Christs Peaceful Kingdom on Earth to Come, Chapter 2

Christs Peaceful Kingdom on Earth to Come · Chapter 2

p. 3CHAP. II.

Shewing how according to the eternal decree, upon the fall of man, the Office of Mediatourſhip, was committed to the ſecond perſon of the Trinity, Jeſus Chriſt, the onelyonly begotten Son of the ever living God, to be executed in his three great Offices of a Prophet, Prieſt, and King, not onelyonly in reſpect of particular beleiving ſouls, but in a general conſideration more eminently, in reſpect of the three great periods of the World: 1. In his prophetical Office under the Old Teſtament, revealing by his Spirit, in his Meſſengers, all the counſel of his Father, concerning his Church. 2. In His Prieſtly Office under the New Teſtament; By offering himſelf an oblation for, and after by making interceſſion for the ſins of his people, at the right hand of God; And 3. will alſo execute his Kingly Office, delivering them from all their enemies, actually in this world, at his appearing, and in the thouſand years, unto the end of the world, and thenceforth for ever.

THe firſt thing we named to be done, See the quotations of Scripture added in the forerunner.was the laying down of thoſe Theſes or poſitions agreeing to the holy Scripture, and the Analogy of Faith, that may make way for Doctrines of this nature, which are theſe that follow.

Firſt, That as the infinite excellency of the nature and being of the Trin-Ʋne Dietie, was everlaſtingly incomprehenſible in it ſelf, ſaving onelyonly ſo far forth as the ſame Divine eſſence hath been pleaſed to communicate any diſcovery of it ſelf by word or works, or both, unto any creatures in Heaven or earth; ſo hath the Trinity of perſons in the Unity of the Divine eſſence, both in the eternal decrees, and in the execution of all joyntly in their order concurred, and ſo will do from eternity, through all times, unto all eternity.

Secondly, That all the glory of God the Father, was by the eternal decree to be manifeſt in Jeſus Chriſt his onelyonly begotten Son, the Lamb ſlain in the eternal decree of the Father, before the foundation of the World was ſaid; and according to the ſaid eternal decree, the Holy Ghoſt, one God co-eſſential, and co-equal with the Father, and the Son, proceeds from the Father and the Son, the Mediatour between God and man, as the ſole efficacious worker and accompliſher of all ſpiritual p. 4good, in and for Men and Angels, and all real good in all creatures, which in their ſeveral orders and natures they were capable of receiving.

Thirdly, Accordingly in the creation God made the world by his wiſdom, the eternal word, Joh. 1. The Spirit ſitting, as it were upon the ſurface of the waters, then covering the earth powerfully to produce the creatures, then to be made, and ſo both the Heavens with the Angels (as Divines conceive) and the earth were made the firſt day, Gen. 1.1. as all that were made in the whole world, afterward in the five following days, which the word Elohim in the Plural number, put with the Verb Barah in the ſingular number, denoting the Trinity of perſons in the unity of eſſence ſeems to declare, whoſe concurrence in the making of man is likewiſe very remarkably expreſt, when God ſaid, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeneſs, &c. Gen. 1.26.

Fourthly, The making of Angels in Heaven, and man and all creatures in the world, was in the execution of the eternal decree of the ſaid incomprehenfibly glorious Trin-une Diety, in their ſeveral orders, natures, ſtations, and conditions.

Fifthly, As no other but the holy and good will and pleaſure of the infinitely, glorious, & incomprehenſible God was the reaſon and cauſe why they were all made abſolutely as they were; ſo that they ſhould be for himſelf (as his word witneſſeth) as their utmoſt end, and no other inconſiſtent reaſons or ends ought to be given or aſſigned by men.

Sixthly, As the whole creation was all good, ſuitable to the Author of it; ſo the preſerving, ordering, over-ruling and diſpoſing of all creatures according to his good pleaſure, by his infinite wiſdom, power, providence, and goodneſs, is not to be meaſured or judged by any ſcantling of any created capacity, who will notwithſtanding be juſtified in his ſaying, and clear when he is judged; there being in ſuch his proceedings, ſo many fathomleſs depths in reſpect of creatures, which it is not lawful for any men to ſearch into, further then Gods word doth warrant them, but in things not revealed or forbidden they are not to enquire.

Seventhly, Since God according to his ſaid eternal decree, and good pleaſure of his will at the fall of our firſt parents in Paradiſe, revealed and teſtified his wonderful powerful grace; That the bleſſed…eed of the woman ſhould break the p. 5ſerpents head, there is ſufficient ground for ever to humble all mankind, and for ever to exalt Gods free and rich grace therein, and all men are thereby engaged to uſe all Gods means to obtain their part therein.

Eighthly, According to the declaration of that wonderful rich and free grace of God, for the ſalvation of his people, and for carrying on of his great deſign therein, as the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, by an eternal decree, had purpoſed ſo to be wonderfully glorified in the powerful redemption and ſalvation of his elect people, in ſuch a way of free grace; So in the creation of all things, all ſorts of creatures were made in a capacity to carry on that deſign, and from that very period of their firſt being, holily, & moſt wiſely over-ruled and diſpoſed of, in reference thereunto, and ſo ever ſince have been, are and ſhall be moſt wonderfully holily and powerfully (though many times ſecretly and unſearchably) throughout all ages, by the joynt concurrence of all the ſaid three perſons of the moſt ſacred Tri…ity, in their order of working, to the infallible perfecting and compleating of the ſaid deſign decree, and purpoſe.

Ninthly, That the management and adminiſtration of the great work of Mediatorſhip, between God and man, ever ſince the ſaid promiſed ſeed was revealed to our firſt Parents, hath been committed to Jeſus Chriſt the Son of God, who in his Word commands all men to hear him; by acknowledging, receiving, and obeying him.

Tenthly, that the management and adminiſtration of Mediatorſhip between God and Man, hath ever ſince been executed by Chriſt in his three great Offices, wherein he and he onelyonly is to appear moſt powerful, wonderful, gracious, and glorious to his Church upon earth, as her great Prophet, Prieſt, and King.

Eleventhly, Chriſts execution of the ſaid three great Offices, is two ways to be conſidered.

1. More generaly for his univerſal Church, in reſpect of the ſeveral ſeaſons, wherein in order he was to execute them ſeverally, moſt eminently, until his work of Mediatorſhip ſhould perfectly be accompliſhed, and full reconciliation made between God and all his elect people; his myſtical body, the true Church, being compleat in all the members of it, and perfect union and communion attained with himſelf, as their myſtical head; together with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, as alſo with the glorious Angels, and one with another, in p. 6moſt happy enjoyment of all good, to all eternity.

2. It is again conſiderable, particularly and ſpecially, in reſpect of every truely beleiving ſoul, in the particular application of the efficacy of thoſe three great Offices to them, by his holy Spirit, making good means and ordinances effi…acious to every faithful ſoul, ſo exhibiting himſelf to them, 1. As their great Prophet inwardly, powerfully, and ſavingly, teaching them all neceſſary truth and doctrine; 2. As their great High-Prieſt, in the like way evidencing their peace and reconciliation with God, through that expiation he ſhould or hath made for their ſins. 3. In the like-way alſo to evidence to them at one time or other, that he is their powerful King and Protector, that hath, and doth, and will ſubdue all his and their enemies, and keep them in a loyal and good condition by Faith and Grace unto ſalvation.

Twelfthly, Conſider that the general, more eminent and glorious execution of thoſe three great offices for his univerſal Church more remarkeable in the world, is in thoſe three great periods of his manifeſting himſelf in the world, according to all that his father had given him to do.

1. As the great Prophet of his Church, by his ſpirit of wiſdom and revelation, in all his immediate Meſſengers, till his coming in the fleſh, and ſo Chriſt is ſaid to preach in the time of Noah, to the Spirits in priſon, as St. Peter ſpeaketh, 1 Pet. 3.19, 20.

2. As the great High-Prieſt, in the ſecond Period after his coming in the fleſh, where putting an end to all the types and ſhadows of his Prieſthood, he actually undertook in his perſon, and executed the work and office of Prieſthood, as the great High-Prieſt, having made a full and perfect attonement, and ſatisfaction for the ſins of all his people, he aſcended into the holy of holies, the higheſt Heavens, there ſitting at the right hand of God the Father, powerfully and gloriouſly there to execute and improve that office, by making interceſſion for his people till his coming again.

3. In the third great period of the world, under or after the ſeventh Trumpet, Chriſt will appear moſt eminently in executing the great office of a King, in this general confideration, in reſpect of his univerſal Church, ſubduing wonderfully and manifeſtly in the world, his own and his Churches enemies, powerfully and graciouſly enabling his Saints to walk in the obedience p. 7of his laws, taking away in a great degree the evil of ſin and ſuffering, with the cauſes of both, by binding Satan, and deſtroying the wicked powers of the world, &c.

I ſay in a great degree, though not then totally nor finally.

Laſtly Conſider, how Chriſt hath, and doth, and will work in theſe three great Periods of the world.

