things were antiently and all along promised to the Jews and Israelites and foretold by the holy Prophets successively in all ages and much by the Jews in our Saviours own time though both unseasonably and unsuitably expected and as Mr. Mede and others from Justine Martyr and other Ancients Testifie how the things in the said thousand years were usually by Christians beleived in the times next after Christ yet what by the subtilty of Satan teaching the Jews and others to affix such vain fables and sensual delights somewhat like to a Mahumetan Paradise to that time of Christs glorious Dominion in the world that occasioned many ancient and modern worthies as may happily more hereafter appear too much to have declined from truth to avoid such affixed errors And since by mens apprehensions of inconsistency of those things with some Articles of Christian faith some have thereupon endeavoured as may appear to thrust this thousand years of Christs raign into such troublesome corners of times moving Tabernacle where it never could long find that rest and peace wherewith it must notwithstanding in due time be blessed And to give such harsh and forced interpretations of many Prophesies both in Old and New Testament concerning that happy time to come as are unsuitable to the purport of them And an other stratagem of late times Satan hath used upon the breaking forth of some beams of light again appearing concerning that said happy period to come to stir up the owners of such Doctrine to turn Libertines Spoken according to the then present apprehension I had tillfurther light through grace as after may appear upon serious view in the sequel from the bonds of moral obedience due unto Magistrates as Christs deputies yea to attempt even to take away Magistracy it self and Ministry too whereas Christs Saints must not take the Kingdom to themselves till he the great King of Kings give it to them in his own time not in theirs or else so personally to understand his raign in his humane nature upon earth in a bodily presence that it may seem inconsistent with some Articles of Christian Religion when sacred truth allows not so to determine or as others by putting unwarrantable senses upon the Divine Mysteries not accommodated to the scope of the Spirit of God therein observable which Doctrine when the Spirit of truth shall defecate and cleanse from all old dreggs and scum of former and late errors misapplications and mistakes I confidently believe for the substance it will be owned as a precious truth among the beloved people of God though we may not put weight upon the gronndless conceits or fancies of men and the sacredwritings both of Old and New Testament may throughly evince it but especially this Revelation of Jesus Christ will necessarily enforce it if rightly and orderly considered especially compared with Daniel Ezekiel and other Prophets My endeavour therefore shall be by the assistance of the Spirit of grace and truth who will lead his servants in due time into all profitable and comfortable truth to point out such things tending hereunto which my own infirmity may otherwise prejudice unto others which notwithstanding as I shall endeavour I humbly request may be done with prayers and faithful endeavours by others better fitted for such a work all prejudices to the contrary being wholly laid aside in considering the last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ in the last branch of it now upon proving and therefore at such a time men had need be wary they do not go about even then to disallow and disprove of it when it is neer to be put in execution especially since he upon earth gave this intimation to the world to beware of infidelity upon this occasion Luk. 18.8 as may appear from the former Chapter When saith he the Son of man shall come shall he find faith upon earth He knew well what wiles Satan would use to darken the knowledge of that time which he the Arch-murtherer of mankind beleiving trembles at as is conceived was the mark set upon Cain his first-born murtherer of his Brother Abel when he himself must be shut up in his dungeon of darkness from seducing men which will be his sore torment all that time and the fore-runner of his speedily ensuing perpetual unexpressible misery and that upon his imprisonment the long promised and hoped for happy light and glory of Gods Church shall arise and shine forth Isa 60.1 which will adde to his anguish And as Cain built Cities for his cursed posterity thereby to abate the sence of his trembling but the universal deluge both destroyed them and their habitations so ever since mans fall the Devil to abate the sence of his own horrour hath been building many Castles in the Aair of wicked designes and seducements but knows when Christs raign shall take place they must all perish with their Author And therefore no wonder that Satan should seek to conceal and hide that period from men raging the more because he knows his time is so short Let us therefore the rather by faithful prayers and diligent search of holy Scriptures commend our selves to the guidance of Gods holy Spirit to be led into all truth and particularly in what concern Christs Kingly rule on earth not with respect unto what owning it hath by men but as witnessed unto by the Word of God which is the said holy Spirits evidence which if he once appear to set his Seal unto none shall make it void but it shall powerfully overcome and be victorious in the end as all other witnessings of Christ Jesus have and do and shall overcome the opposers of them though never so great many or eminent in the world April 24. 