Good Things to Come, Part 2 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Containing a further propoſall of ſome Prophecies, and ſayings in the holy Scriptures, not yet fulfilled in the utmoſt extent, eyeing that happy day of the coming of our Lord Chriſt; likely then to be fulfilled and made good to the utmoſt, to the ſeed of Abraham the Iſraelites, when they, together with the gentile Saints, ſhall in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye be changed ſo.
SOmething hath been ſaid before, concerning the great things that attend the coming of the Lord Chriſt, and come to paſſe then: as the reſtoration of all things, Act. 3. 21. A new heaven, and a new earth: the raiſing the dead ſaints out of their graves: the changing the living in a moment: the beginning of the world to come: with other things, very many, that have been mentioned before, and may be further ſaid after; that are held forth in the prophecies, and ſayings in the holy ſcriptures, relating to the latter day, not yet fulfilled, nor like to be in the full made good, till that happy day, in that bleſſed world to come: of which we ſhall dilate a little.
In the former chapter, we treated of what Ezekiel hath foretold. Ezek. 36. Ezek. 37. Of the dry bones, and the two ſtiks: with the interpretation of the ſame. The matter relating to Iſraels reſtoration, and re-union: and their full enjoyments of the promiſes made to Abraham, Iſaack, and Jacob: which had not been made good in Ezekiel his time; but were, after, to be fully made good, according as he declared: which, to this day, hath not been made good; and not very likely, ſo fully to be ſo, in any time yet to come, in this world: but much more probable, to be made good then, to the full, when that nation ſhall be ſo born in one day; and be no more two, but one nation for ever: they, and their Childrens children, for ever: at that bleſsed day, when the world to come ſhall take place; when that, of the redeemers coming to Sion, and to ſuch as turn [or are turned] from iniquity in Jacob, hath its full fulfilling: which is not very like to be, till the Lord himſelf comes: for he himſelf hath ſaid: ye ſhall not ſee me henceforth, till the time come when ye ſhall ſay, bleſſed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, Luk. 23. 35.
The lambs ſtanding on Mount Sion with the ſealed ones having their fathers name written on their foreheads; and the ſinging the new ſong which none could learn but they: that pure virgin ſtate: and being without fault before the throne of God: it will not I conceive be ſo fully in this world; but in that bleſſed world to come. All thoſe forementioned things, will very fully contemporiſe with that bleſſed time, and ſtate; without any allegorie, interpretation, or framing a ſpirituall notion to make the matter good: for it will be even ſo, in the letter, viſibly, and be made good, without the leaſt failer.
Further, that of the Prophet Iſaiah, is very conſiderable as to this matter, Chap. 65. 17. where the new heaven and the new earth, is held forth with a behold; a great thing, behold, I create new heavens, and a new earth. vers. 18. I create Jeruſalem a rejoycing, and her people a joy. And therefore in the beginning of the vers. it is ſaid, be glad and rejoyce for ever, in that which I create, for behold, I create: a very great thing! ſo he goeth on to the end of chapter. In Iſa. 66. 8. Who hath heard ſach a thing? ſhall a nation be born at once? [in a moment in the twinkling of an eye; as thoſe alive, at the coming of the Lord; ſhall be changed then] As ſoon as Sion travelled ſhe brought forth; ſee the whole, to the 22. vers. And that in ſpecial in the 14. 15. 16. See if they do not eye the very time of the deſtroying of this world by fire, and the taking place of the bleſſed world to come; when the new heaven, and the new earth will take place; of which before. And the certainty, and ſtableneſs is confirmed by that, vers. 22. For as the new heavens, and the new earth which I ſhall make, ſhall remain before me, ſaith the Lord; ſo ſhall your ſeed and your name remain. This comporteth with that Iſa. 59. 21. very conſiderable: As for me this is my covenant with them, ſaith the Lord, my ſpirit that is upon thee [being changed ſo] and my words which I have put in thy mouth [to wit, of thanksgiving and praiſe] ſhall not depart out of them mouth of thy ſeed, nor out of the mouth of thy ſeeds ſeed, from henceforth, and for ever. And this, I conceive, relateth to the coming of the redeemer to Sion; when all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved, Rom. 11. 26. then, as Iſa. 60. 1. ariſe, and ſhine for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is riſen upon thee. Jeruſalems happy day will then be come. We might mention much more of holy Iſaiah, for that he had great light in this matter, and hath held forth much, as in chap. 60. and ſo, to the end of his prophecy, which the reader may pleaſe to conſider. As likewiſe, in divers other places, which I forbear to mention, leſt we ſhould be too large. All that hath been ſaid, as to its full fulfilling, ſeemeth to relate to the time, of the world to come; and the Iſraelites the ſeed of Abraham, principally; not excluding the gentile Saints from ſharing in the bleſſedneſs of that day, and walking in Jeruſalems light; when, it ſhall be very great indeed. The light of one day, being from the ſun; then; as the light of ſeven dayes, Iſa. 30. 26. that that changing, in a moment; will effect it to the higheſt degree of being tranſlated out of darkneſs, into this marvelous light, 1. Pet. 2. 9.