In the firſt he wrought by his Spirit of Wiſdom and Revelation, making known the Will of the Father in all things (for ſubſtance) reſpecting Faith and Obedience.

In the ſecond, by his Spirit of grace and truth, powerfully ſanctifying his people more eminently and largely then in the former.

In the laſt, when he will take to himſelf his Kingly power, Rev. 11.15. and 19. He will work by his Spirit of Power and Domination.

Now from the former Theſes duly weighed and conſidered, theſe particulars enſuing, or the like, may be inferred, viz. That

1. If the deſign of the Trin-Une Diety was to be eminently glorified in Chriſt the Mediator his three great Offices, of being the great Prophet, Prieſt and King of his univerſal true Church: then that greateſt glory muſt needs ſhine forth in the moſt eminent way of executing of them:

But the general performance thereof, in the ſaid three great periods, is the moſt eminent way of executing them:

Therefore, That deſign hath and will be therein moſt accompliſhed.

2. If the drift and end of the great works of Creation, Support and Providence in all things, ever ſince time was, and until time ſhall ceaſe to be, was in reference unto Gods glorifying of himſelf in ſuch general management of theſe Offices of Chriſt, for his univerſal true Church, then in that reſpect he is moſt glorified.

But their drift and end is ſo in reference thereunto.

Therefore, God is moſt glorified in ſuch management of them.

3. If ſuch general execution of them in reference to the univerſal true Church, be the foundation and ſecuring thereof to particular beleiving ſouls; or ſecondly in reſpect of any more ſpecial times or ſpecial conditions of the Church as will hereafter appear; then all the good of the other is procured and ſecured by that general execution of them.

p. 8But ſuch Chriſts general execution of theſe Offices it he ſoundation and ſecuring of both the other.

Therefore, The good of both the other is ſecured and procured thereby.

4. If the great works of Creation, Support and Providence have been all along ordered in reference to Chrifts carrying on of his great work of Mediatorſhip, cheifly in thoſe three great periods forenamed; then ſuch conſideration of them is of great concernment to the true univerſal Church.

But all thoſe ſaid great works have been ordered all along in reſerence to Chriſts carrying on his great work of Mediatorſhip therein.

Therefore, Such conſideration of theſe three great periods fore-named, for the general managing of all the Mediators Offices is of great concernment to the true Univerſal Church.

5. If ſuch Chriſts general prophetical Office in the firſt great period, hath revealed the ſubſtance of the whole counſel of God, in reſpect of all to be done ſucceſſively, in ſuch Prieſtly and Kingly Offices, ſo generally conſidered, in the other two ſucceeding great periods; it ſhall ſo be done.

But it hath ſo revealed, and in a great part hath been ſo fulfilled accordingly, by ſuitable diſpenſations at all times hitherto.

Therefore, What is ſo revealed for the future ſhall accordingly be fulfilled alſo.

6. If according to Scripture, experience hath manifeſted the glory of the Mediators office, moſt eminently, for what is paſt in ſuch general conſideration, and doth witneſs the like for the time to come, then in due time will be like execution for the general, in regard of what remains to be done.

But according to Scripture it hath been ſo accompliſhed, in experience in what is paſt.

Therefore, According to Scripture it ſhall be ſo in the time to come.

The former Doctrine, illuſtrated from, Rev. 4.

Where firſt is a brief ſummary of that Chapter, in reſpect both of the Viſion and the Doctrine, with the improvement thereof, pointing out in the general, how that fourth Chapter holds out the Doctrine of the Old Teſtament, namely, the knowledge of God our Creator, three in perſons one in eſſence (as the fifth Chapter a… of the New Teſtament in the knowledge of God our Redeemer.) By the Rain-bow in the fourth we are minded of the Covenant made in the Second perſon, through whom ſo long time of repentance was allowed to the old World, and mercy to the new, but ſpecial grace to Noah, Gen. 7. and thoſe with him in the Ark: Concerning which many things are obſerved; As alſo of the Ark afterward appointed to be made by Moſes, to evidence the grace of God to his people in Chriſt, through whom he was propitious to them; and whoſe three Offices were remarkably ſet before his people in all thoſe times, and wherein the glory of his Mediatorſhip was ſo to be manifeſted, as appeared by the many and various types thereof, in ſeveral times under the Old Teſtament, which contains the ſubſtance of all Gods Revealed Will.

IT will not here be needful to multiply Texts of Scripture to confirm the former Theſes or Poſitions (for the main ſubſtance of them) which in moſt Syſtems of Divinity is already done to my hand: OnelyOnly I ſhall endeavour in that which may haply ſeem more unuſual, by the aſſiſtance of Chriſts Spirit and word remarkably called, Rev. 19.10. The teſtimony of Jeſus, which is the ſpirit of Propheſie, and that (remarkably I ſay) in divers reſpects,

As Firſt, Efficienter, He being the prime worker of it.

Secondly Materialiter, as being the main ſubject matter of it; Chriſt Jeſus being held out in the whole Scripture from the begiuning to the end.

Thirdly, Formaliter, as being the eſſence and ſubſtance of it.

Fourthly, Finaliter, As being the driſt, end and ſcope of it.

In which teſtimony, to the ſaid purpoſe, for illuſtration and evidence of what I ſay may ſeem more unuſual, I ſhall endeavour compendiouſly to conſider ſome things contained in the fourth and fifth chapters of the book of the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt, holding out the ſum and ſubſtance of Old and New Teſtament Doctrine, ſummarily, and very divinely repreſenting God the Father, Son and Holy Ghoſt, as the reconciled Father, Saviour and Sanctifier of his true Church, as Creator, Redeemer, and Preſerver thereof, who in each regard is acknowledged and praiſed by the repreſentative, four living Wights (or creatures, as Ezek 1. they are called) or beaſts, as tranſlated; and the twenty four Elders in the joynt concurrence of all the three perſons, for the manifeſting and managing of all the contents and affairs of this book p. 10of the Revelation committed to ſeſus Chriſt, the ſole Mediator of his true Church: Who being that Lamb that was as it had been ſlain, chap. 5. had that book delivered to him, to open it, and look thereon, and to open the ſeals thereof.

The Viſion Ezek. 1. and Iſa. 6. ſeem ſomewhat to be of a like nature to theſe, though not ſo large and full, in Ezek. 1. the Prophet ſaw a great cloud, with whirlwinds and fire, verſ. 4. afterwards he had the deſcription of the four living Creatures, by theirfaces, feet, wings, with their joyning by their wings, verſ. 5, to 12. then their proceeding, verſ. 12, 14. afterward the wheels that moved with the living creatures, and wheels within wheels, from verf. 14 to verſ. 26. where there is ſomewhat a like repreſentation of the ſacred Trinity of perſons, to the end of the Chapter, as in Rev. 4. and more explicitly, Iſa. 6. it is ſaid one of the Seraphims cried one to another, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hoſts, the whole earth is full of his glory. In both which Viſions whether the four living creatures in Ezekiel were Angels, or as they are called in Iſa. 6. Seraphims, or rather as they ſeem to be taken, Rev. 4, 5. chap. were men imployed by God to wards his Church, or whether the moving of the wheels, with the living creatures ſignifies Gods ſecret and powerful working by Angels, or men regularly working in his Church by his appointment, which are ſent by him from time to time, I will make no conjecture. Only as to the buſineſs in hand, what light I conceive by any help or aſſiſtance from God or men I have attained through grace, I ſhall here communicate, and leave to his bleſſing.

Thoſe two Chapters Rev. 4, and 5. as to the particular occaſion of the Lambs receiving the book, and his manifeſting the contents thereof to the Apoſtle John, ſeems to be the ſetting of the Scene and Chorus, as it were of a moſt admirable Tragi-Comedy, which reſemblance Mr. Mede (with others) likewiſe uſeth, whoſe learning and judgement in opening many myſterious things in the book of Revelation, ſeems to decypher him to be ſuch a man as Mr. Brightman propheſies of, in Rev. 21. That God would ſtir up in after times to give light to thoſe dark myſteries; and chiefly Mr. Mede ſeems ſuch, inregard of his excellent Synchroniſms, which are the curious work in the Clavis Apocalyptica, much helping to open the formerly locked myſteries, and may ſerve as a very helpful guiding thread in paſſing through many, almoſt otherwiſe inextricable Mazes and Meanders in that Book.

But ſuitable to our preſent purpoſe we ſhall endeavour to ſpeak p. 11ſomewhat of theſe fourth and fifth Chapters, as they ſeem to be an abridgement of all Doctrine contained in the Old and New Teſtament.

In the fourth chapter, God is ſpecially made known and honoured in and by his Church, as Creator, v. 11.

In the fifth Chapter, Chriſt is ſpecially made known and honoured in and by his Church, as Redeemer, v. 9.

The Doctrine of both is ſet forth partly, 1. By moſt ſacred viſional Hieroglyphicks.

2. By moſt glorious expreſſions of words, to the honour 1. of God the Creatour. 2. Of Chriſt the Redeemer.

Firſt, In the fourth Chapter, as Creatour, is he mainly ſet forth, as in the Old Teſtament, and accordingly praiſed for that work, v. 11. For thou haſt ereated, &c.

