The World that Now is and the World to Come, Part 2

The World that Now is and the World to Come · Part 2

p. 1THE WORLD to Come.

CHAP. I. Wherein the General Poſition is propounded, proved, & explained.

1. The Poſition propounded.

THere is a World to come, wherein will be the New Heavens, a New Earth, and the New Jeruſalem; alſo the Kingdom of Chriſt and his Saints; the Reſurrection of the Dead, and the Eternal Judgment; which World to come will begin, when the LORD Jeſus Chriſt ſhall come again from Heaven.

p. 22. The Poſition proved.

The holy Scripture of Truth doth Teſtifie, 1. That there is a WORLD to come; Matth. 12.32.—But whoſoever ſpeaketh againſt the holy Spirit, it ſhall not be forgiven him, neither in this World, neither in the World to come. Eph. 1.20, 21.—Not only in this world, but alſo in that which is to come. And Heb. 2.5.—For unto the Angels hath he not put in ſubjection that WORLD, even that to come. 2. That then the LORD Jeſus Chriſt will come again from Heaven, Phil. 3.20. For our converſation is in Heaven, from whence alſo we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Heb. 9.28. — And to them that look for him ſhall he appear the Second Time, &c. 1 Theſ. 3.13.—At the coming of our LORD Jeſus Chriſt with all his Saints. 3. That then there will be the New Heavens, and a New Earth, and the New Jeruſalem; yea, and all things new, Iſa. 65.17. I create New Heavens, and a New Earth. 2. Pet. 3.13. We according to his promiſe look for New Heavens, and a New Earth, p. 3&c. Rev. 21.1, 2. And I ſaw a New Heaven, and a New Earth; And I John ſaw the holy City, the New Jeruſalem coming down from God out of Heaven, &c. And Heb. 12.22, 23, 24.—The heavenly Jeruſalem. 4. That the LORD Jeſus Chriſt and his Saints ſhall have a Kingdom, and ſhall Reign on Earth. Dan. 7.13, 14. & 27. And there was given to him a Kingdom. Zech. 14.9. And the LORD ſhall be King of all the Earth. Dan. 7.27. And the Kingdom, and Dominion, and the greatneſs of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven ſhall be given to the People of the Saints of the moſt High, &c. Rev. 5. 9, 10. And thou haſt made us unto our God Kings and Prieſts, and we ſhall Reign on Earth. Alſo Rev. 11.15. & 20.4. And they lived and Reigned with Chriſt a thouſand years. 5. That then there ſhall be a Reſurrection from the Dead, 1 Theſ. 4.16. And the dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt. Rev. 20.5, 6. And the Reſt of the dead lived not again until the thouſand years were finiſhed. 1 Cor. 15.21, 22, 23-51, 52. And the dead ſhall be raiſed incorruptible, &c. 6. That then ſhall be the laſt and Eternal Judgment, p. 4Rom. 14.10. and 2 Cor. 5.10. For we muſt all appear before the Judgment Seat of Chriſt. And Act. 17.31. Rom. 2.16. and 2 Tim. 4.1. Who ſhall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his Kingdom. 1 Pet. 4.5. Ready to judge the quick and the dead. Eccleſ. 12.14. God ſhall bring every work into judgment, with every ſecret thing, &c. Rom. 2.16. and Matth. 12.36. called the Eternal Judgment, Heb. 6.2.

So then without all controverſie, or any modeſt contradiction, we have the Teſtimony of Chriſt, his Apoſtles and Prophets recorded in the holy Scripture of Truth, for the full confirmation of our general Poſition.

3. The Poſition explained.

In explaining our general Poſition, I ſhall begin with the firſt branch thereof already proved; viz. That there is a WORLD to come, wherein will be the New Heavens, and a New Earth, and the New Jeruſalem. By the World to come, we are to underſtand, that which the Apoſtle calls That inhabited WORLD, [even] that to come, Heb. p. 52.5.**foreign. The Apoſtle Peter tells us, that the old world being overflowed with water, periſhed; & the world that now is, (even this preſent evil world) is reſerved unto fire againſt the day of Judgment, &c. 2. Pet. 3.6▪ 7. But there will come another world after the world that now is, called the WORLD to come, in contradiſtinction unto this world, Eph. 1.21. This world is diſtinguiſhed from that world by Chriſt himſelf, Luk. 20.34, 35, 36, 37. The WORLD to come, will be a New Creation; then Chriſt will make all things new, Rev. 21.5. He will create New Heavens, and a New Earth, and a New Jeruſalem, Iſa. 65.17. When St. John had ſeen [in his Viſion] the New Heaven, and a New Earth, Rev. 21.1, 2. He ſaw the New Jeruſalem coming down from God out of Heaven; and verſ. 5. He that ſate upon the Throne ſaid, Behold, I make all things new. This New-Creation will bear ſome Reſemblance unto the firſt Creation, in reſpect of Matter, Manner, Parts and End thereof.

The Matter out of which the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will create the WORLD p. 6to come, whereof we treat, is a meer Chaos, viz. the Confuſion and Deſolation of this preſent evil world. All things will be in a confuſed and deſolate Condition; towards the End of this world will be perilous Times, 2 Tim. 3.1. In the laſt daies perilous Times ſhall come. And great Tribulations, ſuch as never was, Mat. 24.21. yea and moſt wicked Abomination; the whole world lying in wickedneſs, 1 John 5.19. and behold then (even then) will the Lord Jeſus Chriſt appear, Matth. 24.29, 30. And HE will come, and reſtore all things. For then will be the Times of the Reſtitution of all things, Act. 3.21. and then will Chriſt Reſtore our Judges as at the firſt, Iſa. 1.26, 27. HE will make our Oppreſſors Peace, and our Exactors Righteouſneſs. Iſa. 60.17. Then the Wolf and the Lamb ſhall feed together,—They ſhall not hurt nor deſtroy in all my holy Mountain, ſaith the Lord, Iſa. 65.25.

The Manner of the New-Creation will be in an Inſtant, as the firſt Creation was; God ſpake the word, and it was done; He commanded, and they were created, Pſal. 148.5. God ſaid, p. 7Let there be Light, and there was Light, Gen. 1.3. & 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? (They are created now, and not from the Beginning, Iſa. 48.6, 7.) Or ſhall a Nation be born at once? far as ſoon as Zion travelled, ſhe brought forth her children. And ſo will the whole New-Creation; there will be a Reſtitution of all things, and all things will be on a ſudden made new, Rev. 21.5.

