of Christs patience Rev. 3.10 But in nothing is patience more necessary then in watching for our Lords appearance and therefore with the work of Faith and labour of Love is joyned the patience of the Hope of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 1.3 i. e. the patient waiting for and expecting him from Heaven as it is explained v. 10. So 2 Thes 3.5 the Apostle prays that God would direct their hearts unto the Love of God patience of Christ where patience as also the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Patient expectation for what faith believes and prayer solicites that patience waits for Rom. 8 24 25 Of which saith the Apostle to the believing Hebrews ye have need Hab. 10.36 For because our Lord not delays in the sense we usually take delay 2 Pet. 3 9. but forbears his coming till the proper time of it which is not yet fully come because that all things that are to preceed it are not yet accomplished therefore we had need be armed with patience or else our hast and impatience may undo us As that wicked servant who relaxed his watch and fell to fleshly pleasures lost thereby all the benefit of his former vigilance so will it also fare with us unless by patient perseverance in well doing we seek for Glory Honour and Immortality Rom 2.8 like rubbish by Fire and a new Theatre or Throne of Glory erected for men of another Nature and spirit to converse in How greatly then should we rejoyce to drink of our Lords Cup and to taste of the same sufferings since for ought we know the Death and Martyrdom of a few more may compleat the number and bring our Lord from Heaven to avenge their quarrel and then our Tears will be rewarded by having them forever wiped away and each drop of blood that hath been shed in this illustrious cause will add a Glory and a Wreath unto our Crown Then shall we in the Prophets words cry out and say Lo this is our God we have waited for him and he have saved us This is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation Isa 25.9 In which place this very Time and Reign is spoken of Lastly we should learn from hence to make a diligent inquiry into Use 3. our Saintsship for since when our Lord come none but his Saints shall come with him we ought to make a careful search whither we be indeed Saints or not least in that day of Tryal which will be revealed with fire we be found deceivers of our selves and so be put to shame by him at his Appearance 1 John 2 28 Many Professors like the foolish Virgins and those who boasted of their prophecying in the Name of Christ Mat. 7.21.23 will be found mistaken and instead of partaking of the Resurrection of the Righteous to whom alone the reward is promised Luke 14.14 will be raized up to shame and everlasting contempt Dan. 12.1 with Isa 66 24 beholding the glory of others who formerly were much inferiour to themsel es but see themselves excluded which will increase their misery Luke 13.28 29. and occasion that inward anguish which is expressed by Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth Ps 112.10 Thus the Psalmist speaking of the happiness of the righteous The wicked saith he shall see it and be grieved he shall gnash his Teeth and melt away The coming of Christ though it be a time of Refreshing as it is called Acts 3 19. to his distressed and persecuted Servant yet to others it will be very terrible which makes the Prophet inquire who can abide the day of his coming or who can stand when he apprars Mal. 3.4 For he will come as fire to chaff to burn the wicked out of the earth Mal. 4.1 And therefore we had need ask whether we can like Gold indure his refining and continue unscorched in the midst of such everlasting burning Isa 33.14 Christ comes from Heaven to take vengeance on his enemies 2 Pet. 3.7 Jude v. 14.15 as well as to be glorified in his Saints and admired in them that beleive 2 Thes 1.7.10 And therefore we have the Great and Rich men of the Earth calling out to the Rocks to fall upon them and to the Hills to cover them Rev. 6.16.17 because truth of Holiness and nothing else will be of any avail at that day which should make us very serious in examining our selves about it Among many other signs which may be given of our Saints-ship I shall content my self with mentioning only two because they do in an especial manner relate to the matter in hand Sign 1. First What love have we for the Appearance of Christ and how are we affected with the thoughts and hopes of his coming Abraham rejoyced in Hope to see that day and when he saw it by an eye of Faith he was glad