And that is ſet forth, 1. By Hieroglyphical Viſions, verſ. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

2. By Doctrine with the uſe thereof, v. 8, 9, 10, 11.

Ver.ſ 2. By Thrones ſeems to be held out the true Church of God, taken collectively for ſuch a company of Gods people, ſerving him after his revealed Will, which is as a Throne whereon only God is exalted in all the world: For in Judah was God known, and his name great in Iſrael, Pſal. 76.1. So Pſal. 147.11. They tell of the glory of his Kingdom, &c.

Verſe 2, 3, and 5. ſeems an admirable repreſentation of the Trinity of perſons in the unity of eſſence; the firſt perſon like a Jaſper and Sardine ſtone (but not ſaid what.) The ſecond perſon, like a Rainbow, like an Emrald (not ſaid what.) The third perſon, as Seven lamps of fire, which are the ſeven ſpirits of God, as cap. 1.4.

In Verſe 3, 6, 7, 8. ſeems to be decyphered the ſuperiour and inferiour members of the Church.

1. The Inferiour, by the twenty four Elders firſt ſet down, verſ. 4. for whoſe uſe the Superiour were ſent and given, Epheſ. 4.11.

2. The Superiour, verſ. 6, 7, 8. deſcribed much after the manner of thoſe, Ezek. 1. and Iſa. 6. called by Ezekiel, Living creatures; by Iſaiah, Cherubims; here, foreign, living Wights, tranſlated beaſts, noting here Gods Meſſengers, Ambaſſadours, Officers, ſtanding before his Throne betwixt him and his people, as Moſes, Aaron, the Prieſts and Levites to miniſter, &c Heb. 1. 1, 2. for them A Sea of glaſs; to ſhew they have need to be waſhed p. 12before they come to worſhip, alluding to the legal waſhing in the Temple.

Secondly, In reſpect of the Doctrine, three Perſons, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, which is, and was, and is to come, verſ. 8.

The Uſe of which, firſt the four living wights diſcover, and ſet before the Elders the glory of him that fits upon the Throne, though laſt ſpoken of, are yet firſt in, and leaders of Gods Worſhip and Service; Verſ. 9.

After them the twenty four Elders worſhip humbly, caſting down their crowns, as acknowledging all their excellency or worth received from him; Verſ. 10.

2. Giving him his glory due.

As. 1. Creatour of all things for himſelf;

So 2. Their Creatour in ſpecial, in whom his end is promoted, they give him praiſe and glory accordingly; Verſ. ult.

So the true inviſible Church of God here ſet forth, by her conſtant repreſentatives, the four living wights, and twenty four Elders, is a Throne of God upon Earth, where his glorious excellencie is diſcovered as Creatour, three in Perſons, one in Eſſence, according to the Miniſtration of the Old Teſtament, in which the Rain-bow minding men of the Son the ſecond perſon, ſhews Gods juſtice in deſtroying the Old World in their height of ſin, and mercy to thoſe in his Ark, the Church, at preſent clean or unclean creatures, and ſo for preſervation, or reſervation, at leaſt of thoſe ever ſince in the New-World.

The four living wights were in the midſt, and round about the Throne, as in the midſt of each ſquare of the Throne, and had each eyes before and behind, to look to God to have the knowledge of himſelf and his will in every quarter, and to look to the people on every part, how they might anſwerably inform them, and guide them in all the will and ways of God; They reſt not day nor night, ſaying, Holy, Holy, Holy, &c. They as Gods watchmen attend upon that, to diſcern for, and diſcover unto his people the Will of God. For the Lord would do nothing but he revealed it unto his Servants the Prophets; Amos 3.5.Amos 3:5They ſhew unto the people of God, the twenty four Elders, when the Thundrings and Lightnings of judgements againſt their enemies, come from the Throne, p. 13and when voyces of joy, &c. whence matter of praiſe and glory to be rendered to him that ſits upon the throne.

And doubtleſs, if we look upon this Chapter in both reſpects, of the viſional repreſentations and Doctrine, and Uſe thereof, we may diſcern an excellent abridgement of the old Teſtament diſcoveries, ſet forth to us (not that the Old Teſtament differs in ſubſtance from the New, but only in clearneſs, and the accompliſhment of the main thing therein expected, viz. The coming of the Meſſiah in the fleſh, for the finiſhing of the work which his father had given him for to do) there is the Doctrine of the Sacred Trinity, both decyphered and taught (as was noted before) God is explicitely prayſed there as Creatour. That man had fallen is ſignified by the Rainbow, ſignifying his mercy and judgement; Judgement to the Old world after his long Patience exerciſed towards them, and abuſed by them; mercytowards Noah in the Ark, and thoſe with him there, with ſecurity of preſervation, or reſervation at leaſt to the New world, from drowning any more by a general deluge.

That ſin was then grown to an height, it muſt needs be conceived, when God in ſuch wrath drowned a world of men and creatures with them; and that ſin and diſorders were long in the world before they came to that height, and yet it was not deſtroyed, until about 1656. years after God had created it; which likewiſe ſhews God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, who created it, had a way of redemption for ſuch as Noah, (elſe in juſtice it muſt have immediately periſhed) as well as long exerciſed patience towards them in the old World, and preſervation for thoſe of the New world, from alike flood; And this redemption and ſalvation was almoſt as ſoon publiſhed by God himſelf, as ſin had entered into the world, to deface and diſorder Gods good work of creation, which Salvation was to come by the bleſſed ſeed of the woman, then diſcovered, which ſhould break the Serpents head; And no ſooner were all the offenders convented at the fall, before their great Judge in Paradiſe, and arraigned, and tryed, and ſentenced; but this light of divine grace, according to the decree of the holy and bleſſed Trinity, which had before in a joynt concurrence created the world, breaketh forth, again to enlighten the world, newly darkened by ſin and death, and God himſelf ſo ſhews himſelf in his way of grace, that he hid the ſhame, and covers the ſin, p. 14of his now new made, and newly loſt creatures that he maketh garments of skins of Beaſts to cover them, and even of ſuch creatures as thereby might ſhew to our firſt parents, that they had deſerved death, as thoſe Beaſts did whoſe skins did cover them, but likewiſe the death of ſuch beaſts as uſually ſhould be for ſacrifice, might ſignifie unto them, that they had ſuch a Saviour to dye for them, and by dying ſhould deliver them from the jaws of the ſecond death, by a more perfect ſacrifice, which thoſe beaſts did but typifie, and ſacramentally ſet before them, by whoſe moſt precious robes of righteouſneſs, put upon them by God himſelf, they ſhould be clothed both to hide their nakedneſs and ſhame, and beautifully to adorn them in his ſight, as he then cloathed them with the skins of thoſe innocent beaſts, viz. with the righteouſneſs of the Meſſiah, that promiſed ſeed of the woman, (whence I conceive may be a good argument, for the ſalvation of both our firſt Parents, Adam and Eve, and that then God did not ſorſake them, the work of his own hands, as Pſa. 138.8. in that he himſelf ſo covered their nakedneſs, and cloathed them with thoſe skins) (though their firſt born Cain periſhed with his wicked off-ſpring, for the moſt part, at leaſt afterwards by the flood) After this, as Chriſt by ſacrifices, and other inſtitutions of God, was from time to time ſet forth to his people, by the teachings of his holy ſpirit, ſo God the Creatour made known his glory in his Throne, the Church on earth, in the face of Jeſus Chriſt the Meſſiah, that was to come (as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, 2 Cor. 3.6) by the workings of the Holy Ghoſt, in all ſucceſſions of ages to the coming of Chriſt himſelf actually in the fleſh; Still from the Throne to the four living wights, and by them to his twenty four Elders, in all times hath he ſo in ſucceſſion diſcovered himſelf; of which diſcoveries we may obſerve two great Periods under the Old Teſtament (beſides many other leſſer ones) the two great Periods were the Old world before the Flood, and the new world after the flood, until Chriſts time, and theſe two, the Rainbow as we noted, evidently implies, in drowning the old world, and aſſuring preſervation to the new world from the like. In the firſt period, when God did communicate his pleaſure to any living wights, then neer to his Throne, it was not by written word, but by voyce, or viſion, or dreams, or any ways, he was then pleaſed to uſe to any ſorts of perſons, either extraordinarily inſpired, or to the fathers of p. 15Families, or the firſt born (as ſometimes he uſed) or ſuch as were eminently raiſed up by him, as Enoch, Noah, &c. In regard they lived many hundreds of years, they might well by tradition and verbal inſtruction, perſonally teach the will and pleaſure of God to his people, and then they needed not the uſe of writing (ſo God moſt wiſely orders all things in their due ſeaſons) and indeed if they had had the gift of writing, it would have been in a manner endleſs, by reaſon of their long lives, and great knowledge, more then in Solomon… time, who ſaid, (Of making many books there was no end.) Some of the firſt Fathers lived almoſt two third parts or more of the Old worlds time after Adam, and yet lived with Adam the man made immediately by God. The other great period from the flood, till about the year of the Creation, 4000. (as Bp. Ʋſher computes them) which was, from the time of the flood, computed Anno. Mund. 1656. the ſum of 2344. years more, and for the ſpace of 855. of thoſe years, by the ſaid Reverend Authors account, till the Law was given by Chriſt in Mount Sinai, in the year of the world, 2513. at which time Moſes was taught and inſpired to write his Pentetuch, or five books, the ſubſtance of the then revealed will of God to his Church, there was no written word, but then by reaſon of Gods many inſtitutious to his late redeemed people of Iſrael, out of Egypt, and the ſhortneſs of their days, he knew his written word to be needful to them, and all poſterities of his Church, who might thereby from age to age have more of the Goſpel-glory of the Meſſiah, ſtill breaking out in new glimpſes of light, till the ſun of righteouſneſs himſelf ſhould ariſe, with healing in his wings, and that the whole counſel of God concerning him, might in ſubſtance be revealed in writing, and all needful things by his ſpirit of wiſdom and revelation, till his prophetical office in matter of Revelation of ſuboſtantial truths, was fully accompliſhed under the Old Teſtament, before he actually appeared in his Prieſtly office, and though Gods Spirit in Noah, Sem, and others, after the flood, as he was pleaſed to raiſe and inſpire them, till Melchiſedech (if he was not the ſame with Sem, as ſome conceive) Abrahams, Iſaac's, and Jacobs time, and long after, God was pleaſed to ſupply them otherwiſe without writing; but yet even then he had no leſs his true and inviſible Church, viz. his four living wights, or living creatures, as Ezekiel ſpeaks to be his ſeers, both p. 16in reſpect of himſelf, and his twenty four Elders, his faith… people, both to ſee for them, and ſee to them, to teach them and rule them, by ſuch ſpecial diſpenſations as he was then pleaſed to manifeſt himſelf to them by; and round about his Throne, his true Church upon earth, where onelyonly his glorious name is extolled, in all his gracious manifeſtations of himſelf to them, but no where elſe in the world; as Pſa. 145. There his Saints bleſs him and talk of his power, &c. we might take occaſion from this abridgement of the Old Teſtament to ſpeak many things of the Ark, wherein Noah and they with him were ſaved from the flood (as ſalvation is onelyonly to be had in the Church) which God exalts on high above the reach of the worlds calamities, and ſo of many particulars of Gods directing Noah to make it, having fitted him both with grace and worldly wealth and power to accompliſh it, to be able to pay ſuch multitudes of wicked wretches, that though they might deride his attempt ſo long, to ſail on the Mountains, yet for the reward and recompence of their labour, would not reſiſt (as is probable) but rather aſſiſt him therein, it was a work doubtleſs for a Mighty Prince to accompliſh; ſo there are many other obſervable things, as his going into the Ark, his ſtaying there, his ſhutting up the perſons and creatures taken in, ſeven of clean creatures, ſome for ſacrifice, and two onelyonly of the unclean, and his going out, all appointed by Chriſt himſelf, who is alway graciouſly preſent with his Church, but eſpecially more remarkably in the deep floods of her affliction or trouble. Yea, afterward we may obſerve that God would have an Ark made, that as his Church was before ſaved in the Ark from the Flood; ſo his Church inſtituted amongſt his Iſraelites, muſt know that the ſalvation and help was in him that would have his gracious preſence figured to them by an Ark, foreign, Sept.from whence, and by means of which, according to his own direction, he would, as from a divine Oracle, reveal himſelf and his pleaſure to them, and where that was by his own order, there his throne of grace and mercy-ſeat was to be attended by his four living wights, and twenty four Elders, both in the moving tabernacle of Moſes, Joſhua, and the reſt, till king David and all his time, till his other type Solomon did afterward build him an houſe, …p. Vſher Annal. p. 118.where the Ark of God was in the King of Judahs reign, till the Jews Captivity in Babylon, in the year from the creation, 3395. which was not p. 17much more time after the flood, then the world had being before the flood.

