The Saints Rising Out of the Heap, Key – Errata 2

The Saints Rising Out of the Heap · Key – Errata 2

p. 63The mutual ſuitableneſs of them both evidently appears by [The Picture of the Divine Key] here enſuing.

1. In Predictions.

1. IF we reſpect the Enemies, or their Removal, Ruine and Judgment, as Gen. 3.15. and when, Pſal. 110. 1. and Enoch's Viſion of their Judgement, Jud. 13.14. both in the ſaid firſt and ſecond acts of Judgment, &c.

2. If we have reſpect to the Spiritual Seed of Adam and Eve; or the Spiritual Seed of the Divine Promiſed Seed of the Woman, Eſa. 53. for whom a Paradiſe is to be procured by Chriſt, and reſtored to them at the Reſtitution of all things, &c.

3. If we look at Noahs Covenant for the Earths Preſervation and Fruitfulneſs.

4. If we reſpect Shems Bleſſing derived to his Spiritual Race Abraham, Iſaack and Jacob, &c. with all the Repeated and Enlarged Promiſes of Canaan to their Spiritual Seed Chriſt, p. 64to inherit the ſame through that one Divine Seed Chriſt of their Lineage after to come according to the Fleſh.

5. Or to ſuch of Ahrahams, Iſaacks and Jacobs Poſterity, to be then in the natural Life, to whom many great Promiſes are then to be performed: and to the Gentiles likewiſe of Japhets Race, then, at their ſecond Call to be United in one Fold with that people of God, Deut. 32.43.

6. Or look upon it as the time of the Reſtitution of all things, as the end of Chriſts undertaking in the world, viz. according to his Promiſe of the New Heavens and New Earth, Eſa. 65.17, &c. as the firſt Adam, by the free gift of God, poſſeſſed all things for himſelf and his Seed if he had ſtood, &c.

7. If as a Scepter or Dominion foretold by Balaam, &c. or of a Kingdom promiſed to the Son of David. for ever, 2 Sam. 7. of which there is very much in Scripture, and will then be a comprehenſive mercy for all ſorts of Saints then.

8. If it be enquired how all thoſe Mercies ſhould be fulfilled in that ſtate at once to all ſorts p. 65of Saints in all times both deceaſed and living, and upon what accounts to Jews, Iſraelites and Gentiles then, who it ſeems ſhould all have their ſeveral conditions then to be enjoyed by them.

p. 632. In Revelations.

1. THis Chriſt hath manifeſted, Rev. 19.11. to the end, in taking of the Beaſt, and falſe Prophet; and ch. 20.1, 2. in binding Satan, and in conſuming the laſt Gog and Magog by Fire from Heaven: and laſtly by caſting the Devil into the Lake of Fire for ever, v. 8, 9, &c.

2. This is anſwered by the raiſed Saints eating of the Tree of Life in the middeſt of the Paradiſe of God, ch. 2.7. which is alſo ſaid to grow in the middeſt of the ſtreet of the City, ch. 22.2.

3. It is anſwered with the 12 maner of Fruits growing upon the ſame Tree in each Month, with Leaves for the healing of the Nations then, ch. 22.2.

4. That is anſwered in this Key of Chriſts, by the New Jeruſalem ſtate, Rev. 21. as the City prepared for the Fore-Fathers, Heb. 11.10, 16. whoſe Maker and Builder is God: and p. 64for all the Saints to be raiſed then bodily, v. 40.

5. They are all compriſed in Chriſts ſaid Key under the Nations of them that are ſaved, ſhall walk in the light of the ſaid New Jeruſalem, ch. 21.24. being ſuch as are in the natural Life, &c.

6. It is anſwered by him that ſits upon the Throne, ch. 21.5. who ſaith, Behold I make all things New at that time; and ſo the ſecond Adam who hath a threefold right, Heb. 1.2, 3. is now appointed by God to be the Heir of all things, who will at the Reſtitution of all things alſo make all his ſaid ſpiritual Seed or Overcomers by him and with himſelf to inherit all things, Rev. 22.7.

7. That is to be in Chriſts Kingdom, or Reign with his Saints the 1000 years, Rev. 20.4, 6. which is of large conſideration when the Kingdoms of the world are become the Kingdoms of our God, and of his Chriſt, ch. 11.15.

8. Chriſt hath reſolved all thoſe in the raiſing of his Saints which he brings with him, to raiſe their p. 65bodies in their order, ch. 20.4. when he will reward his Servants the Prophets, and his Saints, and all that fear his Name both ſmall and great; whereby Daniels darker Viſion of the ſame is enlightned: and by a ſtrange, yet promiſed, both Civil and Spiritual Reſurrection of Jews and Iſraelites, Ezek. 37. Dan. 12.1, 2, 3. & Rom. 11. when the Gentiles of Japhets Race ſhall have their ſecond moſt full and large Call, with performance of great Promiſes to them alſo.

And is not there wonderful Divine Wiſdom obſervable in ſuch a Contrivance, and wonderful Goodneſs in giving ſuch an excellent Key to his Church, ſo Divinely fitted to open thoſe ſo antient Propheſies and Promiſes? And will not much more wonderful Wiſdom, Mercy, Truth and Faithfulneſs, with all other Gods Excellencies ſhine out to the Admiration of all thoſe Saints at that time in the ſaid State, to their heightning then to a like wonderful Praiſe of the Divine Grace, with Angels, Men, and all other Creatures, as Rev. 5.10, to the end?

Adam and Eve, and all Saints ſince them ſhall be preſent (then) at once, to ſee all their Intereſts, and well grounded Expectations (then) made good; and how the order of Times, and of all affairs, which have been ſuitably ordered and carried on (to which purpoſe, a Scripture Harmony might largely and profitably be written upon the account of this Key in all the particulars, from the beginning to the end of the Bible: whereby the Divine Wiſdom and Goodneſs (with other Excellencies) might appear wonderful to a believing Soul (in any good meaſure enlightned in ſuch Divine Miſteries:) Yea, if men would but rightly improve, and not unworthily pervert their very Reaſon in ſuch things, they might diſcern much more than uſually they do; and if they were but as forward to imbrace what Evidences are ſet before them, upon due conſideration of them; as they are ſtudious to find ſtumbling-blocks in their own way, or caſt them in the p. 66way of others, there would ſoon be more conſent to, and enquiry after theſe divine Truths, than oppoſition and reſiſtance of them: The Book given by the Father had ſeven Seals, and the Lamb is wiſe and powerful enough, to execute them in their due order, and ſo he hath done almoſt in all of them already; and what now remains may in a good degree appear to ſuch as give their minds to, & duly uſe the means appointed for the underſtanding of them: But if others will not, and therefore are judged by Chriſt not worthy, ſo to be taught, becauſe (as the unbeleiving Jews formerly) ſo they now alſo ſhut their Eyes, and turn away from ſuch light of Truth, the fault will then be their own: And it is obſerveable Chriſts firſt revealing, and his Spirits teaching of theſe things, is in a different way from many other divine Doctrines: Yea, Chriſt queſtioneth whether he ſhall find faith of theſe things, Mat. 17.18. upon Earth when he comes (although his Spirit three times (as we noted) confirmed the truth of them,) chap. 19. and 21, 22. and yet of all the matters in that divine Book, no part ſo evident and clear (as was ſaid) none ſo exact and diſtinct in all reſpects of order, time, place, perſons, continuance, with all uſeful circumſtances as this ſaid 20th. chap. which hath many ſtamps of Divine Excellency ſet upon it, all very uſeful for the perſons concerned; for the opening of this great myſtery of God by the help of the ſaid Key, being rightly uſed by them, in ſome, it hath pleaſed the divine Majeſty, according to his infinite wiſdom and grace reavealed, thus by degrees to ſet forth by Chriſt himſelf, the great concerns of himſelf and his Saints, the Lambs Wife; then to be in ſuch excellent Communion with him, as then will appear to them, 1 John 2.3. And let all ſuch critical Perſons againſt theſe Truths conſider, Pſalm 25.9, 14. The meek he will teach his way, and his ſecret is with ſuch, &c. and the work of Faith muſt be his own in every branch of Divine truth, tendered to any from his written word: Such as all theſe matters are, (though ſomewhat myſteriouſly ſet down) we have I conceive ſpoken ſufficiently to this purpoſe before; I ſhall therefore here adde no more.