John 8.56 The same disposition should be in all Believers who are the Children of Abraham and so much the rather because now Christ is to appear without sin i. e. in his full Beauty for lustre of Majesty without any Cloud of imputed sin to eclipse and to hide his Comeliness as formerly there was Is 53.2 and this he will do for salvation unto them who expect him Heb. 9.28 This the Apostle Paul makes a certain sign of the Corinthians conversion to the Faith that they did expect the Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1.7 for he cannot be a true Disciple of Christ a child of the Bride-chamber who doth not inwardly grieve and mourn for the absence of the Bridegroom Mat 9.15 which Mourning must necessarily be accompanied with earnest longing to see one of his dayes Luke 17.22 And therefore the Apostle speaking of the great work that was wrought by the spirit of God upon the Thessalonians he makes the summe and height of it to be this They were turned from Idols to serve the living and the true God and to wait for his Son from Heaven 1 Thes 1.10 And again in his Epistle to Timothy he saith The Crown of Righteousness was laid up not for himself alone Comp. Tit. 2.13 Jam. 1.12 but for all those that loved our Lords appearance 2 Tim. 4.8 So that to have a love for Christ and a longing earnestness that his Name may be glorified and his Kingdom set up in the Earth it is an undoubted sign of the truth of Faith and that the spirit of Christ hath taken possession of us For the Spirit and Bride say come and every one that heareth or readeth let him say Come Yea O come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev. 22.17 20. Secondly What care have we to walk worthy of Christ This is Sign 2. that which the Apostle very often earnestly presseth We testifie saith he that you walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thes 2.12 and having said 2 Thes 2.14
THE Doctrine OF THE KINGDOM And Personal Reign of CHRIST Asserted and Explained IN An Exposition upon Zach. 14.5.9 By Ed. Bagshaw Printed in the Year 1669. The Preface I Am not Ignorant Christian Reader that the Doctrine of the Personal Reign of Christ with his Saints upon Earth which thou wilt find asserted in the following Treatise is commonly entertained with very great prejudice the Scriptures which in plain terms affirm this and which I have indeavoured to restore unto their true meaning being ordinarily interpreted in a sense quite contrary to their literal import and significancy Which kind of exposition under the notion of being Misterious and Spiritual having held for many Ages and been embraced without any further enquiry by men of the greatest eminence for Holiness and Learning even among those of the Reformed Religion together with the Tragical Disorders occasioned in Germany by such who in words asserted the Reign of Christ but indeed under that pretence indeavoured to set up and establish their own this hath ever since made the True meaning of the Scripture Prophecies in this matter to be suspected either of Novelty or else of some Design to subvert all civil Government which men out of their impatience of subjection being naturally apt to throw off they may be supposed much more easily ready to be incited to it if they shall be brought to think that they do hereby God and his Christ good service in attempting to set up his Kingdom exalting themselves as the Robbers in the Jewish Nation did Dan. 11.14 to establish the Vision In answer to all these exceptions and prejudices which it is not strange that the truth is attended and received with no more then that the Sun doth ordinarily arise in a cloud I have this to say briefly that neither Prescription of time nor authority of Persons nor the Error of unstable Men should so far prepossess and fill our minds as to make us shut them up against the impression and entrance of Divine truth which like the Light shines sometimes more sometimes less according as it receives fainter or more vigorous influences from the Spirit of God its Fountain and it can be nothing at last but a resolved and peremptory Love of Darkness which will deny it admittan e by what imperfect Medium soever it be conveighed The first inquiry therefore by persons sincerely desirous of true knowledge should be to learn whether this state of things which I have undertaken from the Scriptures to demonstrate be indeed Revealed by God or not for then his words in this as well as in other Misteries must be received according to their plainest sense in spight both of our own and