Now as Moſes, the great Prophet, who by Gods direction firſt made that Ark, foretold of Chriſt, the great Prophet of his Church, that him the Lord their God would raiſe, like unto himſelf, and that he ſhould be heard in all things that he ſaid unto them, and as the Father required at his transfiguration, that they ſhould hear him, Math. 17. whoſe ſpirit both informed Moſes and all the Prophets, ſo by himſelf he was excellently, and immediately inſtructed in making of the Ark, and the Tabernacle, and all that belonged to them, that all ſhould be made according to the pattern in the Mount; As Moſes was the inſtrumental deliverer of Abrahams, Iſaac's, and Jacobs natural poſterity, out of the boudage of Egypt; ſo the ſpiritual gifts and graces of Chriſt, unto the ſpiritual ſeed of Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, are the onelyonly inſtruments of their ſpiritual deliverance from the ſpiritual bondage of ſin and Satan, when they are conveyed thereby (as the Iſraelites were) through the Red Sea of Chriſts blood, and ſpiritually baptized by him (as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh) in the Cloud, and in the Sea of ſpiritual Regeneration, and as the Iſraelites were circumciſed, when they had paſſed through the Red Sea, the badge of their Covenant with the Fathers, ſo the ſpiritual circumciſion was to be on the hearts of the ſpiritual ſeed, and as Moſes that was the Miniſter of Circumciſion, and the Law, could not bring the Iſraelites unto Canaan, but Joſhua, accompanied with faithful Caleb did; So the Law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope did, as the Apoſtle ſaith, Heb. 7.19. and even ſo all the typical Prieſthood, and Sacrifices, and oblations, did but ſeem to ſet forth to the faith of Gods people, what was to be done by the true High-Prieſt, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by his once offering up of himſelf for mans ſin in the end of the world, Heb. 9.

So here likewiſe by Davids providing for the building of Gods houſe, where the Ark ſhould reſt, as he intended, yet was not permitted, but it was promiſed to him, and fulfilled, when the Ark was gloriouſly placed there in Solomons time, and honoured by evident manifeſtations of Gods preſence there, (though all the inſtitutions then uſed in that Temple, which was a type of Chriſts body, were but likewiſe typical of his prieſtly Office, to come under the New Teſtament) ſo theſe two p. 18famous Kings were eminently types of Chriſts Kingly Office.

Firſt, As Sauls worldly Kingdom was to be removed to make way for Davids, a man after Gods own heart, who was annointed of God, though ſometimes deſpiſed of men; and as David overcame all the enemies of Gods people; as Davids Kingdom was full of troubles at firſt, yet after he had a compleat conqueſt over all his enemies round about, and enjoyed peace on every ſide; So Chriſt came in a low appearance into the world, (at leaſt in the worlds eye) yet by humbling himſelf, he got the victory; he hath been long fighting myſtically for his people, and ſhall at laſt gain them a peaceable Kingdom, and all his foes be made his footſtool in Gods due time, Pſal. 110. but till that full victory, his Ark, as in Davids time, will be in a moving Tabernacle, but when the raign of the true Solomon comes, his Ark will be ſetled, his Kingdom ſhall be peaceable and flouriſhing; Now that theſe were but types of Chriſts Kingdom, appears by the eclypſing the glory of both; Firſt, after Davids victory he fell, and upon that ſucceeded many afflictions from his own houſe to the end of his days; The moſt glorious raign of Solomon at firſt, afterwards ended in as dark obſcurity by ſin and ſufferings, and his Son Reboboam, groſly provoked Iſrael to the loſs of ten Tribes, and afterwards both Iſrael and Judah were in a declining condition, till that whole generation went into Captivity, and the Ark of God ceaſed to be any more with the Jews, and though after ſeventy years, according to Gods promiſe, many thouſands were brought back to Jeruſalem, by the decree of Cyrus, as God foretold, yet the Ark of God was no more amongſt them, nor they ever after but in a decaying ſtate, though God upheld the race of David, in the Tribe of Judah, yet much in obſcurity till Chriſt, that lineally was to proceed out of Davids loins, came in the fleſh; in whom that promiſe was ſo fulfilled (but yet in the ſet time when the Scepter was departed from Judah) ſo that the glory of Davids Kingdom was not to be in himſelf, or Solomon, or their poſterities, according to the fleſh only, but in Chriſt the great deliverer of his people, both from ſpiritual and temporal bondage and captivity (as the Prophets of old abundantly witneſs, and the New Teſtament confirms, as may be ſhewed hereafter, by Gods aſſiſtance) yea, David himſelf, in many Propheſies, foretells of Chriſts Kingdom, what never was, or can be performed, to his meer natural offſpring, as beſides many others, Pſa. 72. and Pſa. 137. do plainly ſhew.

