us do suppose him to be Elias though Christ himself hath told us he is come already And some other think him to be that beloved Disciple mentioned in the 21 Chapter of St. Johns Gospel where our Saviour presaging in what mode Peter should suffer and he then asking What that Disciple should do was thus answered If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee follow thou me Whereupon some inferred that Disciple he should not die though as was then averred in the words following Christ said not so nor as I believe intended it should be so understood yet that interpretation is retained by some to this day and now as I hear made use of to countenance the forementioned Rumour whereof I confess my self incredulous for the reasons afore expressed Doubtless when such an occasion was given to have it explained Christ would not have left that ambiguous which was misunderstood and so l believe of every mysterious expression which is necessary to be known by all men as pertinent to their Salvation unless it be to make us wary by what Spirit we interpret holy Scripture lest that which leads into all Truth may by our negligence or vain curiosity lead us into errors if misapprehended If there be any point mentioned in holy Scripture relating to the Kingdom to come which is topical or national let them look to it whom it concerns for I conceive not that it any otherwise concerns us then as it shall have an Universal Locality upon earth without respect to any Nation or Place in particular as appears to me by the words of our Saviour to the woman of Samaria John 4. 21 22 33. Woman said he believe me the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountain or in Jerusalem worship the Father Ye worship ye know not what c. But the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship in Spirit and Truth c. VVhence I collect that if Place were not essential to the true VVorship of God when Christ first came into the world it will be less essential thereunto at his second coming or to have it limited to a narrower extent then to the whole Earth and all Nations 15. I am not doubtful but that in the last times there will be some extraordinary and eminent transactions and some in the next year after this 1665. and during four or five and thirty years after 1666. in relation to the approaching Kingdom of Christ and to those who have been so many Ages reputed the Off-spring of the Patriarks scattered throughout the world and I believe God will in his own time fulfil all his Judgements threatned for their Apostacies and obstinacies as also his gratious promises made unto their Fore-fathers but when that will be accomplised that or in what manner will be done which is expected concerning the Jews I leave it to Gods good pleasure and unto them to search in what mode it will be who think it concerns them more then I do who am contented with those manifestations which I finde in the Word of God not repugnant to each other or above my understanding There will be such Signs VVonders and Miracles as have been fore-told as also extraordinary preparations by Divine Providence before Christs second Advent which the Elect shall have sufficient means to know and make such use of as most tends to Gods Glory and to preserve them faithful to the end Yet unsafe it may be and an occasion of multiplying needless fears and troubles upon our selves to make such Ideas of Christs Kingdom and Raign upon Earth or such signs of its approach as are not plainly warranted by the VVord of God whose hidden wayes are past our finding out and so much as is revealed will be obscure to them whose unsanctified hearts seek after it in curiosity onely or with more desire to finde them sutable to their own imaginations that they may have somewhat wherein to glory then to make their ways conformable to Gods VVe are much taken with Novelties especially when we our selves first bring them to light and very apt superstitiously to repute things holy or unholy which Have neither holiness or unholiness in them except by our abuse VVe esteem some unholy which are sanctified some other to be holy which have no holiness in them but rather that which is most contrary For Example That is said to be the Holy-land which hath been during many Ages the most accursed of all Lands That to be a holy War which was but a wicked-politick divertisement of Antichrist to prevent the Interruption of his growing Grandeur by the Kings and Princes whom by that Engine he fool'd into an employment far from home That is said to be a holy Nation which hath had a long time no more holiness in it them Judas who betrayed Christ They are invocated and hallow'd as Saints and holy Martyrs who were Traytors both to God and men and whilst they lived not reputed so holy as some of their Neighbours And that Cross whereon our blessed Saviour was crucified is not onely called holy but reputed worthy of Divine honor also and hath many costly buildings dedicated thereunto and the chips of it sold for precious Relicks at dear rates though in truth it is not so holy as the Gallowes at Tibourn because that was intended for the execution of Justice upon Malefactors only though perhaps innocents do suffer thereupon otherwhile while We have many Inventions of our own The Devil hath so many deceitful Wiles also whereby to make false shows that he is promoting