A Glimpse of Zions Glory, Text
A GLIMPSE OF SIONS GLORY: OR, THE CHURCHES BEAUTIE ſpecified.
REVEL. 19. VERSE 6.
And I heard as it were the voice of a great Multitude, and as the voice of many Waters, and as the voice of mighty Thundrings, ſaying HALLELVIAH, for the LORD GOD Omnipotent reigneth.
AT the powring forth of the firſt Viall, there was a Voice, ſaying, BABYLON is fallen, it is fallen: at the powring forth of the ſixth, Iohn heares a voice as the voice of many Waters, and as the voice of Thundrings, ſaying Hallelujah, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, immediately following the other. Babylons falling is Sions raiſing Babylons deſtruction is Ieruſalems ſalvation. The fourth Viall was powred upon the Sunne, which is yet doing, (namely upon the Emperour and that Houſe of Auſtria) and will be till that Houſe be deſtroyed. The heat of that makes the ſeat of the Beaſt hot, and prepares it unto the fire, that it is appointed unto▪ God is beginning the powring forth of the fifth Viall, namely, upon the Throne of the Beaſt, upon Babylon; this is the worke that is in hand: as ſoone as ever this is done, that Antichriſt is downe, Babylon fallen, then comes in Jeſus Chriſt reigning gloriouſly; then comes in this Hallelujah, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let Chriſt live, and Barrabas die, was the laſt ſpeech of Tremellius: Let Babylon fall, let Ieruſalem riſe, and Chriſt reigne in his glory; this is the voice of all the Saints this day, and will continue to their laſt Voyce: It is the work of the day to cry downe Babylon, that it may fall more and more, and it is the worke of the day to give God no reſt, till he ſets up Ieruſalem as the praiſe of the whole World. Bl…ſſed is he that daſheth the Brats of Babylon againſt the ſtones: Bleſſed is hee that hath any hand in pulling downe Babylon: and beautifull likewiſe are the feet of them that bring glad tidings unto Ieruſalem, unto Zion, ſaying, The Lord God omnipotent reigneth. This is the work of this Exerciſe; to ſhew unto you, how upon the deſtruction of Babylon Chriſt ſhall reigne gloriouſly, and how we are to further it.
The words then read unto you, they are you ſee an Halleluiah.
Quaeſt.But what is that to the day of a Faſt? Is an Halleluiah ſutable to a Faſt? Hallelujah is, Praiſe ye the Lord; the worke of a Faſt is a mourning worke, and yet this Hallelujah is ſutable to this day of Faſt.
Anſw.1. Sutable: Firſt our mourning is to be Evangelicall, and therefore to have comfort mixed with it.
Secondly, becauſe our mourning is a preparation to, and haſtning of this Hallelujah.
Thirdly, becauſe we are by faith to ſpeake of things as if they were done: therefore now to ſhew you what is to be done, and what wee are to looke upon as if it were done this day; Hallelujah is ſutable for that.
Yea further, a day of Humiliation is a day of Reconciliation too, as well as a day of Humiliation; and the great fruit of our Reconciliation with God, is the ſetting up of the Kingdome of his Sonne.
Yea, we read of the Churrh of the Iewes, that in their returning from the Captivity, God did lead them by weeping, 31. Ier. 9. The Argument of deliverance from Captivity under Antichriſt, and the ſetting up of the Kingdome of Jeſus Chriſt, may ſtand with our weeping: and we in a weeping and a mourning frame, are fitteſt to heare ſuch an Argument as this is.
Quaeſt.Hallelujah is an Hebrew word; why here uſed?
Anſw.Firſt to note the joyning of the Church of the Gentiles with the Jewes, according to the Propheſie in the 14 of Zachary 9. The Lord ſhall be King over all the Earth, in that day there ſhall be one Lord, and his name one.
Secondly, becauſe the Gentiles are to provoke the Church of the Iewes to come in, according to the Prophecy of Iſaiah, 2. C. 3.5. Come ye, let us go up to the Mountaine of the Lord, to the Houſe of the God of Jacob, and hee will teach us of his wayes, and wee will walke in his Paths; 5. verſe. O Houſe of Jacob, Come yee and let us walke in the light of the Lord: The Gentiles calling upon the Iewes to come in: ſo it ſhall be at the Iewes Calling; and therefore this Hebrew word is uſed, Hallelujah, as if the Gentiles ſhould provoke the Iewes after Antichriſt is fallen now to praiſe the Lord, becauſe he reignes.
In this Hallelujah there are theſe 2. things conſiderable. Firſt, what it is for which this Hallelujah is ſung. Secondly, from whom. Firſt, what it is for? It is for this, becauſe the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, the Lord God, that is, Chriſt; Chriſt now appeares to be Lord God: his Lordſhip and Dominion was much darkned before: now it appeares to all the world, that he is Lord God, Lord God omnipotent: the Name of Chriſt is the mighty God, as 9. Iſay, 6. but hee is but little knowne by this Name in compariſon: after Antichriſt is fallen, he ſhall bee knowne by his owne Name, the mighty God, the Lord God omnipotent, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth; his Crowne and Dignity were as it were hidden before in compariſon: little of the power of the Soveraignty of Chriſt did outwardly appeare before: but now it ſhall appeare, before the eies of all his enemies, that it is he that reignes, he hath the Kingdome of Kingdomes, and is the Lord of Lords. 2. From whence came this Hallelujah, I heard as it were the Voice of a great Multitude, and as the voice of many Waters: by Waters we are to underſtand People; the voice of many Waters, of many People.