Again, Conſider that when ſome of the Jews came back from Babylon, what numerous multitudes (not many ages after) remained in the Perſian Dominion, in Ahaſhuerus and Queen Heſters times, ſcattered (as Haman ſaid) through all the hundred twenty and ſeven Provinces that he ruled over, toward whom, as God ſhewed mercy to them, by Ahaſhuerus Marriage with Heſter, a captive Maid of the Jews, ſo thereby ſeems to be ſhadowed, how Chriſt the great King of his people, though they have been long ſcattered in the captivities of many generations, yet will again betroth them unto him in faithfulneſs, as he ſpeaketh by the Prophet, Hoſ. 2.19. which flouriſhing time of Chriſts Kingdom, is deſcribed by the Spirit of God, in the thouſand years under or after the ſeventh Trumpet, of which many things will be revealed, when he ſhall take to himſelf his great power and raign, Rev. 19. and the Kingdoms of the world ſhall become the Kingdoms of our God, and of his Chriſt, Rev. 11.15. then as he the Angel of the Covenant, ſhews that at the beginning of the ſeventh Trumpet, the myſtery of God ſhall be finiſhed; Chriſt had wrought myſtically in his Kingdom before, but then he will ſhew himſelf in his Kingly authority; before, the Ark in the Temple might not be ſeen, ſave by the High-Prieſt, but then the Temple in Heaven ſhall be opened, and there ſhall be ſeen in his Temple the Ark of his Teſtament, Rev. 11.19. The Iſraelites were of old a generation of Prophets as David ſtiles them, Pſa. 105.15. And do my Prophets no harm; for they had ſuch diſcoveries of God and his works renewed unto them by the Spirit of Chriſt in the Miniſtry of Moſes, in his five Books, wherein they were taught of the creation of all things, the deſtruction of the old world, the fall of man, the way of ſalvation for old and new world, what God had done for them, what ſervice and obedience he required of them, in what way, and by what ordinances they ſhould be accepted of him, which no other people had beſides them, a…l the time, Gods Ark was amongſt them.

Yea, they were alſo a Generation of Prieſts then, for though onelyonly the Prieſts in office, then in reference to Chriſt, might kill the Saerifices, and place them upon the Altar, yet in regard they were to bring their own Sacrifices to lay their hand upon the head of their offering, to …ſtifie their faith, and acknowledge their ſins, to teſtifie their repentance, yet it was onelyonly the faith and repentance of the true Iſraelites, that through Chriſt (unto whom they looked ſpiritually) by whoſe onelyonly propitiation and attonement, they expected to be accepted, and ſo ſpiritually now; Chriſt hath made all his ſervants in his true Church, both the twenty four Elders, and the four living wights, Kings and Prieſts unto God, and an excellent Kingdom by faith and grace they know they ſhall even upon earth injoy in due time, as may appear in the next Chap. 5. Verſ. 10. We ſhall reign upon earth.

And ſo we have repreſented what is here ſaid of Gods true Church, under the Old Teſtament, by the repreſentatives thereof, praiſing him as Creatour, all which time it is to be obſerved that his holy Sabbath was kept in remembrance of God, as creatour of Heaven and Earth, and that he reſted on the ſeventh day from his work of Creation, which was by our Saviour in the New Teſtament, changed to the firſt day of the week, in remembrance of the work of our Redemption, and for the honour of him our Redeemer, who roſe the firſt day of the week from the dead, when he had finiſhed that moſt glorious work, &c.

A few things more I ſhall commend to your Chriſtian conſideration from the Old Teſtament, before we come to ſpeak of the fifth Chap. of the Revelation (as to our forementioned purpoſe) for whereas in the Viſion concerning the Trinity of perſons in the former Chap. the ſecond perſon viz. God the Son, to whom the great work of Mediatorſhip was committed, being ſet forth as it ſeems by the Rainbow, in ſight like an Emerald; which Rainbow plainly minds us both of the Flood and the Ark; the Flood again holding out,

1. Judgement to the Old World.

2. Mercy to Noah and the new World.

Again, the Ark both then and from Moſes time, evidencing Chriſts gracious preſence with his people, both in the Old and New world; And the conſideration of God the Sons execution of all the Mediatours great Offices, as the great Prophet, Prieſt, and King of his true Church, are ſo frequently ſet before Gods people in ſucceſſion of times in the Church, as the great thing to be eyed by them, therefore beſides the general reſpect of theſe three offices to the univerſal Church, and p. 21the particular to every true beleiver in all times, there ſeems a third reſpect to be much taken notice of in Holy Scripture, of many ſpecial manifeſtations of the ſaid three Offices of Chriſt, in the ſeveral ages and conditions of his Church, or rather of Chriſts, ſo ſetting himſelf forth before his people, in thoſe ſeveral times in theſe three great Offices.

For as there hath been a moſt large time of his Prophetical Office under the Old Teſtament, when Chriſt by a ſpirit of Wiſdom and Revelation, till his coming in the fleſh, revealed all his Fathers will.

And 2. According to his Prieſty Office ever ſince; And ſo,

3. Will do in the third period, under or after the ſeventh Trumpet in his Kingly office, likewiſe, as may happily be frequently obſervable in Scripture, how by a remarkable divine hand, there have been many ſhews hereof in many leſſer periods.

Firſt, Even before the flood, there were ſome ſhadowings of Chriſt in all his offices;

1. Of Propheſie, in that he revealed himſelf to the Holy Fathers of the firſt times, by voyces, viſions, dreams, and the like, what ſervices would be acceptable to the Father.

2. As a Prieſt, in Enoch; in that Enoch, as Chriſt in the fleſh, came to do the Will of God in the body, Heb. 5.10. Who as Chriſts type, ſo walked with God, he was tranſlated; as Chriſt when he had done his Fathers Will, aſcended into Heaven.

3. As a King, in Noah, whom he fitted and inabled him ſo to preſerve his Family, and all them with him in the Ark, when all his enemies were wonderfully, and juſtly deſtroyed by the Flood.

Secondly, Again, after the Flood in Abrahams time, Chriſt revealed his Fathers will to him, as his Prophet, calling him from his Fathers Idolatry, teaching him to ſerve the true God, as was agreeing to his will; making him a King by ſubduing thoſe Kings that had carried Lot captive, and reſcuing him, and thoſe that belonged to Lot; yea, in that he offered his Son Iſaac, he acted as a Prieſt, and was bleſſed by Melchiſedeck, the Prieſt of the moſt high God, who was likewiſe King of Salem, of whoſe order of Prieſthood Chriſt was to be, who was without Father, without Mother, without beginning of days, or end of life, as the Apoſtle deſcribes him, Hebrews 7.3.

p. 22But Thirdly, more remarkably, after God would have an inſtituted Church in the poſterity of Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, to whom he had made and renewed his promiſe of Canaan, and given them the Sacrament of Circumciſion, as a ſign and ſeal of his free grace promiſed to them, and had brought their poſterity out of Egypt with an high hand, and conducted them through the Red Sea, to ſacrifice to himſelf in the wilderneſs, not as their Fathers had done formerly, but as Moſes told Pharoah, as the Lord their God ſhould afterwards teach them, for they knew not how he would be ſerved, till they came into the Wilderneſs, where he afterward appointed his inſtituted worſhip, for till the making of that Covenant with Abraham and his ſeed, the Sacrifices that had been uſed all along, till then, ſeemed as much to have had the nature of a Sacrament, to ſtrengthen and confirm the faith of the beleiving Antients in the Meſſiah to come, (for we read not of any other they had, till Abraham) as to typifie unto them, that Chriſt was to dye for their ſins. But after Gods inſtituted Worſhip by Moſes Miniſtry, the ſaid three great Offices of Chriſt ſeem to be frequently ſhadowed out; Moſes was his Prophet, who is likewiſe ſaid to be King in Jeſurun; and Aaron, who was his mouth unto Pharaoh at firſt, was afterwards actually the High-Prieſt, the firſt type of Chriſt, in that order and office; but all along that Miniſtration, till Sauls worldly Kingdom was ſet up in cauſeleſs diſcontent, by the peoples corrupt will, who would have a King (inſtead of good Samuel, and of God himſelf) who told Samuel, 1 Sam. 8.1 Sam 8they had not caſt off him, but God likewiſe; for they ſought a King after their own corrupt will, not ſeeking to know Gods pleaſure therein; which ſoon again fell, when God had ſought him a man, even David, whom God ſet up. And when the Iſraelites were actually come out of Egypt, and had miraculouſly paſſed through the Red Sea (whereby was figured, how by Baptiſm, and ſpiritual Regeneration, Gods people are brought out of the bondage of ſin and Satan, and ſo ſoon as they were come into the Wilderneſs (which many ways ſhadows out the ſtate of Gods people in the world, &c.) then Moſes as a Prophet, makes known the Will of God to them; Aaron as a Prieſt makes interceſſion to God for them, and Chriſt himſelf (as judicious Burgeſs proves) as the great King gives his Laws in great Majeſty and terrour, for all things to be obſerved by his people, p. 23though Moſes was then likewiſe his Deputy King in Jeſurun, and ſo all along in the Wilderneſs, Moſes was King and Prophet, and Aaron and his Sons Prieſts; So after that, when they were to paſs over Jordan, to enter into the promiſed Land, Joſhua is then made Captain, to fight Chriſts Battels, under that great King, that appeared to him, Joſhua 5. the Prieſts carrying the Ark dry-ſhod, through the then overflowing waters of Jordan; and Joſhua again, as a Prophet, reveals the pleaſure of God unto them, not onelyonly in civil affairs, as to dividing the i…eritances, but alſo in ſpiritual admonitions and inſtructions, upon many occaſions, &c.

