Jerusalems Glory Breaking Forth Into the World, Sermon 2

Jerusalems Glory Breaking Forth Into the World · Sermon 2

p. 49The Second SERMON. On a Fast-Day, at Stepny. Octob. 31. 1645.

IN the fourth place, the time when Jeruſalem ſhall be made the Praiſe of the whole Earth, what ſhall be done then? We ſhall be delivered from all Oppreſſions, —The Titles of the Church made good viſibly, —Prophecies and Promiſes fulfill'd.— And in the fourth place there ſhall be a wonderful Confluence of People that ſhall joyn with the Saints in the way of God's Worſhip. It's true, now there are but a very few that do joyn to worſhip God, how little is God known in the World; and Jeſus Chriſt, how little is he acknowledged in all the world: if we ſhould divide the World (as ſome have ▪) into thirty parts, we find not p. 50above five of thoſe thirty that do ſo much as acknowledge Jeſus Chriſt, all the other are Heathens at this very day. And then among thoſe that do acknowledge Chriſt, in the Grecian Churches, though he is acknowledged to be Chriſt the Saviour, yet they are extream ignorant generally. And what a great part of the Chriſtian World hath Popery under it! And among thoſe that make profeſſion of Chriſt, how few are there that do honour him, and worſhip him according to his own way! But when this time comes, that Jeruſalem ſhall be made the Praiſe of the whole World, you ſhall have a mighty Confluence of People; It ſhall not be ſaid any more, Little Flock, fear not, little, little Flock, but it ſhall be a great Flock; and therefore you find in the Book of the Revelations, that Jeruſalem, when it comes to be meaſured, it is ſaid to be a great City, a mighty Confluence ſhall be unto the Church: In the 2 of Daniel, v. 35. it's ſaid there, (ſpeaking of the Church, as I remember) 'tis by way of reſemblance of a Stone; that it ſhould grow great, as a Mountain, and it ſhould fill the whole Earth; p. 51there ſhould be the generality of the World called in, the fulneſs of the Gentiles, together with the Jews; I will not ſay every one, but generally they ſhall be called in to the true Worſhip of Jeſus Chriſt, and to the embracing of the Goſpel.—That Scripture in the ſixtieth of Iſa. ver. 3, 4. and ſo on, it is remarkable for this. And the Gentiles ſhall come to thy light, and Kings to the Brightneſs of thy Riſing: Lift up thine Eyes round about and ſee; all they gather themſelves together, they come to thee: Thy Sons ſhall come from far, and thy Daughters ſhall be Nurſed at thy ſide. Then thou ſhalt ſee, and flow together, and thine Heart ſhall fear, and be enlarged, becauſe the abundance of the Sea ſhall be converted unto thee; the forces of the Gentiles ſhall come unto thee. Mariners and thoſe that converſe at Sea, they ſhall be converted unto the Church. 'Tis a Prophecy ſhewing that the Lord hath a ſpecial care of Mariners, that have gone on in wayes of Ignorance, not knowing Chriſt, and the way of the Goſpel; ſaith he, Abundance of the Sea ſhall be converted unto thee. He doth not mean the waters of the Sea, p. 52but the People that do converſe in the Seas, Mariners in the Sea; that they ſhall even come over the Sea to joyn, when they hear the Goſpel comes to be ſet forth in the beauty and Power of it. And ſo he goes on ſtill further in the 6 verſ. The multitudes of Camels ſhall cover thee, the Dromedaries of Midian and Ephah, all they from Sheba ſhall come, they ſhall bring Gold and Incenſe, and they ſhall ſhew forth the Praiſes of the Lord. Read but this ſixtieth of Iſaiah, and you ſhall find both this of the multitude of People:—And of abundance of Glory of Jeruſalem that ſhall be; which in the very Reading of it you cannot think that this hath been yet fulfill'd ſince the time of this Prophecy, and therefore is yet to come. — And ſo in the 66 of Iſa. (For this Prophet Iſaiah is the moſt Evangelical Prophet, that ſpeaks more of the Glory of the times of the Goſpel than any Prophet;) verſ. 7, 8. Before ſhe travelled, ſhe brought forth, before her pain came, ſhe was delivered of a Man-Child. Who hath heard ſuch a thing? who hath ſeen ſuch things? ſhall the Earth be made to bring forth in one day, or ſhall p. 53a Nation be born at once? for as ſoon as Zion travelled, ſhe brought forth her Children. — Here's the Number, and the Suddenneſs of it together. It ſhall be done even in a ſudden way.