The Parts of the New-Creation in the World to come, are, firſt, the New-Heavens, and the New-Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteouſneſs, 2 Pet. 3.13. whereby we are to underſtand, that New-State, and Frame of Government here on Earth, which the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the King of Kings, and King of Nations, will conſtitute, and command his Saints to execute in all his Dominions and Kingdoms, under the whole Heaven, Dan. 7.13, 14, 27. & Iſa. 9.6, 7. Secondly, The New-Jeruſalem, that heavenly Jeruſalem, Heb. 12.22, 23, 24. called the General Aſſembly, and the Church of the firſt born, written in Heaven, &c. whereby we are p. 8to underſtand that glorious State of the Church of God on Earth, which will be in that day, when God will glorifie the Houſe of his Glory, Iſa. 60.1, 2, 7, 13, 19, 20. which Chriſt ſhall preſent unto himſelf a glorious Church, not having ſpot, or wrinkle, nor any ſuch thing, Eph. 5.27. but holy and without blemiſh; called the Lamb's Wife, Rev. 21.9, 10, 11. prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband, v. 2. In this holy City the heavenly New-Jeruſalem, ſhall the pure Worſhip of God be celebrated, and his Sacred Ordinances ſhall be adminiſtred according to his Divine Inſtitutions; and his Spiritual Gifts ſhall again be given unto his Saints for the Glory of his holy Name, and for the Converſion of the Nations, that ſhall be ſaved, Iſa. 60.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The Gentiles ſhall come to thy Light; —The Abundance of the Sea ſhall be converted unto thee. And Rev. 21.10, 23, 24. And the Nations of them which are ſaved, ſhall walk in the light of it, &c. Thirdly, The Renewed Creatures, whoſe earneſt Expectation waiteth for the Manifeſtation of the Sons of God, Rom. 8.—23. And not p. 9only they, but our ſelves alſo, which have the firſt fruits of the Spirit, even we our ſelves groan within our ſelves, waiting for the Adoption, to wit, the Redemption of our body.

The End of the New-Creation in the World to come, is, firſt, To make all things very good, as God did in the firſt Creation, Gen. 1.31. And God ſaw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good. So the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will create all things new, and make every thing very good, in the world to come: Wherein will be the Times of the Reſtitution of all things, which God hath ſpoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets, ſince the world began, Act. 3.19, 20, 21. Secondly, To glorifie himſelf, and to make his Church glorious, Iſa. 28.5. & 62.3. In that Day ſhall the LORD of Hoſts be for a Crown of Glory, and for a Diadem of Beauty unto the Reſidue of his People. Thou ſhalt alſo be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the LORD, and a Royal Diadem in the hand of thy God. Iſa. 60.1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 13, 19, 22. I the LORD will haſten it in his Time.

The ſecond Branch of our general p. 10Poſition, which hath alſo been proved, is this, That the LORD Jeſus Chriſt ſhall appear the Second Time; which is now to be explained. The Second Coming of Chriſt from Heaven, is often aſſerted by the Prophets and Apoſtles, and confirmed by the Teſtimony of Chriſt himſelf. Rev. 22.7. I come quickly, ver. 12. Behold I come quickly. And ver. 26. Surely I come quickly, Amen, Even ſo, Come LORD Jeſus. Zech. 14.5. And the Lord my God ſhall come, and all the Saints with thee. Alſo 1 Theſ. 3.13.—At the coming of our LORD Jeſus Chriſt, with all his Saints. Theſe Scriptures, and thoſe alſo before mentioned for proof of this Branch of our Poſition, viz. Phil. 3.20. & Heb. 9.28. do teſtifie, That our LORD Jeſus Chriſt will certainly, ſuddenly, and viſibly appear the Second Time, and come from Heaven upon the Earth in his own Perſon. This Job believed, and therefore did he ſpeak, Job 19.25. For I know that my Redeemer Liveth: And be ſhall ſtand [foreign] in the laſt of Time or Day upon the Earth. Read ver. 26, 27. Heb. 10.37. Yet a litlte while and HE that p. 11ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry. Act. 1.11. This ſelf ſame Jeſus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, ſhall ſo come in like manner, as ye have ſeen him go into Heaven. As Chriſt aſcended into Heaven in his own Perſon; ſo he ſhall lihewiſe deſcend from Heaven in his own Perſon, Matth. 24.27. As the Lightning cometh out of the Eaſt, and ſhineth unto the Weſt, ſo ſhall alſo the Coming of the SON of Man be, ſo viſible, Rev. 1.7. Behold he cometh with Clouds, and every Eye ſhall ſee him. And 1 Theſ. 4.13, 14, —18. The LORD himſelf ſhall deſcend from Heaven, &c. To them that look for him, he ſhall appear the Second Time without ſin unto Salvation.

Now the principal things to be explained in this Branch or part of our general Poſition, are three, viz. 1. The Manner; 2. The Time; 3. The Ends of Chriſt's Coming.

Firſt, Touching the Manner of Chriſt's Second Perſonal Coming from Heaven, it is teſtified, Matth. 16.27. That the SON of Man ſhall come in the Glory of his Father. The Glory of the Father is the higheſt and moſt heavenly p. 12Glory, called the Excellent Glory, 2 Pet. 1.16, 17, 18.—When we made known unto you the Power and Coming of our LORD Jeſus Chriſt—For he received from God the Father, honour and glory—from the Excellent Glory; which was but a glimpſe of that Excellent Glory of the Father, which Chriſt ſhall come in, Attended with all his holy Angels, and glorified Saints from Heaven, and met in the Air by all the changed Saints then living on Earth. Jude v. 14. Behold, the LORD cometh with Ten Thouſand of his Saints; and ten thouſand times ten thouſand, and thouſands of thouſands of Angels, ſaying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb (that was ſlain) to receive power, and honour, and glory, Rev. 5.11, 12. and 2 Theſ. 1.7-10. When the LORD Jeſus Chriſt ſhall be Revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels At the Coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt with all his Saints, 1 Theſ. 3.16. & 1 Theſ. 4.17, 18. Then we which are alive and remain (unto the Coming of the Lord, ver. 5.) ſhall be caught up together with them in the Clouds, to meet the Lord in the Air, and ſo ſhall we ever be with the p. 13Lord. Read Luk. 21.17. Mark 13.16. & Matth. 24.30.

Secondly, Touching the Time of Chriſt's Second Perſonal Coming from Heaven. Though of that Day, and that Hour (when Chriſt ſhall come) knoweth no man, no not the Angels of Heaven, nor the Son of Man, but the Father only, Mark 13.26, 32. Yet there are ſome ſigns of Chriſt's Second Coming recorded in the Scripture of Truth, whereby we may know, that it is near, even at the door. The Diſciples of Chriſt asked him, What ſhall be the ſign of his Coming? Matth. 24.3. to whom Chriſt gave this for a ſign; ver. 37, 38, 39. But as the Daies of Noe were, ſo ſhall alſo the Coming of the Son of Man be. And Luk. 17.28, 29, 30. Likewiſe alſo as it was in the Daies of Lot, even thus ſhall it be in the Day, when the Son of Man is revealed.