Firſt, it is the voice of the Waters, the voice of Jeſus Chriſt reigning in his Church, comes firſt from the Multitude, the common People, the voice is heard from them firſt, before it is heard from any others: God uſes the common People and the Multitude to proclaime that the Lord God omnipotent reigneth: As when Chriſt came at firſt, the poore receive the Goſpell; not many Wiſe, not many Noble, not many Rich, but the Poore: ſo in the Reformation of Religion, after Antichriſt began to be diſcovered, it was the common People that firſt came to look after Chriſt. In the 5. Cant. 7. we find the Church inquiring for her beloved, which is to be underſtood of theſe times of Reformation: ſhee went to the Watchmen, the Watchmen ſmote her, deſpiſed her, and perſecuted her; at the 8th. verſe ſhe goes to the Daughters of Ieruſalem, and enquires for her Beloved, that is, among private Chriſtians and common People, and this glorious Church that is to come, when the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, according as it is here ſaid, the voice will bee firſt among the Multitude. It is obſervable that wee have in the 7. Cant. 1. where you find a deſcription of the glorious Church that is a comming, wherein Chriſt is to reigne gloriouſly, the deſcription there begins at the feet, and goes upward: When Chriſt is deſcribed 5. Cant. the deſcription of Chriſt is from the head, and ſo downeward: But when the Eſtate of the Church in her glory is deſcribed; ſhee begins at the feet and goes upward, to note the beginning and the raiſing of the Church is like to bee at firſt among the meaner ſort of People, among the Multitude. The Hallelujah for Babylons downfall was among the Multitude, before it came to the foure and twenty Elders, as you may ſee in the beginning of the Chapter. The Buſineſſe Brethren concerning the SCOTS, it is a buſineſſe, in the iſſue whereof wee hope there will be great things: Where began it? at the very Feet, at the very ſoles of the feet. You that are of the meaner rank, common People, be not diſcouraged; for God intends to make uſe of the common People in the great Worke of proclaiming the Kingdome of his Sonne; the Lord God omnipotent reigneth: the Voice that will come of Chriſts reigning, is like to begin from thoſe that are the Multitude, that are ſo contemptible, eſpecially in the eyes and account of Antichriſts ſpirits, and the Praelacie, the vulgar Multitude, the common People; what more contemned in their mouths then they? and yet it is from them that this Voice doth come; The Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Wee read in the 2. Chron. 30.15. that the Prieſts and Levites were aſhamed in that glorious Reformation of Hezekiah, they did not prepare themſelves as the People did: So it is many times, that in many places where God is doing a great work, and whenſoever God ſets up the Kingdome of his Sonne, in that glorious manner that hee doth intend, he wil not begin with the Prieſts and Levites, they will not bee ſo forward, but the People at the firſt are more forward. In the 3. Nehem. 5. it is ſaid concerning the building of the Temple and Ieruſalem, that the Nobles did not put to their necks, but it is ſaid the People bleſſed thoſe that came to dwell at Jeruſalem; but yet marke further, it came from the Multitude as a noiſe of many Waters: though the voice of Chriſts reigne came firſt from the Multitude; yet it comes but in a confuſed manner, as the noiſe of many Waters: though the Multitude may begin a thing, and their intention may be good in it; yet it is not for them to bring it to perfection, that which they do commonly is mixed with much confuſion, and a great deale of diſorder. It was but as the voice of many Waters, the People had a hint of ſomthing; downe with Antichriſt, downe with Popery, not underſtanding diſtinctly what they did; their voice was but as the voice of many Waters: Therfore it followes, and as the Voice of mighty Thundrings, that is, as one paraphraſes of it, the Voice that is more terrible and piercing like the Thunder; After the beginning of this confuſed noiſe among the Multitude, God moves the hearts of Great ones, of Noble, of Learned ones, and they come in to the Worke, and their voice is as the voice of mighty Thundring, a Voice that ſtrikes terror, and hath a Majeſtie in it to prevaile. We heare of the voice of the Multitude in our owne Countrey, as the voice of many Waters, they cry up the Kingdome of Chriſt, and cry downe the Kingdome of Antichriſt, cry downe Babylon, and the Praelacie; but this doth ſeeme to be the Voice of many Waters, that the Adverſaries derided it, ſcorned it. It is but the Multitude, a company of rude People: But bleſſed bee God, we begin to heare the voice from the Thundrings too in a more terrible way: God begins to work upon the Great ones of the Land, the Worthies of the Land that are drawne together in that ASSEMBLY, and they doe begin to come to the Land, and beyond the Land to our eares, as it is terrible in the eares of the Adverſaries, that they begin to feare. This is the work of the day, for us to lift up our voice to Heaven, that it might bee mighty to bring forth more and more; the voice of our PARLIAMENT as a voice of Thunder, a terrible voice to the Antichriſtian party, that they may ſay, The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. And let us not be diſcouraged, for our Prayers though they be poore and meane, and ſcattered, they may further the Voice of Thundrings: though our Prayers bee as the Voice of many Waters, confuſed; we may by them further this Worke, ſo as to heare more of the Voice of our Worthies duplicate page duplicate page that are aſſembled, as Thundrings, ſaying, The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. 1. Sam. 7.9. When Samuel did but offer a ſucking Lamb, there aroſe Thundrings: If wee come before the Lord, and it be but a ſucking Lamb that we are able to offer; if we come but to preſent our ſelves only to teſtifie on what ſide we are, there may come that Voice of Thundrings from our PARLIAMENT, furthered by our Voice, ſaying, The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. How gladly would wee heare this Voice come from our Nobles, and the KING himſelfe, and the Great ones of the Kingdome, to heare them powerfully commanding and ſpeaking for the furtherance of the Kingdome of Ieſus Chriſt, and the ſetting it up! But to come more cloſely to the words: there are theſe two Doctrinall concluſions that contain the ſcope of them.1. Doct. Firſt, that though the Kingdome of Chriſt may be darkned for a while; yet certainly Chriſt will reigne in his Church gloriouſly, at which the Saints will ſing Hallelujah.
2. Doct.Secondly, that the beginning of this glorious Reigne of Chriſt, the Multitude of the People ſhall bee the furtherers of it, and take ſpeciall notice of it. It is but only the firſt that I doe intend to ſpeake of, in way of a Doctrinall Concluſion, it is this
Doct.Though Chriſts Kingdome bee for a while darkned, Chriſt ſhall reigne gloriouſly, that is implyed: It is revealed to John as a great wonder, as a glorious thing. Why, did not Chriſt reigne before? Yes, but not in that manner that now hee is to reigne: the Kingdome of Chriſt hath beene exceedingly darkned in the World; though it now begins to appeare a little more brightly, it hath beene exceedingly darkned. When he came in his owne Perſon, how did he appeare to reigne, and be the Lord God Omnipotent? I meane outwardly, he was a man of Sorrowes; one that vvas rather a Worme then a Man: as it is ſaid of him, He was one, in whom appeared no Forme and Beauty; for which hee ſhould be deſired. Hee was even bruiſed by his Father, hee was in the forme of a Servant; yea in the forme of an evill Servant; being made ſinne for us, and beaten like an evill ſervant; yea made a Curſe for us, and that in the Abſtract; how did he reigne? they made him a King in way of deriſion, put a Reed into his Hand in ſtead of a Scepter, and bowed the Knee in ſcorne, and called him the King of the Iews: and thus he reigned outwardly, and not otherwiſe, in his own Perſon. And afterwards in the Primitive Times how did he appeare to be Lord God, and to reigne there, when the Heathen Emperors reigned over his Subjects, and had their wills upon them? his Subjects were but a company of poore diſtreſſed for lorne people, wandring up and downe, perſecuted, and deſtitute of all comforts. Afterwards when God brought Conſtantine the Chriſtian Emperour and others to reigne, the Church enjoyed a little Peace, this was but for a little time. In the 8. of the Revelation, it is ſaid there was ſilence in Heaven for halfe an houre, which is applyed to the little Time of reſpite that the Church had in Conſtantines time: for Litinius who was joyned with Conſtantine in the Empire, preſently fell off, and grew a Perſecutor: then ſpread Arianiſme over all the World, that all the World ſeemed to be an Arrian, ſo that he was not acknowledged Lord God; and therefore not reigned. Then Antichriſtianiſme ſpread it ſelfe, and he ſet up himſelfe as Lord God, and hee preſcribed Lawes to the Conſciences of men, and Chriſt was caſt out of his Throne: yea, to this day how little hath Chriſt reigned outwardly? The Divell himſelfe is a greater King, I meane in regard of multiplicity of Subjects. Divide the World into thirty parts, and there are not above five of thoſe that acknowledge Chriſt; and out of thoſe five take them where Antichriſt reignes, and how little doth Chriſt reigne? and among them where Chriſt is acknowledged, and Antichriſt rejected, how is his Kingdome perſecuted, and of the better ſort? how is his Kingdome ſleighted, and many forward Profeſſors, and zealous Miniſters have hard thoughts of it. Yea, among thoſe that ſet up his Kingdome, in regard of their miſcarriages his Kingdome is darkned; ſo that Chriſt hath but a little Reigne in the World: And it is a glorious thing ſpoken of to Iohn, That Chriſt Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. What ſhall we ſay to theſe things? That Chriſt ſhould be King of Heaven and Earth, and ſhould appeare ſo little in his reigne as he hath done, and yet doth to this day. Let us ſtay a little here, and admire at the infinite depth and Wiſedome of Gods Counſells that are paſt finding out. What God ſhould aym at and meane (if wee may ſpeake with holy Reverence) to ſuffer theſe Things, that his owne Sonne ſo infinitely deere unto him, ſhould have his glory ſo darkned in the World as he hath. We may think of ſome Reaſons why God doth ſuffer this; but what his ayme and intentions are in the depth of his Counſels, is infinitely beyond us.
