The World to Come, Part 2

The World to Come · Part 2

p. 4Of the XII fore-named Foundations of the ſaid Doctrine, in the ſecond part of the general Title-page believed: — As being,

I. FIrſt promiſed by God the Father, Gen. 3.15. as the moſt eminent breaking of the Serpents [Satans] Head, both natural, (as I may ſay) and politick, of his Craft and Dominion, when all his former Babyloniſh Deſigns ſhall be defeated and utterly deſtroyed; which was, ſaith the Apoſtle John, 1 Epiſt. 3.8. one end of Chriſts coming into the world, to deſtroy the works of the Devil; which in an eſpecial manner will moſt evidently and powerfully be done, when Chriſt comes from the right hand of the Father, whither (as that Nobleman in the Goſpel, Luke 19.) he went at his aſcention into Heaven, te receive his Kingdom, and to return, as he himſelf ſpeaketh; to wit, when he will ſo come, and in ſuch wonderful manner make his foes his footſtool; until which ſaid time he will continue there, according to that Divine Oracle ſo frequently mentioned and improved in the New Teſtament, Pſal. 110.1, &c. Sit thou on my right hand until I make thy ſoes thy ſootſtool: VVhere, as the Apoſtle ſaith, he ſits ſtill, expecting till his foes are made his footſtool, Heb. 10.13. which at Chriſts ſaid coming in the Clouds will moſt certainly and powerfully be accompliſhed above 1000 years before the laſt Reſurrection and General Judgment, as is moſt orderly ſet down in that divine and glorious Revelation to St. John, Chap. 19 11. & Chap. 20. to v. 11. when he will cauſe his moſt proud and mighty foes to hide themſelves again in the holes of the Rocks, as in ſome meaſure in Conſtantines ruining of the Paganiſh Powers, Rev. 6.15.16, 17, was terribly fulfilled: but at the laſt ruine of the moſt abominably tyrannous Kingdom of the Beaſt and falſe Prophet, at the appearance of Chriſts ſaid Coming and Kingdom will much more terribly by himſelf be accompliſhed, 1 Theſ. 2.8. 2 Tim 4.1. As then the Prophet Iſaiah twice of thoſe times confirms the terrour of it, Chap 2. verſe 19, 21. That the loftineſs of man ſhall be bowed down, and the haughtineſs of man ſhall be made low, p. 5and the Lord alone be exalted in that day, when he wid utterly aboliſh Idols, that they may go into the holes of the Rocks, and into the caves of the Earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his Majeſty, when he ariſeth to ſhake terribly the Earth: And the forcible efficacy of this his Prophecy he again further illuſtrates and confirms verſe 20, 21. Yet obſerve though he ſaith there, He will ſhake terribly the Earth, twice; yet he ſaith not that then he will utterly deſtroy the world, which neither will be till the ſaid 1000 years, and little ſpace of Satans looſing, be afterwards fulfilled, as Rev. 20.8, 9, 10, &c. But then the Lord, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaks, will ſend the Rod of his ſtrength out of Sion, and he ſhall then rule in the midſt of his Enemies, Pſal. 110.6, &c. and ſmite foreign the Head, not Heads (as tranſlated) of divers Countreys, viz. the Pope or Turk, (or both, as making in ſeveral reſpects the whole Antichriſt of the latter times) but much more upon the ſaid Text Gen. 3.15. may be obſerved to the ſame pourpoſe in the Treatiſe thereupon.

II. Secondly, Propheſied of by Enoch in the Old VVorld, Jude 14, 15. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thouſand of his Saints, to execute Judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungedly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their ungodly ſpeeches which ungodly ſinners have ſpoken againſt him. VVhere obſerve how general he declares this Judgment ſhall be in the iſſue of it; and then how throughly he will diſcover ungodly men, though now they hide themſelves in the Crowd, and for a time towards godly men ſhift off and excuſe and hide their ungodlineſs, yet then Chriſt will convince themſelves which were the concealers and hiders; and not ſome few only, or many, but all of them; and not of few, or only ſome ſorts or numbers of their deeds, but of all their ungodly deeds; nor only of the ſubſtance of them, but of all the circumſtances and aggravations of them, as ungodlily committed by them; and not onelyonly of their deeds, but of their words alſo, yea of their moſt ſecret thoughts ſubſervient to both; for they ſhall be convinced of them, which conviction will reach the moſt ſecret workings of their ſpirits; and both and all in the moſt large extent, whatever hath been done or ſpoken againſt him, that is Chriſt, whereby mens ſins are moſt hainouſly aggravated many ways, though they little at preſent conſider it; but in Chriſts execution of Judgment upon all in his own order, manner and time, they muſt know all theſe.

This excellent Prophecy ſeems to have been handed in a wonderful way of gracious divine Providence from Enoch to the Apoſtle Jude, by whoſe hand Chriſts ſpirit hath made it to become holy Scripture. And p. 6it is no marvel that God ſhould ſo preſerve that Prophecy of the laſt times and things, ſince he would, for the warning of all, have all his Prophets witneſs thereto, as his Spirit in the Apoſtle Peter manifeſted Acts 3.20, 21. As (ſaith he) he ſpake by the mouth of all his holy Prophets ſince the world began; He would not have even the old wicked world without ſuch an eminent warning: nor ſuch as godly Enoch then to be without the comfort of that Deliverer of his people then to come, to recompence their ſufferings for him with a ſuitable happineſs with him afterwards, as the Apoſtle Paul declareth, 2 Tim. 2.12. for his ſaid coming then is to both thoſe purpoſes, wherein the ſame Spirit could enlighten ſuch as Enoch then, as he did Abraham, Iſaac, Jacob, and Sarah, afterwards, who by their faith ſaw thoſe Promiſes afar off, while they lived on earth, which they believed to ſee accompliſhed in their due time, Heb. 11.13. viz. which will be at the ſaid coming of the Lord with ten thouſand of his Saints, and at the Reſurrection of the Juſt (as Iſa. 26.14, 19) which as it will be the year of the Lords recompence to take vengeance on the wicked (quick) by a ſudden deſtruction to ſend them to hell; ſo alſo of recompence to the godly, to whom they will be times of refreſhing from the preſence of the Lord, and of the reſtitution of all things, for their real good and comfort in all that God hath before promiſed or revealed to ſuch purpoſe, Act. 3.19, 20, 21. though particular Saints have not or may not in many things attain to the knowledge of them, nor (haply) any one ſhall in many things more till the fruition of them: Even as the moſt knowing before Chriſts coming, knew not of many things done at that his coming, as of the Star, the Shepherds, of Herod's trouble at his birth, nor the earthquake, darkneſs, the cleaving of the Vail of the Temple, or dead Saints riſing at his death, &c. (beſides the many things which happened in his life) although much more of theſe laſt times ſince our Saviour aſcended (as he ſaid a little before it, Acts 1.8 …is now revealed of his ſecond coming, as alſo was before in the Old Teſtament concerning the ſame, than at any time was of his firſt, as is eaſily to be obſerved, &c.

III. Thirdly, Foretold by Jacob in the New World, Gen. 49. who verſe 1. ſpeaketh of things to be in the latter or poſtremity of days; which is eſpecially applicable to what he …aith afterwards, verſ 10, 11, 12. in his Prophecy of Judah, to which Tribe is therein aſcribed the preheminence with plenty and peace (as is therein manifeſt) chiefly to be enjoyed after Shilo's coming, to whom the gathering of the people ſhould be, but moſt eſpecially in their greateſt gatherings, when Jews and Gentiles ſhall rejoyce together (moſt eminently) as Deut. p. 732.43. is by Moſes alſo foretold to be in the latter or poſtremity of days; of which times alſo our Saviour ſaith, There ſhall be one ſheepfold under himſelf that one Shepherd of them both, John 10.16.

IV. Fourthly, Wonderfully and graciouſly manifeſted by Balaam's Parable, not being an holy Prophet, as others Acts 3.21. but a Sorcerer, hired by Balaak King of Moah to curſe Gods People, who turned his attempting of the worſt of Curſings into the choiceſt of Bleſſings to them; giving him thereby to know, That there was no enchantment againſt Jacob, neither any divination againſt Iſrael: for Satan cannot hurt thoſe whom God undertakes to preſerve, as Numb. 23.20, 22. But when he had further tried his Enchantments, Chap. 24, he is further in ſpecial forced to pronounce greater bleſſings for them. verſ. 6, 7, 8, 9. ſaying, How goodly are thy Tents, O Jacob, and thy Tabernacles, O Iſrael! But being further urged by Balaak, he ſhews what that People ſhould do againſt his People in the latter days; and then verſ. 17. falls upon the coming of the Meſſiah far off, ſaying, I ſhall ſee him, but not now; I ſhall behold him, but not nigh: There ſhall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter ſhall riſe out of Iſrael, and ſhall ſmite all the Corners of Moab, and deſtroy all the Children of Sheth, and Edom ſhall be a poſſeſsion, Seir alſo ſhall be a poſſeſsion for his Enemies, and Iſrael alſo ſhall do valiently: And verſe 19. Out of Jacob ſhall come he that ſhall have Dominion, and ſhall deſtroy him that remaineth in the City, &c. But after all, he comes to the laſt terrible times, verſe 23, 24. ſaying, Alas who ſhall live when God doth this! And verſ. 24. he fore-tells ſhips ſhall come from the coaſts of Chittim; which Mr. Mede evidently ſhews to be meant of the Roman Navy coming from Italy, and are ſo applied in the order of accomdliſhment by Daniel, Chap. 11.30. and then declares what the Romans ſhall do, viz. They ſhall afflict Aſhur, and ſhall afflict Eber, which they have long done; but ſince they were to be the laſt Oppreſſor of the Jews, he further adds, And he alſo ſhall periſh for ever, or ſhall go into perdition, as is otherwiſe expreſſed by the holy Ghoſt, Rev. 17 8. that is, the Roman Monarchies being the laſt, ſhall utterly be ruined when Chriſt ſhall deſtroy the man of ſin, when all wicked and tyrannous Dominion ſhall utterly ceaſe, and the Kingdom of the Stone ſhall becom a great Mountain filling the whole Earth; when that Star, and that Scepter, and that Dominion he ſpake of before, verſe 17, 19. which are often in Scripture afterwards ſpoken of, ſhall continue for ever, viz. to the end of the world. Theſe things are obvious, I ſhall not therefore here inſiſt further on them.

