The Resurrection Revealed, Book 6 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
THus of Qualities, now wee come to Priviledges, ſc. That which Saints had afore, either in common with others, or in an ordinary degree, they ſhall now have in a way of ſpecial Priviledge, and preheminence.
SECT. I.
Firſt Priviledge, The fulfilling of moſt things that before were but foretold.
§. 1 THe Myſteries and Propheſies, which before they had but in the Word, now they ſhall have in the thing.
¶ 1 For Myſteries. See Rev. 11.19. The Temple of God was opened, and there was ſeen in his Temple the Arke of his Teſtament. This cleerly relates to the time we ſpeake of, as it is evident in verſe 15. The ſeventh Angel ſounded, &c. And the Temple of God was opened in Heaven. By comparing this with Rev. 21. verſe 22, the thing is plainer, And I ſaw no Temple therein; but the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb was the Temple. And this alſo relates to the ſame time. See verſe 1. I ſaw New Heaven, and New Earth. Verſe 2. And I ſaw New Jeruſalem. This Propheſie plainly foretels of a kinde of Temple in thoſe dayes, of which we ſpeak. In Ezek. wee have much of the meaſures of the Temple. So Ezek. Chapter 41. and 42. &c. cleerly relating to a New Teſtament time by St. Johns expoſition, Rev: 21. And Malachy tels us, Chap. 3. verſe 1. The Lord will ſuddenly come to his Temple. And John ſaith, Rev. 7.15. The Saints ſerve God day and night in his Temple. Chap. 11.1. The Temple is meaſured. Chap. 14, 15, 17. Angels come out of the Temple. Chap. 15.5. The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Teſtimony in heaven was opened. Chap. 16.1.17. Voyces come out of the Temple. And in the Text wee alleadged Chap. 11. v. 19. The Temple of God was open, and the Arke was ſeen. Now what is the meaning of all? Surely a Temple equivalently they ſhall have; But no Temple properly, as it is ſaid, Rev. 21. v. 22. I ſaw no Temple; But God and the Lamb was that equivalent Temple, yea that ſuper-eminent Temple. And the preſence of God in Chriſt ſhall bee ſuch with them; that (as Rev. 11.19.) that ſpiritual Arke ſhall not be hid, as was the material Ark in the Old Teſtament Temple, but ſhall be ſeen. In the Ark was the Table of the Law, and the Pot of Manna. Chriſt the end of the Law, Rom. 10.4. And Chriſt and his word is the Manna. Rev. 2. The Arke was in the holieſt of Holies which was ſeldome ſeen, and onelyonly when the High Prieſt went in. But now this ſpiritual Arke in this glorious time is commonly ſeen. Obſerve, That the Arke typified Chriſt and his Word; As the Temple was a pledge of Gods preſence, as before that the Tabernacle was: So that the meaning is, That now Gods preſence ſhall be ſuch in, and through Chriſt to his Church, that the glory of Chriſt, and the myſtery of his word, ſhall be far more plain unto them. There ſhall be no material Temple; but there ſhall be the equivalent Temple, the Antitype, Gods preſence in Chriſt gloriouſly manifeſt. And his Word more open and plaine then ever ſince the New Teſtament. All myſteries relating to this time, foretold, ſhall be revealed. Now ſhall bee fulfilled that Dan. 12. Knowledge ſhall be increaſed. And that Iſa. 11. The earth ſhall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea. All that men had before in the ear, now they ſhall have in the eye; their ſcience ſhall be turned to experience.
¶ 2 All Propheſies relating to the beſt of Times of the Saints welfare ſhall now be fulfilled. The Saints ſhall not have theſe things onelyonly in types, viſions, or knowledge, but in poſſeſſion, and happy injoyment. The Revelation is the ſumme of all the Prophets. This is declared to John by Chriſt, Rev. 1. ſc. in a repreſentation. And therefore it is ſaid, Rev. 22.6. The Lord God of the holy Prophets ſent his Angel, to ſhew unto his ſervants the ſayings of the Propheſie of this Booke. The intent and meaning is, That the Lord God that ſpake by the Prophets, and ſpake of theſe things by the Prophets, ſent by his Angel to explain thoſe things delivered by the Prophets concerning theſe times of which we ſpeak. Now this Book of the Revelation, though it be far plainer then the Prophets, yet it is not fully and wholly plain to us, therefore called A ſealed Booke, that Chriſt muſt open, Rev. 5. This opening is by the events, Rev. 6. &c. which will be compleatly done in this viſible glorious time of the Church, as we may perceive by the light now at the dawning afore the Sunne of righteouſneſſe doth ariſe. Chriſt is the Yea and Amen of all the promiſes, 2 Cor. 1.20. therefore when he appears again, all will appear fulfilled. As the woman of Samaria ſaid, Joh. 4. ſo it ſhall be, ſc. when the Meſsiah commeth, which is called the Chriſt, he ſhall tell us all things; yea reſtore all things, Act. 3. Therefore is Chriſt called the WORD of GOD, and the Heire of all things, becauſe he will declare and perform all things.
