〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OR THE SAINTS FIRST REVEALED AND COVENANTED MERCIES Shortly Approaching As being the Main Scope of Revelation-Prophesie Opened and Resolved by Christ's Divine Key of Prophesie in the four last Chapters thereof In exceeding much Mercy lately Discovered to the Weak and Unworthy Pen-man of the ensuing Work and especially by the help of the more late and very Useful Key and Covenants An. Dom. 71. with Parallels of Dan. and Rev. more directly leading us to the last said great Discoveries Explained in our last Books And for the better Improvement of them all here is prefixed a Summarie of the Clearest and most Aboundant Scripture-evidence of that Blessed State of the World to come In Reference to a Scheme or short Prospective View of the Whole from God's Word By W. Sherwin Minister of the Gospel LONDON Printed in the Year 1676. The Introduction to our Scheme or short Prospective View of the most strong and clear evidence of the blessed state of the 1000 Years Rev. 20. as is manifest in our late Works Shewing 1. THat such a state shall be in the World in the seventh Millen 2. What that state is declared to be from the Word of God 3. Shewing in a fit Latitude the time when or the neer approach of that said state 4. How or by what means it shall be set up 5. Unto these we shall add somewhat of the Usefulness of that excellent gracious Discovery thereof chiefly from Parallelling Dan. and Rev. both in connexion of Matters and Times as leading us to the fourth Gentile Monarchie wherein Gods Kingdome of the Stone Dan. 2.44 was to be set up An. Dom. 34. for 1666. years from Christs Ascention to his Descending again to break all adverse Kingdomes and Dominions until it self become a Mountain v. 34 41. about An. Dom. 1700. with the allowance of Bishop Vshers four years lost or more and so probable to be sooner Concerning the first three things are here to be done first to prove as in the method Iren. Chap. 1. the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 namely to shew that such a Sate or Kingdome shall be which is abundantly proved in our said work first from the seven Foundations in our Irenic mentioned in the beginning thereof â—dly From the other seven Convincing Arguments besides that Third in the Word Written all which are of very large comprehensiveness and if duly weighed will be found to be of very great force And all our Parallels of Danniel and Revelation do also very greatly establish these Truths all which we refer to the Judicious and Impartial Readers perusal together with the Twelve Foundations of our Faith thereof proved all along from Gen. 3.15 to the end of the Revelation which Faith was also much formed by our 31 Useful Observations to understand Mystical Prophesies and by the short Assertions and useful and needful Distinctions in our Key To the due consideration of all which we advise the serious reading of our Account of the whole Work first more generally of the subject p. 1 2. and 2dly of the Nature Use and Order of the Parts of the said Work in page 2 3 4. with the two first leaves of the General Title Page or of the said Twelve Foundations and in the two first leaves of the last Book on Rev. 21.5 shewing what parts serve for Explication what for Confirmation and what for Illustration and Application c. page 1 2 3 4. 2dly To shew this said state shall be in the World which is sufficiently done by our 15 well approved Reasons by the Learned in those Studies to which many more may be added See our New Jerusalem on Jer. 3.17 page 9 10 11 12. Of the most Certain Infallible and Vnresistable farther Evidences ANd now from Gods gracious late Discovery to us that the said blessed state will be the fulfilling of his declared and Covenanted Mercies then in the said seventh Millen unto the Fathers themselves and to their spiritual seed through and with that their own Divine Seed Christ Gal. 3. and 2 Sam. 7.16 to the end as in our two last Books on Rev. 20.5 and Rev. 21.5 is largely explained which Christs said Revelation Key Divinely opens and which we endeavour here to the best advantage we can in a business of this nature to communicate so briefly to all faithful Christians herein concerned and for all others who may be such by setting before all men yet more strong clear and irresistable evidences from the word of God concerning the said Mercies as eternally decreed by God after carryed on in the said Covenants Prophesies of the Old Testament witnessed to through the New to manifest how in the said 7th Milen as Christ by his Revel also hath infallibly resolved us that all shall answerably be done as in good part was shewed in our Picture of Christs most Divine Key p. 63. of the Resur which I doubt not but will farther make the evidences thereof so strong clear and irresistable and as I verily believe of so great weight as greater cannot be had to prove