Gods VVork with him in every Dispensation that I suspend my belief of new Apparitions until I am fully convinced by a better Light then mine own bearing witness thereunto and therefore have here thrust in such Caveats as came into my heart to be a memorandum both to my self and others believing that whensoever Gods Kingdom comes openly into the world or invisibly into my heart where I feel it to be in some degree it will always evidence it self without delusion For it is the Kingdom of our heavenly Father which we are taught to petition for in this Prayer and nothing like the Kingdoms of this world 16. This is that Kingdom whose coming the Saints have long expected and though I mis-judge not of their so doing who call it the Fifth-Monarchy I think that Title too mean an Appellative in regard it is an Eternal Kingdom having no relation to Earthly Monarchies in respect of their precedency or otherwise but an Absolute Kingdom depending on it self and on him onely who is the Supream King thereof And when it comes into the World it will be little available to those who shall not find it to be in some measure come or so coming into their hearts that they may be made one with it and with the King thereof by Faith and Love This is not a Kingdom like that of the Nations which the Israelites foolishly
as might neither be unacceptable to God nor an offensive stumbling-block to the weak Converts of those times wherein they were composed And if this be granted Why should we not likewise think that all those Forms of Prayer and Praise whatsoever which were at any time Originally inspired by the Spirit of God whether suddenly or by premeditation will always be effectual for them who shall pray in the same Form with the same integrity of heart and with the same intentions when the necessities or occasions are the same especially when upon well weighing the words they shall and may if need be tacitely or explicitely wave such of them or their commonly received sence as the mutability of events or the practice of the times or their misunderstanding of them hath made offensive to them or the consciences of their weak Brethren to whom offence may be thereby given For this is no more then we do if we do as we should when we pray in the words of Davids Psalms the literal sence whereof may be in some places retained and must be waved in some other lest we pervert the meaning of the Holy Ghost 10. In thus using our Christian Liberty and Prudence if we become offensive to any against our wills it is an offence rather taken then given yea such an offence as will of necessity be and cannot be totally avoided whether we joyn with others in their Forms of Prayer and Praise or absent our selves from them because whether we communicate or not we shall offend some weak Brethren on one hand or the other unless we will exclude all from being our Brethren in Christ who are not altogether one with us in our judgement and practice in each circumstance which I shall never do in regard in such things at we differ upon it fares with us as with such as paint the similitude of a City or Castle which may much differ in the portraicture yet each several resemblance be true because the several stations in which the Artists take view of the place will occasion a great dissimilitude of that which is represented We therefore in such things as I now treat of can by no means be preserved blameless or excused but by taking heed that we sin not against our own Consciences or knowledge in what we do nor judge uncharitably of those who in like manner believe and act as they are perswaded in their hearts and in prosecuting that whereby if it be offensive greater offences may be avoided This being well considered as also that there is no publick Liturgy or private set Form of Prayer extant to my knowledge in the Christian world so absolutely perfected of all occasions persons times places but that it may justly admit of some additions or alterations except onely this which was recommended to his Church by our Saviour and is therefore commonly called The LORDS PRAYER this we ought to adhere unto as the onely standing Form and Pattern to be Vniversally received by all Christians as it hath been by all true Believers ever since the first institution thereof and wherein they ought unanimously to joyn without scruple until the Kingdom comes to perfection on earth which we thereby pray for Herein we may all together joyn in words comprehending every particular Member of Christ Jesus and his whole Mystical Body speaking as it were with one mouth for and in the name of all And it contracts a common treasure of Mercies though not in the Popish sence or to be disposable as that Church fancies out of which every Individual Member of the true Catholick Church is relieved and provided for both to his temporary and spiritual well-being yea many millions before they had any more then a potential Being as also many after they had a visible Being were and are benefited thereby and reduced from being despisers or heedless of that gracious Provision which was made for them and to the enjoyment whereof their own prayers whilst they were in that minde could not else have brought them no nor any other Mediator but the Author of this Prayer Nevertheless this excellent Form ought neither to be superstitiously used as it is by some