The Doctrine of the Kingdom and Personal Reign of Christ, Title page – Preface
THE Doctrine OF THE KINGDOM And Perſonal Reign of CHRIST Aſſerted and Explained IN An Expoſition upon Zach. 14.5.9. By Ed. Bagſhaw.
Printed in the Year, 1669.
The Preface.
I Am not Ignorant, Chriſtian Reader, that the Doctrine of the Perſonal Reign of Chriſt, with his Saints upon Earth, (which thou wilt find aſſerted in the following Treatiſe) is commonly entertained with very great prejudice; the Scriptures, which in plain terms affirm this, (and which I have indeavoured to reſtore unto their true meaning) being ordinarily interpreted in a ſenſe quite contrary to their literal import and ſignificancy: Which kind of expoſition (under the notion of being Miſterious and Spiritual) having held for many Ages, and been embraced, without any further enquiry, by men of the greateſt eminence for Holineſs and Learning, even among thoſe of the Reformed Religion; together with the Tragical Diſorders occaſioned in Germany, by ſuch, who in words aſſerted the Reign of Chriſt, but indeed, under that pretence, indeavoured to ſet up and eſtabliſh their own; this hath ever ſince made the True meaning of the Scripture Prophecies, in this matter, to be ſuſpected either of Novelty, or elſe of ſome Deſign to ſubvert all civil Government; which men, out of their impatience of ſubjection being naturally apt to throw off, they may be ſuppoſed much more eaſily ready to be incited to it, if they ſhall be brought to think that they do hereby God, and his Chriſt, good ſervice, in attempting to ſet up his Kingdom, exalting themſelves, as the Robbers in the Jewiſh Nation did (Dan. 11.14.) to eſtabliſh the Viſion.
In anſwer to all theſe exceptions and prejudices which it is not ſtrange that the truth is attended and received with, no more then that the Sun doth ordinarily ariſe in a cloud, I have this to ſay briefly, that neither Preſcription of time, nor authority of Perſons nor the Error of unſtable Men, ſhould ſo far prepoſſeſs and fill our minds, as to make us ſhut them up againſt the impreſſion and entrance of Divine truth, which, like the Light, ſhines ſometimes more, ſometimes leſs, according as it receives fainter, or more vigorous influences from the Spirit of God, its Fountain; and it can be nothing at laſt, but a reſolved and peremptory Love of Darkneſs. which will deny it admittan e, by what imperfect Medium ſoever it be conveighed: The firſt inquiry therefore, by perſons ſincerely deſirous of true knowledge, ſhould be to learn whether this ſtate of things (which I have undertaken from the Scriptures to demonſtrate) be indeed Revealed by God or not, for then his words in this as well as in other Miſteries, muſt be received according to their plaineſt ſenſe, in ſpight both of our own, and others, pretendedly rational, Contradictions. And whoever are impartial and Unbiaſſed in this enquiry, reading the Scriptures in their own Light and evidence, and not viewing them thorough the falſe Perſpectives, which cuſtomary expoſitions have made for them, I believe they will be forced to confeſs that they are not capable of any other Interpretation, but what the Prophets and Godly Jews; before; the Diſciples, in, and the Primitive Church, for above 300 years, after our Saviours time, did underſtand them in: What that is I have here faithfully and plainly delivered, and as to myſelf, I can ſay with the Apoſtle, I believed therefore I ſpake, ſo as to others, I thought the truth to be of that importance, and withal the time of its accompliſhment ſo near that I was eaſily prevailed with, by Publiſhing this ſmall Treatiſe, to do my duty in ſtirring up others to a more ſevere and ſtrict examining and ſtudy of the Scriptures, then commonly they are accuſtomed to: I have no more to add, but to recommend it to the bleſſing of God, who can make ſhall and contemptible means, inſtrumental for the effecting of the greateſt Works.
6th. M. 6, 1669.