Now for Application, We ſhall onelyonly endeavour to give ſome breif hints thereof, referring their inlargements to future opportunity, if God be pleaſed to afford it, for I cannot ſpeak largby the Preſs, &c.

p. 671. Ʋſe of Inform. This may inform all Preachers of the Goſpel, and all wiſe and faithful Chriſtians, that deſire to be well and ſurely guided in theſe great things of God, reſpecting the ſaid firſt Reſurrection, of what concernment it is; to labour well to underſtand: Firſt, the curious work of this Key, given by Jeſus Chriſt, ſince he aſcended unto the Father: And Secondly, the right Uſe and Improvement of it. The curious work in it, is that it is Divinely fitted for all ancient Propheſie, and indeed for all Propheſie reſpecting the general good of Gods faithful Servants, throughout all the Bible, and of all times throughout the being of the World; all ſetting forth the neceſſity of the Saints ſaid Reſurrection; ſo revealed by our Saviour, as we ſhewed, &c. And the excellent Improvement and Uſe thereof, is to ſhew their ſpecial and peculiar intereſt, as well as the general, in all the revealed promiſed Mercies and Covenants, in the whole Book of God, viz. How, or under what capacity any ſuch ſpecial Mercy, is derived to them, and made effectual to their Souls in ſuch or ſuch a Diſpenſation of Grace to them particularly; which hath not efficatiouſly reached to many others, at leaſt, as yet; but in Charity and thankfulneſs, to endeavour truely that it may do ſo alſo, if it may be; and according to their underſtanding well the curious work of the ſaid Key, and the due improvement thereof: All judicious Chriſtians may find from thence, an excellent ſure guidance; I ſay again, an excellent ſure guidance by divine aſſiſtance, to judge of the true intent and meaning of all Prophetick Scripture; all hangs upon that one Hindge of ſuch ſaid breaking the Serpent [Satan] head, viz. both his head of Craft and Dominion, and all drive to the ſame end of Reſtauration, of men and Creatures in the World; as in the ſeveral branches of ſuch revealed Mercies, may appear, if they be rightly conſidered; and all to be accompliſhed by the ſaid promiſed Seed, within the time of his Mediatorſhip: Before thoſe things ſhall be enjoyed, that Eye hath not ſeen, nor Ear heard, nor entered into the Heart of man to conceive; which will be in the higheſt Heavens afterwards: Whereas theſe mercies in the interim will be much of another nature; whileſt Chriſt is redeeming and reſtoring Men and other Creatures, from the bondage of Corruption, unto that glorious liberty of the Sons of God: And though there be many particular and ſpecial Propheſies many times, yet they are in their drift and ſubſerviency, to be reduced thereunto; and therefore the allegorizing of any ſorts of Propheſies, that have a direct p. 68tendencie to any branch of ſuch reavealed ancient Promiſes and Covenants, muſt needs be erroneous upon whatſoever fair pretenſes, ſuch ſenſe or ſenſes are put upon them, by any man or men whatſoever. And therefore if we look unto what God declared in general to Adam and Eve, and for their Spiritual off-Spring, through Chriſt that ſaid Divine Seed of the Woman, about 4000 years after to come in the Fleſh: Both in reſpect of the evil to be removed and the good to be obtained, anſwerable to thoſe divers times and divers ways after declared Mercies, acording to the good pleaſure of God to the fore Fathers: Or conſider aright the Covenant which God made with Noah, that Type of Chriſt for the preſervation of the renewed Earth, as the Stage whereupon God would act in all future Mercies, to be known and performed in their due time and order, to the end of the World; and thereupon the Mercies then to his people were ſaid to be as the Waters of Noah unto God himſelf, that was, ſure and infallible; and by that Covenant, both all Creatures with men have their uſual preſervation and Proviſion, by Seed time and Harveſt, &c. and their greateſt fruitfulneſs, is eſpecially reſerved for thoſe laſt times, when the Serpents head ſhall be broken, both eminently at Chriſts coming from the right hand of the Father, at the begining, or when his ſhall ſully deſtroy all his Churches Enemies with death the laſt, after the ſaid thouſand years: Or conſider the bleſſings of Shem and his Race to Abraham, and thence eſpecially to all Iſrael, the twelve Tribes, and ſo in Chriſts lineage and forward; or the Predictions of the Calls of Japhets poſterity, the Gentiles ſince by holy Scripture explained and applied; Or as Jews and Gentiles both united under that one King Chriſt Jeſus, which is that Son of David, that ſhall ſit on Davids Throne, ſo long as the Sun and Moon ſhall endure, according to Davids ſure mercies promiſed, reſpecting his ſaid Kingdom; and all other Saints intereſt therein through Chriſt; (for to them alſo belongs the ſure Mercies of David, Eſa. 55.3.) whereby they are alſo ſecured for Eternity; for ſuch ſhall not be hurt by the ſecond death, as riſe then to Reign with Chriſt in that Kingdom, which onelyonly will continue to the finiſhing of his Mediatorſhip, but then is by him to be given up to the Father, 1 Cor. 15. And is that that muſt be during the Worlds continuance, as appears by our fifteen Reaſons in the New Jeruſalem, pag. 9, 10. when under him the ſaid Saints glorious King, Head and Husband, who prayed in that ſence before his death, that they ſhould p. 69be ſo made perfect in one as his Bride or myſtical Body, and willed they ſhould behold his glory then, Joh. 17.21, 23, 24. when there will … very gracious and happy performance of all ſuch promiſed mercies, in the … to the capacity of the Perſons or Creatures, that are to be ſo blened, preſerved or reſtored. So that they attend to this Iſſue, that Chriſt may be manifeſt in the world before all ſorts of Creatures, to be as perfect, yea a much more perfect, yea an infinitely more perfect Reſtorer, and Redeemer than the Devil was or could be a deſſolator and deſtroyer: as all thoſe ſaid predictions in their ſeveral times and kinds, with their ſubſequent Scripture Confirmations and explication ſufficiently reſtifie: being all opened by and accommodated unto this Divine Key of the Son of God the Wiſdom of the Father: by whom the worlds were made, viz. the Old World, the New world, and the World to come ſhall be, Heb. 1.3. with Rev. 21.5. who hath, and doth, and will till then uphold all things by his Divine Power, as well as he hath Redeemed us by his Blood, who ſhall then accordingly inherit all things, anſwerably to this his ſaid threefold right aſſigned by the Father unto him in his ſaid Kingdom; and by him to his ſuffering Saints, Rev. 21.7. in the time of his ſaid Mediatorſhip, or of his Davidical Kindom, and ſaid New Jeruſalem ſtate; upon which accounts the ſaid Saints the Lambs Wife ſhall then with him enjoy the ſame in their capacity; and the inferiour Chreatures then alſo be reſtored to the glorious liberty of the Sons of God, Rom. 8.21, 23. all bowing the knee, and paying their Homage to him as Lord, Phil. 2.9, 10.