V. Fifthly, Typified firſt by one pair of partial Types in the Old World, ſecondly by three partial pairs in the New.

p. 8Firſt the ſaid pair of partial Types in the Old World, are

Enoch's aſcending, ſhewing the bginning of the Kingd…m of the Stone, at Chriſts aſcention into Heaven, Dan. 2 34. And

Noah's ſaving his by the Ark, ſhews how Chriſt at the general Rapture of all Saints, as the true Ark will ſave them, when all wicked men ſhall periſh at the finiſhing of the Kingdom of the Mountain, Dan. 2 33.

Firſt, Enoch was a Type of Chriſt in his walking with God, who (as the Apoſtle ſaith, Heb. 11.5.) before his Tranſlation had this Teſtimony, That he pleaſed God, and therefore was tranſlated that he ſhould not ſee death, in a wonderful manner, Body and Soul, in a way unknown to man, into an ever-bleſſed and happy condition: Even as Chriſt having fulfilled the work God gave him to do on earth, and fulfilled all the wills of his heavenly Father, in the Body which he gave to him, Heb. 10.5, 7, 8, 9. who therefore had this Teſtimony from the Father, That he was his beloved Son, in whom he was well pleaſed, Matth. 3.17. and after all things were done in order by him, to the laſt finiſhing of the work of Redemption, and the witneſſing of his Reſurrection from the dead to his Apoſtles, and other faithful Witneſſes thereof, he then aſcended viſibly into Heaven, in the ſight of his Diſciples, Acts 19. Luke 24.51. which was his eminent beginning of the Kingdom of the Stone, which is the firſt ſtate thereof; when he ſo triumphed gloriouſly over all the ſpiritual Powers of Darkneſs, as the Apoſtle teacheth, Col. 2.15 ſo leading Captivity captive, to give his Kingly Divine Giſts unto men.

Secondly, Noah alſo, that Preacher of Righteouſneſs, as he is ſtiled Heb. 11. may be added unto Enoch, being another partial Type of Chriſt; Kingdom in the ſecond ſtate of it, or the Kingdom of the Mountain; who by faith (ſaith the Apoſtle Heb 11.) performed that Princely or Kingly ſervice, to make the Ark in the ſight of that wicked Generation in the Old World, that after periſhed by the Flood, thereby to ſave himſelf and all his Relations that entred with him into it: So Chriſt, who ſhall be called (ſaith the Prophet Jeremiah, Chap. 23) by his Church, The Lord our Righteouſneſs, and hath long ſent p. 9abroad the Preachers of his Righteouſneſs into the wicked World, who regardeth it not: when the time of their periſhing at laſt ſhall inevitably come upon them by a deluge of fire, as it did on the old world by water: He will himſelf become at that time the true Ark prepared for all his true Members united ſpiritually unto him, at the general Rapture or Change of all the Saints, when the wicked remaining on Earth ſhall all periſh at the worlds loſt deſtruction by fire, where all the other ſhall abide with Chriſt, in the greateſt ſafety and ſecurity, above all worldly dangers ſufferings, or changes, even when the Heavens and Earth ſhall be diſſolved for ever.

VI. Sixthly, Again alſo typified by three pairs of partial Types in the New world.

Firſt of the Kingdom of the Stone,

Firſt, In Abraham, towards the firſt times of the new world.

Secondly, In Moſes his Conduct from Egypt, and in the Wilderneſs afterwards.

Thirdly, In David's Conqueſt and Kingdom which God ſet up and gave him.

Secondly of the Kingdom of the Mountain,

Firſt, In Melthiſedeck King of Salem, that is, King of Peace.

Secondly, In Joſhua's Conduct of Gods People into the promiſed Land.

Thirdly, In Solomon's peaceful Kingdom, the immediate Seed of David's Loyns.

Firſt, In the New world God ſaid a new foundation with Abraham of Chriſts Kingdom, in his free Covenant with him, to be his God, and the God of his Seed, which the Apoſtle ſaith was one, namely Chriſt, Gal. 3.16. and by no other way was Abraham capable of that mercy, that God ſhould become his God: Indeed God both promiſed and beſtowed many Benefits and Priviledges upon Abraham's, Iſaac's, and Jacob's natural Seed, upon the renewing or repeating of the ſubſtance of that Covenant; but all upon that Foundation-Truth wherein their Souls were divinely illuminated, that the Son of God ſhould become the Son of Abraham in a wonderful divine manner, and ſo by him in a ſpiritual way of grace, ſuch his Children by faith ſhould become the Sons of God; and both he and they by ſuch a way of faith p. 10and grace, ſhould inherit all the promiſes, as the Spirit of God revealed and parpoſed ſo to fulfil them: And therefore the Apoſtle Heb. 11. doth remarkably ſhew how Abraham, Iſaa…, Jacob, and Sarah, by ſuch illuminat on of their Souls, ſaw afar off by faith the promiſes to be fulfilled in Chriſts Kingdom, and at the Reſurrection of the Juſt: when Abraham ſhall be heir of the world actuaily, which he was but onelyonly by faith whilſt he lived in the world, as he alſo teacheth, Rem. 4.13. and …nely from that ground all Gods Servants are intereſſed in any …mpora. Promiſes or Bleſſings. And in ſuch time of his living but … Abraham was a great conquerour of his Enemies, when he d…vered his Brother Lot and his houſe, and thoſe with him, from there Kings that carried them Captives. So Chriſt whilſt he is fulfilling the Covenant m…de with the Faithful, he is a great Conquerour, and delivereth all his Prethren, whoſe fleſh he took, from their nature, and gives them his Spirit from his own Divine Nature, which mak…s them ne…ly related to him, and dearly beloved of him, and in whoſe behalf and for whoſe deliverance he did not onelyonly venture himſelf, as Abraham did for Lot and his, but actually ſuffered death, to deliver them from their ſpiritual bondage and erernal miſery.

The other of this firſt pair of partial Types in the firſt times of the New World, is Melchiſedeck, who is not improbably conceived to be Shem the eldeſt Son of Noah, who both of them lived in both the Old and the New Worlds; by both holding out unto us the Eternity of God the Father and the Son, from whom the Worlds deliverance was fully in time to be accompliſhed. But Melchiſedeck, as alſo Abraham, was both a Prieſt and King; even as Abraham, who ſeemed not onelyonly to be a King by his ſaid Conqueſt, but a Prieſt…n offering his Son Iſaac, whom (ſaith the Apoſtle) he received again from death in a figure, and was then appointed really to offer the Ram in the Buſh in his ſtead; and was alſo ſaid in ſome ſence to be a Prophet, to pray for Abimelech, Gen 20.7. Alſo Melchiſedeck was Prieſt of the moſt high God, without Father and without Mother (then known in Abraham's days) typifying the eternal Prieſthood of Chriſt after his order, Heb. 7. and alſo King of Salem, that is, King of Peace; typifying alſo thereby Chriſt the great King of the New Jeruſalem, to come from God out of Heaven, (as he ſtile, himſelf, Matth. 5.) which as the Son and Heir of Abraham, doth alſo according to Gods Covenant belong unto him; and ſion it, it is very obſervable, that Chriſts Office and Title to his Kingdom is cont…aally confirmed and renewed in all the renewed Promiſes and Types made by God to and by the faithful foreFathers ſucceſſively; as alſo Melchiſedeck is here expreſly ſaid to be p. 11King of Salem, an evident Type of Chriſt the great King of Jeruſalem, (as was ſaid) who doth and will bleſs his People with all deſirable peace, as Melchiſedeck bleſſed Abraham returning with the ſpoi…s from the ſlaughter of the ſaid Kings; as Chriſt will alſo more fully confirm to them, when all his and their Foes are made his footſtool.

Secondly, Chriſts Kingdom in the ſaid two-ſold ſtate of it, was evidently deciphered in Moſes his Conduct of Iſrael out of Egypt, and in the Wilderneſs; and then by Joſhua's Conduct into Canaan: But Chriſt, to anſwer both, doth not onelyonly ſpiritually, by his Death, Reſurrection and Aſcertion, deliver his Iſrael, and leave them then in their Wilderneſs condition; but as the true Joſhua alſo, or JESƲS, will ſave them from all evil, and from all their enemies, Luc. 1. and bring them into poſſeſſion of the heavenly Canaan, as it is ſtiled Heb. 3. being the City whoſe Builder and Maker is God, prepared for the faithful fore-fathers Heb. 11.

And firſt for Moſes, who was then ſtiled King in Jeſurun, as to Chriſts Ch rches firſt ſta…e, during the Kingdom of the Stone, ſet up by his firſt coming, Dan. 2.34. In reſpect of which, though Moſes, as the Apoſtle Paul ſpeaketh, was faithful in all Gods Houſe, Heb. 3.2. yet but as a Servant and M…niſter of the Lord, the Antitype; for he made or gave no Laws (then) of his own to Gods people, but what he received from God for them; nor executed Judgment in extraordinary caſes, but by Gods direction as in the gathering ſticks on the Sabbath day. But Chriſt was as a Son (when he came) in his own Houſe, Heb. 5.6. whoſe Houſe his People are: What Goſpel Moſes taught Iſrael, or ſet before them (then) was but in the …ype, till the t…me of Reformation, Heb 9.10. till Chriſt put an end to a…l typical worſhip: Bu… Moſes could not bring them to the promiſed Reſt, that he left for Joſ…ua to perform: So all the life and ſubſtance of all Moſes …ypes and Ceremon…s was onelyonly to be ſound in Chriſt; He the true and onelyonly Son of God, carr…ed …ll thoſe things to their full and perfect end, who will be the true peace and reſt of his People in the Land of the Living (as that World to come, Heb. 2 5. is moſt properly ſo ſtiled) where Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob muſt then live again, with all the Faithful in their order and time.

