THE VVORLD that Now is AND THE VVORLD that is to Come Or the First and Second Coming of Jesus Christ Wherein several Prophecies not yet fulfilled are Expounded By HAN KNOLLYS A Servant of Jesus Christ Rev. 1.19 LONDON Printed by Tho. Snowden An. 1681. TO THE READER Christian Reader SO needful is the true Knowledge of God and Jesus Christ so absolutely conducing unto Man's Eternal Well-being John 17.3 as whereby alone true Happiness is to be attained To that End in the former Part of this little Treatise is set forth First What the LORD Jesus Christ hath done and suffered for the Salvation of Sinners Secondly What HE doth work in them by his holy Spirit and Word in Order unto their Everlasting Salvation Thirdly What kind of Worship Churches Ministers and Ordinances the LORD Jesus Christ hath instituted and appointed under the Gospel And in the latter Part of it is briefly and plainly declared That there is a WORLD to Come That the LORD Jesus Christ will come personally visibly and suddenly That he will set up his Kingdom will Reign Raise the Dead and Judge both the Quick and the Dead 2 Tim. 4.1 At his Appearing his Kingdom It may be some of all sorts of Readers will judge and Censure me for one thing or another but with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by Man's Judgment I only entreat the Judicious Reader to search the Scriptures and thereby to prove all things and hold fast that which is sound I pretend not to Infallibility I know but in part yet I am willing to impart that which I do know unto others that are searching after Knowledge and Understanding And I pray that God will fill you that Read what I have written with the Knowledge of his Will Revealed in his written WORD That you may prove what is the perfect Will of God But if any man seem to be contentious we have no such Custom neither the Churches of God Nor will I contend with any one otherwise than the Apostle Jude exhorts in the third verse of his Epistle That we should earnestly contend for the Faith that was once delivered unto the Saints not by vain Disputings and Janglings but by sober Assertions and clear Proofs of Scripture Isa 8.20 Shew me friendly Reader wherein I have erred from the Truth and it will be as precious Balm and I shall esteem thee my friend indeed that will endeavour to convert me from the Errour of my Way if i◠be done in a Spirit of Love Nay if any one shall do it in another frame of spirit I shall thankfully acknowledge his kindness that will endeavour to Convince me to Reprove me yea although he should Reproach me and I would bear it patiently and humbly acknowledge my mistake And I will not obstinately hold fast any Errour after Conviction through the Grace of God for I love the Truth as it is in Jesus if my heart doth not deceive me more than my self or my esteem in the World Thy Souls Friend Han. Knollys From my Study in Bartholomew-Lane August 3. 1681. THE VVORLD That now is THE holy Scripture of Truth speaketh of three Worlds viz. The WORLD that was 2 Pet. 3.6 The WORLD that now is called this WORLD Mat. 12.32 the WORLD to come Heb. 2.5 The WORLD that now is is the Subject of the first Part of this Treatise And the WORLD to come shall be the subject of the latter Part thereof The principal matter of which we intend to treat touching the WORLD that now is doth concern the first Coming of Christ into this WORLD when the WORD was made Flesh and dwelt among us Joh. 1.14 The chief matter of the latter Part of this Treatise doth concern the Second Coming of Christ in the WORLD to come Wherein there will be New Heavens a New Earth and a New Jerusalem and all things will be new-created Rev. 21 1-5 CHAP. 1. Wherein our general Position is propounded proved and explained § 1. The Position propounded THat the Chief WORK of Jesus Christ in his first Coming into the WORLD was to save sinners to build up his own House the Church of the Living God and to institute all Gospel-Ordinances necessary for his Disciples to worship God in Spirit and in Truth § 2. The Position proved 1. That our LORD Jesus Christ came into the WORLD to save sinners Luk. 5.32 I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance Matth. 