That Promiſe ſhall be then fulfilled to Chriſt, wherein the Lord hath ſaid to him, That he would give unto him the Heathen for his Inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the Earth for his Poſſeſſion: Now, though that Promiſe be made to Jeſus Chriſt, yet the Lord is a great while afore he doth make it good to the uttermoſt, that he did intend. Well then may we be content to wait for the fulfilling of Promiſes, when as the Promiſe that God hath made to his own Son, he is fain to wait for the fulfilling of it. And that's the fourth thing: A great confluence of People ſhall come into Jeruſalem; it ſhall be a great City.

And then in the fifth place, Where there are multitudes coming in, will there not be a great deal of droſs and filthineſs? It is uſual, that a Church, while it hath but a few, it may continue in ſome purity; but, let a Church have many to joyn with it, have but any conſiderable p. 54Number, it uſually doth quickly corrupt. There grows a great deal of ſoyl and filthineſs, where there are a Number joyned together. But now, this ſhall be the Glory of this Jeruſalem, that though it ſhall be very great, there ſhall be a mighty Confluence of People, yet it ſhall abide in its purity, there ſhall be a great deal of Purity in the Ordinances that they ſhall have, and in the Profeſſors that ſhall joyn together: And for that, we have that Prophecy in the 44. of Ezek. verſe 9. which is a place by all Divines underſtood of the ſtate of the Goſpel: Thus ſaith the Lord God, No Stranger uncircumciſed in Heart, nor uncircumciſed in fleſh, ſhall enter into my Sanctuary: Not ſo much as uncircumciſed in Heart.

☞ Mark here; it ſeems, in the times of the Goſpel, a meer outward Profeſſion is not enough; for one to profeſs himſelf to worſhip God, and the like; but if he be uncircumciſed in Heart, he muſt not enter.

You will ſay, How can we know the Heart?

p. 55It's true, we cannot know the Heart, unleſs it be ſome way diſcovered; but if there be any thing to diſcover wickedneſs in the Heart, ſuch a one in the times of the Goſpel muſt not be received into the Church of God.

☞ And there will be a time of greater diſcerning than now there is, and therefore you find it in the 21. of Revel. where St. John doth Propheſie of the New Jeruſalem, at the laſt verſe. And there ſhall in no wiſe enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatſoever worketh abominations, or maketh a lie: But they which are written in the Lambs Book of Life. In no wiſe, no, no, there's two negatives there, though we in our Engliſh Tongue make two Negatives to be an Affirmative, yet the Holy Ghoſt doth not; there ſhall not, not, no, in no wiſe ſhall there enter any unclean thing into it.

Now it is apparent by divers things in this Chapter, that this muſt be meant, not of the Glory that there ſhall be in the higheſt Heavens, but of ſome Glory of the Church here: For it is ſaid in the 24. verſe, That the Nations of them p. 56which are ſaved ſhall walk in the light of it, and the Kings of the Earth do bring their Glory and honour into it. Now the Kings of the Earth do not bring their Glory and Honour to the higheſt Heavens; there's no difference between a King, and the pooreſt and meaneſt; they muſt there be ſtript of all their Robes, and the Kings of the Earth ſhall bring no more Glory to that, than meaner men. Therefore it muſt be underſtood of an Eſtate here, where the Kings of the Earth do bring their Glory to it.

'Tis very hard to conceive, that it is impoſſible for any Hypocrite to get in; yet the Scripture ſpeaks ſo as it ſhall not be ordinary for an Hypocrite to get in. Indeed, in the ſtate of the Church as hitherto it hath been, or as yet it is, there are abundance of Hypocrites; and therefore that's no Argument againſt labouring to cleanſe the Church from prophane ones: to ſay, Why the beſt of all have thoſe that are Hypocrites. Though it's true, yet when men do ſome way or other diſcover themſelves to be Hypocrites, they muſt not be received into the Church.

p. 57But now here's the Queſtion, Whether there ſhould be any but thoſe that ſhould give ſuch Teſtimony of Godlineſs, as may appear to the judgments of men to be ſo; And if once they appear to be otherwiſe, they ſhould be caſt out of the Church.