But that latter ſtare of Chriſts ſaid Mediators Kingdom on Earth, as we noted, was further typified in part by Joſhua, though in the better part, under whoſe Cond…ct Iſrael obtained their promiſed Inheritance of Canaan, wherein Moſes carre ſh…rt; but be brought them in…o the poſſeſſion of it: Which Reſt was after po…u…ed by them, as p. 12ſaith the Prophet, Mich. 2.10. which cauſed by degrees the utter expulſion of that People from it: Yet as the Apoſtle proveth Heb 49. There remai…s ſtill a (Sabbatiſm, or) Reſt for the People of God, with whom one day is as a thouſand years, and a theuſand years as one day (as the Apoſtle Peter informs us, 2 Pet. 3.9) and through the ſaid true Jeſhu… or JESƲS, this Reſt remairs to the People of God; upon w c…, …s on all former Sabbaths, the Word and Works of God uſually were appointed to be conſidered in them (as he was always p…eaſed in …he ſix …oregoing Millenniums to give occaſion and command) ſo t…at long conti…ned Sabbatiſm or holy Reſt of his people from ſin and ſorrow, will be a time to contemplate on the Word and Works of God, when their great hinderers, viz. evil men and Devils, will be removed ou… of their way, and all requiſite helps from God, Men, and …, will be afforded them, for that long continued Sabbatiſm of that … thouſand years; whence Men and Angels too will be more fitted for perpetual Hallelujahs in Heaven afterwards, by ſo much more than they could have been from all that was poſſible to be learned by them to ſuch purpoſe by all they had ſeen, or known or heard before; (as I don't not but might largely be made manifeſt through all the ſix thou (and years of the worlds being before:) Which Sabbatiſm may be thereupon ſitly ſtiled Gods higheſt School to train up his Children of the higheſt form for their beſt employment of their moſt eminent and inlarged praiſing of God through their moſt happy Eternity thence to enſue.

In which Reſt or Sabbatiſm Chriſt will infeoff his People, and give them poſſeſſion thereof with himſelf; even as the Father hath appointed ſuch a Kingdom unto him, ſo he will appoint it unto them, as Luc. 22.29. not as a Subſtitute onelyonly, or Type, like Jeſhua, to give them their Lots therein; but as Lord of the Inheritance, and by his own Gift; and not as to ſuch as may caſt away, or ſpoil, or loſe their ſaid Inheritance; but as to ſuch as ſhall there find a ſure Reſt and Dwelling Place, from which neither inward nor outward, ſpiritual or temporal Adverſaries ſhall expel them: ſo certainly bleſſed ſhall they be then that partake of that firſt bleſſed Reſurrection, Rev. 20.6. when they ſhall be foreign, like Angels of God in Heaven, as our Saviour ſpeaks of thoſe Children of the Reſurrection, Matth. 22.30. in that and many other reſpects; and ſuch of the Saints as live in the animal Life then under the Protection of Chriſt the great King, will be as ſafe as his Diſciples were, of whom he ſaid, Of thoſe which thou gaveſt me, have I loſt none, John 17. Yea more, his Word ſeems in many places to hold out that the Seed of the Righteous ſhall then literally p. 13and lineally be bleſſed; yea bleſſedneſs ſhall then (it ſeems) be intailed upon them ſucceſhvely, to them, their Seed, and Seeds Seed for ever, as is very remarkably let down at the great Reſtauration of Iſrael in Ezek. 37. when Chriſt, there called by David's name, as his Type and Progenitor, who by a lineal de…cen… from him ſhall then obtain the long-before-promiſed Right of David's Kingdom, and ſit upon the Throne of David his Father, as the Angel told the bleſſed Virgin, Luc. 1.32. both Kingdoms of Iſrael and Judah, being for ever then to be again united into one under him, that then the very Land given unto Jacob his Servant, out of whoſe Loyns immediately the Heads of all the Twelve …ribes of Iſrael were derived; and therefore it is further added, that Land where their Fathers dwelt, that they alſo ſhall dwell therein; and then add a perpetuity of ſucceſſive inheritance, which onelyonly he who is the abſolute Proprietor, and every way able to make it good, and to make nullities of mens perpetuities as oft as he pleaſeth, He (I ſay) then tells them fully at this period, when David's Kingdom ſhall then be ſo fully reſtored to Chriſt upon the old everlaſting Covenant made to their fore-fathers, (which carries all promiſed mercies with it) that they, their Children, and their Childrens Children ſhall dwell in the ſaid promiſed Land for ever, ver. 25, &c. And this may further appear by the improvement of Gods promiſe by Abraham's ſaith Heb. 11. who (though he over-look'd no dram of promiſed mercy to any of his Seed, even in temporal reſpects) yet his faith, as the Apoſtle teaches, wrought upon the main, that one promiſed Seed [Chriſt] as he is called Gal. 3.16. in whom particularly all Nations of the Earth ſhould be bleſſed, which at the ſaid time will be moſt fully and really accompliſhed, in whom he foreſaw (with the others there named) the fulfilling of thoſe promiſes was (then) afar off; and that by vertue of ſuch divine and ſpiritual grace, all temporal good muſt be advanced and enjoyed: Yet his faith fixed ſo upon that ſure Foundation of all bleſſings really good, which will be ſo derived to, and preſerved for all ſuch his ſaid bleſſ…d Seed then, that there will be a wonderful uninterrupted bleſſedneſs at that time continued to them. In ſeeing the accompliſhment whereof, a great meaſure of Abraham's happineſs through Chriſt will (then) actually conſiſt, when he ſhall eminently be Heir of the World actually, by a bleſſed fruition thereof for a long ſeaſon above 1000 years, who as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh Rom. 4.13. was in his life time but Heir thereof by faith onelyonly; which yet he was then ſure ſhould not be fruſtrated. Much inlargement might be added to this effect if it were requiſite, and many Divine Rea…ons given from the Covenant to Abraham, and Promiſes repeated to his p. 14Seed as ſpiritually ſo inveſted with all the temporal bleſſings of the Mediat…rs Kingdom, when God and Chriſt are ſo often ſaid to dwell with them, and to ſet his Tabernacle among them, which will carry along with it both the remov…l of evils, & conferring all ſuitable good for that ſtate. We ſhall onelyonly name a few more Promiſes belonging to the ſame ſtate; as Iſa. 61. which whole Chapter is a lon… and large prediction and prom…e made to that then-bleſſed Race, for their Fathers ſa…es, (as …s noted by the Apoſtle Rom. 11.) yea there alſo by way of diſtinction from the Gentiles, he ſaith verſ. 9. to make it more evident of what generation of men he ſpake, Their Seed ſhall be known among the Gentiles, and their Off-ſpring among the People; but for what ſhall they be ſo known? It follows, All that ſee them ſhall acknowledge them that they are the Seed which the Lord hath bleſſed: The old intailed Covenant from Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, will then be found of force, and Gods truth and faithfulneſs then acknowledg…d; wherefore the Apoſtle there relates that promiſe, Iſa. 59.20. When the Deliverer ſhall come out of Sion, and ſhall turn away unged…ineſs from Jacob, Rom. 11.26. So that all Iſrael then (ſaith he) ſhall be ſaved: and v.27. he adds the reaſon thereof; For this (ſaith he) is my Covenant with them, when I ſhall take away their ſins: So it is the covenanted Mercy of God to that people, which is of ſo large extent, that when as a Foundation-mercy therein, he ſhall turn away ungodlineſs from Jacob, and ſo take away their ſins (for onelyonly Godl…neſs hath the promiſe of this life, and alſo of the world to come) in that he is ſuch a De…iverer that he will firſt work ſuch ſpiritual deliverance in them; the other alſo upon that his ſaid coming, will follow unto the utmoſt extent alſo; for all promiſed temporal mercies in the ſame Covenant contained, even as a ſhadow will follow the ſubſtance of the ſpiritual. And a like Promiſe of the ſame ſtate of Gods Iſrael, is given Iſa. 66.22. ſpeaking of the New Heavens and the New Earth which ſhall then be and …e…ain before him, (which he ſpake alſo of creating, Chap. 65.17. even for that ſaid bleſſed condition) ſo of their poſterities perpetuity in th…t happy eſtate, while that world continues: So ſaith he ſhall your Seed and your Name remaine, when wicked men ſhall be deſtroyed aforehand, and their careales ſhall then moſt prob…bly at the Arm…ggedon Battel, a… by the Context appears) be an abhorring to all fleſh, verſ. uit.

So th…t by what hath been ſaid, it may appear, That though the Reſt which Joſhu… brought Iſrael into, was by them polluted, as was ſaid Mu… yet he was a I … them of their great Meſſiah, when he ſhall come to them the ſecond time without ſin unto ſalvation, Heb. 9 …t turning away ungodlineſs from Jacoh, (as was ſaid) ſo beginning p. 15his Kingdom of the Mountain, Dan. 2.35. and the New Jeruſalem ſtate, Rev. 21. which is that other Reſt which David ſpake of, mentioned Heb 4.7, 8. which is that Sabbatiſm or Reſt remaining for the people of God, verſ 9. called by the Apoſtle Paul, Reſt with us, when our Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhall be revealed, 2 Theſſ 1.7. and all this again at his appearance and his Kingdom, 2 Tim. 4.1. wherein the fulneſs and great evidence of holy Scripture appears to theſe purpoſes, and that upon moſt ſure ſoundations, if duly conſidered. See Sir Rich. Finch his book, ſetting forth very largely thoſe Promiſes belonging to that ancient People of God.

There are many other things obſervable in the Parallel of Moſes with Chriſt, and ſome others in Joſhua's, which I ſhall here alſo ſet down as follows.

Firſt Moſes was ordained of God to be a Deliverer of his People; So was Chriſt the great Redeemer of all Gods Choſen, &c.

Secondly, When Moſes was new born, he was in danger of his life by the Edict of Pharach King of Egypt: So Chriſt when new born, was in danger of his life by the Command of Herod a ſtrange King, and forced to flee into Egypt.

Thirdly, As Moſes was wonderfully preſerved, and ſo by a gracious Providence nobly trained up to be fitted for his Office; ſo was Chriſt divinely preſerved from his danger, and fitted for his increaſing in wiſdom and ſtature, ſaith the Evangeliſt, and favour with God and man, Luc 2.52.

Fourthly, When Moſes was grown up, and his Brethren were in great bondage, he ſought to deliver them; but they rejected and betrayed him, but owned him not for their Deliverer: So Chriſt coming in the fulneſs of time, was not received by his own people, John 1. but they took counſel againſt him, to reject and betray him; and actually killed the Lord of Life, who came to deliver them from Death.

Fifthly, When Moſes was thereupon removed into a far Countrey, there he had Jethro, Prince or Prieſt of On, a loving and wiſe Father, having taken his Daughter a ſtranger to Wi… So Chriſt after the Jews rejection and betraying of him, went in… a far Co…ey, as he ſpeaketh. Luc. 19. to ſit at the Right Hand of his leavenly Father; and upon his own peoples rejecting of him as their God or Red…emet, Acts 13. he eſp…uſeth to himſelf the ſtrangers of the Gentiles to be his Church or Spouſe, during his former peoples …ſtrangement from him.

