Good Things to Come, Title page 1 – To the reader 1
GOOD THINGS TO COME. OR, A Setting forth ſome of the Great Things that will Contemporize and take place, when our Lord Chriſt ſhall come again, mentioned in the holy Scriptures.
I. As the reſurrection and raiſing of the dead to live again: with the order of it.
II. The reign of our Lord Chriſt here on earth, and for how long; namely, till he hath ſubjected all his enemies, and put them under his feet.
III. The reſigning and delivering up the kingdom by the Lord Chriſt unto the father of whom he received it.
IV. Of God the Father, then becoming all, in all, in Dominion, power, and rule, the great Omega.
V. Of the kingdome of the father, Succeeding that ſurrender and giving up by the Lord Chriſt, and ſomething the holy Scriptures intimate concerning the ſame, with ſundry other things treated of by way of eſſay from 1 Cor. 15.
The Second Part. Containing the propoſing of that great Myſtery ſhewed by holy Paul, 1. Cor. 15. 53. That the Saints then alive ſhall not die but be changed, with ſomething concerning the Reſtoration and world to come, and New Earth, which at the coming again of our Lord, will take place. By P. G. B
1 Cor. 2. 9.
Eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither hath entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Joh. 16. 22.
But I will ſee you again, and your heart ſhall rejoyce, and your joy no man taketh from you.
1 Theſſ. 5. 21.
Prove all things: hold faſt that which is good.
LONDON, Printed, in the Year, 1675.
To the READER.
HEre is offered to thy view and conſideration, ſome of thoſe great good things to come; which will take place at the coming of the Lord Chriſt in power and great glory: the certaintie of them is great: the faithfulneſs of God is engaged to make them good, and his power none can queſtion: for encouragement to hope and wait patiently until the appointed time come of their fulfilling: they were collected together, and ſet forth alſo; and likewiſe that the further knowledge and underſtanding of them might take place, and the vails removed that hinders the breaking forth of the light thereof. The time haſteneth; the day draweth nigh; ſome further light would be very comfortable to the bleſſed expectances of his coming. It is expected that the making of it publike, will be differently reſented; ſome it may be will diſlike it, or ſomething in it, as fabulous; ſome haply will decry it, as holding forth ſomething erroneous; ſome, that thoſe things are not ſo neceſſary for theſe times; others, it is likely, may be well pleaſed and glad of them; and being ſuch things as they have not thought of, will conſider ſoberly of them, and it may be ſome fruit may follow for the further advancing the knowledge of the coming of the Lord Chriſt and his kingdom, and all thoſe great things ſpoken of in the ſcriptures of truth, that ſhall come and take place at that happy day. Though there ſeems much in the ſpirits of ſome againſt it; yet notwithſtanding the further knowledge of theſe things gets ground, and is much on the ſpirits and hearts of many of the good ſervants of God and lovers of the Lord Jeſus, whom nothing pleaſeth more, and maketh their hearts glad and joyful, then to hear of the coming of their dear ſaviour again; and it is likely, it will be ſo, more and more, as the day thereof draweth nigh; ſomething of the good ſpirits of God in the bride, will cauſe this deſire, and cauſe it to grow higher and higher: the ſpirit and the bride, will ſay come: oh come Lord Jeſus come quickly: this matter was much on the ſpirits of the bleſſed ſervants of God of old, as the Apoſtle Peter tells us, in 1. Pet. 1. 10. 11. who comprehenſively ſpeaking of the great ſalvation, not only in the beginnings, but alſo in the full and final compleating of it, ſayth, Of which ſalvation the prophets have enquired and ſearched diligently, &c. Searching what, or what manner of time, &c. They ſearched, what, about the ſufferings and glory; and what manner of time. 1ſt. In regard of his coming in the ſtate of humiliation to ſuffer, And 2ly. His coming in glory to reign: the ſpirit of Chriſt in them did ſignifie, declare, and ſhow, aforehand, the ſufferings of the Lord Chriſt, which they alſo declared afore hand, and they came all to paſſe: and the glory that ſhould follow after; which is yet to come, and looked for by the ſervants of God, and ſhall be made good as the others were, when our Lord ſhall come in the glory of his father, and of all the holy Angels. And as the prophets of God in the old teſtament, and the Apoſtle Peter ſince in the new (as in the laſt mentioned ſcripture, and in Acts 3. 18. to 21. 1 Pet. 4. 13. chap. 5. 4. 2. 13. 14.) have ſpoken of, and looked for his great ſalvation: ſo, the Apoſtle Paul, and John, have therein likewiſe told, of the great things, that will attend and take place, at the time of that glorious coming of our Lord: when he appeareth, we alſo ſhall appear with him in glory, Col. 3. 4. Be like him, and ſee him as he is, John. 3. 2. ſhall not only behold his glory and admire him, but be alſo glorifyed and admired in them. 2 The. 1. 10. ſhall be ever with him, 1 The. 4. 17. His tabernanacle with them, and he dwelling amongſt them: they ſhall be his people, and God himſelf ſhall be with them, and be their God, Rev. 21. 3. And being made kings and Preiſts unto God, by Chriſt, ſhall reign with him upon the earth, Rev. 5. 10. Rev. 20. 4. 5. 6. The bleſſed Reſtoration or reſtitution of all things; a new heaven and a new earth (very heavenly): and all things made new. Acts. 3. 19. 20. 21. Rev. 21. 1. 5. True and faithful ſayings: in the general, or for the matter of them, foretold and confirmed by our Lord himſelf, before his death; as in ſeveral places in the four Evangeliſts; and alſo more particularly and plainly ſince his reſurrection and aſcention, as in this book of the Revelation, which is his, Rev. 1. 1. and given him by God the father to communicate to his ſervants for their joy and comfort; likewiſe, then, and there, that bleſſed potentate, king of kings, and Lord of Lords, the Lord Jeſus, ſhall reign gloriouſly; and the kingdom, and dominion, and greatneſs of the kingdom under the whole heaven, ſhall come into the hands of the ſaints of the moſt high God, as Daniel hath foretold, Dan. 7. 27. Dan. 2. 44. alſo Chriſt himſelf, and John, as is before mentioned. In the world to come, after the burning and deſtroying of this 2. Pet. 3. 7. to 13. will this it is very likely take place; when the righteous will flouriſh indeed, and be happy: as now they may comfortably rejoyce in hope of the glory of God: for then, there will be no more curſe: [neither in reſpect of the creation, nor the throne of the beaſt or Antichriſt] but the throne of God, and of the lamb ſhall be in it, and his ſervants ſhall ſerve him, to the fulfilling of Rev. 22. 3.
There are ſome general notions, and common ſayings amongſt perſons religious, and profeſſing much love to the Lord Chriſt, and deſire of the advancement of his glory, both here and hereafter, and yet they do greatly obſtruct and hinder the advance of the knowledge of his coming.
The firſt obſtruction we mention, is a decrying of it as a thing not orthodox, but a thing newly ſtarted up or revived: the Milleniant Tenent, which they that are orthodox meddle not with: it is much to hear any that profeſſe love to the Lord Jeſus, to ſpeak ſo at this time of the day: and to fright themſelves, and others with ſuch a bugbear, and thereby to hinder themſelves, and others, from ſearching or making enquiry into the ſcriptures concerning the good things to come: whenas ſome have outlived the notions and wayes they counted orthodox; and have cloſed with, and adhered unto, in notion and practice, the things they counted heterodox, and it may be, they may do ſo again. This fallacie of being orthodox, is but an aiery notion: a name only: the religious tenents, and practiſes ſetled by power, in any nation or countrey are orthodox there, where they are ſo ſetled; and all other diſſonant tenents to the eſtabliſhment are counted heterodox, though they be never ſo right tenents: the Papiſts will ſo decry the Proteſtants of all kinds, the Proteſtants do the like, and will when they are ſetled by power decry as heterodox the Papiſt; and every different party amongſt all ſorts of Chriſtians, are apt to baptize their own opinion as orthodox, and all diſſenters as heterodox, and the diſſenter will do the like back again; ſo as in effect this bugbear ſignifieth nothing at all but is as a ſhaddow. Another thing obſtructing is a common notion, and ſpeaking inconſideratly of the world to come, of which the holy ſcriptures ſpeaks, Heb. 2. 5. As that which ſball take place, when this world ſball give place, be burned, and be no more, which by many is quite overlooked; and by ſome counted as heaven above: as if nothing was to be here below, after the burning and end of this world, but heaven and being in heaven. Nay, in common ſpeaking ſome tell of going to heaven before this world have an end; not taking notice of the world to come at all: and very hardly admitting it to be any other thing, then heaven above, as was ſaid before; by which notion and ſpeaking, they make void & inſignificant, much of the holy ſcriptures, and the ſayings of the Lord Chriſt, the Apoſtles and prophets therein, as concerning things to come. And to help in the caſe, they adventure to allegorize, and put ſpiritual meanings on plain prophecyes, propheſying thereby themſelves, inſtead of believing and receiving the ſayings of the prophets; though the prophets declared nothing but what God commanded them to ſpeak and declare. And in like manner they do by the holy viſions of John and others; declared and ſet forth in the holy ſcriptures; whereby the minds of perſons are diverted and taken off, from ſearching into the prophecies and looking out after the good things to come, and from the believing of them any otherwiſe, then they conceive they will ſute with heaven, and the ſtate of heaven above. So as the coming again of our Lord Chriſt, the coming of his kingdom, and his will done on earth as in heaven; which himſelf hath ſo greatly foretold, witneſſed to, and exhorted his ſervants to pray for, Math. 6. 10. The bleſſed reſtoration of all things, when he ſhall be ſent again, ſpoken of by Peter, Acts. 3. 19. 20. 21. The creatures deliverance from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the ſons of God, called the adoption, or redemption of the body, which they who have the firſt-fruits of the ſpirit [viz. the hints of the glory thereof upon their ſpirits] and the whole creation, by a ſecret inſtinct, are ſaid to groan, travel in pain and wait to be delivered into, Rom. 8. 21. 22. 23. The new heaven, and new earth, and all things made new: the true and faithful ſayings, which our Lord Chriſt ſent and ſignified by his Angel to his ſervant John, The reading, hearing, keeping whereof, hath the promiſe of a bleſſing annexed to it, equal with, if not beyond any other part of the holy ſcriptures, Rev. 1. 1. 3. with very many things more that might be mentioned, will ſignifie little or nothing; but as they are made by ſome to hold forth ſome attainer, or enjoyment in heaven above.
Another hindrance of the knowledge, and looking out after the great good things to come, and which takes the mindes of perſons from ſearching and looking out after them, is a narrow notion, received and held forth upon little ground but tradition, namely, that the Lord Chriſt will come at the day of judgement, to judge the quick and the dead, according to that ſhort ſummary in the Creed: and in, and under this, is by ſome, wrapped up, all the things ſpoken of in the ſcriptures, concerning the ends of his coming again; without taking any notice of them at all; ſo as if you ſpeak of Chriſt our Lord, coming in glory to take unto him his great power and to ſet up his kingdom, and to reign in the midſt of his enemies, and to break them in peices as a potters veſſel, Pſal. 2. 9. Rev. 2. 26. 27. And his being admired at, by and in them that believe, when they ſee his glory, 2. Thes. 1. 10. Rom. 8. 17. 18. As the diſciples, that our Lord told of the ſufferings he was to accompliſh at Jeruſalem, Luk. 18. 31. to 34. It is ſayd, they underſtood none of thoſe things; and thoſe ſayings were hid from them: ſo in like manner, ſpeak now of the great things that will take place when the Lord Chriſt ſhall come again, in his glory, and they underſtand none of theſe things; and theſe things are hid from them: and they underſtand nothing, but Chriſt our Lord his coming to judgement; and that they ſeem to minde as a tranſcient thing, and not a ſet, ſolemn, and formal thing; a real judicature; and incline to think, it will be in heaven rather then here below on earth: ſpeaking as if they thought that the Lord Chriſt will but come to the Clouds, and then return again to heaven. Thus as the former notion concerning the world to come, ſo theſe in their notions, do make inſignificant much of the holy Scriptures, as if written in vain, unleſſe allegorized, or making them ſpeak out ſome ſpiritual meaning, which is put upon them; with the which, ſome pleaſe and content themſelves, without further enquiry or looking out after our Lords coming, and the good things that ſhall attend the ſame; otherwiſe then heaven above, as is ſaid before. Whereas, if the Scriptures be well minded and conſidered, it will plainly appear, that many, if not moſt of the exhortations in the new teſtament, to believe, to repent, to add to faith vertue, &c. To grow in grace, and ſo all other duties towards God, and man; are, from the conſideration, of the great glory and happineſs, that is to be brought to, and enjoyed by the ſaints, at the fore mentioned, glorious coming and kingdom of Chriſt, here upon earth; and not ſo much from the conſideration of the glory of heaven above; ſave only as it is in the laſt place comprehended therein, and to be enjoyed by them, to wit, after the laſt judgement here upon the earth is ended, and our Lord Chriſt hath delivered up the kingdom to God the father.