This muſt be a certain Rule; thoſe that ought to be caſt out, if they were in, they muſt not be received in, if now they were to be received. If no Prophane one but muſt be caſt out, if they were got into the Church, when they appear to be ſo; why then certainly they are not to be taken in, appearing to be prophane.

We are now to labour what we can to come as near to that glorious Jeruſalem as we are able: We are now to labour to promote the condition that the Church ſhall be in then; but we cannot expect for to have it yet, till the Lord doth put another Spirit upon men than hitherto. Therefore when God intends to make Jeruſalem as the Praiſe of the whole Earth, there will be certainly another Spirit upon men, than yet there is for the preſent.

p. 58Therefore in the ſixth place, the Gifts and Graces of the Saints ſhall be exceedingly raiſed and enlarged. Thoſe that are now poor, and low, and mean, ſhall be then very much enlarged and raiſed. For that take theſe Scriptures; Iſa. 65.20. There ſhall be no more thence an Infant of dayes, nor an Old Man that hath not filled his dayes; For the Child ſhall die an hundred years old, but the Sinner being an hundred Years old, ſhall be accurſed. This apparently ſpeaks of an Eſtate in this World: But now the meaning is this; That there ſhall thence be no more an Infant of Dayes; that is, thoſe that are weak, ſhall be raiſed to a very high pitch of Ability and Underſtanding; even Young ones ſhall be raiſed very high, to have the underſtanding of men in them; and ſo proportionably the gifts of the Saints ſhall be raiſed in that time. And in the 12. Zech. 8 verſe, there it's more clear. In that day ſhall the Lord defend the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, and he that is feeble among them at that day, ſhall be as David, and the Houſe of David ſhall be as God, as the Angel of the Lord before them. Mark, p. 59he that is feeble ſhall be as David, at that day, and the Houſe of David ſhall be even as an Angel of God. Thoſe that are weak Chriſtians, yet at that day, when the Lord ſhall ſet up Jeruſalem as the praiſe of the whole Earth, weak Chriſtians ſhall be as David, and he that is ſtrong ſhall be as an Angel of God. Now I would but know when was this? what time was this? was this ever in the time of the Goſpel? I verily believe the times of the Goſpel are as glorious at this day, as ever they were ſince the Apoſtles days, in regard of the graces of Gods Spirit. There is as clear Revelations of Chriſt, and as ſtrange workings of the Graces of Gods Spirit in the generality, (I muſt except thoſe that are eminent, as the Apoſtles, and thoſe that had miraculous and extraordinary gifts; but to ſpeak of the generality of Chriſtians,) they have as much knowledg of Jeſus Chriſt, and the wayes of Chriſt, as ever any; yet can we ſay now that even ſtrong Chriſtians are like David? If we ſhould examine and ſee what David was, how ſhort ſhould we come? where have we almoſt any that may parallel with p. 60David? but there is a Prophecy that the feeble ſhall be like David, and the ſtrong ones ſhall be like the Angel of God. In the forty fifth Pſalm, there the Church is deſcribed: The Cloathing of the Kings Daughter is of wrought Gold, and ſhe ſhall be brought unto the King in Rayment of Needle-work. Which is but to ſignifie the excellent Gifts and Graces of the Saints; that they ſhall be cloathed, as it were, with their Gifts, as Princes Daughters that have ſuch Cloathing. And Revel. 22.3, 4. there's a Prophecy that they ſhall continually ſtand before the Lord, and ſerve him night and day; they ſhall be unwearied in the ſervice of the Lord, they ſhall ſerve him night and day. Now you are quickly tired, a little time in the worſhip of God doth tire you; but there is a time coming, when the Saints ſhall be ſo ſtrengthened with the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit of God, as they ſhall be able to ſerve him night and day.

