Good Things to Come, Part 1 – Title page 2

Good Things to Come · Part 1 – Title page 2

p. 1CHAP. I. Of the Reſurrection in general. 1 Cor. 15.

THe great doctrine of the reſurrection of the dead, was a thing, that holy Paul, the great Apoſtle of the gentiles, had a great inſight into, as he had alſo, in many other high myſteries which were revealed and made known unto him; the which he imparted, for the benefit and profit of others. That truth looking forward, eyeing a future time, when it ſhall be made good; but in all times neceſſary to be made known and believed, by all the ſervants of God, whoſe hope is not in this world.

This, of riſing again after death, in his proceed on that ſubject; he begins with that, of the Lord Chriſt his being riſen; of the truth whereof were many witneſſes, as is mentioned by him; he taking knowledge of ſome amongſt themſelves, that ſaid, there was to be no reſurrection from the dead, 1. Cor. 15. 12. contrary to the faith that was preached and beleeved: and being a thing, that did render the aſſertors of that truth, as falſe witneſſes; which he makes good, from the tiſing from death, the Lord Chriſt; laying very great ſtreſſe on that, as a foundation and bottom, on which the whole building ſtands; he mentions it again, ver. 15. and argues from thence, to the 20th. verſe, to make out, and clear that truth; and then in vers. 20. he concludes ſaying; but now is Chriſt riſen, and become the firſt fruits of them that ſleep, (ſo he calleth death).

This doctrine of the reſurrection, looketh backward, and forward: as it looketh backward, it eyeth death which came by man, to wit, Adam: as it looketh forward, it eyeth living again by man, to wit, the man Chriſt, our Lord, as in vers. 21. He is the bleſſed redeemer from the grave, and the reſtorer to life again, after death.

p. 2vers. 22. As in Adam all die, ſo in Chriſt ſhall all be made alive: this; It looketh backward, and forward: backward, It eyeth Adam: forward it relateth to the Lord Chriſt, the new and ſecond Adam: as by the firſt Adam, ſin entred, and death by ſin, as the effect following its cauſe: Adam was forewarned and it was told him in the garden of Eden, that in the day he did eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evel, he ſhould die: he did notwithſtanding take and eat; he ſinned, and death ſeized on him; by ſin came death, and it went over all. Adam being the father of all, the ſtock from whence man proceeded; his ſin, or ſin that entred by his diſobedience, was propagated and entailed to all his poſteritie, Rom. 5. 12. As by one man ſin entered into the world, and death by ſin, &c. vers. 17. By one mans offence, death reigned by one. In Adam all ſin; In Adam all die.

In the Lord Chriſt, all ſhall be made alive; the juſt, and the unjuſt; the righteous, and the wicked: all, over whom death hath reigned; all, that dyed in Adam; ſo is the paralel and proportion; as, and ſo: all, ſhall be made alive, by the power of the Lord Chriſt, the great conqueror of ſin, and death.

The matter is conſiderable, as it relateth to the reſurrection, and riſing again of the ſons of Adam; the argument, or thing, the Apoſtle was upon; and it doth not meddle with that, of election, and faith; or living by faith in a ſpiritual way; neither may it be ſo underſtood or made uſe of, without ſtraining, and forcing it to ſpeak that the Apoſtle never intended. In Chriſt ſhall all be made alive, ſo as to riſe and live again in the body. There ſhall be a reſurrection, of the juſt, and of the unjuſt: ſome ſhall be made alive again to everlaſting life, Dan. 12. 2. And ſome to ſhame and everlaſting contempt: ſome ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord. &c. 2. Theſs. 1. 9. They ſhall be bid, depart ye workers of iniquity; ſhall be bid, go ye curſed, &c. Math. 25. 41. Whereas the juſt, and righteous, ſhall be gathered to the Lord Chriſt, and be for ever with him. 1. Thes. 4. 10. The Apoſtle argueth, from the reſurrection of the Lord Chriſt, his riſing again: after his being crucified, dead, and buried, he roſe again. It was ſaid to the women, that came to the ſepulchre, by an Angel. Math. 28. 6. Luk. 24. 6. He is not here, he is riſen: He was buried in the grave, or ſepulchre, but he aroſe from thence, and was not p. 3there; he was dead, but he is alive, and liveth for evermore, and hath the keys of death, and the grave. Rev. 1. 18. to open when he pleaſeth, and as he pleaſeth. Chriſt our Lord is riſen from the dead; a great ſaying, and bleſſed; Chriſt our Lord, is riſen from the dead, and become the firſt-fruits of them that ſlept: ſo death, and lying in the grave, is termed, 1. Cor. 15. 20. our Lord ſaith, John. 5. 28. 29. The hour cometh, when all that are in the graves ſhall hear his voice, and ſhall come forth; they that have done good, to the reſurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the reſurrection of damnation. Chriſt the firſt fruits; there is very much in that: he as conqueror of death; as the captain and leader; the beginner, and finiſher; one that hath, and ought to have the preheminence; he being the beginning, and firſt fruits from the dead, that in all things he might have the preheminence, Col. 1. 18. the Lord Chriſt, as man, is firſt, and chief; to him the preheminence belongs in all things: for God the father, hath highly advanced him, and made him mighty. Phil. 2. 9.

As by man, [to wit, Adam] came death: ſo by man: [namely, the Lord Jeſus, very man, and the ſon of man, ſo he ſtiles himſelf] came alſo the reſurrection from the dead. By the firſt man, Adam, came death: by the ſecond man, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, came the reſurrection from death. Alas for thoſe ſadduces! that ſay, there is no reſurrection. It is good for all the ſervants of God, and lovers of the Lord Chriſt, to be of like confeſſion and belief with the Apoſtle Paul, Acts. 24. 15. And have hope towards God, that there ſhall be a reſurrection from the dead, both of the juſt, and the unjuſt. The power and vertue of the reſurrection of the Lord Chriſt, produceth great effects; as to the one; ſo to the other.

The forementioned words, in verſ. 22. As in Adam all die; ſo, in Chriſt, ſhall all be made a live, are ſo full and plain, as nothing can be ſaid further; there needs no dilating on them, only keep to the thing in hand, to wit, death or dying: and riſing and living again after it. As to that, of all dying in Adam; ask the many ages and generations that are paſt, ſince Adam, ſince God created man upon the earth; ask what is become of the great potentates, the mighty men, the rich, the wiſe, the honorable, yea, the good, and juſt men alſo; and all free, and bond; and they will all beare witneſs in a real wiſe to this; that in Adam all die: they are all dead and gone; they are all in their graves, death hath gone over all; as ſin went before, ſo death followed after: all the ſons of Adam as well p. 4as he himſelf, have dyed; only, two, or three excepted, that dyed not, but were tranſlated,

In like manner, and in way of parallel and proportion: In Chriſt, and by Chriſt, ſhall all be made alive: ſooner or later; not one of Adams ſons excepted; there is no reſerve in the caſe: all muſt ariſe; all muſt appeare and give an account of the things they have done in the fleſh, whether good, or evil, 2. Cor. 5. 10. all muſt be judged, and be either acquited, or elſe condemned; the whole race and poſterity of Adam, in whom all dyed.

CHAP. II. Containing ſomething concerning the order of riſing again, and the Lord Chriſt, the firſt in that order.

BUt now to prevent miſtakes; leſt any ſhould think, that all ſhall riſe together (to wit, the juſt, and unjuſt) & to give information touching the thing in hand: the Apoſtle diſcovereth a great thing, of which very little had been declared before in the holy Scripture, though much had been ſaid touching the reſurrection; he in vers. 23. tells of an order, in which all theſe ſhall riſe: but every man in his own order.

This order, is very conſiderable; a great thing, a great diſcovery: firſt, in regard of the perſons riſing; ſecondly, in regard of the time, when they ſhall riſe; for all ſhall not riſe at one and the ſame time, and together: but every one in his own time, according to order; it is by the Apoſtle laid down thus; firſt, Chriſt the Lord; that was over and paſt: then thoſe that are Chriſts, [when?] at his coming: that's their turn or order; and alſo is the time of their judgment, blotting out of their ſins, pronouncing them bleſſed and holy, and their inheriting the kingdom. Acts. 3. 19. Rev. 20. 6. Math. 25. 34. Then, after the thouſand years Reign is ended, in the interval between that and coming of the end, to wit, of his kingdom and his delivering of it up to God the father, the unjuſt ſhall ariſe to judgment; that's their turn or order, and the time of their judgment; for they ſhall not live again untill the end of the thouſand years. Rev. 23. 5. and then ſhall be the reſurrection and judgment of the unjuſt, Rev. 20. 12. 13. of which more hereafter.

p. 5An order there is, and will be; ſo the Apoſtle hath declared: but every man in his own order: they ſhall ariſe, and ſtand forth; as it was ſaid to Daniell, thou ſhalt ſtand up in thy lot [or order] at the end of the days, Dan. 12. 13. when Chriſt who is our life ſhall appear, then ſhall we alſo appear with him in Glory. Col. 3. 4. that's our lot or order.

Touching this of order, our Lord Chriſt was the firſt, the leading, and preheminence; it did belong to him: he aroſe and was the firſt fruits of thoſe that roſe from ſleep, ſo in vers. 20. of this 1. Cor. 15. He did riſe again according te the Scriptures: Two Angells told the women that prepared ſpices and oyntment and went to the Sepulchre to look for him; He is not here, but is riſen. Luk. 24. 6. 7. being riſen, he was ſeen of many; firſt, of the women, then of Peter, after of the two Diſciples going to Emaus, Luk. 24. he was ſeen of five hundred brethren at once; then of James, then of all the Apoſtles, after of Paul himſelf, 1. Cor. 15. 5. to 8. who though he ſpake low of himſelf, was a high, a great witneſſe and aſſerter of this truth, of Chriſt being riſen. It is a part of the Goſpel; a great truth, Preached, and witneſſed, by many faithfull witneſſes, and accordingly believed by the ſervants of God in the ages ſince, to this day: and were it not ſo; the ſervants of God, and more eſpecially the Martyrs and great ſufferers for Chriſt, were of all men the moſt miſerable: but Chriſt is riſen, and is the firſt fruits of them that riſe, and it was his order.

The next order, or lot, declared by the Apoſtle, it is to the juſt, as it is ſaid; afterwards they that are Chriſts: they ſhall be raiſed, and ſhall enjoy the redemption of the body from the power of the grave; it ſhall no longer have dominion over them: they ſhall come forth to the reſurrection and judgment of life; and as in the firſt place it relates to them, is the true underſtanding of what is ſpoken on that account, in Joh. 5. 28, 29.

So ſure as Chriſt, the Lord, is riſen and aſcended; ſo ſurely ſhall they riſe, in their order, and time: they, with Daniell, ſhall ſtand up in their lott together; all the ſervants of God that have fallen aſleep in the ſeveral ages of the world, and have for a long time ſlept in Jeſus; they ſhall awake, ariſe and meet the Lord when he cometh. 1. Theſ. 4. 14. 16. 17. God that raiſed up the Lord Jeſus, will raiſe us up alſo by Jeſus. 2. Cor. 4. 14. he will raiſe us by his own power, 1. Cor. 6. 14. and an exceeding great and mighty power; it is worthy our knowledge, and our deſire to know, Eph. 1. 19. 20.

p. 6The dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt: it is their order, their lot, next after the Lord Chriſt. 1. Theſ. 4. 16. the Lord Chriſt is riſen, and aſcended, ſitteth at the right hand of God; it is now ſixteen hundred & ſeventy four years ſince: he will come again to them that look for him, he will appear the ſecond time, without ſin unto ſalvation, Heb. 9. 28. and then, at his coming, ſhall their order and turn be: when the Lord Jeſus ſhall deſcend from heaven, with a ſhout, and with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt. 1. Theſ. 4. 16. at his coming, the Apoſtle tells us it will be: two great things will then concur, and be together: Chriſt, our Lord, his coming, and the righteous their riſing again, and meeting with him.

The next order or lott, is to the wicked, or unjuſt; of which the Apoſtle ſaith little; only: then cometh the end: not hereby meaning, that Chriſts kingdom would be at an end, and delivered up to God the father, preſently upon his coming, and raiſing the juſt; for there are many, and great things to be done before; he therefore therein ſecretly comprehends and includes the reſurrection of the unjuſt, to wit, between the reſurrection of the juſt, and coming of the end of his kingdom, when he is to deliver it up, and before the ſame: then ſhall the unjuſt ariſe in their order, and turn; a thouſand years after the riſing of the juſt: touching whom it is ſaid, Rev. 20. 4. and they lived, and reigned with Chriſt a thouſand years. vers. 5. but the reſt of the dead [to wit the unjuſt or wicked dead], they lived not again, untill the thouſand years were finiſhed. In the bleſſed morning of the reſurrection, the juſt will have the dominion, they will have the preheminence then, Pſal. 49. 14.

A riſing again of the unjuſt there will be; ſo the Scripture holdeth forth: it was the confeſſion and belief of holy Paul, Acts. 24. 15. and have hope towards God, that there ſhall be a reſurrection, both of the juſt, and unjuſt. But as to the time, or order, of raiſing the unjuſt, he ſaith no more, but then cometh the end, ſtrongly implying, that towards the end of Chriſts kingdom, and before he delivers it up, they alſo ſhall ariſe, and come to judgment: Chriſt our Lord the firſt fruits: then, a long time ſince: [not yet come] after, thoſe that are Chriſts; expreſly declared to be, at his coming: then cometh the end: implying as before; neer that time they ſhall ariſe, and not before: towards the end; a little before the laſt ſeſſion; neer a thouſand years after the riſing of the juſt; as before.

p. 7Then cometh the end; the end of time, or of a ſtate: it may be conſidered as in a more General way, as holding out the latter end of a ſtate, or of time; as a day, year, or years neer accompliſhed, is ſaid, to be the end of that day, year, or years: as was ſaid by the Lord himſelf to Noah, Gen. 6 13. the end of all fleſb is come, &c. It is at hand; It is but a little while, and the floud will come and ſweep away all; it only ſtays while Noah builds the Ark; but the end was come.

Yet further, when the floud was come; all were not drowned preſently; haply, ſome might live twenty, thirty, or forty days after the floud was come and begun: and it is ſaid, that the end of all fleſh was come.

But ſecondly; the end, may be taken ſtrictly, for the utter end of time, or being of a thing; as the utter end of a day, year, or years; the filling, or full finiſhing thereof: nothing remaining; an end, an utter end. According to ſuch an end, as was come upon the old world, when the floud was at hand; ſo it may be minded and taken here, as in order to the riſing of the unjuſt and wicked to judgment: towards the end of Chriſts kingdom; and reign on earth, a little before he reſigns: before the utter end be come; ſhall the riſing of the unjuſt, and wicked, be to judgment. And as, in the laſt place, it relates to them, is the true underſtanding of what is ſpoken on that account, in John 5. 28. 29. for ſutable to the ſeveral reſurrection, both of the juſt, and unjuſt; ſo alſo is their judgment to be; and alſo what is ſpoken, in Math. 25 34. concerning the judgment and ſalvation of the juſt; and in vers 41. of the judgment and deſtruction of the unjuſt, is thus to be underſtood, and will be found to be truth, in the day thereof.

CHAP. III. Containing ſundry things of the reign of our Lord Chriſt: of his putting down all his enemies; and how long his reign will be.

THe Apoſtle in his proceed, ſeemeth to make a digreſſion from the matter in hand, namely, the reſurrection; which he returns unto, and ſpeaks largely of, afterward: but here, having mentioned the coming of the end: he falls on: ſpeaking of very high, and p. 8great things that ſhall attend the end, in order to our Lord Chriſt his kingdom and reign: and having put down all enemies; his then delivering up his kingdom; and God the father becoming all in all; he waves the mentioning of the reſurrection of the unjuſt, and ſpeaks no otherwiſe then thus; then cometh the end; and ſo takes on another thing, that ſhall be at the end alſo.

Vers. 24, Then cometh the end, when he ſhall have put down all rule, and all Authority, and power; that which is firſt ſet down, is the laſt thing that will be done at the utmoſt end, when all things relating to the reign and dominion are finiſhed; then he ſhall deliver up the kingdom to God the father: when all power and authorities are put down, all enemies under his feet; then he ſhall deliver up the kingdom to God the father, of whom he received it. Then all that are under our Lord Chriſt, then, ſhall give up their power alſo: and God the father ſhall be all, in all.

When he ſhall have put down all rule, and authority, and power. Great kings and monarchs, uſe to have all rule, authority, and power, derived from them by all that are under them; and what they meet with in their dominions that is not ſo derived, they put down and ſuppreſſe. Our Lord Chriſt, a mighty king and monarch: then; will do in like manner; put down all rule and authority, not derived from him, all that make oppoſition; his enemies that would not have him reign over them; that will not ſubject themſelves: the princes, and rulers of the unſaved Nations, Gog, and Magog: and the captains and mighty men, with all that excerciſe rule and power; they will then, by our Lord Chriſt, he utterly diſpoſſeſſed of their power, and put down. The prophecy of Malachi will, then; in the reign of our Lord Chriſt, be made good to the life; they ſhall be ſo burnt up, as there ſhall be left, neither root, nor branch: there will be none to ſucceed them, to take their dominions and thrones after them; as now, the ſon ſucceeding the father: but it will not be ſo then; their places will be no more ſound, for ever.

All authoritie, and power, and rule, in the time of the kingdom and reign of our Lord Jeſus, in the thouſand yeers, he will ſubject: and put down all, that have enmity in them; ſooner or later, he will put them under his feet. This is one of the great things to be done, before the utter end come: the putting down all rule, authoritie, and power, in an active, viſible way: and until then; he muſt reign, and his kingdome continue: for ſo it is ſaid, expreſly, in vers. 25. p. 9He muſt reign, until he [himſelf] hath put all his enemies under his feet.

All his enemies: great and ſmall, high, and low, one, and all; by what name, or title ſoever they be named, or called; he ſhall ſubdue them; and as a mighty, mighty Monarch, ſhall ſubject them under his feet, and put them down: all that have enmity in them againſt him: ſin and death, and the grave; they ſhall all be deſtroyed by him: the laſt enemy that ſhall be deſtroyed, will be death, as after is expreſt; the Apoſtle layes great ſtreſſe upon it; he muſt, he muſt reign, until then.

This until ſeemeth not to be the ſame, with that in the 110. Pſalm, mentioned by our Lord, Math. 22. 44. Alſo by the Apoſtle, Heb. 1. 13. Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footſtool: Which ſcriptures ſome urge, againſt the perſonal coming of our Lord Chriſt the ſecond time, and his reigning here, on earth: ſaying thus: he muſt ſtay in heaven, until all be done here; his enemies made his footſtool: So, as if all the ſcriptures, that ſpeak of his kingdome and reign, ſhall be made good in a virtual way, and that's all. To dilate the matter a little.

Firſt, that in the 110. Pſalm, and the other alledged ſcriptures; is done by God the father himſelf: he ſaid to the ſon, the Lord Chriſt; as thoſe places do ſhew: but this is done by the Lord Chriſt, himſelf; he muſt reign, until he hath made, &c. Again, that's done by God the father, in heaven: this, is done by the Lord Chriſt, himſelf, on earth. That's done by the father, in heaven, where the Lord Chriſt is ſitting, at his right hand; This, is done by the Lord Chriſt, he reigning on earth, and being come the ſecond time unto the earth, and having taken to himſelf his great power, and reign, Rev. 11. 17. And he muſt reign, till his enemies be made his footſtool. That's, but enemies, in a general way of expreſſion; and may refer to, and be meant, only, of ſome enemies: but this, here; is of all enemies; even the laſt, even death it ſelf.

That of the 110. Pſalm, ſeemeth to be an inveſting of the Lord Chriſt with power, and a deligating to him, ſoveraigntie or rule over all things, in heaven, and earth; as it is ſaid, 1 Pet. 3. 22. Angels, authorities, and powers, being made ſubject unto him.

But this of the Apoſtle, here, is of acting, and exerciſing that power; and putting it in execution; putting down, and under him, all rule, authoritie, and power, and his enemies under his feet actually.

p. 10Laſtly, That in the 110 Pſalm, ſo often mentioned in the holy ſcriptures; is of a prophetical, promiſary nature, and was made good unto our Lord Chriſt, by God the father, when he had performed his ſo low humiliation: then, and therefore, God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name, above every name, Phil. 2. 9, 10, 11. That at the name [to wit, the ſoveraigntie, and power] of Jeſus every knee ſhould bow; of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth: and that every tongue ſhould confeſs, that Jeſus Chriſt is the Lord, to the glory of God the father: that ſo highly exalted Jeſus, our Lord. He is exalted, far above all principallitie, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name, that is named [to wit, of dignity, honor, and power]: he hath a name above all; whether in this world, or that which is to come; and hath put all things under his feet, &c. Ephes. 1. 21. 22. God the father, hath advanced our Lord Jeſus above them all; and put all things under his feet. Our Lord Chriſt, he is above; above them all, higher, and greater; and over them all; And they, all below; and under his feet: the Apoſtle Peter ſayth, he is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God: Angels, and authorities, and powers, being made ſubject to him, 1 Pet. 3. 22.

So, as upon the whole, to ſay no more; there is no need of our Lord his ſtay in heaven upon that account; his enemies not being made his footſtool and ſubjected under him: that being done already; he need not ſtay but to the appointed time. As in the appointed time, or the fullneſs of time, Gal. 4. 4. he came before, in the ſtate of humiliation: ſo he will in the appointed time, come the ſecond time, in power, and great glory: then he will take unto him his great power, and rule in the middeſt of his enemies: when he taketh to him his great power and reign; then all nations ſhall ſerve, and obey him, and all kings ſhall fall down before him, Pſalm. 72. 11.

And his kingdom and reign, ſhall be outward, and viſible on earth: (as his converſe and humiliation, was, in the days of his being here on earth): when he ſhall come the ſecond time, in power, and great glory. The holy Apoſtle, ſeemeth fully to ſpeak unto, that, before declared, Heb. 2. 8. Thou haſt put all things in ſubjection under his feet; for in that he put all things under him, he left nothing that is not put in ſubjection under him, &c. And this according to his ſoveraignty, and greatneſs of power; ſo he is highly advanced over all.

p. 11But according to his dominion, kingdom, and reign, he hath not entred upon it yet; he hath not yet taken unto him his great power: he hath not yet, ſubjected and put down, all rule, authority, and power, as the Apoſtle tells us; and we may ſay, as he ſaid: we ſee not yet all things put under him. When he comes, he muſt reign till he hath put them under his feet; even death; that great, and laſt enemie to be deſtroyed; as then when the Apoſtle did write; he did not then ſee all things ſubdued under him: ſo now, we may ſay; the great, and oppoſite powers, and rulers, they remain in dignity and power. The Ethnick, and Infidell Monarchs and Potentates, the Mahumetans, the antichriſtians; do yet keep up their authoritie: with other enemies, not a few. And ſin, and the laſt enemy death; all theſe remaining; doth ſpeak out this fully, we ſee not yet all things put under him, the Lord Chriſt. Though we ſee the Lord Chriſt, that was made low by the ſuffering of death, highly advanced, and crowned with honour, and glory; in which, the promiſe, Pſalm. 110. which is prophetical is fully made good by the father, and as before was ſaid, is no lett of his coming the ſecond time, till his enemies be made his footſtool firſt.

So, as that untill Pſalm. 110. and the reſt; differ from this untill, the one, relating to the time, of his taking upon him his great power and reign as a mighty monarch here on earth; unto whom all ſhall ſtoop, ſerve and obey: and till then, he muſt reign; even till death, it ſelf, the laſt enemy, be conquered, ſubdued, and deſtroyed, by him that mighty conquerer, that ſhall cauſe death to be ſwallowed up in victory, vers. 54. that triumphing may be made; O death, where is thy ſting? O grave, where is thy victory? vers. 55. and thanks given to God for the ſame, vers 57. thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: that great and mighty conqueror.

Further, there will be enemies in the time of Chriſt our Lord his reign on earth, which he muſt ſubdue and put down: all rule, authority, and power, wherein there is enmity; gog and magog, with all their confederates, and company; whoſe numbers will be as the ſand of the ſea, Rev. 20. 8. and theſe enemies: muſt, by him, be all deſtroyed, before the end of Chriſt our Lord, his kingdom and reign: for that death, alſo, that laſt enemy, muſt likewiſe be deſtroyed, as it is written, Rev. 20. 14. and death, and hell, (or the grave) were caſt into the lake of fire: gog, and magog, and all other p. 12enemies, muſt be firſt deſtroyed; for that the laſt enemy that is to be deſtroyed, is death.

Vers. 26. The laſt enemy that ſhall be deſtroyed, is death: of death being the laſt enemy; ſomthing hath by occaſion been often ſaid, it ſhall therefore be waved here: but death, as an enemy: we ſhall minde a little. Death; it is an old, and common enemie, an enemie to all the ſons of Adam: an enemy to the Lord Chriſt himſelf; an enemy to thoſe that are Chriſts; to the promiſed ſeed: few have eſcaped him: death as an enemy, it ſeized on the Lord Chriſt, and had power over him; but could not keep it: for it was not poſſible that he ſhould be holden of it, Acts. 2. 24. He tryumphed over it on the Croſs; and by death, overcame him that had the power of death. Heb. 2. 14.

Enemies there will be in the time of the reign of our Lord Chriſt, to be put down, and to be deſtroyed by him; but the laſt enemie, to be deſtroyed, will be death. Rev. 20. 14. it is ſaid; death & hell, [or the grave] were caſt into the lake of fire; and then preſently, followeth the end of Chriſt his kingdom and reign here on earth, and a delivering up all to God the father.

Vers. 27. For he hath put all things under his feet: he to wit, God the father, hath ſo put all things under the feet of our Lord Chriſt. He hath highly advanced him over all: far above all principalities, and powers and mights, and dominions; and every name, that is named, to wit, of power and dignities: all; God the father put under the feet of Chriſt, as before, is more largly held forth.

But here the Apoſtle comes in with a caution, or reſerve: for God the father, in putting all things under him (namely the ſon) he did not ſubject or put under himſelf: there's an exception in that; there's a but there; ſo ſaith the Apoſtle in the words that follow; but when he ſaith, all things are put under him, it is manifeſt, he is excepted: he is not meant or intended; he is not comprehended in this, all things; but the contrary: God, that put all things under; it is manifeſt he is excepted; ſo the Apoſtle, that did put all things under him; the ſum of all ſeemeth to be this; that God the father, in the high advance of the Lord Chriſt; did not ſubject or make lower himſelf: for (ſaith the Apoſtle) it is manifeſt, he is excepted.

Vers. 28. He goeth on further; ſaying, and when all things ſhall be ſubdued unto him: (by the way; the words, ſubduing, ſubjecting, p. 13putting under, putting under feet; are all of like import, and tendenoy): when the Lord Chriſt in the time of his reign, hath ſubdued, and actually put down all authority and power; when all enemies are put under his feet, and the laſt enemy death deſtroyed, (for till then, he muſt reign); then ſhall the ſon, himſelf, be ſubject unto him (namely the father) that put all things under him, that God may be all, in all. When the Lord Chriſt, that great, and mighty monarch; king of kings, and Lord of Lords, ſhall have finiſhed his reign, and done what he had to do, here on earth, then ſhall he deliver up the kingdom to the father, of whom he did receive it: God the father, that ſo highly advanced him; and put all things under him, ſhall have all ſurrendred and delivered up to him, and be all, in all. An end, a final end of that happy kingdom of our Lord Chriſt here on earth, and of our living, and reigning with him therein a 1000 years: and all the time of the laſt Seſſion of judgment following the ſame, which is the laſt and moſt glorious adminiſtration of his kingdom, and as worthy Mr. Archer apprehends, will laſt neer a thouſand years more, which I leave to the day to declare, all which is comprehended in Chriſt's and the Saints reigning together therein, though not ſo particularly expreſſed: and alſo a mentioning of one to ſucceed; to wit, the kingdom of the father. Of which ſomething after. Theſe being very high and great miſteries.

CHAP. IV. Containing ſomething of the beginning, and end, of Chriſt our Lord his kingdom, and of ſuch things as will be, at the beginning, and end, of the ſame.

TO dilate a little concerning the beginning, and end, of the kingdom of our Lord Chriſt, ſo often mentioned to be a thouſand years: the beginning, and end, have a medium, or middle time to make up the whole; ſo as to ſuppoſe, if a hundred, or if fifty years be reckoned to the beginning, in a general way; and a like number to the end; then the middle or body of the time, will be eight or nine hundred years: the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of the beginning, at our Lord Chriſt, his coming; when will be alſo the reſurrection of the juſt (mentioned Luk. 14. 14.) he mentions the end; when the p. 14Lord hath reigned his time, and done or finiſhed his reign what he had to do therein; and had received that honour he was to have done him on earth; he ſaith, then cometh the end: but he ſpeaks little expreſly, touching the middle time, and what ſhall be done therein; only incluſively, he ſaith, he muſt reign, till the end; untill he hath put down all rule, authority, and power; till his enemies be made his footſtool, and death, the laſt enemy, deſtroyed.

But as to the Beginning, and likewiſe, as to the end; he ſpeaketh of very high, and great things, that will fall in with, and be done in, both the one, and the other; of which we ſhall dilate a little; and firſt, of the things that concur with the beginning.