And for the large meaſure of Divine Grace, which will abundantly then be poured out upon thoſe in the natural life, who ſhall then walk in the light of that New Jeruſalem when God will Circumciſe the hearts of that his antient people of Iſrael eſpecially, as Deut. 30. to v. 11. particularly reſpecting the ſame time, as many other Scriptures do, for that is the Foundation of all their outward bleſſings promiſed to them (eſpecially in thoſe times) for unto Godlineſs are the Promiſes of that world to come made, ſo much more than to this, in regard in that ſtate greater Promiſes of much larger meaſure of Divine Grace, are made in the Scriptures for thoſe times more generally: ſo that it is a mere blinding of the Truth for any to ſay they conceive (that is, only by gueſſing) that a more ſpiritual Church ſtate will be, and yet not yield the outward viſible glory in the ſaid time belonging thereto: p. 70for in reference to the fulfilling of all outward Promiſes, not only to the ſaid Saints, but unto Chriſt himſelf as ſuch a viſible (then) glorious King of thoſe raiſed Saints, will thoſe large …ward mercies be given together with th… large endowments of … in the natural Life: and the holy Scriptures thall not be broken in any of theſe things: but Chriſt will then moſt certainly raiſe the ſaid Saints; and they as the Wife of him the Lamb ſhall then Reign with him, or as the members of that then his viſible Body, whereof he will then be their viſible glorious Head; that is, viſible to themſelves: and when alſo the then converted Jews firſt and eſpecially, with all Iſrael that then ſhall be ſaved, Rom. 11. to whom alſo the great fulneſs of the Gentiles is after to come in, who being united into one fold with them, ſhall inherit all the ſaid declared and promiſed Mercies, yea and inferiour Creatures then obtain their libertie aforeſaid, &c. So that the drift of all ſuch Promiſed Mercies reſpecting the ſaid Spiritual Seed of all times before, ſhews the neceſſity of ſuch a Reſurrection of the Saints in the time of Chriſts Mediatorſhip, and the accommodation of this Divine Key unto them, many ways illuſtrates the glory of God, and that ſaid happy eſtate of the Raiſed Saints, fitting themſelves (with Angels) for a moſt bleſſed Eternity, when Chriſts final Judgment is ended: and ſuch as would deny ſuch a ſtate preceding the ſame, muſt blot out much in all parts of holy Scripture, beſides the divinely uſeful accommodation of this Key of Chriſt Jeſus, ſo fitted for all ſuch antient Propheſie, with all the ſubſequent carrying on the ſame deſign of God for theſe ſaid happy times in the world; of which much may be groundedly ſaid under every branch of the ſame, &c. yet all along anſwering fitly to the ſaid neceſſary (revealed by Chriſt Jeſus) firſt bodily Reſurrection of the Saints.

2. Ʋſe of Inform. Since the ſaid firſt bleſſed Reſurrection of the Saints, is to Reign with Chriſt, and partake of the New Jeruſalem State in that World, &c. This may inform all men of theſe three things, viz. Of the Antiquity, and Excellency, and Bleſſedneſs appertaining, or to the Doctrine to the ſaid Kingdom and New Jeruſalem ſtate. Firſt, For the Antiquity thereof, it is contained in Gods firſt Declaration, as afterwards explained; expreſſed in Baalams Parable, but abundantly typified in Davids and Solomons Kingdoms; confirmed and explained by Moſes, the Prophets and Pſalms, &c. as in our Iren. chap. 5.6, 7, 8. And the Doctrine of the New Jeruſalem, was alſo contained in that firſt ſaid publication, p. 71but particularly manifeſt to Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob; ſince explained largely in the Prophets and Pſalms, and is that City the Apoſtle Paul ſaith is prepared for the Forefathers, whoſe Maker and Builder is God, Heb. 11.10.16. whoſe great Priviledges have all along the Revelations been the ſuffering Saints encouragements.

2. The Doctrine is excellent, of a Divine and Heavenly Excellency; whereof Davids and Solomons Kingdom were but ſhaddowes: And the old Jeruſalem was but a Type of the holy, great and beloved Jeruſalem, ſhortly to be in the World; as it is gloriouſly diſcribed, both by the Prophets and Pſalms likewiſe; but cheifly by our Saviour, Rev. 21. and his Kingly Office is many wayes the moſt glorious part of Chriſts Mediatorſhip, ſee the Treatiſe on Gen. 3.15.

3. That the Doctrine of them contains much bleſſedneſs and comfort in it, is manifeſt from the time, and occaſion of the beginning and ſetting up of both, &c. the time is when Chriſt comes and brings his reward with him, and all his Saints alſo to be then rewarded by him, as he promiſed to ſuch as come to him, to ſuch as believe in him, and ſpiritually eat his Fleſh, and drink his Blood, four times over, John 6. viz. That he will raiſe them up at the laſt day, which is at the ſaid Reſurrection of of the Saints, to be brought into the ſame State and Kingdom, and the large and great promiſes made to the ſame are big with variety of bleſſings, in the Old Teſtament; but in all this excellent Book of Revelations, all ſorts of Sufferers in their times, have their conſolations and encouragements from ſomething, reſpecting that State and Kingdom, as in Prod. pag. 39, 40, 41. may particularly be ſeen, and then at the ſaid Reſurrection they will have the Dominion, Pſal. 49.14. and rule over the Nations as was ſaid, yea then ſaith the Pſalm 149 (Conſider the whole Pſalmiſt) ſhall the Saints execute the judgement written, viz. by Moſes, Deut. 33.40, 41. For there will never be ſuch a time or occaſion again to do it, as at the Armageddon Battel when Chriſt will wound that Head of many Countries, from the beginning of the Revenges upon that Enemy, [Antichriſt] when God whets his glittering Sword, and makes it drunk with Blood, Deut. 32.…2, &c. I do but touch upon theſe things, much more is ſaid on Gen. 3.15. in the Everlaſting Goſpel.

3. Ʋſe of Inform. Men may likewiſe hence be informed of the exceeding great benefit, of this moſt excellent Key of all antient p. 72Propheſie from Rev. 20. and 21. and 22. Which the whole Book before doth cheifly make the way for; indeed it is a great mercy to Gods Church, both formerly and of late in all the ſaid times of Chriſts overcomers, of Dragon and Beaſt, that they have been encouraged therein from ſuch Revelations; of what they ſhould ſuffer was ordered by his Sovereign hand; ſo though wicked Men and Devils were the Inſtruments, yet they did ſuffer under them, according to the good will and pleaſure of Almighty God, and by the ſtrength of his Grace carrying them through all their Tryals; and they found what helps and ſupports he had provided for them, both preſent then, and what is promiſed for the time to come, in the Epiſtles to the ſeven Churches of Aſia, and all Sufferers after in order to theſe very times, as in the large paper in our Prodr. pag. 39, 40, 41. may be ſeen: But the benefit of this ſaid Divine Key in the laſt part, is incomparably advantageous and comfortable, in ſhewing from the beginning what Fonndations, of ſuch wonderful anciently revealed and promiſed mercies, God hath ſo Divinely couched in them, for all Generations before and in the 1000 years, or New Jeruſalem ſtate; (together) in the World wherein everlaſting happineſs, will not onelyonly be entered upon, and ſecured to all Saints: (for none ſuch ſhall be hurt by the ſecond death) but by that State they will upon many advantages be fitted, more for Eternal happineſs, and more to glorifie God in the enjoyment of it, for evermore! Upon the abundant diſcovery (then) to be made of ſuch wonderful wayes, of Gods revealed, formerly, and then fully performed Grace in all branches thereof; which the ſaid Key leads Chriſts Servants to, by Faith till the time come of the fruition of the ſame, for the Spouſe of Chriſt, the Lambs Wife, Rev. 21.9. In whatſoever times before of the Church, they have lived, they will then drink afreſh and unſpeakably, more fully the Waters of conſolation, by formerly revealed or promiſed goodneſs, in any meaſure or manner derived ro them, in their ſeveral Ages in the World, when they ſhall all together drink thereof; as the new Wine prepared for Chriſts ſaid Kingdom, in that world to come. Firſt, For thoſe of the Spiritual Seed of Adam and Eve, which (it is probable) knew little of any other Foundation of Faith, that the old world had; and it is to be hoped, that though all Cains curſed Seed periſhed in the Flood at laſt when their wickedneſs was grown to the height; yet that ſome of them by ſome ſpecial weyes of merciemercy, manifeſt to them before, might be ſaved by the Application of the p. 73vertue of Gods firſt publiſhed and declared grace in Chriſt the Seed of the Woman, (through whom good Abels offering was firſt accepted) and that fundamental Revelation leads us to look foreminent, ultimate and perfect deliverance from all Enemies in Chriſts ſaid Kingdom, and the enjoyment of all good, reſerved for the raiſed Saints in that ſtate.