The ſeventh thing that ſhall be done, when Jeruſalem ſhall be raiſed, as the praiſe of the whole Earth; it ſhall be the glorious preſence of Chriſt that ſhall p. 61be amongſt them. I ſay, the Glorious preſence of Chriſt; I do not ſay, the Perſonal preſence of Chriſt in his Body; for that would require arguing and much diſpute; therefore we meddle not with it: But that there ſhall be a more glorious preſence of Jeſus Chriſt in his Churches, than yet hath been: That the Scripture ſeems to be clear enough in: As in the 21. Revel. verſe 22. And I ſaw no Temple therein, (that was, in the New Jeruſalem:) For the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb are the Temple of it: And the City had no need of the Sun, neither of the Moon to ſhine in it; for the Glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. That is, there ſhould not be ſuch need of help as now there is, either from Creatures, or Ordinances, in compariſon; for the Lord God ſhall be the light of that place, and the Lamb ſhall be inſtead of the Temple. In the 2 Pet. 1.19. compared with the Rev. 2.28. There is very much to give light to this, and yet that we are not able to underſtand throughly the meaning of it: We have alſo (ſaith he) a more ſure word of Prophecy, whereunto p. 62you do well that you take heed, as unto a lig… that ſhineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the Day-ſtar ariſe in your Hearts. This more ſure word of Prophecy, he means certainly the Scriptures that we have, and the way of Gods revealing himſelf there: You do well to take heed, (ſaith he unto them) Ʋntill the Day dawn, and the Day-ſtar ariſe in your Hearts. He ſeems to ſpeak here, of another manner of manifeſtation of light from God, that ſhall be beſides that ſure Word of Prophecy; that is, the Day-ſtar riſing in their Hearts. Now compare this with the 2. Revel. and the 28. There is promiſed to ſuch as do overcome in Antichriſtian times, that at length the Lord will give unto them the morning Star. Now theſe two being compared together, may cauſe us thus much to ſee, that there certainly ſhall be ſome further Preſence of Chriſt among the Saints, than in former times hath been: For Chriſt, he is the morning Star, and God will give them the morning ſtar; that is, he will give them Chriſt; the Preſence of Chriſt ſhall ariſe in the Hearts of the Saints in another p. 63way than formerly; for they were Godly to whom this morning Star is promiſed; but if you continue to be Godly, and to overcome in the Antichriſtian time, you ſhall have this bleſſing, you ſhall have the morning Star: They had Chriſt to juſtifie them, and to ſanctifie them. But they were promiſed to have Chriſt yet further, in another more high and glorious preſence of his, to be as a morning Star ariſing in their Hearts.

And in the 33 of Iſa. v. 17. there it's promiſed to them that are upright, that they ſhould ſee the King in his Glory. Thine eyes ſhall ſee the King in his beauty. The Promiſe is made to thoſe that are deſcribed in the 15. verſ. Jeſus Chriſt, the King, that was ſo much deſired in former times, ſhall appear in his beauty and glory unto them. And in the 102. Pſam there's a clear Prophecy of this Eſtate of Jeruſalem, when the Lord ſhall make it the praiſe of the whole Earth. Thou ſhalt ariſe, and have mercy upon Zion, for the time to favour her, yea the ſet time is come, verſ. 16. But in the 15. verſ. So the Heathen ſhall p. 64fear the Name of the Lord, and all the Kings of the Earth thy Glory. When the Lord ſhall build up Zion, he ſhall appear in his Glory. There will be a glorious appearing, when God ſhall come to build up Zion, and make Jeruſalem as the Praiſe of the whole Earth. God hath appeared gloriouſly in all his works in former times; but this great work is the greateſt next the ſending of his Son into the World, to be made fleſh; It is the greateſt that ever was done; the building up of Zion, Then God ſhall appear in his Glory. When the Marriage of the Saints ſhall be, the new Jeruſalem, that is, the Spouſe of Chriſt. As Parents do uſe to put on their beſt Garments, in the time when they marry their Children; ſo in the time when the Lord ſhall raiſe Jeruſalem, thus it ſhall be, as a great Marriage-day of the Church to Chriſt. Now there is a Marriage of particular Souls to Chriſt; but then there ſhall be a glorious Marriage of the Ʋniverſal Church to Jeſus Chriſt, as in a Body; and then the Lord ſhall appear in his Glory: There ſhall be a more glorious preſence of God and Jeſus p. 65Chriſt with the Saints, than yet we have had.