Firſt, then will be the coming of the Lord Chriſt, in the glory of his father, and of all the holy Angells, Math. 25. 31. then; when he appeareth, we ſhall appear with him in glory: Col. 3. 4. When Chriſt who is our life ſhall appear, then ſhall ye alſo appear with him in glory: then will he fit on the throne of his glory; and before him, will both the good, and the bad, the ſaved, and the unſaved nations, that are then living, be gathered: the righteous will have the preheminence, then, they will be ſet on the right hand, vers. 33. then will be the reſurrection of the juſt, Luk. 14. 14. to live again, and to reign with the Lord Chriſt a thouſand years upon the earth, Rev. 20. 4. Rev. 5. 10. (no mention is made of the wicked dead riſing at that time): then, will be, the redemption of the body, and an entertaining again of the ſoul, or ſpirit, Rom. 8. 23. A great thing, a high miſterie: then will actually be made good, that great miſterie, the holy Apoſtle hath told us of, vers. 5. We ſhall not all ſleep, but we ſhall all be changed; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye; and be caught up with the raiſed ſaints to meet the Lord Chriſt together, 1 Thes. 14. 17. Then, will be the time of our being unclothed, and clothed upon: when corruption, ſhall put on incorruption, and mortallitie, put on immortalitie. 2. Cor. 5. 4. 1 Cor. 15. 53. Then, ſhall be the refreſhing, from the preſence of the Lord, and the reſtitution, or reſtoration of all things, which God hath ſpoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets ſince the world began, Acts. 3. 19. 20, 21. Then, ſhall the new heavens, and the new earth wherein righteouſneſs will dwell, take place, according to the promiſe of God the father 2. Pet. 3. 13. Then, will the new Jeruſalem come down from heaven, and the bride, the lambs wife, be richly adorned, and exceeding glorious. Then, will be alſo the mariage ſupper of the lamb, Rev. 21. 2. 10. Then ſhall all p. 15things be made new, as at the beginning. (For theſe ſayings, are faithful, and true, Rev. 22. 6.) then, God ſhall wipe away all teares from the eyes of his: then, will no more be death, nor ſorrow, nor crying, nor pain there, to the ſervants of God for ever, Rev. 21. 4. Then, ſhall ſathan be bound, or chained, that he hinder not the ſaved nations in their great felicity, Rev. 20. 2. To ſay no more, although much more might be mentioned relating to the beginning, and firſt coming of the Lord Chriſt into the kingdom, and reign, on earth.

We ſhall, in the next place, take notice of ſome things relating to, and contemporizing with, the end. Firſt of all, ſoon after the end of the thouſand years reign, and ſome ſhort time before the laſt ſeſſion of judgement beginneth, will ſathan be let looſe for a little ſeaſon, and will deceive the unſaved of the nations, who had been chained up with him till then, to their total ruine and deſtruction; then will Gag, and Magog, and their number, as the ſand of the ſea, gather together, and compaſſe the camp of the ſaints about, and the beloved city; then will fire come down from God out of heaven and deſtroy them, Rev. 20. 7. 8. 9. Then ſhall the devil that deceived them, be caſt into the lake of fire and brimſtone, where the beaſt and falſe prophet (as being more wicked and abominable in the ſight of God then he) had been caſt, whileſt alive, above a thouſand years before, Rev. 20. 10. Rev. 19. 20. Soon after, then will be the reſurrection of the unjuſt, and wicked ſinners; they ſhall, then, ariſe to judgment; for then, will be the ſecond, and laſt, great ſeſſion of judicature to that end, mentioned, Rev. 20. 11. 12. Then ſhall they be judged, condemned and caſt into the lake of fire, called the ſecond death. Rev. 20. 12. 13. 15. Which, as it is the laſt time, or concluding act, of the ſaints judging the world; 1 Cor. 6. 2. So there being nothing, as to the time, mentioned before, and they being reſerved to the judgment of that great day and to be judged by the ſaints, ſo is it alſo the time of their judging of Angels. 1 Cor. 6. 3. 2. Pet. 2. 4. Jude vers. 6. Then, the laſt enemie death, and hell, or the grave, ſhall be caſt into the lake of fire Rev. 20. 14. Death, the laſt enemie will be then deſtroyed. All enemies will, then, be totally ſubdued and deſtroyed, and put under his feet, actually, to the through fulfilling of 1 Cor. 15. 16.

Then ſhall be an end of all rule, authoritie, and power, then will the Lord Chriſt deliver up the kingdom unto God the father, of p. 16whom he received it: then, will he become ſubject, himſelf, unto the father; and God, even the father, become all, in all: theſe are ſome of the great things that will attend the end.

We may, here, in a general way, a little take notice, what will be in the middle, or body of that time of the thouſand years of Chriſt his kingdom and reign on earth, according to what the ſcriptures hold forth, as to the great bleſſedneſs of the ſervants of God, and their long continuance in that happines, and high enjoyments for ever; once begun; ever continued. Thoſe great things mentioned, as relating to the beginning, are not, many of them, to be minded excluſively; but incluſively, as continuing to the very end. The things the righteous ſhall enjoy and be made partakers of; the eye hath not ſeen, the ear hath not heard, neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive. The pſalmiſt admires it (as may we) Pſal. 31. 19. Oh how great is thy goodneſſe, which thou haſt laid up for them that fear thee: which thou haſt wrought for them that truſt in thee, before the ſons of men. It is ſaid, in 1 Joh. 3. 2. Now are we the ſons of God [a great thing] and it doth not yet appear what we ſhall be: [to wit, how happy, how bleſſed and glorious]: but we know, that when he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him, and ſee him as he is. A great thing indeed. And we ſhall be for ever with him, and never ſevered from him more, 1 Thes. 4. 17. And in his preſence will be fulnes of joy, at his right hand, there are pleaſures for evermore, Pſal. 16. 11. The holy ſcriptures of the old, and new teſtament, ſpeak much of the happines of that day to the righteous: in particular, holy Peter, Paul, and John. The pſalmiſt David, Pſal. 72. 7. ſpeaking of Solomon in the tipe, but of our Solomon in the antitype; the Lord Jeſus ſayth, in his dayes [to wit in the time of his kingdom and reign], the righteous ſhall flouriſh; and abundance of peace, [ſhall be in the earth] ſo long as the Moon endureth. This will be, and continue, the whole thouſand years reign (and alſo all the time of the laſt ſeſſion of judgment, which, as hath been ſaid before, is the laſt and moſt glorious part and adminiſtration of Chriſts kingdom, and as ſome apprehend will laſt neer a thouſand years more, until he deliver up the kingdom to God the father and God the father become all, in all. That gathering of Gog and Magog at the end of the thouſand years Rev. 20. 8. will be little, or none interruption thereunto, for it will be very ſhort, and is only to give the Lord an opportunity to deſtroy all the wicked that are left, in order to the ſpeedy reſurrection of the p. 17whole, that had been dead, from Cain, to that time, to come to judgment, and is to uſher in the ſame; which kingdom of our Lord Chriſt, in all the parts and adminiſtrations thereof, being ended and delivered up by him to God the father, and God the father become all, in all; the Saints ſhall then receive and enjoy higher and greater glory, and ſhall go, and be with the Lord Chriſt for ever in the kingdom of the father; a particular ſetting down of things, we ſhall forbear, for fear of tiring the reader.

CHAP. V. Of the great wiſdom and underſtanding of the Apoſtle Paul, and his high knowledge in the heavenly miſteries, and the many revelations he had.

IN the next place, upon the whole of thoſe verſes forenamed, we may minde, the great wiſdom and underſtanding, that holy Paul was endued withall, the many revelations he had, and the high miſteries that were unfolded and made known unto him; which he hath declared for the good and benefit of others, being made an inſtrument in the hand of God for that purpoſe. He had high diſcoveries, and an abundance of revelations; and yet was kept humble; Gods grace being ſufficient. 2. Cor. 12. 7. 9. holy Paul had much made known unto him, of very high and great ſecrets: he had a great inſight into the high miſteries of Chriſt, Epheſ. 3. 3. 4. they were declared by him: ſuch high miſteries, as are not declared and held forth, ſo particularly, by any other; as namely, the order that will be in the reſurrection, and when the juſt ſhall ariſe; in their order; and when the unjuſt. The reſurrection is a great thing; purely Goſpel: the order mentioned, is a great thing alſo, not ſo mentioned by any other: he hath declared unto us the concurrents of the reſurrection of the juſt, with Chriſt, our Lord, his firſt appearing: and likewiſe, he hath very plainly told us of the end of Chriſts kingdom, and reign. He hath given us ſome ſhort hints, but very plain, of another time, and ſtate, that will ſucceed that of Chriſts kingdom and reign on earth; namely, that of the kingdom of the father, when God the father, ſhall be all, in all. He hath ſhewed a great miſtery not mentioned, but by him vers 51. Behold, I ſhew you a miſtery; we ſhall not all ſleep: but we ſhall all be changed; in a moment, p. 18in the twinkling of an eye, &c. to wit all thoſe Saints that ſhall be alive at the coming of the Lord Chriſt; he hath declared the mode, or manner of it; a great ſecret: this corruptible, ſhall put on incorruption, and this mortal, ſhall put on immortality, vers. 53. a bleſſed change: a putting off old clothing, and a putting on of new; very rich, and of great worth.

By him was declared the groaning of the creature by reaſon of the burdens they are under; with alſo their expectation of freedom from them, Rom. 8. 19. 21. 22. and how they ſhall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Unto him, the great Apoſtle of the Gentiles, it was revealed, that great miſtery, that was not known in former ages; but was hid in God from the beginning of the world. Epheſ. 3. 5. 9. The matter of which miſtery, was the taking on of the Gentiles; great ſtrangers and aliens, into oneneſſe, and fellowſhip with the Jews: making them fellow-citizens, and of the houſhold of God. Epheſ. 2. 19. that the Gentiles ſhould be fellow heirs, and of the ſame body, and partakers of his promiſe in Chriſt by the Goſpel. And likewiſe, the rejection of the Jewes, the breaking of them off, and grafting the Gentiles on the ſame ſtock, Rom. 11. a very high matter; a great miſtery, holding forth very rich grace and mercy; at which, the Apoſtle very greatly admired, and cryed out, vers. 33. O the depth of the riches, both of the wiſedom, and knowledge of God, &c!

The Apoſtle Peter, was a man of great knowledge: he had viſions, and revelations. He had by a viſion made known to him, the breaking down of the partition-wall between the Jew, and the Gentle, Acts. 10. which, when he underſtood, he ſaid, in vers. 34. of a truth I perceive that God is no reſpecter of perſons, &c. But Paul had the full of the miſtery revealed unto him, as before is declared, Peter had great inſight into that great thing; of the pouring out of the ſpirit, Acts. 2. and of the holy ſpirit come down from heaven; which things [to wit, the great things of the Goſpel,] the Angels deſire to look into, 1. Pet. 1. 12.