Reaſ. 1.It may be it is to be a ſtumbling-block to wicked and ungodly men in his juſt Judgement, that they ſhould ſee and not underſtand.
Reaſ. 2.And it vvas upon this ground that God ſuffered his Kingdome to be darkned hitherto, that Antichriſt might prevaile, becauſe of much Glory that he is intended to bring out of the prevailing of Antichriſt in the World: therefore in his Providence he hath ſo permitted it, as that the Kingdome of his Sonne for many yeeres ſhould be darkned. And (my Brethren) if the Kingdome of Chriſt had bin kept in Congregations, in that way that we and ſome other Churches are in, it had bin impoſſible that Antichriſt ſhould have got head. But God in his Providence, becauſe he would permit Antichriſt to riſe and to Rule for a long time, and he had many things to bring out the Kingdome of Antichriſt, to worke for his Glory; therefore God hath left this Truth to be ſo darke, the ſetting up of Chriſt in his Kingly Office. Reaſ. 3.Thirdly, becauſe God would exerciſe the Faith and other Graces of his Spirit in his Children, that they might beleeve in, and love Jeſus Chriſt for his ſpirituall Beauty, though there appeares nothing but ſpirituall Beauty, though no outward Beauty, no outward Kingdome doth appeare, but he be as a ſpirituall King only. It was a great and a glorious Worke, in thoſe three wiſe Men that came to Chriſt that offered Frankincenſe, and Gold and Myrrhe, to Chriſt when he was in a Cratch, in a Manger; and ſo for Gods people now to beleeve in him, now to love, now to reioyce in him, to offer all to him, now his Kingdome is darkned, now he doth appeare ſo meane as he is, this is a glorious worke of Faith, and we ſhould labour much to exerciſe this worke of …aith, in looking vponupon this ſpirituall Beauty that is in Chriſt, and ſatisfying our Soules in that, that ſo we may not be offended at the darkning of Chriſts Kingdome outwardly: And the leſſe Chriſt doth reigne outwardly in the world, the leſſe glorious his Kingdome doth appeare outwardly, the more let us labour to bring our hearts under his ſpirituall Reigne: The more others ſay, We will not have this man reigne over vsus, the more let our Soules ſubiect themſelves to him, and ſay, Chriſt is our KING, and let him reigne for ever over us, yea let us labour to ſymphathize with Jeſus Chriſt in the darkning of his glory and of his Kingdome. IESVS CHRIST, though he the glory of his Father, the Brightneſſe of his Glory, the Character and graven Forme, or the Image of his Father, yet is he contented to have his glory darkned. Who are we that we muſt have Glory in this world and outward excellencies, when Chriſt is willing to be without them; Let us be willing to goe like the Witneſſes, clothed in Sackcloth till Chriſt comes to reigne: There are white ſhining garments prepared, but that time is not yet, though it wil not be long. The Bridegroom yet ſeems to be abſent, and therefore it is fit for the Spouſe to goe low and mean in the mourning weeds as a Widdow: the trimming of the Bride in her outward glory, may come hereafter, when Chriſt ſhall come in glory into the World. And Laſtly the Kingdom of Chriſt is darkned for a while outwardly, and therefore it ſhould teach us to bleſſe God ſo much the more for that Opportunitie that we have of ſetting vp Chriſt as King amongſt us: For yet, the Voyce is not heard much, That the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth abroad in the World, though lately ſome noiſe we have heard: But, bleſſed be God, in our Congregations amongſt us, we may heare, That the Lord GOD Omnipotent reigneth. It is through our wretched wickedneſſe, if his Kingly Power be not fully ſet up amongſt us in all his Ordinances: And that we ſhould have an opportunity to ſet up his Kingly Power amongſt us heere, while it is ſo much oppoſed, and ſo little knowne in the world, it is a great mercy. And let us take heed of abuſing that opportunity we have, for darkning the Kingly Power of Chriſt, which we profeſſe to ſet up: Eſpecially in theſe Times, when there comes to be a Voyce, though confuſedly, from the Multitude, and ſome Kind of Voyce of Thunder from the Great ones.
But though it be darke for a while, certainly he ſhall reigne, and the Voyce will be glorious and diſtinct one Day, Saying, HALLELVIAH the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. He ſhall reigne firſt Perſonally; ſecondly, in his Saints.
