Works, Book 4 · Letter 21
EPISTLE XXI.
Dr. Meddus his Letter to Mr. Mede, touching Dr. Twisse's Answers to nine Quaere's about Regnum Sanctorum.
Worthy Sir, and my dear Friend,
THis hath been unto me no pleasant time, being much weakened by this months bleeding and a pain in my right arm. I have done with the Lutheran; though doing all with my own hand, I have been longer about it than Dr. Twisse was, having the help of divers hands. I now send it back with many thanks. You may remember in the beginning of November I sent you a Letter from Dr. Twisse, when I wrote he had besides some *See Dr. Twisse his First Letter to Mr. M…de.Quaere's to have proposed unto you concerning the thousand years Regnum Sanctorum; but he durst not be so bold, yet left it free unto me to do as I thought good: But then propounding other things, and being loth especially to hinder you in the going forward as with another part of the Revelation, so with the clearing of 2 Pet. c. 3. And besides, your inhibition was then a command unto me, to make no more demands till after these late Holy-days. But now, in hope of your favourable bearing with me, I shall adventure to make his Quaere's and Answers known unto you: yet with this caution, that neither they, nor your judgment or censure of the Lutheran Book, (which I once desired) may retard your other meditations; nor to give answer thereunto but at your best leisure and conveniency. Now to the Quaere's and Answers.
Quaere 1. As concerning the persons to be raised, which are expressed Rev. 20. 4. to be only Martyrs, and Piscator will have it proceed only of such: Now this is very strange, considering that undoubtedly some never suffering Martyrdom have been as great in the favour of God as any Martyrs; as Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, and the Virgin Mary.
Answ. This may be helped two waies. First, by such an interpretation of Martyrdom as may be extended much further then to the suffering of death for the testimony of Christ, Secondly, by comparing this of Rev. 20. 4. with other places, as namely with Rev. 5. 10. & 11. 18. where the same grace is extended to them that fear God's Name, to small and great.
Object. But then here followeth a contrary inconvenience, that so it shall be extended unto all.
Answ. Yet is it not said, To all that fear God's Name.
Quaere 2. Concerning the Communion between the Saints raised from their graves, and the people then living and remaining on the earth, called the nations that are saved, that is, from the fire, whereby the earth and the works thereof shall be burned, 2 Pet. 3. 10. Alstedius will have the Saints raised to be Doctors of the Church, taking no notice of any distinction of male and female; though of both Sexes there have been both Saints and Martyrs. Rev. 21. 24. it is said, that the nations shall walk in the light of New Ierusalem; and if the Saints shall reign over the Nations, there must be a Communion, such as is between Governors and persons governed. And this Government shall be undoubtedly in reference to the Worship of God. Now consider,
1. What Communion can such Bodies as ours have with glorified bodies, considering that when Moses came down from the Mount, his countenance did so shine that the Israelites could not endure to look him in the face? Answ. First, this glorious lustre may be qualified so far as to be without offence. Secondly, The world being restored, why may not the mortal Bodies of men be something altered also? Surely God can proportion it.
2. Whether shall the Bodies of the Saints raised be covered or naked? It seems very incongruous they should be naked; neither can we devise in any congruity a glorified Body should be covered: What raiment were any fit covering for such? Neither is it congruous their glory should be covered, as Moses's face was with a Veil. Answ. As Angels appeared, their faces shining like lightning, and their raiment whitè as snow, (which aspect, terrible at the first, by familiar conversation might prove not terrible;) so Light may be as a garment to the Saints raised.
