Good Things to Come, Part 2 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Containing the propoſal to conſideration, the great reſtoration of all things ſpoken of by the Prophets; and the happy change that ſhall then attend man, and the earth, and the creatures therein: when Jeſus Chriſt ſhall be ſent the ſecond time, and the world to come take place. With ſundry great and high Prophecies ſet forth, that ſeem to hold forth the ſame.
THe bleſſed reſtoration of all things, Which God hath ſpoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets ſince the world began, Acts. 3. 20. 21. The firſt creation, and making of all things, Gen. 1. may be minded; as the Image and figure, according to which the reſtitution or reſtoration will be a returning again into the ſame mode and figure, ſtate and condition they were in at their firſt making and framing by God himſelf: liked and teſtified to be very good: which Adam by ſin and tranſgreſſion greatly marred and disfigured; ſin and the curſe following; and all manner of woe and miſery following, as the effect followeth its cauſe.
What holy Moſes hath writ concerning the creation of man, and of the earth, and of the creatures therein, together with the gathering together of the waters. What is ſaid and teſtified by the Lord almighty the maker of them all; concerning the goodneſs of them, and his liking of them; the teſtimony given is very high, vers. 31. and God ſaw all that he had made, and behold, it was very good. The weighing and conſideratien whereof; will be a good coppy to write by; a good pattern or ſample, for us to ſet before us in order to our better taking knowledge of it.
Gen. 1. We have a deſcription of the making the world day by day; and the making of man as the moſt principal piece of the earthly creation: vers. 26. and God ſaid, let us make man in our own Image, vers. 27. ſo God created man in his own Image, in the Image of God created he him, male and female created he them. And vers. 26. God bleſſed them, [ſo made, in that marvelous condition] and ſaid, be fruitfull and multiplie, and repleniſh the earth, and ſubdue it; having the grant of power given before, vers. 26. a very large grant a great charter of power, given of God to man, in his innocent ſtate, before his fall, and tranſgreſſion; and the loſſe he and his poſteritie, and the whole earthly creation received thereby: upon the whole, it is ſaid, vers. 31. and God ſaw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good.
The reſtoration it will be proportionable, and alſo very good. Adam ſo made was a very choice piece: in the Image of God, and in the likenes of God: of great rectitude marvellous complete and happy: by his tranſgreſſion and diſobedience, he ſuffered great loſſe and damage; as did his poſterity, and the whole earthly creatures, and great enmitie attended them; and much thraldom and miſerie.
But at the happy time of our Lord Chriſt being ſent from heaven again, then there will be a bleſſed reſtitution and reſtoration of all things. Then ſhall many be rechanged, in a moment for the better; as he was before for the worſe: then ſhall that miſtery holy Paul hath ſhewed, take place. Then this vile body, ſinfull and corrupt, ſhall be rechanged, and made like his glorious body; according to that full and clear teſtimony of holy Paul, Phil. 3. 20. 21. from heaven we look for the ſaviour, the Lord Jeſus, who ſhall change our vile body, that it may be faſhioned like unto his glorious body: pure, ſerene, and glorious, without ſpot, or wrinkle, or any ſuch thing: as he will make his Church then alſo: and this by changing, in a moment, by putting off and putting on putting off corruption and ſin; and putting on purity, incorruption and holineſs, as it is written, 1. Cor. 15. 53. 54. holy Paul, tells us further, 1. Theſ. 4. 16. of the Lord Chriſt himſelf, [in his own perſon he] ſhall deſcend from heaven: he did aſcend as an Angel, Acts. 1. 11. told the beholders, and lookers after him, when he ſo aſcended, and ſaid, this Jeſus, which is taken up from you into heaven, ſhall ſo come in like manner, as ye have ſeen him go into heaven. Even the ſame Jeſus Chriſt, as teſtifieth the Apoſtle, Ephes. 4. 9. he ſhall again deſcend, when God ſhall ſend him again; at the time of the reſtitution of all things; and then ſhall thoſe believers found alive, be changed in a moment into their former happy ſtate, with ſome happy additions of bleſſednes.