It will be ſo with the Men of this World, as it was with the Men of the Old World, which God deſtroyed with Water. Then the wicked ones of that Generation, were very ungodly, Gen. 6.5. And God ſaw that the wickedneſs of man was great in the Earth, &c. And p. 14Chriſt told his Diſciples, Matth. 24.12. That Iniquity ſhall abound, a little before his Second Coming, verſ. 30. And it will be ſo with the Men and Women of theſe Cities, as it was with thoſe Citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah, whoſe Cities were burned.

Another ſign of Chriſt's Second Coming, is a great Apoſtaſie both in the Doctrine and Worſhip of the Goſpel. This ſign of Chriſt's Second Coming, the Apoſtle Paul foretold, 2 Theſ. 2.1, 2, 3. Now we beſeech you Brethren, by the Coming of our LORD Jeſus Chriſt,—Let not man deceive you; for that DAY ſhall not come, except there come a falling away firſt: An Apoſtaſie firſt from the Doctrine of the Goſpel, eſpecially, Faith and Love, 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. Now the Spirit ſpeaketh expreſly, that in the latter daies ſome ſhall depart from the Faith, &c. And Chriſt ſaith, Matth. 24.3, 12. The Love of many ſhall wax cold before his Second Coming from Heaven, verſ. 30. Some Teachers make the Law of the Ten Commandments a Doctrine of Faith in Chriſt, affirming that thoſe ten words are a Covenant of Grace. Other p. 15Preachers make the Goſpel of the Grace of God a Doctrine and Covenant of works, teaching Juſtification by works, and Salvation by works, holding Free-will, and falling away. And many there are, of whom the Apoſtle Peter propheſied, 2 Pet. 2.1, 2. Falſe Teachers, who privily ſhall bring in damnable Hereſies, even denying the Lord that bought them, &c. And 2 Pet. 3.3, 4. That there ſhall come in the laſt Daies, Scoffers, walking after their own luſts, and ſaying, Where is the Promiſe of his Coming, &c? Inſomuch that our Saviour ſaid, Luke 18.8. When the Son of Man cometh, ſhall he find Fa…th on Earth? And many Profeſſors will fall from their firſt Love, as the Epheſians did, Rev. 2.4. The Faith and Love of the Primitive Saints in the Churches of Chriſt continued and increaſed, 2 Theſ. 1.1, 2, 3. Your Faith groweth exceedingly, and the Love of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth: But in theſe laſt Daies many depart from the Faith, and many cool in their Spiritual Affections to Chriſt; there are great decaies of Grace, and many flouriſhing Profeſſors experience great withering, p. 16fading, and decaying in their ſpiritual gifts and graces; their backſlidings are increaſed.

As the Apoſtaſie in Doctrine, ſo in Worſhip, is a ſign of the Laſt Daies, and of the Second Coming of Chriſt: The Apoſtle Paul foretold thereof, 1 Theſ. 2.3, 4. & 2 Tim. 3.1, 5. This know alſo, that in the Laſt Daies—Men ſhall be Lovers of their own ſelves, &c. more than Lovers of God, having a form of Godlineſs, but denying the power thereof. In thoſe laſt Daies, even a little before the Second Coming of Chriſt, the Laodicean Churches will be lukewarm, neither cold nor hot; formal, not fervent in ſpirit ſerving the Lord, Rev. 3.15, 16. And then the National Churches will be Papal, Superſtitious, and Will-worſhippers. Col. 2.16, 18-22, 23. Which things have indeed a ſhew of Wiſdom in Will-worſhip, &c. Then Myſtery Babylon will ſay, I ſit a Queen, &c. Revel. 18.7, 8. Therefore ſhall her Plagues come in one day, to wit, the ſeven Vials of the laſt Plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God, Rev. 15.1, 7. And then our Lord Jeſus Chriſt will come in power and p. 17great glory, and ſhall utterly deſtroy Antichriſt, 2 Theſ. 2.8. Whom the Lord ſhall—deſtroy with the brightneſs of his Coming.

When thoſe Virgin-Profeſſors, who have highly pretended to be upon their watch waiting for the Coming of the Bridegroom Chriſt Jeſus, ſhall grow ſecure, careleſs, invigilant, and all ſlumber and ſleep; it is a Sign that the Second Coming of Chriſt is near. Matth. 25.5, 6. While the Bridegroom (Jeſus Chriſt) tarried, they all ſlumbred and ſlept: And at midnight there was a Cry made, Behold the Bridegrom cometh. And ver. 10 —The Bridegrom came, called the Son of Man, ver. 13. See my expoſition upon the Parable of the ten Virgins; printed Anno 1667. David propheſied Pſal. 145.10.11.12.13. that the latter DAY Saints ſhall bleſs the LORD, Saying, They ſhall ſpeak of the Glory of thy Kingdom, and talk of thy Power, To make known to the Sons of Men—the glorious Majeſty of his Kingdom But when the wiſe Virgins begin to be Sinfully ſilent, and dare not bear their Teſtimony boldly and publickly for Chriſt againſt Antichriſt; when they ceaſe to teach, and p. 18preach the Doctrine of Chriſts Second Coming, and of the glorious Majeſty of his Davidical Kingdom: then they begin to grow carnal, worldly, careleſs, and ſecure, formal and lukewarm. But there will then come a Midnight Diſpenſation that will awaken all virgin Profeſſors, and then Chriſt will come.

Another Sign of Chriſt's Second Coming from Heaven is that great Tribulation, which our Saviour foretold his Diſciples would be immediately before his Second Coming, and Appearance, Matth. 24.21, 29, 30. For then ſhall be great Tribulation—And immediately after the Tribulation of thoſe days—they ſhall ſee the Son of Man Coming in the Clouds of Heaven, &c. This great Tribulation will cauſe Diſtreſs of Nations with great perplexities, Mens hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after thoſe things which are coming upon the Earth, Luk. 21.25, 26, 27. Read Dan. 12.1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 13, &c. This great Tribulation will be ſuch as never was ſince the world began, Mat. 24.21. WOE, WOE, WOE, to the Inhabitants of the Earth, Rev. 8.13. and of the Sea, Rev, 12.12. And the p. 19People of God (eſpecially his two Prophetical Witneſſes, to wit, the ſeparated Churches, and their faithful Miniſters) ſhall not be exempted from the Tribulation of thoſe Daies; for they ſhall ſuffer Perſecution, 2 Tim. 3.1, 12. This know alſo, that in the Laſt daies perillous Times ſhall come. Yea and all that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, ſhall ſuffer Perſecution. And when the two Prophetical Witneſſes of Chriſt ſhall have finiſhed their Teſtimony (that is to ſay, have Preached the Goſpel of the Kingdom of Chriſt, King of Nations, Jer. 7.10. and Matth. 24.14.) The Beaſt that aſcendeth out of the bottomleſs Pit, ſhall make War againſt them, and ſhall overcome them, and kill them, Rev. 11.7. See my Expoſition of the 11th chapter of the Revelation, where I have proved, That before the Second WOE be paſt, Rev. 11.14. The Papal-Beaſt ſhall aſcend, that is, Riſe and Reign; and He ſhall overcome, that is, the Papiſts will prevail againſt the Proteſtants, and will kill the Two Witneſſes, that is, they will perſecute the ſeparated Churches of Saints, and their Miniſters; ſcatter their Aſſemblies, diſperſe their Congregations, p. 20break their Meeting-places, impriſon ſome, baniſh others, and condemn ſome to Death, and will burn them, kill and ſlay them. And the Second WOE being paſt, the Third WOE will come quickly, Rev. 11.14. to wit, the Seven Vials of the Laſt Plagues of God Almighty ſhall then be poured out upon the Papal-Antichriſtian Beaſt, the great Whore, and the falſe Prophet, whoſe Name is Myſtery-Babylon, Rev. 17.5. See my Book intituled Myſtical-Babylon unvailed.

