fifth Monarchy mentioned Dan 2. or the little stone cut out of the mountain without hands that shall break in pieces all that have gone before it and shall be the last government in the world for he shall not leave the government to another people as all the rest have done and shall do v. 44 45. this is the kingdom and glory of the antient of days spoken of Dan. 7. 9 10. 26 27. this is that Michael Dan. 12. 1. that shall stand up a great prince which standeth for the children of thy people and the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day there shall be one Lord and his name shall be one Zach. 14. 9. See this glorious truth preciously held forth likewise in the New Testament Phil. 2. from vers 6. to the 12. where the Apostle first describes him in his humiliation and then in his exaltation that God hath highly exalted him and given him a name above every name that at the name of Jesus viz. his kingly authority every knee should bow c. and this is it the Apostle mindes in the Epistle to the Hebrews Chap. 2. applying that which is written concerning Christ in Psa 8. Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet vers 8. but now we see not yet all things put under him but althings in this world shall be put under him and he shall reign till all his enemies are made his foot-stool Psal 110. 1. Mat. 22. 44. 1 Cor. 15. 25. Heb. 1. 13. this is likewise preciously minded Rev. 11. 15. the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and this is the thousand yeers reign spoken of Rev. 20. 4. Thus much shall suffice as in clearing the truth of the reign of Christ 2. The place where he shall manifest his glory in his kingdom and that is at Jerusalem in the land of Canaan that land which the Lord chose for himself a habitation for his name and people the place and City of his holiness even the mount Zion that place where our Lord suffered his shame and reproach shall he manifest his glory the Lord shall reign in Isa 24. 23. mount Zion in Jerusalem and there shall be glory before his ancients Joel 3. 12. Let the heathen be awakened and come up to the vally of Jehosaphat for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about there will the Lord sit and judge of the heathen and there will the Lord govern his people Zach. 2. 12. and the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy Land and shall chuse Jerusalem again let all flesh therefore be silent before the Lord when he ariseth up out of the habitation of his holiness 3. In this day of the reign of Christ will he gather together the dispersed of Judah and Israel into their own Land that although for their sins they have been put far away for along time yet they shall be gathered for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob and ransomed him from him that was too strong for him therfore they shall come and sing in the hight of Zion and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord for wheat and for wine
21. chap. 3. 4. His suffering in the flesh was a preparative to this great glory both for himself and people it being the appointment of the Father and there being no other way left or appointed by the Father for the redemption of the sons of men Luk. 24. 26. Phil. 2. 6 7 8 9 10. Heb. 2. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 20. he being ascended to the father Joh. 20. 17. to receive for himself a kingdom and return Luk. 19. 12. 15. and in the mean time by his Spirit in the Ministry of the Gospel he is gathering together of his people to himself among the Gentiles that when he do appear they may appear with him in glory Col. 3. 4. for to them that look for him he will appear a second time without sin to salvation Heb. 9. 28. that God having made the world and again redeemed it to a state of continuation by his Son and for him and purchased a people to himself out of the world We may conclude that the Sons dominion shall be over the world see Psal 72. throughout and that all dominions shall serve and obey him Obj. So they do serve him now and he rules over them Answ True they serve the design of God now but the kingdom of Christ is not of this world but there is a time appointed when the kingdom of Christ shall be visibly manifest and the world shall knowingly he subject to the Son Rev. 5. 13. Second ground is that this truth is clearly held forth in the Scriptures of truth when our understandings are opened we shall see it The first Scripture I shall present you with as a foundation is Act. 3. 27. Whom the heavens must receive until the time of the restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his prophets since the world began where we may note two things 1. That at the coming of Christ from heaven will be the restitution not the dissolution And secondly it is that restitution spoken of by the mouth of all the holy prophets Now it will be good to search into the prophets and see what they have prophesied of and we shall find all agree in one that Christ must reign Psal 2. 6. 7. that his dominion shall be from sea to sea even to the ends of the earth Psal 72. that he shall possess all nations Psal 82. 8. that he shall reign in mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his ancients gloriously Isa 24. 23. that a king shall reign in righteousness and princes shall rule in judgement Isa 32. 1. that God will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper and execute judgement and justice in the earth Jer. 23. 