1664. MVNVS AN Advertisement Christian Brethren YOu may be pleased to take notice that after the evidences in the letter of Novemb. 1663. in the Fore-runner and my serious weighing of many other Scriptures especially in the Revelations compared with Daniel I was abundantly satisfied that such an happy state of the Church was to come on earth but yet it seeming difficult to me for a time to reconcile a personal presence with Christs intercession at the right hand of God and taking it for a truth that the coming of Christ was not to be expected till the last resurrection And not having so fully discerned then the clearness of a personal appearance above 1000. years before as since I beleive to be evident as by the last Paper of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may appear I thought I had fairly-salved the matter and that my reasons against the personal and only for a mystical appearance then had been good and sufficient with the illustrations thereof added as you may observe pag. 35 36 37. c. But besides a remarkable gracious hand of God upon me as you may there likewisy discern both to discover such remarkable passages in Scripture that seem more strongly to hold out a personal appearance then and to
powerful wonderful gracious and glorious to his Church upon earth as her great Prophet Priest and King Eleventhly Christs execution of the said three great Offices is two ways to be considered 1. More generaly for his universal Church in respect of the several seasons wherein in order he was to execute them severally most eminently until his work of Mediatorship should perfectly be accomplished and full reconciliation made between God and all his elect people his mystical body the true Church being compleat in all the members of it and perfect union and communion attained with himself as their mystical head together with the Father and the Holy Spirit as also with the glorious Angels and one with another in most happy enjoyment of all good to all eternity 2. It is again considerable particularly and specially in respect of every truely beleiving soul in the particular application of the efficacy of those three great Offices to them by his holy Spirit making good means and ordinances effiâ—acious to every faithful soul so exhibiting himself to them 1. As their great Prophet inwardly powerfully and savingly teaching them all necessary truth and doctrine 2. As their great High-Priest in the like way evidencing their peace and reconciliation with God through that expiation he should or hath made for their sins 3. In the like-way also to evidence to them at one time or other that he is their powerful King and Protector that hath and doth and will subdue all his and their enemies and keep them in a loyal and good condition by Faith and Grace unto salvation Twelfthly Consider that the general more eminent and glorious execution of those three great offices for his universal Church more remarkeable in the world is in those three great periods of his manifesting himself in the world according to all that his father had given him to do 1. As the great Prophet of his Church by his spirit of wisdom and revelation in all his immediate Messengers till his coming in the flesh and so Christ is said to preach in the time of Noah to the Spirits in prison as St. Peter speaketh 1 Pet. 3.19 20. 2. As the great High-Priest in the second Period after his coming in the flesh where putting an end to all the types and shadows of his Priesthood he actually undertook in his person and executed the work and office of Priesthood as the great High-Priest having made a full and perfect attonement and satisfaction for the sins of all his people he ascended into the holy of holies the highest Heavens there sitting at the right hand of God the Father powerfully and gloriously there to execute and improve that office by making intercession for his people till his coming again 3. In the third great period of the world under or after the seventh Trumpet Christ will appear most eminently in executing the great office of a King in this general confideration in respect of his universal Church subduing wonderfully and manifestly in the world his own and his Churches enemies powerfully and graciously enabling his Saints to walk in the obedience of his laws taking away in a great degree the evil of sin and suffering with the causes of both by binding Satan and destroying the wicked powers of the