18.11 For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost And 1 Tim. 1.15 Christ Jesus came into the WORLD to save Sinners 2. That our LORD Jesus Christ being come in the Flesh did build up his own House the Church of God Heb. 3 -- 6. For this Man Christ Jesus was counted worthy of more glory than Moses in as much as He who builded the House hath more honour than the House Moses was faithful in all his House as a Servant but Christ as a Son over his own House the Church of God 1 Tim. 3.15 3. That our Lord Jesus Christ hath instituted all Gospel-Ordinances necessary for his Disciples to worship God in Spirit and in Truth 1 Cor. 11.1 2. Be ye followers of me even as I am of Christ And keep the Ordinances as I delivered them unto you Joh. 4.21 22 23 24. The true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth § 3. The Position explained The first part of our general Position to be explained is That our LORD Jesus Christ came into the WORLD to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Now the Method I shall observe in the Explanation of this part of our Position shall be to shew 1. What kind of Saviour Christ is 2. What Salvation Sinners may have by Jesus Christ And 3. How Sinners are saved by Jesus Christ And of these in order First What kind of Saviour is Jesus Christ I answer 1. The LORD Jesus Christ is an Almighty Saviour As there is none other Act. 4.12 so there needs none other Saviour None can pull a Soul out of Christ's hand Joh. 10.27 -- 30. Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God-Man Emmanuel God with us Matth. 1.23 Jehovah our Righteousness Jer. 23.6 The Mighty God Isa 9.6 The Almighty Rev. 1.8 The true God and Eternal Life 1 Joh. 5.20 There is no Saviour but God Isa 43.3 11. I even I am Jehovah and beside me there is no Saviour And Jude v. 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen It is absolutely necessary unto Salvation to know and believe That the LORD Jesus Christ is very God as well as very Man So the Virgin Mary believed when she said My Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour Luk. 1.46 47. And so did all the holy Apostles and Saints believe and confess Rom. 9.5 2
a litlte while and HE that shall come will come and will not tarry Act. 1.11 This self same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven As Christ ascended into Heaven in his own Person so he shall lihewise descend from Heaven in his own Person Matth. 24.27 As the Lightning cometh out of the East and shineth unto the West so shall also the Coming of the SON of Man be so visible Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds and every Eye shall see him And 1 Thes 4.13 14 18. The LORD himself shall descend from Heaven c. To them that look for him he shall appear the Second Time without sin unto Salvation Now the principal things to be explained in this Branch or part of our general Position are three viz. 1. The Manner 2. The Time 3. The Ends of Christ's Coming First Touching the Manner of Christ's Second Personal Coming from Heaven it is testified Matth. 16.27 That the SON of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father The Glory of the Father is the highest and most heavenly Glory called the Excellent Glory 2 Pet. 1.16 17 18. When we made known unto you the Power and Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ For he received from God the Father honour and glory from the Excellent Glory which was but a glimpse of that Excellent Glory of the Father which Christ shall come in Attended with all his holy Angels and glorified Saints from Heaven and met in the Air by all the changed Saints then living on Earth Jude v. 14. Behold the LORD cometh with Ten Thousand of his Saints and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of Angels saying with a loud voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and honour and glory Rev. 5.11 12. and 2 Thes 1 7-10 When the LORD Jesus Christ shall be Revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels At the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his Saints 1 Thes 3.16 1 Thes 4.17 18. Then we which are alive and remain unto the Coming of the Lord ver 5. shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Read Luk. 21.17 Mark 13.16 Matth. 24.30 Secondly Touching the Time of Christ's Second Personal Coming from Heaven Though of that Day and that Hour when Christ shall come knoweth no man no not the Angels of Heaven nor the Son of Man but the Father only Mark 13.26 32. Yet there are some signs of Christ's Second Coming recorded in the Scripture of Truth whereby we may know that it is near even at the door The Disciples of Christ asked him What shall be the sign of his Coming Matth. 24.3 to whom Christ gave this for a sign ver 37 38 39. But as the Daies of Noe were so shall also the Coming of the Son of Man be And Luk. 17.28 29 30. Likewise also as it was in the Daies of Lot even thus shall it be in the Day when the Son of Man is revealed It will be so with the Men of this World as it was with the Men of the Old World which God destroyed with Water Then the wicked ones of that Generation were very ungodly Gen. 6.5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the Earth c. And Christ told his Disciples Matth. 