The old man, ſo called, which the ſervants of God are bidden to put off, Eph. 4. 22. Which in this day of regeneration believers have been ſubduing, and crucifying, by the exerciſe of mortification and ſanctification of the ſpirit, and yet carry it to the grave with them; they ſhall then be wholy rid of it: in a moment, in the twinking of an eye, and ſhall then put on the new man indeed, and be clothed very glorious, by being ſo changed; all new then, relating to the ſervants of God; as he from the throne, ſaid, Rev. 21. 5. Behold, I make all things new: a new heaven, a new earth, a new Jeruſalem, come down from heaven, a new covenant, new bodyes, new hearts and ſpirits, new creatures; all things new.
Adams upright, and perfect condition as a man; and the goodneſs of the earth, and the creatures therein, liked by God himſelf when he viewed them, after he had made them: is it is likely the ſtandard and pattern according to which the reſtoration will be; as it was at firſt before mans fall; and the entring the curſe, ſo it is very like to be in the reſtoration.
In regard of man as man, the change in a moment will effect it. In that happy time, when man will not only be, as at his firſt creating: but enjoy ſome bleſſed additions to his happy eſtate: namely, ſtability therein, immortalitie, and life everlaſting: the high enjoyment of the preſence of God, and the Lord Chriſt, high intereſt in the new covenant, and more of the ſpirit and grace of the ſaviour, then Adam ever had, and that for evermore.
But there is ſomething further conſiderable: man was made, male and female; in the image of God they were created ſo. And was made with ſeed in him, whereby to propagate poſteritie: he had a wiſe given him of God; for that, it was not good for him to be alone. A woman, or female, ſuitable unto him, was formed out of him, in a wonderful wiſe; and they were bidden to multiply and repleniſh the earth, and ſubdue it. and God made nothing in vain. He had, no queſtion, in his innocent eſtate, if he had continued in it, and not fell from it, generated and repleniſhed the earth; as he did after, in his fallen condition; being bidden to do ſo before: in order to what will be at the reſtoration and change, in that moment, at our Lord his coming; the ſcripture ſeemeth ſilent in it, and ſo I ſhall be likewiſe till time diſcover further; or that day it ſelf declare. I ſhall only intimate to prevent prejudice; that I do not in the leaſt intend the including of the raiſed ones, or children of the reſurrection, in the caſe before ſpoken of; their condition ſeeming much to differ from that of the changed alive, then; it is ſaid by our Lord, Math. 22. 30. That in the reſurrection, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the Angels of God in heaven: but the changed alive; will be men and women (as Adam, and Eve were in their firſt eſtate) ſuch, by whom that happy world to come will be begun and peopled: as that firſt world would have been, if Adam had not fell. The old world was ſo after Adams fall; and how the new world to come will be? ſome way or how it will be it is likely, I ſhall ſay no more. Further it is intimated, that the ſeperate condition of man is not in the leaſt medled with; but man intire; as he will be at his being changed; at the reſtoration of all things.
Having made this digreſſion; I premiſe one or two things more, namely, that the reſtoration and changing in a moment, it will be here below on earth: it will be from this old corrupt earth under the curſe, to that new: which God will create; wherein will dwell bleſſing: which we according to the promiſe look for, at that happy day.
And that by the world to come, ſpoken of in the holy ſcriptures, in which this reſtoration will take place, is not meant of heaven above, but a ſtate here below on earth: and that to take it for heaven properly, or underſtand it ſo, is to offer loſſe to the holy ſcriptures; and that which in effect renders inſignificant, and makes void what is ſaid in them, concerning the reſtoration of all things; the change, in a moment; the new earth; with all things made new, by him ſitting on the throne; with very many other things that might be mentioned.