5. and David my servant shall be king over them c. and they shall dwell in the land which I gave to Jacob my servant c. Ezek. 37. 24 25. and all dominions shall serve and obey him Dan. 7. 27. that the Lord shall be King over all the earth Zach. 14. 9. These and many others I might produce to this purpose and likewise then will be the restitution or restoration of the whole creation that Scripture will be fulfilled both in the letter as well as in spirit Isa 11. 6 7 8 9. chap. 65. 25. considered with Rom. 8. 20 21 22. and then shall those blessed promises be made good to the Saints here on earth Psal 37. 11. Mat. 5. 5. Isa 25. 8. and chap. 65. 13. c. and all this must be done when Jesus Christ is sent from heaven to manifest his power to take to himself his great kingdom and to reign and this is likewise confirmed in the New Testament the Nations and kingdoms of this world are become the Nations and kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 11. 15. This is the thousand yeers spoken of in chap. 20 c. A third ground I take from his suffering he fulfilled all that was prophesied of him concerning his suffering according to the very letter of the Scriptures he hath so fulfilled it Act. 3. 18. and why should we think it incredible that he shall even so fulfill the Scripturs in his reign on earth And why shall we think it a high and glorious discovery of grace for the Son to abase himself on earth in his humiliation and think it too low a piece of service for him to come and reign to receive the due desert if I may so say of all his labour to manifest his glory before his Saints and to set his feet on the necks of his enemies Why should we not think it to be a great degree of honour for the Lord who have suffered on earth to receive his glory on the earth And why shall we make an Alegory or mystery of those Scriptures that do foretell of his reign on earth any more than of those Scriptures that did foretell of his sufferings I do believe that it hath been the policy of Satan and the weakness and pride of men in turning Scripture into Alegories and myste-so much that we had almost lost the truth therefore let it suffice that as Christ and his people hath had their day of humiliation on the earth so they shall have their exaltation on the earth Psal 2. 8. Rev. 2. 26 27. Psal 149. 5 6 7 8. Obj. We do not question but that the Saints shall rule the earth and that the power of Christ in them shall subdue the Nations Answ And if the Saints why not Christ their head with them Can you afford the kingdoms of this world to the Saints and not to Christ I say that the Saints shall never reign on earth till the Kingdom of Christ is come till he is discended from heaven in power and great glory as he hath suffered before us and for us so we if we suffer with him shall reign with him Rom. 8. 17. When Christ comes to rule the nations then shall the Saints reign with him Obj. Is it not said 1 Thess 4. 16 17. that when the Lord shall descend from heaven c. and that the dead in Christ shall be raised and then we who remain and are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds and so shall ever be with the Lord Answ 1. That is to make good the Scripture which saith Zach. 14. 5. The Lord our God shall come and all the Saints with thee and if they be not caught up to meet the Lord he cannot bring them with him And secondly the Scripture do not say that they shal abide above but with the Lord that is they shall come down with him as Joel 3. 11. Quest Do you suppose that the Jews be called before that day Answ I do believe that there will be something done amongst them upon that account and that there will be a great gathering together of them at Jerusalem before that day but their fulness will not be
till the day of his appearing in glory that will be their uniting Jer. 23. 5 6. Ezek. 37. 22. Qu. Will the raising of the dead and the calling of the Iews to their fulness be at one time Answ To me it so appears those Scriptures considered 1 Cor. 15. 44 45. with Hos 13. 14. the prophet Hosea clearly prophesying the coming in of Israel and particularly the ten tribes the Apostle applieth it there to the resurrection of the dead c. Rom. 11. 15. what shall their coming in be but life from the dead that is if their rejecting was an occasion of so much mercy to the world What miracle of mercy at their receiving or coming in even the resurrection of the dead To this prophesie fully agreeth Isa 26. 19. speaking throughout that Chap. of the the glory of Jews thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust c. Quest If so how will those Scripture be reconciled that of Christ Mat. 22. 30. in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the angels of heaven and that of the propbets which seems to hold forth building of houses and plainting of vinyards and procreation of children c. Isa 65. 2. Answ Why may not both these stand together as a truth what if we should suppose that after the the coming of Christ and the raising the dead in him for they must be first raised 1 Cor. 15. and changing the believing Gentiles that raised and changed may be ever with the Lord that the Jews then brought in in their fulness may remain in a glorious estate Satan being shut up yet not changed and so the prophesies may be fulfilled concerning them and those that are raised and changed likewise and so much the the more because its evident that the resurrection and their coming in in fulness will be at one and the self same time And what if we should suppose according to the Scripture that the new Ierusalem spoken of Rev. 21. that must come down from God out of heaven be a material City now above according to Gal. 4. 