The eighth thing, That there ſhall be when Jeruſalem ſhall be ſet up as the praiſe of the whole Earth, Powerful Godlineſs, and the Saints ſhall be honoured in the World. As they have been trampled under feet, and diſgraced, and vilified in the World; So when this time ſhall come, they ſhall be honoured in the World, and their Enemies ſhall ſtoop to them. We have a great many Scriptures that tend that way. In the 49. of Iſa. v. 23. You may Read there how the Enemies ſhall come and ſtoop to the Saints, that did deſpiſe them before. And ſo in the 3d. Revel. verſ. 9. Thoſe that hated them ſhall come and bow unto them. I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan, which ſay, they are Jews and are not, but do lie; Behold I will make them to come and worſhip before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. They will not own them now, but God hath his time to make wicked and ungodly men, to come and acknowledge that theſe are the beloved ones of the Lord, verily theſe are the Servants, p. 66yea they are the Children of the moſt high God. And more ſpecially thoſe Scriptures that you have in the Prophecy of Iſaiah, Chap. 60.6. and ſo verſ. 13. V. 6. The Multitude of Camels ſhall cover thee, the Dromedaries of Midian and Ephah: all they from Sheba ſhall come, they ſhall bring Gold and Incenſe, and they ſhall ſhew forth the praiſe of the Lord. All the Flocks of Kedar ſhall be gathered together unto thee, the Rams of Nebaioth ſhall miniſter unto thee. And verſ. 13. The glory of Lebanon ſhall come unto thee, the Fir-Tree, the Pine-Tree, and the Box together, to beautifie the place of my Sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious. Mark, The Church it is the place of Gods feet: It's under God, but the Lord hath his time to make it glorious before all the world: For if you ſpeak of the Spiritual glory of it, ſo it is ſo glorious now. Gods Church it was always glorious ſpiritually before God, and was the moſt glorious Object that God had to view in the World: But here's a promiſe that he will make it glorious before others. Verſ. 14. p. 67The Sons alſo of them that afflicted thee, ſhall come bending unto thee, and all they that deſpiſed thee, ſhall bow themſelves down at the Soles of thy feet, and they ſhall call thee, The City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy one of Iſrael. It may be they called them before nick names; they call'd you Hypocrites, and you were they that made ſuch a ſhow of Religion, but you were a company of proud People that would ſeem to be holier than other men; But now they ſhall call thee the City of the Lord, and the Zion of the Holy one of Iſrael. And verſ. 15. Whereas thou haſt been forſaken and hated, ſo that no man went through thee, I will make thee an Eternal Excellency, a Joy of many Generations.

This is not ſpoken only unto Godly men, perſonally and particularly, but to Godly men as in a Society, as in the Church; they ſhall be made an Eternal Excellency, and a Joy of many Generations.

And again, for the 9. of Zech. v. 16. And the Lord their God ſhall ſave them, in that day, as the Flock of his People: p. 68For they ſhall be as the ſtones of a Crown lifted up, as an Enſign upon his Land. They ſhall be as the ſtones of a Crown lifted up: This ſhews the Excellent glory that ſhall be put upon the Saints: Now they are as ſtones in the dirt; but then they ſhall be as the ſtones in a Crown that's lifted up. And ſo in the 12. Chap. verſ. 5. And the Governours of Judah ſhall ſay in their hearts, The Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, ſhall be my ſtrength in the Lord of Hoſts their God. It is not, ſhall be, that's in another Character, and they in that Jeruſalem, they ſhall be honoured by the Governours of Judah; And the Governours of Judah ſhall ſay, well, our ſtrength it is in the Inhabitants of this Jeruſalem; In the Lord of hoſts their God; We accounted them before but as Schiſmaticks and preciſe Fools, but we ſee that God is with them. And the Governours of Judah ſhall ſay, Our ſtrength is in the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, in the Lord of Hoſts their God. This will be a bleſſed time, when Governours ſhall acknowledge the Saints to be thoſe that the Lord doth own; and they ſhall acknowledge the very ſtrength of a p. 69Nation to conſiſt in the Saints: They ſhall ſee that the Saints have a propriety in God beyond others; there is ſuch a time a coming, however they be deſpiſed now. In the third of Mal. v. 3. The Lord makes a promiſe that he will gather up his Jewels, and there ſhall be a time when there ſhall be a known difference between him that feareth God and him that feareth him not; The Saints of God are compared to Jewels that lie in the dirt, and Swine trampling upon the Jewels, but there is a time that the Lord will gather up theſe Jewels, and at that day there ſhall be known a difference between him that feareth God, and him that feareth him not: this time is coming, and this is the time that my Text ſpeaks of, that we ſhould give the Lord no reſt untill he make Jeruſalem thus: Certainly when this is, it will be the praiſe of the whole Earth.