He had made known unto him, the great burning of the world, that now is; and likewiſe the new heavens, and the new earth, that ſhall be, according to the Lords promiſe; wherein dwelleth righteouſneſs. 2. Pet. 3. 7. 12. 13. Unto him was made known; the times of refreſhing that ſhall be, when God ſhall ſend again, Jeſus: as likewiſe p. 19the times of the reſtitution [or reſtoration] of all things: which God hath ſpoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets ſince the world began, Acts. 3. 19. 20. 21.

Bleſſed Stephen, the firſt martyr for Jeſus; he had wonderfull ſight, or viſion, Acts. 7. 55. 56. he ſaw heaven opened, and Jeſus ſtanding at the right hand of God, the which he declared, and was ſtoned for ſo doing, vers. 58. That good ſervant of Jeſus; holy John; he had viſions and revelations, great ſecrets and miſteries, declared unto him; for him to make known unto the Churches. Rev. 1. 1. his book beareth record hereof, and is ſtiled, the revelation of Jeſus Chriſt, which he ſent and ſignified by his Angel to his ſervant John. Wherein he hath declared many things that were to come; and ſome things concerning the reſurrection of the juſt, and the unjuſt, Rev. 20. 4. 5. 6. 12. 13. And the kingdom of Chriſt, and the new Jeruſalem ſtate, and the Saints reigning with him therein, Rev 20. 4. 6. Rev. 21. 1. 2. 3. Rev. 22. 3. 4. 5. And the firſt, and laſt ſeſſion of judgement. &c. Rev. 20. 4. 6. 11. 12. 13. Which are true and faithfull ſayings, Rev. 21. 5

But the Apoſtle Paul, ſeemeth to have exceeded in the number, and nature of the things that were revealed to him, and declared by him: he had an abundance of revelations: and was the man that was taken up into paradiſe; into the third heaven, and heard unſpeakable words, not lawfull to be uttered to fallen mortalls: which he did not ſpeak of, till after fourteen years. 2. Cor. 12. 2. 3. 4. He hath declared the manner, and order, and time, of the juſt; and unjuſt; their riſing again; very plainly, in expreſs words: firſt Chriſt; then thoſe that are Chriſts, at his coming. Only the juſt, that are Chriſts, are then to be raiſed, compared with Luk. 14. 14. Rev. 20. 6. not the unjuſt, then: but in an after time, according as hath been mentioned before, Rev. 20. 5. 13. Where do we find the like? He hath made known, likewiſe, the beginning, and, in ſpecial, the end of the kingdom and reign of our Lord Chriſt, on earth: and the delivering up of the kingdom to God the father, and becoming ſubject himſelf. He hath given us ſome ſhort hints; but very full, and plain; of a ſtate ſucceeding: very glorious; where, and when, God the father, ſhall be all, in all: and that, we may further take knowledge of, from the cloſe of thoſe verſes; of which we ſhall dilate a little; by way of enquirie and eſſay.

p. 20CHAP. VI. Of the Lord Chriſt delivering up his kingdom to his father; and of God the father becoming all, in all: where will be a more glorious ſtate.

ALL things that have a beginning, and are meaſured by time; they have had, and will have, an end; only the great Jehovah, that hath no beginning, nor end; but is from everlaſting, to everlaſting; and is not meaſured by time. There are many ends mentioned in holy Scripture, of which we ſhall forbear the mentioning. This world, that now is, will have an end, and be deſtroyed by fire; as the world, before, was by water. When this world ſhall have an end; then will take place, and begin, the world, to come; when, will begin, and take place, that happy time and ſtate, of the kingdom and reign of our Lord Chriſt, on earth, for a thouſand years: and after that; all the time of the laſt ſeſſion of judgment, which as hath been mentioned before, ſome apprehend will laſt neer a thouſand years more: that alſo, will have an end; when, the Lord Chriſt ſhall deliver up the kingdom, to the father; that God, the father, may be all, in all; as our Apoſtle hath declared. A very high thing; a great ſecret, of which, the Scriptures ſeem moſt ſilent, and to ſay little; at leaſt, the underſtanding and inſight into this great miſtery, or ſecret, ſeemeth little, in this age; holy Paul hints ſomething, God ſhall be all, in all, then.

By way of aſſay, we ſhall propoſe to conſideration, ſome thing, that the holy Scripture ſeemeth to hold forth of that glorious ſtate, that ſhall ſucceed the ſurrender of the kingdom of the Lord Chriſt, unto God the father, that he may be all, in all.

That God may be all, in all; ſeemeth to have much comprehended in it. What is not included in all? With reference to any matter, or thing: it ſeemeth to eye that before ſpoken, of the ſovereignty, rule, and power of the Lord Chriſt in his kingdom; and his giving of it up, when he had put down all rule, authority, and power whatſoever, and become ſubject, himſelf, unto the father, that gave him that power, and put all things under his feet: then will God the father be all, in all. No medium then; nor no deligating of power, or dominion, to any; ſeemeth to be, then: but God the father, to be all, in all, in power, rule, and dominion.

p. 21This all, in all, ſeemeth a great thing, and to contain much: but not much, ſeemeth to be revealed; at leaſt, we underſtand little, for the preſent; but are much in the dark herein. More, it may be, is held forth in the Scriptures, then we as yet diſcern: that there ſhall be ſuch a time, and ſtate; when God ſhall be all, in all; ſhall have the kingdom of the Lord Chriſt delivered up to him, and the Lord Chriſt become ſubject to the Father, that he may be all, in all: that ſuch a ſtate, ſuch a kingdom, there ſhall be, after the kingdom of our Lord Chriſt is ended; the Apoſtle Paul, ſeemeth to hold forth, as is mentioned before; and ſomething there is, that ſeemeth to look that way, and to import ſomething, of ſuch a ſtate, and kingdom, of God the father; as the laſt; and moſt glorious. By way of aſſay, we ſhall propoſe ſomething, and leave it to the judgment of the wiſe in heart. That there ſhall be ſuch a glorious ſtate, and kingdom of the father, exceeding in glory, the kingdom of our Lord Chriſt, wherein, as hath been ſaid, will be great glory, and is the glory that he requeſted his father, that thoſe that he had given him, might be with him, that they might behold his glory, Job. 17. 24. and Col. 3. 4. partake of his glory: and Rom. 8. 17. be glorified together; which glory will be very great: but in the kingdom of the father, when God ſhall be all, in all; then there will be higher and greater glory.

CHAP. VII. Of a higher degree of glory, in the kingdom of the father; and higher attainers for the Saints, then.

THat in the kingdom of the father, when he is all, in all; then; there will be higher, and greater glory; that of our Lord, Math. 13. 43. ſeemeth to ſpeak out. Then ſhall the righteous, ſhine as the Sunn; where? In the kingdom of their father. It ſeemeth to hold forth, that the father will have a kingdom, and that the righteous will ſhine forth in glory, then: and there: of which we ſhall dilate a little. Our Lord, a little before; had ſpoken of his own kingdom: he ſhall ſend forth his Angels, and they ſhall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and ſhall caſt them into a furnace of fire &c. He ſeemeth to wave p. 22the further ſpeaking of his own kingdom, which will be very neer the end, then: and ſpeaketh of the kingdom of the father, neer at hand; and ſayeth thus: then ſhall the righteous ſhine forth [in greater luſter of glory] as the ſun; [the moſt glorious of all the creatures: where ſhall this be?] in the kingdom of their father. They were glorious before, in the kingdom of the ſon, the Lord Chriſt: but then, in the kingdom of their father, they ſhall be more glorious, then, and there: for as ſayeth our Lord Chriſt: they ſhall then ſhine forth as the ſun, very gloriouſly. In the kingdom of the Lord Chriſt, they ſhall be very glorious; ſharing with the Lord Chriſt, and being like him: far beyond the glory of the Saints in their higheſt attainer here, or elſwhere, before that time: they ſhall ſhine forth, and appear with the Lord Chriſt in glory then: holy Daniel, Dan. 12. 3. tells us, that then, they that be wiſe [or have been wiſe in their day] ſhall ſhine as the brightneſs of the Firmament [very ferene] and they that turn [or have turned] many to righteouſneſs; [ſhall ſhine] as the ſtarrs, for ever, and ever: very bright and ſhining: there will be great glory in the kingdom of Chriſt.

But in the kingdom of their father, they ſhall ſhine forth as the ſun: the glory of the ſun, is far greater then that of the ſtarrs, or Firmament; ſo faith the Apoſtle, 1. Cor. 15. 41. there is one glory of the ſun, another of the Moon, and another glory of the ſtarrs, for one ſtarr, differeth from another, in glory: degrees there are, and will be, the glory of the ſun, is the greateſt. In the kingdom of the Son will be great glory; the righteous will ſhine, there, as the ſtars: but in the kingdom of the father; they ſhine forth as the ſun; more gloriouſly By way of illuſtration: the eye is able to behold the light of the Firmament; and the brightneſs of the ſtars, in their light and brightneſs: but what eye is able to behold the ſun, in the full glory and brightneſs of it? As the glory of the ſun, ſurmounts the glory of the ſtars, and Firmament: ſo will the glory of the kingdom of the father and the attainer of the righteous, then, and there, exceed that of the righteous their attainer, in the kingdom of the Lord Chriſt. In the kingdom of the father, they ſhall ſhine forth, as the ſun.

It may be looked upon as a very great thing, for raiſed Saints, newly raiſed out of their graves, and reunited, body, and ſoul, in one again; and the changed Saints, then, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye; as it is written in that great miſtery, ſhewed by the Apoſtle p. 23vers. 51. of the aforeſaid 1. Cor. 15. for them to take on and be clothed with immortality, and the glory of that happy eſtate and great glory; and not be over-ſett, over-powerd with it: but to take on the glory of the ſun, in the the kingdom of the father; how high a thing is that? The wiſdom of God the father, did foreſee, and order, for that cauſe (it may be) a gradual way of proceed, from glory, to glory; from a leſſer, to a greater; and the greateſt, and higheſt, of all, laſt; like the great and good maſter, that kept the greateſt, and beſt, till laſt; that ſo the Saints, might with the more facility, take on the glory of the kingdom of the father; having been a long while before in the kingdom of the ſon, the Lord Chriſt, there, enjoying that great glory; they, with the more facility, may take on that greater, and higher glory, of ſhining as the ſun, in the kingdom of the father.