24.12 That Iniquity shall abound a little before his Second Coming vers 30. And it will be so with the Men and Women of these Cities as it was with those Citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah whose Cities were burned Another sign of Christ's Second Coming is a great Apostasie both in the Doctrine and Worship of the Gospel This sign of Christ's Second Coming the Apostle Paul foretold 2 Thes 2.1 2 3. Now we beseech you Brethren by the Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ Let not man deceive you for that DAY shall not come except there come a falling away first An Apostasie first from the Doctrine of the Gospel especially Faith and Love 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter daies some shall depart from the Faith c. And Christ saith Matth. 24.3 12. The Love of many shall wax cold before his Second Coming from Heaven vers 30. Some Teachers make the Law of the Ten Commandments a Doctrine of Faith in Christ affirming that those ten words are a Covenant of Grace Other Preachers make the Gospel of the Grace of God a Doctrine and Covenant of works teaching Justification by works and Salvation by works holding Free-will and falling away And many there are of whom the Apostle Peter prophesied 2 Pet. 2.1 2. False Teachers who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them c. And 2 Pet. 3.3 4. That there shall come in the last Daies Scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying Where is the Promise of his Coming c Insomuch that our Saviour said Luke 18.8 When the Son of Man cometh shall he find Faâ—th on Earth And many Professors will fall from their first Love as the Ephesians did Rev. 2.4 The Faith and Love of the Primitive Saints in the Churches of Christ continued and increased 2 Thes 1.1 2 3. Your Faith groweth exceedingly and the Love of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth But in these last Daies many depart from the Faith and many cool in their Spiritual Affections to Christ there are great decaies of Grace and many flourishing Professors experience great withering fading and decaying in their spiritual gifts and graces their backslidings are increased As the Apostasie in Doctrine so in Worship is a sign of the Last Daies and of the Second Coming of Christ The Apostle Paul foretold thereof 1 Thes 2.3 4. 2 Tim. 3.1 5. This know also that in the Last Daies Men shall be Lovers of their own selves c. more than Lovers of God having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof In those last Daies even a little before the Second Coming of Christ the Laodicean Churches will be lukewarm neither cold nor hot formal not fervent in spirit serving the Lord Rev. 3.15 16. And then the National Churches will be Papal Superstitious and will-Will-worshippers Col. 2.16 18-22 23. Which things have indeed a shew of Wisdom in will-Will-worship c. Then Mystery Babylon will say I sit a Queen c. Revel 18.7 8. Therefore shall her Plagues come in one day to wit the seven Vials of the last Plagues for in them is filled up the wrath of God Rev. 15.1 7. And then our Lord Jesus Christ will come in power and great glory and shall utterly destroy Antichrist 2 Thes 2.8 Whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his Coming When those Virgin-Professors who have highly pretended to be upon their watch waiting for the Coming of the
possession of Christ and their Faith is not Rooted in him Do but diligently observe and enquire into this matter and you shall find That those Ministers of Christ are most instrumental in converting Souls unto God who labour most in the Word and Doctrine of Gospel-Conviction of Sinners Those Ministers that Preach Christ and the Gospel of Free-Grace most convincingly labour in the Application of every Doctrine to convince the Conscience of Sinners that they are in danger of the Wrath of God and of eternal Death for their sins especially because they believe not in Christ exhorting them to Repent of their sin and Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ that they may be pardoned saved by him I say those Ministers have most Converts those are workers together with God and their convinced humbled converted and sanctified Hearers have not received the Grace of God in vain 2 Cor. 6.1 Some poor Souls may haply object or rather query Is there not a sound work of Conversion where there hath not been so great a work of Conviction and Humiliation nor so great horrours fears terrours and so clear and distinct a work of the Spirit 's Reproof of Sin Righteousness and Judgment as God works upon some Sinners I answer Though this be God's workmanship upon some yea many if not upon most notorious sinful sinners yet we may not limit the Holy One of Israel God is a free Agent And because I would not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax I know and acknowledge That some sinful sinners have lesser terrours fewer temptations fears and horrours than others have and some are longer under the work of Conviction and Bondage than others are though they have been as great and notorious sinners as they that were more and longer exercised with fears