Thirdly, Touching the Ends of Chriſt's Second Coming, to wit, what Chriſt will do, when he comes again from Heaven. Firſt, When Chriſt cometh from Heaven with his holy Angels, HE will ſend them to gather together his Elect from one end of Heaven to the other, Matth. 24.30, 31. Then ſhall the diſperſed of Judah be gathered, and the Out-caſts of Iſrael with them, as was foretold, Iſa. 11.12, 16. And HE ſhall ſet up an Enſign for the Nations, and ſhall aſſemble the Out-caſts of Iſrael, and gather together the diſperſed of Judah from the four Corners of the Earth. In that DAY God p. 21will pour upon the Houſe of David, and upon the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, the Spirit of Grace, and Supplication; and they ſhall look upon Chriſt whom they have pierced, and they ſhall mourn for him, Zech. 12.10. and Rev. 1.7. Behold he cometh with Clouds, and every Eye ſhall ſee him; and they alſo that pierced him. Then ſhall come to paſs that wonderful work of the Jews Converſion propheſied, Iſa. 66.6, 8. Who hath heard ſuch a thing? Who hath ſeen ſuch things? Shall the Earth be made to bring forth in one day? Shall a Nation be born at once? And ſo all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved (as it is written) The Redeemer ſhall come to Zion, Iſa. 59.20. And ſhall turn away ungodlineſs from Jacob, Rom. 11.26, 27. For this is my Covenant unto them, when I ſhall take away their ſins. And all the Tribes of Judah and Iſrael being gathered, they ſhall all be Reunited into one Nation; which the Prophet Ezekiel ſhewed them by the parable of two ſticks made one ſtick in his hand, Ezek. 37.15-22. And I will make them one Nation; And one King ſhall be King to them, Verſ. 24. And they ſhall have p. 22one Shepherd. Verſ. 27. My Tabernacle alſo ſhall be with them: Yea, I will be their God, and they ſhall be my People. Verſ. 28. My Sanctuary ſhall be in the midſt of them for evermore. Then ſhall alſo the fulneſs of the Gentiles be converted unto them, Iſa. 6.1, 2, 3, 5. And the Gentiles ſhall come to thy Light, and the Abundance of the Sea ſhall be converted unto thee. Rom. 11.25. Until the fulneſs of the Gentiles be come in. And the Nations of them which are ſaved, ſhall walk in the Light of it; and the Kings of the Earth do bring their glory and honour into it, Rev. 21.24. This will be a glorious day, and a glorious work; and then will the LORD be for a Crown of Glory, and for a Diadem of beauty unto the Reſidue of his People, Iſa. 28.5, 6. Then ſhall they be alſo a Crown of Glory in the hand of the LORD, and a Royal Diadem in the hand of their God, Iſa. 62.3. And this is One End of our Saviour's Second Coming from Heaven, Iſa. 49.6. To gather his People together unto himſelf. Pſal. 50.5. Gather my Saints together unto me, Matth. 24.27, 28.

Secondly, Another End of Chriſt's Coming from Heaven, and another p. 23Work that he will do, when he comes again, is this, viz. He will put down all Rule, all Authority, and all Power, that are his Enemies, who would not have him to Reign, Luk. 19.27. For he muſt Reign until he hath put all his Enemies under his feet, 1 Cor. 15.24, 25. as was propheſied, Pſa. 110.1. and Luk. 20.42, 43. The External Enemies of Chriſt are principally three.

Firſt, Ezekiel's Gog and Magog, who are propheſied of, Ezek. 38. & 39. chapters. Thus ſaith the Lord, I am againſt thee, O Gog; c. 38. v. 2, 3, 8, 11, 16. And thou ſhalt come up againſt my People Iſrael: It ſhall be in the latter daies. And verſ. 23. Thus will I magnifie my ſelf, and ſanctifie my ſelf, &c. chap. 39.1, 8-13, 21, 25, 29.

Secondly, Myſtery Babylon, and the Kings of the Earth, who have given their Power and Strength unto the Beaſt, Rev. 19.19, 20, 21.

Thirdly, John's Myſtical Gog and Magog, and all their multitude, Rev. 20.8, 9. Who will compaſs the Camp of the Saints about, and the Beloved City: And fire will come down from God out of Heaven, and devour them.

p. 24Thirdly, Another End of Chriſt's Coming from Heaven, and another Work that he will do when he comes again, is this, viz. He will ſet up his Davidical Kingdom on Earth, Dan. 2.44. And in the daies of thoſe Kings, ſhall the God of Heaven ſet up a Kingdom that ſhall never be deſtroyed, Luk. 1.31, 32, 33. And the Lord ſhall give unto him, the Throne of his Father David. And Iſa. 9.6, 7.