The Ninth thing is, when Jeruſalem ſhall be made the praiſe of the whole Earth, it will be made a quiet Habitation; there ſhall be a bleſſed Union of the Church, then ſhall diviſions be taken away: Now that that hinders the p. 70beauty of the Church, and of the Saints, and doth exceedingly darken their beauty, it is their Diviſions: were it that the Saints of God could live in union one with another, and ſo grow up in holineſs, they would be a great deal more beautiful in their converſations: My beloved is one, and the Daughters ſaw her and bleſſed her. But the diviſions and contentions that there are among the Churches, do exceedingly take away the beauty and glory of them, and therefore they are not now the praiſe of the places where they live; but many times they make themſelves the ſcorn of the places; but there is a time a coming that this Spirit of diviſion ſhall be taken away from among the Saints, you will ſay, that will be a bleſſed time indeed: I'le give you two or three Scriptures that are very obſervable for this; In the 11. of Iſa. verſ. 13. There's the firſt promiſe of Ʋnion that there ſhall be among the Churches. The envy alſo of Ephraim ſhall depart, and the adverſaries of Judah ſhall be cut off; Ephraim ſhall not envy Judah, and Judah ſhall not vex Ephraim. Now ordinarily in Scripture, p. 71Ephraim and Judah is made Typical of the Churches, there was a great deal of contention between Ephraim and Judah, one envying another: Now this Prophecy is not yet fulfill'd; for we never Read of Ephraim, (that is) the ten Tribes and Judah were joyned in that near League and Union one with another, as yet: For the ten Tribes were carried Captive, and never returned; Judah indeed was carried Captive and they did return, but not the ten Tribes. Therefore it is ſpoken of an Eſtate of the Church afterwards: Though my Church ſhall be in after times, the times of the Goſpel, like Ephraim and Judah, one envying another, I'le take away their envy, they ſhall not envy, but they ſhall love one another, and joyn one with another. Ephraim ſhall not envy Judah, and Judah ſhall not vex Ephraim. —And then another Prophecy is, in the 14. Zech. verſ. 9. And the Lord ſhall be King over all the Earth; in that day, ſhall there be one Lord, and his Name one: It's true, all of us that are Chriſtians, we acknowledge but one Lord; but we call him by divers Names, and one p. 72ſaith, This is his mind, and another faith, the other is his mind; but ſaith he, In that day as there ſhall be but one Lord, ſo his Name ſhall be but one. There ſhall not be thoſe different apprehenſions of Chriſt as now there are, but Chriſtians ſhall generally joyn together in one. There ſhall not be ſuch opinions to divide Chriſtians one from another as now there are, there ſhall be but one Lord, and his Name ſhall be but one. — And a further Prophecy which is very remarkable, is in the third of Zeph. v. 9. For then will I turn to the People a pure Language, that they may all call upon the Name of the Lord, to ſerve him with one conſent. In the Original it is, with one Shoulder; now how do Chriſtians ſhoulder one another, and puſh one another by the ſhoulder as it were, oppoſing one another what they can; but then they ſhall joyn their ſhoulders together, and all ſhall be but as one ſhoulder; they ſhall ſerve the Lord with one ſhoulder, with one conſent; their hearts ſhall joyn in one, and then their ſtrength ſhall joyn together: Now this is that that ſhall be done, when p. 73the Lord ſhall make Jeruſalem as the praiſe of the whole Earth; you that mind the Lord, and the things of his glory, give him no reſt untill he do eſtabliſh this that he hath promiſed, and make Jeruſalem the praiſe of the whole Earth.

In the tenth place, there ſhall be a great change of things in the world at that time, a great change in the whole frame of the creation of Heaven and Earth: And I think verily that place in the eighth of the Romans, (and there is ground for it, why we ſhould think ſo) is meant of this time. Verſ. 20, 21. For the earneſt expectation of the creature, waiteth for the manifeſtation of the Sons of God; For the creature was made ſubject to vanity, not willingly, but by reaſon of him who hath ſubjected the ſame in hope, becauſe the creature it ſelf alſo ſhall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the Children of God. For we know that the whole Creation groaneth, and travelleth in pain together until now. And not only they, but our ſelves alſo, which have the firſt fruits of the Spirit: p. 74Even we our ſelves groan within our ſelves, waiting for the Adoption, to wit, the redemption of our Bodies.

Now that this ſhould be then, in ſuch an Eſtate of the Church in this World, this is the Reaſon: Either you muſt grant it to be ſo, or otherwiſe you muſt grant that after the day of Judgment, in the ſtate of glory that the Saints ſhall have, (which Divines generally ſay ſhall be in Heaven) you muſt grant that then there ſhall be the continuance of all the Creatures as now they are, and that the Saints muſt live here: Now that is hardly granted by any Divines.