Sixthly, But when the fulneſs of time was come, that God would m…ke Moſes his Peoples Deliverer, he divinely, gr…ſly and wonderfully p. 16reveals himſelf to him, ſends him on that his Errand, furniſheth him with divine power, conrage, gifts, aſſiſtance, and above all guides him by his own counſel in the management of all, how and what courſe he ſhould ſtear, or means he ſhould uſe, what particular miracles he ſhould work from time to time, and ſhews him what ſucceſs or want of ſucceſs he ſhould have; and ſo Moſes did all by Gods appointment in that whole work of bringing his People the Children of Iſrael out of Egypt; in which work afterwards in the Wilderneſs he was Gods faithful ſervant in all his Houſe, Heb. 2. in all the time he led them in the Wilderneſs: So when the time was come that the Father by his Spirit had declared in his Prophets that his Son ſhould be the Deliveter of his People, and as he h…d likewiſe typifi…d and many ways man…feſted to them, he accordingly undertook that work, with that fulneſs of wiſdom, grace, and of his Spirit and power, from the Father, and had the falneſs of his love ſo always coutinued unto him, that he de…ied him nothing he asked, yea he had ever fully manifeſted his whole pleaſure to him; and in him and by him all things were accordingly fulfilled to deliver his People from their ſins being the bondage of their ſpiritual Pharaoh and w…rſe than Egyptian bondage; and w…ll come as the great Meſſiah of his ancient People in ſpecial, and wonderfully ſave thoſe that are beloyed for their Fathers ſake, with a greater deliverance from the Land of the North, than the former from Egypt was, Jer. 23.7, 8. ſpiritually, temporally, eternally, &c. So Jer. 3 14 18 alſo Iſa 53.10. & 66 14, 15. Ezek. 37. the weole chapter, &c. which deliverance now haſteneth, &c.

Seventhly, What under Moſes miniſtration Iſrael came ſhort of obtaining, under Joſhua's Conduct, the other Type of Chriſt, they ſoon after enjoyed; but yet only as the Lieutenant (as I may ſay) of that Grand Captain of the Lords Hoſt, that appeared to him, Joſh 5.13, 14, 15. from whom then he received his particular order for the beſieging of Jericho, with incouragement therein, &c. And who by Gods divine ordering of his Lots, afterwards aſſigned to every Tribe their portion, called in Scripture, The Lot of their Inheritance: So it is from Chriſt the grand Captain of his Peoples ſalvation, not from any ſtrength, works, or worth of their own in any reſpect, that they obtain any mercy or favour from God: But through the grace, power, and merit of their true Joſhua or JESUS, always both able and willing, and ever remains preſent in readineſs to conduct them through their Wilderneſs condition in this World, even when they are at the greateſt ſtand, and who can in the moſt unlikely manner, and by the moſt contemptible means (as by Rams-Horn Trumpets he deſtroyed p. 17high-walled Jericho) confound or deſtroy the greateſt Enem…es of his People, (as he is now conſuming the great Beaſt and falſe Prophet by the propheſying of his deſpiſed fackcloth-Witneſſes, Rev. 11.1… heſ. 28) and will in his appointed time bring his Pilgrims into poſſeſſion of their happy promiſed Reſt that remains to them and all the faithful fore-fathers into the City prepared for them, with other Saints, of which God is the Maker and Builder himſelf, Heb. 11.10 as in manifold promiſes he hath through many Ages in his word declared; when likewiſe will begin his Kingdom of the Mountain, which ſhall fill the whole Earth, when all Nations ſhall ſerve and obey him, Dan. 7.27, &c. with many other holy Scripture-Teſtimonies, which might here be added if it were needful.

Proceed we then to the third pair of partial Types in the N…w World, viz. Of David's Kingdom raiſed by God from a low beginning, to become great, like the great men of the Earth, as God ſpeaketh of it, 2 Sam 7. though as a man that ſhed much blood, in a warring condition, till God gave him peace in the end, &c. And of Solomon's Kingdom, that peaceful Prince, when his Subjects were ſaid to ſit under their own Vines, and under their own Fig. Trees; though by the cloudy darkneſs of both their falls, they were manifeſt to be onelyonly Types of their moſt perfect Antitype.

And firſt of the firſt of them, namely of David's Kingdom ſet up by God; wherein Chriſt was typified in theſe reſpects:

1. As David was low and mean at firſt; I took thee (ſaith God to him) from the Sheepſold 2 Sam. 7 8. So Chriſt at his firſt appearing in the worlds view, taking our nature, was little regarded of them, called commonly, The Son of Joſeph and Mary, and afterwards diſgracefully. The Galilean, from which Countrey they expected no good to come, and another while reputed him the Carpenters Son; and even his own Kindred believed not on him; though eſpecially amongſt them, both before his birth, at his birth, and afterwards, glorious and radiant Beams of Divine Majeſly wonderfully ſhone out in him, whereby God evidently manifeſted, and wrote as it were with a ſun beam of Light as was alſo plainly told) That that Child before promiſed and propheſied ſo often to come, was his own and onelyonly Son.

2. After David's Kingdom began, there was at firſt no outward probability appearing to ſtand againſt King Saul; ſaving that Saul was rejected, and David was by Gods appointment anointed by Samuel for the Kingdom: But otherwiſe, in outward reſpects, Saul was in poſſeſſion, had the preſent command of all his Subjects, and of all p. 18they had in the world outwardly; but David forced to flee for his life, manleſs, monyleſs, helpleſs in a manner, ſaving onelyonly not faithleſs nor hopeleſs; but for outward appearance of means very poor and mean. He after had men, but ſuch as could in appearance yield him little comfort, afford him little relief; we hear not of their Money nor Arms; yea, it appears they were men in debt, and in decayed conditions, how ſhould they live? They fled to him in a Wilderneſs, where ſhould they have Arms? And had they had them, what skill were they like to have to uſe them? Wha intereſt could ſuch have in men that were conſiderable, ſaving ſu… as might cauſe them to purſue them for their debts or for leaving their Maſters ſervice (as Saul affirmed) which muſt make Dav d's firſt eſtate appear to be the be …nning of a very pitiful Principality. So when the uſurping god of this preſent world, and that moſt tyrannous Prince of the power of the Air, was by Chriſt to be thrown down from his Regency, after his ſo long and mani…old rebellion againſt his Creator; and Gods anointed King which he had decreed (mangre all the vain oppoſition of Mon and Devils) ſhould ſit upon h s holy Hill of Sion Pſal. 2. vet he comes into the world in the form of a Servant, was born of a Mother a Virgin, but in a preſent mean condition, though inwardly glorious in holineſs and grace, though lineally deſcended from the Loyns of King David, yet that was a thing little then obſerved or regarded by moſt at that time; a Carpenter being her Husband, and the reputed Father of Chriſt our Saviour, as little acknowledged, 'tis probable, to be the Son of God: Therefore Chriſt being in our weak nature, in ſuch a low condition, the world was uncapable of diſcerning or conceiving how he ſhould be able to overcome that old Beelzebub, the Prince of the Devils, with all his Principalities, and powers of ſpiritual wickedneſſes in high places.

3. When the envy and malice of Saul was grown ſo great againſt David, that by force or fraud, by policy or treachery, or by any means poſſible to rid David out of his way, by his Daughter, by his Servants, by the Philiſtines, his Javelins, his Son Jonathan; or by Doeg, and other bad Inſtruments of Saul's Court; or whoever was David's Enemy, was thereupon to be owned as Saul's Friend: Yet God ever preſerved David from all his attempts, by ſtrange and unlikely ways and means, as the ſacred Story therein declares. So as ſoon as Chriſt appears in the World, Satan from a Divine Oracle of Chriſts birth at Bethlehem the City of David, tempts Herod upon that ac…ount to ſeek to take away his life then, as was noted, ſtirs up many ſlightings of his Perſon, Parentage, Kindred and Countrey; then when he appeared p. 19more publick, ſets upon him in hunger to tempt God; from ambition of a world, to worſhip the Devil, &c. But ſtill Chriſt overcame that ſtrong man armed, being ſtronger than he, when he appeared the weakeſt.

4. As David by ſuch weak and unlikely inſtruments overcame or fruſtrated Saul, aſſaults: So Chriſt by poor Fiſhermen ſubdued the World to the obedience of the Goſpel, thereby making them Fiſhers of men, and himſelf to be owned as the Saviour of mankind, by thoſe they were ſent unto, conquering and to conquer in the firſt Seal, Rev. 6. and ſo through the following Seals till Conſtantines coming, about anno 320 all that time where n Michael ſought with his Angels againſt the Dragon and his Angels, who prevailed not, Rev. 12 7 8. when thoſe poor perſecuted Chriſtians then converted to the fa…th… Chriſt (…hat are ſtor…ed to be ſtrongly then encouraged by the Doctrine of reigning with Chriſt the thouſand years) ſuffered with ſuch unſhaken ſaith and conſtant patience, and gloriouſly overcame that moſt devilliſh cruelty and tyranny of their bloody Perſecutors in the Ten firſt Paganiſh Perſecutions, till the Dragon was caſt out of his Heaven to the Earth: Since which time he could not by ſuch perſecuting turn Chriſtians into Pagans, he hath attempted by iving his Seat, Power, and Authority to the Beaſt, to Paganize Chriſtianity it ſelf, and under many deviſed pretexts of Piety and Devotion by means of his ſaid Subſtitute in his ſeat and authority, to act in deteſtable hypocr ſie, in ſuch horrid wickedneſſes againſt God and man, that cannot appear in their true colours without ſome Vail of Hypocriſie caſt over them Whence it was anciently obſerved ſince that time, Sub nomine Chriſti militant contra Chriſtum; and after, when in a more intenſe degree tha was apparent, complaint thereof was made, not without juſt cauſe, In nomine Domini incipit omne malum: which how manifold it is, and by what cunning Contrivance, with paganiſh Cruelty carried on, would require a large volumn but even fitly to ſet down in what large volum…s it is already done. And yet Chriſt by his poor Saints ſufferings, and his deſpiſed Sackcloth-Witneſſes propheſying hath and doth, and will overcome more and more both Dragon, and B…ſt, and falſe …rophet alſo, by whom the other was revived after his former deadly wound, unto their laſt deſtruction come, and both are ſent unto their own p…a…, when Chriſt will moſt eminently make his Foes his Footſtool, and the Kingom of the Stone be changed into the Kingdom of the Mountain, in the next partial Type, with this of David, to be now conſidered.

