The Christian Doctrine of the Day of Judgment, Tract

The Christian Doctrine of the Day of Judgment · Tract

p. 1A REPRESENTATION OF THE Thouſand Years Kingdom OF CHRIST, Endeavouring to Reconcile it to the General Confeſſions of the Faith of Chriſtians; and particularly to the Judgment of the Eminent Servants, and Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt, with a Vindication from Further Objections.

I Can Sincerely Appeal to the Searcher of Hearts, I am in all the Subſtantial, and Eſſential Points of Chriſtianity of the Judgment of all the Wiſeſt, Soundeſt, and moſt Univerſally Approved Miniſters of the Goſpel, and Chriſtians, in the Faith at once Deliver'd to the Saints, and have no By, nor Secret Opinions in Reſerve, either concerning the Perſon of the Great Media or, God and Man, or concerning his Kin…dom, as if it had not been from the Beginning, or were not to be for ever in ſuch Explications of it, as the Churches of Chriſt moſt Agree in according to Scripture.

I make the ſame Appeal conc…rning my Belief of the Eternal Happineſs of the …aints, with, and by Chriſt in the Diſtinctneſs of Humane nature, Spirits in Bodies of Glory, united by Him to the Father, and yet each one in his own proper Perſonality, and ſo made Truly Equal… to the Holy and Elect Angels; and of the puniſhment of the wicked in their Spirits, and Bodies together with the Devil and his Angels, even throughout p. 2a Strict and proper Eternity a Parte Poſt, as They ſpeak, or for ever.

Except therefore my Doctrine, and Affirmation of the Kingdom of the Thouſand Years, can be ſhown▪ in a perfect Amity and Conciliation with this Goſpel, and Form of Sound Words; I Acknowledge It ought to be Rejected; I therefore Attempt in very Brief, to ſhew it to be in ſuch a State of Agreement, and to vindicate it from Exceptions to it.

I obſerve therefore one Great Complex of Articles of Faith, wherein All Chriſtians are, as much, as in any Point of Chriſtianity at One; and They may be thus Given:

1. That there ſhall be a Day or Time before the State and Kingdom of Eternity; wherein Jeſus Chriſt ſhall Come from the Right Hand of the Father to Judge the World, and this, as Man, Acts 17. 31.

2. That Jeſus Chriſt ſhall Come in the Glory, and Power of the Father to this Judgment, and that It ſhall be a moſt Illuſtrious Appearance of his Kingdom, that was not before, nor ſhall be after. For He comes in his Kingdom; and the King ſhall ſay, &c. Matth. 25. and He Sits on the Throne of his Glory. v. 3…. v. 34.

3. That at the ſame Time, There ſhall be a Glorious Reſurrection, and Appearance of his Saints with Him; as Sharers in the Glories, and Triumphs of that Day.

4. That the Saints, that ſhall at that Time be living, and Rem…ining upon Earth; ſhall not Dye, but at the very ſame Time be Chang'd ſo, as that They alſo may have their part in the ſame Glory, and Reſurrection.

5. That there ſhall be a Reſurrection of the Ʋnjust, and of Thoſe that have done Evil to the Condemnation to the Diſhonour and Contempt, and to the Puniſhment that ſhall at that Day be Executed upon Them.

6. That the Heavens and Earth that now are, are Reſerv'd for Fire at that Day, and that Chriſt, as the Apoſtle Paul ſpeaks, 2 Theſſ. 1. 7, 8. ſhall be Reveal▪d in Flames of Fire, taking Vengeance; and that as the Apoſtle Peter ſays; The Day of the Lord Cometh as a Theif in the Night, in which, the Heavens ſhall paſs away with a Great Noiſe, and the Elements melt with Fervent Heat, and the Earth, and the Works that are therein, ſhall be Burnt up, 2 Pet. 3. 10. and again, v. 12. Looking for, and Haſting unto the Day of God, wherein the Heavens being on Fire, ſhall be diſſolv'd, and the Elements ſhall melt with Fervent Heat.

Now ſeeing the very Revelation of Chriſt, is in Flames of Fire, as Lightning; and that our Lord compares his Coming to the Flood on the Old World, and the Fire, and Brimſtone on Sodom, the very ſame day that Noah enter'd into the Ark, and Lot went out of Sodom. Luke 17. 27, 28. The Conflagration muſt be a Conflagration before the Judgment, or Inſtantaneous with the Beginning of that Day, and ſo I ſuppoſe is the Judgment of all Divines.

7. The Wicked Alive ſhall be ſpeedily by this Fire, brought into the ſame Condition with the Dead Wicked, Raiſed to ſhare in the Common Perdition: For the Heavens and Earth that now are, are Kept in Treaſure p. 3for the Day of Judgment, and the Perdition of Ʋngodly Men. 2 Pet. 3. v. 11.

8. Seeing the Apoſtle Expreſly teaches, v. 13. That we Look for New Heavens and New Earth, wherein Righteouſneſs ſhall dwell; It is moſt according to Scripture, that the New Heavens and New Earth, ſhould come as a Veſſel out of the Refiner's Fire, and Righteouſneſs dwell therein. So that the New Heaven and the New Earth, immediately Come out of this Fire.

All this I look upon as ſo Agreeable to Scripture, and the moſt undoubted Senſe of it, that whoever keeps Inviolate this Form of Sound Words, cannot fall into any Great Error, I then making a Solemn Profeſſion, that I am Fully perſwaded of all theſe Things, even to a Plerophory of Aſſurance, and ſuppoſing All Sober Chriſtians herein to Joyn with me, I paſs forward with Greater Aſſurance.

9. The particular Preciſe State of the Kingdom of Christ, as in this Judiciary State, ſhall be deliver'd up at ſome Time to God and to the Father, and ſo the Kingdom and State of Eternity ſucceed, I do alſo ſuppoſe, is the Univerſal Faith of Sober Chriſtians; Although the New Heavens and New Earth may be ſuppos'd to continue for ever, as They are by Mr. Baxter; and, as I Remember, by that ſo excellent Interpreter Calvin on the aforenam'd Text, and very probably by many other Great Theologers, and Scripture-Interpreters.

Now from all theſe Principles lay'd together, ſeveral Points are Allowed upon the Conſideration of the General Doctrine of the Day of Judgment, that are ready to be charg'd as Unreaſonableneſſes, or Antiſcripturiſms on the Doctrine of tho Thouſand Years Kingdom; which compar'd with what is taught univerſally of Chriſt coming to Judgment, will be as a Load taken off from it.

1. Seeing the Day of Judgment is a middle State of the Kingdom of Chriſt between the preſent State, and the State of Eternity; It is hence undeniable, There is a middle Kingdom, or middle State of the Kingdom of Christ.

2. When a Diſpenſation, or Oeconomy for the Divine Glory, as for Judgment Requires it, It is no diſhonour to Chriſt to come from the Right Hand of God, where He is Exalted above All Heavens into the Lower State of the World, much leſs Degradation from preſent Glory for Saints to Come with Him.

3. Nor does Chriſt ſuffer any diminution of Glory, when He Goes back to Heaven, the Buſineſs of ſuch Oeconomy, as of Judgment, being diſpatch'd.

4. There is ſufficient Security in the midſt of the Conflagration for the Bodies of Saints, whether Riſen or Chang'd, though we cannot define how.

5. Nor ſhall the Bodies of the wicked, however puniſh'd, be conſum'd in theſe Flames.

6. There is no Abſurdity on Scripture Account to ſuppoſe a manifold Change of Body according to the Variation of States.

p. 47. There will be Found Room for the Bodies of all, both Riſen and Changed Saints; as alſo of all the wicked according to the General Doctrine of the Day of Judgment.

8. A New Heaven and a New Earth, and by Conſequence a Reſtitution of All Things, are in the very Letter to be Expected according to Scripture.

Now whatever may according to Scripture, and without any Contradiction to the Great Principles Notions, and Senſe of it, be ſuppos'd for a Leſſer, or ſo much, as Any Time, may be ſuppos'd for a longer Time, even for ſo long, as Scripture gives us any Reaſon to extend it unto, ſeeing There is no Scripture Inconſiſtency in the Fundamental Poſſibility.

And now there being ſuch a Foundation lay'd in that, which is Agreed among all Chriſtians, if there ſhall be Any Inducement from Scripture to do it, we may Build upon this Foundation.

1. That ſeeing Chriſt ſhall Appear from Heaven, with his Saints in a Kingdom of Triumph, and Glory over his Enemies, and that there is no Signification of the Time of duration, Contradictory to that of a 1000 Years; and at leaſt one Great Signification, It is a 1000 Years, Why may we not Conclude, the Kingdom is a Kingdom of a 1000 Years?

2. Seeing there ſhall be a New Heaven, and a New Earth, that ſhall come forth as a Veſſel for the Finer out of the Conflagration, and that there is Great Reaſon to think; That They ſhall be both inhabited: Why may not the Saints of the Reſurrection, Equal to the Angels, Inhabit the New Heavens, and the Saints Chan…'d, who are ſo peculiarly called twice the foreign; The Living▪ the Remaining, (as a moſt peculiar Generation of Saints that Chriſt ſo Holds in his Hand, as, that They can no more Fall, as may be Surmized, then the Saints Above, who are as Angels confirm'd;) Inhabit the New Earth, as Adam ſhould have done, a 1000 Years? Eſpecially, ſeeing It is ſuppoſeable It ſhall be Inhabited, and we Know not Any, who ſhall Inhabit it, God knoweth only who ſhall Inhabit it, Except theſe Living Remaining Saints.

3. Seeing it is Agreed, The Adminiſtration of the Kingdom, as at the Day of Judgment ſhall not Laſt to Eternity; and that Chriſt, and All his Saints Aſcend up to God, and that Kingdom of Judgment Ends; Why may not this be the Senſe of thoſe ſo Weighty Words of the Apoſtle, concerning the Son's delivering up the Kingdom, of his being Subject, and of God, being All in All? or what elſe is ſo likely as this of the Son's Reſigning up that Illuſtrious Appearing viſible Glory, that He ſhall be inveſted with, during that Judicatory Kingdom, ſeeing it is a Kingdom of Triumph and Victory, that is ſo Deliver'd up? And why ſhould it not be the Kingdom of a 1000 Years? Seeing the naming a Kingdom, though of a 1000 Years, yet becauſe It is but of a 1000 Years, Implys It ſhall end; And as the Apoſtle makes plain, in that it is a Reign, till All his Enemies are put under his Feet; It is a Kingdom of Victory and Triumph, Beginning p. 5and Ending in putting down Enemies, as Judgment muſt needs do, and then Given up to God. And thus there is an eaſie Slide from the Acknowledged, and moſt General Doctrine of the Day of Judgment, into what the Scripture ſays of a Kingdom, or Reign of Christ for a 1000 Years; For it is expreſly ſaid, There were Thrones, as of a Kingdom, and Judgment was Given to Them that ſat upon the Thrones, the very word proper to th…t Day; and …hey that Sate upon the Thrones, muſt needs be Chriſt and his Saints; For They Lived and Reigned with Chriſt a 1000 Years, Rev. 20. 4. And then, It is anew ſaid; Bleſſed, and Holy is He that hath part, though not the Principal, viz. either as Saints Riſing, though not Martyrs, or as Living Remaining Saints; on ſuch the Second Death hath no Power. And then, as at the End of the Judgment according to the General Doctrine, Chriſt Reſigns up that Judiciary Kingdom, and Returns to God. And as the Apoſtle ſays, having Subdued All Enemies, He Gives up the Kingdom; even ſo the 1000 Years Kingdom muſt be Given up, becauſe it is a Kingdom only of a 1000 Years.

And thus the Kingdom of Christ Begins with a Judgment, viz. of determining, who are Thoſe his Saints, who ſhall Appear in the Glory and Bleſſedneſs of it, even of that Firſt Reſurrection, as Saints Rais'd, or as Saints Living and Remaining, but Chang'd; and who, as Enemies, ſhall lye at the Footſtool of Chriſt's Feet, Slain with the Sword of his Mouth, and as the Dead, and yet in Viſible Bodies under Contempt and Diſhonour, and as the Trophies of the victorious Wrath of Chriſt; And this Kingdom Ends with a Judgment, even the Giving up all this Saints in perfect Immortality and Incorruptibility to his Father to Enjoy him for ever, and with that perfect Subduing All the Wicked Angels and Men, which the Apoſtle call… a Catargeſis, or deſtroying, and the Apocalyptic Apoſtle a Caſting into the Lake; And becauſe This is Final, and Conſummate; therefore. He Repreſents the whole Judiciary Proceeding, and ſets out the Dead, as Gather'd from all the Receptacles of Death from whence They Came, and were Judg'd at the Beginning of the 1000 Years, which Judgment is Affirm'd and Ratified, and Fill'd up at the End of the 1000 Years, and the Execution alſo; There being this only Difference between the Beginning and End of the 1000 Years in Relation to Them, that They are at the Beginning, and during the whole Space of the 1000 Years, made the Footſtool of the Feet of Chriſt, and afterwards under the Final deſtruction of being Caſt into the Lake. This therefore takes away the Objection of the New Earth, having ſuch an abundance of Wicked in it; For They Lye as Captives, and Slaves of Juſtice, that can neither Annoy, nor defile that State; So that there is a Glory of the Kingdom of Chriſt in, and with his Saints above and below, during the whole Time of the 1000 Years, and a Government every way Agreeable, and no difference between the General Doctrine of Chriſtians concerning the Day of Judgment, and what I Affirm, except the duration of the 1000 Years; For who can but p. 6ſay? That Day ſhall be a Day of Glory to Chriſt and his Saints, both Rais'd and Chang'd, as in viſible Bodies of Glory; of Horror, Diſhonour, and Puniſhment to the Wicked in viſible Bodies of Contempt and Shame? That they can neither Trouble, nor Pollute that Day, nor State, any more then They do the Kingdom of Eternity, though They are never ſo many in their own place, or Hell; That theſe viſible Heavens and Earth ſhall be ſo chang'd by the Glorious Coming of the Judge, and his Saints, That They ſhall be New Heavens, and a New Earth; That there muſt be Room for all Good and Bad, in whatever ſhall be ſuppos'd to be the Pretorium, the Hall of Juſtice at that Time; That Chriſt and his Saints come from the higheſt Heaven for that purpoſe; That Wicked Men come from Earth and Hell. And that Chriſt and his Saints Return, this Glorious Adminiſtration being at an End, to that Higheſt Heaven, to God and the Father, with this Judiciary Kingdom Given up to Him, and Sathan and All the Wicked Caſt to the Lake; So that I ſay again, here is no difference, but only of the 1000 Years Continuance; And to the Proof of that, I now proceed.