The next particular in our general Poſition is touching the Kingdom of Chriſt, and his Saints. The holy Scriptures of Truth do in ſeveral places plainly affirm, That the Kingdoms of this World ſhall become the Kingdom of Chriſt, and his Saints, Dan. 7.13, 14, 27. Verſ. 14. And there was given him Dominion, Glory, and a Kingdom—His Dominion is an everlaſting Dominion, which ſhall not paſs away. And his Kingdom that, which ſhall not be deſtroyed. Verſ. 27. And the Kingdom and Dominion, and the greatneſs of the Kingdom, under the whole Heaven ſhall be given to the People (even to) the Saints of the moſt High. And Rev. 11.15.— The Kingdoms of this World are become p. 25the Kingdom of our LORD, and of his Chriſt, &c. By the Kingdoms of this World, we may underſtand univerſally, All the Kingdoms in the whole world; for Chriſt ſhall be King of all the Earth, Zech. 14.9. In that Day ſhall there be one Lord, and his Name one: Particularly, the Kingdom of David, to wit, Judah and Iſrael, Luk. 1.31, 32, 33. And the LORD God ſhall give unto him the Throne of his Father David: And of his Kingdom there ſhall be no end, Iſa. 9.6, 7. Micah 4.8. And thou O Tower of the Flock, the ſtrong hold of the Daughter of Zion, unto thee ſhall it come; Even the firſt Dominion, the Kingdom ſhall come to the Daughter of Jeruſalem. And verſ. 7. All thoſe Propheſies ſhall be fulfilled, Dan. 2.37— 43, 44. When the Stone hath broken all thoſe Kingdoms in pieces, verſ. 34, 35, 45. (which Stone is Chriſt, Luk. 20, 17, 18. and his Jeruſalem, Zech. 12.3. compared with Matth. 21.44. and Jerem. 51.19-24. And with thee will I deſtroy Kingdoms.) Then that Stone will become a great Mountain, and fill the whole Earth, Dan. 2.35. that is to ſay, Chriſt will be King of p. 26all the Earth, Zech. 14.9. And th… Kingdom of Chriſt will be enlarged;

1. By the extraordinary Converſion of Sinners, both Jews and Gentiles, Iſa. 60.3, 5, 8, 10-15. and Rom. 11 25, 26, 27.

2. By the pouring out of the Spirit upon all Fleſh, Joel 2.28. Iſa. 44.3, 4, 5. whereby the Earth ſhall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the Waters cover the Sea, Joel 2.29. and Hab. 2.14. Then the Nations ſhall know, That the LORD Jeſus Chriſt is King of Nations, Jer. 10.7. The King of Kings, and the only Potentate, 1 Tim. 6.15. And HE ſhall put down all Rule, and all Authority and Power, 1 Cor. 15.24, 25. For he muſt Reign till he hath put all Enemies under his feet. And the Saints ſhall know, That the Kingdom of Chriſt is not of this World, Joh. 18.36. that is to ſay, Chriſt's Kingdom is not of a worldly Conſtitution, but it is a ſpiritual and Heavenly Kingdom, 2 Tim. 4.18. and called the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat. 25.1, 2. though it will be a glorious Kingdom, Pſal. 145.10, 11, 12, 13. yet it is not that Kingdom of Glory, p. 27where Jeſus Chriſt, his holy Angels, and the Spirits of Juſt men made perfect now are; for there are no fooliſh Virgins in that Kingdom of Heaven. See more of this matter in my Expoſition of the Parable of the Kingdom of Heaven Printed anno Dom. 1674. And alſo in the third Part of my Apocalyptical Myſteries Printed Anno 1667. likewiſe in my Expoſition of the 11th Chapter of the Revelation, Printed Anno 1679. This Kingdom of our LORD Jeſus Chriſt, will begin in the Daies of theſe Kings, Dan. 2.44. that is to ſay, the ten Kings of the fourth Kingdom the Roman Monarchy. Then the Dominion ſhall be given unto the Saints, Dan. 7.27. And the Saints of the moſt High ſhall take the Kingdom, and poſſeſs the Kingdom for ever and ever, Dan. 7.18.22. And they ſhall Reign on Earth, Rev. 5.9, 10. Then the Saints ſhall be rarely qualified and ſpirited for Government; for They ſhall be all Righteous, Iſa. 60.1, 2, 3, 20, 21. They ſhall do no iniquity, Zeph. 3.13. And They ſhall be without fault before the Throne of God, Rev. 14.5. They ſhall be endued p. 28with courage, clad with Zeal, and girded with ſtrength to bind Kings in Chains, and Nobles in fetters of Iron, and execute upon them the Judgment written, (Luk. 19.27.) This Honour have all his Saints, Pſal. 149.1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9. and Zech. 12.5, 6, 7, 8, 9. and Iſa 60.12. For the Nation and Kingdom that will not ſerve thee, ſhall periſh; yea thoſe Nations ſhall be utterly waſted. And when the Kingdom of our LORD Jeſus Chriſt is eſtabliſhed on Earth, and all the Kingdoms of this world are become his; the thouſand years of the Reign of Chriſt and his Saints being ended, (Rev. 20.4, 5, 6, 7.) then Chriſt will Raiſe the Dead, and he will judge the Quick and the Dead; which being done, HE will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; that God may be all in all, 1 Cor. 15.24-28.

The next particular in our general Poſition to be explained, is the Reſurrection of the Body, at the Second Coming of Jeſus Chriſt: compare 1 Cor. 15.20, 22, 23. with 1 Theſ. 4.16. The Lord himſelf ſhall deſcend from Heaven—And the Dead in Chriſt ſhall p. 29Riſe firſt. The Dead Bodies of the Saints ſhall then be Raiſed from the Dead, that ſhall yet remain in their Graves: They that ſleep in Jeſus will God raiſe up; them will Jeſus Chriſt awaken with the Trump of God, 1 Theſ. 4.14. The Reſurrection of the Dead hath this Order, and is deſcribed by the Apoſtle in this manner, to wit, Chriſt firſt, 1 Cor. 15.22, 23, 24. afterwards they that are Chriſt's at his Coming. But the reſt of the Dead lived not again until the thouſand years were finiſhed, Rev. 20.5, 6. This is the firſt Reſurrection. Bleſſed and holy is he that hath part in the firſt Reſurrection. They ſhall Reign with Chriſt a thouſand years, and that on Earth, Rev. 5.9, 10. Theſe Kings and Prieſts are the Children of the Reſurrection, Luk. 20.35, 36. being the Children of God. Whoſe vile Bodies ſhall be changed and faſhioned like unto Chriſt's glorious Body. The Saints raiſed Bodies will be perfect, no defect, no deformity, but ſpiritual, and glorious, 1 Cor. 15.42, 43, 44. So is the Reſurrection of the Dead; It is ſown a natural Body, it is raiſed a ſpiritual Body. It is ſown in p. 30diſhonour, it is raiſed in glory. After the Saints deceaſed are raiſed, and have lived and reigned with Chriſt a thouſand years, ſhall be the general Reſurrection, Rev. 20.12, 13. And I ſaw the Dead ſmall and great ſtand before God.

The laſt particular in our general Poſition, to be explained, is the Eternal Judgment. So it is called, Heb. 6.2. There are ſeveral dayes of Judgment, as that of the Old World, and that of Sodom and Gomorrah, &c. but the Eternal Judgment is that laſt Sentence which our LORD Jeſus Chriſt ſhall pronounce upon, and unto the Righteous, and the Wicked, Matth. 25.34. and 41. Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. And verſ. 41. Depart from me ye Curſed, into everlaſting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. And ver. 46. Theſe ſhall go away into everlaſting puniſhment; but the Righteous into eternal Life, which is the Execution of God's Eternal Judgment.

p. 31CHAP. II.