And for all ſuch as lived after Noahs time, when the ſaid old World periſhed for their great provocations, they had (as we may ſay) a new ſtring to their Bow, by Gods bleſſing of Shem for the preſent and for the future, the Prediction of the mercy of Japhets poſterity in the calls of the Gentiles; afterwards more particularly made known, as was ſhewed as another Conduit Pipe conveying alſo Gods Grace unto them: Alſo ſuch as had received yet more ſpecial mercy, from the Covenant to Abraham and his ſpiritual Seed, by that one Divine Seed Chriſt to come, by that new conveyance of ſuch Gods Grace to them, had ſtill thereby a ſtronger Title thereunto, and alſo as Iſaacs and Jacobs faithful Poſterity, as a new intayle of the ſaid mercy, afterwards from the renewed manifeſtation of Gods ſure mercies to David, in reſpect of his Kingdom, which Chriſt ſhall as ſurely poſſeſs with his raiſed Saints in the thouſand years; (amongſt which it is probable will be found, many that came in as Proſelytes, under all the ſaid Diſpenſations of Grace) till the time of the publick mercy of the Gentiles firſt came in, after Chriſt was come in our Fleſh; according to all the former ſpecial Revelations and Confirmations of the ſame, for about 4000 years before; and according to all ſuch ſeveral conveyances of Gods mercy to them, in their ſeveral times they lived, (which in the 1000 years (it is probable) the Saints will largely know,) they will ſuitably glorifie the ſame Grace, Faithfulneſs and Truth of God in the 1000 years, and be filled with rejoycing therein, in greater meaſure and manner than we can conceive, when they ſhall rejoyce together as happy Members of the ſame myſtical bodie, whereof Chriſt is the Head, and as the Lambs Wife, at thoſe Divine Nuptials then to be celebrated, Rev. 19.7. being the Inhabitants from that time of the New Jeruſalem, whoſe Maker and Builder is God, Rev. 21.9. & Heb. 11.10. and the wiſdom and goodneſs of God will many ways appear glorious to all ſorts, of ſuch Chriſts Subjects, in his ſaid Kingdom; when not onelyonly the raiſed Saints will ſo particularly know the revealed Foundations, of their thenceforth perpetual happineſs; but the living Saints of all Nations that then p. 74ſhall be ſaved, and will walk in the light of the ſaid New Jeruſalem ſhall be aſſuredly ſatisfied in the ſecurity of all their preſent and future enjoyments, and in their meaſure add their halelujahs to the raiſed Saints with Angels and all other Creatures likewiſe in their Capacities, Rev. 5.10, &c. at that time of the happy reſtitution of all things, and that ample revelation of all things in reſpect of Myſteries, Creatures and Providences paſt, when knowledg ſhall abound in the earth, as the waters cover the Sea, in all that is really good for either of them to know; and whereby they may more be engaged to ſing forth the praiſes of the Lamb, &c. as is ſet before us in the ſaid glimps of that condition, Rev. 5.10, &c. which will be a School of Inſtruction for Angels and Saints more excellently to glorifie God the Father, the Lamb that was ſlain and the Holy Spirit to all eternity; and enlarge the happineſs of both ſorts of ſuch gloried Creatures accordingly for ever: and though this excellent Love-letter of Chriſt to his Spouſe the Church in this his Divine Key, ſeems to ſome to be cloſe foulded up, and in Charracters, that none but his Spouſe ſhall comfortably read; yet in due time and manner, he hath, and doth teach his Beloved rightly to read in this world for her Faith and Conſolation in ſome good meaſure, and fitly open it more and more fully for her in the fruition of that bleſſed ſtate and condition in that world to come: of which, much more from Scripture might he added.

4. Ʋſe of Inform. Hence may all Saints be informed what will be then their New Jeruſalem work and employment when they ſhall be raiſed at this firſt Reſurrection, they will be much in prayſing God the Father, Son and Holy Ghoſt, in, and for the work or Creation, Rev. 4 and eſpecially be exerciſed in ſetting forth the Praiſe of Chriſt the Lamb many ways, in a joynt and ſucceſſive Quire of multitudes of Saints with Angels, and all other Creatures then in their Capacity, as Rev 5.1. where is, I ſay, a glymps of that glorious ſtate repreſented us, v. 10. to the end. and they will be very helpful to all thoſe Nations of them that are ſaved then, which ſhall walk in the light of the New Jeruſalem to inſtruct them in what ſhall be uſeful for them to know, or do, to comfort and incourage them therein, &c. as revealed by Chriſts Spirit and grace unto them; as one of the Elders comforted the Apoſtle John (when he wept) that the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah had prevailed to open the Sealed Book, Rev. 5.5. Then will be a bleſſed Communion of Saints much above what is poſſible in our preſent ſtate p. 75of things upon many advantages: there will be greater Grace ſhed forth, greater diſcoveries made, greater opportunities, heightned Charity, hinderances removed, powerful and uſeful helps afforded and made effectual, great delight in doing good to or for the ſaid living Saints in one Sheep fold then; undiſturbed peace, and ſecurity in well doing, and in enjoying all ſorts of bleſſings uſeful for both ſorts of Chriſts ſaid Subjects in his Kingdom promiſed, or that ſhall conduce thereunto, as God ſhall ſee good, &c.

And hence we ſhould now labour to act in conformity to the New Jeruſalem ſtate, as we deſire our ſhare therein, the New Covenant made with Gods ſpiritual Iſrael then will be fufilled in the higheſt degree the Sons of Men that of are capable receiving: Yea, and it ſeems probable, grace will then be derived lineally to them, their Seed, and Seeds Seed for ever, as we have ſhewed in p. 13, 14. of our Foundations of Faith: which will be proper to that ſtate; therefore ſuitable means will be then by God provided for them and bleſſed by him accordingly when her watchmen ſhall never hold their peace day nor night: and when not only raiſed Saints and Angels will be neer aſſiſtants upon all good opportunities, ready to do any good office for them, when all evil Inſtruments are removed; as other places of this Divine Book do declare, as ch. 7. another Elder informs the Apoſtle of the white Robed Palm bearers; and ch. 14.6. Angels or Meſſengers warned the Church, and threatned the Enemies: ſo ch. 17.6, 7. another diſcovers that Whore and Beaſt, and ſhews their deſtruction; and laſtly, another Angel ſhews the Apoſtle all theſe glorious matters of the New Jeruſalem ſtate, and confirms them to be faithful and true, three times over, when the Apoſtle ſeemed ſo to be rapt with Admiration, that he would have worſhipped the Angel, if he had not reſtrained him, ch. 19.10. & 22.8, 9. yea, and Chriſt himſelf will be the light of that City, in whoſe light they ſhall ſee light, immediately, or mediately, and why are things ſo decyphered in this moſt Divine Book but to make them known to his Church: and it is all according to the Prophets, if rightly underſtood, and applyed, as Eſa. 60. in Rev. 21. and other places as largly might be declared to divers purpoſes, &c.