§. 2 What Mr. Bolton ſaith of everlaſting glory in the higheſt Heaven, ſhall be proportionably true now, in this thouſand yeers. We ſhall perfectly underſtand all Phyſical, or natural, and ſpiritual things, what is the number of the Heavens; The eſſences of the creaures; How we ſhall know and behold God in Chriſt, &c: And then ſhall bee fulfilled all the prayers of Saints put up for the welfare of Church and Saints from the beginning of the world; Then ſhall Sem and Japhet dwell together; Then thoſe prayers that gave God no reſt till he made Jeruſalem a praiſe, ſhall be anſwered, and all the glorious things that have been ſpoken of the Church, the City of God ſhall appear in their colours, and be given in, in great glory: As it is ſaid, ſhe is the Lords portion, Deut. 32.9. His pleaſant portion, Jer. 12.10. His inheritance, Iſa. 19.25. All people are the worke of his hands, but his Church is his Inheritance. Again the Church is called the Dearly beloved of his ſoule, Jer. 12.7. His love, his dove, his undefiled, all faire, &c. Cant. oft. His Treaſure, and peculiar treaſure, Ex. 19 5. The Lords houſe of glory, Iſa. 60.7. Yea His glory, Iſa. 46.13. and THE glory of God, Jer. 3.17. Nay the Throne of his glory, Jer. 14.21. Nay the Crowne of his glory, Iſa. 62.3. Nay the Royal Diadem, Ibid. Againe the Church is called, The ornament of God, the beauty of his ornaments, the beauty of his ornament in Majeſty, Ezek. 7.20. Yea the Church is called Chriſts body, Chriſts fulneſſe preſented without ſpot, Eph. 1. Eph. 5. Now all theſe in the thouſand yeers muſt be fully fulfilled, Rev. 21. throughout.
SECT. II.
The Second Priviledge is, A ſuperabundant pouring out of the Spirit.
§. 1 THe Saints ever ſince they beleeved, have had the Spirit in ſome meaſure, ſc. as a Spirit of Adoption, and Sanctification; ſo theſe are in Rom. 8. viz. v. 10. and v. 15. But now they ſhall have it in a more exceeding abounding manner, and meaſure, both for gifts and graces.
§. 2 Joel 2.28. Afterwards I will pour out my ſpirit upon all fleſh, and your ſonnes, and your daughters ſhall propheſie, your old men ſhall dream dreams, and your young men ſhall ſee viſions, and alſo upon the ſervants, and upon the hand-maids in thoſe dayes, will I poure out my Spirit. I did before in the Quod ſit, prove, Firſt, That this did relate to the time we ſpeake of. Secondly, That that pouring out, Act. 2. was but the firſt fruits, ſc. Spirit was abundantly poured out but upon ſome few.
And Dan. 12. verſe 2, 3, and 4. it is propheſied of this time, Many of them that ſleep in the duſt of the earth ſhall awake, &c. and they that bee wiſe ſhall ſhine as the brightneſſe of the firmament, and they that turne many to righteouſneſſe as the ſtars for ever and ever. And knowledge ſhall be increaſed. The demonſtration of this place to belong to this time we ſpeake of, you have heard afore.
SECT. III.
The third Priviledge; A wonderful returne of prayers.