world c. I say in a great degree though not then totally nor finally Lastly Consider how Christ hath and doth and will work in these three great Periods of the world In the first he wrought by his Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation making known the Will of the Father in all things for substance respecting Faith and Obedience In the second by his Spirit of grace and truth powerfully sanctifying his people more eminently and largely then in the former In the last when he will take to himself his Kingly power Rev. 11.15 and 19. He will work by his Spirit of Power and Domination Now from the former Theses duly weighed and considered these particulars ensuing or the like may be inferred viz. That 1. If the design of the Trin-Une Diety was to be eminently glorified in Christ the Mediator his three great Offices of being the great Prophet Priest and King of his universal true Church then that greatest glory must needs shine forth in the most eminent way of executing of them But the general performance thereof in the said three great periods is the most eminent way of executing them Therefore That design hath and will be therein most accomplished 2. If the drift and end of the great works of Creation Support and Providence in all things ever since time was and until time shall cease to be was in reference unto Gods glorifying of himself in such general management of these Offices of Christ for his universal true Church then in that respect he is most glorified But their drift and end is so in reference thereunto Therefore God is most glorified in such management of them 3. If such general execution of them in reference to the universal true Church be the foundation and securing thereof to particular beleiving souls or secondly in respect of any more special times or special conditions of the Church as will hereafter appear then all the good of the other is procured and secured by that general execution of them But such Christs general execution of these Offices it he soundation and securing of both the other Therefore The good of both the other is secured and procured thereby 4. If the great works of Creation Support and Providence have been all along ordered in reference to Chrifts carrying on of his great work of Mediatorship cheifly in those three great periods forenamed then such consideration of them is of great concernment to the true universal Church But all those said great works have been ordered all along in reserence to Christs carrying on his great work of Mediatorship therein Therefore Such consideration of these three great periods fore-named for the general managing of all the Mediators Offices is of great concernment to the true Universal Church 5. If such Christs general prophetical Office in the first great period hath revealed the substance of the whole counsel of God in respect of all to be done successively in such Priestly and Kingly Offices so generally considered in the other two succeeding great periods it shall so be done But it hath so revealed and in a great part hath been so fulfilled accordingly by suitable dispensations at all times hitherto Therefore What is so revealed for the future shall accordingly be fulfilled also 6. If according to Scripture experience hath manifested the glory of the Mediators office most eminently for what is past in such general consideration and doth witness the like for the time to come then in due time will be like execution for the general in regard of what remains to be done But according to Scripture it hath been so accomplished in experience in what is past Therefore According to Scripture it shall be so in the time to
divided the land of Canaan in the 50. Jubilee from the Creation which was 2500. years that is 50. times 50. 2. Again saith he when the Jews returned from Babylon after 70. years Captivity it was the 70. Jubilee which was 3500. years that is 20. times 50. or 10. hundreds Again concerning the New Testament times saith he as aptly again in breif the seventh Seal and the seventh Trumpet of that seventh Seal and the seventh Vial falling under that seventh Trumpet brings us to the seventh Millenary or great Sabbatisme of the Saints with Christ in the thousand years as 't is called Heb. 4.9 Again secondly more particularly when Nebuchadnezzar had obtained the Monarchy of Babylon then in a dream is presented to him the Image of four Mettals setting forth the four Kingdoms or Monarchies whereof he was the first the head of gold Dan. 2. after Daniel Chap. 7. hath a Vision of four Beasts signifying the same Kingdoms succeeding each other But the Babylonian Monarchy of gold about 70. years after ended in the death of Belshazzar and Cyrus his taking of Babylon when began the Persian Monarchy of the silver Armes and Breast about the 3390th year of the world according to Helvicus which continued 230. years to the year 3620. Whereupon begun the Grecian Monarchy upon the speedy conquest of Alexander the Great which held according to the said Author 280. years reaching to the year of the world 3900 when began the Roman of the Iron Legs with Feet and Toes of Iron and Clay which last denoted the state thereof in the Popes time which Roman Empire began about 47. years before Christs birth who was born saith the same Author the 3947. year of the world But thirdly From Christs Nativity the account is more certain 1. The Dragons casting down when Constantine the Great set up the Christian Religion in the room of Heathenish Idolatry in the Roman Empire about the year of Christ 312. or 320. as some conceive and from thence to the beginning of the date of the Beast Vide Excid Antichrist whilest the Barbarous Nations broke in pieces the Western Empire about 80. years or more when soon after the beginning of the fourth Century it is conceived the twofold Beasts 42. mouths Rev. 13. began together with the 10. Crowned Horns at one hour Rev. 17. both in the Western Empire But in the East about the 600. year of Christ the Saracens pushed at the Roman Empire in the East as was foretold Dan. 11.40 called there the King of the South And about the year 1300. the King of the North the Turk overflowed all with his multitudes and though Edom Moab and Ammon escaped in Arabia Petrea being a great shelter to the Jews v. 41. as Mr. Mede observes yet though Egypt long by the Mamalacks held out they were at last subdued and at his steps as ver 42 43. about the year of Christ 1517. and that only remains to the Turk to hear tidings to trouble him out of the East probably from the Jews seeking to get their own Country and out of the North which happily may be of the Israelites from Assyria lying North of Judea upon the like design whom in rage the Turk will go to resist in the glorious holy mountain but he shall certainly come to his end and none shall help him ver 44 45. to be executed about the sounding of the seventh trumpet Rev. 11.15 But as for the Pope's 42. months the same time with the Womans time times and half a time in her wilderness condition and with the two witnesses Rev. 11. their 1260. days of years their beginning with his is reckoned about the 406. year of Christ or 110. as some conceive In his viz. the Popes or Beasts said date there are considerable 1. His rise 2. His reign 3. His ruin 1. His rise to the great darkness of Popery towards the 11. Century till the Berengarians and Waldenses discovered him above 600. years 2. His reign whilst he prevailed in his Wars and Massacres against the Waldensian Germane and French Churches above 400. years more 3. The time of his ruin since he hath begun to fall by the hand of God according to his word and though he hath been killing the witnesses for considerable time successively yet at last by killing the finishing witnesses after 3. days of years and an half they rising his great ruin comes on eminently to be finished at the pouring out of the vial of the seventh Angel Whereupon ensueth the glorious Kingdom of Christ reigning eminently with his Saints on earth the thousand years The PREFACE Containing many instances whereby it hath appeared how backward many if not the most of Gods people have been to beleive the accomplishment of the great things that have been promised by God and for long time beleived and expected by his people till near the time of their accomplishment all which notwithstand God hath fulfilled both in the Old and New Testament as is still likely so to be in the great things remaining hereafter to done for the true invisible Church till the mystery of God shall be finished With an intimation how wily and watchful Satan hath been is and it may be expected in these things remaining he will still be more so in opposing and perverting the Doctrine of Christs Reign approaching as knowing that thereby his own Dominion will be utterly cast down THE PREFACE To my late well known and well approved Friends and Brethren B. D. F. K. N. S. T. A. P. I. O. C. increase of faith truth and consolation from him that sits upon the throne from the Lamb that was slain and from the seven spirits before the throne Amen My well beloved Brethren in the Lord IT hath all along seemed remarkable that in the great Revolutions of Divine Providence when great things have been drawing on to be acted for the good of Gods Church though they have been foretold and promised yet at the time of their accomplishment they have been usually by many of God people little expected if not gainsay'd and opposed by most When the 430. years preceding Israels return out of Egypt which God had foreshewed to Abraham were towards their expiration the Israelites would not take notice that God would by the hand of Moses deliver them and even when the time was almost fully come that God should deliver them out of that Egyptian bondage so long as Pharaoh was able to resist they were frequently out of heart and complained against Moses and Aaron and yet upon the self same day from the promise to Abraham wherein the said 430. years were expired the Children of Israel were actually delivered Exod. 12.41 And after that all the while they were in the Wilderness how often upon how many occasions did the most of them turn back in their hearts as the Psalmist speaketh into Egypt and by their renewed rebellion so provoked God that he sware in his wrath against that generation that they