any Truth nor need to be expected for these and greater then for any other Truth in the whole book of God this containing the summ of all namely Christs great work of Redemption as the work so eternally appointed by the Father to be so carryed on by him in the time of his Mediatorship in the first six Millen as by and by we doubt not to prove to redeem the souls bodies persons outward conditions of his Saints and servants then from the Power and Tyranny of their Enemies the World Creatures in that state from the Corruption Curse Bondage Enmity in it since the Fall of Man as in Restit p 45 46 37 c. Whereupon we must lay down this needful Caution by the way viz. That we must distinguish the said General work of Redemption from that Spiritually Powerful work of Reconciliation for his Saints at Christs first coming according to the warrant of the holy Scripture 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling us unto himself and now by his word of Reconciliation Rom. 5.10 When Enemies we were reconciled to Grd by the death of his Son and Eph. 2.16 That he might reconcile both Jew and Gentile in one body by the Cross c. Christ by his death so making an Attonement in his blood by his own oblation of himself once for all his people and thereby laid the sure foundation at his first coming for his powerful and glorious carrying on of all the parts and degrees of the other as being made the Fathers Commissioner during his Kingdome of the Stone whilest he sits upon his Fathers Throne at that glorious delivery of the Book with 7 Seals Rev. 5. to him the Lamb with seven Hornes and seven Eyes to open and execute the Contents thereof unto chap 19. until his second coming at the end of the said 1666. years when he will sit upon his own Throne Rev.
what remains to be done with the Father and by the operation of the Holy Spirit and so 2dly for his upholding of all things by the word of his power c. verse 3. through all those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or several states of thing and 3dly by purging the sins of his Elect 1. by his word and will revealed 2 by his blood shed or to be shed and 3dly by his Spirit given through all the said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Worlds until from his Personal second coming to the Judgment of the great day he perfects the said work of Redemption and by his carrying on of these 3 things in the first 6000 years and that so his three fold most Just Title and Right may then manifestly arise of his inheriting all things vers 2 3. which sâ—ith he his Saints shall also then inherit with him Rev. 21.7 But here some may object that the sixth Millen will so want above 200 years c. Answ 1. Christ tells us of shortning evil times for the Elects sake he may mean it of these c. 2. The sixth Millen in that respect seems more like the sixth day in the Creation at the end of which most probably the Serpent Satan tempted Eve she seduced Adam and God in the cool of the day Summons Arrains and Sentenceth all the three said Offenders and cast Adam and Eve out of Paradise all which would require some considerable time and we know not but that he hath designed the little space of Satans loosing to make it up being a bad state of things with them who shall act in that wicked attempt which yet will not reach the Saints but only make Christ a little work to perfect his said Redemption then by destroying the Devil and wicked men at once when he lastly delivers his Saints in the world as in our six Conclusions is shewed page 17 18. of Restitut also a Germane Doctor gives an account of much more than 200 years lost in several Computations which he mentions and so the 6000 years should be much past but we insist not upon that only acknowleding God is Sovereign Lord of all times and actings in them and for such particularities we may not be curious where he hath not revealed but we see the Parallel of the sixth day and sixth thousand year from Gods one is considerable and as was shewed we have Gods Spirits Guidance thereto and Christs Explication thereof before the little space we mentioned and by all which it may appear there is Scripture ground for Gods Millenniari me for the first 6000 years as well as for Christs on the seventh c. besides God appointed Christ to be then Heir of all things so the order manner means with the times for the same and those times arev ery punctually exactly set forth by Christ himself We shall now proceed to the further most irresistable evidence of the said neer approaching time and state 1. From Gods eternal Decree manifested by his word in four particulars all to take place in the same time and state all which are also Divinely Gloriously and Graciously resolved ultimately that none may dare to contradict under a terrible Penalty Rev. 22.18 19. by Christ in his Book of Revelation to belong to the same The first is his eternal Decree of