But this ſpeaks of the whole Creation to be delivered from their bondage, and to come to partake of the benefit of the Adoption of the Sons of God: That is, at that time when the Adoption of the Sons of God ſhall appear gloriouſly, that there ſhall be ſuch a change in all the Creatures, that they ſhall be reſtored to the firſt perfection, that they had in the ſtate of Innocency: They groan to be delivered from the bondage, ſurely they do not groan to be Annihilated and turned into nothing: Therefore p. 75there is a time for the Heavens, and Earth, and Sea, and Plants, and Beaſts to be in another condition than now they are.

And to ſay that this ſhall be at the day of Judgment, or after, few Divines have thought: But this is ſpoken of a time when all the Creatures in this world ſhall have a mighty change put upon them. And to that end, the Scripture likewiſe in the 2 of Peter the 3d. Chap. though one would think (in the Reading of it) if you did not mark it throughly, that it ſhould be meant at the day of Judgment; but if you obſerve it throughly, it ſeems to be ſpoken of a great change, that there ſhall be when the creatures ſhall be delivered from bondage. In the 10. verſ. But the day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the night, in the which the Heavens ſhall paſs away with a great noiſe, and the Elements ſhall melt with fervent heat, the Earth alſo and the works that are therein, ſhall be burnt up; and now obſerve the 13. verſ. Nevertheleſs we according to his promiſe, look for new Heavens and new Earth wherein dwelleth p. 76Righteouſneſs. There ſhall be a mighty change in the world by Fire, or ſome other way, and ſo as all things ſhall ſeem as if they were brought into nothing; but ſaith the Apoſtle by the Holy-Ghoſt, We according to his promiſe look for new Heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteouſneſs: Now ſuppoſe all the world were diſſolved, how new Heavens and a new Earth then? ſhall the Saints after the day of Judgment have a new Earth, and live upon the Earth here? This I ſuppoſe you would think to be but a very ſtrange Doctrine; But now this is ſuch a change of things as ſhall have New Earth, as well as New Heavens, and this is according to the promiſe; now what promiſe have we in all the Book of God that this hath reference to?

I find all Divines referr it to the 65. of Iſa. For you have no other Scripture that you can refer this promiſe to in the 17. verſ. For behold, I create new Heavens and a new Earth, and the former ſhall not be remembred nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create, for behold, p. 77I create Jeruſalem a rejoycing, and her People a Joy. So that this Scripture in Peter, though in ſome paſſages of it may ſeem to referr to the great day of Judgement, yet compared with Iſa. out of which it is taken, it appears to be but a very comment upon my Text: and I find generally, Interpreters do Interpret this of Iſa. to be meant of the Church of God in this World. And ſo by comparing one Scripture with another, we may find out much truth. And beſides, the Prophets did Propheſie very little about the Eternal life after the day of Judgment, though ſomething there was about it, but very little in compariſon, and therefore we have a great deal of Reaſon to think it to be meant concerning this time of this new Jeruſalem, when God ſhall make it to be the praiſe of the whole Earth.

Laſtly, This ſhall add to the beauty of this new Jeruſalem, that Proſperity ſhall do it no hurt; and therefore as I remember in the 4th. of the Revelat. the ſtate of the Church in this time is compared to an Eagle: there were four Beaſts, the firſt like a Lyon, the ſecond like a Calf, the third was like a Man, p. 78and the fourth was like a Flying-Eagle: Noting the four ſtates of the Church, and the laſt ſhall be as an Eagle, that is, they ſhall be lifted above all theſe outward things: At firſt, when the Church was raiſed from perſecution in Conſtantines time, the Hiſtory of thoſe times tells us, that there was a voice heard in the Air, To day is Poyſon poured into the Church; It was at that time when Conſtantine did endow the Church with great Endowments; and we find it now, that we have weak ſtomacks, and are not able to bear much proſperity, and therefore God hath thought it rather fit to keep his Church low; but when that day comes, for Jeruſalem to be made the praiſe of the whole Earth, there ſhall be no fear of hurt from proſperity; For Chriſt ſhall be all in all to them: There ſhall be a more immediate enjoyment of God, and that will keep them from taking hurt by what they have in the creature.