And I will do it in greateſt Brevity in this Method.

1. I will propoſe the Scripture-Model of this State, which it ſelf will ſhew the Rationality of it ſelf, and as in a State of duration.

2. I will ſuper-add to the Arguments I have given, new Ones, That there is ſuch a State to be, and of a 1000 Years duration, and no more; and Anſwer the moſt Formidable Objections more Fully.

3. I will Argue againſt any Hypotheſis, or Scripture Model, that can be given in Bar, of what I now give.

I Begin with the Firſt, the Rationality of the Scripture-Model.

1. There ſhall be an Exaltation of the Humane Nature of our Lord Jeſus, in viſible Glory, in oppoſition to that unrevealed State, wherein the Heavens Now contain Him, and alſo in oppoſition to, and Recompenſe of the Depreſſions, and Humiliation, it was under in his firſt Coming, Philip. 2. 9. &c. that every Knee may bow to Him, and every Tongue confeſs that He is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father; Every Eye ſhall ſee Him, every Mouth of his Servants ſhall praiſe Him, and none of his Enemies be able to gain ſay: The Loweſt Creation, Things in Earth, and under the Earth, ſha…l, as They can, Bleſs Him; This Appearing is the Sign of the Son of Man, that ſhall be ſeen in the Clouds. That All this ſhall be at the Day of Judgment, no Chriſtian will deny; I lengthen it out the 1000 Years.

2. There muſt be an Appearance of the Glory of the Redemption of Chriſt in its full Luſtre; To this End, the Saints of the firſt Reſurrection muſt be ſeen in Robes, waſh'd white in his Blood, as Kings and Prieſts to God and the Father, and Reigning over, rather then upon the Earth, foreign, as foreign, over, not upon many Things will I make thee Ruler, Revel. 5. 10. with Matth. 25. 21. They have Palms of Victory in p. 7their Hands; The Bride the Lambs Wife is Adorn'd, and it is Granted to Her to be Arrayed in Linnen, White and Clean, which is the Righteouſneſs of the Saints. The Armies of Heaven that is, Theſe Saints follow, Cloth'd alſo in Fine Linnen, White and Clean; They have the Name of the Lamb in their Foreheads, even as of God, Revel. c. 19. c 20. The Saints Living; and Remaining, who partake of the Firſt Reſurrestion, are Prieſts alſo, not only of God, but of Chriſt, and Reign with Him a 1000 Years. And from this Glory of Redemption, It is impoſſible for the Saints, either of the Firſt Reſurrection, or the Living Remaining, partaking of the Firſt Reſurrection to fall, as it is for the Redeemer himſelf to fail; as I always aſſert, particularly in my laſt Anſwer; For the Second Death elſe might, but never can, never ſhall have Power over Them.

And for the Appearance of this Glory of Redemption, the Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection ſhall have Bodies of that Spirituality, Incorruptibleneſs, and Immortality, as to be equal to the Angels, ſo that in the Nature of the Thing, as it ſhall then be Founded by God, They cannot dye any more, being the Children of God, and of the Reſurrection: And this is given firſt to the Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection, as a peculiar Recompenſe for the many Terrors, and Debaſements, Death Brings with it. The Saints therefore Living, and Remaining, who Dye not, nor ſhall ſuffer the Diſhonour, Pain, the Terror of dying, are upon the Ballance of Things, for the Glory of God, and Chriſt, in this Oeconomy, not till the 1000 Years are ended, and They Caught up, inveſted with this Glory; and are therefore ſaid, till then, only to be Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection: They have therefore Bodies Cha…g'd into the moſt excellent Paradiſiac State, as Adam had before ſin, and probably, as much excelling, as the Firſt Adam is excell'd by the Second. And though they for many great Reſons, Beget an Off-ſpring to the Mediator, and Eat, and Drink, as Adam ſhould have done, and All this in the Holieſt, Pureſt manner, ſuch excellent Bodies can be Exalted into; and though They do not Immediately put on Incoeruption and Iwmortality, till they are Caught up; Yet They in event, can no more dye, nor fall away, then the Saints above, All which Anſwers many Objections concerning them. And It Redounds Infinitely to the Glory of the Redeemer, and of the Second A…am above the Firſt, that in a poſſibility of dying, as to the Nature of Things; They who might, as Adam, dye, and Fall; Yet ſecur'd by the Media…or, They ſhall not dye, nor Fall, but They ſhall be Caught up, and put on Incorruption and Immo…tality: And when Death and Sin are thus every way ſubdued in the Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection, vindicated out of their Hands, and in the Saints chang'd, preſerv'd from their Sting, even under a poſſibility; Then are They both Swallowed up in Victory by Chriſt, Appearing thus every way a perfect Redeemer, on which Account, as one Reaſon, All is thus ordered; Then …s Death and Sin, and Hell, with all its Dead; and Sathan, the Prince of All, Thrown into the Lake, and the Triumphal Song ſung; the Effect of which, endures throughout All Eternity.

p. 83. The Saints of Chriſt, principally the Martyrs and Sufferers, and the Contemn'd, Abuſed, Perſecuted, and Beheaded for the Word of God, and the Teſtimony which They Held, with All who have Reſiſted the Impurity and Corruptions of the World, ſhall Appear in Glory, ſown in Weakneſs, but Rais'd in Power, Sown in Diſhonour, Rais'd in Glory, Bearing the Image of the Heavenly Adam, the Quickning Spirit, the Lord, not only in Heaven, but from Heaven, as in a Kingdom lower then the higheſt Heaven, Sitting on Thrones, and Judgment is Given to Them for the 1000 Years:

4. For this Glory of Chriſt the Redeemer, and of his Redemption, and of his Saints; There is a Glory of the Renewed Reſtored Creation in the viſible Heavens, and all their Influences Purified and Purg▪d, and ſo made new; and the Earth Renewed in the ſame manner, that the Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection may Appear as a Firmament, and ſhine as the Stars, Dan. 12. even as the Sun, Matth. 13. 43. upon the New Earth, and have a proſpect of Beauty, and Purity. And the Saints on Earth, **Call'd Nations of the Saved.All, as Kings of the Earth, Revel. 21▪ 24, 25. may Walk in this Light of the New Jeruſalem above, and Bring their Glory to it, in looking upon their Communion with it, as their Higheſt Glory; and ſo the whole Creation may be deliver'd from the Bondage of Corruption, into the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God, for which it now Groans in its preſent Slavery, and with earneſtneſs Waits; Even as in all Mankind, There is an Appetite Implanted by Creation to See, and Enjoy a due Time in the Glory of Gods Creation, fre… from the Curſe, and Adorn'd with the Bleſſings of it; This we ſee how ſtrongly it now works in the Holieſt Men and Women; however in Regard, This is not the Place, nor State, nor Time, it be mix▪d with much Corruption, and as the Apoſtle calls it, Lust in a World, to which God▪s Heart cannot be; and therefore He often chaſtiſes with Great Severity the over eager deſires in any of his Sts. of Any Thing here; But then there ſhall be ſuch a State, that the Lord Himſelf ſhall Rejoyce in his Works with all his Saints Triumphing in the Works of his Hands, when there ſhal… be an Apocataſtaſis, a Reſtitution of All Things, without which, the Second Adam would not be as perfect a Reſtorer, as the Firſt Adam was a Deſolator; But I Aſſert, and ſhall after prove the Flying away of this New Heaven and Earth, and that therefore this O…conomy laſts but a 1000 Years, as the Sabbatiſm of the Gl…y of Creation.

5. There muſt be a State, Bearing ſome Proport…on to all the promiſes made to Abraham and his Seed; of a City, and a Country, and of Nations, and a Poſt…rity, as the Stars of Heaven, as the Duſt of the Earth Gen. 13. 16.Gen 13:16and as the Sand on the Sea ſhor… Innumerable, that He may be a Father of many Nations, and Heir of the World; of all which, Canaan and Jerulalem, Gen. 2…. 17.Gen 2:17and the People of Iſrael were but Types; For this was a Heavenly Countrey, and City, as the Apoſtle tells us, Heb. 11▪ and a Poſterity of True, and Sincere Believers; How can this then be better explain'd, then by p. 9the New Jeruſalem coming down from Heaven, and the Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection, a Poſterity, as the Stars, for whom he Knows how to make Room, who hath done it for thoſe vaſt Globes of Light; and then by the New Earth, and the Saints Living, and Remaining on the New Earth, who ſhall be as the Dust, and as the Sand: And He will make Room for Them, who hath ſtretched out this Earth for them that walk upon it; and wherein beſides the much leſs Cumber of Paradiſiac Bodies, and the Abundant Sufficiency of the Paradiſiac Earth, and Purity of the Air, and the Leaves of the Tree of Life, for the Healing the Nations; There is Proviſion for all Enjoyments of the Saints in thoſe Bodies; Beſides all this, There ſhall be no Sea to to take up Room, Revel. 21. 1. as there was not in the Firſt Paradiſiac Earth, as hath been made out by that Truly Excellent Theoriſt, Dr. Burnet, Maſter of the Charter-Houſe; Giving Great Light to that Apocalyptical Text, and Receiving Great Proof from it.

And herein for his ſake, who God over All, Bleſſed for ever, came of Them; and for the Believed Father's ſakes, and according to all the Images, and Language of Poophecy: The Spiritual Natural Iſrael ſhall have a Preeminence, and for which They ſhall certainly be call'd, though it will Remain a Myſtery, until the ſet Time of the Gentiles Fullneſs be come; But in the mean Time for their ſakes, the N…w Heaven and New Earth is call'd New Jeruſalem, and ſo many Apocalyptical Figures are derived from Them, leading to that New Jeruſalem.

6. There ſhall be a plain, ſenſible, and viſible State of the Wicked in Diſhonour, and Contempt, in the View of All; For all the Falſe Glory, Riches, and Pleaſure, They have here Abuſed, They ſhall Receive double, and that in Bodies of Diſgrace; The General Doctrine of the Day of Judgment concerning the Wicked cannot but Acknowledge this to be according to Scripture; For It is moſt certain, ſuch ſhall be their Appearance, ſignifyed by their being Goats on the Left Hand, Matt. 25. 33. in the Grand Aſſembly of the Great Day; …ven in Bodies of viſible Shame and Horror; None will deny this in, and for that Day, and for ſo long, how long ſoever that Day laſts; For what is no Incompoſſibility for any Time of that Day, is poſſible for all that Day or Time; And at the End of that Day or Time, They are Caſt into the Lake, where, as to the Pain of Senſe▪ as well as to the Pain of …oſs, I Agree with all Theology, or Sacred Doctrine; All that I Add, is in the Words of Prophecy; Theſe Viſibly Dead in …aw, or Condemn'd by their very Appearance, Lived not until the 1000 Years were Finiſh'd, Revel. 20. 5▪ that is, not at all in the Great Senſes of Life; For it is Immediately ſaid, The Second Death ſhall have no Power over the Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection, Implying, All the Dead, not Partakers Fall under the Second Death; But ſeeing They were not yet Caſt into the Lake, though for the 1000 Y. They lye unactive: They at the end of Them had that Kind of Revival to Joyn in that ſhort Attempt ef Compaſſing the Beloved City, whether by way of Temptation to Defection, as on Adam in his Paradiſe, or of ſuch violence, p. 10as Sathan us'd upon Job, or both, (but neither with poſſibility of Succeſs, to the Glory of the Redeemer) They Joyn'd as Devils of an Inferiour order with Sathan Prince of Devils, under his Superior Influence of Wickedneſs, call'd Alluſively Deception: But in the very Attempt, Sathan firſt, and his Angels of the Higher Diabolic order, and then the Dead are Caſt with Death and Hell into the Lake, to the Devil and his Angels, Matt. 25. 41. whereby thereis an utter Suppreſſion of all poſſible Action againſt the Divine Kingdom for ever; but no Ceſſation of that Action or Receptiveneſs neceſſary to the Suffering All, that is to be underſtood by the Vengeance of Eternal Fire, as Scripture declares, which I never ſo much as call'd into Queſtion, much leſs once denied.

Now becauſe it is ſo ordered by God, that here would be the laſt Attempt, it is call'd a Gathering to Battel, as it were to try their utmoſt at this laſt deciſive Point, according to no unuſual Symbol in this Prophecy.

7. This State ſhall be to the Saints above and below, a Preparation to an Eternal Ʋnion to God and to the Father, by Jeſus Christ, in ſuch an inſeparable State of Oneneſs, as leaves no poſſible Thought of ſuch Falling away, as of the Angels from their Firſt Eſtate; or of Adam from Paradiſe; as I always have and do Declare; And this is the Glorioas Conſummation of the Kingdom of Chriſt, and not a diſhonourable Spewing out of Christ's Mouth, as ſhall be preſently more fully Declared▪ This Preparation is conveyed to us in ſuch Expreſſions, as are moſt Evidently made Eſſential to the State of the New Jeruſalem, and ſo (as ſhall be ſeen) to the Thouſand Years. They are alſo moſt proper to ſuch a Preparation, viz. The Lord God and the Lamb are the Temple of that City, They gives it Light. The Throne of God and of the Lamb art in it; They See His Face; His Servants ſerve him; his Name is in their Foreheads; They eat of the Tree of Life, and drink of the Fountain of the Water of Life, as the Higheſt Initiation, Pledge and Aſſurance of the Simp…e, Abſolute Eternal Life, to which Fountain the Lamb leads them. Rev. 20. 6. c. 21. 6. 22. 24. c. 22. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. c. 7. 17.