and terrours Yea and I know both by Experience and by Scripture that some sinners who have had Religious Education under godly Parents or Governours and have lived from their youth up under a godly Soul-saving Ministry and have thereby been restrained by the Common Grace of God from all gross sins that have not experienced the said terrours and temptations nor have they had such horrours of Conscience and fears of Hell Yet this I know that they have been thorowly convinced of their sinful natural state and of their lost and undone condition being and seeing themselves to be without Christ and without Grace and they have been thorowly convinced that their own Righteousnesses are filthy Raggs and that they must have Christ's Righteousness to justifie them and his Holiness to sanctifie them and his precious Blood to redeem them from their iniquity But as for Time whether longer or shorter and as for Measure whether greater or lesser whereby God did this work of Conviction upon them who can limit God God having wrought a thorow Conviction upon a sinful sinner the next part and piece of his workmanship upon his Soul is Spirituall Illumination in the Saving Knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ Eph. 1.17 18· whereby the Eyes of his Understanding is enlightened that the sinner may know that there is hope of pardon and salvation in Christ for him through Faith and Holiness In the work of Spiritual Illumination God doth by his holy Spirit and Word discover to him and enlighten the Eyes of his Understanding first to see the Divine Beauty and glorious Excellency of Jesus Christ above all other persons and things in the world A poor sinful sinner sees no beauty nor comeliness in Christ why he should desire him Isa 53.1 2 3. The Daughters of Jerusalem said What 's thy Beloved Lord Jesus Christ more than anothers Beloved Cant. 5.9 The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God-neither can he know them for they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 until it please God to make an inward discovery thereof by his holy Spirit and Word in the Soul 1 Cor. 2.9 10 11 12. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit So 1 Joh. 5.20 We know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him c. The Psalmist tells the sinner That Christ is fairer than the Sons of Men full of Grace is his Lips Psal 45.2 The Spouse told the Daughters of Jerusalem That her Beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest of ten thousand He is altogether lovely Cant. 5 10-6 And the Apostle counted all things loss and dung for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus his LORD Phil. 3.7 8. Secondly God inlightens the Eyes of Sinners Understanding to see the worth of Christ in some measure and degree As poor lost Sinners discern not the Beauty and Excellency of Christ so they understand not the worth of Christ until God discover it unto them and reveal it in them by his holy Spirit and Word Gal. 1.15 16. Now God makes known to the Sinner the worth of Christ by shewing him in the Glass of the Gospel 1. The unvaluable preciousness of the Blood of Christ that cleanseth Sinners from all sin and unrighteousness 1 Joh. 1.8 9. The precious Blood of Christ purgeth the Consciences of Sinners from dead works Heb. 9.14 And Christ both justifieth and sanctifieth Sinners by his precious Blood Rom 5.9 Heb. 13.12 1 Cor. 6.11 This speaks forth the worth of Christ 2. God shews the Sinner in the Glass of the Gospel the unsearchable Riches of Jesus Christ Eph. 3.8 the exceeding Riches of his Grace Eph. 2.7 And though Christ hath freely richly and abundantly given forth of his fulness so much Grace to so many poor Sinners from the day of Adam's transgression even to this day yet in this Vision of Christ's Riches the poor sinful Sinner sees him still as full of Grace and Truth as the Disciples did Joh. 1.14 3. God shews the Sinner in the Glass of the Gospel the glorious Liberties of the Spirit of Christ Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 And the Saints are commanded to stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free Gal. 5.1 called the glorious Liberties of the Sons of God Rom. 8.21 This Gospel-Liberty is not a Liberty to sin nor may this Liberty be used for an occasion to the flesh Gal. 5.13 but it is a freedom from sin Rom. 6.18 22. in respect of the condemnation due thereunto Rom. 8.1 There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus and in respect of the dominion thereof Rom. 6.14 Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace Thirdly God shews the Convinced Sinner in the Glass of the Gospel his need of Christ and acquaints him with an indispensible Necessity of accepting Christ upon Gospel-terms of Free-Grace Without money and without price Isa 55.1 2 3. Rev. 22.17 God doth by his Spirit and Word inform the Sinner that the Lord Jesus Christ alone is the only Saviour
of the Church in any City and Villages adjacent who for Order sake in Gospel-Government hath Priority Pre-eminence and Authority above the rest of the Presbyters or Bishops of the same Church not alone nor without them but when Convened with them to Act Rule Guide Order and Govern with their Consent Suffrage and Assistance according to the Laws of the Lord Jesus Christ the Constitutions and Commandments the Practice and Example of his holy Apostles Act. 15.2 6 19 22. Nor should the Ministers of Christ strive which of them should be greatest Luk. 22.24 25 26. Neither ought any of them to Love and Affect to have Pre-eminence among them as Diotrephes did 3. Epist of John v. 9. (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6. Titus 1.7 8 9. 2 Tim. 4.1 2 3 4 5. But a Bishop must be blameless an Ensample to the Flock vigilant patient apt to teach not covetous not greedy of filthy lucre and one that Ruleth well his own House that he may take Care of the Church of God holding fast the faithful Word c. CHAP. III. THE Third Work that our Lord Jesus Christ came into this World to do was to institute those Gospel-Ordinances in which his Churches of Saints must worship God in Spirit and in Truth When the Church is Assembled on the first Day of the week in some convenient place to worship God Christ hath appointed that first of all Prayers Supplications and Thanksgivings be made 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour Men having their Heads uncovered and Women having their Faces vailed or covered 1 Cor. 11.4 5 7 10 13. reverently kneeling Psal 95.6 Acts 21.5 or decently standing Luk. 18.11 13. They ought not to sit in Prayer-time unless some weakness of body or some bodily infirmity doth constrain them This part of the Worship of God ought to be administred by one of the Elders of that Church who ought to pray in the Spirit and to pray with the understanding also 1 Cor. 14.15 To pray with the Spirit implies two things First That the Minister have a spiritual Gift to pray Zech. 12.10 Secondly That he have the Spirits Assistance in praying Rom. 8.26 To pray with the understanding is to pray with such words as all the Congregation doth hear and understand that they may say Amen 1 Cor. 4.16 After Prayer the Teacher ought to Read the Written Word of God distinctly and give the sense thereof by Expounding and Interpreting the words of that Scripture that so the People may understand and be instructed or taught to know the Will and Mind of God therein revealed for their Learning and Edification as they did Neh. 8.4 5 6 7 8. And as Christ himself and his Apostles also did Luk. 4.16 17 21 22. Act. 28.23 Reading the holy Scripture is an Ordinance of God unto which Christ hath promised a Gospel-Blessing Rev. 1.3 Col. 4.16 And then the Pastor ought to Preach the Gospel and to exhort the People to Repent and Believe the Gospel to be holy and to walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blamelesly Labouring in the Word and Doctrine to Convert Sinners to Edifie Believers to Convince Gainsayers and to Comfort Strengthen and Establish them that Believe in Christ Also let the Prophets speak two or three and let the rest judge 1 Cor. 14.29 31. Rom. 12.6 7 8. Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given unto us Whether Prophesie let us Prophesie according to the Analogy of Faith Or Ministry let us wait on our Ministring Or he that Teacheth on Teaching Or he that Exhorteth on Exhortation And he that Ruleth with diligence The Apostles so Preached that many believed Act. 14.1 And it pleased God by the Foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe 1 Cor. 1.21 Our LORD Jesus Christ did command his Ministers also to Baptize them that do believe in him with Water in the Name of the Father Son and holy Spirit Mat. 28.19 20. Mark 16.15 16. Joh. 1.33 Our Lord himself was Baptized by John in the River Jordan Mat. 3.13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be Baptized of him Ver. 16. And Jesus when he was Baptized went up straightway out of the Water 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut immergeretur ver 13. and ver 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 immersus Jesus Mark 1.5 9. And were all Dipped of him in the River Jordan confessing their sins We read that both Men and Women were Baptized when they Believed Acts 8.12 But we read not in the holy Scripture of Truth that any Infants were Baptized They that had received the holy Spirit were commanded to be Baptized with Water in the Name of the LORD Acts 10.47 48. Those Men and Women are fit Subjects of Baptism that have received the Spirit of Christ do Believe in Christ Confess their sins and Repent Acts 2 37-41 The Manner of the Administration of this Gospel-Ordinance of Baptism was thus practised in the Daies of Christ and of his Apostles to wit The Person Baptizing and the Persons Baptized went into the Water Acts 8.38 39. And they went down both into the Water both Philip and the Eunuch and he Baptized him That is Philip Dipped the Eunuch under the Water and then they came out of the Water v. 39. The Spirit of God hath inspired the Apostles in writing the holy Scriptures to use one Greek word viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Dipping Joh. 1.25 26 33. Heb. 9.19 21. and another viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Sprinkling So that if to Dip in Water be to Baptize to Sprinkle with Water is to Rantize And the Manner of Baptizing in Water is represented in the holy Scripture by Burying in Water and raising up out of the Water Col. 2.12 Rom. 6.4 whereby is also figured forth the Believer's Fellowship with Jesus Christ in his Death and Resurrection Col. 2.12 Jesus Christ also before his Death did Institute his own Supper Matth. 26.26 27 28. 1 Cor. 11.23 24 25. and commanded his Disciples to do so and to do so often in Remembrance of him 1 Cor. 11.25 26. and as a Memorial of his Death until he come again ver 26. In Administring this Sacred Ordinance of the Lord's Supper according to the Example of Christ and his Disciples these particular things ought to be observed 1. The Time The Lord's Supper ought to be Administred ordinarily on the Lord's Day that is the first Day of the week Acts 20.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. On the only Day of Sabbaths It is an Hebraism And upon the first Day of the week the Disciples came together to break bread c. And the time of the day was at Evening then Christ administred his Supper Mark 14.17 22. 2. The Minister ought to take the Bread and consecrate it by the Word and Prayer
with Thanksgiving and after the Bread is so consecrated he ought to break it in pieces and give it unto the Communicants expressing the words of Jesus Christ saying Take eat This is my Body And after the Communicants have eaten the Bread the Minister ought to take the Cup with Wine in it and in like manner consecrate it by Prayer and Thanksgiving and then give it all the Communicants expressing the words of Christ saying Drink ye all of this for this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for you and for many for the Remission of sins Luk 22.20 Matth. 26.27 28. And the Minister also having received with them 3. They all ought to praise God together in singing an Hymn as Christ and his Disciples did Matth. 26.30 Mark 14.26 Singing is also a Gospel-Ordinance which ought to be performed by the Church as a part of God's Publick Worship Isa 52.8 With the Voice together shall they sing The Matter that we are to sing is the Word of God namely the Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs contained in the holy Scriptures the Written Word of God Col. 3.16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom c. The Manner of Singing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs is to Sing in Meeter and Measure with audible Voice as our English manner is The Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs in the Book of Psalms were Sung in Meeter and Measure As they that understand the Hebrew Tongue know well The End of Singing is to make Melody in your heart to the Lord Eph. 5.19 Singing with a tunable Voice makes Melody in our Ears and stirs up our pure Minds to rejoyce in the Lord but Singing with Grace in our Hearts doth make melody to the Lord. Though the Voice of the Church espoused to Christ was sweet and pleasant unto him in the Song of Songs Cant. 2.14 yet the Spirit acting Grace viz. Faith Love and Joy in the Hearts of the Saints is much more sweet well-pleasing and acceptable unto God than their Voice in Singing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs to the Lord Col. 3.16 Singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord. Query Did not some of the Saints in the Church at Corinth Sing other Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs which they themselves indicted and sang alone by the Spirit with Grace in their hearts to the Lord Answer I think some Members of that Church did compose a Psalm upon occasion 1 Cor. 14.26 And it is my Opinion That a Minister or Member of the Church if he hath received a Gift of the Spirit to Sing may Sing in the Church to Edification 1 Cor. 14 15. yea and ought so to do 1 Pet. 4.10 11. But this I say First That those Hymns and Spiritual Songs which Ministers or Members of the Church do indict and Sing are not Psalms and we are commanded to instruct and exhort one another in Psalms and to Sing Psalms as well as Hymns and Spiritual Songs Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 And I know that the word Psalms is interpreted David's Psalms the Book of Psalms and the Psalms of David