Firſt, Perſonally; we will not fully determine of the manner of his Perſonall Reigning, but thus farre wee may ſee there is a Voice of great waters, though not diſtinct: but a Probability in his Perſon GOD and MAN; he ſhall reigne vponupon the Earth, here in this World before that great and Solemne Day. There are divers Scriptures that have ſomewhat of this in them, we cannot give the diſtinct Voyce of thoſe Scriptures, but many of Gods Saints, they do heare ſomthing, and when a thing growes neerer and neerer, God will reveale it more diſtinct; Zachary 12.10. They ſhall looke upon him whom they have pierced, and ſhall mourne for him, as one mourneth for his only Sonne. It is uſually underſtood either of a ſpirituall looking by the eye of Faith, or beholding Chriſt at the Day of Iudgment: But why ſhould we take it for a ſpirituall looking, and looking at the day of Iudgment? that place doth not hold out, that is not the thing intended: They ſhall mourne every one apart; this is not like the ſetting forth of the mourning at the Day of Iudgement: And take but this one Rule, that all Texts are to be underſtood literally, except they make againſt ſome other Scriptures, or except the very Coherence and Dependance of the Scripture ſhewes it otherwiſe, or it makes againſt the Analogy of Faith; now there is nothing againſt this, but it may bee ſo. A ſecond Scripture that ſeemes to hold out ſomewhat is that in the 26th. of Mathew, 29. I will not henceforth drinke of the Fruit of the Vine, untill that Day, when I drinke it new with you in my Fathers Kingdome. It is true, this is likewiſe interpreted in a myſticall ſenſe; but there is no reaſon, why wee may not take it literally. Not in the Kingdome of his Father in Heaven; but in that Kingdome that hee ſhall come in here to drinke the Fruit of the Vine, to have Communion with his Saints in this World, 2. Theſ. 2.8. Antichriſt ſhall be deſtroyed by the brightneſſe of Chriſts comming, the brightneſſe of his Perſonall comming: And that place Revel. 20. where it is ſaid, The Saints ſhall reigne with him a Thouſand years, which cannot be meant reigning with him in Heaven. It is made as a proper peculiar benefit unto ſuch as had refuſed Antichriſts Government, eſpecially to the Chriſtian Church: It is likely divers of the Prophets and Patriarchs may come in; but eſpecially it belongs to the Chriſtian Church: Now the reigning with Chriſt a thouſand yeeres is not meant reigning with him in Heaven, for after theſe thouſand yeares, there ſhall be many enemies raiſed againſt the Church, GOG and MAGOG ſhall gather themſelves together; if it were meant of Heaven, that could not be; and therefore it muſt be meant of Ieſus Chriſt comming and reigning heere gloriouſly for a Thouſand yeares. And although this may ſeeme to be ſtrange; yet heretofore it hath not beene accounted ſo, it hath beene a Truth received in the Primitive Times. Iuſtine Martyr, that lived preſently after IOHN, he ſpake of this as a thing that all Chriſtians acknowledged: and likewiſe Lactantius hath ſuch expreſſions in divers places of his Seventh Booke. That there are glorious Times comming, wherein ſhall be plenty and fruitfulneſſe in the Church, yet Firſt, Rome muſt de burnt, and Babylon firſt downe, and brings the Sybills, the Heathen Oracles for it, and after a little Time there ſhall be ſtirring up of Enemies againſt them: Thus farre they goe; if they did not beleeve that Chriſt himſelfe ſhould come perſonally to reigne, yet he ſhall with his Saints reigne in a Glorious Manner, and the Church ſhal be ſo raiſed up in the world outwardly, as to be aboue all the men of the World in outward Glory.
And there are many Scriptures full for that which we may be much more confident in, then wee can be of the other. There is a Time comming, when there ſhall be this Halleluiah in the Church, The Lord God omnipotent reigneth. As in the. 7. Dan. 17.18. The fower Beaſts are the foure Monarchies, and the laſt is the Roman Monarchy, and that Babylon ſhal goe down together, and immediatly upon that, the Saints of the moſt high ſhall take the Kingdome, and poſſeſſe the Kingdome for ever and ever: at the 21.22. Ʋer. 27. Verſe. And the Greatneſſe of the Kingdome under the whole Heaven ſhall be given to the People of the Saints of the moſt high: the Kingdome under Heaven is not the Kingdome of the World to come. More apparant is that in the 12th. of Dan. which is ordinarily interpreted of the day of Iudgment: but ſurely this Text doth not aime at the Day of Iudgment principally, but at a Time before. Firſt, becauſe many that ſleepe ſhall awake, not all, but many. Secondly he ſaies that they that are wiſe, ſhall ſhine as the Brightneſſe of the Firmament: Whereas the Glory that ſhall be put upon the Saints in Heaven ſhall be as the Sunne: Though this Glory be great, it is inferiour to that which ſhall be. The Third Reaſon is, that Daniel muſt ſhut up theſe Words, and ſeale up this Book as a great Secret: That there ſhould be a Reſurrection at the laſt Day, a reward of happineſſe to the righteous, and of Miſery to the Wicked is no great Secret, but this that was revealed to Daniel was a great Secret. But Daniel might ſay, if the Booke be ſhut up, how ſhall the Truth come to bee knowne? Many ſhall runne to and fro, and take paines in finding it out, and at laſt this Truth ſhall come to be found out, and Knowledge ſhall be increaſed. And certainely it is the Antichriſtian yoke that doth hide this Truth. Men dare not whiſper of any truth, but of ſuch as are held in the Church of Rome: But when there comes to be liberty of Churches, and that men may freely ſearch into this truth, knowledge will be increaſed. The fourth Reaſon is, becauſe in the laſt verſe, there ſeemes to be a Promiſe euen to Daniel, that hee ſhould have his ſhare and part in this glory: Was it ſuch a matter, that Daniel in the reſurrection ſhould have his lot, and that he ſhould ſtand up at the Day of Iudgment? No! but that he ſhould hauehave his Lot in that Reſurrection was a great Priviledge. Againe, for Chriſts Reigning with the Saints, take two Places in the Pſalmes. Pſalme 49.14. The Vpright ſhall hauehave Dominion ouer them in the Morning, there is a Time they ſhall hauehave Dominion, though now they have a Night, a morning ſhall come that the Ʋpright ſhall have Dominion. Pſalme, 149.5. and ſo on: Let his Saints be ioyfull in Glory, &c. and a two Edged Sword in their hands: To execute Vengeance upon the Heathen, and puniſhments upon the People, &c. What ſhall we make of theſe Scriptures? Indeed if we be put upon Allegoricall ſenſes, we may put off any Scripture; but if we take them literally, why ſhould we not? And the Promiſe that is made to them that overcome, Revel. 12. the latter end of it; Hee that overcommeth and keepeth my words, to him will I give Power over the Nations, and he ſhall rule them with a Rod of Iron, and as the Veſſels of a Potter, they ſhall be broken to ſhivers. What ſhall we make of this? except the Saints ſhall reigne, and there ſhall be a glorious Reigne of Chriſt with the Saints, and ſo that place of the Saints reigning and judging the World, ſome interpret it of the Day of Judgement, but theſe Scriptures ſeeme to have an apparancie to be before; and therfore Chriſt is ſaid to make them Kings and Prieſts unto GOD ſpiritually, though not every one properly Kings over others; yet ſo, as to have Power and Dominion in the World; and therefore where it is ſaid in the Goſpell, that righteous men deſired to ſee thoſe things that you ſee, and did not: in the 10th. of Luke it is ſaid, Kings deſired to ſee thoſe things that you ſee, and have not ſeene them: ſo that Chriſt ſhall reigne together with his Saints. And that there ſhall be ſuch a reigne of Chriſt; and this Hallelujah appeares by many Arguments, as take this one drawne from Scripture.