Now if it ſhall be proved, the New Heaven and the New Earth of this State ſhall Fly away, and yet that the State it ſelf cannot End, but Iſſues into that Abſolute Eternal Life, wherein God is All in All; then it will be made plain, this State however High above Expreſſion, compar'd with that now, yet if compar'd to that Eternal State of God All in All, it is …ut Initiation and Preparation, though of the Higheſt Degree, of Spirits in Bodies for an Union to God in this Eternal State.

And our Lord Concurs in his Mediatory Prayer, John 17. 21. 23. That there ſhall be a State of his Saints ſo Viſibly Glorious, as to ſtrike the Wicked, call'd the World, with Conviction; That ſuch a State (as it is Initially ſo, while They behold it) cannot but Iſſue in Everlaſting Union with God by Chriſt, and in the Love and Glory, Jeſus Christ, as the Eternal Word Miſſion'd by the Father into our Nature, had with the Father before the World Began; And therefore in regard of Perſonal Ʋnion of the p. 11Man Chriſt Jeſus, with the Eternal Word, he is ſaid to have it even before the Exiſtence of the Humane Nature; of which Miſſion there ſhall alſo be Fulleſt Cenviction.

And what State can be ſo proper for this, as the Glorious Kingdom of Christ? wherein the Wicked thus behold with Horrour and Torment, what ſhall be for ever, while they caſt into the Lake ſhall be for ever ſhut out of it.

I come now to the Second Thing propoſed, viz. To ſuperadd ſome Arguments to thoſe already given in my Anſwer.

Argum. 1. The Stream of Prophecy in all its Expreſſions runs ſo vehemently towards ſuch a State; that, however hard ſhifts are made to Evaporate them into Allegory, yet Prophecy it ſelf will not be ſatisfied without ſuch a New Heaven and New Earth; wherein ſhall be Univerſal Holineſs and Knowledge of God in Viſible Glory, in Univerſal Peace, ſufficiency of All Things, Freedom from Evil, no more Curſe in Life, and no Death, and all in a State of Duration. Nor will Atheists and Anti-Scripturiſts, cxacting the Fulfilling of Prophecy, be Convicted, till thoſe Expreſſions are ſo Fulfilled before their Eyes, as indeed they ſhall be; For it becomes not the Oracles of Supream Truth to (as I may ſay) Excuſe the unfulfilledneſs of Themſelves in their Higheſt Expreſſions, by the uſe of Allegory, or Metaphor, or Rhetorick; All ſhall therefore have a Juſt Complement; And ſeeing many Refer to ſome Earth, and to ſome State of Time; In ſome State of Time, and in ſomè Earth, They muſt therefo…e be Fulfilled, and that is in that State of the Thuuſand Yoars Kingdom of Chriſt.

2. I Argue from the Prayer of Chriſt, ſtyl'd the Lord's Prayer, which I eſteem particularly prepar'd for the State of the Kingdom, as in a New Heaven, and a New Earth; Although all Things of the preſent State are alſo, I own, Admirably Comprehended and Fitted to preſent Uſe of Prayer.

Now the Third Petiteon of that Prayer Teacheth us to pray, Thy Will be done, not only upon Earth, as in Heaven; but [As in Heaven and on Earth] as it is Emphatical in the Original; where alſo it varies the Number from Heavens; In the Preface Heavens; viz. Our Father which art in the Heavens, Plurally; to [As in Heaven] in the Single Number, and on Earth, with a Singular Favour to a Parallel New Heaven, and New Earth: And it leads us to pray for the Doing the Will of God in ſuch a Parallel Heaven, and Earth; that as in Paralelliſm, the Will of God may be done, as in the One, ſo in the Other.

Beſides, according to Common Interpretation of this Petition, A Prayer according to the will of Ood, ſo exactly as our Lord weighed it out, and that hath been ſo long prayed by all his Servants in Faith cannot but be Heard; The Spirit helping their Infirmities, (when they know not what in this Prayer, to pray for as they ought) with unutterable Groans, and God knows the Mind of his Spirit, though they do not ſo clearly underſtand this Prayer; So then, It muſt be Heard: But it cannot be Heard, if there be not ſuch a State p. 12on Earth, in which the Will of God may be done, as in Heaven. For the Earth and the Earth as in parallel to Heaven, ſo particularly named, is the Place or Baſis, on which the Saints that do it, ſhall Reſt; So that the doing the Will of God in any other State or Place, will not be a Fulfilling this Petition.

Nor will the doing it in Sincerity, according to the Meaſure of the Saints now on Earth, anſwer the Petition. For our Lord in this Prayer, which is in ſuch Number, Weight and Meaſure, would not have layd a Paralled, wherein there is no Equality nor Proportion, as Things are now, viz. Between doing the Will of God on Earth and in Heaven; For every part of this Prayer, ſhall, ere he hath perfected his Interceſſion upon it, be Fulfilled in the Higheſt Senſe of each part; This we know is not yet in any, particularly in this Petition; therefore a State ſhall be on purpoſe for it.

This alſo muſt needs Lock in with the foregoing Petitions; when ever there is a Doing the Will of God ſo on Earth, his Name muſt be Sanctified as in Heaven and upon Earth, elſe his Will cannot be ſo Done; becauſe Sanctifying his Name is ſo Eminently his Will, that his Will cannot be Done as in Heaven and on Earth, except his Name be Sanstiſſed as in Heaven and on Earth.

Thus is it alſo with his Kingdom coming; That muſt needs Come as in Heaven and upon Earth, when-ever his Will is ſo Done; And it cannot Come till it is ſo Done, and his Name ſo Sanctified; For what is his Kingdom but the Supream Honour of our Kings Name, and Obedience to his Will, ſo Univerſally as in Heaven? And whither ſhould this Kingdom Come but out of Heaven, where-now it is, into a Lower Heaven and Earth? where indeed it is in regard of Supream Power always; But it muſt Come in a Senſe, it hath not yet Come. And if theſe Three Petitions were Heard, As in Heaven, and upon Earth; The Earth muſt either be a New Earth in preparation for ſuch a Fulfilling, or the Fulfilling would immediately Turn it into a New Earth: For ſuch a Change on the Spirits and Actions of Men, and ſuch a Bleſſing from Heaven, as would immediately follow, would make it indeed a New Earth.

If therefore our Eſteem of this Prayer were not too much ſpent in an Ignorant Formality and Superſtition on Bare Words, it would ſoon give us an Unanſwerable Argument of ſuch a Kingdom on Earth; and a Kingdom muſt ha…e a Duration, and what Duration but a Kingdtm of that Thouſand Years, Prophecy having once named, gives a Preference to? I ſay nothing of the Petition, taking in Heoven, viz the Lower Heaven, which Scripture make the Habitation of fallen Spirits, that They being Remov'd, theſe Three Petitions may be Fulfilled there alſo; Nor of the following Petitions moſt Adjuſtable hereunto, which I have in a Full Diſcourſe on this Prayer made Ready, if God pleaſe to give Opportunity for Publication; as alſo to ſhew the True Laws of our Duty in uſing of this Prayer, wherein Men are ſo prone to Run into the very p. 13Battology, Heatheniſm, or Vanity of Repetition, as an Antidote againk which, it was given by Chriſt, and this came in by the Gentiliſm that Antichriſt hath brought into the Outer Court; Taking away that Daily Sacrifice, the Remains of which are yet among Proteſtants.

Argum. 3. With Great Aſſurance, and without any Reluctancy of of Thoughts, I further Argue, That the Apoſtle Peter in an eſpecial manner Commiſſion'd for it, by the Divine Spirit, hath given the first Light to the Knowledge of the Day of Judgment, as a Kingdom of a Thouſand Years, Epiſt. 2. Chap. 3. 8. The whole Chapter is indeed a Great Prophecy of that Kingdom, and the State of it; and it carries many ſevere Remarks on the Antichriſtian Apoſtacy; as thoſe Scoffers, who ſetting up that Kingdom in Counterfeit, Burleſque, and Abuſe the True Kingdom, and have and ſtill Jeer it out of the Faith of Chriſtians; The Apoſtle in Spirit foreſeeing this, Recalls the Sincere Diſciples of Chriſt to the Words of the Prophets firſt, who are ſo Abundant concerning this Kingdom, but ſpeak very darkly of the Day of Judgment, or not at all, but through that Kingdom; and then to the Commandment, or (as the Learned Obſerve it to ſignifie) the Doctrine of Us the Apostles, of the Lord and Saviour.

Now theſe Words are undoubtedly a Preface to what follows after in the Chapter, and therefore to the Doctrine of the Day of Judgment, of the Thoufand Years, of the New Heavens and New Earth, and the holy Inferences from it, with a very Dreadful Thunder and …ightning upon the Apoſtacy intermixt, and all in cloſe Connexion.

He promiſes upon theſe Scoffers, that They ſ…all be in the very Last of Time, foreign, That their Luſts of the preſent World, the Grandieur and Senſualities of it will oblige them to ſay, Where is the promiſe of his Coming? There is no Kingdom of Chriſt, but what we have ſet up; Events of many Ages Demonſtrate▪ there is no other; Theſe are yet neither Atheiſts nor Anti Scripturiſts, but ſuch Mockers as Eſay ſpeaks of, Chapter 28. 22, &c. Who will not believe a Conſumption on the preſent Earth, to riſe in a greater Harveſt. They allow the Great Change of the World by the Flood; the Change by New Heavens, and New Earth, which the Apoſtle, Verſe 13. Inetrprets, as one Principal Branch of the Promiſe They Laugh at, and the Gangrene Eats beyond profeſſed Anti-Chriſtianiſm, as if that Firſt Reſurrection were paſt already in that 1000 Y. Sta… of the Church ſince Constantine, and no other to be expected, but the …inal Judgment and Eternity.

To this the Apoſtle Anſwers by laying down this Great Th…s, which ſaith the Apoſtle, Lies hid from Them, Reſolving Obſtinately againſt all Light, All Things ſhall continue as they were; that is, They will be Ignorant of any other World.

The Theſis or Poſition is, As the Firſt World Deſtroyed by the Flood of Water, that Lay; as the forenamed Excellent Theory hath ſet out, within its own Bowels; And yet that Deſtruction was not till 1656 Years after its Creation; ſo long the Word of God Secured it, and there was yet a p. 14World after it; So the Heaven, and Earth that now are, ſhall be deſtroyed by Fire, Hid as it were in its Entrails, for about ſuch a ſpace of Time from the Apoſtle's writing; Till that Appointe… Time, the ſame Word of God Interpoſes, and Secures it.

But ſaith the Apoſt. that you may Rightly Judge of the Poſition, I would by no means hove you Ignorant of this one Thing, this Principal Thing in this Point, that I am about to Lead you to, Of the New Heavens, and the New Earth; That as the Firſt Heavens and Earth, and the Hoſt of Them Finiſh'd, and God's Reſting in them, was on the Sabbath, and Seventh Day; So the Day of Judgment, the Great Sabbatiſm of Reſting and Rejoycing in his Works, to God, to Chriſt, and his Saints ſhall be a Day, but It is with God, in his Determination, and Counſel concerning it a Day of a 1000 Years; and to ſo Great Day, He hath made each 1000 Years of the Worlds Continuance a Day, and They are Six, as at the Worlds Firſt Creation; For in the Evening of the Sixth Millenary, That Day ſhall Begin. Think not therefore the Lord is Slack, for He hath with Great Wiſdom Ballanc'd, and Weigh'd out for the Firſt Seventh Day Sabbath, a Sahbath of a 1000 Years; For the Day of Judgment, that will be for Perdition to the Wicked, ſhall be a Day of a 1000 Years Reſt to the People of God; and to ſo Great a Day of a 1000 Years, He hath with infinite Patience to Bring All his own Elect into it, weigh'd out alſo for each Day Leading to the Firſt Sabbath Six Millenaries, or 1000 of Years, which he Accounts, as Days to Gathe… in all his Elect, as the Apoſtle Paul, Heb. 4. Shews the Long ſuffering of the Lord to the ſeveral Ages of his People, to be Salvation to Them, till that very Sabbatiſm comes, that Remains to the People of God.

This is the Great Senſe that lies under the very profitable, and Exscellent Diſcourſe of the Apoſtle, taken in Common Senſe; But that There is this Great Senſe, I Argue not only from the Symbols of the New Heaven, and New Earth, coming out of the Floo…, and from the New Heaven, and the New Earth, having Six days, and then a Sabbath of a 1000 Years, Symboliz'd by the Sabbath, and the Six Days of Creation before it; to which the whole Scope of the Apoſtle's Diſcourſe makes it plain, that He Refers: But I Eſpecialy Argue from Theſe Two Things.

1. From the Apoſtle's Great Preface, ſhewing a Myſtical Doctrine, as ſuch Prefaces do; Rom. 11. 15. 1 Cor. 15. 51. Now that the longeſt, and ſhorteſt Time with God, the High, and Holy one, that Inhabits Eternity, the Abſolute Eternal Being, are All Alike, is an undoubted Principle of Natural, Rational Religion; which All are ſuppoſed to Know; and therefore that Great Truth needs no ſuch Preface, as not to be Ignorant of that One Thing, there being many other ſo Great Principles of that Order of Natural Religion, that ought not to Lye hid from Any.

2. Becauſe this would not all Anſwer the Apoſtle's Scope, either with Relation unto the Scoff of them, that ſay, Where is the Promiſe of his p. 15coming, not Satisfie, and Comfort the Sincere Chriſtian concerning the delay of that Coming; For what Comfort is it to the Sincere Chriſtian to whom Each Minute of delay of the Coming of Chriſt, eſpecially under ſuffering, is as an Age, that to an Eternal Being, a Day is as a 1000 Y. and a 1000 Years as One Day? and how would the Scoffer Triumph in this? Each Day with God is a 1000 Years, how many 1000 of Years may be then to the Coming of Chriſt, when every Day with God is a 1000 Years? So many Days then, ſo many 1000 Years; And if He Counts a 1000 Years but as One Day, how long may He delay, e're the coming of Chriſt be? The Comfort proper to this Caſe muſt be ſuch, as is proper to the Creatures of Time: What is proper to the Alone Paramount Eternal Being, Flys too High, and Alought over this Caſe, however an Admirable a Truth it is in it ſelf, and God moſt Adorable in it.