others pretendedly rational Contradictions And whoever are impartial and Unbiassed in this enquiry reading the Scriptures in their own Light and evidence and not viewing them thorough the false Perspectives which customary expositions have made for them I believe they will be forced to confess that they are not capable of any other Interpretation but what the Prophets and Godly Jews before the Disciples in and the Primitive Church for above 300 years after our Saviours time did understand them in What that is I have here faithfully and plainly delivered and as to myself I can say with the Apostle I believed therefore I spake so as to others I thought the truth to be of that importance and withal the time of its accomplishment so near that I was easily prevailed with by Publishing this small Treatise to do my duty in stirring up others to a more severe and strict examining and study of the Scriptures then commonly they are accustomed to I have no more to add but to recommend it to the blessing of God who can make shall and contemptible means instrumental for the effecting of the greatest Works 6th M. 6 1669. THE Doctrine of the Kingdom c. Zech. 14. v. 5. And the Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee or as it is in the Greek with him v. 9. And the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day the Lord shall be One and his Name One. IN the beginning of this Chapter there is a Prophecy that Jerusalem after it is Rebuilt and the People of the Jews restored to it as is promised c. 1. 16. and c. 8. 3 4 5. shall by their enemies be besieged and taken v. 1. Presently after which Desolation the Lord himself will come down from Heaven and destroy those Nations v. 3. and 5. Jehovah of the Lord whose coming is here spoken of is no other then the Lord Christ or God Man the second Person in the Godhead who is called The Branch c. 6. 12. 13. so named either because he sprung from the stock of Jesse as a Branch doth from the Root of a Tree which is intimated Isa 11.1.10 Jer. 23.5 and so used by our Saviour Rev. 22 16. or else the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here translated Branch may be rendred as it is by the Greek Interpreters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Morning rise or Day-spring which very word is used by Zechary in his Prophetick Song concerning our Saviour Luke 1.78 with allusion to which Phrase the Apostle saith Heb. 7.14 It is manifest our Lord sprang Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Arose as light out of Judah To Christ in both these capacities for he is not only The Branch of Righteousness Jer. 33.15 but also The Sun of Righteousness as he is stiled Mal. 4.2 There is a Throne and supreme Dominion promised both in that 6th of Zechary and more expressly in Dan. 7.13 14. Where he is called The Son of Man which Name as I think principally with reference to that Prophecy of Daniel was by our Saviour all the while he convessed upon Earth most commonly used And that we might not doubt but is the same Person who suffered then that is spoken of to come and to Reign here mention is made v. 4. of his descent upon Mount Olivet which was a place where our Saviour whilst he was upon earth did much converse Upon the Mount of Olives He sate when he foretold the Destruction of Jerusalem and his own coming which was to follow after the Dispersion of the Jews was fully accomplished Mark 13.3 Upon this Mount he began his sufferings feeling here that Anguish and Grief of Spirit which made him sweat drops of blood Luke 22.39 From hence he ascended up to Heaven Acts 1.9.12 and hither according to the Angels promise is he to come down in the same manner v. 11. The fulfilling of which Promise and the Glory which shall follow upon it is in this place of Zechary prophecyed of Two observations are clear in the words First That the Lord Christ will come in Person and take to himself the Monarchy or Soveraign Dominion over the whole earth Secondly That when the Lord Christ comes to reign upon Earth all his Saints shall come with him