And laſtly, I premiſe, that the Iſraelites, the ſeed of Abraham, Iſaack, and Jacob; will be the people highly concerned, and cheif in this reſtoration, and change: the twelve thouſand of every tribe of Iſrael: and that their land, the land of promiſe, will ſhare, in a principal wiſe, in that happy reſtoration and change; and in a likely way; be the center of the new earth. We ſhall now return to the matter we had under conſideration before; namely, man conſidered according to propagation and off-ſpring. How acceptable to ſome, the propoſing of it will be, I know not: but it will be ſome way neceſſary, in order to the better minding and taking knowledge of ſundrie high prophecies that ſeem to look that way, and to relate to that day. Firſt, that, Iſa. 59. 20. 21. the coming of the redeemer to Sion; of which we treated before, it relateth, as to the full fulfilling of it, to that happy day, of the changing in a moment, and the bleſſed reſtoration of all things then. See what followeth, vers. 21. as for me, this is my covenant with them, ſaith the Lord [to wit, with the Iſraelites the ſeed of Abraham] my ſpirit that is upon thee, [it is not ſaid, in thee; but upon thee; a very glorious unnoynting then; like that, Zech. 4. 14. ſuch a kind of annoynting it is likely will be then, on the changed people; it followeth] and the words I have put in thy mouth, [Whether Gods law in their hearts, or the joyfull tone of the Goſpel and tidings of great joy, or the new Song of praiſe and thanksgiving to the lamb, for the great grace and bleſſedneſs enjoyed Pſal. 40. 3. it may be conſidered; the latter, very likely: Rev. 5. 12. 13. it followeth] nor out of the mouth of thy ſeeds ſeed, from henceforth, [As I conceive, from the time of the redeemers coming the ſecond time, and from henceforth, as to the fulneſs of is] and for ever. Of great duration, when once begun. Whither this be the ſame Covenant with that Ier. 31. 31. may be conſidered; Or whether it will be another that will take place with that happy day, and ſo forward, for ever: I will make no aſſay to declare: but that it relateth, as to the utmoſt fulfilling of it, to that bleſſed time of the reſtoration; and that it implieth ſeed and generation then, and ſeeds ſeed for ever: ſeemeth very likely; and that it may probably relate to the changed people, of whom we have ſpoken; and the rather, if we minde that that followeth, in Iſa. 60. being the very ſame prophecy carried on; where Iſrael is bidden, to ariſe, and ſhine; when Gods ſpirit, or annoynting is upon them: they will then ſhine gloriouſly; as Moſes ſhined when he had been in the mount with God. Then their light will be fully come, and the glory of the Lord will be riſen upon them, and the gentiles will ſee it, &c. For great will be their glory: ſee the whole chapter; and that in the cloſe, where it is ſaid, a little one, ſhall become a thouſand, and a ſmall one, a ſtrong nation, hapily, by generation; for then, will be no converſion to increaſe: ſo further, Chap. 61. 8. 9. The Lord ſayeth, I will make an everlaſting Covenant with them, and their ſeed ſhall be known among the people; all that ſee them, ſhall acknowledge them, that they are the ſeed that the Lord hath bleſſed. What time this eyeth, as to its full fulfilling, conſult the 2d. and 3d. verſes: minde the whole, and in particular the two laſt verſes: it eyeing that time, when the Lord Chriſt ſhall appear, and his, ſhall appear with him in glory. Col. 3. 4. Chap. 65. Where the New Heaven and the new earth are foretold, and promiſed, vers. 17. for behold I create a new heaven, and a new earth: the old ſhall paſſe away, and be changed as a veſture, Pſal. 102. 26. They ſhall alſo be forgotten, and not remembred: amongſt the many things there held forth, vers. 23. It is ſayd, they ſhall not labour in vain, nor bring forth [to wit, children] for trouble: for they are the ſeed of the bleſsed of the Lord, and their off-ſpring with them. There are other things in the chapter, as to the full fulfilling of them, relating to that time of the reſtoration, when our Lord ſhall again come from heaven, which may be mentioned after. Take we further knowledge of that, Iſai. 11. 