§. 1 ISaiah 65.24. It ſhall come to paſſe, that before they call, I will anſwer, and whiles they are yet ſpeaking, I will heare. That theſe words are within the body of a maine Propheſie, of the viſible glory of the Church in the time we ſpeake of, we have abundantly proved afore. And you your ſelves may ſee, by weighing verſe 17. afore ſc. I create New Heavens, and a New Earth, &c. (compared with 2 Pet. 3.) and 25. after: The Wolfe ſhall dwel with the Lamb, &c. they ſhall not hurt, nor deſtroy in all the holy mountaine. And this ſame verſe, ſc. 24. which I urge, Mr. Archer alſo urgeth to the ſame purpoſe, in his Book of Chriſts Reigne on Earth, page 31. ſaying, That at this time there ſhall be a full and preſent anſwer to all their prayers. At this time, the reverſion of all the prayers of all former ages will come into the Churches hands; the effect of all thoſe will flow in upon the Church unto a ſea of happineſſe. And if this Church at preſent makes any prayers, they ſhall have a preſent anſwer. The Text ſaith, Before they call. The Hebrew is rendred both by the Latins, Greek, Syr. and Arab. Before they cry out. So that before they pray as men in extremity, or diſtreſſe, God will anſwer, which is plaine by that which follows: For whiles they are ſpeaking, even in their hearts, whiles they are but thinking prayer, their deſires ſhall be fulfilled. Mr. Bolton ſaith, that whiles the Saints are but thinking the deſire of moving from one place to another, from one company of Saints and Angels to another (whether in heaven, or on earth, or both, for moſt probably, heaven and earth in common ſhall at laſt be the Sea of bliſſe, both being made equally glorious) they ſhall move thither even in an imperciptible time, that is, very ſuddenly: Now every thing muſt bee compleated in its prime; and therefore whatſoever requeſts the Saints may then make as comporting with that ſtate, it ſhall bee (to uſe Chriſts words which then muſt be fulfilled to purpoſe) But ask and have. It is true, this ſtate ſhal be a ſtate of perfection, but it doth exiſt on this ſide the laſt looſing of Satan, the riſing of Gog and Magog, and the ultimate general judgement; What requeſts the Saints may then make we cannot affirm. But ſure if they make any, they ſhal be without ſinne or ſorrow (as before we have largely intimated.) The word prayer in Scripture comprehends praiſes, and praiſes, prayers; as David calls his Pſalmes Thillim, Praiſes, though they contain many Prayers. That in this ſtate the Church ſhall abound with praiſes the Revelation doth often hint, as Rev. 11. Rev. 14. Rev. 19. And even as Chriſt layes not downe his Mediatorſhip till the end of the thouſand yeers in divers reſpects (of which afore) ſo perhaps the Saints may make ſome kinde of prayers; As, for the exerciſe of their communion with God; the uſe of their graces, the receivall of reciprocall impreſſions, for the continuation of their preſent ſtate (though God hath aſſured them it ſhall not faile) prayer being the conduit of the fluxive River-like flowing in of it; And for the finiſhing of their preſent ſtate to the utmoſt ſupernal eternal glory. I tenderly propoſe theſe things wherein my light is dim. Moſt probably Adam in innocency ſhould have ſpoken to God in ſome way of prayer. And the Angel made a requeſt to Chriſt, Dan. 12.6. But I ceaſe.
SECT. IV.
Upon thoſe there former Priviledges followes this, that in this glorious time the Churches Ordinances ſhall be in an higher Key, either in Quality, or Degree.
§. 1 CHriſt ſtill holding his Mediatorſhip (not to be laid downe till the end of the ultimate day of judgement, 1 Cor. 15.) and hee appearing in his glory to the Church, as the great ordinance of Ordinances, ſhall by ſpeciall communion with the Church, manifeſt to it the mind of God. So that as God ſpake to Adam in Paradiſe, and gave him the Ordinance of that ſeale, the tree of life; ſo here is this ſecond Paradiſian ſtate of the Church, there ſhall be a ſpecial manifeſtation, and communication of, and through Chriſt, who is the maine tree of life, Rev. 22. The Saints ſhall have ſuch manifeſtations of the preſence of God through Chriſt, that now mainly is that fulfilled, they ſhall be all taught of God, as Adam was inſtructed in Paradiſe.
§. 2 They ſhall have the high Ordinance, that Angelical Ordinance of praiſe to God, Rev. 11. Rev. 14. Rev. 19. Praiſe is as well an injunction as Prayer, and as formerly, Faſting was an extraordinary worſhip in miſery; ſo now praiſe in time of all mercies.
§. 3 Their meditation (which is an injoyned Ordinance) I ſay their meditation and contemplation of God, ſhall be as a viſion of God, or ſight of his face, Rev. 22.2, 3, 4. In the midſt of the ſtreet, and on either ſide of the river was the tree of life, yeelding fruit (the participation whereof comes not in without meditation, acting or receiving) and there ſhall be no curſe there, but the Throne of God, and the Lamb ſhall be in it, and his ſervants ſhall ſerve him (which ſure muſt be by meditation, minding what they doe) and THEY SHALL SEE HIS FACE. So that their meditation and contemplation of God, ſhall be as in a continuall viſion of God. Glorious ſights cauſe meditation, and meditation takes in the glorious repreſentations.