Now let's put all theſe together, and ſee what a glorious condition the Saints ſhall be in: ſurely, when all theſe things ſhall be fulfilled, then you muſt needs ſay, that Jeruſalem will be made a praiſe in the whole Earth. That is,

p. 79Firſt, When there ſhall be a Reſurrection, a new creation, a new world, when all Tears ſhall be wip'd away, when all wicked men ſhall be kept under. When the Church ſhall appear to be the pleaſant Portion of God, his Inheritance, his dearly Beloved, his Glory, and when all Promiſes that have been made to them, and all Prophecies of their glory ſhall be fulfilled; when there ſhall be a wonderful confluence of the Nations, Jews and Gentiles to them, and yet there ſhall be a great deal of purity in ordinances, there ſhall not be filth among them as now there is. And the gifts and graces of the Saints ſhall be mightily inlarged and raiſed, when there ſhall be a glorious preſence of the Father and of Jeſus Chriſt with them, when Godlineſs, and the Saints ſhall be honoured in the World as much as it is contemn'd, when there ſhall be a bleſſed Union among all the Churches, when there ſhall be a mighty change of the creatures, and when there ſhall be no fear of any danger, of any hurt by any Proſperity that they ſhall enjoy: ſurely then will Jeruſalem be made a praiſe of the whole Earth. Therefore let the Saints give p. 80the Lord no reſt until Jeruſalem be thus made as the praiſe of the whole Earth.

You will ſay, are theſe things ſo, are they ſo indeed? This may ſeem to be very ſtrange, and a ſtrange point to ſome of you: But in former times, it was not ſo accounted: thoſe that are learned will find that Lactantius, 17. Book, 18.23, 24. Chapters, ſpends them almoſt all upon this Argument, and he ſpeaks of very ſtrange things, which I am loath to mention, (It may be he might go too far) and he liv'd about 1300. Years ago. —But Juſtin Martyr (that was long before him, for he was but thirty Years after John the Diſciple) ſpeaking about this point that I am ſpeaking of. I, and all that are Chriſtians of the Orthodox Faith hold this, that there is ſuch a time a coming, of a glorious condition of the Church; —I know that this hath been abuſed by thoſe that they account Millenaries; there were ſome that did abuſe this Doctrine, and made the glory of the Church to conſiſt in fleſhly pleaſures, (and the like) and ſo they were condemn'd. But I make the glory eſpecially to conſiſt in Spiritual good, yet ſo as it p. 81ſhall appear to all the World. And I find ſome Expreſſions in the Revelations, where the Holy Ghoſt ſpeaks of this, of Chriſts coming to appear in this glorious manner; he hath another manner of phraſe to expreſs it, than I find in all the Book of God, when other things are ſpoken of. In the 19. of the Revel. v. 9. He had ſpoken before of the Kingdom of Chriſt. And he ſaith unto me, Write, bleſſed are they which are called unto the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. And he ſaith unto me, Theſe are the true ſayings of God. Are there any falſe ſayings of God? It were blaſphemy to think ſo; one would think that if he did but ſay, theſe are the ſayings of God, it were enough; or theſe are true ſayings: But to make it ſure that we may believe it, Theſe are the true ſayings of God.

Not only the ſayings, but the True ſayings of God.

Now if you ſay, How can theſe things be?

To that I anſwer as in the eighth of Zech. v. 6. Thus ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, if it be marvellous in the Eyes of the Remnant of this People in theſe days, ſhould it p. 82alſo be marvellous in my Eyes (ſaith the Lord of Hoſts;) It's marvellous in your Eyes, ſhould it therefore be marvellous in my Eyes? I am the Lord of Hoſts! We may be ready to think theſe things cannot be; But the Lord intends to put forth an Almighty power in bringing this to paſs, and it is that that is much in the heart of God to do.

Theſe things, the nearer the time comes, the more they will be known, and therefore I think it very uſeful at ſome time or other, that people ſhould be acquainted; only Miniſters had need have a Spirit of ſobriety and moderation, becauſe not yet being fulfill'd they are not throughly underſtood, and therefore we muſt not dare to be too bold in our gueſſing at things that are not clear: But ſuch things as appear clearly, ſo as we may ſee there is footing for, we ſhould exerciſe our ſelves in, and labour to make others acquainted with.

But now, If you ask me when ſhall theſe things be? when ſhall Jeruſalem be made the praiſe of the whole Earth? I Anſwer thus: