that state which largely might be made thence to appear the Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also is of future signification answerable to the time and state of that Prophesie and some Fathers and even some Papists have so understead that time to be Christs second comeing of which much more might be said but this is to me above all I am sure Christ explains all these in this sence in the Revelation as our two last books if rightly understood do manifest I thought to have spoken of many things more in this Epistle so ordered by Christs holy Spirit as I find them to this purpose as in ch 11. many things of the sufferers and Covenants to Abraham Isaac Jacob and others but we have spoken of them partly in our Key p. 7 8 9 c and in our said last Books and of the Communion in the New Testament state then ch 12. which also we spoke of in the said Books and more in our Tract on Jer. 3.17 and because we have but a short Introduction in hand to our intended short Scheme if God will we will be satisfied with thus much at present to our present purpose The like exposition I have from Christs Revelation of what St. Paul saith of Christs first comeing and the first Resurrection of the Saints 1 Cor. 15. after he had risen above 1600 years before as their first fruits to sanctifie and effect their Resurrection afterwards at his second comeing v. 23. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deinde intends 1000 years after as Christ teacheth shall be the end which will be when he shall have put down all Rule and Authority and Power that is chiefly as Scripture witnesseth Ezekiels Gog and Magog and shut up Satan in the bottomless pit for 1000 years and after that destroy the last Gog and Magog Rev. 20.8 9. and cast the Devil into the lake of Fire and the last Enemy Death will be destroyed with the Author of it the first Soul Murtherer and sin the effect of his wickedness and also the matter for death to work upon will be taken away which are the destroying of death none remaining from thence in the world in the natural life but after the said 1000 years shall be that Mistery of the general Rapture which he speaks of v. 51 52. at the last Trump at his descending with a shout as also the same Apostle speaks at his last comeing which I believe from the same warrant he speaks of 1 Thes 4.15 16 c. as distinguishing his bringing with him all that sleep in Jesus which he had called the appearance of Christ with all his Saints before ch 3. ult from this last when those dead in Christ viz. all that departed in 1000 years before shall rise first then that is before the wicked at the last Trump then both which sorts are these our Saviour calls the rest of the dead that rose not till 1000 years after or till the 1000 years were finished v. 5. the first said Resurrection of the Saints is Rev. 20.4 5. as Christ there exactly distinguisheth both of them and this may be observed by humble and conscientious seekers to be resolved which Resolutions of these Texts I do upon good grounds believe shortly will be approved by Christ himself at his comeing and how matchless a Resolver that Revelation so called with a witness is and in some things with Daniel also such as rightly seek by it as they ought I doubt not but may more and more by their own Experience find and in the interim after all present gainsayings yet with declared willingness to give a Christian-like account to all serious persons c. I bless and magnifie the holy name of God my heavenly Father in Christ my gracious merciful Redeemer of the Lord the Spirit my Sanctifier Teacher to my great comfort and satisfaction of these and many like Divine Truths couched as he hath been pleased to lay them down in his holy Word for others I only here pray saying Blessed and Holy Trinity of Persons in the Unity of the Divine Essence open the eyes of thy faithful servants in these times to understand the holy Scriptures respecting that said world to come at Christs second comeing as our blessed Saviour after his Resurrection opened his Disciples understandings Luke 24.45 then to see the things before and at his first comeing and especially respecting his Death and Refurrection then newly past c. Amen We might here note hat strong confutation might be taken against Pelagian Arminian Popish Socinian Errours many others excite all to get true Grace as the best security of all good to that end lay aside worldly wicked projects in the world and keep close to God in the use of all good means and that Great Persons should kiss the Sun c. Psal 2. but we are forced now only to hint thus much FINIS
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
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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.