Asaph c. Search those Scriptures Acts 1.20 Acts 13.33 35. Luk. 20.42.24.44 Secondly That those Ministers and Members of the Church cannot affirm will not assert that their Hymns or Spiritual Songs are materially the Inspiration of the holy Spirit as the Book of Psalms were they may Sing with the Spirit and with understanding unto Edification but the Psalms of David and of Asaph and the Song of Songs which is Solomons and the Hymns of Jesus Christ and his Apostles must have the Pre-eminence Thirdly Although I have also through the riches of Free Grace received the holy Spirit and have learned in some measure what it is to pray in the Spirit and to pray with understanding Also to Sing in the Spirit and and to Sing with Understanding yet I rather chuse to Sing in the Church those Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs which are contained in the holy Scripture than any of my own inditing for these Reasons because First Although I should be assisted by the holy Spirit of God to indite an Hymn or a Spiritual Song and Sing it in the Church with Grace in my heart and so make melody to the Lord and edifie the Church yet some matter thereof may be doubtful to some persons that hear me Sing it if that matter be Prophetical or Mysterious and they understand it not or if there should be any words or sentences therein expressed which are not sound words For I pretend not to Sing by the Spirit otherwise than to pray by the Spirit to wit as the Spirit helpeth mine Infirmities which I may be subject to and so through my Infirmity may err or utter some unsound words Secondly When I Sing a Psalm Hymn or Spiritual Song which is written in the holy Scripture of Truth none but an Atheist or an Atheistical Spirit will object against the Matter of it for those Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs were given by Inspiration of God and Revelation of the holy Spirit and I do only translate them into English Meeter and Measure out of the Hebrew Text that the Church may Sing them together with their Voice making Melody to the Lord by Singing praises to the Lord with Grace in their hearts Thirdly The Church cannot practise the Lord's Command given by the Apostle to those two Churches and all other Churches of Saints though they Sing Hymns and Spiritual Songs unless they also Sing Psalms which are by the same holy Spirit that inspired David to indite them expounded and interpreted The Book of Psalms and The Psalms of David c. as hath been proved by those Scriptures aforecited which the Reader is humbly desired to search CHAP. IV. Lastly THE Lord Jesus Christ having finished the work for which he came into this WORLD being to leave the WORLD and return to Heaven whence he came Eph. 4.9.10 did at the Request of his Disciples Matth. 24.3 4. foretel them the Signs of his Second Coming and of the End of this WORLD The Ending Time of this WORLD and the Second Coming of Christ have some evident Signs set upon them And God hath caused those Signs to be Recorded and Written in the holy Scripture of Truth First To strengthen the Faith of his People that they might upon Scripture ground believe that this World shall have an End and that the LORD Jesus Christ will come again from Heaven in Power and great Glory And Secondly To leave all Unbelievers without excuse One Sign of the Ending Time of this World is the last and greatest Apostasie of Professors and the Laodicean Lukewarmness of Ministers and Members in the Churches of Christ The first great Apostasie which the Apostle foretold was a departing from the Faith of the Gospel which Christ and his Apostles had preached and which the Churches their Ministers and Members had imbraced and professed 1 Tim. 4.1 3.
own unwillingness Thou wilt not come to Christ this Jesus Christ complained of John 5.40 But ye will not come to me that ye might have life Ah! woe's me saith the poor lost sinner If I were so deeply humbled for my sins if I had a soft broken penitent heart if I could get victory over my corruptions then I should be willing to come to Christ for pardon and for salvation but these things hinder me and discourageth me from coming to Christ I am ashamed to come I am afraid to come I confess I am unwilling to come yet know God and Christ is willing that thou shouldest come Mat. 11.28 And ere long the Day of God's Power will come upon thee and then thou wilt be willing Psal 110.3 Thy People shall be willing in the Day of thy Power Secondly I exhort you to believe in Christ When the Jaylor asked Paul and Silas and said Sirs What must I do to be saved They said Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16.30 31. This is that glad Tydings of the Gospel which Christ hath commanded and commissioned his Ministers to Preach unto every creature Mark 16.15 16. He that believes shall be saved but he that believes not shall be damned