They ſhall have the word for inſpection, Rev. 22.14.19. and admiration, to ſee all revealed, and all fulfilled. They ſhall be taught of God to know the full minde of that word, and they themſelves ſhall ſee with their eyes that fulfilled, which out of the word, they heard with their ears. So that their Joſhua, ſc. Jeſus ſhall ſay to them according to their experience, Nothing hath failed of all that God hath ſpoken. They ſhall have the effect of ſublime purity and glory of Diſcipline, ſc. Angelical order, Rev. 21.12. ſc. 4. Gates, and three Angels at every gate. So that verſe 25. Though the gate be never ſhut, yet, verſe 27. no unclean thing ſhall enter in, which is the cream and quinteſſence of the effect of all Diſcipline. In ſumme, As then the labour of the body in moving ſhall be more excellent, a labour-leſſe labour, a pain-leſſe labour, a pleaſant labour; ſo the worſhip of the minde ſhall be without irkſomeneſſe; So full of grace, that all actings of grace ſhall be heaveniſed into all ſweetneſſe.
SECT. V.
The fifth Priviledge, Union of Saints throughout the world.
UNion of heads, and union of hearts, ſc. unity in judgement, and unity in affection, Zach. 14.9. The Lord ſhall be King over all the earth. In that day there ſhall be one Lord, and his name one. Is hee not King now? Yea, but not ſo actually, viſibly and abſolutely before the eyes of all (many great wicked ones yet domineering) as he ſhall be then. Is not his name now one? yes in it ſelfe, he is the God of truth. But by mens pretences that he favours this way, and that way, men intimate of him ſeveral names, as Papiſt, Lutheran, Calviniſt, Epiſcopal, Presbyterian, Independent. But then it ſhall be cleer, which is the onelyonly way of truth. And ſo God ſhall have one name; becauſe, as Zeph. 3.9. They ſhall ſerve the Lord with oneneſſe of conſent, all being of a pure language. So that their judgements being one, and conſequently their practiſes one, great will be the oneneſſe of affections, as Iſa. 11.13. The envy of Ephraim ſhall depart, Ephraim ſhall not envy Judah, nor Judah vexe Ephraim. If ſo great was the union of Saints in the firſt fruits, Act. 4.32. how much more when the whole lump is fully perfected; ſurely their union ſhall be as that in Paradiſe before Adam fell. The hiſtory of diſſention now, is grievous to Saints; therefore on the contrary, how ſweet will the myſtery bee in the injoyment of Union.
SECT. VI.
The ſixth Priviledge, Honour ſhall be given to all holy things, ſc. to Religion, and religious men.
§. 1 GOd hath in ſeveral paſſages (you heard afore) promiſed to take away the reproach of his people, as in other things, ſo in Religion. This is Gilgal the Great, to rowle away the reproach from Iſrael. In the day when the Jewes ſhall be converted, ten ſhall take hold of one Jew, Zach. 8.23. therefore it is ſaid divers times in the Revelation, ſc. Rev. 14.1. Rev. 22.4. The Saints ſhall have the name of their Father in their foreheads. They ſhall be no more aſhamed of their Religion, then of their faces. Though the Church kiſſe Chriſt, ſc. dearly imbrace him, yet ſhall ſhe not be deſpiſed, Cant. 8.1. Hebrew, I will finde thee in the ſtreets, I will kiſſe thee, and alſo they ſhall not contemne me. Publick profeſſion, and imbracing of Chriſt ſhal not be deſpiſed, as 'tis ſpoken in the very ſame Chap. of Canticles, where is handled the call of the Jewes. So Iſa. 49.23. Kings ſhall bee thy Nurſes. Rev. 21. Kings ſhall bring their honour to the Church. Iſa. 60.13. The glory of Lebanon, &c. ſhall come to beautifie my Sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious. Chriſt the head, the Church the feet. And there Chriſt walks, Rev. 1. And that Chriſt will make glorious afore all, though formerly men trampled. Yea Zach. 9.16. The Church ſhall be as the ſtones of a crown lifted up. Not as ſtones in the ſtreet, but of a Crowne. Not of a Crowne falling, but of a Crowne lifted up. Zach. 12.5, The Governours of Judah ſhall ſay in their hearts, the inhabitants of Jeruſalem, my ſtrength in the Lord of Hoſts. We know that of late dayes, governours have put all the reproachfull names upon the Saints, and Churches of the pureſt judgement and profeſſion; as Faction, Schiſme, Puritans, &c. But the time is at hand, they ſhall be convinced, and ſhall know that Saints are the beſt men, the intereſt and ſtay of Kingdomes.
§. 2 Let the conſideration of theſe Priviledges make us walk like them that ſhall ſee theſe times; let the dawning be upon us, now the Sun is about to riſe, cleaving to Chriſt in Ordinances, and to one another in love, honouring them moſt, that have moſt holineſſe: Yea let this comfort us, that all the glorious Promiſes, and Propheſies ſhall then be fulfilled.
Finis Libri Sexti.