Our Lord addeth, in that verſe, he that hath an ear to hear, let him hear; not with the hearing of the outward ear of the body, only; but with the ear of the minde, and underſtanding; by conceiving and underſtanding the greatneſs of the thing; a high thing! a great miſtery! which few do underſtand, or are able to apprehend or conceive of. I know, the Lord Chriſt in Iſaiah. 9. 6. is called, the everlaſting father, and ſo minded, as he is God, coequal with the father; & God bleſſed for ever, in the unity of the three, in one: and ſo, he, and the father, are one, Joh. 10. 30. Joh. 17. 22. I, and my father, are one: weigh but the places; and the difference between father, and ſon, will appear.

CHAP. VIII. Of the miſtery of God, and the father, and of Chriſt: ſo, in like manner; the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Chriſt; and the kingdom of the father.

BUt there is alſo a different count, and conſideration, and, likewiſe, a different denomination, betwixt God the father, the creator of all things; and God the ſon, the redeemer; the mighty God; ſent of the father, ſent of the father, the firſt time, in the ſtate of humiliation: and will be ſent again the ſecond time, in power, and great glory.

p. 24Great is the miſtery of God, manifeſted in the fleſh: the conſideration of minding the matter ſo; is ſo neceſſary; as to deny it; or decry it as an errour; hath very ill conſequences attending of it: of which; more hereafter. Here, I ſay only this; let the context be minded, and the cloſe, be weighed: that of the Lord Chriſt, the ſon; delivering up his kingdom, that God the father, may be all, in all: the righteous ſhining as the ſtars, in the kingdom of the ſon: and ſhining as the ſun, in the kingdom of the father, ſucceeding the delivering up of the kingdom of the ſon, to the father, that ſo, the father may be all, in all: I ſay, let it be minded; and ſee, if it doth not hold forth the diſtinction: as betwixt, the father, and the ſon: ſo, betwix that, of the kingdom of the ſon, and that, of the father ſucceeding, that God, the father, may be all; in all.

And it may be taken notice of, that the Lord Chriſt, ſpeaketh very often, of the father; and of his father, and ours: but no where doth he call himſelf, father: but ſtiles himſelf, the ſon of man, very often; and ſometimes, the ſon of God alſo. Many, in a general way, ſeem without any diſtinction at all, or putting any difference, between the kingdom of God, the creator of heaven, and earth: the kingdom of Chriſt, and the kingdom of God the father: and accordingly they ſpeak, and apply: but how rightly they do, in ſo underſtanding and applying the Scriptures ſo; may be conſidered.

Further, in the 26th. of Mathew; we have ſomething that ſeems to look that way: our Lord Chriſt, having eat, and drank with his diſciples, ſays to them in vers. 29. I will not drink henceforth, of this fruit of the vine, untill that day when I drink it new with you in my fathers kingdom. The father will have a kingdom; as the ſon will have a kingdom: theſe ſeem to be diſtinctly ſpoken of in the holy ſcriptures. The ſon will have a kingdom, in the which he will reign, and which he will deliver up to the father, and the father become all, in all: the end of the one, (to wit, that of the ſons) being the beginning of the fathers, when he ſhall be all, in all. As there is the kingdom of Chriſt ſpoken of, very plainly expreſſed, and the righteous, there, ſhining as the ſtars: ſo there is the kingdom of God the father ſpoken of, and the righteous, there, ſhining as the ſun; as is before ſet forth: and theſe ſeem to be very diſtinctly ſet forth in the ſcriptures. As the ſon, is not the father, nor the father, is the ſon: even ſo, it ſeemeth to be, in regard of the kingdom of the ſon, p. 25given him of the father; and the kingdom of the father, When he ſhall be all, in all. The ſon will have a kingdom, which the father hath appointed him. Luke. 22. 29. And he is gone to receive it, Luk. 19. 12. He will come again, and his kingdom will come with him, vers. 15. 2. Tim. 4. 1. In his kingdom, he will reign to the end; and then deliver it up to the Father, and the Father be all in all; In his kingdom, when, and where, our Lord Chriſt will drink with, his, of the fruit of the vine: in his fathers kingdom. Our Lord Chriſt Luk. 22. 30. ſpeaketh of eating, and drinking, in his own kingdom, in expreſſe words, and very diſtinctly, that ye may eat, and drink at my table in my kingdom, &c. But in the 26th. of Mathew, he ſaith, I will not henceforth drink of this fruit of the vine, till I drink it now with you in my fathers kingdom.

We reade of the father, and the ſon, and take them diſtinctly, and do not take them, as on Epheſ. 5. 5. This we know, that no whoremonger, &c. hath any inheritance, in the kingdom of Chriſt, and of God, to wit, God the father; and not, that the kingdom of Chriſt, and of God, there, is all one kingdom, as ſome apprehend. We cannot without offering loſſe to the ſcripture and counting it a kind of tautologie, but count them as diſtinct kingdoms. We read, Col. 2. 2. The Apoſtles prayer unto God in the behalf of the Coloſſians was, that the eyes of their underſtanding might be opened, to the acknowledgment [of what?] of the myſtery of God, and the father, and of Chriſt. Very diſtinct: the three, in one, is a great myſtery: the three diſtinct; are three great myſteries. The myſtery of God, (to wit, the creator of heaven, and earth) a great myſterie: the myſterie of God the father, reconciling the world unto himſelf, (to believers; by Jeſus Chriſt, our bleſſed redeemer, and Saviour. 2 Cor. 5. 9.) a great myſterie! the myſtery alſo of God manifeſted in the fleſh, 1 Tim. 3. 16. is a great myſterie.

As we reade of the myſterie of God; the father and of Chriſt: ſo we reade of the kingdom of God, and of the father, and of Chriſt, very diſtinctly held forth in the holy ſcriptures: and to be able to underſtand them aright, ſeemeth a great attayner. To take them, and make them all one, and the ſame; ſeemeth to be an offering of loſs to the holy ſcriptures, as if they had ſpoken in vain. To ſay, that the myſterie of God, and the myſterie of the father, and the myſterie of Chriſt, are one, and the ſame thing, without any difference at all; and ſo, in like manner, to ſay, the kingdom of God, p. 26and the kingdom of the father, and the kingdom of Chriſt given him of the father; to hold, or ſay, that theſe are all one, and the ſame; ſeemeth to reflect on the ſpirit, by which the holy ſcriptures were written; All ſcripture being given by inſpiration of God, 2 Tim. 3. 16. Holy men of God, of old, ſpake, as they were moved by the holy ſpirit, 2. Pet. 1. 21. Chriſt, our Lord will drink of the fruit of the vine, in his fathers kingdom. As to that of difference and diſtinctnes betweeen the kingdoms forenamed; that in Ephes. 5. 5. ſeemeth to hold forth. ſomething: the Apoſtle, there, ſpeaking of ſeveral ſorts of ſinners, ſayeth, know ye not, that the unrighteous, ſhall not inherit the kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6. 9. In like manner that before, Ephes. 5. 5. He ſaith, we know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean perſon, nor covetous man, that is an Idolater; hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Chriſt, and of God; to wit, God the father's kingdom; ſuch wicked ſinners, they have no part or Inheritance, in the kingdom of the Lord Chriſt: they ſhall in no wiſe enter there, or dwell there Rev. 21. 27. Rev. 22. 15. There will be no way found, or entrance provided for them, into the Everlaſting kingdom of our Lord and ſaviour Jeſus Chriſt. 2. Pet. 1. 11. In like manner, they ſhall have nothing to do in the kingdom of God the father, more high and glorious; when God ſhall be all, in all: no wicked ſinners ſhall aſcend thither, or dwell there; this know, [as it is ſaid] the unrighteous ſhall not inherit the kingdom of God, [the father:] it will be too high, and too glorious. In the kingdom of God, the creator, they have lived, and do live, as ſomtime rich Dives did; and had his ſhare and part of good things. The caſe will be otherwiſe then; when the kingdom of the father takes place, where God ſhall be all, in all; that of the pſalmiſt being very prophetical, and ſpoken prayer-wiſe, may be minded, as that which will be made good. Pſal. 104. 35. Let the ſinners be conſumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more, &c. The ſinners will be conſumed out of the earth, in the time of the kingdom of Chriſt, in the new earth, and before his kingdom be ended. See Rev. 19. 17. 18. 21. Rev. 20. 9. ſee the places and others of the like import: but when the kingdom of the father takes place, and God the father be all, in all: then the wicked will be no more. Halelujah. Our Lord Chriſt will drink of the fruit of the Vine there, and the righteous will ſhine as the ſun, there; where thoſe wicked ſinners ſhall not come, nor be no more: then: for ever.

p. 27The kingdom of God as the creator of Heaven and earth, of which the holy Scriptures ſpeak very much, It is a ſubject, ſo high and comprehenſive, and ſo much ſpoken of it in the holy Scriptures; as that I ſhall only ſpeak a few things in a General way, and that by way of eſſay. This kingdom began with the creation, wherein ſoveranity was delegated to Adam, and it laſted till the floud, when all fleſh periſhed. Then from the floud, it hath been carried, and will be carried on, to the great burning to come, 2. Pet. 3 6. 7. of the world that now is: when the world to come, ſhall take place, and the bleſſed kingdom, and Power, and dominion of our Lord Chriſt ſhall take place, and begin: he, then, a king, will take to himſelf his great power and reign; and all rule, authority, and power reſt in him, Rev. 11. 17. all power, and rule, being given unto him, both in heaven, and in earth, Math. 28. 18. of the great Jehovah, the maker of heaven; and earth.