further considering what is said Rev. 21.22 c. to this purpose of of the same time I observed Rev. 21. at the new heavens and the new earth the Tabernacle of God is said to be with men which may denote a near communion in a more unusual manner then formerly and in the new Jerusalem that came down from heaven the Lord God Almighty the Lamb are said both to be the light and the Temple thereof chap. 21 22 23. which may import some excellency both of worship and discovery then to be in the Church Again c. 22. the pure river of water of life out of the Throne of God and the Lamb which may note the abundant and constant overflowings of the graces of the Holy Ghost with power in that time proceeding from the Father the Son and so the tree of life by that river c. to note Christ will be gloriously and graciously present with his Church then to preserve it in that excellent condition as in Paradise if man had eaten of that tree and like to those in Ezekiels Visions in the nine last Chapters of the Temple the New Hierusalem the waters flowing thence and the trees there c. all which Texts seriously weighed occasioned me to apprehend some wonderful new dispensation of grace under the reign of Christ upon the earth which whether it may be some only mystical appearance of Christ glory and Majesty shining from Heaven upon earth either spiritually wrought or visibly apparent as the lighten-from one end of the earth to the other Mat. 24.27 or in what manner or how long that time only may manifest yet Master Brightman who is large upon a flourishing state of the Church of the Jews hath a learned and large exposition of the precious stones in the new Hierusalem applies them spiritually to such a Church to come in earth wherein Paraeus dissenteth from him upon the ground fore-hinted And that Text Psa 110.1 Sit thou on my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool which in the New Testament seems sundry times to have reference to the ruine of Antichrist and his complices seems to limit Christs sitting there to that season And St. Pauls five parts of the mystery of Godliness makes the last to be his taking up into glory as if in that was the finishing of that mystery 1 Tim. 3.16 as the Angel Christ Rev. 10.7 likewise speaks Antichrists time shall be no more But some Scriptures speaking of the end of the World Lo I am with you to the end of the World Mat. 28. ult and so the parable of the Tares the Harvest is the end of the world seemed to oppose any new way of dispensation but setting against those Texts the Angels viz. Christs swearing time should be no more Rev. 10. which some learned Divines expound of wicked Dominion at the end of the fourth Monarchy by the Popes perdition which agrees with a like vision Dan. 12.7 where likewise he swear for a time times and a half when he that is Antichrist figured before in Antiochus Epiphanes and here again spoken of shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people all those things should be finished i. e. the Kingdom should be given to the Saints of the most high as before and Michael the great Prince stand up for Daniels people vers 1. which evidently agree with the times of the seventh Trumpet But for further resolution I considered Mat. 28. ult and Mat. 13. where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies the finishing together while the Tares and the Wheat grow together till all that offend be gathered out of Christs Kingdom of the age as Gods finishing his mystery Rev. 10. and in both those places appeared to be remarkably the same in sense with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 often used for the present state of things till evil Dominion end as may be seen in many places of the new Testament as first for worldly men Luk. 16.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hujus seculi the Children of this world are wise in their generation so of the Devil 2 Cor. 4.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bujus seculi in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that beleive not So Ephes 6.12 The Rulers of the darkness of this world So Joh. 12.3 Stan is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Prince of this world So also John 14.30 which is onely until the same time and so in that sense those phrases seem to be taken till the end of the prevalency of evil men and Devils when Gods mystery shall be finished at the seventh Trumpet when glorious light of grace and truth will shine in the Church of God and for the Parable of the Tares where the Harvest is expounded to be the end of the world it seems manifestly to be meant of such a coming wonderfully at the setting up of his Kingdom where it is said he will then send his Angels to gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and the order of proceeding seems contrary to the last destruction for here the Angels must first gather the Tares and bind them in bundles and burn them before the Wheat be gathered into the Barn the true Church but at the last judgement when Heaven and Earth and all the works in them shall be burnt which is called then the destruction of the ungodly men Christ by a change before in an instant delivers the faithful then alive from that temporal destruction and the ruine of Antichrist seems agreeing with that of the Tares burning first in order by taking of that hurtful brood out of the way c. And in Luk. 17. The examples of the Flood in Noahs time and the destruction of Sodâ—â—m and Gomorrah in Lots time are instance in which were the taking away of ungodly men but not the destruction of the Universe so here 't is said all that offend and work wickedness shall be taken out of Christs Kingdome But as we hinted before of Christs giving the Kingdom to the Saints that it must be his certain gift to them not any mens daring attempts will carry it so if any new dispensations shall be which we but darkly guess at Gods present Institutions must necessarily be observed and prized till in such regard his will is clearly made known to his people for all such affairs are the flowers or jewels belonging onely to his celestial crown that none other may order but himself and in his own appointed time onely and it is a snare of Satan to concieve otherwise thereof and in case Satan know any such truth his malice of late is the more remarkable in his seduced followers who to their own and others mischeif have cryed down and rejected Gods sacred Ordinances in the times when they are most useful and needful for them and others Or by any other ways or means then to make them unprofitable or ineffectual If some Ordinances shall not continue in
those times of light it is like because they will not then be needful as Mr. Archer conceives of the Lords Supper which was to shew the Lords death till he come as when Christ came in the flesh typical worship ceased yet the promise for those times in this is clear Thy teachers shall not be removed into corners any more but thine eyes shall see thy teachers Isa 20.20 yea The watchmen upon her walls shall never hold their peace Isa 62.6 But after all when I was transcribing my said Reasons and was to begin the last page of a sheet unwittingly I wrote them inverso ordine from bottom to top which made me think happily I must retract as to them hereafter which in case of a new dispensation in a way of grace before not known may take off the force of all such reasons Especially if our Saviour promise to be with his Ministers to the end of the world in the foresaid way of Ministration by baptizing and teaching them to observe all that he commanded them before was meant by him but till that time he himself in vision swore time namely of the evil world shall be no more Rev. 10. but at the seventh Trumpet the good new world should begin and such a pattern was that new dispensation to the Israelites when God had by a mighty hand plagued and at last destroyed Pharoah and them when Israel were passed through the Red Sea by Christs conduct then into the wilderness as Moses had signified to Pharaoh we know not with what the Lord will be served there until we come thither but there were new Revelations to Moses new given Laws in Tables of stone again and again new Ordinances of justice in the civil government new institutions appointed for ceremonial and divine worship new orders of priests of Aarons race in several branches in the rooms of the first born besides occasional appointments as the brazen Serpent the Sensors of Corah Dathan and Abiram c. so when God shall deliver his people from the spiritual Egyptian bondage of Popish tyranny and set them in the ready and safe way to the Heavenly Canaan though they have but a moving Tabernacle where he is worshiped in this world yet he may make such new Heaven and earth of ordering matters of Church and State and so feed his Israel while he guides them the sure way to Canaan and the heavenly Sion with Heavenly Manna as in that former type which we may no more know how in particulars then the Israelites did in Egypt and therefore though the thing be most certain that such a glorious reign of Christ is to come on earth which we shall now here contrary to former purpose a little here insist upon yet de modo though I would chuse what is least offensive so far as I may yet I must have an ear an eye open to receive further instruction and light from the word and spirit of grace and truth But at present accordingly for confirmation of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall I say endeavour these two ways to shew the certainty thereof First from the witness of St. John the Angel the Spirit yea Christ and of him that sits on the Throne as ratified in the Revelation Secondly by the other two with Christ at his transfiguration viz. James and Peter and