Supplement to Christs Peaceful Kingdom on Earth to Come, Observations
Some Obſervations from the whole.
IT remains now in the laſt place, that we lay down ſome general Obſervations, to be left to be enlarged, and particularly improved by all judicious and diſcerning Chriſtians, as Gods Spirit may guide them therein.
Firſt, As the ſummary of all Religion ſhews that the eternal Counſel of God is always exactly & perfectly in fulfilling, ſo Gods more eſpecial revealing to the greatly beloved Prophet Daniel, the orders, the times, the ſtate, the nature, the riſe and the ruine of the four great Monarchies of the World, that ſhould ſucceſſively oppreſs the Jews; to inform the faithful in all ages following, that God orders according to his moſt wiſe counſel, all the ſufferings and tryals of his People, men cannot add in the leaſt to their meaſure or continuance, above what God hath in his moſt wiſe counſel appointed. Therefore truſt in the Lord at all times and in all conditions; for as he orders all things in the greateſt Monarchies, ſo all for the good of his poor and faithful ſervants yet in wonderful varieties of his moſt wiſe diſpenſations ever to be adored. Therefore, if ye ſee injuſtice or oppreſſion in a City, marvel not at it: as Solomon ſaith.
Secondly, As God revealed to Daniel all the Jews oppreſſors in order with the times of them, both how many, and how long they ſhould be ſo held under by them: So thereby take notice how gracious God is to his faithful People in the worſt times, to let them have ground of comfort, that his Peoples Sufferings are here limitted by himſelf, and that they might not be without ground of Faith and Hope of good in the iſſue of them.
Thirdly, As Daniel ſaw in Viſion the riſe of all, ſo the ruine of them; to teach the Faithful in their ſucceſſions to look through the dark Clouds and Storms of Perſecution, to the bright Sun-ſhine that will follow, and in the dark night of afflictions to the riſing of the Sun of Righteouſneſs with healing in his wings; and that the triumph of enemies in wickedneſs doth but foreſhew their dectruction.
Fourthly, As the Jews at the height of their provocations were captivated by the Babylontans; and the Iſraelites before them by the Aſſyrians; ſo therein the impartial juſtice of God is to be acknowledged, who is ſo far from ſparing a People, upon whom his Name is called, if they ſin againſt him, that the nearer he hath brought them to himſelf, he doth the more ſeverely puniſh them when they greatly rebel againſt him.
Fifthly, As Judah had a deliverance after ſeventy years from the captivity of Babylon, by Cyrus King of Perſia, but not the Tribes of Iſrael from Aſſyria: So thoſe that God brings moſt near unto him, and have moſt intereſt in him, he is propenſe to ſhew them more mercy, than others that have been more eſtranged from him.
Sixthly, As there was a remarkable degree of mercy vouchſafed unto the Jews after their return from Babylon, even till Chriſt came in the fleſh; thence take notice, That Gods ancient Promiſes to the faithful forefathers will certainly take effect, though their Poſterity may for a long time be unworthy thereof, for the generality of them.
Seventhly, As Judah after their reducement from captivity, were much in an oppreſſed and troubled eſtate, by the three laſt Oppreſſors of them; ſo God ſuits the condition of a ſinful People, though near unto him, anſwerable to their unworthy walking towards him.
Eighthly, As Iſrael and Judah have had ſo long time of captivity and bondage under ſo many Oppreſſors ſucceſſively: So thence may be obſerved the greatneſs of their provocation, that moved God ſo heavily, and ſo long time, by ſuch ſad calamities ſucceſſively to ſcourge them.
Ninthly, As God had made great and large promiſes of wonderful mercy to his People after all the times of their ſufferings were over: So he would by the Viſions of Daniel let all his faithful People know thathe was mindful to perform them all, though it was very long before their deſerved ſufferings would be accompliſhed.
Tenthly, As the wonderful excellency and grace of Chriſts Kingdom on earth hath been anciently recorded, and excellently deſcribed by the Spirit of Chriſt in his Prophets, in all times of the Old Teſtament ſucceſſively: So the wonderful bleſſedneſs which the faithful ſhall enjoy in that ſtate, will prove worth patient waiting for, when it ſhall be enjoyed by them.