That they were called to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ he adds therefore stand fast Ver. 15. We are not onely to be holy as the Lord is holy as Peter exhorts 1 Pet. 1.15.16 but we are to have this end in it that when Christ appears we may have confidence 1 Joh. 2.28 So also the Apostle Peter Expecting saith he these things i. e. New Heaven and a new Earth wherein Righteousness and the Practicers of it is to dwell give diligence to be found spotless and blameless by him 2 Pet. 3.13 which likewise upon the same grounds is the exhortation of the Apostle Paul 1 Thes 5.23 There are Four things which these Expectants should have an especial care to purifie and to separate themselves from 1. Fleshly Lusts 2. Worldly Cares 3. False Worships 4. Servile Fears 1. First from Fleshly Lusts What they are I need not mention For as the Apostle observes The works of the Flesh are manifest Gal. 5.19.20 which whoever do indulge and allow themselves in they cannot inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God V. 21. Eph. 5.5 The New Jerusalem which comes down fram Heaven and is nothing else but the Kingdom of Christ and of his Saints upon Earth is a place of so great Purity that no unclean thing shall enter into it Rev 21.27 Dogs and Swine all Voluptuous and hurtfull Beasts like them they are without the Gates of that City Rev. 22.15 A Christian is said to be already raised with Christ Col. 2.12 and as to the Truth of our Graces we are to look upon our selves as Citizens and Inhabitants not of Earth but of Heaven Phil. 3 20. and so to live like those that are acted by an Heavenly Spirit which daily prompts us to look after a better hope then any thing this present Flesh affords To sow unto i. e. to gratifie which is onely to take a great deal of pains that we may Reap Corruption Gal. 6.8 the same Spirit which hereafter shall Raise and Glorifie our Mortal Bodies must now Sanctifie them Romt 8.11 or else we shall die v. 13. i. e. we shall Rise only to have our Portion in the Lake of Fire which is the second Death where all the Abominable and Unbelievers are Rev. 21.8 Secondly From Worldly Cares we are commanded in an especial manner to beware that our hearts be not burdned with the cares of this life Rev. 21.34 For by such the day of the Lords coming can neither be Foreseen nor desired both their Heart and Eyes being already filled and possessed with another Object When we cry out as Peter did It is good for us to be here we shall never care to come down from the Mount which we here reared up and fancied to our selves As in the time of publick Judgements it is our Duty not to seek after great things for our selves Jer. 45.5 so when we are assured that Christ at his Appearance and Kingdom will destroy this present frame of things and cause all the beauty of it to perish for any ambitiously to affect and pursue a present fading Greatness and Glory it argues plainly that their Faith is but small and that they have little or no expectation of something better Who rightly apprehend and frequently reflect upon the inevitable shakings and Convulsions which the Kingdoms and Glory of this World are subject to will never rest satisfied till they have secured unto themselves a place in that Kingdom which cannot be shaken Heb 12.28 Believers with Abraham David and the Patriarchs of old are but Pilgrims and Strangers here 1 Pet. 2.11 and therefore they are daily to be looking for and up to that heavenly City which is the New Jerusalem let down from Heaven whose Maker and Builder is God Heb. 11.16 Thirdly From False Worships who follow the Lamb must have his and his Fathers name upon their Foreheads and keep themselves undefiled with VVomen Rev. 14.1 4 5 i. e. They must openly own the true Worship of God and carefully avoid all Idolatrous Mixtures shunning all manner of Communion with false and Adulterous Churches from which who so keep themselves they are the Virgins mentioned in the Revelation And this is to be their State during the whole time of the Reign of Antichrist in opposion to whom because they hold the Commands of God and the Testimony of Jesus they are called Witnesses Rev. 11. Since we are Redeemed by Christ we must take heed in every respect but especially in this wherein his Fathers honour is so much concerned how we be found the Servants of Men 1 Cor. 7.23 When the sixth Vial is poured out which I take to be the time when the Jews who are called the Kings from the East shall have their way prepared for them over Euphrates to return into their own Land at which time Christ himself shall appear at the Head of them Mic. 2.12.13 Then is there this voice as it were from heaven Behold I come as a Thief blessed is he that watcheth and who keepeth his Garments that he doth not walk naked Rev. 16.17 By Garments there is meant the righteousness of Christ for justification and that way of holiness for sanctification which Christ hath revealed he will be served and obeyed in Which whosoever shall not at that time be found walking in but worships God