The Resurrection Revealed, Book 6 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Touching the New Creation.
THe Chaos being made, the Creation of all particulars follow; which New-creation is mentioned both in the Old and New Teſtament, Rev. 21.1. John ſees a New Heaven, and a New Earth. How ſo, unleſſe created new? For the alteration is ſuch, that the old heaven, and earth ſeem as it were to paſſe away. So that this New Heaven and Earth is that which Peter and the reſt that beleeved with him, (2 Pet. 3.11, 12, 13.) did expect, that all the former being diſſolved, there ſhould be New Heavens, and a New Earth according to Gods PROMISE. Now where is that promiſe but in Iſa. 65.17. Behold I create New Heavens, and a New Earth, ſo that the former ſhall not be remembred, or come into minde. In all which places the expreſſion of earth demonſtrates that it is a ſtate on earth, beſides many circumſtances annexed in all the ſaid places (before diſcuſſed in our third Book) the word Heaven being no oppoſition to it, which from Gen. 1. to the end of the Revelation is oft uſed to ſignifie thoſe Heavens of the Ayre, clouds, &c. which are appurtenances of the Earth, which Paul calls by intimation the firſt Heaven (2 Cor. 12.2.)
§. 2 With the Creation of this New World, are created therein the appurtenances of it, viz. ¶ 1. New Jeruſalem. Immediately after the Creation of a New Heaven, and a New Earth, St. John ſees (Rev. 21.2.) the holy City, NEW JERUSALEM, comming DOWN FROM GOD out of HEAVEN (and therefore ſignifies a ſtate on earth.) And the Prophet Iſa. in that 65. Chapter, verſe 18. having mentioned the creation of the New Heaven, and the New Earth, immediately addes that the Lord ſaith, Lo, I create Jeruſalem, viz. into a happy condition (of which by and by.) ¶ 2. The Inhabitants of this New World, and New Jeruſalem, are no leſſe then created. Firſt, If there were no more then the converſion of the Jewes, as the preparation to this new ſtate, eſpecially they having been ſo long oppoſite to Chriſt, this were no leſſe then a Creation. A Miracle is a kinde of Creation. And the School-men ſay, That though Converſion be not a Miracle properly, yet it is more then a miracle. Let mee give my vote in this reaſon, becauſe Converſion is out of reſiſtances, of mans ſtubborne minde and heart. Miracles are wrought on non-reſiſtances. And in this is Converſion more then Creation, becauſe Creation is out of matter that hath a diſpoſition of ſubmiſſion to the will of the Creator. But mans unregenerate will, whiles ſuch, is obſtinately oppoſite. But no man will doubt, but that a Reſurrection is a Creation. Now the Scripture compares the converſion of the Jewes to a Reſurrection. Ezek. 37.5. &c. Dan. 12.2. Rom. 11.15. In all which places, the Call of the Jews is metaphorically called a Reſurrection. For it is a raiſing from ſpiritual death, to ſpiritual life, from ſinne to grace; and from Civil bondage, to Civil liberty, as the Scripture oft mentions. But ſecondly, The Inhabitants are further multiplyed and perfected by a Phyſical Reſurrection, of all the deceaſed Saints, Rev. 20.4. and a Phyſical mutation of the living Saints. 1 Cor. 15.51, 52. So that as the Apoſtle ſaith in that Chapter, verſe 44. and Phil. 3.21. They ſhall have ſpiritual bodies (needing nor meat, nor drinke, &c.) and made like to Chriſts glorious body (as we have ſeveral times diſcuſſed afore.) Now a real, Phyſical Reſurrection of bodies, and ſuch a reall phyſicall change of them are no leſſe then a Creation. Is it not fully a Creation to make men of duſt? Is it not a creation to change fleſh and blood into a likeneſſe to the radiating Sunne? Juſt ſo is it intheſe things. ¶ 3 The Qualifications of places and perſons are created: As firſt Righteouſneſſe, being one of the qualifications, is alſo created. In 2 Pet. 3.13. in that New Heaven, and New Earth, made New by creation (as the quotation of it out of Iſa. 65.17. demonſtrates) there dwels Righteouſneſſe by vertue of that Creation, (Grace being nothing elſe but divine created qualities) even as in that 65. of Iſa. it is expreſſe, that God will create in Jeruſalem other excellent qualifications, which we ſhall preſently name. Sutably, Peter, in that 2 Epiſt. 