And that is in Solomon, David's natural Seed, derived immediately p. 20from his Loyns, as promiſed to David, named by God, owned by him in a gracious manner, appearing to him twice, making him large offers, giving him unparallel'd Gifts of Wiſdom and Knowledge, eminent Grace, tranſcendent worldly Glory, Dignity, Riches and Revenues, on the face of the earth; admired far and near, moſt famous for building the moſt glorious Temple or Houſe of God, and other Houſes, and in writing excellent Books of holy Scripture, and many other Books: But that he was but a Type of David's bleſſed Seed to come in the Kingdom of the Mountain, may appear by his ſo ſad declining for a time towards his elder years; yet a…ter, through grace, returned. But that he was his Type, his Name denotes, his Office, his Works, his Wiſdom, his Peace, his Glory, Wealth, and Dignity, his Religion, his executing of Judgment, his Peoples Peace, Plenty, Security, under him, &c. whilſt he walke… wiſely, and ſtood upright, do abundantly declare. And in regard we are to conſider the great Char…er of David and Solomon's Kingdom, in the next place, we ſhall here adde no more, but come to our next foundation.

VII. Seventhly, Which is the ſeventh, as being confirmed both to David and Solomon by a Divine Charter, very eminently illuſtrated 2 Sam. 7.8. to the end, in that moſt gracious Meſſage that God ſent by Nathan, upon occaſion of David's ſecret intent and purpoſe to build God an Houſe, for which he made great proviſion; which though it was not in particular accepted, for ſome reaſons afterwards ſpecif…d in the ſequel, yet God ſo approved of his pious affections of love …o his Divine Majeſty, and Zeal for his Glory and Worſhip, that thereupon he made to David the moſt bleſſed return of Love, and Riches of Goodneſs to him and his Houſe, with the longeſt Entail w…th it, and ſureſt ſecurity of it, that ever was made to any meer mortal man: We may here obſerve, firſt the ſaid Meſſage of God, from verſ. 8. to 17. concerning Gods ſure mercies to David, in reſpect of his Kingdom, People, and Houſe: Secondly. We may note David's improvement of each part of the Divine Meſſage by Faith, Prayer, and thankful Acknowledgment, from verſ. 17. to the end.

Firſt, In Gods Meſſage, verſ. 8. He directs the Prophet Nathan to make to David a rehearſal of mercies paſt; namely, How he exalted him from a low eſtate, even from the Sheep-coat, from following the Sheep, to an excellent Dignity; not onelyonly to be a Ruler in ordinary way, but that which added much to his exaltation and honour, was, he let him over his own People, even over Iſrael, choſen out of the whole World for his own Inheritance: This ſpecial truſt God committed p. 21to David, to whom great Priviledges did belong, and for whom great things formerly had been done by God, upon whom his Name was called.

Secondly, Verſ. 9. He minds him how he had been with him in a ſpecial manner in a way of grace, to wit, to be for him, and againſt his Enemies; and ſo effectually as to cut them all off in his own ſight, and that thereupon he had made him a great Name, as the great Men that are upon the Earth.

Thirdly, Verſ. 10. He ſets down (as in a Parentheſis) a moſt wonderful mercy promiſed to his ſaid People, long after to take place, and to be in fulfi…ling to the end of the world: ſaying, I will appoint a place (not what he had done before, or unto that time (as afterwards is explained) for my people Iſrael, and I will plant them; but how? Firſt that they may dwell in a place of their own, (for formerly they drove out others, though but as Gods Inſtruments, yet with many failings, and then by their ſins they forfeited their own intereſt therein:) Secondly, He declares they ſhould move no more; which ſettlement then muſt needs be yet to come, the ſame with Ezek. 37. and many other promiſes: Thirdly, The Children of wickedneſs ſhould not, in that Land which he promiſeth, afflict them any more, (which hath not hitherto been fulfilled) formerly ſuch Children of wickedneſs, which in their d…ſobedience to God they ſpared, were in judgment made Thorns in their Sides, and pricks in their Eyes, to chaſtiſe them; and other ſone of wickedneſs, by reaſon of their many provocations, greatly from time to time, before and till David's time, afflicted them, as before time in Egypt, and in the Wilderneſs, as the end of verſ. 10. ſeems to intend, — as before time.

And verſ. 11. in the beginning of it, he adds another diſtinct time of the prevailing of ſuch Sons of Wickedneſs over them: And (ſaith he) as ſince the time that I commanded Judges to be over my people: And that he might the better take notice of his own ſo good different ſtate at preſent, and from whence it came, he ſhews to him again that he himſelf had cauſed him to reſt from all his Enemies.

And in the end of verſ. 11. he appoints Nathan to deliver a further Meſſage of wonderful grace concerning David's own Houſe; ſaying, Alſo the Lord tells thee [there was his inſallible ſecurity] that he will make thee a ſure Houſe; which muſt needs be a ſure Houſe, when God both tells him ſo, and tells him he will make it ſo: Greater certainty could not be; Therefore rightly is this ſtiled, The ſure Mercies of David.

Verſ. 12. concerns Gods promiſe to be fulfilled after David's death, p. 22concerning his Son Solomon, as is applied by Solomon himſelf, 1 Kings 2.24. The Lord (ſaith he) hath made me an Houſe, as he promiſed; which promiſe follows in this 12th verſe, I will ſet up thy Seed after thee, which ſhall proceed out of thy own bowels; and I will eſtabliſh his Kingdom: which muſt be his immediate Seed. Beſides, he was deſigned by God to build that Houſe for Go… is Name which David purpoſed, till God now declared his pleaſure therein to him, to the contrary, which was accordingly executed, as Solomon acknowledged, as was noted before.

And verſ. 13. latter part, God addes a wonderful mercy, That Solomon the Type of Chriſt, whoſe Kingdom in his days ſhould be a Type of Chriſts Kingdom, ſhould build that Houſe that ſhould prefigure the Body of Chriſt; till he came in the fleſh and fulfilled all that was ſignified in and by that Houſe and Prieſthood exerciſe… therein, whereby it ſeems to be ſignified, That that Houſe which he built, and the Services to be upheld in it, ſhould typifie to his People his glorious Perſon and work of Redemption to be wrought by him for them, where the Ark of Gods gracious Preſence with his People was at that time preſerved: Which Temple, though afterwards it ſhould be deſtroyed for their great ſins and provocations, and the Ark of Gods gracious preſence be taken away from among them; yet the Temple ſhould afterward by the wonderful power and grace of God be again re-built, as Iſaiah fore-told, and was (as we rea… in Ezra and Nehemiah) accordingly fulfilled: by the former denoting the death of Chriſt bodily, which he ſuffered for his Peoples ſins; and by the latter, that divinely powerful and glorious Reſurrection of Chriſt from that death of the Body. Which ſaid ſecond Temple, by the divine work of God upon the ſpirit of Cyrus, being ſo rebuilt, ſhould ſo continue (onelyonly after repaired and adorned by Herod) thenceforward many hundred years, until all things were ſully accompliſhed by him who was before ſo long time, and many ways before-typ…fied by it; at the death of whoſe b…dy, the Vail of that Temple actually was rent from top to bottom, wherewith Moſes vailed Goſpel of Ceremonial Worſhip ceaſed, and upon whoſe Reſurrection and A…cention the Goſpel of the Son of Mans Kingdom was ſpeedily, and powerfully, and evidently preached by the commiſſionated Embaſſadors of Chriſt through the whole world; when alſo the Kingdom of the Stone fore-told in Daniel d…d begin, o… the ſpiritual Throne and Kingdom of Chriſt was ſe… up, and hath, and is, and will be powerfully upheld, while Chriſt in the Goſpel rideth o'n conquering and to conquer, as he began under the …ſt Seal, till he eminently, when he ceaſeth to ſit at his Fathers Right hand in Heaven, p. 23Pſal. 110.1. ſhall make his foes his footſtool; and thenceforward gloriouſly and powerfully on David's and Solomon's Throne (as here promiſed) in the Kingdom of the Mountain, to the worlds end and la Judgment, Dan. 2 35. And ſo the great King of the New Jeruſalem, will undoubtedly ſucceed lineally from them both, in whom the Houſe and Throne of the Kingdoms of both ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever, as in Pſal 45. is largely illuſtrated with many excellencies belonging to the g…orious ſtate of the Meſſiah's Kingdom with his Saints, his Spouſe ſtiled the Kings Daughter, and gloriouſly there deſcribed and enfe…ffed with her Dowry, very divinely in a great part of that Pſalm.

But verſ. 14, 15. In regard God fore-knew Solomon would greatly fall by his own hainous ſins, which would deſerve great Judgments; even as the great Meſsiah was firſt to ſuffer and ſatisfie for Solomon, before the viſible glory of his Kingdom ſhould ſhine forth, and for all penitent and truly believing perſons; and that therefore God fore-ſhews how he would fatherly chaſtiſe Solomon, but not take his merciemercy from him, as he took it from Saul, (which is a very evident proof that Solomon was ſaved) and ſecondly typifying therein that Chriſt ſhould be ſaved in his ſuffering for mans ſin, and overcome death by dying, in regard that Chriſt ſhould perſonally come in the fleſh to that end, which was ſignified by that Houſe which was to remain then in its uſe; and that till then, thoſe ſervices to be performed in that houſe did de note that work of Redemption of his people which he was to accompliſh at that his coming, whereby full Reconciliation ſhould be made with God for them, and then that ſaid Houſe, and the ſervices therein performed, were thereupon to ceaſe: Therefore in verſ. 16. the laſt of Gods ſaid Meſſage to David by Nathan, he twice confirms the perpetuity of the ſaid Mercy, not onelyonly to ratifie the ſureneſs thereof, as is uſual in holy Scripture, as in the four Mettle-Kingdoms, Dan 2. and 7. and the four Beaſts, but it ſeems in verſ. 16. he firſt through the ſaid Reconciliation made when he put an end to the ſervices of the ſaid Houſe, whereby the influence of all promiſed mercies to the Saints reached in all Ages to them, ſets down there over and over for David's comfort, this that concerned Chriſts Davidical Kingdom of the thouſand years Reign with the Saints, that it ſhould be BEFORE DAVID; that is, at the bleſſed and holy Reſurrection of the Juſt, Rev. 20.6. when David and Daniel ſhall ſtand up in their Lots,; though there was a Reſemblance of it, as ſome obſerve, in that Solomon was in the Throne before David died: Yet this promiſe is of tranſcendent excellency above that matter; neither did p. 24that ſtate laſt for ever, i. e. to the worlds end, which is ſo many times inſiſted upon, both from Gods Riches of Mercy towards David, and David's une preſſible gratitude (as he ſaid verſ. 20) due unto God: Wherefore he ſpeaks in ſuch a full comprehenſive manner, verſ. 16. Thy Houſe and thy Kingdom ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever BEFORE THEE: and again. Thy Throne ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever; which is onelyonly poſſible in Chriſt, and in him is neceſſary, according to that prophecy Iſa. 9.7. That of the increaſe of his Government there ſhould be no end, upon the Throne of David, to order it and to eſtabliſh it with judgment and with juſtice from henceforth even for ever: And the reaſon hereof is very remarkable: The zeal of the Lord of Hoſts will perform this; his Truth, his Faithfulneſs will n…t lie unto David, for whom he hath this ſure mercy to perform, to raiſe up his Tabernacle which was fallen, as Acts 1.5. is explained: and as the Angel told the bleſſed Virg…n. Luc. 1.23, 3.3. The Lord ſhall give unto him the Throne of his Father David: The Scripture is ſo full in this point, that if mens eyes be not ſh…t, it is obvious to be ſeen. And thus much of Gods meſſage by Nathan.