or compulsively imposed upon any who is conscienciously scrupulous of using it until he shall be fully convinced of that whereof he doubteth The Christian Liberty which I take unto my self and allow to all other men in things relating to God and their Consciences I have as occasions were from time to time offered declared in several Tracts heretofore written intending nothing in a disrespective way of opposition to any National Churches or Particular Congregations or Persons except to the malignant Conventicle of Antichrist onely but that all they who have protested against it may agree together in that Truth to the glory of God and to the mutual edifying of each other in love For The Spouse of Christ hath Daughters many a one But so fair as their Mother she hath none However to the blackest fair befal For I have an affection for them all 11. I have made this Preamble larger then I thought it would have been when I began but it is not material whether I preach in the Porch or in the Church so I teach true Doctrine and may respectively be heard Many Precautions appearing necessary to prevent such Objections as might probably obstruct my good purpose have occasioned the spinning of so long a thread yet I shall presume to make a little longer to clear the way to a right understanding and use of that which Christ hath left to his Church both for a Pattern of Prayer and Praise and to make that more plain which I have touched upon before The Romanists will have that and all Publick Prayers made in the Latine Tongue as being now the holy Catholick Language and as if the Vnity of the Church in Prayer consisted in speaking the same words though not understood which is an Antichristian Principle wherein lieth a grand cheat Some who joyn in words that they understand not moved in Conscience toward God to do as they are taught and knowing no other way of serving and worshipping may as I believe pray in and by the Spirit helping them in their ignorance as Paul seems to imply but the Doctrine and practice of their Teachers is directly contradictory to that Apostles practice and demonstrates by what spirit they are guided We ought to pray both in the Spirit and with our understanding also as far as it will extend This Prayer may be used in the Original words or in any other Language by them who understand it and in our Mother-tongue translated into such words as contain the true sense thereof It comprehends as is aforesaid explicitely or implicitely all things whatsoever essentially pertinent to the glory of God and the well-being of his people in general and in particular throughout all times and upon all occasions insomuch that by conforming to that Pattern or the sense thereof though in
that he should immediately expire his soul Yet there was no water entred into the Ship This he told me in such a manner as if he had been then sensible of that distemper by his misapprehension Much more therefore may our Fancies delude us by Spiritual misapprehensions if we be not watie of surprizes especially when such imaginary Objects and false Representations of our frail deluded senses are heightned by that which is cunningly suggested by the Devil Perhaps it will be thought by some that in this and some other Expressions I ramble from the matter in hand But be it known that the way of a Contemplative Soul being like that of an Eagles in the Aire which is the Hieroglyphick thereof tends directly toward what it seeks though it appears not so to the beholders and to what quarter soever it flies minds that Carkas which is the true nourishment thereof 19. Having declared what Kingdom that is which we pray for I will now shew unto whom it belongs which is evidenced by this pronoun THY. It may be collected from what I have already expressed Yet that whereunto my Meditation thereupon leads me will not be useless The word THY implies that this Kingdom is our Fathers to whom we pray Not a Kingdom to be possessed by a single Person whom we know not who perhaps may be a Stranger and a Tyrant or such a one who will suppose as most earthly Kings do that it was conferred upon him meerly for his own sake without respect to the welfare of the people under his Jurisdiction as if the Commonalty of all Nations had been born to no other purpose but to be inslaved to their Will or to be Servants at best to advance their Pomp and to be serviceable to their Lusts But this is not to be feared when this Kingdom shall come We know whose the Kingdom is and who shall Reign over it It is our Fathers Kingdom and that assures us as is before hinted that in praying for it we petition for that which tends not only to our Fathers Honor but to our own Preferment also We have no possibility to be totally freed from the Tyrannies of Temporary Governments and Governours but by the coming of this Kingdom For neither Democracy nor Aristocracy nor a Monarchy regulated nor any other humane Form of Government how often soever we change Persons is free from corruptions or the increase of them likely to have a stop until this Kingdom comes which were it but in respect of that alone will make us partakers of the greatest Temporal Mercy that may be enjoyed upon the Earth next to our deliverance from Sin For so intolerable are the Deficiencies and Oppressions of Supream Governours throughout most Kingdoms of the World in relation