In the next place, we may take notice, what the Prophet Ieremiah holds forth, Ier. 30. 31. and 32. of which we ſhall dilate a little. Ier. 30. 10. Iacob is bidden, not to fear, nor Iſrael to be diſmayed; for God will ſave them from afar, and their ſeed from the land of their captivitie, and Iacob ſhall return and be in reſt and quiet, and none ſhall make him afraid: he goeth on, with further promiſes and threatnings againſt the wicked, then; at the ſame time, to wit, in the latter days, when God will perform the intents of his heart; reade on to the 22th. verſe, where he ſums up all; and they ſhall be my people, and I will be their God; very happy will their condition be; for bleſſed is the people whoſe God is the Lord.
Ier. 31. 1. he ſaith, at the ſame time, will I be the God of all the families of Iſrael, and they ſhall be my people. In an eminent wiſe they ſhall be ſo to God, and he ſo to them; a very great thing! the one hundred forty and four thouſand of all the tribes of the children of Iſrael, thoſe ſealed ones; with their fathers name written on their foreheads, will be ſo Gods people, and God their God ſo. The twelve thouſand of every tribe and all Iſrael, when they ſhall be ſaved by the coming of the deliverer to Sion; and the two ſticks, according to Ezekiels viſion and the interpretation of it; one nation; and no more two for ever: but one born in a day; changed in a moment: then will God be their God and they his people, ſo, at that day. So he goeth on, vers. 4. I will build thee, and thou ſhalt be built, O virgin of Iſrael, vers. 6. there ſhall be a day, wherein it ſhall be ſaid, ariſe ye, and let us go up to Sion, to the Lord our God, vers. 7. the Lord ſaith, ſing with gladneſs for Jacob. vers. 8. behold, I will bring them from the north, and gather them from the coaſts of the Earth. vers. 10. he that ſcattered Iſrael will gather him, and keep him as a ſhepheard doth his ſheep, or flock, vers. 11. the Lord hath redeemed Jacob. vers. 12. therefore ſhall they come and ſing in the height of Sion: for Sion will be very high indeed then; and ſhine forth very gloriouſly, this is much the ſame with that of holy Iſaiah, chap. 2. 2. When; it ſhall come to paſſe in the laſt days [the very time we are treating of] that the mountain of the Lords houſe ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the top of the mountains, and ſhall be exalted above the hills, and all nations ſhall flow unto it. He goeth on, and ſpeaketh of great things that ſhall be done for Iſrael, Gods people. At vers. 31. He ſpeaketh of a new covenant, God will make after thoſe days, with the houſe of Iſrael, and Iudah. Reade the matter at large.