Now from verſ. 17. to the end of the Chapter, we have David's moſt grateful acceptance of the ſaid Meſſage, and very pious improvement of it by …aith, prayer, acknowledgment and thankfulneſs, and well might he do ſo, ſeeing he ſo well underſtood, and ſo fully believed every branch by the tea…hing of Gods Spirit, and every particular therein contained, viz. That he ſhould have a Kingdom, and ſuch a Kingdom confirmed to him, and not to him alone, but to him and his People of Iſrael, and for them with his Seed; and not to his notural Seed onelyonly, …s ſuch, coming out of his own Bowels, but as typical of a Seed and Kingdom divine and be…venly, to be given in a wonderful manner, and as he ſaith verſ. 19. for a long time to come, and upon ſuch ſecurity from God himſelf, who undertook to do it himſelf, with the greateſt aſſurance imaginable, yea above all imagination or capacity of …eatures, in ſuch a way, under ſuch Types, in ſuch order, time and manifold miraculouſneſs, that i… all men and all Creatures ſhould joyn all their Skill and Power, Wealth. Strength, and Intereſts, to confer a Kingdom upon a Perſon, by right of Covenants, Purchaſs, Ch…rter, Proweſs, Pol…cy, Prudence, Conqueſt, Merit, or whatever they could contrive or procure to ſuch intent, it would be but nullity inſtead of ſecurity, compared with this, and not worthy even to be named in the ſame day with it: Yea mens Kingdoms on the contrary, the greater they are, are therefore many times the more uncertain and tottering. Whereas this, in the greateſt extent, ſhould be the moſt ſtable, being p. 25founded in Righteouſneſs, which is the habitation or ſtability of Chriſts Throne, Pſal. 97.2. whilſt the greateſt combination of men and creatures to uphold by any means Kingdoms and States in unrighteouſneſs againſt God and his People, do thereby the ſooner bring them to their periods, and by ſuch means oft-times more certain ruine befalls them, as in Nebuchadnezzars great Monarchy, whether we look upon him perſonally, as that great Tree then flouriſhing, Dan 4. but ſuddenly cut down, under whoſe Branches all Creatures (then) ſheltred themſelves; or lineally, which ended in his Granchild Belſhazzar, Dan. 5. as that Kingdom was then the Head of Gold, in reſpect of the other Mettle-Kingdoms ſucceeding it, even ſo it was but of ſhort continuance for that reaſon, Dan. 5.20, 21, 22, 23. for ſome of the ſaid ſhort continuance: But ſuch a title, and of ſo long continuance, yea ſuch a ſecure perpetaity God paſſeth over by his Divine Charter to David his Seed and People here, of that his moſt excellent Kingdom in the world (that though in ſome ſence it ſhould be interrupted for a time) yet ſhould certainly ſtand good in due time to th…m, when all meerly worldly Monarchies ſhall be worn out, yet that ſhould remain for ever, as often was repeated, even to the worlds end; the like aſſurance was never made before David's time, never ſince, of any Kingdom in the world, nor ever will be, when that univerſal viſible Dominion ſhall hereafter begin to take place in the world, (as it was ſaid of it, Dan. 2.28) it never ſhall be deſtroyed in the world, but be tranſlated into, or perfected in celeſtial Glory: And therefore it is no marv…il that holy David from ſuch Divine Illumination, and from ſuch ſuitable ſtrength of faith, doth anſwerably (as we hinted) receive with humble acceptation and inlarged thankſulneſs and acknowledgment, that bleſſed news thereof from God, and accordingly improve it as follows.

1. For verſ. 18. In the firſt place David retires himſelf into the alone preſence of his moſt gracious God, and in a moſt humble manaer acknowledgeth before him his wonderful mercy and goodneſs to himſelf and his Houſe, both paſt and preſent: Who am I (ſaith he) O Lord God! And what is my Houſe, that thou haſt brought me hitherto!

2. In verſ. 19. He ſets it forth for the time to come, further obſerving and explaining the long continuance thereof, not to himſelf alone, but to his Houſe, upon a moſt true and certain perpetuity, upon the beſt ſecurity, in an unparalled manner; (for his words are weighty) ſaying, And yet this was a ſmall thing in thy ſight, O Lord God, but thou haſt ſpoken alſo of thy Servants Houſe for a great while to come, viz. whiſe time ſhall continue, which he revolves again with a holy admiration, p. 26— And is this the manner of Man, OLORD GOD!

3. In verſ. 20. he declares that he was at a loſs for verbal expreſſions of due thankfulneſs for his mercies, but tenders his inlarged heart to Gods view, ſaying, And what can David ſay more unto thee? For thou, Lord God, knoweſt thy Servant.

4. In verſ. 21. he illuſtrates, in his wayof gratitude, the truth of Gods promiſe, the reeneſs of his mercy to him, with the greatneſs thereof in all reſpects, in all thoſe great things which were ſtill illuſtrated by their preſent manifeſtation of them unto him: — To make (ſaith he) thy Servant to know them.

5. In verſ. 22, 23, 24. he farther illuſtrates with his own, Gods wonderful glorious and rich mercy to his people of Iſrael; firſt for time paſt, magnifying the greatneſs of the unparallelled mercy of God to them, extolling him above all gods, and as the onelyonly true God, and that he had proved himſelf ſo by his works, recorded in his word, or related by his people, verſ. 22. Wherefore thou art great, O Lord, and there is none like thee, &c.

And verſ. 23. He ſets forth the great honour he had procured to his people of Iſrael, by ſigns and wonders for them, &c. whom he redeemed out of Egypt, that in them he might be glorified above the heathen gods, &c.

And in verſ. 24. He gratefully rehearſeth his now-confirmed mercy to his people of Iſrael for perpetuity, and his Covenant renewed with them to be their God; as with Abraham. Gen. 17.7, 8. ſo now to them by the Meſſiah the Son of David, much after the ame tenure of words; even as this Meſſage is much the ſame with that recorded in 1 Chron. 17 7, 8, 9, &c.

6. Now as to verſ. 25. David had made his graceful acknowledgement of ſo tranſcendent a mercy to Himſelf, his People, and Houſe; ſo now he proceeds further to improve it by frith and prayer, verſ. 25, 26. And firſt joyntly for Himſelf and his Houſe, verſ. 25. Now O Lord, eſtabliſh thy word for ever concerning thy Servant, and concerning his Houſe, and do as thou haſt ſaid.

And then verſ. 26. He adjoyns Gods Covenant with his people of Iſrael, to be their God for ever, with his continued prayer for his Houſe, as before … …omited ſo in Gods preſence implored by prayer upon that ground, for believing the Promiſe, he poureth out his Prayer.

7. In verſ. 27. He ſets down the particular reaſon of this preſent exerciſe of his faith and prayer, namely, Gods preſent ſo grations Revelation of his ſaid wonderful mercy to him: For (ſaith he) thou, O p. 27Lord God, haſt revealed to thy Servant, ſaying, I will build thee an Houſe; therefore hath thy Servant …ound in his heart to pray this Prayer unto thee.

In verſ. 28 he ruminates upon the former grounds of his faith, viz. Firſt that this Promiſe was from that God that was the great and moſt glorious God of Iſrael; and ſecondly from the truth of all his words, found experimentally to be true; and at preſent applies both to his part…cular promiſe then made to himſelf: Thou (ſaith he) art that God, and thy words be true.

9. In the laſt verſe he improveth his ſpecial ſaith in reference to the ſaid ſ…ecial promiſe to Him…el… and his Houſe, by a twofold Amen, or ſo be it, (as I may term them) twice running again over the ſame: the one ſeeming to refer (as before) to Chriſts ſaid Davidical Kingdom of the thouſand years, That God would bleſs his Servants Houſe, that it may continue for ever before God: and the other to eternity, That it might be bleſſed with his bleſsing for ever: Or elſe for further inlargement of his prayer, That it might not onelyonly continue before him, but be bleſſed alſo with his Bleſſing for ever.

And thus by ſo grateful acknowledgement manifeſted by ſpecial faith and fervent prayer, this humble, holy, kingly Prophet improved Gods ſo great and marvellous mercy, by the Prophet Nathan revealed to himſelf, for his Houſe and People of Iſrael for ever. Amen.