If there be many Propheſies and Promiſes in Scripture that are not yet fulfilled; and the fulfilling whereof will bring the Church into a more glorious condition then ever it was yet in the World: then there is a glorious Time a comming. Now there are ſuch Scriptures wherein are ſuch glorious things promiſed to be fulfilled to the Church, as yet never were fulfilled: And that wee know not what to make of, unleſſe there be a truth in this. 24. Iſay. 23. Then the Moone ſhall be confounded, and the Sunne ſhall be aſhamed, when the Lord of Hoaſts ſhall reigne in Mount Zion and in Ieruſalem: When was this, that there was ſuch a reigne of Chriſt in Mount Zion, as that the Moone was confounded, and the Sun aſhamed? Certainly this cannot be underſtood of their returne from their Captivity, for the People of the Iewes were under Contempt after their Deliverance from Captivity, and came not to ſuch a Glory as this, and were under a kind of Captivity, and met with ſuch oppoſitions, that they were as long building the Temple as they were in Captivity, ſeventy yeeres.
Object.But ſome that were in Captivity ſaw both the firſt & the ſecond Temple; how could this be, if it were ſo long?
AnſwereThe Foundation they might ſee, but not ſee it finiſhed. And in Ahaſuerus time they were in Captivity, as that had not God wrought mightily, they had all beene cut off by a wicked Haman: Therefore they were not ſo glorious. Iſaiah. 33.20. Look upon Zion the City of our Solemnities: Thine eies ſhall ſee Ieruſalem a quiet Habitation, a Tabernacle that ſhall not be taken downe: This Text neither hath not bin fulfilled hitherto, but muſt remaine. Iſay 54.11. Oh thou afflicted, toſſed with Tempeſts, and not comforted; Behold, J will lay thy Stones with faire Colours, and thy Foundations with Saphires, &c. When Antichriſt ſhall fall down, and the Iewes, called; and this Halleluia ſung, The Lord God omnipotent reigneth: then this Promiſe may be made good. Iſay. 60. if you read the whole Chapter, there are glorious things ſpoken of the reigne of the Church: but there have never beene ſuch glorious times ſince thoſe Prophecies, and therefore theſe we are to expect to be fulfilled. That place of Ezekiel, of the dry Bones receiving Fleſh and Life is apparant to be the Iewes comming, and Gods ioyning two ſtickes together, making Iudah and Ephraim to be one; and therefore glorious things are to be expected immediately after the fail of Antichriſt: and if you may ſpeake of the fall of Antichriſt as done, you may ſpeake of thoſe Promiſes as done. So in the 21.22. Revel. There is a deſcription of the glorious eſtate of the Church, which ordinarily is applied to the glory of Heaven: But there is a miſtake in applying theſe things to the glory that is in Heaven, and not to thinke of the glory that ſhall appeare on Earth before. It is ſaid, that John ſaw the new Ieruſalem come downe from Heaven; if it had been the glory of Heaven, more like Heaven ſhould have been opened, and he raiſed up to it. Againe, Iohn here ſayes, that the foundations of the Walls had twelve Stones, and in them the names of the twelve Apoſtles: that the Foundations of Heaven ſhould have the names of the twelve Apoſtles is not like. For Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob, the Patriarchs and Prophets ſhall bee there as well as the Apoſtles; and why ſhould it not have the names of the Patriarchs and Prophets as well as the Apoſtles? And if you read the Revelations, you ſhall finde that the Kings and Princes came to give in their glory to the Church: Now that the Kings and Princes ſhould come in to make Heaven glorious, there is no likelihood in that. Thus there are theſe Propheſies to be fulfilled, and theſe Promiſes to bee accompliſhed, and therefore a time for the Lord GOD with the Saints to reigne gloriouſly: And why ſhould we think it much? Let us but conſider the great Deſignes that God hath in honouring of his Saints in the World, and we have not cauſe to thinke much of ſuch a truth as this: for hereafter in Heaven Chriſt will be honoured before his Saints. But how will Ch…iſt be honoured before all the World you will ſay at the day of Judgement? But onelyonly at that time ſo long as the wicked ſhall ſtand for their ſentence? Doe we thinke there ſhall be no further time for Chriſt and his Saints to be honoured but juſt then? God intends to honour Chriſt and the Saints before all the World. Chriſt hath purchaſed a glorious Condition by humbling himſelfe ſo low to the Death of the Croſſe, and therefore was promiſed the Heathen for his Inheritance, and the utmoſt parts of the Earth for his poſſeſſion; and this muſt bee given in due Time; and God is pleaſed to raiſe the hearts of his People to expect it. And thoſe that are moſt humble, moſt godly, moſt gracious, moſt ſpirituall, ſearching into the Scriptures, have their hearts moſt raiſed in expectation of this. And it is not like that that work of the Spirit of theirs ſhall be in vaine. But God is beginning to cleere it up more and more: God is beginning to ſtirre in the World, and to doe great things in the World, the Iſſue whereof (I hope) will come to that we ſpeake of.
Queſt.But what ſhall bee the glorious Condition of the Church, when the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth; for which the Saints ſhall ſing this glorious Hallelujah? Tell us ſomthing of this good Land.
Anſw.In the generall I anſwer, It is the reſurrection from the Dead, as the Apoſtle ſpeakes, Rom. 11. concerning the Calling of the Iewes. But for Particulars; Glorious things are ſpoken of thee, O thou Citie of God.
The firſt thing wherein the happineſſe of the Church conſiſts, is this: That it ſhall be delivered from all the Enemies of it, and from all moleſting troubles, and ſo be in a moſt bleſſed ſafety and ſecurity. The God of Peace ſhall tread downe Satan ſhortly, and all that are of Satan. Chriſt is deſcribed in this Rev. 19. with his garment dyed in Blood, when he doth appeare to come and take the Kingdome; and he appeared with many Crownes on his head; that notes his many victories▪ and his name was King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. And the Saints appeared triumphing with him, clothed with white linnen, and ſet upon white Horſes; is that a cloathing for Soldiers? Yes, for the Army of Chriſt, that rather comes to triumph then for to fight. Chriſt fighteth and vanquiſheth all theſe Enemies: and they come triumphing in white. All Teares ſhall be wiped away from the Church, Iſay. 25.8. Revel. 21.4. There ſhall bee no Brier nor Thorne, Ezek. 28.24. among the People of GOD; Ezekiel did once live among Briers and Thornes, but there ſhall bee no pricking Thorne left. And this Citie that is deſcribed in the Revelation, ſhall have the gates alwayes open, in regard of the ſecuirty that is there; no danger at all of any Enemy.
Secondly, there ſhall be a wonderfull Confluence of People to this Church, both Jew and Gentile ſhall joyne together to flow to the Beautifulnes of the Lord, Dan. 2. verſe 35. Chriſt is compared to the Stone, that ſhall breake the Image, and ſhall become a Mountaine, and fill the whole Heaven, Iſaiah, 60. They ſhall come as Doves to the Windowes. And when IOHN came to meathe Citie, the Church; it was a great and mighty Citie.