What it is: he declares, vers. 33. of Ier. 31. Namely, he will put his law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and he will be their God, and they ſhall be his people. There is much of grace in it, in that he undertakes to do it, without any condition: vers 34. Seemeth to look further, and to eye another time, then that of grace and the ſtate of regeneration, as to its full fulfilling; it is ſaid, they ſhall teach no more every man his neighbour; and every man his brother; ſaying, know the Lord, [the reaſon is] For they ſhall all know me, from the leaſt of them to the greateſt of them, ſaith the Lord. This new covenant, it ſeemeth not only to eye the day of grace, but the day of glory. Not only the day of Chriſts firſt coming, when he confirmed it with his bloud. Heb. 9. The comfort, and bleſſed fruit whereof, all the ſervants of God, in all ages ſince, have enjoyed and yet do and ſtill ſhall enjoy, till that happy time come, when they ſhall enjoy the high and full enjoyment of it, in that bleſſed world to come: when the great fruit and bleſſedneſs of it ſhall then be made partakers of; ſo as was never attained unto, or enjoyed before; in that happy time that is coming, it will have its full fulfilling, and be made good in every particular. That in vers. 34. of this Ier. 31. which ſeemeth to eye another time in order thereunto: for in the day of grace, whileſt this world laſteth, there will be need of teaching and exhorting one another, as it is commanded Heb. 3. 13. But exhort one another dayly, whileſt it is called to day, (whileſt the day of grace laſteth) ſo chap. 10. 25. But exhort one another, and ſo much the more, as we ſee the day approacheth; wherein there will be no need of doing it. Here, in the ſtate of regeneration there will be but knowledge in part; but then, in that happy ſtate, and time, there will be the full viſion and knowledge of God, that man will be capable of: the greateſt according to the greatneſs; and the leaſt, according to their littleneſs: every veſſel, bigg or little, will be brim-full, that it can receive no more: The earth (to wit, the new earth) will be full of the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the ſea. Iſa. 11. 9.
Holy Paul ſemeth to eye this, of not teaching one another, 1 Cor. 13. 9. we know but in part, we propheſy in part: ſo was it at the preſent: but there was another time to come, when it would not be ſo. Vers. 10. When that which is perfect is come, that bleſſed time, that perfect ſtate takes place, as it will do when the raiſed and changed ones ſhall appear with the Lord Chriſt: then an end of things in part; and of teaching alſo: For propheſying or teaching as to them, will then ceaſe. Here we are but as children, then as perfect men: here we ſee but as through a glaſſe, darkly; but then we ſhall ſee face to face, clearly and fully: we now know but in part, but then, we ſhall know as we are known: for God will fully take away the face of the covering and vail, that lets and hinders, Iſa. 25. 7. when there ſhall be a changing ſo, that vail will be done away. Very high knowledge of God then: our Lord will ſhew us plainly of the father; and in him we ſhall behold his glory.
In the eighth and ninth chapters of the epiſtle to the Hebrews, this is treated of by the Apoſtle, under the term of a new teſtament. A covenant and a teſtament differ ſomething, ſtrictly minded; though in ſubſtance they may be the ſame. There were many covenants made by Almighty God: as with Noah, and Abraham, Iſaack, and Iacob; with the Iſraelites: with David, and with Levi, &c. But he made but two teſtaments; a firſt by Moſes; confirmed by the bloud of Bulls, and Goats. A ſecond, by the Lord Chriſt; confirmed by his own bloud, or death, as a teſtament muſt be; elſe it is of no force: but a covenant is of force whileſt a perſon liveth, and is otherwiſe confirmed. The new teſtament; as a teſtament of the Lord Chriſt; he is the bleſſed mediator or ſurety of it, as Moſes, was of the firſt. It relates chiefly to the time of grace, and the eſtate of regeneration, in this world; and is of high concern; and great fruit and benefit to all believers; much of the miſtery of godlines, and of the Goſpel being contained in it: but as a covenant, it ſeemeth to eye and look at a further time not yet come; and a covenant that ſhall then be made good, when they ſhall not teach; for there will be no need of it; they ſhall know as much as they ſhall be capable of knowing: for ſuch fullneſs they ſhall enjoy as nothing can be added to it.
No great queſtion but the Apoſtle had this in his thoughts, in order to that bleſſed time to come; the laſt verſe ſeemeth to ſpeak out ſo much; to them that look for him, [to wit, the Lord Chriſt] ſhall he appear the ſecond time [as he appeared the firſt] without ſin [to wit, the imputation of ſin; in a low condition, in the form of a ſervant, ſo the firſt time: but the ſecond time, in power and great glory; without ſin] unto ſalvation, Heb. 9. 28. to wit, to full, and perfect ſalvation of body and ſpirit united in one, at that happy day. There are many bleſſed expectants that look for the Lord Chriſt his appearing, this ſecond time: as good old Simeon & Hannah, did the firſt time: there are bleſſed ſervants that look for their Lord his return from a far country, whither he is gone to receive for himſelf a kingdom, and to come again Luk. 19. 12. There are many virgins, that wait with oyl in their lamps for the bridegrooms coming, Math. 25. To them that look for him the ſecond time, he will appear, to their great joy and conſolation: the ſpirit and the bride, ſay come, O come Lord Jeſus come quickly.