appointing Christ then to be Heir of all things Heb. 1.1 2 3. from his 3 fold said right which we but now mentioned when the world to come or last state of things in it shall take place of which more if God will in the instance of the Epistle to the Hebrews when the Revelation also declares Christ shall have the Sovereignty and Dominion of the world given to him as Dan. 7.13 14. Rev. 20. and all things shall be made new for him and his Saints ch 21.5 to become a fit Inheritance for him and them as he promiseth as was said Rev. 21.7 for which purpose when St. James speaks of raising up Davids Tabernacle the Spirit of God directs him to set down that great Truth foreknown to God are all his works from the Foundation of the world as if he would thereby shew that the said raising of the Tabernacle of David was a matter foreknown to God from Eteraity Acts 15.17 when Christ will arise and judge the Earth that he may as the Psalmist speaketh inherit all Nations Psal 82. ult 2. Gods Word witnesseth that God made an eternal Covenant with Christ to give to him all his Elect in the said times to be redeemed by him until he receive his Inheritance and when the Heathen shall be given him for his Inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for his possession Psal 2. And so he declares Esa 62.6 that he will give them for a Covenant of the people which the Sep. very appositely and fitly renders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of my Generation not of Bloods or the will of the flesh or the will of Man but born of God as John 1.13 and born of the Spirit John 3.5 6. and of this Covenant the Holy Ghost gives an excellent explication Isa 59 ult As for me this my Covenant with them saith the Lord my spirit which is upon thee Christ and my words which I have put in thy mouth which includes all his Ordinances grounded upon his Word nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed and again he adds saith the Lord for this Scipture is full of Emphasis from henceforth even for ever I do here only briefly touch upon these great things referring what remains to future Discourses if God will and all those so Heaven-born Creatures given by Covenant to Christ from Eternity the Apostle Rom. 8.17 declares where also he speaks of other matters respecting that state of the 1000 years verse 19 20 21 c. that they shall be Heirs and joynt Heirs with Christ and they are also so explained to be the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven called there The Bride the Lambs Wife Rev. 21.2 9. which will be the Spirits of just men made perfect which before that time were in the Jerusalem above Gal. 4. but then coming with Christ at his appearance and Kingdome are called the Bride the Lambs Wife at the Saints first bodily Resurrection Rev. 20.4 5. when as our Saviour prayed John 17.23 they will be then made perfect in one and behold his glory c. verse 24. 3. Gods word witnesseth that God by his said Eternal Decree appointed the Creation of the World for Christ and his said Saints to be possessed by them in the said seventh Millennium for although he made Angels and Men at first in the perfection of their Natures yet he was not then pleased to eâ—gage his Almighty Arm to uphold them in that state wherefore foreseeing they would fall he carries on thereupon his everlastitg designe through Christ for his Saints to his own greatest Glory
c. by whom both the Elect Angels were confirmed in grace and glory and the sins of the Saints should through all times be purged away by himself for the good of whom he hath ever since made his Elect Angels Ministring Spirits having from Eternity given them by his said Covenant unto Christ Therefore the Spirit of God evidently so explains Psalm 8.4 in that excellent Epistle to the Hebrews chap. 2 6 7 8. speaking by allusion there to the first Adam but in both texts Christ is said to be the Son of Man which the first Adam was not but only by Creation the Son of God Luke 3. the last And this Son of Man Christ is he that was for a little season in the world made lower than the Angels but after Crowned with Glory and Honour who for the suffering of death as the Apostle speaks Heb. 1.3 sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high and hath all things as he goes on v. 8. put in subjection under his feet viz. Decretively and Declaratively not actually as all shall then be so the holy Apostle speaks there we do not yet see all things put under him v. 8. and now in some sort or sence the world is the Saints as 1 Cor. 3.22 but then it shall be not only as Christ now providentially orders all for their good therein but then it shall also be theirs in possession too at the said times of the Restitution of all things as our Saviour resolves in that world to come Rev. 21.5.7 Consider well as to this Head our Divine Theses in pag. 3 4 5 6 c. of our first Irenic and Abridg. p. 7 8 c. all