Nor is there therefore Any Cauſe to vilifie this Kingdom of Chriſt; Becauſe It is but a 1000 Years, and that a 1000 Years is with God but as a Day; Becauſe even according to the Letter of this Scripture, each Day of the 1000 Years is with God as a 1000 Years, as well as the 1000 Years, but as One Day; when therefore we may by this Apoſtolic Canon, if we had Reſpect to the Letter, Count every Day of the 1000 Years Kingdom, as a 1000 Years it ſelf; how Great then would it be! But I have ſole Reſpect to the Myſtic meaning; That God, the Lord of Time knows, how much, and no more, is proper to his Ends, hath Reſolv'd; A Sabbatiſm of a 1000 Years, Beginning with, and Ending with a Grand Judgment, and its middle Space a Judgment, or Government according to, and with Relation to thoſe Two Grand Judgments, and ſo moſt Fitly call'd Judgment, or Day of Judgment, ſhall be a perfection of Time, and the Fullneſs of All Times, and the duration of the Kingdom of his Son, as Son of Man; And that Six Days, each Day as a Milennium, or 1000 Y. of his Patience, and Long ſuffering for the Veſſels of Wrath, Fitting Themſelves to Deſtruction at that Day; and for the Gathering his Elect from the ſeveral Ages of the World, as well as from the Four Winds, ſhall go before it: And it ſelf from its Beginning to its End, ſhall bear this Character; Fullneſs of Times; without Nice diſtinction of one part from Another, and ſo Eternity enſues; and this State, (which ſhews the Fitneſs of the Symbols) ſhall have New Heavens, and a New Earth according to Creation, according to the Great Promiſe, Eſay. 65. c 66. which alſo ſhews the oppoſite State of the Carcaſes under a never dying Worm, and an Ʋnquenchable Fire, to mean much higher then the Carcaſſes of the Aſſirians, whatever Type that ſlaughter might be.

Laſtly, That this Prophecy of the Apoſtle Peter, hath alſo Great Reference to the Antichriſtian State, I obſerve by Indications, however They may ſeem ſmall, yet are moſt Significant.

p. 161. The Ʋnlearnedneſs, Barbarity, and Ignorance, moſt Natural to Antichriſt, (however ſince the Reformation, Neceſſity hath made his Party more Learned) taken notice of in the Word foreign, verſe 16.

2. Their Apoſtacy, as Wandring and falling Stars, (as the Papacy it lelf is alſo Symboliz▪d by a Star falling from Heaven to the Earth, Revel. 9. v. 1) is Signified by a Diſ-firmamented State, in the Word foreign, wander'd from their Firmament; and Christians exhorted to Take heed of falling from their own Firmament, or Firmation, foreign Verſe 17. That They may ſhine as that Firmament, Dan 12. 3.

4. Their Wreſting of Scriptures to their own Perdition Univerſally, more Particularly the Prophecies for their own Papal Kingdom, and againſt the Kingdom of Chriſt; And that Diſcourſe of the Apoſtle Paul, 2 Theſ. 2. They Writhe wholly from Themſelves, which, would They have Obſerved it, and ask'd, as Judas their Type, Is it I? It would have Anſwered Them as Chriſt did Him, Thou ſayeſt.

This is a Great Brand by which the Son of Perdition with all his Adherents may be known, whoſe Character is as the Judaſſes of the Chriſtian Church, Son of Perdition, and Two Times Going into Perdition; Compare John 17. 12. 2 Theſſ. 2 13. Revel. 17. v. 8. v. 11.

Theſe Remarks upon the Apoſtle Peter's Prophecy, as I ſtyle it, I have been larger upon, to ſhew I am Conſcious of no Recoyl of Mind concerning it, and though ſome Things may ſeem wiredrawn; yet the Manner and Symmetry of Prophecy, the Great Rule of its Interpretation, will Juſtifie me.

Argum. 4. I do indeed ſo Rely upon the Prophecy, Revel. 20. Concerning the Thouſand Years, that if I had only that Scripture, I ſhould think it ſufficient, although it be but One; and, although it be Propheick: Becauſe I find the Letter ſo Expreſs, as that the Thouſand Years are no leſs than Six ſeveral Times Named; And I Obſerve the Apostle's Diſcourſe upon Melchiſedech ſo Weighty, ſo Large, with ſo ſevere a Reproof of the Unteachableneſs of Chriſtians concerning it, Heb. c 5. …0. &c. 6▪ 1. with Re…erence to it throughout, c 7. All of it; to be Suſpended upon One ſingle Oracle, and that Prophetick alſo, Pſal. 110. 4. The Lord hath Sworn, and will not Repent, Thou art a Prieſt for ever after the Order of Melchiſedech, Referring to a ſmall Hiſtorick Memoir, Geneſ. 14▪ 18. 19, 20. and that on purpoſe Contriv'd to be Dark and under a Vei… Yet the Apoſtle ſeverely Reproves a Dulneſs of Hearing of it; Whereas the Chriſtians then might have ſaid, We Deſire only plainer, more undoubted Truths, more genearlly Treated; Principles and fundamental Points; But the Apoſtle Silently Threatens the Danger of Ayoſtacy on not Going on to Perfection, by grounding his ſo Earneſt Exhortation, to Go on, upon that Danger of Apoſtacy, without ſo Doing. And indeed there is Great Reaſon to think, a Prediction of the Great Antichriſtian Apoſtacy (in the Bulk not to be Repented of, not to be Renewed to Repentance, according to R…vel. 16.) is lodg▪d in it; and that That very Apoſtacy came in upon the p. 17Ignorance of, and not Acquieſcency in Chriſt's Melchiſedechian Prieſthood, after the Power of an endleſs Life; but ſetting up that Kingdom and Prieſthood in Counterfeit. For what is the Melchiſedechian Prieſthood of Chriſt, but a Prieſthood on a Throne, Zech. 6. 13? And what is the Papacy but a Counterfeit of that, a Prieſt on a Throne? (the Falſe Propbecy Included alſo, as the True is in the Prieſthood of Chriſt.) And why was this Golden Calf Idolatry brought in by that falſe Aaron, as his Vicar? but to ſupply the Abſence of Chriſt, Gone up to the Mount; and not knowing, That it is Witneſſed of him, He liveth, and is as Active for his Church and Saints Above, as Below, while on Earth; ſo far as is neceſſary, till he brings forth all his Saints Appearing alſo in the Glory of his Melchiſedechia… Prieſthood, as Kings and Prieſts alſo.

But to Return to the Prophecy, Revel. 20. I obſerve, as I have already obſerved, There is not only the Shell or Words, but the Deep Reaſon of Things; as All Prophecy, and moſt particularly all the Lines of the Revelation before it, Run into It, and Center in it; and All Require ſuch a Kingdom, of ſuch a State; of New Heavens, and New Earth; and of a Duration of Time, that may ſpeak Perfection, to Accompliſh Them. And that Duration this Prophecy Declares to be a Thouſand Years, and then All to be Drawn up into Eternity, and no otherwiſe to End.

Argum. 5. The Obſervation upon the Thouſand Years I made heretofore in my Patriarchal Line, p. 58. does much ſway my Judgment ſtill concerning the Thouſand Years Kingdom of Chriſt, viz. By the Recollection of each Patriarch's Life, whol, and together, is moſt Pompouſly ſet out; That none of theſe Holy Men Attain'd a Full Thouſand Years of Life, though ſome Lifes ſwell'd ſo much above Nine hundred, as if they would mount to a Thouſand; yet it was ſaid to Them, Hitherto ſhall you come, and no further, for a Thouſand in Sacred Record is a Number of Perfection, that is not Allowed to any Years of Life in Adam's Apoſtate State, but Reſerv'd for the Reſtitution of the Second Adam; and p. 165. As if the Thouſand Years were a Tree of Life, Guarded with Cherubims, that none might Take of it; Enoch had a particular Exemption of not Dying; yet no One might be in a Viſible State on Earth One Thouſand Years; wherein I am Confirm'd by Reading, what Dr. Sherlock, ſo Reverend, ſo Learned, ſo Conſidering, and ſo far from what is call'd Fanaticiſm, as every One knows, hath written, in his Excellent and Generally Acceptable Practical Diſcourſe of Death, p. 129, 130. Wherein it is moſt Conſiderable, that he Writes not, as having Eſpous'd the Opinion of the Thouſand Years Kingdom of Chriſt, nor was Intentionally Writing upon it, But ſo Diſcerning and Quick-ſighted a Perſon was ſtruck with its Beams of Light and Truth, while he was upon another View; And thus he Writes: The longeſt Term of Humane Life, after the Sentence of Death paſſed on Man, was a Thouſand Years. And Comparing this Obſervation with that Promiſe of a Thouſand Years Reign with Chriſt, which is call'd the Firſt Reſurrection, and is …he Portion only of Martyrs and p. 18Confeſſors, and pure and ſincere Chriſtians, Revel. 20. I have been apt to Conclude, To live a Thouſand Years is the Priviledge only of Immortal Creatures; That if Adam had continued Innocent, he ſhould have liv'd no longer upon Earth, but have been Tranſlated to Heaven without Dying; For this Thouſand Years Reign of the Saints with Chriſt, whatever that Signifies, ſeems to be Intended as a Reparation of Death, which They fall under by Adam's Sin: But then theſe Thouſand Years do not put an End to the Happineſs of thoſe Glorious Saints, but they are Immortall Creatures; And though this Reign with Chriſt continues but a Thouſand Years, Their Happineſs ſhall have no End, though the Scene may change and vary, for over ſuch the Second Death ſhall have no power. Or elſe this Thouſand Years Reign with Chriſt muſt ſignifie an Eternal, and Ʋnchangeable Kingdom, a Thouſand Years being a certain Earneſt of Immortality; But there is an Unanſwerable Objection againſt that, Becauſe we read of the Expiring of thoſe Thouſand Years, and what ſhall come after them, even the Final Judgment of all the World. This is a Great Myſtery, which we muſt not hope perfectly to Underſtand, till we ſee the Bleſſed Accompliſhment of it.

I could not but Tranſcribe a Paragraph worthy of Letters of Gold; Not becauſe ſuitable to my Senſe, of ſmall Account; but becauſe ſo Agreeable with Senſe of Scripture, if I can be ſure I ſee, or know any Thing; And yet how little taken notice of? To conclude the Argument, The Thouſand Years are made by God the Emblem and Hierogliphick of the Perfection of Time, and do litterally expreſs that very Time, God hath Ordain'd to be the Fulneſs of Time, and the Perfection of it.

And ſo I come to the Third Thing propos'd, to conſider any other Hipotheſis or Model of Things in Bar of this propos'd; And I find theſe Two.

1. That All this Kingdom of Chriſt, with its New Heaven and Earth, are ſuppos'd rather to Fit the Kingdom of Eternity; Againſt this I Argue.

1. The New Heaven, and the New Earth, the Scripture ſpeaks of, Revel. 21. v. 1. are certainly the very ſame that Fly away from the pure Cryſtal Throne of Eternity, and from his Face that Sate upon it, Ready to Deliver up the Kingdom to God All in All. This is certain, becauſe the New Heaven, and New Earth, are Concurrent with the New Jeruſalem, as is moſt Clear, by the Conjunct Viſion John had of Them, Revel. 21. 12. I ſaw a New Heaven; And v. 1. And I John ſaw the holy City. When he Saw the New Heaven, &c. and the New Jeruſalem; The firſt Heaven, and the first Earth were paſſed away. So then the Heaven and Earth, that were with the New Jeruſalem, were not the firſt Heaven and Earth, but the Heaven and Earth that were at the ſame time with the Holy City; And they fled away, as is moſt Evident by the cloſe Connexion and Order between the Compaſſing the Holy and Beloved City, which cannot be ſuppos'd to be any other, then the New Jeruſalem, call'd by the Name of the Holy City, as c. 20. 9. ſo c. 21. 2. and the Beloved City, becauſe the Bride. For after that Aſſault that was after p. 19the 1000 Y. Satan was caſt into the Lake, that had the Power of Death; And then immediately the White Throne was ſeen, and Heaven and Earth fled away, which muſt be the Heaven and Earth Cotemporary with the New Jeruſalem, and ſo with the 1000 Years; and ſeeing, as was ſaid juſt now, They muſt be new Heaven, and New Earth; Therefore the New Heaven, and New Earth continue not to Eternity.

For I cannot ſee where there can be any Doubt in the Connexion, or Order, the Divine Prophecy hath ſo taken care; Sathans caſting into the Lake muſt needs be after the 1000 Years, therefore after the New Heaven and Earth; the Heaven and Earth that Fled, muſt be Thoſe that were at the Judging, and caſting the Dead into the Lake; Can we ſuppoſe then, that this White Throne, the Judging the Dead, and caſting the Dead into the Lake, was before the 1000 Years, and ſo the Heaven and Earth flying alſo; and then indeed They muſt be the Firſt Heaven, and Firſt Earth, and not the New Ones: But All that cannot be, becauſe whatever was not Written in the Book of Life, was then caſt into the Lake; And it is certain, Sathan was not Written in the Book of L…fe; therefore he Could not be out of the Lake at the Time of Death, and the Dead being caſt into the Lake; But he was not caſt into the Lake, till the 1000 Years were paſt; So that this whole Tranſaction upon Death, and the Flying of Heaven and Earth were all after the 1000 Years, and therefore the New Heaven and New Earth, which Run along with the 1000 Years, were the Heavens and Earth that Fled away, foreign, which was the Thing to be ſhown, and is ſhown: For if ſuch a Connexion, as this will not prove, nothing can be prov'd by Conſequence from Scripture.