both to Temporal and Spiritual Interests that some Nations care not who comes to Reign over them so they may be delivered from their present Tax-masters Yea are contented to be invaded by Strangers to be beaten by their Enemies and to adventure whatsoever they will impose upon them because they believe it cannot be worse with them then it is or probably will be though they have had long time experience that Seldom comes a better This sad condition the Subjects of this expected Kingdom shall be delivered from when it comes Our Father hath made us free Denizens thereof Co-heirs with his Eternal Son and given us Thrones with Him by an unquestionable unrepealable Decree written and signed with the precious Blood of our Eldest Brother whose Love did voluntarily purchase it for us at that dear Rate It cannot be expressed in words to set forth how much he tendred our Welfare in prescribing this Prayer or how strongly it obligeth us to make a thankful and right use of it 20. Thy Kingdom COME The last word in this Petition is not so to be so understood in the Future Tense as if the Kingdom thereby prayed for had not a being heretofore and at this present upon Earth For it is in part already Demonstrated to be otherwise All therefore which will be further necessary to be insisted upon to that purpose resulting from this word COME is to mind us that this Kingdom is not yet so perfectly manifested as it shall be when that long Day is begun in which the great Assize will be holden wherein the King of this Kingdom shall come to Judge the quick and the dead I do already contemplatively behold it approaching by the Eie of my Soul But that Eie is so dim and my Body so frail that my Heart is unable to comprehend much less my Tongue or Pen to express that little which I conceive thereof But of that unutterable mystery I can truly say this that whosoever endeavours to declare in what manner Christ shall come and Reign upon Earth undertakes a work like his who strives to put the whole Ocean into a Nut-shel and that if the glory of this Kingdom were comprehensible by us in this estate wherein we now are it would not be answerable to the expectation I have of it For the most excellent External things which we can either enjoy or know in the flesh are insufficient to illustrate the perfection of it by way of allusion For the clearest Notions of such spiritual Objects which we may attain unto will be dissatisfactory to the Soul until it is in a glorified Body Nevertheless we may be made so apprehensive by Grace and Faith of the Kingdom to come that we may by Patience Meekness Humility and Love wait contentedly for what is promised and be preserved in a constant expectation thereof until it comes whatsoever Clouds are evaporated from Humane Ignorance and whatsoever Mists may be raised by the Devil to make us doubtful thereof And this we are to Communicate to each other so far forth as it is revealed by the Word and Spirit of God to confirm the belief and expectation of this Kingdom For though they were reputed Hereticks termed Millenaries who professed the personal Reign of Christ upon Earth and that according to St. John Rev. 20. 4. the Saints should Reign with Christ a 1000 Years Yet after the Testimony of the two Witnesses was finished which as I conceive was when the two Testaments were compleated with a Malediction upon them who should take from or add ought thereunto Rev. 21. 18 19. that Opinion was received for Orthodox by the Primitive Christians till the Beast which rose out of the bottomless pit made war against them and slew them For many of the eminent Doctors and Martyrs in the first Ages were of that Judgment to wit Ireneus Justine Martyr Tertullian Origen Cyprian and divers other Christians both Learned and Unlearned And I find by examining it that most Heresies sprung from real Divine Truths misunderstood by humane Ignorance and rashness Such Mysteries being like the most excellent strains of Musick in this respect that as when the Voice or a String is under or overmuch strained though but a
respect Many are called but few are chosen For they are most properly said to be called who had either an outward Legal Prophetical or Evangelical Calling by the exemplary life of the Patriarchs by the Law written in Stone by the teachings of the Prophets or by the Preaching of the Gospel since Christ came in the Flesh by whom very great numbers have been called in every Age yet very few of them saved in respect of so great a multitude of them as have neglected that Call and turned the Grace of GOD into wantonness And the word MANY makes it probable to me that these are they of whom but a few will be saved of those many which are called in this manner for I believe that beside this external mode of calling many there is an Universal internal calling also wherein are concerned with this the other two Regiments also of those who shall be saved and whereof I am next to speak as aforesaid 18. The second Regiment of Saints consists of those without the Visible Kingdom who are Members of that Invisible Catholick Church which is dispersed throughout the World and were from time to time brought into it by the Spirit of Christ preaching as it it said 1 Peter 3. 