VIII. Ei…hthly, Chriſtian Readers, If you ſhall reckon with me the eight ſaid Ty…es in the Old and New World, as the Fifth Foundation o… Faith, and this from Ezekiel to be the Eighth, the number will be …e ſame, an… the ſtrength much greater: For as the other two greater Prophets, Iſaiah and Jeremiah foretold Iſrael's and Judah's Captivi…y, as alſo d…d ſome of the ſmaller; and by the ſame Prophets did God alſo, for the …om…rt of the faithful Jews, foretel their great Reſt…uration: for Iſ…ah is large concerning the New Jeruſalem, chap. 60. appliſed by the holy Ghoſt to the New Jeruſalem, Rev. 21. And as Jeremiah hath many threatnings of Judgment and Captivity, ſo he hath many Promiſes of wonderful mercies, not onelyonly concerning their Reduction from Bab…l…n, but of many more …ar excelling them, particularly, That Jeruſal…m ſhall be the Throne of the Lord Chap. 3.17. [See our Tract on that Text &c] So al…o Ezekiel that was ſet as a ſign in in his Perſon had many ſigns in his Miniſtry appointed by God on ſpecial occaſions; yea very much of his Prophecy was ſymbolical, fraught with Divine Hieroglyphicks, with ſacred Figures and Types, not onelyonly as to Judah and Jeruſalem's ſad Calamities, then further and further prevailing, &c. but more eſpecially Ezekiel, from Chap 36, 1, 2, 3, &c. p. 28to the end of that Book, is in many Prophecies, Viſions, Explications, large decipherings, ſo full concerning Iſrael's and Judah's mercies at their laſt great Reſtauration, that both Daniel and Chriſt in his Revelation apply, improve, and explain many things in Ezekiel very remarkably; ſo extraordinary glorious were many of Ezektel's Revelations, as in Chap. 1. & 10, much to be parallelled with Rev. 4 ſetting forth a like glorious and gracious manifeſtation of God unto his Church through Jeſus Chriſt, and by h…s holy Spirit, ſet forth by Reſemblances of ſuch Appearances, like Fire, Precious Stones, Rain-Bow, Wheels, Cherubims, Living W…ghts, and the like; and the New Jeruſalem in the nine laſt Chapters of Ezekiel, which Learned Men have ſtiled formerly the Revelation of the O…d Teſtament: and indeed it appears to be a Revelation of the Promiſes of former Prophets, and of ſome of his own Predictions concerning the happy eſtate of Iſrael and Judah to come, when the Tabernacle of God will be with men, Rev. 21. and the City which he had deſcribed ſhall really be Jehavah Shamma, becauſe the Lord our Saviour will be perſonally there: And as many differences are obſervable in that foretold by Ezekiel for the comfort of the Jews, and that by the Apoſtle John reſpecting eſpecially the Gentiles that were beheaded for the Name of Jeſus, and reſiſted Antichriſt, &c. And hence Ezekiel ſpeaks as to a people in that ſtate, under ſuch diſpenſations as the Jews were uſed to; but the other is eminently more gloriouſly deſcribed I conceive for ſome Reaſons, as in regard that part of Chriſts Subjects and Servants that eminently th…n will ſerve him, as Rev. 22.3, being int he natural life, firſt Jews, then G…n…les converted (being the Nations of thoſe that are ſaved) will wa… in the light of the other Jeruſalem, Rev. 21. that came from God out of Heaven, by a Metouymie of the ſubject being the Spirits of juſt men made perfect which Chriſt r…ngs … him at his ſecond coming, and upon the taking their Bodies, they become Inhab tants of the Jeruſalem whoſe Maker and Builder is God, Heb 11.10. prepared for the fore-fathers, and all that without us ſhall not be ma…e perfect… 40. or perfect in one, as our Saviour prayed, John 17.23. when they ſhall b…hol… Chriſts glory, v. 24 See …ract on Jer. 3.17. & other parcels, &c. And Daniel declares in a ſet order of Prophecy, firſt more generally, in Chap. 2. and Chap. 7. and after more particularly in Chap. 8. v. 13. to 20. with v. 26. and chap. 10. as in Rev. 1. Chriſts reſemblance, and chap. 11. much of the Roman Kingdom, from v. 36, as Mr. Med accurately and evidently explains: and chap. 12 v. 5 6, 7. the ſame in ſubſtance with Rev. 10. and Daniel's Lot notes the firſt Reſurrection, Rev. 20.6. and to the ſame purpoſe Ezektel (chap. 36.) foretels largely the happy p. 29eſtate of the Jews then, to whom the Gentiles will flow in, being both in the natural life, and ſhews the ſure foundation of that mercy, verſ. 25, 26, 27. viz. Gods ſprinkling clean water upon them, and giving them a new heart, and putting his Spirit into them: in the next Viſion, chap. 37 the ſaid Promiſes are confirmed by two viſions and explications plainly and diſtinctly ſet down by God himſelf, as in our Word written, pag. 10.11. In the next Viſion he ſhews how Gog their great Oppreſſor ſhall be deſtroyed, who is aptly there deſcribed to the life, and ſaid to come in the latter days twice, Ezek. 38.8, 16. & chap. 39. and from theace to the end of that Book deciphers in reference to the Jews their happy eſtate in the Davidical Kingdom of Chriſt, who being that Jehovah, will perſonally be there, as we ſhewed before upon many conſiderations, &c. So that Ezekiel's evidence being rightly underſtood, as in many of thoſe may appear, compared with like portions of Scripture, his Teſtimony may well be applied as a very ſtrong Foundation of Faith, bearing its weight with all the reſt.

IX. Ninthly, Twice ſtrongly ratified to Daniel two ways:

Firſt, By Viou onelyonly, Dan. 2. upon Gods revealing to him the Expoſition of Nebuchadnezzar's Dream, viz. That after the four Mettle Kingdoms were paſt, there ſhould ſucceed the two-fold ſtate of Chriſt the Sonof mans Kingdom; namely,

1. The Kingdom of the Stone, verſ. 4.

2. The Kingdom of the Mouat…in, verſ. 35.

Secondly, Both by Viſion and Revelation, Chap. 7.

1. By Viſion of four Beaſts, or four Kings, as v. 17. ruining each other, before the Kingdom of the Son of man ſhould take place, at his coming in the Clouds of Heaven, when Dominion over all Nations ſhall be given to him, to the worlds end, verſ 13, 14.

2. By Revelation, from verſ. 16, to the end of the Chapter, eſpecially verſ. 17. the four Beaſts are ſaid to be four Kings, and verſ. 27. and as Luc. 22.29. they ſhall be made his Delegates, yet ſo as all ſhall obey him.

Both Daniel's ſaid Revelations and the ſeveral Viſions either ſeen or recorded by him concerning Chriſts Davidical Kingdom, are not onelyonly p. 30conſonant to former Prophecies and Types thereof; and eſpecially with Gods gracious Meſſage by Nathan, lately inſiſted upon from 2 Sam. 7. but alſo with all the particular Branches following to be conſidered in their order and nature, which manifeſt more and more this ſaid ſo divine and glorious Scripture-Truth reſpecting the ſaid Kingdom, which is the main ſubject of our third part, viz. the Parallel with its appendants, as thereby may be ſeen and conſidered, being of very great uſe rightly to underſtand much of holy Scripture &c. Therefore we ſhall here ſay no more thereof, but refer the Reader thereunto; onelyonly admoniſhing him againſt two learned Errours, [for learned mens authority hath been much pleaded for them, and hath long upheld them] Firſt of ſuch as will have the Book of Revelation to begin where Daniel ends, as if both thoſe Books were a continuation of the ſame Hiſtory, &c. Secondly, Of ſuch as make the Selucidae and Lagidae, which were but the broken parts of the Greek-Kingdom, to be the fourth Monarchy in Daniel; which the Spirit of God recko …eth no further than Antiochus Epiphanes, who was repulſed by the Roman Navies appearance before Alexandria, which Mr. Mede manlfeſts to be thoſe Ships of Chittim, fore-told by Balaam, Numb. 24.24. and fulfilled then, as Dan. 11.30. Unto which two, a third late miſtake may be added, of them that would make the Book of Revelations to be an Hiſtory of things much paſt when given, and not a Prophecy of things to come to the end of the world: Whereas contrary to all three, the Book of Revelation is meerly a divine myſtical Comment or Expoſition of that hidden part of Daniel, then ſhut up and …ealed up t…ll the time of the end, as we ſhewed in our preface to the Parallel, and elſewhere. So that the right underſtanding of Revelation-Prophecy muſt neceſſarily be ſhut out thereby to all ſuch as retain any of tho…e mi…s-opinions. See for this alſo the contrary Judgment and Reaſons of many learned men in our fifth convincing Argument in the Word Written.

X. Tenthly, Applied often by our Saviour in the Goſpel, to the Kingdom of the Son of man, Matth. 13 41. and the Son of mans coming in his Kingdom, Matth. 16.28. And, It is your Fathers good pleaſure to give you a Kingdom, Luc. 12.32. Again, Now is my Kingdom not from hence, John 18.37. And, I have appointed unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; which is the ſame which Daniel in viſion ſaw him coming to receive, Dan 7.13, 14. and was promi…ed before to him, as the Son of David, 2 Sam. 7. which was alſo ſtiled by Chriſt, The Kingdom of God, that was foretold by him ſhould draw near at hand when Iſrael's great Redemption (ſo often ſpoken of in the Prophets) p. 31ſhall be accompliſhed, and upon the beholding the ſigns thereof, he bids the Jews lift up their heads, becauſe their Redemption then draws near, (as is very evident from Luc. 21.31.) of which our Saviour ſpake in a Parable, Luc. 21.11, 12 24 27. the time whereof is explained in the order of accompliſhment, Rev. 11.15. as is eaſily diſcernable to ſuch as are acquainted with the Series of that Book; which ſaid Davidical Kingdom of the Son of man ſhall begin in the world, as Daniel declares, Chap. 7.13, 14. at his coming in the Clouds of Heaven, which Chriſt himſelf alſo further illuſtrates, ſhewing it ſhall be with his own Glory, and of the Fathers, and of his holy Angels, Luc. 9 2…. when ten thouſand times ten thouſand ſhall miniſter to him, and ſtand before him, Dan. 7.10. when the Judgment is ſet to deſtroy the …aſt, and give his Body to the burning …l…me, verſ. 11. All which Tex…s … holy Scripture will be fulfilled above a thouſand years before the Reſurrection of wicked men to the general Judgment, as is moſt evident from the ſeries and order of things ſet down …oth by Daniel, and more fully explained in the Book of Revelation eſpecially in the twentieth Chapter the moſt clear Table of theſe laſt times and order of things to be done in them, for which purpoſe alſo conſider the foreſaid Parallel.

XI. Eleventhly, Being alſo ſo Expounded by the Apoſtle Paul, and others of the Apoſtles; concerning which Doctrine, fi…ſt the Apoſtle Paul delivereth many things by way of explication thereof, we ſhall touch upon ſome of them briefly.

Firſt, When he comforts the troubled Saints, that they ſhall have Reſt with him and other Apoſtles and Sairts, whilſt Chriſt will …e…der tribulation to ſuch as troubled them, …e ſ…s down that time to be when the Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed with his mighty Angels, in …laming … taking vengeance on them that know not God, and they not the Goſp… of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, &c. 2 Theſ. 1.7, 8 9. and in Chap 2.8. … further from Dan. 7. that Mother-Text, (as M…. Mede …) of all ſuch Scriptures in the New Teſtament, That Chriſt will particularly deſtroy that man of … the ſame appearance of … coming or preſence, when the body of the ſ ame Beaſt, a… w…s ſai… ſhall be … ven to the burning …l…me, as Dan. 7.11. which …e al…o …art…r d…c…reth by his Appearance and Kingdom, 2 Tim 4.1. as alſo was by Daniel ſeen in viſion, &c.