Eleventhly, As the Gentile Chriſtians were ſurrogated in the room of the rebellious Jews, when they were caſt off; So obſerve, That long enjoyment of Gods merciemercy, if it be abuſed, is far from entailing it upon any People; and, that no People have been ſo eſtranged from God (as were the Gentiles a very long time) but God may have mercy and grace in ſtore for them in his good time.
Twelfthly, As the times of the Gentiles have been eminently more gracious ſince the Jews long rejection and cutting off; So the heinous abuſe of ſuch clear and precious grace will make their judgement the more heavy, as will be manifeſt in the Popes deſtruction, eſpecially who hath moſt wickedly turned the glorious Revelation of the myſtery of the Goſpel into a pernicious myſtery of iniquity.
Thirteenthly, And as the laſt Gog and Magog, after the thouſand years of Chriſts reign upon earth, will ſin moſt heinouſly againſt all former examples of judgements, and againſt the moſt glorious grace ſet before them in the Kingdom of Chriſt the ſaid thouſand years; So when they ſhall againſt all means and warnings, and from an inward hatred of goodneſs follow Satans laſt ſeducement, to attempt to compaſs, with their multitudes, the Camp of the Saints about, and the beloved City: Then God will thereby be ſo highly provoked to wrath both againſt them and the Devil together, that his juſt vengeance will fall from heaven upon them, and utterly abandon both Satan and all wicked men from the face of the earth, ſo putting an end unto the world.
Fourteenthly, As the fierceneſs of Gods wrath declared from his Word will be ſhortly executed upon Antichriſt and his followers in theſe laſt and worſt dayes of Satans wicked Dominion; So let the conſideration thereof be a ſtrong enforcement to all ſorts of men now eſpecially to flee far from Babylon and Popiſt ſeducements, leſt they partake of thoſe Plagues and heavy Judgements haſtening to fall on her and them.
Fifteenthly, As God hath in his Word recorded ſeveral remarkable computations of times, reſpecting both Jews and Gentiles in theſe latter dayes: So both ſhould thence be awakened to behold and conſider ſuch marks and ſigns of theſe times, that they may eſpecially in theſe laſt dayes prepare for the glorious coming and appearance of Chriſt, now near approaching: For (ſaith he himſelf) of theſe very times; Behold I come as a thief, bleſſed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, leſt he walk naked, and they ſee his ſhame, Rev. 16.15.
For now the Adverſary watcheth ſo much the more diligently and maliciouſly, endeavouring to deſtroy, and that as a ramping and roaring Lyon ſeeking whom he may devour, by how much he knoweth that his time in the world is ſhort. And that day alſo will come as a ſnare upon all them that dwell upon the face of the whole earth, as our Saviour himſelf ſhewed, Luke 21.35. after he had particularly declared many ſigns of theſe laſt times, now for the moſt part accompliſhed: And thereupon in the next verſe, enforceth this duty of watching with prayer, to this end, that they might eſcape thoſe terrible things that then at Chriſts appearing ſhall come to paſs, and alſo ſtand before the Son of man; which they cannot do without keeping their garments, to wit, thoſe ſpiritual garments of Juſtification by Faith in Chriſt Jeſus, and of inward Sanctification by Divine Grace in their hearts and ſouls, ſhewing their living in the Spirit, by their walking in the Spirit, Rom. 8. Both which garments muſt be adorned with a Godly and Chriſtian converſation in the ſight of men, that they ſeeing their good works, may glorifie their Father which is in heaven: Otherwiſe their ſhame, as our Saviour forewarns, will be manifeſt before himſelf, the great Judge (then) and Angels and men. And they will be found naked, and lye open (then) to the fierceneſs of that great and dreadful ſtorm of the wrath of the Lamb; when will be ſuch a time of trouble, as never was ſince there was a Nation, Dan. 12.1. And ſo great an earthquake as was not ſince men were upon the earth, ſo mighty an earthquake and ſo great, Rev. 16.18. So that well might our Saviour at ſuch a time pronounce them bleſſed that ſo duely watch and pray and keep their garments; which he of his infinite mercy teach and enable all his faithful People rightly to perform; who by his own moſt powerful grace worketh all their works for them, in the uſe of his own good means, and according to the good pleaſure of his moſt holy will, to the eternal praiſe of divine Goſpel-grace in him the Beloved. Amen.