26. Ierusalem which is above is the mother of us all it is above but it shall come down c. and what if we should suppose this new Jerusalem which is so full of excellency probably may be the place now where the Father doth most manifest his glory though the heaven of heavens cannot contain him and where Christ and the spirits of just men are Heb. 12. when it comes down from God out of heaven and the tabernacle of God is with men and that doth dwell among them I say that this City may be the head place of residence for Christ and the changed Saints and the twelve tribes to inhabit without the City according to Ezek. 48. which is the prophesie and discription of the same City and if so God may have a seed among them to be brought forth in the world in the time of the reign of Christ and if so they shall be all righteous Isa 60. 21. with chap. 59. 20 21. which is applyed by the Apostle to the calling of the Jews and coming in of the ten tribes Rom. 11. 26. Quest Shall this new heaven and new earth be before or after the destruction of the world by fire spoken of by Peter 2 Pet. 3. Answ I do believe that it will be before the dissolution my reasons are though Peter mentions the dissolution first yet never theless we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth c. 1. Because that promise is clearly to the Jews and shall be made good to them when their redeemer doth come to take away their sin 2. Because that holds forth a destruction of the world by fire as once it was destroyed by water 3. Because after the dissolution and judgement the kingdom shall be given up to the Father and God shall be all 1 Cor. 15. Quest Will not Christs coming be the day of Iudgement Answ It will be the beginning of Judgement 1. The glorifying of his people 2. A great judgement and destruction to the world Ezek. 38. and 39. 3. He shall all that time with his Siants judge the world 4. At the end will be the final judgement Rev. 20. 11 12 13 14. Quest What shall be the condition of the world at that time Answ The men of the world shall on condition enjoy peace and plenty the condition will be they shall own and honour Christ and the Saints and come up to Ierusalem doing homage there and bring presents thither as an acknowledgment not for any need of it there but as Christ and the Saints have been at the feet of the world now shall the world be at their feet according to those Scriptures Ps 72. 9 10 11. Isa 60. 24. ch 66. 23. Zach. 14. 16. Rev. 3. 9. Chap. 27. 26. Quest If this be truth that Christ and the Saints shall reign on earth what advantage will it be to the Saints in the knowledge of it more than to believe his coming and kingdom at the end of time Ans It must needs minister consolation in the knowledge of the truth of things there is no truth of God but the knowledge of it ministers joy much more this about the kingdom and glory of Christ that the place of suffering shall be for a time the place of glory and liberty 2. It will keep us more to a constant expectation of his coming and not to put it far away as of necessity we must if we suppose a state of glory and liberty for the Church here on earth before his coming as almost all do expect when Paul onely mindes the Appostles to be first 2 Thess 2. 3. and that hath been and I believe is almost over and the day of his glory is at the doors 3. It will tend to the establishing of the Saints in the truth in opposition to all false wayes and false Christs knowing it to be their duty to wait upon him in his appointment untill the day of his appearing thereby manifesting not onely their owning of him by vertue of their being owned by him but also that they do indeed look for him for none durst to look for him indeed but those who upon a right account do serve him What advantage hath Satan had in our dayes for want of souls being principled in this truth one saith here another there is Christ and all because we turn his reign all into a mystery viz. in the Saints but hold right here and you shall be able to discover all false and Antichrists be they never so deceivable own Christ thy justification thy king to serve him according to the Scriptures the resurrection his personal coming and reign and look for it and thou shalt live above all those false notions that are in the world able to judge them all in the light of this truth 4. It will keep the Saints in peace and quiet in their mindes though under persecution till the time come the contrary an imaginary that the Saints shall reign makes them vex when things go not to their minds fills them with trouble and unquietness if not turbulency of spirit thinking now is the kingdom of Christ going up but if the Saints knew that their day must be a day of suffering till Christ come they would not trouble themselvs about the kingdoms of the world till that time come for all powers set up in the world before Christ come are but members of the fourth Monarch even the most righteous c. must be broken when he comes therefore let the Saints wait with patience for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh Amen FINIS