3. Chap. v. 13. having mentioned the New Heaven, and Earth, addes, as an appurtenance to it, wherein dwels righteouſneſſe; and all by vertue of a Creation, as the Apoſtles referring to Iſa. 65.18. plainly ſpeaks. And from both places, John hath this in his viſion, Rev. 21. verſe 1, 2, and 27. That into this New Heaven and Earth, and holy Jeruſalem, all new (as we ſh…wed) by Creation, there ſhall in no wiſe enter any thing that defileth; as in the firſt creation, all that God made was good, yea exceeding good. Gen. 1.31. Secondly, There ſhall be created in this New ſtate, the qualification of peace, Iſa. 57.19. I CREATE the fruit of the lips, PEACE, …EA…E to him that is afar off (by captivity, or otherwiſe) and to him that is neer, ſaith the Lord, and I will heal him. Peace, peace, doubled, ſignifies very great, abſolute, perfect peace, as that time ſhall be a time of an univerſal perfection. Thirdly, Of this New ſtate there ſhall bee another qualification, viz. joy, or rejoycing, and that by the means of the New creation (for it is creation, wee now look at, not the qualifications themſelves, which is the buſineſſe of the third Head, in the next Section) Iſa. 65.18, 19. Be you glad, and rejoyce for ever, in that which I CREATE, for behold I CREATE Jeruſalem a REJOYCING, and I will rejoyce in Jeruſalem, and joy in my people; and the voyce of weeping, or crying ſhall be no more heard in her. All which are ſpoken as a parcel of the glorious ſtate of the New Heaven, and Earth, and New Jeruſalem. Conſonant to St. Johns deſcription of the New Heavens, and New Earth, and of holy New Jeruſalem (Rev. 21.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.) That there is the voyce of triumph from Heaven, ſaying, The Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them &c. And God ſhall wipe away all tears, &c. and there ſhall be no more ſorrow &c. becauſe he that ſate upon the Throne ſaid, Behold I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW, write, for theſe things are true. ¶ 4 There ſhall be at that time created a deſence upon, or over the Saints, over the Church, and over all their glory, ſo that their glorious enjoyment in that glorious eſtate on earth, ſhall not bee ſubject as formerly to any invaſions, ſubverſions, interruptions, or diminutions from any power on earth, or in hell, Iſa. 4. verſe 4, 5. When the Lord ſhall have waſhed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, then the Lord will CREATE upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and upon her aſſemblies a cloud of ſmoake by day, and the ſhining of a flaming fire by night (alluding to the pillar of fire that lead Iſrael in the wilderneſſe) for UPON ALL THE GLORY SHALL BE A DEFENCE. So that what ever ſhall be hereafter affirmed in this our ſixth Book according to the Scriptures, touching the excellency of the RESTITUTION, or glorious ſtate of all things yet to be on earth, ſhall be an eſtabliſhed eſtate, that no enemy ſhall be able in the leaſt to remove or moleſt.
But why do the Scriptures cal this RESTAURATION or RESTITUTION a Creation? Surely becauſe of the great likeneſſe (if not ſameneſſe in kinde) with the firſt Creation, as to the Phyſical notion thereof, both in regard of matter, manner, parts, and end.