according to his own or other mens devices his works as the Prophet threatned the hypocritical and ceremonial Jews shall not prove a covering to him but both they and all the lies which are found out to support them shall be swept a way the fire wherein that day shall be revealed will burn up all the Dross and stubble wherewith vain men think they adorn but indeed only disfigure or rather defile Gods worship Whatever Paint may be put upon Men Inventions it will upon an impartial search be found almost as little a sin not to serve God at all as to serve him in any other way then be himself hath commanded For the one indeed is bare faced impiety but the other is thus far like unto it in that it presumes to teach God wisdom and so Judas like betrays Gods honour while it pretends to kiss him Lastly from Servile Fears there is nothing more unworthy of a Christian then to be afraid of men since this tends to the dishonor of Christ as if he were not a great King and able to save all his subjects This charge he laid upon his Disciples when he sent them to preach be not afraid of them which can only kill the body Mat. 10 28. and afterwards when he encouraged the Church of Smyrna fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer the Divil shall cast some of you in prison that you may be tempted be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 This promise we do evidently disbelieve if we give way so far to our Fear as to be kept from open confessing and therefore the fearful and unbelieving are joyned together as those that are to have their part in the same lake of fire Rev. 21.8 When the Apostle presseth Timothy to be earnest in stirring up that gift which God had bestowed upon him 2 Tim. 1.6 he useth this Argument For God hath not given us the Spirit of Fear but of Power v. 7. And thence he proceeds to exhort him be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord v. 8. but suffer affliction with the Gospel according to the power of God all those distinctions and evasions which men have devised to shift off the Cross will be found at last to be only the hiding places that fear hath provided to shelter it self in and what the Apostle affirmed concerning the ceremonie pressed and contended for in his time may be asserted concerning all that those who compelled others to them did it only that they might not be persecuted by the cross of Christ Gal. 6.12 But since the Cross doth prepare the way for the Crown let us not fear but rather pray as the Apostles did when they were silenced by their Rulers Now Lord behold their threats and give unto thy servants with all boldness to speak thy word Acts 14.29 Courage becomes a Christian so much that without it he cannot be one but will upon every tryal expose his Lords Honour and Power to contempt and censure The Reader is intreated to correct these following ERRATAS PAge 1. Line 25. is read it is P. 2. L. 31. acknowledge r. acknowledged P. 5. L. 19. Ocadiah r. Obadiah P. 6. L. 6 Wrestling r. wresting ib. L. 28. minute r. minute ib. L. 30. their r. these ib. L. 33. considerate r. considerable P. 7. L. 2. much difficult r. much more difficult ib. L. 18. the reason r. this reason ib. L. 23. or plea r. of p ea ib. L. 31. seeming r. seemingly ib. L. 37. r. his return ib. L. 39 r in a limited P. 8. L. 4. Sesum r. Telum ib. Chap. r. Cup. ib. L. 30. too r. so P. 9. L. 3. rasen r. risen ib. L. 7. his r. her ib. L 10. deceived r. described ib. L. 16. an Universal r. of such an Universal ib. L. 37. exspect or watch r. expects or waits P. 10. L. 10. Acts r. Arts ib. L. 20 r. intimate P. 11. L. 26. hebrews r. hebrew text ib. l. 29 proves the curiosity r. reproved their curiosity 1. L. required r. inquired P. 12. L. 23. it duration r. it 's duration P. 13. l. 30. merrily contemned r meerly to be contemned ib. L. 32. Mistery r. Majesty ib. L. 33. ond r. and ib. l. 39 the canse r. the curse P. 14. L. 30. an Orthodox r are Orthodox ib. L. 34. r. fifty years ib. L. 37. r. there shall be that ib. L. 39. r. We do also ib. L. 40. r. upon Earth P. 15. L. 2. dele which also the Apostle calls our Mother that is above 16. L. 7. that heathens r. the heathen P. 16. L. 12. proceeded r. proceeded so far P. 17. L. 24. Beast or Church P. 39. L. 49 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 23. L. 33. exepted r. exerted P. 27. L. 27. like Rubbish by fire r. When Gods Jewels are made up and that Summe sealed then shall this perishing frame of things which now have the holy seed for its hidden support be consumed like Rubbish by fire FINIS