This kingdom of God, the creator; as it hath; ſo it ſhall rule over all, Pſal. 10. 3. 19. he hath ſet up, and pulled down, as he pleaſed; and ſo he doth; and will do, while, this world, laſteth, as it was ſaid, by Daniell, to Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 4. 32. Till thou know that the moſt high ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomſoever he will; as before he had ſaid, in vers. 25. and ſays in verſ. 24. this is the decree of the moſt high; which is come upon my Lord the King. By him, or under him, kings reign, and have ruled: been ſet up; and pulled down; his ordering is ſo high, and of ſuch extent and largneſs in order to all things, as that a ſparrow falls not to the ground without his Providence, and the very hairs of our head are numbred, Math. 10. 29. 30. we may ſay with the pſalmiſt. Pſal. 8. 9. O Lord, our Lord, [our King, our governor] how excellent is thy name [thy ſovereignty and power] in all the earth! And ſhall end with that of the Apoſtle, Rom. 11. 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wiſdom and knowledge of God, &c. and, as in vers. 36. for of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Of the kingdom, rule, and government of the Lord Jehovah, the maker of heaven, and earth; we may mind it as from the floud; how he ruled, and gave power to rule under him, in his kingdom; from Noah, to Abraham, and the Patriarchs: to Moſes Joſhua, and the judges, unto the time of Samuel, Acts. 13. 20. then they deſired a king, and God gave them a king; Saul, of the tribe of Benjamin, p. 28a goodly perſon, and ſome way eminent: but in that their deſire, which was condeſcended to of God; God ſaid to Samuel, they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I ſhould not reign over them. 1. Sam. 8. 7. Saul's reign laſted not: but for his diſobedience to the king of heaven, he was put down: and God, the great Jehovah, and ruler over all; choſe David, and his ſeed, a type of our Lord Chriſt. Touching David, it is ſaid, the Lord hath found a man after his own heart, 1. Sam. 13. 14. and his race, according to Gods promiſe, continued. Solomon that eminent one for wiſdom continued after him, and he advanced the kingdom to the greateſt height of glory that ever Iſrael attained unto. A breach was made in that kingdom, and ſtate, not only in the diviſion: but in the departing of the Scepter, as it hath been for a long time.

The kingdoms of this world, out of the line of Abraham and David, in a more general way, they have been ordered according to his pleaſure. The rulers, and ſovereigns, have been ſet up, and taken down, according to the pleaſure of the great Jehovah: from the beginning it hath been ſo. And to particularize a few. Thoſe great monarchs, and monarchies; the Aſſyrians, the Babylonians, the Perſians, the Graecians and the Romans; and all others under them; and not under them; as the ethnich potentates; they have been at the ordering of God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; though, it may be, ſome of them have ſaid, and may ſay, as Pharaoh ſaid of old; who is the Lord? And as it hath been: ſo it will be; his kingdom will rule over all; and he ſhall give the power, and dominion to whom he pleaſeth: for he is God over all, bleſſed for ever.

Untill the time come, that the kingdom of the Lord Chriſt take place, and his dominion and rule begin, when he ſhall take to him his great power and reign, and after, deliver it to God the father: ſo as God the creator of heaven and earth, will be firſt, in kingdom, and rule. The great Alpha: and will be the laſt, in kingdom, rule, and power: the great Omega. The middle; it will be to the Lord Chriſt, when he takes it on: all power in heaven and earth being given unto him; and he muſt reign, till the end, and then deliver up; and God the father, be all, in all; the Alpha, and Omega. In the kingdom of God Almighty, there hath been two great Mediums, or two, that have been eminent, between God, and man, beſides others; namely, Moſes, a great Prophet, raiſed up of God, p. 29of great authority, and rule: and the Lord Chriſt, ſent of the father; firſt to ſuffer, and then to be highly advanced, and to reign: but I ſhall forbear to dilate further.

In the next place, we propoſe that direction of our Lord Chriſt, about prayer, Math. 6. from vers. 6. to vers. 15. which ſeemeth to ſpeak to the ſame matter; to wit, the kingdom of the father: and his being all, in all: after this manner [ſaith our Lord] pray ye: our father which art in heaven, &c. thy kingdom come; the kingdom of the father, we are to pray that it may come: implying, it was not then, come: and likewiſe, that it was not that kingdom which had been ſince the creation; then was; and now is; and alſo ſhall be; till the kingdom of our Lord Chriſt, takes place: but, a kingdom that was to come, when our Lord Chriſt ſhall reſign, and God the father, be all, in all, and his kingdom ſhall come and take place, and wonderfull ſhall be the glory of it; beyond all conceiving. This kingdom we are to pray, that it may come. I do not here intend the excluding of the kingdom of grace, or glory, to be comprehended within this deſire or prayer; the further advance of the kingdom of grace, in the increaſe of the number, and the advance of the intreſt of God and Chriſt, here; may be included in it; and likewiſe the coming of the kingdom of our Lord Chriſt, when he, and his kingdom ſhall appear, and come in power, and great glory. Whatever of God, and Chriſt, hath not yet had its time, and higheſt attainer: we may pray that it may come, as included in this direction of our Lord: thy kingdom come.

But in ſpecial; as that which was moſtly intended by our Lord Chriſt in this direction; was, that the kingdom of God the father, that it may come; being the laſt, and higheſt in glory; when God the father will be all, in all; in kingdom, ſovereignty, and rule; the great Omega. This being that, it is likely, which the voge and ſpirits of the ſervants of God in their deſires and wiſhes, go out after, and that, which their dayly expreſſions are of; as the ſum of all bleſſedneſs, to wit, heaven, and glory; and to be with their heavenly father in glory, in his kingdom, as the uttermoſt of all their deſires. The cloſe of our Lords prayer hath much in this his atteſt: for thine is the kingdom, the Power, and the glory, for ever, and ever Amen: all, in all. He had in the times, and ages of the world, delegated and given kingdoms, and authorities, and powers to others: he hath given unto the Lord Chriſt, kingdom, power, and authority: p. 30he hath made and appointed him, to be king, of kings, and Lord, of Lords, 1. Tim. 6. 15 and he ſhall come, and take to him his great power, and all nations ſerve, and obey him: but when the end of his kingdom is come; he will deliver up all unto his father, and be ſubject unto him himſelf: and the father ſhall take all into his own power, and be all, in all: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever, and ever, Amen: It will be ſo in an eminent manner, then: God the father, his will be the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, and all, in all. Holy Paul hath a like cloſe: he having ſpoken of the rejection of the Jewes, and taking on the Gentils; and the reſtoring of the Jewes again, by the coming of the deliverer out of Sion, when all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved: high myſteries which he admired! and cryed out; O the depth of the riches, both of the wiſdom and knowledge of God! how unſearchable are his Judgements, and his ways paſt finding out! Rom. 11. 33. he cloſes thus, in vers. 36. for of him, and through him, [or by him] and to him, are all things, [to his glory] to him be glory for ever. Amen: for his, is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever, and he ſhall be all, in all.

I further propoſe, as worthy our conſideration; that conſolatory ſpeech of our Lord Chriſt to his diſciples, in Joh. 14. 1. 2. 3. they being much troubled at the thoughts of his departure from them; he ſaith to them; let not your hearts be troubled, ye believe in God, [to wit, the father] ſo is the Creed, I believe in God the father Almighty &c. believe alſo in me. [God the ſon]: that he ſpake of God the father, the words following ſhow: in my fathers houſe: he doth not ſay, in his own houſe or kingdom: but in his fathers houſe. Whether by, houſe, here, be meant the new heaven, and new earth, wherein will be ſeveral degrees of glory? Luk. 19. 15. to 19. 1. Cor. 15. 41 or whether heaven only? or whether both together? to wit, the kingdom of the ſon, and the kingdom of the father? ſo it may ſeem to be; it being a bleſſed eſtate they are to be in, after Chriſt, at his coming, hath received them to himſelf: or whether it be a borrowed way of ſpeaking? I ſhall not determine; but leave it to conſideration. The tendencie is conſolatory to the Diſciples: in my fathers houſe are many manſion places; places of great contentment, happy repoſe, and much bleſſedneſs: I ſhall not venture to allegoriſe this ſaying of our Lord; but rather believe it as it is ſpoken, for that our Lord doth atteſt it, p. 31ſaying, If it were not ſo, I would have told you. There is ſuch proviſion, ſuch bleſſednes, in my fathers houſe: and I go to prepare a place for you. A place: our Lord tells his diſciples, he goeth to prepare for them: not expreſſing where it ſhall be: happily, in his fathers houſe: very great and ſpacious like the maſter of it; the great Jehovah. I go to prepare a place for you: hapily, in his own houſe, or kingdom, which he is one to receive, Luk 19. 12. 15. in the new heaven, and the new earth; where he will dwell, and reſide with his, for a thouſand years, Rev. 20. 6. Further, he ſaith, if I go [or though I go] and prepare a place for you; I will come again, good newes and comfortable; the Lord Chriſt: gone into heaven; will come again:] and receive you to my ſelf, that where I am, there ye may be alſo. Very comfortable, and gladding to all his, that love him, and are ſad for the abſence of him: but ſhall abundantly rejoyce when they ſhall ſee him again, Joh. 16. 22. They ſhall be with him in his kingdom; they ſhall never be ſevered from him, or deprived of his preſence any more, but be for ever with him, 1. Thes. 4. 17. with the which, the ſervants of the Lord Jeſus may comfort themſelves, and one another, as the Apoſtle Paul bids them to do; with the conſiderations of thoſe ſayings.

But where will our Lord Chriſt be then, to wit, when he is come from heaven? may ſome ask? anſwer; he will be in his kingdom: for he is the noble man, that is gone into a far countrey, to receive for himſelf a kingdom, and to return, Luk. 19. 12. And being returned and come again; he will ſend and gather all his elect, to himſelf, and they ſhall then be with him where he is, he prayed ſo to his father afore-hand, Joh. 17. 24. Father, I will, that thoſe that thou haſt given me, be with me where I am that they may behold my glory: which is the ſame with thoſe words, aforemontioned, Joh. 14. 3. I will come again, and receive you to my ſelf, that where I am, there ye may be alſo. If it yet be asked, where our Lord Chriſt will be then? to wit at his coming? we ſay, as before, in his kingdom, in the new earth: where thoſe that are his, ſhall live and reign with him a thouſand years, Rev. 20. 6. The Lord Chriſt hath made thoſe that are his; kings and Preiſts unto God the father, and they ſhall reign on the earth. Rev. 5. 10. he, the Lord Chriſt, when he hath received his kingdom, muſt reign; till the end: and then deliver up to the father. While he ſtays; they ſtay with him; when he goes, they go with him; a higher, and greater attayner of glory, they ſhall proceed unto p. 32then; they ſhall have manſion places prepared; they ſhall ſhine as the ſun, on the fathers kingdom; they ſhall be ſtill with Chriſt: they ſhall drink of the fruit of the vine with him in the fathers kingdom, be it in heaven, or wherever it ſhall be.