Thirdly, becauſe where there is much Confluence, there uſeth to bee a Contraction of much filthineſſe. Therfore in the third place it ſhall be moſt pure, a pure Church: yea, in great part, if not altogether. Nay we may almoſt affirme, altogether to be delivered from hypocrites. Without there ſhall be Doggs, and whoſoever ſhall worke or make a lye. Not without, in Hell; but without the Church. Hypocrites ſhall bee diſcovered and caſt out from the Church: though many get into the Church now; then the righteous Nation ſhall enter in. In the 44th. of Ezekiel, 9. There is a deſcription of the Church under the Goſpel: And he ſhewes that none uncircumciſed in heart ſhall enter in there: But the fulfilling of the Prophecies of thoſe Chapters in the latter end of Ezekiel, will not be till this time; and then no uncircumciſed in heart ſhall enter, Revel. 21.27. There ſhall in no wiſe enter into it any thing that defileth, &c. there are two Negatives in the Originall, they ſhall not, they ſhall not enter. As Chriſt ſayes, Whoſoever comes to me, J will in no wiſe caſt out; I will not, I will not caſt out. Bleſſed are they that are called to the Supper of the Lamb. Before, many were called, and few choſen; but now all that are called are choſen, and none that are made partakers of the firſt Reſurrection ſhall die the ſecond Death. It is a moſt pure Church, and therefore is deſcribed; The Walls to be precious Stones, the Citie to be as cleere as glaſſe, and the Pavement to be pure gold.
Fourthly, there ſhall be abundance of glorious Prophecies fulfilled, and glorious Promiſes accompliſhed. When you read the Prophets, you have Prophecies of many glorious things: And the knowledge of this truth will help to underſtand thoſe Prophecies. Revel. 2. It is ſaid there was a Booke ſealed ſhewed unto Iohn, and none could open the Booke but the Lambe. The Booke of the Prophecies Prophecies is a ſealed Book, and eſpecially the booke of the Prophecies of the Revelatious. But when the Lamb, Chriſt, ſhall come to reigne, this ſhall be opened to us. And therefore it is ſaid, the holy Apoſtles and Prophets ſhould reioyce at the deſtruction of Antichriſt, becauſe the Prophets ſhould be ſo cleerely opened, and underſtood by the People of God. Revel. 22.6. Theſe ſayings are faithfull and true: and the Lord God of the holy Prophets ſent his Angell, to ſhew unto his Servants, the things which muſt ſhortly be done. Why the Lord God of the holy Prophets? That Lord God that did intend to make the holy Prophets cleere and evident. Saies the woman of Samaria, when the Meſſiah comes, he ſhall teach us all things: We may well ſay it of the comming of Chriſt, heere the meaning of abundance of Prophecies and Promiſes, that we know not what to make of, ſhall be cleere before us. Chriſt is called the word of God, and is ſaid to be faithfull and true, becauſe he wil diſcover the truth and faithfulneſſe of the Promiſes. And this will bee a glorious Time, when the Prophecies ſhall be opened, and the promiſes come to be fulfilled.
Fifthly, Abundance of hidden Myſteries of Godlines will be cleered then, that now are exceeding darke. 4. Revel. Iohn did but ſee a Doore opened in Heaven: But afterwards, Revel. 19. he ſaw Heaven opened. Noting the cleere revelation of Truth that ſhall be then: And, Revel. 11.19. There was ſeene the Arke of the Teſtament: Whereas the Arke ſtood before, in the Holy of Holies, that was ſhut up, that none was to come into it, but the High Prieſt: But now it is opened to all. In the Arke where the Secrets a Type of the Secrets that ſhall be opened at this Time, that were ſhut up before. Glorious Truths ſhall be revealed, and above all, the Myſtery of the Goſpell, and the righteouſneſſe of Faith ſhall bee diſcovered. Before what a little of the Myſtery of the Goſpel, and the righteouſneſſe of Faith was diſcouered! but this will grow brighter and brighter till that time, which is the great Deſigne of God for his Glory to all Eternitie.
Sixtly, the gift of the Saints ſhall be abundantly raiſed. He that is weake ſhall bee as David, and he that is ſtrong as the Angel of the Lord Zach. 12.8. and then ſhall be accompliſhed that Promiſe, that GOD will powre his Spirit on them; and their young men ſhall ſee viſions, and their old men ſhall dreame dreames. It was fulfilled in part upon the Apoſtles, but the full is not till that time knowledge ſhall be increaſed.
Seventhly, the Graces of the Saints ſhall be wonderfully inlarged, even in a manner glorified; thoughuot ſo full as afterwards in the higheſt Heaven but mightily raiſed. The Saints ſhall be all clothed in white linnen which is the righteouſneſſe of the Saints; that is, the Righteouſneſſe they have by Chriſt, whereby they ſhall bee righteous before God, and holy before Men: HOLINES ſhall be written upon their Pots, and upon their bridles: upon every thing their Graces ſhall ſhine forth exceedingly to the glory of God. Iohn ſaw a Viſion of the Bride comming downe from Heaven, with a Heavenly Glory, fit to meet Chriſt her Bridegroome, to ſtand in his preſence, and ſerve him day and night.
Yea further, Religion ſhall bee honoured, and no more be a diſgrace. God hath promiſed to his Church that hee will wipe away their Reproches for ever.
The People of God have been and are a deſpiſed People: But their Reproach ſhall be for ever taken away, and they ſhall not be aſhamed of Religion: for it ſhall be glorifyed before the Sonnes of men. Therfore it is ſaid Revel. 14. They ſhall have the Name of God upon their Foreheads, openly to profeſſe Religion; A time ſhall come when ten men ſhall take hold on the skirt of a Iew, and ſay, We will go with thee. Cant. 8.1. I will kiſse thee, yet ſhould I not bee deſpiſed: She would embrace Chirſt publikely, and ſhould not be deſpiſed: It ſhall be ſo honourable, as none ſhall be able to deſpiſe it. There are notable Texts of Scripture, to ſhew the great Honor that ſhall be in the wayes of Religion, Iſaiah 49.23. Kings ſhall be thy Nurſing Fathers, and Queenes thy Nurſing Mothers; they ſhall bow downe to thee, and lick up the Duſt of thy Feet. What a high expreſſion is this for the Honour of Godlineſſe? So in Iſaiah, 60. are a great many of notable expreſſions, verſe, 13. I will make the place of my Feet glorious; that is, the Church. There was a time when as the Feet of Chriſt were as burning Braſſe, to ſhew the ſuffering condition of the Church: But now the Feet of Chriſt, that is the Church, ſhall be made glorious, verſ. 14. you have two notable Scriptures for this in the Propheſie of Zachary. The firſt in the 4th. of Zachary, 16. They ſhall be as the Stone of a Crowne-lifted up: They are now trampled upon as the ſtones of the ſtreet; but they ſhall be as the Stones of a Crowne; and not onelyonly ſo, but as the Stones of a Crowne lifted up: The ſecond place is in Zach. 12.5. The Governours of Iudah ſhall ſay in their hearts, the Inhabitants of Ieruſalem ſhall be my ſtrength in the Lord of Hoaſts their God. Wee know, that now in many places, the Governours of Iudah, the great ones of the Countrey, their Spirits have beene ſet againſt the Saints of God: Wee know what reprochfull names they have put upon them, and how they have diſcountenanced them: Though the Governours of Iudah have counted them factious, and Schiſmaticks, and Puritanes▪ there is a Time comming, when the Governours of Judah ſhall bee convinced of the Excellency of Gods people, ſo convinced as to ſay in their hearts, that the Inhabitants of Ieruſalem, that is, the Saints of God gathered together in a Church, are the beſt Common-wealths men: not ſeditious men, not factious, not diſturbers of the State; but they are our ſtrength in the Lord of Hoſts, they are the ſtrength of a Kingdome, and ſhall be countenanced by them as the ſtrength of a Kingdome, as thoſe that will bee moſt uſefull in a Kingdome. This will bee a bleſſed time, when as wicked men and wickednes ſhall bee deſpiſed, and Godlineſſe as honourable as ever it was contemptible: this ſhall bee when the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth in his Church. And through Gods mercy, wee ſee light peeping out this way: That the Governours of Iudah are ſaying, The Inhabitants of Ieruſalem ſhall be our ſtrength: Religion ſhall be honoured in the World one day, and not only at the day of Iudgement, but here.