¶ 1 As for matter, as the immediate Creation, viz. of the Chaos, was of nothing; ſo mediate Creation, viz. of particulars out of that Chaos was of nothing ſuch, nothing ſo, or no ſuch thing, as into which it was created. So that as the firſt ſort of creation was of abſolute nothing; ſo the ſecond comparatively, or equivalently of nothing. For what was the confuſed clouded Chaos towards the forming of light, life, and beauty, &c? Even ſo in this New creation, the world ſhall be asit were reſolved into a Chaos again. All things ſhall be in a moſt confuſed and forlorne condition, men ſhall be ſtript of humanity, the earth ſhall be an Aceldoma, and Golgotha, all things full of unparalleld troubles, as our Saviour deſcribes, Matth. 24. And lo then ſhall Chriſt appeare moſt gloriouſly to new-create all things as tis in that ſame 24. of Matth. Juſt as we find it Propheſied throughout the Old Teſtament, in moſt of the Propheſies afore diſcuſſed, as Hoſ. 3 4, 5. Dan 12.1. &c. that Chriſt ſhall reſtore all things in the moſt deſolate, and Miſerable times. Moſt ſuitable matter, for that efficient, who is to worke upon it. The beſt cauſe to worke upon the worſt matter. He that is All-things, yea more then All-things, the All-ſufficient Almighty, to worke upon thoſe nothings; who can worke better on that worſt, then the beſt of creatures can upon the beſt and moſt prepared things. For materiam ſuperabit opus, the workmanſhip ſhall exceed the matter. So that as God alone was able, and did educe out of thoſe nothings, Gen. 1. this beautifull Fabricke of the world; ſo Chriſt Jeſus our Lord ſhall out of thoſe worſe-then-nothings create this glorious new world of which we treat.
¶ 2 For manner alſo, it is a Creation, in that like the creation of the firſt world, the main parts of this New ſhal be made in an inſtant. It is true that the Philoſophers ſay, that generation is ex nihilo tali, & in inſtanti, of a nothing ſo, and in an inſtant: as plants of ſeeds, birds of egges, beaſts of their Semen; as are likewiſe the bodies of men. But this Philoſophical Generation notwithſtanding, in the firſt part, viz. that it is of that which is nothing ſo, is far below the loweſt, namely, Mediate Creation: in that generation is by very many previous diſpoſitions, and various ſucceſſive preparations of the matter, gradually bringing thoſe bodies to their kinde; whereas Creation, even mediate creation in one act brings forth every thing perfect at once. As for the ſecond part of their deſcription of generation, that it is done in an inſtant; that is, the forme is introduced in an inſtant; I think (excepting mens ſouls) it is a meer tradition and fable, grounded upon another fiction of wit, that material forms are ſubſtances, which being beleeved in the Schools, hath brought in with it a many inextricable knots, as how the formes of the Elements remai…e in the mixed body, compounded of them; how the forme is educed out of the power of the matter, as they affirme, and yet the forme is a ſubſtance of a different nature from the matter, and is a diſtinct coordinate eſſential principle in ſpecie: How a ſword killing an horſe, or the like, drives out one forme, and brings in another, or elſe there were more then one forme afore, or elſe matter may ſubſiſt without a forme, &c. whereas creation, yea mediate creation introduceth all formes of things, yea and of men too, in an inſtant: As we ſee in the Firſt Creation in every dayes worke. It was but ſaid, Let it be ſo, and preſently it was ſo. And ſo, proportionably, will it be in the New Creation, that by parts Chriſt will doe great things ſuddenly; Firſt, The call of the Jewes ſhall be on a ſudden, Iſa. 66.8. Who hath heard ſuch a thing? who hath ſeen ſuch things? ſhall the earth be made to bring forth in one day, or ſhall a Nation be borne at ONCE? For as ſoon as Zion travelled, ſhe brought forth her children. Secondly, The appearance of Chriſt ſhall be on a ſudden, Matth. 24.27. As the lightning commeth out of the Eaſt, and ſhineth even to the Weſt; ſo alſo ſhall the comming of the Sonne of man be. Thirdly, The change of beleevers, ſurviving at Chriſts comming ſhall be in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, 1 Cor. 15.51. Behold I ſhew unto you a MYSTERY, we ſhall not all ſleep, but we ſhall all be CHANGED in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. Fourthly, The reſurrection of the deceaſed Saints at Chriſts comming ſhall be in like manner, Ibid. 1 Cor. 15.52. We ſhall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the laſt trump. For the Trumpet ſhall ſound, and the dead ſhall be raiſed incorruptible (viz. never to dye any more) and we ſhall be CHANGED, viz. all in the ſame moment.