Again, many times in the Judges days, when Moſes and Joſhua's counſels were forgot, and their predictions concerning that peoples revoltings were fulfilled; yet even then, Chriſt who was from the beginning the powerful great King of his Church, ruled many times amongſt them and their enemies too, apparently, as the Scriptures witneſs, even then likewiſe he raiſed up his Deputies, called Judges, as Gedeon, Jeptha, Deborah, Barack, Sampſon, and others, again to reſtore his inſtituted worſhip, and Prieſthood, and be deliverers to his revolted and oppreſſed people, as occaſion did require, inſtructing them by his prophetical ſpirit therein. But from the beginning of Davids time, as we noted theſe three great Offices were more remarkably, and eminently ſet forth, eſpecially while things continued in any tolerable order, in the good Kings raigns that followed, wherein the glory of Chriſt the Mediator, in his three ſaid Offices, as Prophet, Prieſt, and King, was ſtill ſet forth in their following times, to ſhew that therein conſiſted the glory of Chriſts Mediatorſhip, as much more might be obſerved in this kind.

Rev. Chap. 5.

The further illuſtration of the former Doctrine, from Rev. 5. chapter, where after the ſummary conſideration of that Chapter is briefly hinted, the Doctrine of the New Teſtament therein comprized, which firſt was ſet down largely before the giving of the Revelation in the writings of the Evangeliſts and Apoſtles. But ſecondly, there more eſpecially is Chriſts the Lambs Revelation, and execution of the affairs of that book, but ſo as to erect his Kingdom in the iſsue, p. 24for which they ſo exuit, verſ. 10. and we ſhall reign upon earth, wherein the repreſentative Church doth ſo eminently rejoyce, v. 11. and the four living Wights add their fiduciall, Amen, after the praiſe of all creatures; and the twenty four Elders fall down and worſhip, v. 14.

PRoceed we now to the fifth Chapter (the Scene and the Chorus being ſo excellently ſet in the former Chapter) as reſpecting God the Creatour, worſhipped on the ſeventh day Sabbath, eſpecially to glorifie him for his great and good work of Creation, who as three in perſons, one in eſſence, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, ſo worſhipped in the Old Teſtament untill the coming of Chriſt the Redeemer, who having finiſhed the work of Redemption, as the Lord of the Sabbath changed, it from the ſeventh to the firſt day of the week, who in this fifth chapter is ſaid to be a Lamb that was as it were ſlain, who is therefore praiſed by men, Angels, and all creatures with him on the Throne, for that moſt glorious work of Redemption, and acknowledged in the great benefits that redounded to his Church thereby. Where again conſider,

Firſt, The Viſion, with the effect of it.

Secondly, The Doctrine and Uſe of both, 1. By Men. 2. By Angels. 3. By all creatures.

The Viſion for the greateſt part is the ſame in ſubſtance; the decyphering of the Father, the Holy Spirit and the Church, the ſame; but God the Son who is repreſented as a Lamb that had been (as it were) ſlain, whoſe glorious work of Redemption and Grace towards his true Church, is the ſubſtance and drift of the Viſion, wherefore he is accordingly praiſed.

Firſt, Conſider the Viſion, v. 1. to 8. and the effect on the four beaſts, v. 8.

In Verſe 1. A book was in the hand of him on the Throne.

In Ver. 2, 3. A proclamation by a ſtrong Angel for one to open the book.

Verſe 3. None was found worthy in heaven or earth.

Verſe 4. Is the great diſcouragement of St. John thereupon, he wept much, as without hope &c.

In Verſe 5. One of the Elders comforts St. John, that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the root of David, had prevailed to do it.

In Verſe 9. The former deſcription of the true Church, but with the Lamb in the midſt of it; Who is ſet forth, firſt, by his p. 25ſuffering, he was ſlain. Secondly, By his victory, … killed death, and was thence but as it were ſlain, and conſequently by his dominion over all things in heaven and earth, therefore ſet forth by ſeven horns, denoting his perfect power. Secondly, by ſeven eyes denoting his perfect wiſdom and providence in all the earth, where, by his holy Spirit he worketh as he pleaſeth.

In Verſe 7. The Lamb (as was told St. John, verſ. 5.) takes the book out of the hand of him that ſate upon the Throne; whereupon follow the effects of the Viſion in the Church.

Firſt, Worſhip by the Beaſt and Elders, v. 8.

Secondly, Praiſe by a ſong: Where

I. The nature of it, A new ſong, for new Teſtament mercies.

II. The matter of it, Thou art worthy, v. 9, 10. In the matter of the new ſong, conſider

1. An acknowledgement that the Lamb, and onelyonly he was worthy to take the book, and open the ſeals thereof.

2. The reaſon of the acknowledgement,

Firſt, from the greatneſs and extremity of his ſuffering [thou waſt ſlain.]

Secondly, By the efficacy and prevalency of his ſuffering; Thou haſt redeemed us unto God. Where

1. The price, by thy blood.

2. The extent, Out of every Nation, Kindred and Language.

And thirdly, the benefit redounding to the Church by ſuch redemption, verſ. 10. Thou haſt made us to our God, &c. and we ſhall reign. Where

1. Here is what all the faithful in the true Church, ſpiritually here obtain, They are made Kings and Prieſts unto God now in this life.

2. For advantage and advancement, which they ſhall have in that place where they have ſerved Chriſt, or ſuffered for his name, there they ſhall reign with him: We ſhall reign upon earth.

In Verſe 11. A Viſion of innumerable company of Angels about the Throne, the Church.

In Verſe 12. Their ſong of praiſe, where firſt the Object, i.e. the Lamb, whoſe worthineſs they likewiſe acknowledge, for being ſlain.

Secondly, The right and due belonging to him thereupon, viz. That he receive power, and riches, and wiſdom and ſtrength.

p. 26In Verſe 13. is the general concurrence of all creatures, 1. In Heaven, 2. In earth. 3. Under the earth. In the like acknowledgement and praiſe to be, 1. To him that ſits upon the Throne. 2. To the Lamb for ever and ever.

In Verſe 14. Firſt, The fiducial Amen of the four living Wights.

Secondly, The aſſent and conſent of the twenty four elders, manifeſted,

1. By their falling down.

2. By worſhipping him that lives for ever.

1. In their falling down, ſhewing their humble ſubjection.

2. In their worſhip, their ſincere affection to the glorious object; Him that lives for ever.

So that in this Cap. there is an excellent teſtimony of Jeſus, ſet forth by the ſpirit of Propheſie, being the main ſubſtance and ſcope of New Teſtament Doctrine (as in the Goſpels are excellently ſet forth) whereunto the Lamb as it were ſlain, hath reference, being eternally ſlain in the Fathers decree, but then actually ſlain in due time, and yet alive again, and was but as it had been ſlain, being the All-ſufficient Mediator, that had conquered Sin, Death and Hell, and had perfect power and providence over all the earth, but by his Divine Spirit, holily and wiſely ordering all for the good of his univerſal, true, inviſible Church, and ſo according to his glorious excellency hath thence forward both the ſaid Teſtimony and Spirit of Propheſie, and power to reveal and execute all the holy pleaſure of his Father in what remaineth to be accompliſhed upon the earth to the end, namely in revealing and fulfilling all things contained in the Book of **The Book given to the Lamb to look into, and to open the Seales thereof, viz. The Book of Revelations, is diverſly apprehended by ſeverall perſons, ſome deſcribing it as a book bound containing many folio's or pages, and yet to have ſeals upon it, cloſing it up. Others, more probably to be a Volume or Roule, containing the Propheſies of many things to be unfolded ſucceſſively in order, being one rouled upon another, and on the outſide to have 7 ſeals hanging down each by other as on 7 labels; but it may ſeem rather probable they were 7 narrow Scrowls each one ſealed down at the end upon the Roul one by another in the length of the Roul to hold it together, till all the ſaid 7 ſeals were looſed, and that at the looſing of each ſeal the contents of each Seal-propheſie was made known thereupon ſucceſsively, but when the laſt was louſed (in what part ſoever of the length of the roul it was) upon the taking of that, came off the larger Volume of the 7 Trumpets, which ſo proceeded out of the ſeventh ſeal, being thenceforth looſened, to be unfolded ſucceſſively, from the whole length the roul, which (in ſuch caſe) muſt needs greatly abate the bigneſs of the Book or Volume as firſt delivered to Chriſt the Lamb, and thereupon the remainder of the ſame book might well be ſtilled (foreign) a little book in the Angels hand, c. 10. which was open, not ſealed, as before, which St. John was afterwards bidden to take and eat up; whereupon he was enabled from that Book-propheſie to ſet down what concerned the affairs of the Ceurch more eſpecially, begining at the ſame time with the firſt Seal-propheſie, all along to the end of the world, contained in Chapter 12. and ſo forward to the cloſe of the Book.Revelation, in two diſtinct Propheſies p. 27through all times, both firſt, in the Seal-Propheſie of State matters, reſpecting the Roman Empire, in chap. 6, 8, 9, and 11. ſome things to ver. 15. reſpecting both Church and State. And ſecondly, Of the Book-propheſie, chap. 12. concerning the Church affairs to the end of the Book, which was in the hand of the Angel, Rev. 10.