19. to those who are in prison that is as I understand it to them who surviving until the years of discretion have lived out their whole time in the shadows of Death without means of saving Light by the Gospel preached as unto us For knowing what I justly apprehend of Gods infinite Goodness and Mercy I cannot believe he hath less effectually provided for their Salvation then for our but that he had regard to them even when the Visible Church seemed to extend no further then to the Families of Abraham Isaac and Jacob to whom he spake sometimes immediately otherwhile by Angels or by Dreams as it is said Job 33. in which Chapter Gods secret way of Instruction and communicating his will to men in the night of their natural Ignorance is expressed as also in relation to them where the ordinary means is wanting at this day in Asia Africa America For though Faith was not heretofore nor is now begotten in them by preaching and hearing as with us the Heavens and the Book of the Creatures which was open to the Magi at the time of Christs birth and directed them to him by a Star they not having Prophets to reveal him as the Jews had he might possibly be discovered to others in some such extraordinary manner as will be available For Jesus Christ without whom there is no Salvation and who is by St. Paul called the Mercy of God may be laid hold upon by that Notion through the Sanctification which the whole humane Nature received by his Incarnation and the supply contributed by his Spirit who then took away their Original guilt and inlightens every man who comes into the world may so perfect also what is wanting of the Ordinary means that many millions of those will be brought to sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven Those passive Stones will be more easily hewed and polished to compleat the City of God then the most part of those who were and are formally squared and polished by hired Work men The effects which Gods Spirit alone had upon Abimelech in Abrahams time upon the first Pharaohs upon Nebuchadnezzar Cyrus Darius the wise men in the East and some others without the Pale of the Visible Church as also by the little good effect which the ordinary means of Grace hath had upon the Kings Priests Prophets and People in the Visible Kingdoms and Churches of Jews and Christians throughout all Generations makes it seem probable to me that the secret teachings and inspirations of the holy Ghost improving and sanctifying the Talent of Reason will bring more thousands into Christs Kingdom then all the Priests and Prelates throughout Christendom by the meer external Forms Disciplines and Dispeosations among Jews and Gentiles ever since they had being by reason of their abusing or neglecting the Grace therewith offered And if this be so as I believe it is then these Regenerated by the Ministry of the holy Ghost being added to them who through the Ordinary means are made Abrahams Children by Faith whom God promised to make as numberless as the sands upon the Sea-shore will infinitely augment the number that shall be saved 19. The third Regiment increasing this number is that of Infants two years old and under when taken out of this life These during that time are not capable of doing either good or evil not some of them in many years more and I think it were a barbarous faith to believe all these were born to make up the Kingdom of the Devil Our Saviour said That of such the Kingdom of Heaven consisted and reproved those who denied their access to him saying Suffer such to come unto me and rebuke them not for of such is the Kingdom of God and perhaps thereby implicitely implyed that it was a very offtensive error in those who should believe little children were not absolutely Redeemed by him from the guilt and punishment dur for Original sin And yet it seems by his Disciples rebuking those who brought them that good men may be tainted with this Heresie which so much displeased Christ that he afterward added these words Verify I say unto you Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Childe shall not enter thereinto Mark 10. 13 14 15. So far are they from being Excluded that they are the Pattern of that absolute resignation which is required in all who may expect admission into Christs Kingdom Some will say perchance they must be the Children of the Faithful to Whom this priviledge belongs I say the same for I believe that every Childe born into the World or conceived in the Womb is the Seed of the Faithful when or wheresoever it is or shall be born for in the 87 psalm it is said God loveth the Gates of Sion more then all the Habitations of Jacob and by what follows that many who had their natural birth in Rahab Philistia Tyre Aethiopia yea in Babylon shall be reputed as born in the spiritual sion And it is not to be supposed that a remoteness by Place or Time though it were longer then one thousand years or farther off then the ends of the earth are any bar to the Influences of Divine Grace All Children are the Seed of the Faithful in Noah though their immediate Fathers have been Infidels eyer since Cham was born and God promised to shew Mercy to the thousandth Generation of those who fear him and keep his Commandments This also that follows is very considerable in relation to the Condition of Infants that they were the first who suffered for Christ even when he being an Infant Herod murthered all the Children in Bethlem and the coasts round about Matth. 2. 16. These being dipped