¶ 3 This glorious ſtate of all things on earth yet to come, is as a creation in regard of parts. That as the whole creation is in Gen. 1. diſtinguiſhed into ſix dayes worke; ſo this New creation ſhall be perfected (though not in that ſucceſsive order of time, but rather, as I conceive at once) in all thoſe things that are enumerated to bee the workmanſhip of the ſix dayes workes. You had the opinion of the Rabbins in this, afore.*In 4 Book. 4 Chap. 3 Sect. 6 Pat. f. 428. Mine is this, Firſt, For light; anſwerable to the extraordinary LIGHT created on the firſt day (for the Sunne and Starres were not extant till the fourth day.) The light of the Church at this time ſhall be a ſupernatural light, above any created light, according to Iſa. 60.19. The Sunne and Moon ſhall be no more light, but THE LORD ſhall be unto thee an EVERLASTING LIGHT. Sutable to St. Johns Viſion, and Propheſie, Rev. 21.23. The City had no need of the Sunne, or of the Moon, for the GLORY of GOD did lighten it, and the LAMB is the light thereof. For it God ſhall be the Churches Sunne, Pſal. 84.11. as he is likewiſe light it ſelfe, 1 John 1.5. yea dwels in unſpeakable light, 1 Tim. 6.16. And Chriſt is propheſied to be the Sunne ariſing on the Church, Malach. 4.2. That he comes (as the Apoſtle ſaith) 2 Theſſ. 2.8. with a brightneſſe; yea (as Chriſt himſelfe promiſeth) his comming ſhall be as lightning ſhineing from the Eaſt to the Weſt; yea with GREAT GLORY, Matth. 24. verſe 27. and verſe 30. then will their ſpeciall preſence or manfeſtation be a tranſcendent light to the Church, which muſt be ſupernatural, far above any created, either that which was made the firſt day, or after contracted upon the fourth day, into the body of the Sunne; as the waters, extant the firſt day, were couched into the Channels of the ſeas on the third day. For both theſe were created. But the light of the Church now ſhall be elucidations and emanations from the Deity, overcomming, and as it were drowning the glory of the Sunne, &c. And therefore though the Sunne and the Moon, and Stars that now receive their light from the Sunne, ſhall in that New creation be extant, exiſting in their Orbs, yet they ſhall not be there to give light to the Church. Both theſe are diſtinctly mentioned in both the fore-quoted places; Iſa. 60.19. The Sunne ſhall be no more thy LIGHT by day, neither for brightneſſe ſhall the Moon give LIGHT unto thee. Obſerve, it is not ſaid, they ſhall not exiſt, they ſhall not be; but they ſhall not be for the light of the Church. Juſt ſo Rev. 21.23. it is not ſaid, the being of the Sunne and Moon ſhall bee nulled, or annihilated, but there ſhall be no NEED of the Sunne, nor of the Moon to SHINE in New Jeruſalem. And the reaſon is, becauſe God and the Lamb ſhall lighten it, and be the light and glory thereof. So that though according to the creation of the Sunne, and Moon, and Stars, in the fourth day, thoſe lights, with the reſt of the univerſe ſhall bee perfected in this New creation, Iſa. 30.26. The light of the Moon ſhall be as the light of the Sunne, and the light of the Sunne ſevenfold, as the light of ſeven dayes, in the day the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people; yet not uſed for a light to the Church at that glorious time. For then there ſhall be no nights, and dayes, as is intimated in that 60. of Iſa. verſe 19. afore quoted (mark it well) The Sunne ſhall be no more thy light by DAY, &c. but the Lord ſhall be unto thee an EVERLASTING light, i. e. perpetuall, without interruptions by viciſſitudes of nights ſucceeding the dayes, and for ever. But it is expreſſe in Rev. 21.25. St. John having ſaid as afore quoted in the 23. verſe, There ſhall be no need of the Sunne, neither of the Moon; he addes in this 25. verſe, The gates of the New Jeruſalem ſhall not be ſhut at all by day; for there ſhall bee NO NIGHT THERE. And if we ſhould ſuppoſe that the motion of the heavenly orbs, and all the planets, and fixed Stars, which is the onelyonly cauſe of night ſhould ceaſe at this glorious time of REST, ſeeing that all motion (as ſaith the Philoſopher truly) is for reſt, which theſe heavenly