There is an absolute necessity of believing in Jesus Christ unto salvation for without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 Alas saith a poor sinner I cannot Believe I know not how to Believe what shall I do to Believe I answer Faith is not of our selves it is not of works but it is the Gift of God Eph. 2.8 9 10. The Faith of the Operation of God Col. 2.12 It is the exceeding greatness of his mighty power Eph. 1.19 20. The same Almighty Power of God that raised Jesus Christ from the dead must raise the soul of a sinner from the death of sin unto the life of Righteousness The soul being dead in trespasses and sins must be quickened together with Christ and raised together with Christ Eph. 2.5 6. Thirdly I exhort you to Repent of your sins Repentance is also the Gift of God Act. 11.18 Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted Repentance unto life Evangelical Repentance is a godly sorrow for sin or a sorrowing for sin after a godly manner 2 Cor. 7.9 10. For godly sorrow worketh Repentance to salvation c. which Gospel-Repentance consists of confession of sins to God contrition and mourning for sins before God and turning from sins unto God with our whole heart and with our whole man in Spirit Soul and Body And I do exhort sanctified Believers to prepare themselves to leave this world and to enjoy the world to come Noah did prepare himself all the time he was building the Ark by being a just and perfect man and walking with God Gen. 6.9 for the Ending Time of this world draws near And the End of our natural life is to us the End of this World And that we may be prepared we ought to dye daily to sin to self and to this evil world And we must live to God live God in Christ Jesus Titus 2.11 12 13 14. For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works THE WORLD to Come CHAP. I. Wherein the General Position is propounded proved explained 1. The Position propounded THere is a World to come wherein will be the New Heavens a New Earth and the New Jerusalem also the Kingdom of Christ and his Saints the Resurrection of the Dead and the Eternal Judgment which World to come will begin when the LORD Jesus Christ shall come again from Heaven 2. The Position proved The holy Scripture of Truth doth Testifie 1. That there is a WORLD to come Matth. 12.32 But whosoever speaketh against the holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven him neither in this World neither in the World to come Eph. 1.20 21. Not only in this world but also in that which is to come And Heb. 2.5 For unto the Angels hath he not put in subjection that WORLD even that to come 2. That then the LORD Jesus Christ will come again from Heaven Phil. 3.20 For our conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Heb. 9.28 And to them that look for him shall he appear the Second Time c. 1 Thes 3.13 At the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ with all his Saints 3. That then there will be the New Heavens and a New Earth and the New Jerusalem yea and all things new Isa 65.17 I create New Heavens and a New Earth 2. Pet. 3.13 We according to his promise look for New Heavens and a New Earth c. Rev. 21.1 2. And I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth And I John saw the holy City the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven c. And Heb. 12.22 23 24. The heavenly Jerusalem 4. That the LORD Jesus Christ and his Saints shall have a Kingdom and shall Reign on Earth Dan. 7.13 14. 27. And there was given to him a Kingdom Zech. 14.9 And the LORD shall be King of all the Earth Dan. 7.27 And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven shall be given to the People of the Saints of the most High c. Rev. 5. 9 10. And thou hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall Reign on Earth Also Rev. 11.15 20.4 And they lived and Reigned with Christ a thousand years 5. That then there shall be a Resurrection from the Dead 1 Thes 4.16 And the dead in Christ shall rise first Rev. 20.5 6. And the Rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished 1 Cor. 15.21 22 23-51 52. And the dead shall be raised incorruptible c. 6. That then shall be the last and Eternal Judgment Rom. 14.10 and 2 Cor. 5.10 For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ And Act. 17.31 Rom. 2.16 and 2 Tim. 4.1 Who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom 1 Pet. 4.5 Ready to judge the quick and the dead Eccles 12.14 God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing c. Rom. 2.16 and Matth. 12.36 called the Eternal Judgment Heb. 6.2 So then without all controversie or any modest contradiction we have the Testimony of Christ his Apostles and Prophets recorded in the holy Scripture of Truth for the full confirmation of our general Position 3. The Position explained In explaining our general Position I shall begin with the first