5. Ʋſe of Inf…. This may alſo inform Chriſtians why Satan hath ſo long been ſo eagerly bent from age to age againſt theſe Doctrines of the Davidical Kingd: of Chriſt, and the New Jeruſalem ſtate the ſaid 1000 years, which will be the great priviledge of p. 76all the faithful, joyntly being made then perfect in one, when they ſhall behold Chriſts glory there, Joh. 17.24 for it is obſervable that ever ſince thoſe ſeven Vials were revealed to be poured out upon the Kingdom, Earth, Seas, Rivers, and Throne of the Beaſt, and laſtly upon the Prince of the power of the Air too, ch. 16. he hath ſpitefully ſought to pour out his ſeven Vials upon this Doctrine of Chriſts ſaid Kingdom, as we ſhewed particularly, p. 41. & 42. of our Prodr. for indeed the coming of that Kingdom will not only end his for 1000 years, but when he ſhall attempt to reſtore it again, all his Vaſſals ſhall be utterly caſheered from the earth, and himſelf in the end caſt into the lake of Fire and Brimſtone: but that is not all, for his malice is moſt againſt it upon this account, that the Wiſdom and Goodneſs of Chriſt is manifeſt by this Divine Key, framed and given by himſelf to his beloved Spouſe, and fitted by him (in due time) to open this Cabinet of ſo precious Jewels, which were formerly ſo locked up in ſuch antiently revealed Promiſes and Covenants; for that without it the Church of Chriſt could not have been reſolved ſufficiently when, or where, or by what means, or how long ſhe ſhould obtain the wonderful benefits therein contained: but this moſt excellent Key is ſo fitted for her uſe, that by the due improvement thereof, the Church cannot chooſe but ſee her great Treaſure therein reſerved for her againſt the marriage of the Lamb now coming on: the fore-ſight whereof, provoked him formerly to great wrath againſt the Womans Seed, Rev. 12.12, 17. when he entered upon his laſt deſign of the two fold Beaſt, Rev. 13. but how will this Doctrine enrage him the more, that ſhews his Kingdoms ruine to draw ſo neer; hence, in theſe latter times, he ſtirreth up all ſorts to plead againſt it with many groundleſs pretences, and many of them contrary to others, not only by ignorant, and mean, but by ſome great and learned too; and which is more ſad, not only by enemies, and bad men, but ſometimes by friends; in the main, and good men, upon intereſt or error, and one diſadvantage or other, as in Aſſert. 10. of our Key: and yet ſo good news was never made known to mankind ſince the fall to be obtained whilſt the world continues, as this will be (ſaving only the particular Salvation of every believing ſoul) I ſay, as this, which all ſuch Saints ſhall together enjoy at the ſaid ſecond coming of Chriſt to Salvation, when our Saviour bids them lift up their heads, for their Redemption draweth nigh, Luke 21.28. yea, and this Kingdom of God alſo is then nigh at hand, v. 31. when he will ſend p. 77his Angel with a great ſound of a Trumpet to gather his Elect from the four winds into his Kingdom, Mat. 24.31. This doth bring the Devil into an envious Hell of Torment, otherwiſe, long before his time, and will plague him with deadly dumps all the time of his long impriſonment the 1000 years in the bottomleſs pit; that like diſcontented Judas, or melancholy Saul, he would deſparately make an end of himſelf if it were poſſible: it is not to be doubted but the Preaching of theſe Doctrines upon many conſiderations will ſting him to the heart; and therefore wherever it is like to prevail, he will buſily beſtir himſelf by all means he can to hinder it: and we ſhall not need to wonder at it for the Reaſons before ſaid, &c.

6. Ʋſe of Inform. This ſhould diſcover the exceeding greatneſs of the folly of all carnal, ſelf-ſeeking, fleſh-pleaſing unregenerate perſons in the world, who place all their happineſs in the things of this preſent liſe, and have no expectations of Good for Eternity: indeed in reſpect of what concerns the body, which they only, or chiefly look at, it muſt lie, like the beaſts, in the duſt above 1000 years to come; but if they depart the world in that condition, their Souls will immediately thereupon feel the horrour of Gods indignation, with miſery unconceivable; but if they would wiſely provide for the body, which they chiefly ſeem to regard, they ſhould lobour to get into a capacity of the bleſſed New Jeruſalem ſtate, with all the ſaid Saints that will produce a ſpeedy return, for the time draws neer of the happineſs of the whole man, Soul and Body: preſent or ſpeedy poſſeſſion is a great motive in earthly purchaſes; but much better is this, and that for a long enjoyment of 1000 years with Chriſt and his Saints, &c. which will alſo be perfected in Eternity: ordinarily mens hopes for body and ſoul together is not till the laſt Trumpet; but Chriſt, that is thebeſt Teacher hath evidently ſhewed the Bodies of all that ſleep in him, when he comes at the firſt Reſurrection, will in their order be united with their Souls for that happy ſtate 1000 years before: if worldly men were ſure the preſent ſtate of things would continue but half 1000 years, how would they be encouraged to lay out for Purchaſes for that time? but when there ſeems to be good▪ reaſons that men may not groundedly hope it may continue the twentieth part of 500 years, how wary have they cauſe to be in laying out their Treaſure in ſuch a ſhaking, tottering, fading World: unto which the ſaid New Jeruſalem will ſuddenly ſucceed in that world to come whereof we ſpeak: If men be born p. 78again by ſound Regeneration ſpiritually, then they ſhall riſe from the dead with the Saints bodily, a thouſand years before the reſt of the dead, Rev. 20.5. which is like to prove a ſpeedy poſſeſſion incomparably above all worldly enjoyments in the beſt way they can be had here; as we ſhowed before in many particulars: but by the way which bad men love, purſue, or by Gods long ſufference enjoy the world; it were better not to have had a being in this world, than ſo to have had it without Repentance, for the abuſe of what they have had therein; for all that ſuch perſons find in it is the luſt of the fleſh, the luſt of the eyes, the pride of life (the matter of their preſent ſin) and the cauſe of their future miſery; and now this world of it ſelf is moſt vaniſhing, ſtanding upon its laſt leggs (as we ſay) and though that deluding old Harlot, like Jeſabel or old, a little before her death, paints her ſelf to hide her wrinkled face, and gaſtly countenance; and adorns her ſelf in gorgeous Attire, yet is ſhe for very age ready to give up the ghoſt, and leave all her Paramors, like old Myſtery Babylon the Mother of Harlots, to make them crye out there, Alas alas, alas alas, when all is loſt and deſtroyed, ch. 18. Oh then for a Saints part in the New Jeruſalem ſtate, for ſo excellent, long, ſecured happineſs which will end in eternal bleſſedneſs; what would ſuch men give for it if it could be then had, and they had withal to purchaſe it? If men would befriend their bodies; what good policie would it prove to get them befriended there, and take adviſe ſpeedily in that caſe; when God begins to ſhake not the earth only, but the Heavens alſo: the Scripture tells us (that he that ought to be) the deſire of all Nations is about to come, and are there not great ſhakings of both at this preſent time? & it ſeems from Script very probable that that next great ſhaking fit of the world is not far off, deſcribed, Eſa. 2.17. to the end, with Rev. 16. Dan. 12.1. will ſhake moſt impenitent unreformed ſinners from off the worlds ſtage into the bottomleſs pit, to bear their Maſter company whoſe ſervants ſo they are, for that ſhaking Earthquake will be ſuch as never was, mighty an Earthquake and ſo great, Rev. 16.18. and ſuch a time of Trouble as men never ſaw, Dan. 12.1. I point out theſe things only, I cannot now preſs them ſaving by my Prayers, that God would ſet them home for good, that poor ſinners may now at laſt be plucked like ſire brands out of the fire. And let all ſorts conſider now they uſe the world at preſent (though they abuſe it not as ſome ſenſual bruitiſh perſons, wallowing in groſly notorious courſes of licenciouſneſs, hardning and priding themſelves in p. 79their groſs impieties) yet what do they with their enjoyments? all that men have in the beſt way are Talents that God will have account of; how will the great tryal be when Chriſt ſhall Judg at laſt; in as much as ye have not done it to the leaſt of my Diſciples, you have not done it unto me, Mat. 25. go therefore ye curſed, &c. If men would take off every yoak, and comfort the diſtreſſed, feed the hungry, cloath the naked, if leſs was ſpent in vanity, more beſtowed on deſigns to promote works of piety and charity, men would make better accounts than it is to be feared moſt rich and great men will then do; who, if they pervert not their power and wealth to hinder good, and promote evil, yet will be condemned an guilty in Chriſts day: for not hindering evil, and not promoting good, every Commandment of God hath a poſitive ſcope: but otherwiſe, let ſuch look to have all pride and hautineſs of men in honour, in wealth, in any worldly abundance to be humbled, and then driven from their Places and Poſſeſſions, or periſh with them; when their perpetueties here will utterly end, their worldly honour will vaniſh ſo far as they have not honored. God therewith, their great and coſtly buildings will tumble down upon their heads, or otherwiſe be deſtroyed or burnt up, and then they ſhall leave all their Treaſure buried for ever in the worlds ſudden ruines, and neither they nor theirs have any good of thoſe things that they would not ſuffer others to have good of before, Eſa. 2.17, &c. and then will be no time to do it when thoſe things ſhall be no longer theirs, nor any left to confer them upon within their reach; and yet muſt unavoidably be called to an account for them, and condemned, without early reformation: and our Saviour tells he comes as a thief in the night, and his coming will be as a ſnare upon the whole earth: but what then will become of thoſe that by Rapine, or Violence have increaſed in wealth; that have abuſed their Power, and Authority, to Oppreſs, and Perſecute? the plenty of Gods Creatures to conſume them in riot and exceſs in many ſorts of ſinful vanities, the heavier load will hereby lie upon them, that they are not only privitively evil, but poſſitively alſo: make to your ſelves then friends (ſinners) as Chriſt your Judg formerly commanded of the unrighteous Mammon, whilſt ye have time; but if ye will not quickly do it, Chriſt himſelf will provide for his meek ones, who ſhall then inherit the earth, and delight themſelves in abundance of peace, Pſal. 37.