There are yet other hindrances, of which briefly. Some ſay, it is a controverſie, and they do not care to meddle with controverſies: what doth this ſignifie? at our Lords firſt coming, it was a controverſie among the people, whether he was the Chriſt or no? ſome ſaid, he was; others denied it, and ſaid he was a deceiver, and thoſe deceived, that did own him; have any of the rulers, or phariſes belived on him? but this people who know not the law, are curſed. Joh. 7. 48. 49. John ſent to him to know, art thou he that ſhould come? or do we look for another? Indeed, ſo great a thing, and of ſo high concernment, as the coming of the Saviour, vailed, and ſo much oppoſed; ſhould make men to ſearch, and ſeek into it the more, leſt haply they be found at a loſſe when be comes.
And yet further, ſome ſay and upon that account look not after it, but let it alone: namely, That the ancient fathers, and ſome add, the modern Divines, were not for it, but rather againſt our Lord Chriſt his coming, to ſet up his kingdom and reign here on earth: this is taken for granted, though very queſtionable, and not likely to be true; which if it were, what doth it ſignifie? little or nothing at all: the high Preiſt, and elders were againſt Chriſt, and the Goſpel; do any of the Prieſts, or rulers believe on him? They did not then, and if they do not now or have not done what doth it avail?
But notwithſtanding all before ſaid, of the obſtructions, the knowledge of it increaſeth, and is very likely ſo to do; till that be made good, that the Goſpel of the kingdom, [and coming again of the Lord Chriſt to reign] be preached to all nations, then ſhall the end come, Math. 24. 14. great things will attend that great day: and though now it is dark and hidden, it will come to be preached on the houſe top, and received and entertained more and more; as it begins to be, being as the preſent truth of the day, and that which is much on the ſpirits of many of the good ſervants of the Lord, who look for the return of their Lord, and are in great expectation, like good old Simeon who waited for the conſolation of Iſrael, and was glad, and greatly ſatisfied, when he had ſeen the Saviour: as thoſe bleſſed expectants now will be with the ſignes of his coming: and much more when they ſhall ſee him come in the clouds of heaven; when they will be changed in a moment, and caught up to meet him, when he cometh, when he cometh; Fully to take unto him his great power, and to reign: at which, the nations will then be fully angry, Rev. 11. 17. 18. when he cometh to judge the world in righteouſneſs, and the people with his truth, Pſal. 96. 13. when he cometh to be glorified in his Saints, and to be admired in, and by all them that believe, 2. Theſſ. 1. 10. when he cometh in flaming fire, to render vengeance, &c. as in vers. 8. when he cometh to make inquiſition for blood, Pſal. 9. 12. to wit, the blood of the righteous, from Abel, to that day, ſhed by cruel and envious ones, and wicked oppreſſers on the earth, Rev. 16. 6. Rev. 18. 24. that cry, will be a ſad tone to the wicked, and will make them ſhake and tremble; Pſal. 96. 13. for he cometh for he cometh to judge the world with righteouſneſs &c. as on the other hand, it will be gladſom to the Saints; they may lift up their heads and hearts with joy: for their redeemer, their redemption and full bleſſedneſs is at the very door.
If theſe propoſalls, and eſſays come into the hands of the learned, their favourable cenſure is deſired, and that they would overlook any failer if in want of art and well dreſſing the matter; or over often mentioning of of things, called tautologie, which could not well be avoided, the things relating to Chriſt his kingdom and coming having ſo many great things and various attending of them. And beſides, thoſe for whom this principally was intended, and made common, may not have that acuteneſs; but what they may want that way; they have in love and affection, in zeal and readineſs to receive and embrace the truth at all times. In the time of our Lord Chriſts being here, they owned him; the poor, then, received the Goſpel; when thoſe of higher rank ſtood at a diſtance, and rather made oppoſition. The Apoſtles were men of low rank; fiſher-men, and the like; yea, the women were very forward in the then owning our Lord Chriſt, and great lovers of him; and ſuch as our Lord Chriſt being riſen, firſt appeared unto; and made them meſſengers to the Apoſtles, to inform them of that great truth, of his being riſen again from the dead: his way is ſo, to make men humble, that they might learn not to diſpiſe the day of ſmall beginnings or things. Conſult the holy hiſtories, and the hiſtories down, and ſince: the histories of France, Germany, the Waldenſes and others; and it is likely, as it hath been ſo; it will be found ſtill; not but that ſometimes God annoints perſons of higher rank, and maketh known his mind unto them, and makes uſe of them; but it ſeemeth not to be his ordinary method, but the contrary.
If any advantage by the things propoſed come to any, either for the furthering of their knowledge, or their being encouraged to believe, hope, and wait for their fulfilling; the propoſer of them, will think himſelf well appaied: read, and conſider well of what thou readest; nothing is impoſed on thee: try all things, hold faſt that which is good.
Farewell,
P. G. B.