OUR general Poſition being proved and explained, it ought to be improved and fitly applied to the Inhabitants of this World, and more eſpecially unto the Men and Women of this Generation, whether they be unconverted Sinners, or ſanctified Believers. The unconverted Sinners of this World, and of this Generation, are either Sinners in Zion, Iſa. 33.14. that is to ſay, ſinful Profeſſors, who ſeem to be Religious (whoſe Religion will prove in vain, Jam. 1.26.) and who have a form of godlineſs, but deny the power thereof, 2 Tim. 3.1-5. Thoſe are fooliſh Virgins, that having gotten their Lamps lighted, wait (a while) for the Coming of the Bridegroom; but while the Bridegroom tarries, they ſlumber and ſleep till their Lamp-light go out, Matth. 25.1-13. See my Expoſition on that Parable Printed Anno 1674 Or elſe, thoſe that that are ſinfully prophane, which make no Profeſſion of Godlineſs, called ungodly Sinners p. 32Jude v. 15. unrighteous, 1 Cor. 6.9. and wicked perſons, Pſal. 9.17. O ye unconverted Profeſſors! Conſider, I beſeech you, there is a world to come, and Chriſt will come, and then every one ſhall give account of himſelf to God, Rom. 14.10, 11. What account will you give to God for your formality, lukewarmneſs, hypocriſie, and unprofitableneſs under the Means of Grace, you ſinful Profeſſors, that have refuſed the offer of Chriſt, and deſpiſed the goodneſs of God, which ſhould lead you to Repentance; you that have ſinned againſt Goſpel-light, and knowledge, quenched the Spirit, reſiſted the Spirit, and grieved the holy Spirit, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Zidon, than for you in the Day of Judgment, except you repent, and believe in Chriſt. And you unconverted ungodly wicked ſinners, what account will you give to Chriſt in the World to come, for all your unrighteouſneſs, and all the wickedneſs that you have done, and ſtill do in this World. Read Jude verſe 15. It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah, in the Day of Judgment, than for you, Jude verſe 7. p. 33which Cities are ſet forth for an Example, ſuffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

O ye unconverted Sinners, both Profeſſors and Prophane! will you now accept of, and receive a word in ſeaſon of ſpiritual Counſel? then I will inſtruct you how you that are miſerable may become happy; and you that are in a damnable ſtate, may get into the ſtate of ſalvation, before Chriſt come from Heaven to judge the quick and the dead, and before you dye: That you may obtain eternal Life, and Glory; my counſel to you is, as followeth.

1. Conſider, you are dead in ſins and treſpaſſes, and you are without Chriſt, Epheſ. 2.1.5, 12. you have no ſaving ſanctifying Grace; you are not holy; and if you dye in this your ſinful ſtate and condition, you will be damned to eternity, Pſal. 9.17. The wicked ſhall be turned into Hell.

2. Conſider your need of Jeſus Chriſt: There is not ſalvation in any other, Act. 4.12. no Chriſt, no Salvation: He is that One thing neceſſary; without him you can do nothing, Joh. 15.5. to pleaſe God, or to glorifie p. 34God, Heb. 11.6. Without Faith in Chriſt, it is impoſſible to pleaſe God: Without being and abiding in Chriſt, you cannot bring forth fruit, nor do any thing, whereby God is glorified, Joh. 15.5-8. You ſtand in need of Chriſt to juſtifie you, to ſanctifie you, and to ſave you from Sin, and from Hell.

3. Conſider, God offers Jeſus Chriſt to poor, loſt, miſerable ſinners, Rev. 3.17, 18. yea to the chief of ſinners, 1 Tim. 1.12-15. upon Goſpel-terms of Free Grace, Iſa. 55.1-7. without exception of perſon, and without reſpect of price, Revel. 22.17. The Spirit and the Bride ſaith come, and let him that heareth ſay come, and let him that is athirſt come, and whoſoever will, let him take the water of life freely; that is to ſay, Any one, every one that is willing may come to Chriſt, and receive Chriſt, and have Chriſt freely; for HE is the free Gift of God to Sinners, who are without Chriſt in the World, Joh. 3.16. Be but willing to take Chriſt, and the work is done. Chriſt complained of them that would not come to him, that they might have life, Joh. 5.39, 40.

p. 35When you have ſeriouſly conſidered thoſe three particulars, then I counſel you poor, loſt, periſhing Sinners, firſt, ſuffer the LORD Jeſus Chriſt to come by his Spirit and Word into your hearts, and ſet up the Kingdom of his Grace in your ſouls; that where Sin hath abounded, Grace may much more abound; and where Sin hath Reigned unto Death, there Grace might Reign through Righteouſneſs unto eternal Life by Jeſus Chriſt our LORD, Rom. 5.20, 21. Do not reſiſt the Holy Spirit, as they did, Zech. 7.7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13. and their Children after them, Act. 7.51.

Secondly, Open your hearts to Chriſt, when he knocks at the Door of your Souls, and calls you to come to him, to receive him, and let him come into your hearts, and dwell in your hearts by his holy Spirit, and ſanctifying Grace, Rev. 3.20. Behold I ſtand at the Door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and will open the Door, foreign, I will come in to him, and will ſup with him, and he with me. If the Sinner be willing to open the door of his heart, Chriſt will come in by his holy Spirit, and HE p. 36will communicate of his Grace to his Soul.

Thirdly, Let the LORD Jeſus Chriſt have the Throne, and be exalted above ALL in your Souls, Iſa. 2.17. And the LORD alone ſhall be exalted in that Day. Let your own Imaginations be caſt down, and every high thing that exalteth it Self againſt the knowledge of God, that every Thought may be brought into Captivity to the Obedience of Chriſt. Be willing to reſign your whole Man, Spirit, Soul and Body, unto the Government of Chriſt, as LORD and King, to Reign and Rule, Guide and Govern you by his holy Spirit, and Written Word.

Not that you can do thoſe things of your ſelves; I have told you, without Chriſt you can do nothing, Joh. 15.5. But it is your duty to do them, and it is the Free Grace of God, to work in you to will and to do, according to his good pleaſure, Phil. 2.12, 13. that he ſo working in you, you may work out your own ſalvation with fear and trembling.

I would through the Divine Aſſiſtance p. 37of the Spirit and Grace of God, make ſome Application of this our general Poſition unto the Churches of Saints, for their edification.