7. Ʋſe of Inform. Hence all Chriſtians may be inſtructed that many comfortable Doctrines may be drawn from the ſaid Foundations p. 80of ſuch conſolations to be enjoyed in the ſame Jeruſalem ſtate to come, at the neer approaching Reſurrection, to anſwer the preſent wants of them in many particular caſes now; what, are they here perſonally troubled and moleſted? then they ſhall have, yea delight themſelves in the abundance of peace; they ſhall (ſaith the Apoſtle Paul) have reſt with us when the Lord ſhall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels, 2 Theſ. 1.7. whilſt thoſe that troubled them ſhall have Tribulation rendered to them: Chriſts Church now militant will begin from the entrance of that ſtate to be more and more Tryumphant: If they want the good company of ſuch as excelled in vertue, but are now taken out of the world, they will ſhortly meet with them again with great advantage, perfected both in Soul and Body at the ſaid firſt Reſurrection of the Saints bodily: if they would have more inward grace, or outward ſupply; both will rightly be ſupplied in the Saints Reign with Chriſt the 1000 years on earth: (ſtumble not at that expreſſion, I have it from Jeſus Chriſt, however Satan barks at it.) Would you get much honour, achieve great things? this honour have all Chriſts Saints, as ye heard, Pſal. 149. the last, Thus you ſee by the help of this excellent Rey, the rich Cabinet is opened, that you may take out the Jewels one by one for your uſe: The ſtudy of theſe Doctrines to rightly believing Souls, concerning theſe things, will be to them a School of Pleaſure, ſeconded with exceeding great Rejoycing: Chriſtians, I ſpeak it by experience, I wiſh you all partakers thereof with me, or that I might be helpful to inlarge your meaſure.

8. Ʋſe of Inform. Let all true Chriſtians know, that the ſtudying and promoting of theſe Truths will provean excellent and prevalent means to beat down Babylon, and the Kingdom of Satan; it is therefore no marvel that Satans brood and Babels brats are enemies thereunto upon any occaſions; it muſt be expected it declares the ruine of both ſpeedily; Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen almoſt in the order of accompliſhment, and God (ſaith the Apoſtle) ſhall tread down Satan under your feet ſhortly, Rom. 16.20. and now his time of being bound is nigh at hand: it will much diſturb both of them to hear much of that news; and it wil put much courage in Chriſts Champeons to fit them to fight Chriſts Battles, under his own banner againſt his and their own enemies.

9. Ʋſe of Inform. Hence take notice what an enforcing neceſſity is now incumbent upon all Profeſſors of Religion, eſpecially in an higher degree than ordinary, to take care they fully anſwer the p. 81ſame, and eſpecially to avoid the practical conſutation thereof in their converſation: let them not be ſeeming Saints, but real Saints here; or elſe they will not be amongſt the raiſed Saints at Chriſts appearearance: they muſt paſs through the firſt Reſurrection ſpiritual (only proper to the Saints here) before they can have any poſſibility of any part of that firſt Reſurection bodily, of the Saints hereafter: if they be not firſt here regenerate with them, it is moſt certain they will not then be raiſed from the dead with them: look to the catalogue of ſuch as will be ſhut out of the bleſſed and holy ſociety, Rev. 21.7. & 22.15. namely, the fearful, the unbelieving, the abominable, and Murderers, and Whoremongers, and Sorcerers, and Idolaters, and all Lyars ſhall not only have no part of the Saints inheriting of all things, but ſhall be caſt into the lake of Fire, &c. and again, without, viz. the Holy City, are Doggs, and Sorcerers, and Whoremongers, and Murtherers, and Idolaters, and whoſoever loveth and maketh a a ly, though theſe laſt lyars ſeem more eſpecially to reſpect Idolaters and the promoters thereof, who have a lye in their right hand, yet the other ſpeaking of all lyars, includes all hollow deceitful, falſe hearted Hypocrites, that will pretend much love to God, Chriſt, and his Saints, but have no true love for them as ſuch, unleſs they are carried on by ſome ſelf reſpect or other, and all ſorts that reſt in a form of Godlineſs, either by a ſeeming high profeſſion only, or the low practiſe of ſuperſtition, two dangerous ways of lying in the world in theſe evil days, whilſt they both deny the power thereof: they both in their kinds hinder much good, and promote much evil, towards God and Men: God, his Religion, his Name is diſhonoured by them both; their brethren are deluded, or ſeduced, or ſcandalized by them; theſe do God much diſſervice, but are the moſt uſeful ſervants of Satan; and eſpecially the higher pitch of Devotion they pretend to, the greater ſcandal they are to true Religion: and how much better might it be for themſelves and others, that they appeared only to be what they are, than to ſeem to be what, indeed, they are not; whereby they will be excluded out of the Holy City, &c. Much Doctrinal information may be had, if men ſeriouſly ponder theſe Truths, which we ſhall not here farther at preſent ſet down, &c.

We ſhould proceed to a word of Terrour againſt all obſtinate, impenitent, ignorant and hardned ſinners; And alſo to a word of Conſolation to poor, humble, diſpiſed, faithful Chriſtians of all ranks, but theſe we have done in others of our Practical Parcels, p. 82upon other Texts of like nature: We ſhall now add a word of Admonition to all Chriſtians briefly. Ʋſe of Adm.

Let therefore all ſorts of Chriſtians, into whoſe hands the Papers may be delivered, and unto whoſe ears theſe Doctrines may have acceſs, be hence admoniſhed to make uſe of the ſhort time remaining now to them in this decripit ſading world, to labour the more ſpeedily and earneſtly, now to demean themſelves, as wiſe Virgins, to provide to have Oyl in their Cruſe, and to have their Lamps burning: and carefully watch for the Bridegrooms coming: we have our Saviours own enforcement here of now to be improved in its proper ſeaſon about the ſixth Vial, Rev. 16. Behold I come as a thief in the darkſome night, of moſt ſinners ſecurity, and happly in the time of the night alſo; and in the time men are leaſt aware of; as Sodoms flames ſuddenly kindled by the fire of filthy prevailing Luſts: then bleſſed is he, ſaith Chriſt, that watcheth, and keepeth his Garments leaſt he walk naked, and they ſee his ſhame; for ſuch as have not on them the ſpiritual Garments of Juſtification, and Sanctification (for the Kings Daughter is all glorious within) yet together with a ſuitable holy Converſation, they will when the Bridegroom comes, be aſhamed before Angels and Men: [and now we may obſerve the Aegyptian Froggs are croaking in Kings Palaces, Rev. 16.15, &c.] otherwiſe they will not be admitted unto the happy marriage of the Lamb, neer approaching: Wherefore Chriſtians, now or never, ye muſt believe as Chriſtians, act as Chriſtians, love as Chriſtians, ſeek peace as Chriſtians, ſuffer as Chriſtians, pray as Chriſtians, rejoyce as Chriſtians, let your whole Converſations towards God and Man be ordered as becometh Chriſtians; and then with the Spirit and Bride, ſay, come; and let him that heareth, ſay, come; and let him that is a thirſt, come; and whoſoever will not linger, and be loſt, let him now, whilſt it is called to day, take the water of life freely, chap. 22.17. For he that teſtifieth theſe things, ſaith, ſurely I come quickly: It is Verbum Diei in die ſuo, a word in its due ſeaſon; for it appears to be in its due order of accompliſhment, and the Links of the Revelatian Chain have been paſſing by above 1600 years, the laſt Link draws neer, to which Chriſts Kingdom will immediately ſucceed: Come in poor Sinners, get an intereſt therein and then you will be ſafe: I pitty you all that prize it not; I pray God give you enlightned underſtandings, and ſanctified affections now the world is vaniſhing with all her Vanities together: ſuppoſe it ſhould continue p. 83twenty or thirty years longer, yet how ſoon may you die in your ſins, or be cut off in Gods wrathful diſpleaſure in a moment, whether you be ſecret ſinners, though nothing is ſecret to, or hid from Gods all ſeeing eye, or open ſinners, to him all things are naked and open with whom you have to do; or if you be great ſinners, none are ſo great but the leaſt ſtroak of his diſpleaſure will ſhatter them in pieces; or ſmall ſinners (though none that is not a Saint can be a ſmall ſinner in the ſight of God, though (comparatively) in the ſight of men he may: and ſuch as have committed great ſins, upon their Faith and Repentance may be pardoned as ſoon as the leaſt: But you that are great ſinners, and would fain think your ſelves out of Gods reach, and upon worldly advantages ſeem to bid defiance unto God, ſaying (as they) let him haſten his work that we may ſee it: or you that think with the Fool in the Goſpel, you have enough for many years; or you have great Intereſts, great Alliances, great Relations, great Honour, Wealth, Authority, power to execute your will and pleaſure, and what not: if you came well by them, then there is more reaſon you ſhould ſerve God, and honour him with them the more; they are all Talents, and you muſt be accountable for every one of them; have you fed, clothed, viſited Chriſt in his Diſciples; if not, go ye curſed, Mat. 25. but if you came ill by them, and uſe them contrary to his will, the greater Vengeance hangs over your head for that reaſon, without Repentance: Yet to conclude, there is yet a time of Grace and Mercy to be had for you (great ſinners) if you will improve it aright, before it be quite paſt; be wiſe therefore at laſt, now, now, now, whilſt it is called to day; be not hardned any longer by the deceitfulneſs of Sin; then may your Souls ſafely, and comfortably joyn with Chriſts Spouſe in her hearty Amen for the Bridgrooms coming, ſaying with her alſo, verſe 20. even ſo, Come Lord Jeſus, Come quickly. Amen.