2. Thoſe Three Expreſſions of the Apoſtle, The Kingdom ſhall be deliver'd up by the Son, The Son ſhall be ſubject, God ſhall be All in All; ſo ſtrongly ſway with me, that no diſtinction of Acquiſition and Fruition can weigh againſt them; but that ſuch a State, as of the New Heaven, and New Earth, and a Kingdom of Chriſt proportionate to it, cannot be the State of the Kingdom of Eternity; Eſpecially when I Joyn to it, thoſe Words of our Lords Mediatory Prayer, John 17. That They may be one in us, and that They may ſee my Glory; and that Glory was the Glory Chriſt had with the Father before the Foundation of the World; So that the Glory of the Humane Nature of Chriſt, and of the Elect Angels, and Saints being firſt confeſs'd; All the State of Glory is Brought to the neareſt, that can be, to that State of Glory, before the World began, and ſo not of New Heaven, and a New Earth, and what is Agreeable to the Creation.

3. A Delivery up of the Glory of the Judiciary Kingdom, or of that proper to the Day of Judgment, to the Father, and the Son's being ſubject, that is, laying down that Luſtre of Appearance, proper to that Adminiſtration, cannot be denied; And that, and no other, which is always Attributed to the Son of Man, and to the Man Christ Jeſus, and the delivering up that Kingdom, and no other, is what I plead for; and no otherwiſe, then ſo far, as is neceſſary for the making Good of what the Apoſtle hath ſaid; p. 20That the Kingdom is to be deliver'd up, that the Son is to be ſubject, and God; to be All in All: From which, as having ſome Higher, Deeper, and more Subſtantial Senſe, then the diſtinction of Acquiſition, and Fruition, can Comprehend, I cannot depart.

4 The Superlative unexpreſſible Excellency of the Divine Glory from Eternity, hath ſo Great a Command upon my Underſtanding, together with that Expreſſion of the Apoſtles of God's being All in All, that altho the Humane Nature of Chriſt, as united to the Divine; though the Humane Nature of Chriſt and his Saints; the Union of Saints to God by Chriſt, be Free, and wholly Grace; and were not indeed from Eternity; yet Joyning the ſo often mention'd Aſſertion of the Apoſtle Paul, with our Lords of the Glory, before the World began, Aſſures me; that the State of Angels and Saints, is Brought to the higheſt Nearneſs Created, Nature is capable of, to that Glory, before the Foundation of the World, even as the Humane Nature of Chriſt is ſo Advanc'd; and that that Objectition, viz. that the Humane Nature of Chriſt had not an Exiſtence in that Glory, before the World, Argues to me the more ſtrongly, that All this is ſo; For it ſpeaks that Humane Nature it ſelf, therefore drawn more out of all Created Glory, into the Glory of the Eternal Word, and that the Divine Nature of the Eternal Word is our Object, and not the Humane Nature of Chriſt; all the objective Glory of Chriſt in his Humane Nature, and of Angels and Saints being ſeen in Speculo Divinitatis, in that Infinite Mirrour of the Divine Nature; And herein I Relye on the very Words of Scripture, that cannot be over-rul'd: And ſeeing God hath been pleas'd to make the Humane Nature of Chriſt, and the Union of his Saints to himſelf Unchangeable, as himſelf; (So far am I from ſuppoſing a Fall from that State) the Exaltation of them to Cloſeſt Approximation to that Glory to Eternity, that was from Eternity, is the Ceſſation of Oeconomy, and the perfect Eternal State; wherein the Saints are Equal to Angels, and need them not for their Enjoyment, but as All meet in God: On the contrary, though Devils, and Loſt Spirits have all the Senſe, and Action Agreeable to their Lost State, Yet it is not ſuch kind of Hoſtile Action, as now They are Exercis'd in, but are in as perfect a State of Suffering, as, and above All we can conceive, and ſo for ever, and in the moſt Unchangeable Miſery.

And whereas a Political Conception of the Eternal King, his Laws and Subjects, ſeems to Require Another State, or order then this, I Aſſert: Yet as from Eternity, Supreme Dominion was Eſſential to God, even as Mercy, Goodneſs, Truth, before any Subjects, capable to Exerciſe them upon; So to Eternity, without any ſuch Adminiſtration, as according to Political Laws we Apprehend, and have known here. But who can ſail in this Infinite Ocean now, without the having All Thought and Underſtanding, Loſt in that Infinity! But this is certain, God is a King Eternal, as well as Immortal, Inviſible, and the Only Wiſe God, To Him therefore be Glory be for ever: And in All this I moſt humbly p. 21Acknowledge Jeſus Chriſt, God and Man, the Mediator, even the Mediator of this union to Eternity; But the very Nature of a Mediator is not, that he ſhould be Our utmoſt Objective Reſt, but that, as All Scripture ſpeaks, He ſhould Bring us to God, even God All in All by ſeveral Degrees, the Higheſt of which is his own Kingdom, and at laſt to the moſt Immediate union in and by Himſelf, which is the Kingdom of Eternity.

And thus I have endeavour'd to make plain, that the Kingdom of Chriſt, as in the Judgment Given to Him, as the Son of Man, enſtated in a World to come of New Heavens and a New Earth does not Laſt for ever; but is, as in our Law, a Leaſe for a Year, to put into Poſſeſſion, that the Eternal Inheritance may veſt in us: I come in the Laſt place to Clear my Hypotheſis in theſe Great Points from the Suppoſition, that there may be other Worlds beſides the World preſent, that is now near 6000 Years old, and that World to come of the Kingdom of Christ, whereof I Speak, and then the whole deliver'd up to God All in All; either as Angels and Saints in Glorious Bodies in union to Him; or as Loſt …pirits, and Spirits in Bodies, ſo Subdued quite below under his Kingdom in the Lake, as to be Eternally ſeparated from him.

Now I Briefly Argue againſt any other Worlds.

Reaſon 1. Becauſe the Scripture in All, it ſays, Stints our Thoughts, and Imaginations in this variety of Worlds, Riſing and Repullulating, as it were out of the Firſt World, that we Read of the Creation of Gen. 1. An Extent of Thought beyond this, Brings us under a Vertigo, a Giddineſs of Apprehenſion, that we know not where we are, and Inclines to Scepticiſm, a doubt of All Things; and if we do not ſtop to Atheiſtick Su…pitions, Running out of the Aſſurance of the Truth of All Religion; and of Chriſtianity.

Reaſ. 2. Becauſe Scripture Repreſents the Angels, and Saints of both the Saved, and of the Loſt, as ſo many, and thoſe in ſuch a variety. Angels never ſinning, but Elect, and Confirm'd in Original Holineſs; Angels Falling, and never Recover'd; M…n Created in Original Purity, Falling; and a number very vaſt in it ſelf Recover'd; ſome dying, but vindicated from Death by the Reſurrection; Others in the Kingdom of Chriſt, that though they might fall and die, viz. the living remaining, are yet ſecur'd by the Mediator; and the Loſt of Mankind, Fallen from their Firſt Eſtate, and not Recover'd, notwithſtanding the Grace of the Mediator, Scripture Every-where alſo Magnifies the Riches and Fullneſs, the Variety of the Creation, as declaring to the utmoſt the Glory of God, that He thinks fit to Reveal in ſuch away, eſpecially as it ſhall be in Chriſt's World to Come. Now the Infinite Riches of the Divine Being, ſhewing it ſelf in ſo Great an Explication of its own ſo Variegated Wiſdom, Epheſ. 3. 9. &c. to Principalities, and Powers in Heavenly Places, in and by the Church, when it is carried through all Oeconomies, eſpecially that in the Fullneſs of Times, (wherein Angels Themſelves ſhall be Recapitulated, Epheſ. 1. 10.) into the Eternal Kingdom, is All, Scripture Reveals; and it carries our p. 22Thoughts not a Moment beyond, but winds up all herein; fo… that Search beyond it, looks like the vain Puff and Swolneſs of a fleſhly Mind, as not being wiſe to Sobriety, but above what is written. And yet I know the Infinite Being, and Wiſdom, and Power of God, before ſome Holy, and Good, and ſo Zealous of the Glory of God, may cauſe them to ſay, Who knows what God will do?

Reaſ. 3. Becauſe it is not only unconceivable, but directly againſt the Analogy of Scripture and Faith, That there ſhould be any Glory of Creatures Intellectual, or Animal, or according to the Mechaniſm and Frame of Heaven and Earth, but what is All in Jeſus Chriſt the eternal Word in our Nature. Now how is it Conceivable either in Scripture or Reaſon, He ſhould be Related to Another, or any more Worlds, as to this? wherein he was made Man, the Son of Abraham, the Son of David. Can there be any more Sons of Abraham, or of David? Can the Eternal Word Aſſume any more or other Created Nature into Himſelf? He muſt then ſee a World, or Worlds, wherein He hath no Intereſt, as in that Perſonality, wherein we Believe Him according to Scripture; This would be a Diminution to his Glory; Therefore this is to me a moſt Concluſive Argument againſt any Worlds before or after this.

Reaſ. 4. I add, the Manifeſtations of the Grace of God in Chriſt, even the Riches of Glory on the Veſſels of Mercy prepared to Glory and Honour, and of his Wrath and Power, on the Veſſels of Wrath, and unto Diſhonour, are to the Heighth, as the Apoſtle ſhews, Rom. 9 22. Any more then would ſpeak the Imperfection of what hath been, is, and is to be; which no way agrees with Scripture, manifeſting all to the utmoſt. From whence I conclude, ſuch a Suppoſal of more Worlds cannot Rationally Barr the Hipotheſis of ſuch a Kingdom, as God All in All.

And thus I have endeavoured ſo to ſtate that Kingdom of the 1000 Y. wherein not only his Enemies are in Fieri, or about, as they ſpeak, to be ſubdued, but it ſhall be brought to that Conſummation and Perfection, which the Apostle ſpeaks of, and which is the very Character of the Kingdom of Chriſt, Heb 2. 1. That all Things ſhould be ſo put under Him, there ſhould be nothing left, that is not put under Him. But now we ſee not All Things ſo put under Him; by which we know, the Time of his Kingdom is not yet.

There may yet be remaining many Spinoſe and Snarl'd Queſtions, the Anſwering of which would ſtill beget more, and make Controverſies as endleſs as the Genealogies the Apoſtle ſpeaks of; I therefore deſignedly forbear Them. I know the Like may be drawn over the moſt Fundamental Principles of Theology by a diſpos'd Questioniſt, as is very plain by the Parallel I have given betwixt that ſo Acknowledged One of the Day of Judgment, and the Thouſand Years Kingdom, liable to the very ſame Captious Enquiries.

I will therefore wave any further Regard to thoſe Perplexing Queſtions, with Tranſcribing ſome few Obſervations out of that moſt Satisfying Diſcourſe of the Ʋniverſally Honourable Mr Boyl, in his Appendix to the ſo p. 23Graceful Pourtracture of the Christian Vertuoſo, of which he is Himſelf the Life; It is his Reflections upon the Diſtinction of Above, and not against Reaſon, viz. pag. 6. parag. 7. There are divers Truths in Chriſtian Religion, that Reaſon left to it ſelf, would never have found out, nor ſo much perhaps as Dream'd of; (and ſuch undoubtedly is the Thouſand Years Kingdom of Chriſt.) And p. 8. parag. 10. There are Truths ſo Abſtruſe, that when They are propos'd, as clearly, as proper unambiguous Terms can propoſe Them, They do nevertheleſs ſurpaſs our Dim and Bounded Reaſon. And ſuch alſo are many Things concerning this Kingdome of Chriſt; There are many Things in General, and in determinate Conceptions, (as that Diſcourſe moſt preſſingly Inſtances) Concerning Time, Place, Local Motion, Quantity; wherein though we underſtand One Another when we ſpeak of Them, yet if we throughly look into Them, there are ſuch Difficulties as oppreſs our Reaſon, and wherein the Men, who make ſuch ſhrewd Objections againſt our Hipotheſis, will hardly be able to pitch on any that will not Allow us to Repay them in the ſame Coyn. So alſo are there in the Articles of Faith, much more in theſe of the Kingdom of Christ, and yet none are therefore to be Rejected. That alſo is Greatly Conſiderable to the Preſent Purpoſe, pa. 6. parag. 8. There are many Truths, and more then we are wont to Imagine; that we want Mediums or Inſtruments to Diſcover; that if They were clearly propos'd, would be Intelligible to us, even as Celeſtial Lights in thoſe Ineſtimably Remote Regions, for want of more Reaching Teleſcopes. Theſe, and many more moſt excellent Obſervations, in that ſhort, but Maſſie Treatiſe, if well Conſider'd, would Reconcile our Thoughts to the Glorious Kingdom of Chriſt; however hitherto Dark in the Main; and many Things relating to the Modus or Circumſtance, more Dark; But I make no doubt, thoſe Reaching, Commanding Teleſcopes will be brought forth fo… Uſe ere-long, by the Everlasting Gospel preach'd; when what was Myſtery before, will be no longer ſo; Even as what was ſo in the Old Teſtament, became no longer ſo, by the New Revealing it; as the ſame Honourable Writer Remarks. In the mean time, how Noble would it be in a Royal Society of Chriſtian Vertuoſo's to call for, Encourage, and Receive all Propoſes concerning Prophecy, its Line of Time, and the Fulfilling of it! That would bring ſo Adorable a part of Theology into Experimentality, to the Great Honour of the Age. But if neither Divines, nor Vertuoſo's will do it, God will ſuddenly Grant a New Charter for a Royal Society of Vertuoſo's for his Kingdom.

I willingly alſo forbear the ſaying any more concerning the Calling of the Jews; the very Occaſion given to deny it, being in the Senſe of moſt Chriſtians, a kind of Invidious Thing: I only ſay, the Jews according to all Prophecy, being kept in publick View, as a Deſolated and Obſtinate Unbelieving People, make it very Believable; They are pteſerved to ſuch a Gracious purpoſe; Wherein it is moſt True, Inſinite Power and Wiſdome hath Engag'd it Self, in Anſwer to the hardeſt Objections, according p. 24to Ezekiel's Reſolve of that Queſtion; Can theſe Dead Bones live? O Lord God, thou knoweſt, Ezek. 37. 3. And the Apoſtle's Theorem, concerning the Caſe; God is able to graft Them in, Rom. 11. 23.