bodies never had ſince their creation, whiles the Plants have had theirs in the Winter; the Sonnes of men in the night, on the ſeventh day, and in the grave, the Wilde-beaſts in the day, &c. And it is recorded as the moſt glorious time, when the Sunn and Moon ſtood ſtill, (Joſh. 10.12, 13, 14. There was no day like that before it, or ſince that;) And if we ſhould conceive that it is not contrary to that text of Iſa. 30.26. The light of the Moon ſhall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sunne ſevefold greater, &c. to underſtand it as well, if not rather of the extenſion of thoſe bodies of light, then of the intenſion of their beams of light (their very bodies being called lights, Gen. 1. And the ſevenfold intenſiveneſſe and ſtrength of the beams might be an affliction) and ſo the little globe of the earth would not be of bulke to interpoſe, and eclipſe the ſight and proſpect of any Starre from view, and looking upon the reſt, eſpecially on the magnified dimenſion of the body of the Sunne; ſo that there ſhould be a continued natural light round the world; yet all theſe ſhould be but for a comely ornament, not a naturall concernment to the Church, becauſe the paramount preſence and elucidation of God and the Lamb ſhould be their light; ſutable to their paramount condition, ſwallowing up, as it were, all other glories, as the ſaid text of Iſa. 60.19. Rev. 21.23. hold forth. So that as the world began in the firſt Creation with an extraordinary light; ſo at the end of this world, in the New creation there ſhall be a ſupernatural light. And thus of the ſtate of it in regard of light, in parallel with the firſt and fourth dayes worke in the firſt Creation. Secondly, As on the ſecond day was created the Firmament (as our Tranſlators render it, following the Greeke) alias the Expanſe (according to the Hebrew) that is, at leaſt, the whole element of the ayre; ſo in this New creation, it ſhall be re-created anew, that is perfected; that there ſhall be no noyſome fumes, or vapours, or any other noxious exhalations, fiery, or watery, &c. to cauſe ſickneſſe, death it ſelfe being now ſwallowed, up in victory, 1 Cor. 15. And all ſorrows removed, Rev. 21.4. And the aire ſhall not be an habitation for devils over the Church, as formerly (for which he was called the Prince of the ayre, Eph. 2.2.) But the devill ſhall be chained up, Rev. 20.2. and every unclean ſpirit ſhall be removed farre away from the Church. Zach. 13 2. Thirdly, For the reſt of the dayes works of Creation, as in them were created the dry-land, the Plants, the Fiſhes, and Fowls, and Animals, &c. So in this New creation there ſhall be a perfection of all thoſe then in being; (for of a reſurrection of irrationals I know nothing) and they ſhall be freed, and ſet at liberty from all danger, and hardſhip. Iſa. 11.6, 7, 8, 9. Rom. 8.19, 20, 21, 22. I ſpeak now ſhort to theſe things, becauſe I am not yet come to the qualifications of this future glorious eſtate, into which this Head would ſometimes faine draw me; but I will not be anticipated.
¶ 4 This future glorious eſtate on earth is a creation, in regard of the end, viz. that as man was created laſt of all, moſt perfect in ſoule and body, as the ſubordinate end next under God, for which God made it, viz. that man might have the poſſeſſion and uſe of all, and dominion over all, Gen. 1.26. So in this New creation, Chriſt reſtores all things to their perfection, and every beleever to his; to that end, that all beleevers, being raiſed, or changed (as afore deſcribed) may joyntly and co-ordinately rule over the whole world, and all things therein, next under Chriſt their Head. I ſay, All, and not apart onelyonly (as ſome unwarily publiſh.) And I ſay joyntly, not one part of the Saints to uſurp authority over the reſt (as many dream.) And co-ordinately, All upon equall tearms; not ſome Saints to rule by Deputies, made of the reſt of the Saints, as the practiſe of men ſeem to interpret. And all to be true Saints, not ſeeming. Thus we read in Dan. 7. verſe 14. and 27. And Rev. 20.4. And Chap. 21. verſe 24.26. Study the places well, and you will eaſily picke it out.