Laſt Ʋſe. Laſtly, for Exhortation to Thankfulneſs, to all that ſhall have part in this ſaid bleſſed Reſurrection of the juſt upon this particular account, & now more eſpecially in theſe times; That Chriſt Jeſus hath not only given this excellent Divine Key to his Church, opening the many great benefits of thoſe ancient mercies, reſerved to be accompliſhed in the ſaid thouſand years; and alſo ſo fitly agreeing with the Doctrine of the ſaid bleſſed Reſurrection of the Saints, with all the concomitants thereof: But now in theſe times is ſo graciouſly pleaſed to diſcover and vouchſafe unto us p. 84the comfortable Uſe and Benefit thereof, by Faith upon ſuch excellent Divine antient moſt ſure Foundations, as thoſe before ſet down, and alſo by holy Scriptures ſo explained and carried on to thoſe intents in the ſaid times, and that the ſaid bleſſed Reſurrection ſhould be the inlet to all former Saints, to thoſe happy enjoyments then for their Souls and Bodies in ſuch a bleſſed Communion, many wayes as the ſaid Saints ſhall then attain unto: The abundant ſtrong evidence whereof is not only ſufficient, if duly weighed to ſtop the Mouths of gainſayers, but to convince all ſoundly rational men, that Gods great Proviſion for the marriage of the Bride and the Lamb, at the time ſo by his word declared and publiſhed, will not be in vain and loſt; for God is not like men to change or be deceived in, or fruſtrated of his end: But what Thankfulneſs in theſe reſpects, do all ſuch true Chriſtians owe to the great God and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, that from all ſuch ſaid Foundations, he hath wrought Faith in their Souls to foreſee with faithful Abraham, Chriſts day to come by Faith and receive ſuch comfort in ſo happy news of ſuch manifold approaching mercy; wherein they have ſuch particular intereſt and concernment; and all this ſo ſtrongly founded upon evidences throughout the whole Scripture; ſo clearly explained by Chriſt, and by the Holy Spirit to be words faithful and true three times over; and delivered for their uſe by his Servant John: Beſides the many renewed particular promiſes, ſince ſet down with ſundry explications of them, both in Old and New Teſtament, which do evidently lead us to the uſe and benefit of this ſaid divine Key, ſo given by Chriſt Jeſus to his Church for ſuch excellent purpoſes: how ſhould the approaching reign of Chriſt with his ſaid Sts. in the world in that time of the new Heavens and new Earth, fill ſuch beleiving Chriſtians Souls with praiſe & thanksgiving? when a double advantage will redound unto them, firſt that the great laſt Enemies of Chriſt and his Church, will be removed and taken away, that ſo long have obſtructed her joy and peace, but that the Church of Chriſt ſhall alſo enjoy the end of her hope, from all the ſaid Foundations, and promiſed Mercies, then to be performed in the foreſaid ſtate to be upon the ſaid bleſſed firſt Reſurrection of the ſaid Saints.

And what ſtronger evidence than from that firſt moſt large comprehenſive Foundation, given by God himſelf, Gen, 3.15. which about 3000 years after, had ſuch a particular explication of Chriſts carrying on the ſame upon his Aſcention after his actual p. 85laying the Foundation of his Churches Redemption, by his ſufferings at his firſt coming, which ſhould ſo eminently be carried on by making his Foes his Footſtool, at his ſecond; when he ſhall come from the right hand of the Father, to judge the quick and the dead, at the ſame time of his appearance and Kingdom, according to that antient divine Oracle, ſo often repeated, illuſtrated and explained in the New Teſtament. The Lord ſaid unto my Lord ſit thou on my right Hand, till I make thy Foes thy Footstool, Pſal. 110.1. viz. at that ſaid time as many Scriptures teach, 2 Theſſ. 2.8. 2 Tim. 4.1. Rev. 19. alſo conſider Ezek. 38. and 39. Dan. 11.45. of the Turk, with many others, both reſpecting the ruine of Pope and Turk the firſt Gog and Magog before the ſaid thouſand years, and for the ruine of the laſt Gog and Magog after the ſaid thouſand years; Our bleſſed Saviour hath moſt orderly, exactly, and ſtrongly confirmed the ſame in thoſe many circumſtances thereof, in the following part of this Chapter: when the laſt Enemy death will be deſtroyed, and the Devil caſt into the Firy Lake; and I hope no Conſcientious knowing Chriſtian of any rank will dare to deny or gainſay any particular, in this great Foundation ſo explained, carried on and applied all along in the word of God, &c. of which much more is ſaid in our Everlaſting Goſpel, on Gen. 3.15.

And Enochs Viſion of the firſt Act of Chriſts Judgement, Jude 14. alſo confirms the ſame as it is explained by Daniel 7.7, 8, 9. when the Judgement is ſaid to be ſet and the Books opened to give the body of the Beaſt to the burning flame; which will be at the beginning of the ſaid thouſand years, as alſo Gogs [the Turks] deſtruction, Ezekiel 38. and 39. before the ſetting up of the New Jeruſalem, chap. 40. to the end of that Book, with the taking away others that do offend then, Mat. 73.41. when alſo he will judge the Saints with reward, Rev. 11.19. ſo judging both the quick and dead then, 2 Tim. 4.1. and likewiſe Revelations 20.7, 8, &c. is contained Chriſts laſt proceeding in his Judgement after the 1000 years, againſt the laſt Gog and Magog, as by Chriſts Revelation is here explained, to judge thoſe quick, and then the dead, when their Judgement is ſaid again to be ſet, and the books opened: firſt by declaring the abſolution of the Saints written in the book of Life, and pronouncing againſt all the wicked, a Sentence of condemnation to eternal death, &c.

p. 86Of the firſt Act of Judgement, alſo Balaam ſpeaks Numbers 24. when the Romane Kingdom ſhould periſh for ever, explained again by our Saviour, Revel. 17.8. when in the laſt Head it ſhould go into predition: whereby an utter end will be put to the four mettle Kingdoms or the Gentiles Dominion, and ſo this Propheſie paſſeth in the ſame courſe with the former, as another Confirmation of the ſame Truth: How Chriſt will eminently at the beginning, and fully at the end of the ſaid thouſand years break the Serpents [Satans] Head, &c.