from St. Paul to whom Christ did so eminently reveal himself at his conversion First the Apostle John one of the three at Christs transfiguration which seemed to be with him a secretis as we may say that beloved Disciple to whom the Revelation was given he sets down in sundry places there that the Kingdoms of the world should be Christs Chap. 11.15 And the Lord God omnipotent reigneth Chap. 19.6 And the twenty four Elders give him thunks that he hath taken to himself his great power and hath reigned Chap. 11.17.20 the Saints shall raign with Christ a 1000. years and so often and strongly the things concerning his Kingdom are asserted first concerning the marriage of the Lamb Chap. 19.7 8 and in vers 9. he concludes these are the true sayings of God again concerning the New Heaven and the new Earth when he that sat on the throne had said Behold I make all things new he adds again write for these words are true and faithful Chap. 21.5 and after the vision of the pure River of the water of life and the tree of life by it with twelve manner of fruits with leaves for the healing of the Nations his servants are said to see his face and his name is in their fore-heads and they shall reign for ever and ever Chap. 22.4 5. he adds vers 6. These sayings are faithful and true and the Lord God of his holy Prophets hath sent his Angel to shew unto his servants the things that must shortly be done then in time for eternity hath no such distinction of shortly or long time to come again vers 10. John must not seal the saying of the Prophesie of this book for this reason the time is at hand and Christ concludeth vers 20. Surely I come quickly And further observe how the Prophets Testimony is often called in to these things Chap. 10.7 for at the finishing of the mystery of God it is said as he had declared to his servants the Prophets So Chap. 11.18 that then he should give reward to his servants the Prophets and Chap. 18.20 The Apostles and Prophets are bidden to rejoyce at Babylons ruine because God hath avenged them on her and one of the seven Angels that had the seven Vials full of the seven last plagues that came to John Rev. 21.9 and shewed him the new Hierusalem the Lambs wife the bride descending down from Heaven and after that the pure River and tree of life Chap. 22. and having there asserted the truth of the things he shewed and told her adds and the Lord God of the Holy Prophets hath sent his Angel c. and when St. John was about to worship him he refuseth saying I am thy fellow-servant and of thy brethren the Prophets and of them which keep the sayings of this book and of the new Heavens and the new earth The Prophet Isaiah speaketh plainly Isa 65.17 and Peter speaks of the same with a nevertheless before the last destruction 2 Pet. 3.13 which seems by his words to have been again promised by Christ to him and other Disciples saith he according to his promise and so we have enterd upon the Testimony of another those three of Disciples that were with Christ in the Mount and in Chap. 1.16 he speaks of that power and coming of Christ in that his transfiguration in the Mount as a glimpse of the glory of his coming in his Kingdom vers 17 18. and Chap. 2.5 7. How God delivered Noah from the destruction of the Old world and Lot from the destruction of Sodom which as they were for examples of vengeance to those that live ungodly so he
fifth Petition Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors When Gods people are most ascertained that they shall attain the end of this Petition they will most comfortably and confidently pray according to the tenour of it But in the time of Christs reign on earth they shall be most ascertained that they shall attain the end of this Petition Therefore They shall then most comfortably and confidently pray according to the tenour of it Now this Petition hath a double respect First to the obtaining of the assurance of their own pardon Secondly to engage them to pardon others and both these ends will then be most promoted First their eminent measure of faith and love zeal and sincerity c. will upon their prayer of truth assure them of their own pardon And secondly the exercise of divers of their graces besides obedience to Gods command which requires them to do so will engage them likewise to forgive others Argument from the sixth Petition Lord lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Gods faithful people may then best pray for their deliverance from the evil one and from the evil of his temptations when they know most assuredly by the world that they are for along time removed from them But in the said Thousand years they shall most evidently know from the word that the evil one and the evil of his temptations are so removed from them Therefore They shall then best pray for such their deliverance both from the evil one and the evil of his temptations Yeaâ— their prayer in truth or sincerity will be then both a means of their deliverance and of the assurance thereof as being Gods ordinance for his Church to that end Argument from the enforcement For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory c. The consideration of these enforcements will then be most vigorous and strong unto the Saints when they are assured from the word that there is such a time wherein God will most evidently and fully manifest them unto good and bad on earth at the time of his next coming But he will most evidently and fully manifest them unto good and bad upon earth according to the word Therefore The consideration thereof gives the greatest enforcement and vigour then unto the prayers of the Saints or in reference to that time Arguments from four Articles of the Creed First From thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead Secondly I believe the holy Catholique Church Thirdly I believe the Communion of Saints Fourthly The Resurrection of the body of the righteous Argument from the Article From thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead Arg. 1 THose that rightly believe that Christ will come from the right hand of the Father to judge both the quick and the dead they must believe he will do it in same time the Scripture teacheth it But the Scripture teacheth that he will do this after the seventh Trumpet at the beginning of the thousand years Rev. 11. Rev. 19. Rev. 20. Therefore They that believe it rightly must believe he will then do it Arg. 2 They that rightly believe Christ will come from the right-hand of the Father to judge the quick and the dead they must believe he will do it in the same order that the Scripture hath set it down But the Scripture hath set down Christ appearance or first coming of Christ to judgment at the beginning of the said thousand years Therefore They that deny his first coming then to judgment deny it in that order the Scripture hath set it down in Besides the manner of his proceeding is different at the first and second coming of Christ to judgment At the first he will begin with the Temporal destruction of his enemies First with fine and sword so taking away those Tares by Bundles and then cast them into Hell and then the Angels shall gather the Wheat into his Barn Matth 13. But at his last coming he will first gather the good the dead in Christ shall rise first and the raised before and the quick living upon earth at the voice of an Archangel and the trump of God shall be all changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye and be caught up to meet Christ in the Ayr and so being freed from the destruction of the wicked they shall be ever with the Lord 1 Cor. 15.2 Pet. 3.10 when the Heavens shall pass away as a seroll and the Elements melt with fervent heat and the earth with the works thereon shall be burnt up as the Scriptures witness after the thosand years is past Argument from the beleif of the Holy Catholique Church Such as rightly believe that they are essential properties of the Church of Christ to be holy and Catholique ought to believe it to be such in reference to those times chiefly wherein Gods word declares it shall be chiefly such But in the said thousand years his word declares it shall be cheifly such Therefore They that rightly believe those properties must then according to Gods Word cheifly beleive it to besuch The Pseud-Holy and Pseud-Catholique Harlot of Rome hath long falsly assumed those properties to her self all that time the Scripture hath foretold the world should wonder after the beast Rev. 13. The seducer knowing that they belong to the true Church hath so ascribed them to the false Church that the true holy Catholique Church might not be expected But that hereafter in the said thousand years the Church of Christ will be holy above all former times the Scriptures abundantly shew as before is set down and much more follows And secondly that it shall then be most Catholique from East to West from Sea to Sea from one end of the world to the other there are also plentiful Testimonies which never yet were fulfilled Argument from the beleif of the Communion of Saints They that beleive the Communion of Saints aright must beleive it in that manner and in that time the Scripture sets it forth on earth But the Scripture sets it forth most eminently in the said thousand years to come Therefore according to Scripture they must beleive it will then be most eminent upon earth They will then be of one heart and one way the Lord one and his name one Ephraim shall not envy Judah nor Judah vex Ephraim Argument from the Resurrection of the body Such as rightly beleive the resurrection of the bodies of the just must believe it in the same time and order the Scripture of true had set it down But the Scripture of true sets down the beginning of the resurrection of the just to be at the beginning of the thousand years of Christs reign on earth first the Martyrs and eminent Saints and then every one in his own order Therefore they that rightly beleive the resurrection of the Saints bodies must so then beleive it Argument from the Article of the Nicene Creed He shall come again