I am alſo willing to Accept that Reſerve for taking in Papal Rome within the Apocalyptick Prophecy; That as Pagan Rome was moſt certainly in its Time, ſo Papal Rome may be Babylon alſo: Only I cannot but Obſerve, that the Caſſandrianiſm and Grotianiſm, of Suppoſiting Pagan Rome to all the Prophecy of the Revelation, wherein the Learned, and according to his own Sentiments, moſt Pious Dr. Hammond, Joyn'd through the Antiperiſtatick Paroxiſm, He carried to the Times He Lived in; (and againſt which Mr. Baxter hath Written in General.) This ſure is much more Obnoxious then the Agreeing with Conformiſts, concerning any Apocalyptick Notions; For it Argues much more a Divine Impreſſion, when Any are carried againſt, then down a Stream; eſpecially in Favour of a Prophecy, that will as certainly Take down the Grandieur, and Antiquate the Antiquity of moſt of the Conſtitution, They Favour, within a ſhort time, as even the Papal it ſelf; Let it be ſpoken without the Disfavour of many Honourable and Ʋndefiled Names of Sardis: The moſt Sagacious of the Jeſuits ſo much underſtood an Antichriſtian Rome, Revel. 17. That to avoid the Blow, They, as Balam and Chaiaphas have Propheſied of an Anti-Chriſt that ſhall yet come to Deſtroy Rome, and its Pſeudo-Catholick State. And they are thus far in the Right of it: That as the Papal State is the Antichriſt to the True Christ; So the True Chriſt's Coming will be Antichriſt indeed to that Antichriſt; an foreign to that foreign, a Christ directly oppoſite to Him, and that will come into his Room, and ſo even perfectly bring Him to nothing with the Brightneſs of his own Appearance.

Paſſing then from all theſe Things, I come to what Remains of Greater Moment, and that is, Concerning the Churches in General; more Particular of Philadelphia, and Laodicea, and moſt eſpecially of Laodicea; upon which I muſt acknowledge the moſt Difficult and Hardlieſt to be Reconcil'd Hinge of my Hipotheſis Turns.

1. I firſt therefore conſider, what concerns the Seven Churches in General, and that is, with Relation to the Angels of the Churches; Concerning which, Mr. Baxter in his Reply; thus Writes, p. 14. For my part (ſaith he) If I Believed, that by God's Inſtitution, the Church Catholick muſt have One Univerſal Humane Angel, or Government, Monarchical, or Ariſtocratical, or mixt; I would preſently be a Papiſt; But he had ſaid before; What is the Eſſence of Papacy, but the Claim of an Ʋniverſal Power over the Church in the Pope, or his Council, He being the Head

Now in this I would earneſtly Beg the ſame Candor of Interpretation, in all I have Written, that in this matter I would Uſe; that is, To ſeek out the beſt and faireſt Senſe that I could poſſibly find, wherein I had any Reaſon of Check at what is Written; ſhould I be ſo unjuſt, as to underſtand by Mr. Baxter's being a Papiſt preſently, on ſuch Terms, any Thing elſe, but that as to that Point of Acnowledging the Pope as p. 25Head of Ʋnity, as they ſpeak, He would be a Papiſt; and only upon the Suppoſition of Divine Inſtitution, and that the Eſſence of Popery conſiſted in that; whereas to be a Papiſt is generally underſtood to be an Embracer of all the Idolatry and Superſtitions, &c. the Pope hath eſtabliſhed by the Authority, which is ſuppos'd to be in Him, to eſtabliſh what he pleaſes, as He is ſuch a Head. Should I Turn this every way to Aggravate it, and Raiſe Tragical Suspitions and Diſcourſes upon it? Far be it from me; I take his Meaning ſimply, as He intended it: It is but the ſame Meaſure, I deſire.

But I come to the main Point, and thereunto I make Anſwer in theſe following Particulars.

1. By the Churches, I do not underſtand ſo the Symbolized Ʋniverſal Church, as that the particular Churches named, ſhould be Excluded; but each Church with its Paſtors Included: So that ſuppoſing a Proeſto's to be underſtood by the Angel; It would Ariſe to no more, then that all theſe Seven Succeſſions through the Ʋniverſal Church were Repreſented in each Succeſſion by theſe ſingle Churches, and their Angels.

2. I am very far from Thinking, that either Pope or Biſhop, or ſo much as a Proesto's is underſtood by Angel; but that Angel throughout this Prophecy Generally, (I do not ſay in every Particular) Signifies a Collective Miniſtery of ſit Instruments to every Purpoſe; and ſo Angels of the Churches Intends the Holy Paſtors or Miniſters of each Succeſſional State of the Church, who were Inſtructed in the Main Concernments of the Kingdom of Chriſt in each Age, and Remonſtrated them to the Churches. And therefore I obſerve a Care, as I Apprehend, of the Divine Spirit Foreprizing any ſuch Interpretation of the Angels, a… if They were ſingle Perſons; For ſaith Chriſt, Chapter 1. verſ. 20. The Seven Stars are the Angels of the Seven Churches; Seven is applyed to the Stars, and to the Churches, but not to the Angels, as it were Declining the Application of the Number to the Angels, the neareſt and moſt immediate Symbol, of what-ever was intended, that there might be no Collection; They were ſingle Perſons.

2. I obſerve ſuch a Sympathy between the Angels of the Churches, and the Churches, that in one Great Inſtance the Spirit turns off from the Angel to ſpeak to the Body of the Church: To You I ſay, and to the Reſt of Thyatyra, Chap 2. v. 24, …. And that is a Key to the Intention in every Epiſtle to the Churches; Beſides the Book, of what John ſaw, to be Written by Him, Chap. 1. v. …0. is directed to each Church by Chriſt's eſpecial Command; and to the Angels, only as Speakers or Prolocutors, as to our Speakers in Parliament; and it is ſtill ſaid, He that hath an Ear, let him hear what the Spirit ſaith to the Churches; And the Promiſes are made to each ſingle Perſon of each Church; ſo that what is ſaid to any One, is ſaid to All; wherefore as to me it is moſt plain, All Eccleſiaſtick Power, any further than it holds out the Word of Chriſt, which every ſingle Chriſtian is to know for himſelf, and ſo to ſubmit unto, is no other than ſome Vein, at leaſt of the Feet of Clay; much more when it Takes upon it to be Sirly, or Lordly p. 26over Conſciences; and moſt of All, when to Enforce it ſelf; It pleads, by Law Eſtabliſhed. So far am I in my own Judgment from being Guilty in this matter of an Over-zeal ſupported only by Ignorance, or not according to Knowledge, that I was always aware, and Guarded againſt this Conſequence.

2. I come in the Second place to Apply my Thoughts to Philadelphia, and Laodicea, as Churches of Another World, which that They ſhould be, none of the Aſian Churches, or Chriſtians for 1500 Years ever Believ'd.

Anſwer 1. This I look upon, as not Known to us, what was Believ'd in the Time neareſt to the Giving that Prophecy. Since then, Gradually a Horror of Darkneſs came upon the Churches, eſpecially, as to the Apocalyptical Prophecy, and moſt eſpecially, as to the Retir'd parts of it; And Ah las, how much doth it ſtill Remain? This I look upon then, as ſo Little of an Argument againſt their being ſo, that I paſs from it.

Anſw. 2. Each Epiſtle is writ, not ſo to the Churches of the Future World, but that They are for the Learning, and Admonition of every Age of the Church in their moſt Myſtic Senſe, (if They had Ears to hear, which very words ſhew the Senſe to be highly Parabolick, and Myſtic) and ſtill much more in their plain Doctrinal, Inſtructing or Reproving, Correcting, Conſolatory Senſe, and directed to all Churches, and Chriſtians in all Ages ſince; Even as They were for the Churches of that Time, and more particularly, Written, Each Epiſtle, to the Church then, to which each was directed.

3. As to the Church of Philadelphia, and the Objections concerning it, I have ſo Fully ſpoken in my Treatiſe of the Reformation to be Reform'd; eſpecially at Page 62. &c that I would only Recollect this Brief Satisfaction: That I look upon ſome Low, and Depreſs'd State of Saints of Chriſt, Symboll'd all along by it from the Reformation Entring, until the Reformation it ſelf ſhall be Reform'd; to which the Little ſtrength, and ſuch like Expreſſions are to be Applied; That it is ſo Long, Over-Lour'd by the Height and Grandieur of Sardis, eſpecially thoſe of it, who make Them of the Synagogue of Sathan; That it …nters its proper Time of Succeſſion, when it ſhall Appear in Another Kind of Glory at 97; when alſo the Kingdom of Chriſt enters its Succeſſion at the end of the Apoſtaſie, and the Time of it, as I have always explain'd that Succeſſion. Then Chriſt hath Right of a Kingdom, the Four Monarchies being at an end, and prepares for its Glory by the Seven Thunders opened, and the Vials poured out, wherein the Church of Philadelphia ſhall be Highly Serviceable; This State laſts for Daniel's 75, Added to 1260 of the Apoſtaſie, and making 1335, Dan. 12. 12, 13. ſhall be at our 1772. Then the New Jeruſalem comes down on the Philadelphian Church, in a Glory Tranſcendental to he Church States that ever have been …n E…th; for a … …he end of the 1000 Years, the Glory Retires fr…m … on Earth, This Looſe… Sathan, and the Condemn'd, Captiva… … …og and Magog; to make whatever Attempt They … …ſſ…ility o… p. 27Change in the State of the Saints of the firſt Reſurrection Above; but on the Saints Below, it hath the Operation of the Abatement of the former Fervors of Bringing all their Glory to the Jeruſalem Above, and Earneſt Deſire of being Caught up to it, as its intended; but are about to Acquieſce and Settle in a State by Themſelves on Earth; which Chriſt by no means Allows, nor Endures. Here enters the Laodicean State; of which becauſe I have, never at any Largeneſs, publiſhed my Thoughts, I would be more large, when I have given theſe Pre-Cautions.

1. That neither on my Judgment concerning Laodicea, nor concerning Gog and Magog, as the Captivated Dead or Condemn'd of the Thouſand Years do I ſuſpend the Weight of my principal Doctrine of the Thouſand Years Kingdom of Chriſt; but therein offer the beſt Light, I am able to give in ſo dark Points, in Agreement with my principal Doctrine, and the Symmetry of Prophecy, and Commend my Self therein to the Candor of the Wiſe and Sober, without any occaſion of Offence or Exaſperation.

2. That the ſtrangeneſs of the Abatement of Fervours in the Living Saints, or the Laodicean Church, will be eaſily taken off by conſidering; The Aſſurance of the beſt …reated State, depends upon the Degrees of Divine Confirmation, which does not perfect it ſelf into the very Nature of Ʋnchangeableneſs, but in the Kingdom of the New Jeruſalem Above, and in the Kingdom of Glory; Yet from hence no ſuch Thing as a Falling from Grace in the Saints much leſs in the Kingdom of Chriſt, though Below, can be Fairly Collected.

For there is an unchangeable Love manifeſting it ſelf in the midſt of We…kneſs, till th… Saints are brought to the State of Incorruption and Immortality; which is not but in the Kingdom of Chriſt Above; where the Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection are, and the Living Remaining, are (as I always Aſſerted) Cau…ht up without the loſs of any One, and ſo Deliver'd up together into the Abſolute Eternal Life of God All in All; which States are by the Decree of God in their own Nat…re, ſo Fram'd by Infinite Wiſdom and Power, in Conjunction with Infinite Love and Grace in Chriſt, as Unchangeable, as God himſelf.

For the Manifeſtation therefore of the Weakneſs of any State, but of that Abſolute Incorruption in the Kingdom of Chriſt Above, and of Eternity; for the Manifeſtation of the Power and Grace of Christ's bringing his Saints Below, ſafe to theſe States through the poſſibility of Danger at the end of the Thouſand Years; for the Greater …onqueſt over Satan, Sin, and Death; And laſtly, for the ſhewing the Neceſſity of putting an End to all Church-State on Earth, without ſuch a Glory of the New Jeruſalem coming down upon it; which Infinite Wiſdom, for the Glory of God All in All, had Determin'd to be only a Thouſand Years; On all theſe Accounts there is a Permiſſion of the Appearance of the Danger; but it was no ſooner given Leave to Appear, but there was immediately a Catching up of the Prey, as it were, out of the Mouth of the Lion, and with Violence pulling out p. 28duplicate page p. 29duplicate page p. 28of the Fire every One of the Saints below, and without the Loſs of One. In all which I deſire to be Clearly, Juſtly, and Candidly Underſtood.

3. There is leſs Wonder, that the Wicked Captiv'd and Bound under Condemnation, and the Glory of the Kingdom of Chriſt for the Thouſand Years ſhining juſt in their Faces, ſhould break out into that Outrage of Gog and Magog. For thus, as Dead all that Time, not in the Senſe of Suffering and Torment, but of any Spirit for Action againſt the Kingdom of Chriſt, They lay Bound and Fetter'd; It is no wonder then, that upon the withdrawing of the Glories of that Kingdom, Satan and that Gog and Magog break out into that Attempt, upon theſe Accounts;

1. All the Conviction and Puniſhment the Divels have been under theſe Thouſand Years, and of the Damned throughout Eternity, does not according to the Judgment of all Divines upon Scripture, at all abate their Wickedneſs, and Rage againſt God; but in what-ever they find their Chain looſe and allowing Liberty, They take it. This then will be the Caſe of Satan, Gog and Magog at the end of the Thouſand Years; They find the Chains of the Kingdom of Chriſt looſe about Them, ſo They Stir, They Move thus▪

2. There is no doubt, Satan is the Name of the Higheſt Dominion, Power, and Influence of Wickedneſs in Scripture; He therefore being particularly looſed at the end of the Thouſand Years, mightily Agitates and Enflames to the Higheſt the Highly dispos'd Spirits of the Gog and Magog, full of Rage and Hatred of the Kingdom of Chriſt, the Loſs and Torture of which They will have Endur'd a Thouſand Years; beſides the undoubted Foreſight of the Lake for ever; And not able ſo ſtrongly Chain'd, to have mov'd againſt it; upon a Looſening of Satan, and a Power of Action, as it were of ſome Livelineſs, by the Thouſand Years Glory Retiring; They are under Satan's Energy, call'd Deception becauſe of its Folly and Falſenſes, how Powerful ſoever; That they Gather, and Compaſs the Holy City.