though short yet of great weight 4. Gods word witnesseth that by an Eeternal Decree he hath appointed to set his King Christ upon his holy Hill of Sion Psal 2. according to his last Covenant with David for his sure Mercies respecting Christs Universal and perpetual Kingdome that he promised to him for ever 2 Sam 7.16 to the end that after all the vain attempts in the world to the contrary v. 1 2 3 which have ever been in acting since the Fall that Enmity was put by Gods Justice between the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent Gen. 3.15 and will be to that very time when he shall come with his Saints to take possession of it which I doubt not but this Generation will shortly see and what a time of trouble will then be 'till Christs said coming ends it Dan 12.1 Rev. 16.18 experience will soon manifest but notwithstanding all that hath been is now in acting or shall be until then yet saith God I have set my King Christ the great King of the New Jerusalem as he stiles himself Mat 5.35 upon my holy Hill of Sion when also upon his asking as he did John 17.20 he will give him the Heathen for his Inheritance and the uttermost part of the Earth for his Possession and when he will make him his First-borne and so Heir to the Kingdome higher than the Kings of the Earth Psal 89.27 and Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1.5 and therefore when he destroyes the Beast and false Prophet at the Armageddon Battel his Name shall be written upon his Vesture and upon his Thigh whose Name also is called the Word of God v. 13. yea he had a name written that no man knows but he himself v. 12. but yet v. 16. his Name is so written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19.11 c. whereupon he with his raised Saints shall Reign upon Earth 1000 years Rev. 20.4 6. which will be Gods said setting of his King Christ upon his holy Hill of Sion and his possessing of his said Davidical Kingdome for ever 2 Sam. 7. which from our 12 Foundations of our Faith hereof is abundantly evident with others Hence also it is very observable Acts 15.16 17. that the Holy Spirit upon the Apostle James his speaking of the raising Davids Tabernacle which the Prophet Am. shews ch 9.11 the last shall be so that the people shall never more thenceforward be pulled up out of their own Land as also is said 2 Sam. 7 and to be when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in as Rom. 11. which he stiles all the Heathen that are called by my name to which text of Amos S. James having spoken of the Gentils first call which was in part as he said by his mouth v. 7. he then adds after that I will returne which words are not in Amos 9. but Gods Spirit taught him so to explain them and build up his Tabernacle also and as declaring it not to belong to that first call of the Gentiles but as Amos saith when all the Heathen shall be called by his name and thereupon adds that great general Divine Truth here to be especially applyed to the raising of Davids Tabernacle v. 18. known unto God saith he are all his works from the beginning of the world as if he would thereby teach Gods people that it was Gods eternal designe then to raise Davids said Tabernacle in Christ according to his Covenant with David viz. for his House his Throne and Kingdome for ever as 2 Sam. 7. and that all the works of God in the world since tend to fulfil that which is his great designe in that time in the world namely for Christ to reign in the renewed state thereof with his Saints in it where they had all been before so Conteamed Persecuted and Oppressed by the black Prince of this present evil world and by ungodly men also called the children thereof namely of this present evil world And thus we may see in all these particulars Gods eternal decrees are confirmed and explained by Christ as they shall take place in that state in those times accordingly of which much more will be manifest from the Divine exactness the comprehensive usefulness and the certain determination of Christ in his said Key which is chiefly the spirit of Prophesie and the Testimony of Jesus as he had before spoken by his spirit in his Prophets Rev. 19.10 The next evidence of the said sate in the said times is from the most ancient Declarations Promises and Covenants in his word unto the Fathers as the next revealed grounds of the same The first was Gods own Declaration upon Mans Fall That the seed of the Woman should break the Serpents head and because he was to be only the seed of the Woman and not of the man therefore was necessarily to be the Son of God as he was manifest to be in the in 4000 years after by the breaking of the Serpents head by degrees in respect both of his head of Policie and Power at last he should so make way for his own sovereignty and the Dominion over the Creatures at last to be restored to him as largely is to be seen in our Treatise on Gen. 3.15 so that in