Further; in the new covenant, ſpoken of by holy Ieremiah: it is ſaid, I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their ſins no more: ſo forgiven, and ſo forgotten, as never before: no further need of an advocate then in caſe of ſin, for that will be fully made good then in Ier, 50. 20. In thoſe dayes, and at that time, the iniquity 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 be the time when the Church will be preſented glorious, without ſpot or blemiſh, or wrinckle, or any ſuch thing, Ephes. 5. 27. And that true really, without imputation, Thou art fair, thou art fair my love, and there is no ſpot in thee: Cant. 4. 1. 7.
Laſtly, in this new covenant, or teſtament; as that which makes good all, it is ſaid; and I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people. In a very high and eminent wiſe, it will be ſo then; beyond what before: a very great and bleſſed thing: this is ſtill mentioned as the cloſe: to have God, in a ſpecial wiſe to be their God: and for a people to be ſo related to God, as to be his people in a peculiar way, is a great thing, and that which renders them conſiderable and happy, and bleſſed indeed, Pſal. 144. 15. Thoſe ſealed ones, having their fathers name written on their foreheads; I conceive, comporting, in time, and being the ſame with thoſe Rev. 22. 4. His ſervants, ſhall ſerve him, and ſee his face, and his name ſhall be in their foreheads. He that ſitteth on the throne, ſayeth, theſe words are true and faithful, that it relates to that bleſſed time, in order to the high and full fulfilling of it; we may minde that in Rev. 21. where the new heaven and the new earth is ſpoken of, as vers. 1. Iohn ſaw a new heaven and a new earth. Vers. 2. He ſaw the new Jeruſalem come down from heaven, very glorious. As he ſaw, ſo he heard alſo; vers. 3. A great voice out of heaven, it is, with a behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they ſhall be his people, and God himſelf ſhall be with them, and be their God. And as vers. 4. And God ſhall wipe away all tears from their eyes: all ſorrow, and pain and death it ſelf, ſhall be done away and be no more; and all things ſhall be made new; and Iohn is bidden to write, for that theſe ſayings are faithful and true, vers. 5.
In Ier. 32. vers. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. The prophet ſpeaketh again, of the Lord his gathering of them out of all countryes, and bringing them again; comporting, as to the full fulfilling of it, with the Angels gathering the elect from the four windes, Math. 24. 31. And making an everlaſting covenant with them, and doing great things for them; and that he will be their God, and they ſhall be his people. And that he will plant them in their own land aſſuredly; and do it with his whole heart, and ſoul: as, before he ſpake of the fureneſs of his covenant; as ſure, as the ordinances of heaven, their abiding ſtable; to wit, the ſun and moon, and the ſtars. See the places at large.
I ſhall adde a few teſtimonies out of the following prophets, that are of the like import, and tendency, with what hath been held forth before, and ſhall begin with Daniel chap. 12. 1. At that time, ſhall Michael ſtand up, the great prince, [very likely to be the Lord Chriſt, the prince of peace: when he appeareth again, great things will take place: he will ſtand for Daniels people, the Iſraelites, the ſeed of Abraham, unto whom he came before, but they received him not; at that time] there will be ſuch trouble as never was before: and at that time, Daniels people ſhall be delivered: they ſhall be delivered by the great deliverer, when he ſhall come to Sion, Rom. 11. 26. As before is mentioned. The Lord Chriſt, ſball ſend forth his Angels, and they ſhall gather his elect from the four windes Math. 24. 31. They ſhall be delivered every one of them, (not one left behinde) of thoſe, that ſhall be found written in the book, (of life, it is like, it is meant). The lamb, the Lord Chriſt, hath a book of life, wherein is written the names of his, from the foundation of the world, Rev. 17. 8. Much comporting with the promiſe, Rev. 3. 5. 12. To thoſe that are overcommers. And it ſhews further what time this relates unto, Rev. 22. 3. 4. It will be, when there ſhall be no more curſe: but the throne of God and of the lamb, and his ſervants ſhall ſerve him, and ſee his face, and his name ſhall be in their foreheads; when they ſhall reign for ever: vers. 5. At that time, when the Lord Chriſt cometh, and the dead are raiſed, and the living ſaints changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye: it ſhall be fully made good, and, it is likely, not before.