In the ninth place; the preſence of Ieſus Chriſt, and of God ſhall be exceeding glorious in the Church: then the name of it ſhall be called IEHOVAH SHAMMAH, The Lord is there. They ſhall follow the Lamb whereſoever he goeth: they ſhall ſee the King in his beauty and glory. And ſuch a preſence of Chriſt will be there, as it is queſtionable whether there ſhall be need of Ordinances, at leaſt in that way, that now there is. And therefore ſome interpret that place ſo: They ſhall be all taught of God, and ſhall not need to teach one another. And ſo that place 2. Peter, 1.19. We have alſo a moreſure Word of promiſe, wherevnto ye doe well that ye take heed untill the Day dawne, and the Day-ſtarre ariſe in your hearts. Now the Morning-Starre, the Holy Ghoſt applies to them, Revel. 2.28. That is ſuch a glorious preſence of Chriſt, as ſhall ſo inſtruct them, as if they had not need to take heed to the Word of Propheſie. And in Revelat. 21. They ſhall need no Temple, nor Sunne, nor Moone; for the Lamb is the Temple and the light thereof: the preſence of Chriſt ſhall bee there, and ſupply all kind of Ordinances. And Revel. 7. Chriſt ſayes; Hee will lead them to the Fountaine of living Waters; all the Ordinances. Here are but the ſtreames and Conduits; then they ſhall be led to the Fountaine. Though we dare not affirme that there ſhal be no Ordinances; yet is there ſome probability at leaſt thus far in compariſon; there ſhall be ſuch a preſence of Chriſt there, as therr ſhall not be that need of Ordinances.
In the tenth place. There ſhall bee the addition of Martyrs, and many of the Worthies of God that have lived in former Times ſhall riſe againe. If you read the 7th. Revel. and 21th. Revel. you cannot but be convinced of this, That thoſe that have ſuffered Martyrdome under Antichriſt ſhall have the glory of that time; and Daniel ſhall come up and ſtand in his lot; and as he, ſo many of the Worthies of God in former times: and this ſhall add to the Glory of that time.
The eleventh is this: There ſhall be moſt bleſſed Union of all the Churches of the World. The envy of Ephraim and of Iudah ſhall be taken away. Iſaiah 11. There ſhall be one King; and one Name. Zach. 14.9. Wee all profeſſe one Lord, but give him divers Names: but then there ſhall be one Lord, and his name one. Zeph. 3.9. They ſhall ſerve the Lord with one Conſent, with one Shoulder, it is in the Originall: And if you read that Chapter, you may ſee what Reference it hath to a more glorious Time, than the returning of the Iewes from the Captivity. Diſſentions in any one Congregation are evill; and for one Church to diſſent from another is a grievous evill. Bleſſed will the Time be, when all diſſentions ſhall bee taken away; and when there ſhall bee a perfect Union of all, and not any diſtinction of Calviniſts or Lutherans, or the like: but all ſhall come, and ſerve God, and be called by one Name.
The twelfth is the Reſurrection of the Creatures of the World: and ſo in that regard there ſhall be abundance of outward Glory and Proſperity. That place in the 8th. of the Romans. The Creature groanes under the Burthen that it is in, that it may be delivered into the Adoption of the Sonnes of God. When the fulneſſe of the glory of the Adoption of the Sonnes of God ſhall come, the Creatures ſhall be delivered to them. The whole World is purchaſed by Chriſt, and purchaſed for the Saints, that is Chriſts ayme. All is yours, (ſayes the Apoſtle) the whole World: and therefore, Revel. 21.7. it is ſaid, The Saints ſhall inherit all things. You ſee that the Saints have but little now in the World; now they are the pooreſt and the meaneſt of all; but then when the Adoption of the Sonnes of God ſhall come in the fulneſſe of it, the World ſhall be theirs; for the World is purchaſed for them by Ieſus Chriſt. Not onelyonly Heaven ſhall be your Kingdome but this World bodily. And ſo that place, 2 Pet. 3.10. where it is ſaid, The Heavens ſhall paſſe away with a great noiſe, and the Elements ſhall melt with fervent Heat: the Apoſtle ſpeakes as if it were the Day of Judgement. But there is one paſſage whereby we may gather that the Apoſtle onelyonly meanes a mighty change that ſhall be before the day of Judgement, verſe 13. We according to his promiſe look for new Heavens and new Earth. Where hath God promiſed a new Heaven, and a new Earth? I know no place in Scripture that I can referre this place unto, but Iſaiah 65.15. which is apparant to be meant of the Church. Now the Apoſtle ſpeakes of theſe Times, when there ſhall be a mighty change in the World: then ſhall be fulfilled that Promiſe, There ſhall be new Heavens, and a new Earth. We can find no ſuch promiſe but in Iſaiah, and that is meant of the Church, and therefore it is probable the Apoſtle meanes that Lactantius ſayes, When the Thouſand yeeres come, the World ſhall bring forth Fruite alone, and the Rocke ſhall diſtill Dew, and no Creature ſhall live upon Prey: the Dog ſhall not hunt, the Child ſhall not be afraid of the Serpent: making the place of Iſaiah, which we underſtand metaphorically, to be underſtood, literally, Of the Wolfe and the Lambs living together, and the Child playing upon the Hole of the Cockatrice.
And all the Prayers that ever we put up for the Church will be anſwered, and the bleſſing of all will come upon the Churches. Heere we have ſome degree of Bleſſing: But the Bleſſing of all the prayers of the Prophets and Apoſtles will come upon it. In Iſay, They were to cry to God, and give him no reſt, till he made Ieruſalem the praiſe of the whole World: that is, till God did bring this Time, and Ieruſalem hath not bin ſo lifted up. All theſe prayers that have not given God reſt all this while, ſhall be anſwered, and Ieruſalem ſhall be advanced.