1. Concerning the Seal-propheſie, in chap. 6. are contained the ſix firſt ſeals, containing all to be done in the firſt three hundred years, till the woman in travel obtain'd a man-child from God, to wit Conſtantine the Great, the famous Chriſtian Emperor, after all thoſe ten throws of perſecution, while Michael & the Dragon fought hand to hand (as it were whether the Devils religion of heatheniſh Idolatry, or Chriſts true Religion ſhould prevail; and out of the ſeventh Seal proceeded the ſeven Trumpets, containing all time ſucceeding; both the interim untill Antichriſt aroſe, and his time, and times, and half a time, or forty two moneths took place; wherein, as Chriſt in the firſt Seal rode upon a white horſe, and by the preaching of the Goſpel went on conquering, by bringing in the fa…thful to the Goſpel thereby, ſo (to conquer) afterwards all his enemies by the red, black and pale horſe, and other judgements to ſubdue his enemies ſucceſſively; and in the three firſt Trumpets took away the very ſeat and manſion of the Dragon, that he that till that time letted might be taken out of the way, that Antichriſt might come in his room, as the Apoſtle Paul foretold, 2 Theſſ. 2.7. But from the time Antichriſts forty two moneths begun, to the end of the ſixth Trumpet, or the ſecond woe, we have the fourth Trumpet proceeding in the ruine of the Empire in the Weſt, and the fifth Trumpet is the beginning of the ruine of it in the Eaſt, cap. 10. by the Mahumetan Saracens, thoſe locuſts out of the bottomleſs pit, hurting all but the green fruits ſealed to be preſerved from that firſt wo Trumpet, as was foreſhewed, chap. 7. who deſtroyed one half of the Eaſtern Empire; and after the other Mahumetan Locuſts p. 28under the ſixth Trumpet, namely the Turks took away the other part of the Eaſtern Empire, whoſe 396 years are not yet expired, till the end of the ſixth Trumpet, and the ſecond woe, as is ſaid, Rev. 11.14. which is to be at the riſing again, and the aſcention of the Witneſſes. And from ver. 15. of the 11. chap. is a brief compriſal of the ſeventh Trumpet, to the end of the Seal-propheſie, which ends all time; yet in the firſt part of that 11. chap. is contained a Cronological Table, having reference to both the Seal-propheſie and the Book-propheſie in the Angels hand, Rev. 10.2. which begins again chap. 12. and ſo forward to the end. But here firſt obſerve the table of all the times of both Propheſies, Rev. 11. where the firſt verſe hath reference to the primitive times, when the Temple and the Altar, and they that worſhipped therein were regular and meaſured. Verſe 2. contains the time of Antichriſt, ſet forth by the Court without, to be left to the Gentilizing Papiſts, to be trodden under foot 42 moneths. From that Verſe to the 14. is the contemporary two Witneſſes prophecying in ſackcloth, to the finiſhing of their teſtimony, and laſt great killing and reſurrection, at the end of the aforeſaid ſecond Woe, and beginning of the ſaid ſeventh Trumpet, to the end of the chapter.

But the ſecond, or Book-Propheſie in the Angels hand, Chap. 10.2. contains all the former times in the Seal-Propheſie, and to end at the ſame Period, going over them again, begins at Chap. 12. wherein was again contained what is given to Chriſt the Lamb to reveal and execute, in reference to the affairs of the Church; In Chap. 12. are contained chiefly in that reſpect the ſtate of the true Church in the primative times, before Antichriſt aroſe, both in regard of her primative glory, and the rage of the Dragon againſt her, till her flight into the Wilderneſs, to be fed there by the two ſaid Witneſſes, in Sack-cloth, for a time and times, and half a time.

In Chap. 13. We have the deſcription of the falſe Apoſtatical Church, (from about Anno. 406. as is probably conceived) from Honorius the Emperor, and Pope Innocent the firſt his time, ſet forth in a twofold beaſt, wherein Antichriſt and his followers are, verſ. 1. deſcribed in their politique capacity, as taking poſſeſſion of the ſeat of the Roman Emperour in the Weſt, into which, when the Dragon, who was before dipoſſeſſed, cunningly winds in that his ſubſtitute the Beaſt, giving his power and place unto him, under a new ſhape of Idolatry, and ſo p. 29he riſeth out of the Sea, having ſeven heads and ten horns (expounded Cap. 17.) having upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his head the name of Blaſphemy. By the other Beaſt, verſ. 11. he is ſet forth in his Eccleſiaſtical capacity, making up one body with his Clergy, ſo he is ſaid to come out of the Earth, of an earthly conſtitution, having two horns of power, Eccleſiaſtick and Civil, like a Lamb, but ſpeaks like a Dragon; But concerning the twofold Beaſt, Chriſt the mighty Angel deſcribed, Chap. 10.1. when he gave the Book to John, containing the Beaſts forty two moneths, ſpeaks, verſ. 6.7. that his time ſhould be no longer; And to that end had his two Sack-cloth Witneſſes prepared, Cap. 11. The Paſtours to feed the woman in her wilderneſs-condition 1260. days, of years; whom in a ſeeming diſgraceful manner he ſets up againſt this great Beaſt (which in appearance is, maxime impar congreſſus,) they being contemptible in the worlds eye, and yet lets them know they ſhould have all along ſuch power, that they ſhall by the ſpirit of Propheſie overcome the Beaſt, with all his worldly grandure and greatneſs, and by ſuffering and dying, after the Lambs example) at laſt totally and finally overcome him; And yet all the while, that falſe Antichriſtian Apoſtatical Church of ſpiritual Babylon, that ſcarlet whore deſcribed, Rev. 17. Sits as a Queen, not onelyonly bewitching the Chriſtian world with her Sorceries, but alſo making the Kings of the earth drunk with the cup of her ſpiritual fornications; the true Church, (though in a wilderneſs-condition) yet continues to ſing a new ſong on Mount Sion, with the Lamb, and to follow him where ever he goeth, while the deſtroying Angels by their judgments, ſurprize the Whore, Chap. 14. And therefore while the Whore in all her gay gaudery, promiſeth her ſelf ſecurity, that ſhe ſhould ſee no ſorrow; Chriſt hath his ſeven Angels, with their ſeven laſt plagues or Viale, to be poured out upon her, bringing her inevitable deſtruction by degrees, upon what ever was of worth in her accompt, even to deſtroy the Kingdom, Throne, and Empire of the Beaſt, and even to make thoſe Kings which the Scarlet Whore, riding upon the Beaſt had before made drunken, to hate the Whore, and make her deſolate and naked, and eat her fleſh, and burn her with fire; And laſtly, as a mighty Conquerour, Rev. 19. Chriſt overthrows in the Armagedon Battel, all the Hoſts of the Dragons ſubſtitute, and poſſeſſeth his Empire, there and in p. 30all other the Dragons dominious beſides, and caſts the Beaſt and the Falſe Prophet, the Pope and his counſel, into the Lake of fire and brimſtone, and then as the moſt puiſſant King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, lays hold on the Dragon, Rev. 20. and binds him likewiſe with a great Chain, and ſhuts him in his Dungeon the bottomleſs pit; And ſets up his own Kingdom, Dominion, and Soveraignty, generally over all perſons, places, and times, of the ſeventh Trumpet, and thouſand years, wherein by his word he declares, he will reign with his Saints upon earth, Rev. 11.15. and 19.20. where again, all time will end.

And in this laſt period are ſet forth as Synchronals, the binding of Satan, the raign of Chriſt with his Saints a thouſand years on earth. The new Heavens and new Earth for the ſame ſpace of time, and the Tabernacle of God with men; The new Jeruſalem, The pure River of water of life, and the tree of life, bearing the twelve manner of fruits, whoſe leaves are for the healing of the Nations; All which are to be during that happy time, when the Kingdomes of the world are ſaid to be the Kingdoms of our God, and of his Chriſt, as was expreſſed, Chap. 11.15. And when the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, as the great multitude of his ſervants are taught, out of the Throne to praiſe him ſo enlargedly, Chap. 19.5, 6. For as we noted before in all the Book of the Revelations, where things are not ſaid to ſucceed one another, as the Seals, Trumpets, and Viols, but one Table of Chronology is aſſigned to them all ſuch diſtinct Viſions are contemporaries (as all that concerned the true and falſe Church in Antichriſts time) have the ſame meaſure, though diverſly computed, by moneths, days, a time, times, and half. So all theſe Viſions, under, or rather after the ſeventh Trumpet, have one Chronogical Table to compute their time, viz. a thouſand years, all which particulars being by Chriſts ſpecial order ſo ſtrongly aſſerted by the Angel, and the antient and latter Prophets, as earneſtly called in for evidence hereunto, for the ſtabliſhment of the Faith of Gods people herein, ſince he, the Lamb, that had power to reveal them to his beloved Diſciple Saint John, hath likewiſe power to execute and fulfil them in their ſeaſons, till all be done which in his Office of Mediatorſhip is committed to him, having therefore ſeven horns, and ſeven eyes, which are the ſeven Spirits of God, ſent forth into all the earth, whereby with his perfect p. 31wiſdom and providence, he will accompliſh all that his undertaking.

