The Person and Period of the Antichrist, To the reader – By the same author
Candid and Chriſtian READER.
THe whole ſum of our Bleſſed Bible is, that God made the World, and in it, Men, that of them he might Conſtitute a Church, wherein he might be purely Worſhip'd according to the Doctrine of the Law and of the Goſpel, to the end of the World. This Church of God is always under ſome ſpecial Promiſe and Prophecy: The Comming of Chriſt in the Fleſh, was the grand Promiſe and Prophecy to the Old Teſt. Church; and the Comming of Chriſt in the Spirit (in ſending the Comforter in extraordinary Gifts) was the grand Promiſe and Prophecy to the New. Thoſe were Promiſes and Prophecies of the former days, all which have had their full Accompliſhment: There be alſo Promiſes and Prophecies of the latter days, to wit, of Chriſts Comming in Glory to confound Antichriſt and all his proud helpers: Thoſe are yet to be accompliſhed, as the Church of God was ever very inquiſitive after the time of the 1ſt. and 2d. Comming of Chriſt, Matth. 2.4,7. Luk. 2.25.26. and Act. 1.4. always waiting for the Conſolation of Iſrael. Even ſo ſhould we do now for Chriſts 3d. Comming, that he may not come like a Thief in the Night upon us, Revel. 16.15. and 1 Theſſ. 5.2. The Promiſes are the Magna Charta, or Grand Charter of the Church, purchaſed by Chriſt, Propounded, Ratified, and Accompliſhed in him, 2 Cor. 1.20. The Promiſes are [foreign] exceeding great and precious, 2 Pet. 1.4. They are firſt exceeding Great, as they are above our Fears, Wants, Prayers, Hopes, Taſts, and Imaginations; 2ly. Exceeding pretious, as proceeding from a pretious God, purchaſed by a pretious Chriſt, and both applied to and ſealed on our hearts by his pretious Spirit, they are more pretious than the moſt pretious Stones in the World, though ſome Pearl be [foreign] of an infinite price and value; all the comforts in Heaven and on Earth are wrapp'd up in the Swathing bands of the Promiſes: all our preſent comfort, and future hope, are hid in them, they are as good Money, as any in our Purſe, as good bonds, as any in our Desk, and as good Jewels, as any in our Cabinet, more eſpecially, the Promiſes of the latter day, which are called better Promiſes, Hebr. 8.6. yea the beſt Promiſes, both in the Word and in the World: our Lord (like the Bridegroom of the Feaſt) Joh. 2.10.) keeps his beſt Wine till the laſt: Now tis a thouſand pitties we ſhould be ſo ignorant of them, or unacquainted with them, knowing ſo little what they are, and where they lay: we are not ſuch Strangers to our Money, Bonds, Jewels, &c. If an Herod diligently enquire, Matth. 2.7. how much more ought every true lover of Chriſt; As an help in this Enquiry, God gave the Spirit of Prophecy, a Daniel to the Old Teſt. Church, and a John to the New, Divine Prophecies are bleſſed Comments upon Divine Promiſes, that the Promiſes are all ſealed, breeds Comfort; but that none of them are Dated as well as Sealed, this breeds uncertainty, eſpecially conſidering how apt we are to Antedate Promiſes, and to Poſt Date Threatnings; but that Prophecies are Sealed, breeds ſorrow, this made John weep, Revel. 5.4. whereas the opening of the Sealed Book, was matter of great joy, for then the Elders took their Harps and bleſſed God, ver. 5. 6, 8, 9. to find out the due Date of the Promiſes and Prophecies of the latter day, is the deſign of this Manual; wherein you have a brief Landskip repreſenting the very Quinteſſence of the moſt Illuminated Authors upon this Subject, and which gives you a proſpect of ſuch Varieties in a few hours, as coſt its Author many Days, Weeks, Months, and Years hard Study: Thus a little Map repreſents a large Countrey, at one view, which will take up much time to travel over, Oh Search the Scriptures, Joh. 5.39. as Tradeſmen do their Shop-Books, and let not the Bible lie moulding beſide you: If the ruſtineſs of Gold witneſs againſt men at the laſt day, Jam. 5.3. why not the muſtineſs of Books, eſpecially of the Bible: Oh conſider what is ſaid here, and the Lord give you Ʋnderſtanding in all, ſo prayeth
Yours in the beſt bonds, Chriſtopher Neſs. Aug. 25. 79.
Books publiſhed by the Author.
1. THe Crown and Glory of a Chriſtian.
2. A Chriſtians Walk and Work on Earth, till he come to Heaven.
3. A Proteſtant Antedote againſt the Poiſon of Popery.
4. A Chryſtal Mirrour, or Chriſtian Looking-Glaſs, Diſcovering the Treaſon and Treachery of the Heart.