Laſtly, Thoſe glorious Titles that the Church of God hath in the old Teſtament, will be made up to the full; and that is a Reſultance from all the Former. There are many glorious Titles of the Church of God in the old Teſtament: Now the eſtate of the Church in the old Teſtament was but Typicall; typifying the eſtate of the Goſpel. I ſhall name ſome of them, and when thoſe come to be fulfilled, it will be glorious. Firſt the Lords Portion. Deut. 32.9. Secondly his Pleaſant Portion. Ierem. 12.10. Thirdly his Inheritance. Isaiah. 19.25. All People are the Worke of his Hands, But his Church is his Inheritance. Fourthly, the dearely Beloved of his Soule. Ierem. 12.7. Fiftly, Gods Treaſure, and Peculiar Treaſure, Exod. 19.5. Sixtly, His Glory, Iſaiah, 46.13. Seventhly, The Houſe of Gods glory, Iſaiah, 60.7. Eightly, A Crowne of Glory. Iſaiah, 62.3. Ninthly, A Royall Diademe, in the ſame place. Tenthly, The glory of God. Ierem. 3.17. Againe, The Throne of his Glorie. Jeremiah, 14.21. Againe, The Ornament of God: and The Beauty of his Ornament, Ezek. 7.21. Againe, The Beauty of his Ornament in Majeſtie, in the ſame place. Now to have all this made up to the full; to ſhew that theſe are no high expreſſions, but rather come ſhort of what will bee: it muſt be a glorious condition.
But you will ſay, Are theſe things true?
To that wee anſwer; For the truth of them, I will goe no further then this Chapter, verſe 9. Theſe are the true ſayings of God. It is a very ſtrange Phraſe: If they be the ſayings of God, they muſt needs be true. Were it not enough to ſay they were the ſayings of God, or true ſayings? No, they are the true ſayings of GOD. And in the Originall it is not onelyonly the true ſayings of God; but the true ſayings of that God that is true: therfore they are certaine.
Queſt.But how can they be?
Anſw.Zachary, 8.9. If it be marvellous in your eyes; ſhould it alſo be marvellous in my eyes, ſaith the Lord of Hoaſts? they are marvellous in your eyes; but they are not ſo in mine. It is God Omnipotent that ſhall doe theſe things, by that power, whereby he is able to ſubdue all things unto himſelfe. Mountaines ſhall be made plaine, and hee ſhall come skipping over Mountaines, and over difficulties, nothing ſhall hinder him. And why ſhould you thinke it ſtrange, that theſe things ſhould be, though they bee great: God hath done already as great things as theſe. Certainly Chriſtians that ſhall acknowledge the great and never ſufficiently admired and adored worke of God in the Hypoſtaticall Union of the Natures, that God ſhould be Man, ſhould never aske this Queſtion, how theſe things ſhould be? or to think that any object propounded for our Faith is too difficult.
Queſt.But when ſhall theſe things be?
Anſw.Truly (Brethren) we hope it is not long before they ſhall bee; and the neerer the Time comes, the more clearly theſe things ſhall bee revealed. And becauſe they begin to be revealed ſo much as they doe now, we have cauſe to hope the Time is at hand. In Daniel, 12. God bids Daniel ſeale his Booke untill the time come, as if then it ſhould be opened. Doth God begin to open this Booke? Know that the time is at hand. Iohn was bidden not to ſeale the Booke, becauſe the Time was at hand. The neerneſſe of the Time at hand diſcovers the Booke; and the neerer the Time, the more it is diſcovered. No place in Scripture gives us ſo much light to know when this ſhall be as Dan. 12.11. And from the time that the dayly Sacrifices ſhall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh deſolate ſet up; there ſhall bee a thouſand, two hundred and ninety dayes. What is the meaning of this? The light that I have from this, I acknowledge to be from that worthy Inſtrument of God Mr. Brightman. A day is uſually taken for a yeare, and ſo many dayes as were ſet, ſo many yeares it ſhould be. All the queſtion is about the beginning of the time. This abomination of deſolation was in Julians time 360. becauſe then Iulian would ſet up the Temple againe that was deſtroyed, in deſpight of the Chriſtians, and would ſet up the Iewiſh Religion againe: That was the abormination of deſolation, ſayes he; and the whole Iewiſh Religion was not conſumed till that time. Now reckon ſo many yeeres according to the Number of the dayes, it comes to, 1650. and it is now 1641. and that place for the abomination of deſolation is like to bee it as any that can be named. But it is ſaid, Bleſſed is he that comes to another Number: 1335. dayes, that is 45. years more added, that is, ſayes he in 1650. they ſhall begin; but it ſhall bee 45. yeares, before it comes to full Head, and bleſſed is hee that comes to this Day. And he hath hit right in other things, as never the like, in making Sardis to be the Church of Germany, and foretold from thence how things would fall out, and wee ſee now are. Now we have alſo a voyce from the Multitude, as from the Waters, and it begins to come from the Thundrings.
Seeing theſe things ſhall be, what manner of perſons ought we to be? That is the worke I intended to have done, to have ſhewed you the Duties, theſe things call for at our Hands. If God hath ſuch an intention to glorifie his Church, and that in this World: Oh, let every one ſay to his owne heart; What manner of perſons ought wee to be? and eſpecially, What manner of perſons ought yee to be? becauſe you are beginning this deſpiſed Worke, gathering a Church together, which way God will honour. Certainly, the Communion of Saints, and independency of Congregations God will honour.
And this Worke is a Foundation of abundance of glory that God ſhall have, and will continue till the comming of Chriſt. And bleſſed are they that are now content to keep the Word of Gods Patience. And doe you keep the Word of Gods Patience, though you ſuffer for it, as you now doe. And wait, the Text ſayes, Thoſe that teſtifie againſt Antichriſt and Antichriſtianiſme, and keep the Word of Gods Patience, God will keep them in the houre of Temptation, hee will make them a Pillar in his Houſe, and they ſhall never goe out; God will open their dore, ſo as none ſhall ſhut it till the comming of Chriſt: and hee will write upon them the Name of the new IERVSALEM. Therfore keep the Word of Gods Patience now you have an opportunity in your hands for furthering this great Worke. Take heed that you looſe not this opportunity: certainly, if there ſhould fall out any juſt cauſe amongſt you of ſcandall in regard of Diviſions, or any other way, you may do more hurt to hinder this glorious Work, then all the Perſecutors could doe. For you will perſwade the conſciences of Men, that this is not a Way of Chriſt. Perſecutors cannot doe ſo. So that the Governours of Iudah wil not ſay, Our ſtrength is in the Inhabitants of Ieruſalem, thoſe that profeſſe themſelves to be the People of Ieruſalem.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Goodwin, A Glimpse of Zions Glory (1641)