3. Whether Christ and the Saints raised shall eat and drink. One Mr.—a Minister in Lincolnshire, maintains they shall, (as I have heard from a noble person) and for his opinion alledgeth that of our Saviour, I will not from henceforth drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God, Mar. 14. 25. Add to this Luk. 14. 15. One sitting at table with Christ said, Blessed is he that eateth bread in the Kingdom of God. This he meant (as did all the Iews) of the Kingdom of the Messias on earth; which opinion our Saviour doth no where correct. Otherwise what use will they have of the Restauration of the world? Yet this is very hard to concoct, 1. That Christ and his Saints all glorified should come from Heaven, to eat and drink on earth; which comes near to the vile opinion of Cerinthus, that for a 1000 years God's Saints should live on earth in carnal pleasures. 2. In this case it seems their Bodies should be exposed to excrements, which is not to be endured in Bodies glorified. Answ. 1. No more than our Saviour's was after his Resurrection; or Angels, who sometimes did eat with the Patriarchs. Answ. 2. If so, yet not for necessity, much less for satisfaction to the flesh; but for other reasons, as Christ did eat with his Apostles after his Resurrection. Quaere 3. Then there will be no place for such desires, as to be dissolved and to be with Christ, Philip. 1. 23. and to be removed out of the body, and to dwell with the Lord, 2 Cor. 5. 8. For then to be dissolved will be to be absent from the Lord, and to dwell in the body will be to be present with the Lord. Ans. 1. Though death will not then be comfortable in this respect, yet it may in other respects, as it brings freedom from seducing, which afterwards shall be incident to Gog and Magog. Ans. 2. As Methuselah lived above 900 years a little before the Floud; so in the Restauration of the world why may not men live a 1000 years? I speak not of the Saints raised, but of those that shall walk in the light of new Ierusalem. *[In a MS. of Dr. Twisse there is a third Answer added in the Margin; but whether it was added in the Paper of his Answers sent by Dr. Medd… to Mr. Mede appear… tur. Answ. 3. It appears by Esa. 65. 20. that they who are sound alive at Christ's coming shall be …bnoxio…s unto death; but after death th…y shall rise ere the 1000 years be e…p… and reign … Christ.]Quaere 4. Christ's Kingdom shall have no end, Luk. 1. 33. Dan. 7. 14. But this Kingdom of Christ shall last but a 1000 years, and then Gog and Magog shall prevail so far, as not only to invade all the Nations that walk in the light of new Ierusalem, but even to besiege the beloved City, that is, new Ierusalem it self, Rev. 20. Ans. 1. But not prevail over new Ierusalem, but be forthwith consumed with fire: and then Christ's Kingdom continuing still shall be translated from earth to Heaven. Ans. 2. Christ's Kingdom shall succeed other kingdoms, but no kingdom shall succeed this; and in that respect it is said to be everlasting: But Christ must resign his Kingdom to his Father, that God may be all in all. 1. Cor. 15. Quaere 5. Christ's coming is not till the restoring of all things, Acts 3. 21. But the restoring of all things followeth after the consumption of Gog and Magog, Rev. 20. 11. and Rev. 21. 1. Ergò Christ's coming shall not be till after Gog and Magog's ruine; Ergò not a 1000 years before. Ans. It is said, that before his face that sate upon the throne, heaven and earth fled away, &c. But it is not said, that then it began to fly away, to wit, after the destruction of Gog and Magog. Quaere 6. 'Tis very strange that Gog and Magog should adventure to besiege new Ierusalem; the Devil and his Angels might as well adventure to besiege Heaven. Answ. True, if Gog and Magog knew the condition of new Ierusalem so well as the Devil and his Angels know the condition of Heaven. Quaere 7. Shall all that oppose Christ's truth be consumed with fire at that day? Consider, Paul opposed the Gospel for a while, yet was a chosen vessel of God; and many that do not oppose, may yet be reprobates. Ans. 1. Yet at that day all such to whom the Lord coming in a flaming fire shall render vengeance for not obeying the Gospel of Christ Iesus, 2 Thess. 1. 8. shall be none of God's Elect. Ans. 2. But some of God's Elect perhaps may be converted that very day. Quaere 8. What shall become of Infants found alive at that day, not only of God's children, but of others also? Ans. 1. If consumed in the same fire with their ungodly parents, this will be no more strange than that which fell out in the conflagration of Sodom and Gomorrah. Ans. 2. Yet they may be of the number of those that escape, if so it please God; and hereunto, to wit, that it should so please God, I should rather incline. Quaere 9. From heaven we look for a Saviour that shall transform our vile bodies, and make them like unto his glorius body, Phil. 3. ult. Ergò at Christ's coming all the Saints that remain alive shall be so transformed. Ans. So they shall before that Day of Iudgment ends; for it continueth a 1000 years. Quaere 10. They that then are found alive shall be caught up in the air? and ever be with the Lord; 1 Thess. 4.I mean the godly: But if there shall be a 1000 years reign on earth, what need they be caught up in the air, and how ever be with the Lord from thenceforth, if they and their posterity after them continue for the space of a 1000 years subject to mortality?
These were his Ten Quaere's, and Answers unto Nine of them; with which Contemplations (he wrote) his heart serv'd him not to acquaint you, or to intreat your judgment in the way of correction or confirmation and addition, but left it unto me. The Father of lights illuminate our hearts with all saving light to his Glory, the good of his people, and our own comforts in Christ Iesus. So I rest,
6. Ian. 1629. Yours ever, Sam. Meddus.