Good Things to Come, To the reader 2 – Part 2
To the READER.
THou haſt here offered to thy view and conſideration, that, which few haply have much minded; though it be a very great thing: a miſtery, no leſs: and that, which it is likely will be found as a key that will help to open divers great prophecies and high ſayings in the holy Scriptures, which ſome have been very ready to allegorize and put ſome notion of a ſpiritual meaning on them; as if that were all: whereby they have drawn a veil over them; rendring them another thing. This miſtery, it relateth to the very time of the ſecond coming of the Lord Chriſt; when thoſe ſervants of God, believing in Jeſus, ſhall be changed, in a moment, without dying: they ſhall put off corruption and mortallity; and put on incorruption, immortality, and everlaſting life, and be rechanged into their former ſtate as man was before his fall: and, it is very likely, they will be the bleſſed inhabitants of the world to come: and ſuch as ſhall inherit and dwell in the new earth. Conſider of it, and what is offered about it; it may be very true, though thou doſt not underſtand it: or at firſt reſent it. Remember how it was with the diſciples of our Lord Chriſt, Luk. 18. 31. 34. our Lord told them, vers. 31. of what he was to ſuffer, and that all things that were written by the prophets concerning the ſon of man, ſhould be fulfilled: and that at Jeruſalem he ſhould be ſpitefully dealt withall, &c. and delivered to the gentiles: as they did. vers. 34. it is ſaid, they underſtood none of thoſe things; & theſe ſayings were hid from them: neither knew they the things that were ſpoken: in like manner, our Lord Chriſt, the Apoſtles, and prophets, have ſpoken and declared many things, concerning his coming again in power and great glory; and that every eye ſhall ſee him. They have ſpoken of very many great things that wlll contemporize and take place then and amongſt them; in particular, this miſtery ſhewed by the Apoſtle Paul, of the not aying of the ſervants of God, but being changed, whilſt alive, and put into their former happy eſtate which was loſt in Adam: but many of the ſervants of God, and followers of the Lord Chriſt underſtand none of thoſe things, and the ſaying is hid from them, and they know it not. Haply, it may be even ſo, in this our day; and in particular concerning this miſtery, this being changed whileſt alive; in a moment. It is likely, it may be better reſented and underſtood hereafter, and therefore I ſhall leave it to the giver of light and underſtanding, to give forth as he ſhall pleaſe. The day haſteneth: the time it draweth nigh; he that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry. In the mean time, the juſt ſhall live by faith, Farewell.
P. G. B.