and Kingdome of Christ than the first Adam had when he was the only Monarch of the world Yea this most Divine Book will carry us higher than the Creation or beginning of time to Gods eternal Purpose in the four said particulars all explained and confirmed in Christs Revelation Key By the help of this we may judge of the several Prophesies from the Fountains of them revealed in the Word of God as they relate to the Revealed and Promised Mercies in their particular drift as what relates to Adams what to Noahs to Abrahams Isaacs and Jacobs for their Land and what to Davids as to his sure Kingdome c. and upon these Discoveries of Gods so giving them title to that state from the said sure Promises Covenants they will then sing their Halelujahs upon such accounts which the Revelation teacheth both us and them as in our Saints Resurrection largly Thus we may evidently see that what God designed to be performed in the four particulars to be found in the 7th Millennium as Christs Revelation manifests he carryed on in the first times by revealed Predictions and Covenants to the Fathers and their Spiritual Seed through Christ which are also explained and confirmed by the following Prophets all which are witâ—ssed to by the Gospels and Acts and Epistles of the holy Apostles but lastly wonderfully exactly and most excellently explained and illustrated by Christs Revelation and what greater or stronger evidence of these Divine Truths can be conceived or desired Now for the second head what that state is declared to be from the word of God for farther we may determine nothing which we have so largely considered in the times of Restitution of all things both as to removing of Evils and conferring of good upon the Saints first bodily Resurrection which is their inlet into that happy state that we need here add no more but that Christians should attentively peruse for that reason both our said Books which plainly resolve the same And for the third to shew in a fit latitude the time when or the neer approach of that state it was the main drift of the said times of Restitution with their neer approach from p. 53. to p. 71. upon Rev. 21.5 and again to the same purpose from pag. 73. to pag. 77. Likewise for the fourth how or by what means Christs said Kingdome shall be set up not by any worldly means or any help of man saving by Humiliation Faith and Prayer or the like but only Divinely by the hand of God only such as are only called by him Rev 19. and Psalm 149.9 who as he was said to set up the Kingdome of the Stone 1666 years before Da. 2.44 which in that time hath and doth and will in a Divine Spiritual way break v. 34.35 44 45. all the adverse power of the Mettle Kingdomes which at Christs appearance shall all become as the Chaffe of the summer Threshing-flore so God will then give all the Kingdoms of the World unto Christ when he comes in the Clouds of Heaven Dan. 7.13 14. in the glory of the Father and his own glory and of all his holy Angels and his Saints shall then behold Christs glory in that said Kingdome which his Father hath given him as he willed at his death John 17.24 and tells his little little Flock that it is his Fathers pleasure to give them the Kingdom Luke 12.32 And lastly for the manifold usefulness exactness and excellency of Daniel and the Rvelation in cennexion together both for their Subject Matter and Order of Times being Divinely Delivered and ordered for such uses as we have shewed and especially in respect of Christs said Key in the four last chapters of the Revelation of which we have said so much in our last named Book and in what we have here added to that purpose to prove such a state shall be in the world in the seventh Millen that it is not needful here to speak any thing more thereof And for a farther example of all we have said as to the usefulness thereof for explication of Prophetical Scriptures we shall as we said now proceed to show how usefully and surely Revelation Interpretation resolves all passages of that nature We shall consider for a pattern what we find thereof in that excellent and Divinely perfound Epistle of the Apostle to the Hebrews who were a people specially concerned in that state We come now to give an Instance of the great usefulness certain exactness of Revelation Interpretation of all the said Prophetick Scriptures of all such passages in the New Testament as have reference to any of them and Christs Revelation sometimes in connexion with Daniels Prophetick Visions which appears to me to be an Ordinance of his own holy Spirit for that purpose of which we doubt not but to give a good account as God may give opportunity But for this most excellent Epistle to the Hebrews a people most concerned in that Renewed State of the 1000 years the Apostle Paul most probably though to avoid their emulation then conceals his name yet being chiefly to write of Christs Prophetical Office then comeing into its eminency under the New Testament writing to them takes occasion to insert much as it were by the way of Christs eminent Kingly Office in the ensuing state and Christ in his Revelation very Divinely opens all those otherwise dark and by many much mistaken passages as also he doth many of his own speeches in the Gospels that respect that time and state as was easie for us to shew if occasion shall require and St. Paul in this Epistle evidently shews himself to be that person rapt up to Heaven to learn such Divine Mysteries in this Epistle He begins to Mind them of their Priviledge with others succeding that God hath spoken to all such now by his Son whom he first sets before them by his glorious Titles of being the brightness of the Fathers glory and the express character of his person and then what he should be in the ishue of his proceedings as God had decreed both for the things times and way and means to fulfil them he had appointed him eternally to be heir of all things in the world it may be observed that he might well be so for he had made Heaven and Earth at first v. 10 11 12. yea but that was but his transient act before the fall but he hath three great immanent and long continued actings to pass through in his Mediatorship for still the Dominion of the world is usurped by the Prince of the Darkness of it and so first faith the second Verse farther he hath made the worlds viz. the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the states or several providential disposals as we opened before 1. Of the old World 2. Of the new World 3. Of the World to come which he speaks of ch 2.5 as we shall also farther shew by Divine Assistance and also 2dly he by the word of