The World to Come, Part 1
Here Reader obſerve as to the first Part of the general Title-page, — That according to the reference before,
FIrſt the ſaid Doctrine is proved—In the Principles or Foundations of it, contained in the foreſaid four parts, which are theſe following:
Firſt, The Prodromos or Fore-runner, conſiſting of ſeventeen Theſis of D vinity, leading in the ſaid Doctrine, pag. 9, 10, 11, 12. and of ſome uſeful occaſional Letters and Papers there ſet down, whereunto reference is afterwards often fitly made in the enſuing parts.
The ſecond is the Irenicon, or the peaceable conſideration of Chriſts peaceful Kingdom on Earth to come, chiefly proving from Scripture, and many ſorts of Arguments, that ſuch a Kingdom and ſtate of things ſhall be in the world, upon a ſeven-fold foundation, ſet down in the beginning thereof. Whereunto is added an Appendix of the firſt bleſſed Reſurrection of the Juſt, Rev. 20.6, to be in the time of Chriſts ſaid Reign with his Saints on Earth.
The third is intituled, The Parallel of the Prophetical Viſions of Daniel, for after-times, and of the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt; reſpecting and unfolding the matters of the ſame times, very briefly and divinely couched before in Daniel's ſaid Viſions, to be ſhut up and ſealed unto the time of the end, i. e. until Chriſt came, who afterwards by his ſo wonderful giv ng the Book of Revelation to the Evangeliſt St. John, opened and unſealed them, and gave them a ſpecial command not to ſeal them any longer, Rev. 22.10. Which ſaid Parallel was the fourth thing propounded to be conſidered in this ſubject, in the ſecond page of the Irenicon, and afterwards, as an Additional thereof, was annexed to it, to make up that part of the ſaid Irenicon, as containing the main ground thereof, both from that greatly beloved Prophet Daniel in the Old Teſtament, and the beloved Diſciple John in the New: To prepare for which Parallel (being of ſo very great concernment in the ſaid Doctrine) firſt there is ſet down an abridgement of the chief Prophetical Viſions of Daniel, wherein are compriſed the times, fates, and ſucceſſions of the four Mettle. Kindgoms or Monarchies, Dan 2. and of the four Beaſts, Dan. 7. in ſubſtance the ſame; yet each being not only a ſtrong confirmation, but alſo an inlargement, and in ſome things an explication of the other, as in both the ſummary of Daniel, and in the Parallel is to be obſerved. Alſo a like Abridgment of the Revelation, was to ſuch purpoſe before ſet down, Chap. 5. pag. 26, 27, 28. of the Irenicen, to be compared with the Letter to Mr. Cal. May 20. 1664 pag. 22, 23, &c. of the Prodromos: and laſt of all, to ſuch parpoſe thereto is prefixed the Scheme of the whole Book of the Revelation, and a ſummary of Daniel's Viſions, further to make the way more plain to ſo uſeful a part as the Parallel may prove to ſuch as with theſe or the like helps may further and more fully (by Gods goodneſs) improve it hereafter, as there is great reaſon and divine engagement for Chriſtians ſo to do, Rev 1.3. & 22.10.
Fourthly, The laſt part conſiſting chiefly of 3… uſeful Obſervations to underſtand myſtical Propheſies, with anſwers to ſundry Objections made by ſome perſons againſt theſe Doctrines, which being of …ddle nature, ſubſervient to both the ſaid Principles and Pract cals, they are now conjoyned with the latter: And unto the ſaid Principles is preſixed in the ſtead thereof, The Word written, or eight convineing Arguments for theſe Truths, ſet in the firſt place, before the Prodromos or Forerunner, as containing a ſhort Abridgment of much Divine Truth of this nature, &c.
And Secondly, The ſaid Doctrine is improved to many good purpoſes in the Practicals.
The firſt whereof is the Treatiſe upon Gen. 3.15. The Seed of the Woman ſhall break the Serpents head. The Abridgment of which, as the firſt part of the Everlaſting Goſpel, with the Treatiſe alſo, are preſixed before the reſt.