Which Synchroniſmes in the laſt Period, according to Mr. Mede, (in his Clavis Apocalyptiea) are as a guiding thread which who ſo taketh, and humbly and faithfully uſeth, may greatly (through grace) be helped in paſſing through many (otherwiſe inextricable labyrinths) in many dark paſſages of this book; for in this laſt period, the ſaid Mr. Mede hath gone contrary to the ſtream of Expoſituours, for many hundreds of years (as others ſince him have done) wherein for the ſubſtance there ſeems to be much clearneſs, (though the myſteries therein compriſed are very high and intricate) which in the enſuing, and now neer approaching times, will doubtleſs be much unfolded, when the myſtery of God ſhall be finiſhed, at the beginning of the ſounding of the ſeventh Angel, Chap. 10.7. and when likewiſe Gods Temple ſhall be opened in Heaven, and there ſhall be ſeen in his Temple, the Ark of his Teſtament, Chap. 11.19.

Now ſeeing in regard of all Chriſts other actings paſt ſince his taking of the book of Revelation at his Fathers hand, they have been myſtically and ſpiritually executed (though all moſt really and powerfully) ſo I conceive the myſtical manner of underſtanding his reign on earth, the thouſand years, As I then apprehended.ſeems in regard of the Symetry, proportion and ſuitableneſs to what hath already been done, is here to be underſtood (though as Mr. Mede obſerves) the Spirit of God ſets forth things of our latter times, more clearly then in the former.

Now that this may appear more evident, let us diligently weigh and conſider what the repreſentative true Church do in the ſequel, who in the unity of Faith and ſpiritual Grace, through all the times contained in this book, looking in a ſpiritual diſcovery or viſion, through all the ſeries of them, to the utmoſt compleating of the Lambs victory over Antichriſt and his followers, in that excellent Period of his Kingly power, ſolely and for ever, thence-forward to be held in his own hand, and We (ſay they) ſhall reign upon earth, as may appear from the 8. verſe of this 5. Chap. to the end.

Firſt, In verſ. 8. the ſaid repreſentative true Church, fall down before the Lamb, having every one Harpes and golden Viols, and Odours, which are the prayers of Saints.

Secondly, Verſe. 9. They ſing a new ſong, for New Teſtament grace and glory, To the Lamb, ſaying, thou art worthy to …ake the Book and open the Seals thereof.

p. 32Thirdly, They ſhew the ground and matter of their new Song, Thou waſt ſlain and haſt redeemed us by the blood, out of every kindred, tongue, and people, and Nation (where obſerve whence thoſe repreſentative four Beaſts, and twenty four Elders have their original deſcent ſucceſſively to the end of the world, having all along the ſame frame of ſpirit.)

Fourthly, They ſet forth the promotion and advancement he hath ſpiritually raiſed them up to in the earth, in all their ſucceſſions, by his work of redemption; Namely,

1. What they were actually poſſeſſed of, Thou haſt made us unto our God, Kings and Prieſts.

2. What more eſpecially, fiducially, and in viſion, they ſaw and ſay they ſhould have in the laſt period of time, If any forſake father &c. Mat.where they had before ſerved Chriſt, or ſuffered for him, in the following words, And we ſhall reign upon Earth, as 2 Tim. 2.12. if we ſuffer we ſhall alſo reign with him.

And hereupon comes in the concluſion in a general doxology, ſet forth in a viſion of an innumerable company of Angels round about the Throne and the Church, verſ. 11, 12. expreſſing their high praiſes to the Lamb; and then of all creatures joyning to aſcribe, all excellency, bleſſing, glory, and power, &c. to him that ſits upon the Throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever; Whereupon the four Beaſts, or living Wights, ſay Amen; Teſtifying their faith and aſſurance thereof, and the twenty four Elders to declare their aſſent and conſent (like the people in Solomons time, when he had prayed at the conſecration of the Temple, and God manifeſted his glory there, 2 Chron. 7.3.) they bowed and worſhiped him that liveth for ever. Which words ſeem to have ſpecial reference to Chriſt, as having been ſlain and alive again, and lives for ever more, as Rev. 1.18. who hath the Keys of Hell and death, and in the end will caſt the Dragon, Satan, Hell, and Death, into the Lake that burneth with fire and brimſtone, which brings in the deſtruction of the world, and laſt judgement, Rev. 20.11. When Heaven and Earth will flee before him, that then will ſit upon the throne, and all ſhall be raiſed that are then dead, to come to be judged, &c. verſ. 12, 13, 14, 15. So that the Spirit of God teacheth the repreſentative Church to look upon their reign on the earth, as the main thing that is driven at, in reſpect of themſelves, in the Book of Revelation, as a thing all along to be eyed by them, from the firſt giving of it, and p. 33which ſhall be accompliſhed in all time, till the conſummation thereof; And thereupon, both they, Angels and all creatures break forth into praiſes, as was ſhewed.

Inferences from Rev. 5. which will be proved in the Sequel.

1. If the beginning and ending of the Viſions given by Chriſt to his beloved Diſciple St. John, hold out the great glory of Chriſts kingly Office with his Saints in the laſt period, under or after the ſeventh Trumpet, then ſuch glory thereof is yet to come in the ſaid Period.

But he hath therein ſo revealed ſuch his Kingly glory to him, both in the beginning Chap. 5. Verſ. 10. and in the end thereof, Chap. 20. and elſe-where:

Therefore, It ſhall ſo be fulfilled in the ſaid third period.

2. If the repreſentative true Church are taught by Chriſts Spirit, to look upon ſuch his reign on the earth, as a great fruit of the redemption wrought by Chriſt; yea, as the compleating of his Mediators office in the world, and as a great honour and recompence (through grace) in time for their ſervice and ſuffering for him in the world; For as they have there ſuffered with him, ſo there they ſhall raign, 2 Tim. 2.12. Then they ſhall accordingly attain in due time the end of their expectation and confidence.

But Chriſts Spirit hath there ſo taught them, ſo to look upon ſuch Chriſts reign on Earth:

Therefore, In due time they ſhall accordingly attain the end of ſuch their expectation and confidence.

3. If Chriſts taking of his kingly power to himſelf at the ſeventh Trumpet, be the fulfilling of the Propheſies of the Old Teſtament, and his anſwering to the types therein contained of David chiefly, delivering the Jews and Iſraelites, and in Ahaſhuerus marrying captive Heſter, and ſo delivering all the diſperſed Jews, and Iſraelites, then it muſt: …eeds be ſo undertaken and performed.

But it will be the fulfilling the Propheſies, and anſwering to the types of the Old Teſtament:

Therefore, It muſt needs be ſo undertaken and performed.

4. If the Spirit of God is eminently large and vigorous in ſetting out the glory of what belongs to Chriſts Kingly Office upon earth, in the ſaid laſt period, then there is the more p. 34ſure ground to beleive and expect it;

But he is eminently large and vigorous therein.

Therefore, There is the more ſure ground to beleive and expect it.

5. If Chriſts Office of Mediatorſhip muſt end when he reſigns up the Kingdom to the Father [when full reconciliation is made, and the perfect union of himſelf with his Church (as her ſpiritual head) is fully accompliſhed] then before that time the eminency of his Kingly Office upon earth, muſt needs appear, as there hath been of his Prophetial and Prieſtly Offices hitherto:

But there is no Period left for it, but that under or after the ſeventh Trumpet, before his Mediators office ſhall ſo be finiſhed at the ſaid time:

Therefore, It muſt neceſſarily be in that third period to come, under or after the ſeventh Trumpet.

6. If the great glory of ſuch reign of Chriſt will then appear in the multitude of his ſubjects, both of the Iſraelites, Jews, and Gentiles [As the Scriptures abundantly wineſs] then the greateſt glory of his powerful grace, and the greateſt confluence of redeemed and ſaved ſouls ſhall then come in.

But the glory of ſuch Chriſts reign, will then appear in the multitude of ſuch his ſubjects, in the glory of his powerful grace, and the confluence of ſuch redeemed and ſaved ſouls:

Therefore, Such reign of Chriſt remains ſtill to be executed by him.

7. If without ſuch reign of Chriſt on earth, the myſtical body of Chriſt will not be compleated, and that in the far greateſt part of the members thereof, then to come in; then it muſt neceſſary come in its time to make his myſtical body compleat in the members thereof.

But otherwiſe it will not be compleat in the far greateſt part of the members thereof:

Therefore, It muſt come in, in that its due time.