The father, and great Lord of the houſe; that good houſeholder will keep the higheſt; and beſt enjoyments, till the laſt: and ſo great it will be; as the eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entred into the heart of man, the things which God [to wit, the father] hath prepared for them that love him: which they, then, ſhall enjoy in his kingdom, when, they ſhall ſhine forth as the ſun, for ever. It is true, in reſpect of the kingdom of the Lord Chriſt, alſo, and the ſaints enjoyments there: it is not manifeſt what we ſhall be for happines and bleſſednes; then, and there, 1. Joh. 3. 2. But higher, and greater, ſhall the ſaints enjoy, and be made partakers of, in the kingdom of the father, when God is all in all. This diſtinction of kingdoms; and gradual way of proceed, from glory, to glory, or to higher, and higher glory; may hapily, ſeem ſtrange to ſome, that think of nothing, but ſtepping into heaven, preſently, when they leave this world; but I ſhall forbear.

CHAP. IX. Something held forth concerning a mixed or interwoven way of ſpeaking in the holy ſcriptures, when the kingdom of God, and of the Lord Chriſt, are ſpoken of.

FOr the better minding and taking knowledge of this matter: I propoſe; how that in ſundry prophecies, and high ſayings, in the old, and new Teſtament, concerning kingdom, and glory, to come; there ſeemeth to be an interwoven or mixed way of ſpeaking: ſome part of the matter, relating to the Lord Chriſt, his kingdom and glory; and ſome part, relating to the kingdom of the father, and the high ſoveraignty and glory, when he ſhall be all, in all: the matter warily minded; it may hapily appear to be ſo: in way of inſtance; we ſhall propoſe a place or two.

That in the 1 Epiſtle to Timothy, Chap. 6. 15. 16. ſeemeth to be ſo, Paul having layd a charge on Timothy, vers. 13. as likewiſe he had done before, chap. 5. 21. And this charge, it being as is ſet forth: p. 33before God, or in the ſight of God, who quickneth all things: and before Jeſus Chriſt, who before Pontius Pilat witneſſed a good confeſſion; that thou keep this commandement, &c. How long, it might be asked? he anſwers, until the appearing of Jeſus Chriſt: vers. 15. Which in his times he ſhall ſhew, [to wit, them himſelf in his glory: for that is a ſure word, and ſhall be made good: the Lord Chriſt, ſhall be manifeſted and ſhewn forth in his times, to be the only potentate, the king of kings, and the Lord of Lords: the words are], Who is the bleſſed, and only potentate; the king of kings, and Lord of Lords, That hath all power in heaven and in earth given unto him of the father, Math. 28. 18. He being highly advanced, far above all principallitie, and power, and might, and dominion; and every name that is named [to wit of power, and dignity] not only in this world, but alſo in that which is to come, Ephes. 1. 21. In the world to come, will his kingdom, and reign be: for that will not be ſubjected to the Angels, Heb. 2. 5. but to the Lord Chriſt, and thoſe he ſhall authorize to rule with him, over ten cities, and over five cities, Luk. 19. 15. 17. 19. When that bleſſed time ſhall take place, when the kingdom of the Lord Chriſt ſhall be come: then the Lord Jeſus, that great potentate, king of kings; ſhall rule and reign in his kingdom, before his antients groriouſly, Iſa. 24. 23. That, this, thus far, is ſpoken of the Lord; there is, I conceive, little doubt, or queſtion, to be made of it.

But that which followeth, in vers. 16. ſeemeth to be ſpoken of God the father, who in vers. 13. of this, 1. Tim. 6. is named the quickner of all things, who only hath immortallitie, &c. The Lord Chriſt, he had no Immortality: the ſcriptures do not attribute that to him: he dyed, he ſuffered, according to the deſign of heaven: he redeemed and purchaſed the Church with his own bloud; Acts. 20. 28. He was humbled to death, even the death of the Croſſe. Phil. 2. 8. and was afterward advanced highly by God the father. It followeth dwelling in the light, which no man can approch unto, whom no man hath ſeen or can ſee: this ſeemeth to be ſpoken of God the father, and is true in him; and is not applicable to the Lord Chriſt; touching whom it is ſaid, we ſaw his glory, as the glory of the only begotten ſon of the father; Joh. 1. 14. Holy Stephen, he ſaw heaven opened, and Jeſus ſtanding at the right hand of God. Acts. 7. 55. Paul likewiſe ſaw him: and it is ſaid, When he cometh in the clouds, every eye ſhall ſee him, Rev. 1. 7.

p. 34But God the father, the great Jehovah, told Moſes he could not ſee him, and in great condeſcenſion ſhewed him his back parts. He is the inviſible God, Col. 1. 15. The holy ſcripture tells us, that no man hath ſeen God [to wit the father] at any time, 1. Joh. 4. 12. 20. His brightneſs is ſo ſerene where he dwelleth, that no mortal, no created eye, is able to approch unto it, or to abide the beholding of it.

But the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who is the Image of the inviſible God: as we have ſeen him, as before is ſaid; ſo we ſhall ſee him, and behold him in his glory, and be with him for ever; as he made it his prayer unto his father, that it might be ſo; When he ſhall again appear, we ſhall then appear with him in glory: and as holy John ſaith, When he ſhall appear we ſhall be like him, for we ſhall ſee him as he is. Joh. 3. 2.

The cloſe of that ſcripture ſeemeth to relate to God the father likewiſe; to whom be honour, and power everlaſting, Amen: the great Omega. That is, and will be all in all.

Further, that of Daniel. 7. Is of like conſideration, vers. 9. likewiſe vers. 22. It ſpeaketh of the ancient of days: God the father: very high things are ſpoken of him: that in vers. 13. One like the ſon of man; ſeemeth clearly to be meant of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Much the ſame, ſeemeth that to be, in Rev. 20. 11. I ſaw a great white throne, and him that ſate thereon, from whoſe face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them: and I ſaw the dead, ſmall, and great, ſtand before God, [to wit, God the father:] it ſeemeth to be ſpoken of him: but that which follows in that verſe relating to the judgment, it is very likely to be meant of the Lord Chriſt, to whom all judgment is committed: all judgment is given to the ſon, by the father; and as Peter ſayth, 1. Pet. 4. 5. That he is ready to judge the quick, and the dead: all muſt appear before his tribunal, and be judged by him: this of judicature, to the end of that 20. chapter, relateth in a tacit way to the Lord Chriſt. That in the ſecond Pſalm, ſeemeth to be of like conſideration: and other ſcriptures, that I ſhall forbear to name: being of an interwoven way and manner of ſpeaking; of the power and dominion of the father, and likewiſe of the ſon, the Lord Chriſt. I ſhall end theſe eſſays, with that prophetical Pſalm of the kingly prophet David, in Pſal. 72. ſpeaking to his ſon Solomon, as the type: but chiefly relating to a higher and greater Solomon, in the antitype, namely, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: very high, and great things are p. 35ſpoken of in that Pſalm concerning the kingdom of our Lord Chriſt, how that in his days, as in vers. 7. The righteous ſhall flouriſh, and abundance of peace ſhall be, ſo long as the Moon endureth, vers. 8. he ſhall have dominion from ſea to ſea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. Then he ſpeaketh of the ſubmiſſion of kings and of their bringing of gifts, ſaying, vers. 11. Yea, all kings ſhall fall down before him: all nations ſhall ſerve him: Then he ſpeaketh of his great kindnes to the poor and needy, and of how high eſteem they ſhall be in his ſight, and how he ſhall take care of them, and do for them; for which he ſhall be dayly praiſed. Vers. 17. It is ſaid, His name ſhall be continued for ever, his name ſhall endure as long as the ſun, and men ſhall be bleſſed in him. And all nations ſhall call him bleſſed.

Great will be the glory of our Lord Chriſt in his kingdom; and when he ſhall come in his glory, and reign in his kingdom; of which there ſeemeth little doubt, but that this Pſalm treateth of it: and bleſſed will they be, that ſhall enjoy their ſhare therein.

But towards the end of the Pſalm, the prophet ſeemeth to turn and addreſſe himſelf to the Author and giver of all this glory and bleſſedneſs, namely, God the father, with the which he cloſeth the Pſalm: and in the two laſt verſes, ſayeth thus; Bleſſed be the Lord God, the God of Iſrael who only doth wondrous things; and bleſſed be his glorious name for ever; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen. With the which he cloſes, as I ſhall alſo theſe eſſayes; referring the whole to the ſerious conſideration of the wiſe in heart.

A MYSTERY:

I. Shewed by holy Paul, That the Saints alive at the Coming of the Lord Chriſt ſhall not then die but be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.

II. Something treated of concerning that change; wherein it will conſiſt; and the Standard or Meaſure of it.

III. That many of the great Prophecies in the Holy Scriptures, do eye that Time, and thoſe Changed People and ſtate; for their Great Fullfilling.

IV. Something held forth concerning the Reſtoration of all things, and the world to come, that ſhall take place when our Lord Chriſt ſhall come again.

V. Of the Great Happineſs of that day, and the Flouriſhing Eſtate the Righteous ſhall then Enjoy: Propoſed to conſideration; With ſundry other things occaſionally Diſcuſſed.

By P. G. B

Joh. 11. 26.

And whoſoever liveth and believeth in me [to wit, in Chriſt at his coming] ſhall never die; believeſt thou this?

Pſa. 31. 19.

O how great is thy goodneſs which thou haſt laid up for them that fear thee, which thou haſt prepared for them that truſt in thee, before the ſons of men!

Joh. 20. 29.

Bleſſed are they that have not ſeen me, yet have believed.

Printed in the Year, 1675.