Firſt, I moſt humbly beſeech all the Churches of Saints, to receive this Doctrine of Chriſt's Second Perſonal Coming from Heaven, And to believe,

1. That when HE comes, he will glorifie the Houſe of his Glory, Iſa. 60.1, 2, 7. and will make Zion an eternal Excellency, verſ. 14.15, 22. God will build up Zion, and then he ſhall appear in his Glory, Pſal. 102.13, 16. Then ſhall Zion be the Perfection of Beauty, Pſal. 50.2. Out of which God ſhall ſhine. In that DAY God ſhall be his Churches everlaſting Light and Glory, Iſa. 60.19. & Rev. 21.23. Then ſhall Chriſt and his Church be each others Crown and Glory, Iſa. 28.5. In that DAY ſhall the LORD of Hoſts be for a Crown of Glory, and for a Diadem of Beauty unto the Reſidue of his People, Iſa. 62.3. Thou ſhalt alſo be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the LORD, and a Royal Diadem in the hand of thy God. Read Zech. 9.16. and Iſa. 60.13.

2. That when Chriſt comes, He p. 38will Reſtore all his holy Ordinances unto their Primitive Power and Purity; yea unto an higher and greater degree of Excellency, than in the Apoſtles Daies. God will not only give his Churches of Saints Paſtors according to his own heart, which ſhall feed them with knowledge and underſtanding, Jer. 3.14, 15. but HE will alſo pour out his Spirit upon Sons and Daughters; and upon the Servants, and upon the Hand-maids alſo God will pour out his Spirit, Joel 2.28, 31, 32. Before the great and terrible DAY of the LORD come. The LORD will vouchſafe unto his Churches ſuch Anointing of his holy Spirit, as the Apoſtle John witneſſeth and recorded, 1 Joh. 2.20, 27. But ye have an Unction from the holy ONE, and ye know all things, &c. Read v. 27. and Joh. 6.45. & Iſa. 54.13. & Jer. 31.34 It is written in the Prophets, And they ſhall be all taught of God. And not only be inſtructed and led by the holy eternal Spirit into the ſound and ſaving Knowledge of all the Truths in God's written Word, as the Truth is in Jeſus; but they ſhall ſee with their Eyes p. 39thoſe things fulfilled, which they have read and heard out of the written Word of God, Matth. 24.33, 34, 35. That Goſpel Ordinance of Praiſing God, will then be with greater ſpiritualneſs, and with more heavenly mindedneſs performed, in the General Aſſembly and Church of the firſt Born, where all the Sons of God ſhall ſing together, even all the Saints and Angels ſhall celebrate the high Praiſes of God together. Read Rev. 5.11, 12, 13. Rev. 11.15, 16, 17. Rev. 14.1, 2, 3. Rev. 15.2, 3, 4. Rev. 19.1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. The whole Worſhip of God ſhall then be performed by the true Worſhippers in Spirit and in Truth, according to Chriſt's Word, John 4.23, 24. for God will then give all his People one Heart, and one Way, Jer. 32.38, 39, 40. to worſhip him with one Conſent, Zeph. 3.9, 14, 16, 17, 18. In that day ſhall there be ONE LORD, and his Name ONE, Zech. 14.9. A Reſtitution of all things, Acts 3.21.

3. That when Chriſt comes, his glorious perſonal and ſpiritual Preſence with his Church, Heb. 12.21, 23, 24. & Rev. 22.2, 3. will occaſion a Confluence of all Comforts, Iſa. 51.3, 12. p. 40and 66.13. and Zech. 1.13, 17. Then Zion ſhall be adorned with ſpiritual and glorious Beauty, Iſa. 52.1, 9, 10. and compaſſed about with peace and ſafety. God will be as a Wall of Fire round about Zion, Zech. 2.5, 10. Sing and rejoyce, O Daughter of Zion; for Lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midſt of thee, ſaith the LORD. Read Ezek. 34.23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31. No Canaanite in the Land of Iſrael, nor none that ſhall hurt or deſtroy in all God's holy Mountains, Zech. 2.4. Jeruſalem ſhall be inhabited as Towns without walls; for God's ſalvation ſhall be her walls and bulwarks, Iſa. 26.1, 2, 3. Then the State of the Church of God will bear ſome proportional Reſemblance to the Kingdom of Heaven, for it will then be a ſinleſs ſtate, Iſa. 60.1, 21. Zeph. 3.13. and Rev. 14.1, 5. and a ſorrowleſs ſtate, Rev. 21.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. and a timeleſs ſtate, Rev. 10.6. Time ſhall be no more. For the thouſand years time of the Church's Glory being finiſhed, (and all the time of Satan and his Inſtruments ended, who are the Abuſers of Time) Time ſhall paſs into Eternity of Glory, and Beatifical Viſion, and eternal Life.

p. 41Secondly, I would alſo humbly intreat my Reverend Brethren, to declare to the Miniſters of Chriſt, Churches of Saints, what is noted in the holy Scripture of Truth, concerning the WORLD to come, the New Heavens and a New Earth, and the New Jeruſalem. Alſo the Second Perſonal Coming of our LORD Jeſus Chriſt from Heaven. You are commiſſioned and commanded to declare unto the people the whole counſel of God, revealed in his written Word and this Goſpel of the Kingdom and Coming of Chriſt muſt be preached in all the Inhabited World towards the latter End thereof, Matth. 24.14. as a Witneſs unto all Nations, and then ſhall the End come: This is foreign, the Generation Truth, which ought to be Preached and Teſtified by the Miniſters and Churches of Chriſt in theſe latter daies, though they be killed for bearing this Teſtimony, Rev. 11.3, 4, 7. Be faithful to Death, and Chriſt will give you a Crown of Life, Rev. 2.10. and 12.11.

Laſtly, A word of Conſolation to thoſe that do believe, pray and wait for the world to come, and the Spiritual Glory thereof.

p. 421. In general; for then the Ranſomed of the LORD ſhall return and come to Zion with Songs, and everlaſting Joy, &c. Iſa. 35.10. Then ſhall be the confluence of all ſpiritual Comforts to the Church and People of God, Iſa. 60.1, 2, 3, 7, 13, 19-22. The LORD ſhall be thy everlaſting Light, and thy God thy Glory, verſ. 19. All the promiſes of Grace and Glory ſhall then be performed, which are in Chriſt Yea, and in Chriſt Amen, to the praiſe and glory of God, 2 Cor. 1.20. And then all Prophecies relating to the Churches Spiritual Glory, ſhall be fulfilled, Act. 3.19-21. which God hath ſpoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets. Then will be a ſuperabundant pouring out of the Spirit, Joel 2.28. And it ſhall come to paſs afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all fleſh, and your Sons and your Daughters ſhall propheſie; your old men ſhall dream dreams, your young men ſhall ſee viſions. And God will graciouſly prevent the Prayers of his Saints, Iſa. 65.17, 24. It ſhall come to paſs, that before they call, I will anſwer; and whilſt they are yet ſpeaking, I will hear. All the Sons & Daughters of God will then be of one p. 43Heart, and of one Mind, Jer. 32.39, 40. Then all ſanctified Believers will come in the Unity of the Spirit to a perfect Man, Eph. 4.13. And in that Day there ſhall be ONE LORD, and his Name One in all the Earth, Zech. 14.9. & Zeph. 3.9. And They ſhall ſerve the LORD with one conſent. And then Honour, Dignity and Renown ſhall be given to the Church of God, to Religion, to Religious perſons, and to all holy things, Zech. 9.16. The Church ſhall then be as the Stones of a Crown lifted up. Thoſe Living Stones, in that ſpiritual Building, will then be a Crown of Glory, & a Royal Diadem in the hand of the LORD, Iſa. 62.1, 2.3. &. 28.5.

