The Resurrection Revealed, Approbation 1 – Approbation 2
In obedience to an Order dated October 6. I have (as my preſent weakneſſe will give me leave) peruſed that which hath been brought unto me, written by Dr. Homes in ſeveral Books, concerning the Kingdome of Chriſt on Earth, and doe returns this as my ſenſe of it.
1 THe Subject (which is the Reigne of our Saviour, with his Saints on the earth) is of a tranſcendent glory in it ſelfe, of univerſal conſequence to all perſons and ſtates; of very great ſeaſonableneſſe for the preſent Times. Like a pe…ce of rich coine, it hath been long buried in the earth, but of late dayes digged up againe; it begins to grow bright with handling, and to paſſe current with great numbers of Saints, and learned men of great Authority. As the ſame S…at at ſeveral ſeaſons is the Evening-ſtar, ſetting immediately after the Sunne, and the Morning-ſtar ſhining immediately before it; So was this Truth the Evening-ſtar to the firſt coming of Chriſt, and giving of the Spirit, ſetting together with the glory of that Day, in a night of Antichriſtianiſme: Now it appears againe in our Times, as a Morning-ſtar, to that bleſſed Day of the ſecond effuſion of the Spirit, and the ſecond appearance of our Saviour in the glory of the Father. 2 The manner of handling this Subject in this Book, appears to be with piety, and modeſty, learning, and judgement, induſtry, and variety; variety of divine matter, excellent reading, choice Scriptures, and openings of Scriptures; out of all which ariſeth much preſent light, many hints to more light, quickning occaſions to further ſearches, and diſcoveries; So that this Book is in one, a well grown Orchard, and a Nurſery of Truths. 3 The opinions which the Doctor holds forth in this Book, cannot be expected to have a concurrence of all gracious, and judicious Spirits, or a cleerneſſe in all particulars, the ſubject being a Prophetick Truth, approaching indeed, but ſtill at ſome diſtance; yet they all move upon the three-fold Hinge of three principal points, which ſeem to lye faire and uppermoſt in the letter of divers Scriptures, and have been ſtamped with the Authority of men eminent in holineſſe and learning. Theſe three points are ſuch as cut off all pretence to the fleſh, to ſenſuality, carnality, contention, from the Reigne of Chriſt, ſuch as inſtruct the Saints to a peaceable, patient, and joyfull waiting for the coming of Chriſt; That when he appears, they may appear with him in glory; ſuch as being rightly underſtood, confirme the letter, and highten the ſpirituality of the Scripture, giving a diſtinct and joynt accompliſhment to letter and Spirit, each in other; the Letter in this ſtate, having its fulneſſe in the Spirit, and the fulneſſe of the Spirit taking in the letter. Thoſe three principal points are theſe: I The Teſtimony, and entrance to Chriſts Kingdome ſhall be the indubitable evidence of our Lords appearance in his owne perſon (whether this appearance ſhall be miraculous, the Lord deſcending to vaile, for a ſeaſon, his glorified body which being ten thouſand times brighter then the Sunne, cannot be ſeen by mortal eyes, under a meaner form, that it may be fitted to our natural ſenſes; or whether this appearance ſhall be myſterious, the Lord in the ſame inſtant of his appearance transfiguring the dead, and living Saints into a conformity to his glorified body, that in the ſame twinkling of an eye, they may ſee their King, and he may ſee them in beauty, eye to eye, their glorified eye, to his glorified eye; or whether both theſe, according to thoſe ſeveral Scriptures, Mat. 24.30. Act. 1.11. 1 Cor. 15.51. Ph. 3.20, 21.) for theſe ſeveral ends, of conviction to the world, converſion to the Jews, glorification to the Saints, renovation to the creature. The 2. principal point in this Book is, That the ſtate of the Saints Kingdom ſhal be the reſurrection from the dead, and a change in the living Saints, equivalent to the reſurrection of the bodies of thoſe that ſleep in the duſt. Thus each particular Saint, and the whole Church, being predeſtinated to be conformed to the likeneſſe of the image of Chriſt, ſhall in this ſtate anſwer that ſtate of Chriſt in his owne particular perſon, between his reſurrection and aſcenſion: which ſeems to have been his Paradiſical ſtate; his ſoul entring into Paradiſe at his death, his body at his reſurrection re-aſſumed into the ſame ſtate with the ſoule. The laſt head is, That there ſhall be a New Earth, to be the…ſeat of this New Kingdome. If the Earth be made New with the Newneſſe of the Spirit; if that alſo be ſpiritulized, then will it be fit for glorified Inhabitants. The ſtreets of the New Jeruſalem are ſaid to be as gold, and glaſſe. Behold the nature of the New Earth, and the deſcription of its ſpirituality. It ſhall be as pure gold for its ſolid ſimple ſubſtance, for its ſhining glory; It ſhall be as pure glaſſe, for its tranſparency, cleerneſſe, and through-lightſomneſſe.
Octob. 19. 1653. PETER STERRY.
In purſuance of an Order, bearing date the 6. inſtant, for my peruſal of this Treatiſe, penn'd by Dr. Homes, and to report my opinion concerning the ſame, I certifie as followeth;
THat all the Saints ſhall reigne with Chriſt a Thouſand yeers on earth, in a wonderfull, both viſible and ſpiritual glorious manner, before the time of the ultimate, and general Reſurrection, is a Poſition, which (though not a few have beſit ated about, and ſome oppoſed, yet) have gained ground in the hearts and judgements of very many, both grave and godly men, who have left us divers Eſſayes, and Diſcourſes upon this Subject. And (having peruſed the learned and laborious travels of this Author) I conceive that the Church of God hath not hitherto ſeen this great point ſo clearly ſtated, ſo largely diſcuſſed, ſo ſtrongly confirmed not onelyonly by the teſtimony of Ancient, and Modern Writers of all ſorts, but by the holy Scriptures throughout, as it is preſented in this Book. Wherein alſo divers other conſiderable points are collaterally handled, all tending to ſet forth the Cataſtrophe and reſult of all the troubles, and hopes of ſuch as feare God, as the preface to their eternal bliſſe. And whereas ſome have been, and ſtill are, apt to abuſe this Doctrine, by making it an occaſion to the fleſh, and of beating themſelves in the expectation of a carnall liberty, and worldly glory; I finde that this Author hath cautiouſly fore-laid, and prevented all ſuch abuſes, by ſhewing the exceeding ſpiritualneſſe and holineſſe of this ſtate: To which, as none but the truly holy ſhall attain, ſo having attained it, they ſhall walke in the hight of holineſſe. And therefore I judge this Book very uſefull for the Saints, and worthy of the publick view.
Octob. 13. 1653. Joſeph Caryll.