3. The Wiſdom, Juſtice, Glory, and Power of God and Chriſt in a Supream manner permitting, Order alſo, and over-rule this Effort.

1. That there might be a full Diſplay of the Wickedneſs and Irreconcilable Spirits of Satan, and this loſt Gog and Magog of the Condemned, and of their Fittedneſs for the Wrath of Christ's Coming Down; not as a Second Conflagration of the New Heaven and Earth, which by a milder Exffection Fly away, when Chriſt Delivers up the Kingdom; but on Satan and his Hoſts, only Fire comes down, as it were, Hell from Heaven upon Them, ſhutting them up for ever in the Lake; where there ſhall be an utter Impoſſibility of Satan being Looſed, of Gog and Magog Feeling any ſuch Life or Action, or Gathering in Battel for ever.

2. When therefore all the Numbers, Strength, utmost Efforts of Rage and Spirit in Satan and all his Legions and Hoſts are thus at the Heighth; there is then this Supream Manifeſtation of the Glory and Pow…r of God againſt theſe Armies, whoſe Number is as the Sand on the Sea; That the Grace, Love, and Mercy of God … …hrist in the R…ſ…e o… th… … p. 29Caſtle, Camp, or Strong Citadel of his Saints in the New Earth, the New Jeruſalem below, the Beloved City, might be ſeen at laſt in this Illuſtrious and Glorious Deliverance and Reſcue. It is therefore call'd a Battel, even as the Second Part of that Great Battel of the Day of God Almighty at Armageddon; And now the Victory is Compleat and Irrecoverable, by the Catargeſis, or Caſting into the Lake, th…t after a Full and Abſolute Judgment immediately followed; And of this Battel, even as of that of Armageddon; All the Great Battels, Deliverances, and Victories, as of Moſes over Amalek, Joſhua, and David, Pſal. 18. Aſa, Hezekiah, Constantine, Theododoſius his Laſt againſt Eugenius, and Argobaſtes, were Types.

4. By way of Recollection, and for further Preparation concerning the Church of Laodicea, let us conſider the Six-fold Repetition of the Thouſand Years, Rev. 20. and how they are Aſſign'd; which will add Certainty, and Luſtre to both the Thouſand Years, and the Hipotheſis, or Frame of Doctrine built upon them

1. They are Aſſign'd to the Binding of Satan, the Dragon, the Old Tempting, and Deceiving Serpent, the Devil and Satan, the Great Accuſer and Adverſary; He was laid hold on by the Angel, or Miniſters of the D…vine Power and Pleaſure, having the Key of that dark Vault of Impoſſibility for Satan to Appear or Act, but in the Torment of his own Guilty and Miſerable Spir…t; as the Chain alſo Signifies; ſo much as in the ſmalleſt Inſtance; even as at all Times He is Remanded into it, and Held in it, but according to the Permiſſion of God; He was now laid Hold upon, Bound and Chain'd, and Seal'd up for a Thouſand Years. Here Satan is Conſider'd as in the Eſſentials of the Prince and whole Hoſt of fallen wicked Spirits, full of Power, Might, and Rage, as well as Counſel and Policy; the whole Number of theſe Intelligences, Spirits and their Action, is as effectually, and to all Intents and Purpoſes Bound for the Thouſand Years, as it ſhall be, when Satan is Caſt into the Lake for Eternity, and under the Abſoluteneſs of Kingdome, when all Enemies ſubdued, God ſhall be All in All.

2. The Thouſand Years are Aſſign'd to the Not deceiving the Nations, till thoſe Thouſand Years are Expired or Finiſht. Now it is moſt Eviden…, Theſe Nations are not the Nations of the Saved, Chap 21. 24. and Healed by the Leaves of the Tree of Life, Chap. 22. v. 3. For Theſe were Deſtroyed from Heaven; But there were at the ſame Time other Nations Saved, and Healed, a Holy and Beloved City. There is therefore a certain. Aſſurance, the Nations here ſpoken of, are the Wicked Reſerved to Future Deſtruction▪ Now Theſe, I ſay, are Really the Dead, who (as I ſhall juſt now ſpeak more) were Symbolized by Nations, or Gentiles, more properly Aliens, as foreign often ſignifies, from the Common-wealth of Iſrael, the New Jeruſalem below. But for the Thouſand Years they are not to be ſtirr'd by Satan; They cannot be Deceiv'd into any Action againſt the Kingdom of Chriſt; The Glory of Chriſt's Kingdom is ſo Full in their Face,

3. The Thouſand Years are Aſſigned to the Martyrs, and all the Saints p. 30of Chriſt, whoſe Saintſhip is Symbolized by the Not worſhipping the Beaſt, &c. That is, as Pure to God in all Ages before the Beast, and making up One Church of the First Born with Them; as the Apostle calls this whole Number of Saints: Theſe are Rais'd in Bodies of the Firſt Reſurrection, and Reign with Chriſt in his Thouſand Years Kingdom, a Thouſand Years.

4. Theſe Thouſand Years are Aſſigned to the Reſt of the Dead not Living again, till the Thouſand Years are Finiſht; And theſe Dead ſignifie to me Thoſe, Chap. 19. Slain with the Sword of Chriſt's Mouth; and on whoſe Fleſh the Fowls, viz. the Saints of Christ Triumphing in the Vengeance, and Waſhing their Feet in the Blood of the Wicked, are Satisfied upon. It is Expreſly ſaid, They Lived Not, which is Principally to be underſtood of the Highest of Life in the Higheſt Senſes of it; For as ſoon as ever The Saints were Rais'd, All the Wicked Dead were Rais'd; But They Lived not, Living not ſo, as to Reign with Chriſt, as the Dead Saints Rais'd, Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection liv▪d.

But becauſe They are of a Reſurrection, though a Reſurrection of the Ʋnjuſt, and to Condemnation; Therefore They are ſpoken of next to the Raiſed Saints: But They Lived not, till the Thouſand Years were Expir'd; As ſoon as ever that is ſaid, it is Added immediately, This is the Firſt Reſurrection; the Firſt and OnelyOnly Reſurrection to Living: But Theſe Dead were not of it, and ſo They never can Live in the true Senſes of Life, though Rais'd; For They Liv'd not till the Thouſand Years of the Firſt Reſurrection were Finiſht, and ſo could not ſo much as Taſte of the Firſt Reſurrection, or Partake of it; and then They never can; For they are immediately Forepriz'd; as ſoon as ever it had been ſaid, They were the Dead, who for the Thouſand Years Liv'd not; It is ſaid, Bleſſed and Holy is He that is Partaker of the Firſt Reſurrection, over ſuch the Second Death hath no power; Over All elſe it hath: The Dead therefore, which Theſe are, are Caſt into the Lake of the Second Death.

There may be alſo a Secondary Senſe of the Dead not living, viz. Not Appearing, as Gog and Ma…og, till the Thouſand Years are Finiſht, as hath been ſhewn; But This is … Principal.

5. Theſe Thouſand Years are Aſſign'd to the Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection, Holy Saints, and in … State of Paradiſe-Bleſſedneſs, making up with the Riſen Saints; We All; as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Cor. 15. 25. and 1 Theſſ. 4. 17. viz. who Come to us, and make us up to an All, to a Complement of Saints, who cannot …e the Dead; for They Die not All, but are Chang'd, and ſo Participants of the First Reſurrection; Not the Dead, for They are the Living, and Remaining: Theſe alſo, though they are not Saints of the Firſt R…ſ…rrection, yet Partakers; Though they are not ſaid here to …ive, yet They are Prieſts of God and of Christ, and Reign with Him as Kings of the Earth; Nations Saved, and Healed a Thouſand Years; And ſo the Greatneſs of the Redemption of Chriſt Abounds in the Sight of their ſhort Danger; and They are Caught up to Chriſt, and to all the Saints above, and are ever p. 31with the Lord, and ſo the Second Death hath no Power over Them.

6. Theſe Thouſand Years are Aſſign'd not in their whole Line, but in their end, to the Looſing of Satan for that little ſpace; to the Inſurrection of Gog and Magog, againſt the Holy City; and the Caſting Satan and the Dead into the Lake.

Object. If it ſhould be ſaid, How can One and the Same ſort of Perſons be Known to be the ſame, when Prophecy hath ſo varied their Names, Calling Them the Nations, or Gentiles; The Dead; Gog and Magog?

Anſw. So Great a Prophecy as This of the Revelation, that hath pronounc'd a Bleſſedneſs upon Them who Read, and who Hear it, Expects, All ſhould be moſt Accurate and Diligent in Comparing it Self with it Self, bringing All Scripture into a Compare with it, that ſo the Two Leaved Gates of its Truth may open to Them, and the Secret Treaſures, even Treaſures of Darkneſs, as it ſeems to our dim Underſtanding, may be Diſclos'd to Them; And if Any think the Trouble too Great, They are ſhut Out.

In this Caſe therefore by Comparing, we come to underſtand, that there is not only fair Inducement to think the Dead, the Nations, Gog and Magog, to be the ſame, but Greateſt Aſſurance, They muſt be the ſame.

There is fair Inducement, in that Gog and Magog, being Deſcribed as a Great Multitude, whoſe Number is as the Sand of the Sea; They muſt be a Collection of Nations, and therefore They are expreſly call'd the Nations, Chap. 9. v. 8. and a Hammonah of Nations, as of Old in the Type, Ezek. 39 9. Now we find ſuch a Collection of Nations, Slain with the Sword of Chriſt's Mouth, Chap. 19. For v. 18. Their Fleſh is Expos'd as a Feaſt to the Fowls in ſuch a Collection of Kings, Captains, Small and Great; And v: 19. They are ſaid to be the Kings of the Earth, and their Armies Gathered together under the Beaſt, as their Chief; And when the Beaſt and falſe Prophet were Taken and thrown into the Lake, verſe 20. foreign, the Reſt, even the whole Reſt beſides the Beaſt and falſe Prophet, are v. 21. expreſly ſaid to be Slain with the Sword of Chriſt's Mouth; And ſo They became the Dead; therefore Chap. 20. They are call'd very properly in ſo Neighbour a Context, foreign, the Reſt of the Dead; by the foreign, of Chap. 19. v. 21. and the foreign, put together; The Remnant ſlain, Chap. 19. 21. The Remnant of the Dead, c. 20. 5. Slain and Dead being moſt Conjoyn'd in Signification, They appear to be the ſame: And theſe Reſt ſlain, and ſo Dead, are in their whole Number and …ollection, the Gog and Magog ſo gathered together, as to the Firſt Battel at Armageddon So to the Laſt Battel of the Thouſand Years, or of the Day of Judgment ending.

There is beyond this Indu…ement, ſtrong Argument; For who-ever Live in the State of the Thouſand Years, muſt be Partakers of the Firſt Reſurrection; Becauſe They are the Nations of the Saved, ſaved from the Sword of Him that Sate on the Horſe; As they are call'd, The Land brought back, or Reſcued from the Sword, Ezek. 38. 8. All Thoſe are Healed with the Leaves of the Tree of Life; They muſt be therefore the Living, for All that are p. 32Living are foreign, the very Left as under a peculiar Guard, and Care of Life; So They are call'd the People left, and Eſcaped, and the Living, Eſay 4. 2, 3. and by Ezekiel compar'd to Fiſhes in the Living, and Healing Waters; wherein whatever doth Live, ſhall Live; and the Dead, viz. the Raiſed-condemn'd, to Mariſhes, or Miry places, not Healed, but Given to Salt, Ezek. 47. 9, 11. even the Salt of that Fire, never Quench'd, March 9. 47. From whence it Follows, whoever Eſcape in that Great Tribulation, the Fire, the Sword, the Hail of the Day of Judgment, and Perdition of Ʋngodly Men at that Battle of Armageddon, are the Living Remaining, Written in the Book of Life, and ſhall Live; And All other are to be Accounted the Dead, Firſt Slain with the Sword of Chriſt's Mouth, punniſh'd with Everlasting Deſtruction, and then cast into the Lake at laſt: For ſo it is Everlaſting Deſtruction to be Slain with the Sword of Chriſt's Mouth, Becauſe All the ſo Slain are the Dead, not Partakers of the Firſt Reſurection; So the Second Death gets the Power over Them, certainly and infallibly; They are cast into the Lake that Burns with Fire, and Brimſtone, which is the Second Death.

Having thus far Pre-caution'd concerning all Things relating to the State of the 1000 Years, and the Little Space of Sathan's Looſing after the 1000 Years: I will now in very Brief, Lay down ſome very ſhort Poſitions, Clearing the Doubts Ariſing from the State of the Living Remaining Saints, as It is Symboliz▪d, and Figur'd by the Church of Laodicea.

Poſit. 1. The Great Reaſon perſwading, The Church of Laodicea is the Repreſentation of the Saints after the 1000 Years, is, that, There are Great Reaſons to be Given, e…ſewhere declar'd; That the Seven Churches are as a Prophetic Seheme, prepar▪d by Chriſt to Run the whole Line of Time, Allotted to the Apocalyp…ic Prophecy; as it is firſt Given by thoſe Churches, with Relation to the Church of Christ, to the very end of All at the Kingdom deliver'd up; and as more Generally, It is the Second Time, Fully Given in the Prophecy of the Book, ſealed with Seven Seals, and Gradually Open'd to the Kingdom by Chriſt.