The ſecond part of which everlaſting Goſpel being the ſecond Practical piece, given by God the Son and the Holy Ghoſt, is contained in a Tract upon Rev. 22.20. Behold I come quickly: Amen: Even ſo come, Lord Jeſus. Setting forth the different names, times, natures and purpoſes of Chriſts ſecond coming at the beginning of the thouſand years, Rev. 19.11. And of his deſcending from Heaven at the ſounding of the laſt Trump, at the general Rapture and Change of all the Saints, when the little ſpace of Satans loſing is ended, and the laſt Gog and Magog deſtroyed by fire from God out of Heaven, after the thouſand years, when he ſhall come to ſit on the great white Throne, and Heaven and Earth ſhall flee away before his face, and no place be found for them, Rev. 20.11. And all wicked men ſhall be raiſed to be judged, and the irrevocable Sentence in Gods order ſhall be paſſed upon Good and Bad to all Eternity. Unto which are adjoyned nine Uſes of the ſame Doctrine.
The third practical piece is on Jer. 3.17. At that time Jeruſalem ſhall be called the Throne of the Lord, and all Nations ſhall come to the Name of the Lord at Jeruſalem: Which is now placed after the aforeſaid Obſervations and Anſwers to Objections, as being the Topſtone of this Doctrinal Edifice, and which will reach at length to the higheſt Heavens.
And now, Prudent Chriſtian Reader, I hope thou wilt indulge me in ſome matters thy juſt excuſe; for though ſome are clear and evident from ſundry Texts of holy Scripture, yet others are only probable, and ſome but meerly conjectural (as was fore-advertiſed, Prodrom. pag 44.) and conſequently the grounds thereof are ſuitably either evident, probable, or conjectural only: Whence it will be imprudence and unequal judging, to reject many evident truths of this nature, becauſe of ſome other miſtaken conjectures: But having long ſince ſet to ſail in ſuch a vaſt and rough ſloating Ocean, wherein it was to be expected (notwithſtanding any hoped advantage) I was like to be much toſſed with various winds and tempeſts, before I could look to atrive at the Cape of good Hope: and being alſo to travel far in a much untraced Wilderneſs, or which was worſe, to fall into ſuch Mazes and Meanders wherein many have loſt themſelves; yet ſince that ſuch a Wilderneſs was my way to come to the promiſed Land; though the Cloud by day, and the Pillar of Fire by night, did not always appear to go before me; yet I may not ſay but that I have in a gracious manner many times found their guidance: But yet have met with many Amalakites, Moabites, and Ammonites, to hinder my paſſage thither; beſides the Sons of Anak, and alſo the ſtinging ſiery Serpents, which cauſed me often to look up to the true Brazen Serpent, for my needful cure: VVhereupon I have by comfortable experience found, That Creature Obſtructions have ſometimes proved to me Gods Inſtructions; and ſome mens hindrances have often (to them unwittingly) produced Gods help for me, who by remarkable Providences hath many times turned great ſeeming difficulties to real uſeful advantages: Otherwiſe I could not have hoped ſo far by faith to have ſeen the New Jeruſalem's Beauty and Bleſſedneſs on Earth, (as they Heb. 11. and as now through the mercy and goodneſs of my God, is here offered to thy view: [To which haply much may be added, if God give opportunity, by Explications or Diſcourſes] VVherein I hope I my ſelf, with the many ten thouſands and ten times ten thouſands of ſaithful Chriſtians ſhall attain a long laſting habitation as appointed of God, In that time The Tabernacle of God ſhall be with men upon Earth Rev. 21. &c. where we ſhall all behold Chriſts glory, which the Father hath given him, and he to them, by his laſt VVill and Teſtament, John 17.24. when the ſaid Lamb ſhall be the Light of that City. To which I groundedly by faith ſay, Amen. For confirmation whereof, for others benefit, I deſire ſtill to be by all good means ſubſervient,
Septemb. 11. 1671. W. S.