Further, in vers. 2. of this Dan. 12. He ſpeaketh of the reſurrection, ſaying, many that ſleep in the duſt, [to wit, in their graves] ſhall ariſe, ſome to everlaſting life [to wit, of felicity, and enjoying God and Chriſt, &c. their names being in the book of life] and ſome to ſhame, and everlaſting contempt. As it is ſaid elſewhere; To everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord; into everlaſting puniſhment; everlaſting; there is, in order to both; according to that of the Apoſtle, 1. Cor. 15. Then; will be great glory, and happyneſs, to the juſt: and great woe, and miſery to the wicked. The parable of Dives, and Lazarus, ſpeaks forth this very plainly: the righteous will then ſhine gloriouſly; though now they are made black with reproach. Good Daniel, was inquiſitive about this; and the time when it ſhould be? he is bidden, as in the laſt verſe, by the Angel to go his way till the end, [I conceive, of this world, as if he ſhould have ſaid, then it ſhall be; and in a promiſſary way, it is ſaid] thou ſhalt reſt, [to wit, in his grave, as in a bed] and ſtand up in thy lot [to wit, be raiſed again] in the end of the days, to enjoy his lot or ſhare of glory, then: much the ſame with that in 1. Cor. 15. 23. 24. Every man in his own order: firſt, Chriſt, then thoſe that are Chriſts at his coming. The wicked dead: in their order, or time; a thouſand years after.
In the next place; take we notice, what the prophet Hoſea ſayth, Hoſea. 1. 7. where the Lord ſayeth, he will ſave Iudah, not by bow, or ſword, &c. but by the Lord their God. Haply, by changing them, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. vers. 10. He ſaith, yet the number of the children of Iſrael, ſhall be as the ſand of the ſea, that cannot be numbred; and where it was ſaid, ye are not my people: there it ſhall be ſaid, ye are the ſons of the living God. Vers. 11. Then ſhall the children of Iſrael gather themſelves together; and appoint themſelves one head; for great ſhall be the day of Jezreel: which hath never yet been made good, nor is it very likely to be ſo, to the full, till that happy day and time we have often mentioned take place.
I might improve to the ſame account, that of the prophet Amos, chap. 9. vers. 13. 14. 15. That of the prophet Obadiah. vers. 17. to 21. That of the prophet Micha, chap. 4. 13. But I ſhall forbear; and cloſe this eſſay, with that, Mich. 7. 18. 19. 20. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and paſſeth by the tranſgreſſion of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not anger for ever, &c. He will turn again, he will have compaſſion, he will ſubdue our iniquities, and caſt all our ſins into the depth of the ſea. If they be ſought for, they ſhall not be found: for there ſhall be none then, all being done away. Vers. 20th. thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, his mercy to Abraham; as thou haſt ſworn to our fathers from the dayes of old. All ſure, and ſtable; and one jot, or tittle of it ſhall not fail.
So, as upon the whole we may with great probabilitie conclude, that thoſe great propheſyes forementioned, and that new covenant; extend to the time of the coming of our Lord Chriſt, the ſecond time; when they will be all made good to the full, to thoſe believers found alive, and changed in a moment, then: and be made the inhabitants of the new earth, and world to come.
That many things contained in them, are incompatible with the ſtate of regeneration in this world: but as to their utmoſt fulfilling, will fitly ſute and agree, without any allegorie, or ſpiritual meaning put on them, they will agree and ſute, with thoſe ſo changed in a moment: inhabiting the new earth and world to come.
That thoſe prophecyes and the new covenant, do in a ſpecial wiſe, appertain to the ſeed of Abraham, Iſaack, and Jacob, the Iſraelites, to whom do appertain the promiſes, Rom. 9. 4. Not in the leaſt excluding the right of the gentile believers.
That they ſhall all have the full, and utmoſt fulfilling, without the leaſt failer; All which is ſubmitted to the conſideration of the wiſe in heart, who have the promiſe, they ſhall underſtand. Dan. 12. 10.