Poſit▪ 2 If it be ſo, Then the Philadelphian Church being the Church, on which the Thouſand-Years-New-Jeruſalem comes down, and Reſts, The Laodicean Church that comes after it, muſt needs be the State of the Church upon the Glories of the New Jeruſalem above being withdrawn, Sathan Looſed, and the Aſſault by Gog and Magog, deceiv'd by Him, preparing; For All Theſe Immediately ſucceed the 1000 Years, if then, the Church of Philadelphia Agrees in Time with the 1000 Y. and deſcribes the State of the Church during thoſe 1000 Years, the Church, that Follows that, muſt deſcribe the State of the Church after the 1000 Years.

Poſit. 3. There is a wonderful Agreement hereunto of the Titles of Chriſt in writing to this Church, viz. the Amen and Faithful Witneſs to the Laſt End; about to Cloſe the whole Created State, by delivering up the Kingdom; as well as the Beginning of the Creation of God; the Name of the p. 33Church, Laodicea, as in a Judiciary Power over the Nations of the Raiſed, Condemn'd Wicked, Lying Captive at Chriſt's Feet, and ſo at his Saints Feet, as the Dead. The Promiſe of Sitting down with Chriſt on his Throne, (They being Caught up to it;) and that, as Chriſt Sat down on his Father's Throne, till the Time of his own Kingdom, So theſe Saints ſit, while the Laſt Act of Judgment on Sathan, Gog and Magog, on Death, and Hell, is in Sentence and Execution, and ſo until the Kingdom deliver'd up; All theſe I ſay, Admirably Agree to the Laſt End of Things.

Poſit. 4. The ſeveral Branches of the Epiſtle muſt not be Rigorouſly Applied to the Saints Living, Remaining in the New Jeruſalem State, but carried only to the Principal Scope; and what-ever Exceeds that, muſt be underſtood, as in all Parables of Scripture, to Flouriſh and Embelliſh the Figures, that They may moſt to the Life, Expreſs that Principal Scope; and the Reſt muſt vale off, and be Applied only to the Groundwork it ſelf of the Figure; as here It muſt to the Church of Laodicea, that was in Being, when the Epiſtle was written; and ſo Theſe Following Particulars are of Chief Remark, in which, let us then Hear, what the Spirit thus ſpeaks to the Church of Laodicea.

1. The Lukewarmneſs of the Church of Laodicea, Applied to the Living Remaining Saints cannot be underſtood, but of the abatement of the fervors for the Glory of the Jeruſalem above, to which hitherto theſe Kings of the Earth, the Saints below had Brought their Glory: But now thoſe Glories from Above being withdrawn, and the ſo Free and Illuſtrious Communications ceaſing, Theſe Saints below, whereas They rather Acquieſce in their State below, at leaſt, as very well; ſhould have Burnt in an Immediate Zeal to be Caught up, as Elijah in Charriots of Fire to Chriſt above, and to be ever with Him.

2. The Spewing out of Chriſt's Mouth can by no means indeed be underſtood of a diſgraceful, diſhonourable End put by Chriſt to his own Kingdom below, or on his, the Living Remaining Saints; but only that ſeeing a Church State on Earth, Born up in Glory from the Jeruſalem State above, during the 1000 Years, could by the decree of God, Aſſigning only a 1000 Years for it, be no longer; and that his Saints not yet veſted in Immortality, and Incorruption, would be liable to Sathan's Aſſaults, and to Temptation, and to Fall from their Glory; He would therefore Spew out for ever Any Church-State, but what ſhould be Fix▪d in Immortality and Incorruption, and ſo Immediately be deliver'd up through Himſelf to God▪ and the Father.

This Spewing, or Vomiting out of Chriſt's Mouth, ſignifies then the utter Impoſſibility for ever of any Lapſible Church State, or what is not ſo Eternally ſecur'd; Seeing it is moſt Impoſſible, Chriſt ſhould Return to his Vomit any more.

3. The Church of Laodiceas, ſo high Account of it ſelf, as being Rich, and Increas'd with Goods, &c. but in Chriſt's Account being Poor, Miſe…ble, Blind, and Naked, and Counſell'd therefore by Him, to Buy of Him p. 34Gold tryed in the Fire, white Rayment, and Eye-Salve▪ as Applied to the Living Remaining Saints, is no otherwiſe to be underſtood; then that All that Excellent State of the Jeruſalem below, was through the Beams of a free Communication from the Jerulalem above, with which It was in Union; but that being no longer poſſible becauſe the Thouſand Years were finiſht, there could be no Satisfaction in any longer Continuance below, however They might be Tempted to miſtake concerning it; For the State of the Church ſo Deſerted was poor, miſerable, blind, naked; and the Good State could no way be Recover'd, but by the Pure Gold, the White Rayment, and Eye-Salve of Immortality, Incorru…tion, and Immediate Sight of Chriſt Face to Face, in his Kingdom above.

4. By the Rebuke and Chaſtiſement on Laodicea, as It may be Apply'd to the Living Remaining Saints, is Figur'd, in t…t Compaſſ…ng the Camp or the Munition of the Saints, Christ's main Intention and Deſign which was Love; the end of it being to ſtir up that Zeal, and change of Mind, or Reſipiſcency, producing an Earneſtneſs to be Caught up to Christ in his Kingdom above; according to the Neceſſity that muſt needs A…pear from ſo Bold an Attempt of Satan, as ſoon as ever the Glories of Jeruſalem above were ſtay'd, which was the Security of that below; And ſeeing there was but a Thouſand Years Determined to that Univerſal Glory of the Kingdom of Chriſt, and there could be no longer ſuch a Communication, and yet that there was not that Ardor in theſe Saints to be Tranſlated to the High…ſt State; Chriſt ſtops alſo thoſe Influences, that Fetter▪d Satan, and the Gog and Magog; which They immediately Feel as a Looſening of Themſelves, and ſo They Come up, and Cover the New Earth, and Compaſs the City; So that the Remove of the Saints is, as by a violent Motion, as it were Spewing out; and by a Severe Admonition upon the Saints, that Their Zeal for that Remove up, might Flame out, and ſo Chriſt in a Zeal of Fire from Heaven, Devouring their Enemies, might Reſcue Them: This Tranſlation is therefore call'd foreign, 1 Theſſ. 4. 17. Implying a Violence in the whole Tranſaction; as of a mighty Reſcue from a deſtroying Beaſt of Prey.

5. Chriſt Standing ſo Graciouſly at the Door, and Knocking, even at every Door, and Aſſuring his Free Communion in Supping with his Saints, and They with Him, ſhews in the Application to the Living Remaining Saints, that Never-failing Love of Chriſt, as the Redeemer and Second Adam; that when thoſe Brighter Rays were Retracted and with held; yet would not Fail to Viſit Them, by no leſs Effectual, though not by ſo Resplendent Rays; and when He did not Viſit Them, as a New Jeruſalem below, any longer to Continue; He yet lookt with a particular Care and Love to every Single Saint, to Looſe not ſo much as One; not One of thoſe Saved, and continually Healed with the Leaves of the Tree of Life, and the Water of …ife, being poſſible to be Loſt: Foraſmuch as not One was a Son of Death, for that were to be a Son of Perdition, and of the Second Death, and ſo not to be of the Saved of the Nations, nor of the Firſt Reſurrection, over whom the Second Death can have no power.

p. 356. Theſe Living Remaining Saints are therefore every One Over-commers, and ſo every One Caught up to Sit with Chriſt on his Throne, as Chriſt Sate down on the Father's Throne; They Sit with Him in thoſe Great Acts of Judgment, and when Satan is Caſt into the Lake; And when Death, Hell, and the Dead, are Caſt into the Lake, the Great and Final Acts of Judgment, They put on Immortality and Incorruption: They with all Saints meet Chriſt in that High Act of Reſignation of the Kingdom, and having been Kings and Prieſts before, during all the Thouſand Years, are in one Moment Perfected into an Equality to the Saints of the Firſt Reſurrection, and So to Angels, to whom Thoſe are Equal at that Reſurrection; that Poſſibility of Dying and Falling, of which for the Glory of the Redeemer, and his Grace, and Mighty Power over Satan and the Dead, there was but a Shew and no more, even all Mortality is ſwallow'd up of Life, and ſo They are Ever with the Lord, who is Ever with the Father All in All.

And thus I have according to the utmoſt Grace and Aſſiſtance, God hath herein been pleas'd to give me, Set out the Kingdom of the Thouſand Years, which is indeed the Firſt Reſurrection, and there is no Second; All Second to it, is Second Death; as I have and do Affirm Conſtantly. All Saints are either Principals or Partakers; Here are the Two in Capital Letters written Rev. 20. 5. 14. This is the FIRST RESƲRRECTION. This is the SECOND DEATH. So that (however it be not Intentional, not Underſtood by Them that ſay it,) To ſay, the Thouſand Years are paſt already; Is to ſay, The Reſurrection is paſt already, as I have already Obſerv'd.

And if They are paſt already, how comes it to paſs the Seaſon ſince their Ending, hath been not a Little Seaſon? as the Prophecy ſo Poſitively Aſſerts it to be: For Beginning the Thouſand Years at Conſtantine, and Ending Them at 1300, when the Turkiſh Euphrates Began to Swell over in the World, there muſt have paſs'd about 400 Years ſince, which Compar'd with a Thouſand Years, beſides what ſtill may be Expected, it is no Small Seaſon; Nor does Prophecy barely ſay, The ſeaſon of Satan's Looſing is Small or Little; But it Deſcribes All Things in the moſt Rapid Motion to a Final End; Which will by no means Agree with ſo long a Time, as hath already Actually paſs'd: But thus it Fares with All, who will Deny Great Scripture Evidence; They are forc'd to ſwallow Camels of Difficulty, for the Gnats they ſo ſtrain at. But God forbid I ſhould ſeem to Charge All that do it with Hipocriſie; except that ſecret Hipocriſie Remaining and Lurking in the Heart of the Holieſt here: Nor do, or can I in the leaſt ſuſpect the leaſt Shadow of any Favour to the Horrid Anticriſtianiſms of Popery, in the ſudden Reſolve to be a Papiſt, if one Humane Angel, or Governour over all the Chriſtian Churches could be ſuppos'd to be the Inſtitution of Chriſt: For certainly if ſuch a Love of Pre-eminence had not been Curſed by God, as making Preparation for the Man of Sin, to ſit ſo High in the Temple of God, and to let into it the Deſolating Abomination; That might have been the moſt pardonable Errour in Popery; Eſpecially according to even Proteſtant Epiſcopal Principles: p. 36For They beginning at Deacons, (as the foreign, or Firſt Degree that the Apoſtle intended) go up to Prieſts, from Prieſts to Archdeacons or Deans, from them to Biſhops, from Biſhops to Archbiſhops, and why not to Patriarchs, as Primitive? And why not from thence, (as All Heighth would Culminate to One) to the Pope, as the Head of Ʋnity and Order, the Vicar of Christ, the Succeſſor of Saint Peter, who is Nam'd, foreign, as if a Scandal were laid into that Philoprotenſia, if I may ſo call it, that Primating Affectation; But All Sincere Proteſtants, though moſt Epiſcopal, Abhor the Dreadful Conſequences from ſuch a Primacy, as the Papaoy Claims; not only over Conſciences, but over Princes, and Civil Powers, in Ordine ad Spiritualia, or to Infamous Ends, call'd Spiritual; which Spirituality, I am very prone to ſuſpect, was Foretold in the Holy Spirit's Choice of that Word [foreign] Rev. 11. 8. and that it does not only ſignifie, Spiritually, viz. Myſtically, but is alſo Prophetick of that Great uſe Anticbriſt ſhould make of that Word [Spiritual;] On which Account I cannot but pray, All Proteſtants might get from under the Fathality of that Word, any way Secularly Apply'd; as alſo from any Primacy Allied to the Feet of Clay; I have ſo Great an Honour, and Love for many, who ſtand ſo high in, as They are call'd, Spiritual Dignities, who, I am Bound to hope, are yet in their Truly Chief Scituation, Stars in the Right Hand of Chriſt.

But the Chief Reaſon I make this Digreſſion, is, that I may obſerve, how far One may be from ſuch Portentous Conſequences, that may ſeem yet to have ſome Ground; Such are charg'd on me on Dr. Criſps Account; All which I deteſt with Greateſt deteſtation, as I Fully Believe he did, but minded only to Give the Full Conſolation to Conſciences Ariſing from Chriſt, being an foreign, a Ranſom in our Steed, a Sacrifice, a Surety, and Sin for us; and deſigning All his diſcourſes of Theſe Things to be Confin'd to the Elect only, who ſhall All be brought in by Chriſt, and Receive an Efficacious Spirit of Holineſs and Perſeverance.

But to Return to the Thouſand Years, which I have Affirm'd to be the Perfection of Time; Becauſe It is the Fulneſs of Times, or of All Times, to which the Scripture therefore Sets up as Pillars, Two foreign, or It is Done, It is Done; One of Deſtruction to the Wicked, One of Salvation to the Saints: Therefore I Avouch a Scripture Line of Time from the Firſt Sabbath, to this Great Sabbatiſm in Expreſs, either Hiſtorick firſt, or afterwards Prophetick number'd Nambers; And becauſe This is a Divine Chronology, It is not ſubject to the endleſs Contraſts and Feuds of Greateſt Chronologers, never to be Reconciled by Perſons of Greateſt Learning, Reading, and Judgment; much leſs by Me leſs than the leaſt of the Sons of Learning, not Worthy to be Nam'd among Them; Yet by the Grace of God, in this Matter I Am, what I Am, and hold in my Hand the Unerring Clew of His Word.

THE END.

Some ſmall Errata, The underſtanding Reader will pardon and mend. I only note page 9. line 16. for Believ'd, read, Beloved, p. 13. l. 24. for pro. read premiſes, p. 28. l. 35. for Effec. Read Affection, p. 29. l. 30. read, that, before Kingdom.