6. That very high prophecy, in order to the reſtoration of all things: ſpeaking in the former part, of the Lord Chriſt, and the happineſs then: vers. 6. He ſayeth, the woolf ſhall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard ſhall lie down with the kidd; and the calfe, and the young lion, and the fatling together, and a little child ſhall lead them vers. 7. And the cow and the bear ſhall feed; their young ones ſhall lie down together, and the lion ſhall eat ſtraw like the Oxe. Vers. 8. And the ſucking child ſhall play on the hole of the Aſp: and the weaned child ſhall put his hand on the cockatrice Den. And as it is ſayd, vers. 9. none ſhall hurt or deſtroy then; no not theſe devouring creatures, at that happy time of the reſtoration of all things: the prophecy is very high: that we have mentioned. And that which followeth, ſpeaks forth a wonderful change in the creature; and that their hurtfulnes, and devouring nature, will then be taken away, by the reſtoration; and they made harmleſſe, as at their firſt making; ſo as that will then be that followeth, vers. 9. They ſhall not hurt nor deſtroy, [not theſe in the new earth] in all my holy mountain. But as to that of ſeed, and offspring, then: here is a little child and a ſucking child; here is a weaned childe, very likely to be ſuch then; at that happy time of the reſtoration, and change: when the groaning creatures, under their preſent bondage, ſhall be freed, and be delivered into the glorious liberty of the ſons of God, Rom. 8. 21. which as they are capable they ſhall enjoy and be made partakers of. That of Ezekiel, is very conſiderable, Ezek. 36. 37. Ezek. 37. 25. Speaking concerning their dwelling in their own land: the land of promiſe to Abraham: he ſayth thus, And ye ſhall dwell in the land, I have given to Jacob my ſervant, wherein your fathers have dwelt, and they ſhall dwell therein, even they and their children, and their childrens children, for ever. And my ſervant David ſhall be their prince for ever. Veri. 27. I will make a covenant of peace with them, and multiply them, and ſet my ſanctuary in the midſt of them, for evermore. Was there ever ſuch a thing? ſuch an attayner by Iſraelites ſince Ezekiels time? or is there like to be, ſhort of that day, any ſuch full fulfilling, as may anſwer what he hath ſaid? the Jewiſh monarchy, or kingdom of ſtone, which ſome are ſtrong in their thoughts for, as having much of ſcripture for it, as they judge, which I ſhall not meddle with here: it is reckoned ſhort: but for forty or five and forty years: will that amount to make good to the full, what he hath ſaid? they ſhall dwell in it, and their children, and their childrens children for ever. And hath David, Gods ſervant (to wit, Chriſt) been, or is he in his perſon, like to be a prince or ruler in this old world for ever? is it not more like to be in the world to come, in the day of the reſtoration? let the wiſe in heart conſider.
Having held forth ſomething concerning the reſtoration and change of man, and the creatures, according to what is held forth in the holy ſcriptures, and the prophecyes therein conteyned: it may be neceſſary to take a little notice, and ſee what is ſpoken concerning the place where they will have their aboad and being then, at the reſtoration: The prophet Iſaiah, chap. 65. 17. He tells us of a new earth: for behold I create a new heaven, and a new earth; for which the ſervants of God in the verſe following, are bidden to be glad and rejoyce. Holy Peter, likewiſe tells us, 2. Pet. 3. 13. That we according to his promiſe, look for a new heaven, and a new earth, wherein ſhall dwell righteouſnes; to wit, righteous men, and things. Holy John he tells us, Rev 21. 1. Of a new heaven, and a new earth, which he ſaw. This newnes it will be by a reſtoration and change. Pſal. 102. 27. ſpeaking of the old; he ſayth, they ſhall periſh and wax old as a garment, as a veſture ſhalt thou change them, and they ſhall be changed: and, as before made new; for the ſervants of God, the ſeed of Abraham, to inhabit and dwell in for they ſhall be changed and continue, and dwell there: ſee vers. 28. It ſeemeth to be prophetical and ſpeaks out much; the children of thy ſervants ſhall continue, and their ſeed ſhall be eſtabliſhed before thee. Even in the new earth; for till then they ſhall continue to make good the prophecy: then ſhall that be made good in the new earth, Iſa. 60. 21. Thy people ſhall be all righteous, they ſhall inherit the land for ever. This planting, it will be of God himſelf, for his own glory: the changed in a moment, will be ſuch righteous ones: a bleſſed plantation indeed, where no polluter or polluted, ſhall enter or be found, Rev. 21. 27. There ſhall in no wiſe enter into it, any thing that defileth: the meek, they ſhall inherit the earth. Math. 5. 5.