And theſe are ſtrong and clear evidences from Gods Word, of Chriſts taking away the Enemies of himſelf and his Church in thoſe times; and that ſtate of things ſhortly coming on: to theſe we might add the Type of Abrahams ſubduing the five Kings, and reſcuing Lot: And of Davids overcoming all his Enemies at laſt, and leaving his Kingdom to Solomon his Son in a peaceable condition, &c. and as the Enemies deſtruction will be a great matter of the Saints Praiſe and Rejoycing at their firſt ſaid bleſſed Reſurrection; ſo will alſo their enjoyment of the happy Viſion of Chriſts Glory in his Davidical Kingdom then be given to them; as John 17.24. with the happy communion with him, and one with another; and their inheriting all the promiſed Mercies of that time, and ſtate of the New Jeruſalem, Revel. 21. and 22. by the Divine promiſed Seed of the Woman, who ſhall then prolong his days in the world, and abundantly ſee his own Spiritual Seed; ſo that he will therein be ſatisfied when the will of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand, as foretold, Eſa. 53. namely, when all Saints are come in at the general Rapture, and change of them all, 1 Cor. 15.51, 52.

And that the earth might continue to be the ſtage for all ſuch actings of God in the world, God upon his ſmelling a ſweet ſavour from Noahs offering through Chriſt to come, makes a Covenant with him after the Flood for all Creatures, to that happy time; and that then there ſhould be the greateſt fruitfulneſs in it, his word is clear: and as in Noah, as a Type, was ſignified how Chriſt would be the ſafe Ark of his Church, in the beginning, and after the end of the ſaid 1000 years; and alſo by his Propheſie of the Gentiles, Japhets Poſterities, mercies at their foreſaid firſt and ſecond Call and Fulneſs, which laſt will be performed in the ſaid 1000 years, when Jews and Gentiles ſhall both rejoyce together, p. 79when all thoſe many Promiſes concerning that ſtate of the Gentiles happineſs in the whole book of God will take their full effect.

And as ſurely by vertue of Gods Covenant with Abraham, ſhall all his ſpiritual ſeed through that his own divine ſeed Chriſt, then enjoy the many Promiſes ſtill remaining in Old and New Teſtament to be made good to them in the natural life (then) whether circumciſed or uncircumciſed and ſuch raiſed Saints then that are intereſſed therein, will alſo enjoy by the ſame Covenant that happy New Jeruſalem ſtate in that City prepared for them then, Heb. 11.10, 16. and alſo all the ſpiritual ſeed of Iſaac and Jacob with them in all the priviledges and benefits belonging to the ſame, which the ſaid Saints ſhall then be rayſed to inherit, &c. as the ſpiritual ſeed of Abraham; and I doubt not but the greateſt part of the Promiſes in Old and New Teſtament made to God's people as the ſpiritual ſeed of Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, both circumciſed and uncircumciſed, will chiefly have their fulfilling in that ſtate and time wherein all ſuch their natural race will have the greateſt ſhare, and ſuch promiſes as are made to all Iſrael, or to Ephraim, or Joſeph joyntly with Judah do eſpecially refer unto (though not only unto them) of which if duly conſidered a large volume might profitably be written.

And if laſtly we look to that laſt ſure foundation of Davids ſure mercies, concerning his Throne and Kingdom, which Chriſt the Son of David ſhould enjoy as the dayes of heaven upon earth, or as long as the Sun and Moon ſhall endure, (though Davids natural race had forfeited their intereſt before, Mic. 2.10.) yet God laid ſure foundations for the other, 2 Sam. 7.8, 9. to the end, and Pſal. 89. with multitudes of Scripture evidences to the ſame purpoſe, and all Believers, as Eſay ſhews, ſhall alſo have their part in the ſame ſure mercies of David, Chap. 55.3. appertaining then to that time and ſtate, and very many other Promiſes were made to that end likewiſe: And the intereſt of Chriſts ſaid Davidical Kingdom ſeen by Daniel a long time paſt in Viſion to be at the end of the fourth Kingdom, chap. 7.13, 14. which at this time Chriſt continues in heaven to receive, and then to return, Luke 19.17. it is that that contains in it eminently all the other ſaid mercies to all ſuffering Saints that muſt then reign with Chriſt the ſaid thouſand years, and joyntly enjoy all the happineſs thereof, and thence forth and for ever whatſoever things God hath provided for them, which eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, &c. (though the p. 82things of this ſtate may moſtly be both heard and ſten, as decyphered by Gods Word:) Concerning which I conceive ſufficient hath of late been ſaid, by us and others, both to ſatisfie all ſerious judicious and well principled Chriſtians that know how to value Divine Authority without reſpect to men, &c. and to convince many others, and what greater arguments could be uſed for ſtrength and clearneſs to confirm ſuch a long ſealed or concealed truth, I know not: if Gods Spirit ſhall at any time ſet them home upon their ſouls and conſciences, which he is only able to do, viz. to work faith thereof, as in all other Divine (eſpecially myſtical parts of) Doctrines, that ſo they with all true Chriſtians, both now by faith aforehand, and then by fruition of the ſame, may be better inabled thereby to render all honour, thankſgiving and praiſe, both now and then, due unto the great God and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, upon all thoſe manifold and great Scripture foundations and engagements upon account whereof Chriſt will then be ſo admired of all his ſaid Saints, 2 Theſ. 1.10. How glorious will Chriſt appear (then) in his wonderful, national, ſuddain Converſion of the Jews, and Uniting of the two Sticks of Ephraim and Judah, Ezekiel 37. which were as iſcattered drie Bones before compared there, and Romans 11. to a Reſurrection from the Dead: Shall not they have then the chief Dominion? Will not God then give Nations for them? Shall they not then lengthen their Cords and ſtrengthen their Stakes? Will they not be Gods Battle-Bow and Ax to cut down Enemies, who ſhall then be as Aſhes under the ſoals of their feet? and all People be deſtroyed that will not ſerve or be ſubject to the Holy Jeruſalem then? Many and great will be the Priviledges of that antient Inheritance of God, then ſaved by the Lord, when he takes away their Sin, and circumciſes their Hearts, as antiently Moſes foretold of that time, Deut. 30.1. to 11. it would requne a large Volume to ſet forth the many great and excellent priviledges of that People of God at the ſame time, and as our faith of that Mercy ſhould enlarge our thankſgiving and praiſe, ſo by both ſhould Chriſtians be ſtirred up to earneſt Prayer for them for the haſtning of their Mercy: the neglect of which is a great error and ſcandal too, in theſe our dayes, and the great neglect thereof cannot be anſwered to God or man, when Scripture Promiſes of the manifold inlarged mercies and goodneſs of God p. 83reſerved for that now abject obſtinate people at preſent, yet will, e're long, be thoſe that will meet with the moſt miraculous and wonderful, many wayes inlarged and illuſtrated free grace of God in Chriſt that ever was ſhewed to any people in the world, of which all the Prophets, and divers Texts in the New Teſtament declare great things ſhall be accompliſhed, and the Thankſgiving and Prayers of all faithful Chriſtians ought, what in them is, to haſten them: It is Gods way to bring on his revealed and promiſed Mercies, though he needs none ſuch helps to mind or move him, yet he will ſo own both his Saints Graces, his own Ordinance, and gracious Promiſes: And the like may be ſaid of all other the aforeſaid great mercies then to be fulfilled, concerning which very much might here be added inſtead, whereof I only now add my Prayer to what hath been ſaid already. The Lord God give his bleſſing to what according to his revealed Truth hath of theſe Divine Myſteries herein been delivered, for the glory of his own holy Name, and the real good, edification and comfort of all faithful Chriſtians, Amen.

This uſeful Treatiſe for all Chriſtians, ſetting forth the Marriage of the Lamb with his Bride, Rev. 19.7. ſhortly to be Celebrated, may be had at the Turks Head over againſt the Royal Exchange: or at the Herne in Pauls Church-yard.

FINIS.

ERRATA.

Page 22. col. 1. line 26. dele more. p. 24. c. 2. r. ſatisfied not fulfilled. and after r. men are not means. p. 28. c. 1. l. 9. r. mercy not merit. and l. 10. r. ſad not ſaid. p. 33. r. foreign & foreign. & foreign. & foreign. p. 35. r. to them of the Armie. p. 36. r. foreign. p. 47. l. 39. to believe joyn unleſs he put his fingers, &c. p. 53. r. as we are not as were. p. 63. l. ult. dele Chriſt. p. 69. r. all tend not attend.

End of the text · William Sherwin, The Saints Rising Out of the Heap (1674)