2. In particular, 1. To the ſeed of Abraham; the Jews, They ſhall be called, gathered, united into one Nation, and the Davidical Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt ſhall be given to them, Micah 4.8. which they ſhall take and poſſeſs for ever and ever, Dan. 7.14.18, 27, 28. They ſhall be all holy, Iſa. 60. and ſo all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved, Rom. 11.26, 27. 2. To the Off-ſpring of Japhet, the Gentiles, whom God ſhall perſuade to dwell in the Tents of p. 44Shem: Even all the Nations of them that are ſaved, who ſhall then walk in the Light of the New Jeruſalem, Rev. 21.24. and ſhall alſo enjoy the ſpiritual Glory and Bleſſings of the WORLD to come, whereof we ſpeak.

A word of Counſel to Virgin Profeſſors in this Generation;

1. Take heed you do not fall aſleep whilſt the Bridegroom tarryeth, (or rather only ſeems to delay his coming) as they did, Matth. 25.5, 6. They all ſlumbred and ſlept, until a midnight Diſpenſation, a Cry did awaken them out of their carnal ſecurity, when being at eaſe in Zion, they became formal, lukewarm, and worldly, minding earthly things more than heavenly, and ſeeking their own things more than the things of Chriſt.

2. Prepare your ſelves for that time of Tribulation, which ſhall come before Chriſt come, Matth. 24.21, 29, 30. It's call'd an hour of Temptation, which ſhall come upon all the World to try them that dwell upon the Earth, Rev. 3. It will come upon the Jews, Dan. 12.1, 2, 3. and upon the Gentiles, Rev. 11.7. but more eſpecially upon the p. 45Inhabiters of the Earth, Rev. 8.13. & 12.12. & Rev. 19.19, 20. viz. upon the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet, and upon the Kings of the Earth, and their Armies. Prepare for that midnight Diſpenſation of Darkneſs, Diſtreſs and Temptation, which is coming upon Nations, Cities and Churches to try them.

3. Conſider what manner of perſons you ought to be in all holy converſation and godlineſs, that look and wait for the Glory of Chriſt, his Church and Saints in the world to come, 2 Pet. 3.11, 13, 14.

Laſtly, A word of Inſtruction to the King, the Nobles, the Judges, and all the Magiſtrates in this Iſland, and in this City: The Kingly Prophet David gave the Inſtruction I intend, Pſal. 2. wherein by the Spirit of Prophecy he foretold,

1. That the Kings of the Earth will ſet themſelves, and the Rulers take counſel together againſt the LORD, and againſt his Anointed, verſ. 2, 3.

2. That God ſpeaks to them in his wrath, and vexes them in his hot diſpleaſure, verſ. 5.

p. 463. That the LORD Jeſus Chriſt will break them with a Rod of Iron, and daſh them in pieces like a Potters Veſſel.

4. That God will ſet his King (namely King Jeſus) opon his holy Hill of Zion, verſ. 6, 7.

5. That God will give the LORD Jeſus Chriſt the Heathen for his Inheritance, and the utmoſt part of the Earth for his Poſſeſſion, and his Dominion ſhall be from Sea to Sea, even unto the Ends of the Earth, verſ. 8. And then the holy Prophet exhorts thoſe Kings and Judges, to be wiſe, and to be inſtructed, verſ. 10, 11, 12. Be wiſe now therefore O ye Kings; be inſtructed ye Judges of the Earth; Kiſs the Son leſt he be angry, and ye periſh. This phraſe of kiſſing the Son implies,

1. A Declaration or Teſtimony of Love and Peace between Chriſt and them, Cant. 1.2. Chriſt who is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, Rev. 1.5. is the Prince of Peace, Iſa. 9.6. and it concerns all Kings to be at Peace with Jeſus Chriſt. And the LORD Jeſus Chriſt is the Judge of p. 47the quick and dead, and he ſits among the Judges (called Gods) of the Earth, and they alſo muſt ſtand before the Judgment Seat of Chriſt; therefore it concerns all Judges to kiſs the Son, that is, to make their Peace with Chriſt.

2. To kiſs the Son implies, to worſhip Jeſus Chriſt. And if God commanded the holy Angels to worſhip him, Heb. 1.6. then Kings and Judges are not exempted from worſhiping Jeſus Chriſt, Phil. 2.9, 11. Every knee ſhall bow to him, and confeſs that he is LORD: Becauſe God hath exalted Chriſt above all, and given him a name above every name, &c. Eph. 1.20, 21. and ſet him far above all Principalities and Powers in this World, &c.

3. By kiſſing the Son is intended the ſubmitting to his Dominion and Government, Iſa. 9.6, 7. God the Father hath laid the Government of Saints upon Chriſt; for he is King of Saints, Rev. 15.3. and the Government of Zion (his Church) upon Chriſt; for he is King of Zion, Pſal. 149.1, 2. and the Government of the Nations upon Chriſt; for he is King of Nations, Jer. 10.7, 10. By him Kings Reign, p. 48and Princes decree Judgment: He puts down one, and ſets up another. Jeſus Chriſt is King of Kings, and Judge of Judges; therefore be wiſe O Kings, and be inſtructed ye Judges of the Land.

Now I will conclude with a word of Exhortation to the Magiſtrates and Inhabitants of this City, Conſider God hath viſited this City with the Peſtilence, and with a Fire, and yet the Inhabitants thereof have not returned to the LORD. Now God threatens a Famine of Bread, if He ſhut up Heaven, that it Rain not; and a Famine of the Word, if He ſuffer the Papiſts to prevail; O Repent and Amend! Adminiſter Juſtice and Righteouſneſs; Plead the Cauſe of the Widow and Fatherleſs; Relieve the Oppreſſed, and Acquit the Innocent. Let the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation, teach you Citizens of London, to deny all ungodlineſs, and worldly Luſts, and to live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent evil world, that in the world to come you may have Life everlaſting. Amen.

FINIS.

End of the text · Hanserd Knollys, The World that Now is and the World to Come (1681)