The reſtoration will effect great things for the better, as Adam his ſin and tranſgreſſion, did for the worſe; which will be removed and done away: it was ſaid by the Lord, Gen. 3. 17. 18. 19. Curſed is the earth (or ground) for thy ſake, in ſorrow ſhalt thou eat thereof all the dayes of thy life: thorns, and thiſtles ſhall it bring forth; in the ſweat of thy face ſhalt thou eat bread till thou return to the ground, &c. A very ſore curſe and puniſhment; a change greatly for the worſe; it not being ſo before: as it will not be then; when the reſtoration takes place, and the change for the better, ſo greatly: all things made new and reſtored as at firſt.
The curſe taken off, no curſe there then, Rev. 22. 3. as now; none of the bitter fruits of tranſgreſſion and the curſe, that attended man and the creatures: as ſorrow and pain, ſickneſs and want, hard labour, and toyl for bread: barrenneſs of the earth, and thorns, and thiſtles, and want of all good things: all removed and taken away with the curſe, at this happy reſtoration of all things: wherein the land of promiſe, To Abraham and his ſeed, to Jacob, and his called Iſraelites, Gen. 35. 12. The land I gave Abraham, and Iſaack, to thee will I give it, and to thy ſeed after thee, will I give the land. This land is like to fare well, and to be the chief: the center of that happy change, and reſtoration of the earth, and making of it new. Pſal. 105. 8. He hath remembred his covenant for ever, the word he commanded to a thouſand generations. Not yet compleated, it is likely: but that it will extend to that time of the reſtoration. Vers. 9. 10. Which he confirmed by covenant and oath: vers. 11. The thing is declared, to thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance, &c. If God will remember his covenant for ever, to a thouſand generations; it will fare well with that land then; as likewiſe with the lands and dwellings of the ſaved nations, that ſhall walk in Ieruſalems light, and ſhare with them in all their bleſſedneſs, and glory, then: that ſpeaks out much, and is very high, Zech. 3. 9. And I will remove the iniquitie of that land in one day, to wit, that happy day of the reſtoration: Ier. 50. 20. In thoſe dayes, and in that time, ſayth the Lord, the iniquitie of Iſrael ſhall be ſought for, and there ſhall be none, and the ſins of Iudah, and they ſhall not be found, &c. Then; will there be no more curſe, Rev. 22. 3. For that will be gone and be no more found there. Then will that be made good and fully fulfilled, Mal. 3. 2. And all nations ſhall call you bleſſed, for ye ſhall be a delightfull land; ſayeth the Lord of hoſts.
It was propheſyed of old, by Noah; that God ſhould enlarge Iaphet, and he ſhould dwell in the Tents of ſhem: likely to be made good to the full then. The ſtrangers of Iaphet. Ezek. 47. 22 23. The ſtrangers cleaving to the God of Iſrael, ſhall ſhare with Iſrael, dwelling among them at that day. The prophecy is dark as yet; but the day will declare it: but for Canaan, and Ham his father, that ſervant of ſervants, under the curſe of Noah: there ſeemeth to be no mention of any grace or favour for him, or for his lands, or dwellings, at that happy day: but the contrary, of which I ſhall not now diſcourſe.
As for the intereſt of the creature, and their ſharing, according to their capabilitie, in the bleſſedneſs of that happy day; ſee what is ſaid, in Rom. 8. 19. The earneſt expectation of the creature, waiteth for the manifeſtation of the ſons of God. How glorious they will appear then; when they ſhall be reſtored, and changed, ſo. vers. 20. They are now ſubject, and they greatly groan, to be freed and delivered: they groan under hope: a great word, hope; in the creature that groaneth and travelleth in pain together untill now, vers. 22. But that which is a moſt clear teſtimony in the caſe of reſtoration vers. 21. Becauſe the creature it ſelf ſhall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God: which they ſhall at the coming of the ſaviour be reſtored unto, at that happy day of the reſtoration of all things. Alas, for them that do not believe it and hope for it! the whole matter propoſed and held forth is ſubmitted to the judgment of the ingenious and intelligent reader.