Again, He further informs us ſtrongly, That Chriſt muſt reig… till he hath put all his Enemies under his …eet, 1 Cor. 15.25. Now when he moſt eminently begins to do this, …is ſaid Reign begins, for ti…l …h…n he ſits at the Fathers right hand, yea and ſits there exp…cting til… th… p. 32time come, (as the ſame Apoſtle manifeſtly declares, Heb 10.12, 13.) and at that time the Beaſt is expreſly ſaid to be caſt into the lake of fire burning with brimſton, after the language of that moſt acred Prophecy. And to make his Expoſition yet more clear and forcible, he further teacheth, That the laſt Enemy that ſhall be deſtroyed in the ſaid Reign of Chriſt, ſhall be Death; viz. Bodily Death, that ſeparates Soul and Body; not the death of Soul and Body, for that thereupon will begin moſt to reign, and to reign over the Damned eternally: but the other, namely the death of the Body, ſhall be deſtroyed and caſt into the lake burning with fire and brimſtone, that is, in its capacity, and after the language of Cods Spirit in that Book, the very being of it, as the general Deſtroyer of humane Nature in this life, will be taken away, when no ſuch matter will remain for it to work upon; when all Saints are rapt up to meet Chriſt in the air in a moment, and wicked men ſtand in their ſtate to be judged, the preſent being of Humane Nature, ſeparable of Soul and Body, will be utterly aboliſhed: Now this ſaid deſtruction of bodily Death, that laſt Enemy, will not be effected till above a thouſand years after the coming of the Son of man in the Clouds of Heaven, as was ſaid, and after the ſaid caſting of the Beaſt and falſe Prophet into the ſaid lake burning with brimſtone, as is very evident from Rev. 19.20. compared with the order of the ſaid Table of the Times, in Chap. 20. to verſ. 14. where Death and Hell are alſo ſaid to be caſt into the lake of fire, that is, Death and the Grave in the ſaid ſence, have no more uſe, or matter to work upon, and by conſequence no more being in the world. And whoſo faithfully and ſeriouſly endeavours rightly to weigh and conſider theſe things without partiallity or prepoſſeſſion (which at firſt may ſeem an hard thing for ſome ſorts of men to perform) yet upon ſuch endeavour, with humble ſeeking unto God for direction in theſe truths, and faithful and patient waiting upon him in the uſe of pertinent means, I doubt not but in Gods good time they may be well ſatisfied from h…s Word and good Spirit of Grace in the reallity and truth of the ſu… ſtance of them: for which purpoſe I conceive it not needful here to ſay more for information or conviction (which is mainly my buſineſs) and for particul…r application hereof, it will be obvious to all knowing and pious Chriſt…ans, which I am forced to leave to themſelves at preſent, for brevity-ſake, (publiſhing by Preſs having long been to me a difficult task) and when a Doctrinal Foundation in this caſe is once ſurely laid, application of theſe, with ſome points of ſuch nature, will in ſome reſpect, be made à fortiori, as from an additional conſideration, but yet a very weighty and moving conſideration (i… particularities p. 33therein to be conſidered in their ſeveral kinds and natures, be duly improved by Scripture-guidance) and the holy Spirit of Gods gracious aſſiſtance, the infallible means of being rightly guided into all needful profitable Divine Truth, as all holy Scripture-Truths are, and theſe in particular (though too much over-look'd and ſl…ghted by ſome) though the great things of God, and an excellent and glorious part of the Goſpel of Chriſt, a rich and long inheritance of the Saints, yea (as we noted) the higheſt form of God-glorifying Creatures (then) viz. Saints and Angels, to fit them wonderfully above all other means in the preceding ſix thouſand years, to glorifie him more excellently for ever and ever. We ſhall but even mention ſome like evidences from the other Apoſtles, Peter, James and John, the Witneſſes at Chriſts Transfiguration, who then joyntly ſaw that repreſentation of Chriſts glory at his coming in his Kingdom, (for he calls that his coming in that ſence, Matth. 16.28. Mark 9.1.) when thoſe eminent glorified Saints and Prophets, Moſes and Elias, appeared talking with him: Firſt, Peter ſets forth the beginning of that ſtate by the Reſtitution of all things, and the times of refreſhment from the preſence of the Lord, Acts 3.19 20, 21. and as witneſſed by all the holy Prophets of God ſince the World began. And the Apoſtle James ſtiles it from the Prophet Amos 9.11. The raiſing of the Tabernacle of David that was fallen down, with ſome explication of the ſaid Prophecy, Acts 15.16, 17. Alſo the Evangeliſt John makes a telation of Chriſts Kingdom n…t being of this world, proving it not ſo to be, in regard his Servants did not fight that he ſhould not then be delivered to the Jews; Now therefore (ſaith he) my Kingdom is not from hence, John 8.36, 37. I might adde Jude's old Tradition, turned by him into ſacred Scripture, v. 13, 14. but that was ſpoken of before particularly.

XII. Twelfthly, Come we now to the twelfth and laſt Foundation of our Faith, named in our general Title-page, and that is from the moſt full and ſtrongly evidenced Revelation, in that many ways moſt excellent part of the h…ly Scripture given by Chriſt to his beloved Diſciple John, concerning the ending of the fourth Monarchy, at the Beaſts deſtruction, Chap 18.11. to the end, and the beginning and continuance of Chriſts Kingdom or Reign with his Saints ſucceeding it, Chap. 20.4. thereby very evidently explaining by his beſt authority what Daniel ſaw and ſaid more darkly and briefly before, both of them being Gods beloved Witneſſes of the ſame Divine Truth; but Chriſts by his beloved Diſciple John, is the true and infallible Comment of the other: Which ſaid laſt Viſions, Chap. 19.11. and Chap. 20, 21, 22, now p. 34are haſtening in order of accompliſhment (as we ſaid) to take place, (as upon many conſiderations may appear probable) when that heavenly General of all Gods Hoſts (whoſe Name is, THE WORD OF GOD, (as he is there ſtiled) JESUS CHRIST the Great Meſſiah and Deliverer of his People, THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, verſ. 16. will then come the ſecond time withou… ſin unto ſalvation, Heb. 9 ult. for them: not onelyonly as in the Kingdom of the Stone, ſpiritually and divinely to ſave their Souls from the hands of their ſpiritual Enemies, which he fulfilled at his firſt coming, and hath improved and carried on ever ſince, in their ſuffering …ndition, and will do whilſt that Kingdom of Patience ſhall en…ure; but when he will work an outwrad viſible temporal ſalvation, with the ſpirit al, for all his people, from all their Enemies, to ſerve him without fear of them, in righteouſneſs and holineſs before him, all the days of their lives, Luc. 1.75. (which with the context hath been but in a ſmall meaſure yet fulfilled, in the apteſt ſence, in compariſon of what it will in ſeveral reſpects then be) for then will be the great Vintage or He…veſt of Believers, which is to come in unto Chriſt in the ſaid thouſand years reign, when Iſa 53. chiefly ſhall (it ſeems) take place, that he ſhall ſee his ſeed and the pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand, in the prolonging of his days, even in all that time, as alſo he ſpeaks Chap. 9.10. wherein he ſhall ſit upon the Throne of David, and uphis Kingdom (mark that expreſſion) to order it; that is, David's Kingdom: for what end? namely, in ſuch a way as to eſtabliſh it, namely, by Juſtice and Judgment: and the Pſalmiſt excellently ſpeaketh thereof particularly, Juſtice and Judgment ſhall be the habitation (or eſtabliſhment, or ſtability) of thy Throne, Pſal. 89.14. and eſpecially Pſal 97.2. which particularly ſets down the beginning of Chriſts Kingdom, ſo explained Heb. 1.8. for Kingdoms are ſo to be eſtabliſhed, (ſaith the wi…ſt Solemon, Prov. 16.12. The Throne is eſtabliſhed by Righteouſneſs, & 25 5.) the contrary whereunto being acted by the ten Kings that give their power to the Beaſt, with others at the laſt, will bring deſtruction both upon him and them together, Rev. 19.18, 19, 20. like as ſome of them before that time had bewailed the burning of the Whore of Babylon with their Alas, alas, Chap. 18.9 10 But Chriſt being that Great King that [with an …e] is foretold ſhall eminently rule in Righteou…neſs, Jer. 23.5, 6. Therefore he will ſo eſtabliſh his Davidical Throne (as was ſaid) in Righteouſneſs and Judgment, the ſure eſtabliſhment thereof: For all their great temporal Promiſes then (as we ſhewed before) ſhall appear to be founded upon their ſpiritual endowments of Grace, when God will circumciſe their hearts, and the hearts p. 35of their Seed, Deut. 30. v. 1. to 11. becauſe Iſrael then ſhall be a moſt holy people, therefore they ſhall be a moſt happy People; their Dominion then will be founded in grace; and thereby preſerved alſo for ever, as God promiſed in that eminent Text 2 Sam. 7. and all their outward mercies will appear then to be derived to, and preſerved for them and their Seed, from that ſpiritual Covenant with Abraham, and thorow that one Seed Chriſt, and from their intereſt therein, from whence the temporal will flow in unto them, according to their large meaſure of grace and ſanctification. But at the fulfilling of that ſaid Viſion, Rev. 19.11. when that Great General with his holy and celeſtial Army ſhall overcome and utterly deſtroy the Beaſt and falſe Prophet, thereupon will enſue Satans binding, and that ſecurely, for 1000 years, that he may not deceive the Nations any more, till the ſaid thouſand years be fulfilled, &c. Chap. 20. which alſo will be contemporaneous with Chriſts Reign with his Saints on earth, the ſame thouſand years, which is Chriſts Davidical Kingdom, of which God gave ſuch aſſurance to David that it ſhould continue for ever, to the end of the world in the ſaid 2 Sam. 7. From which ground, with others all ſuch as have but a ſmall meaſure of David's faith thereof, may by the due reading, improving, and the right and ſerious conſidering of his ſecurity therein, (through Gods mercy) be ſufficiently ſatisfied in it. And in very deed, ſo much hath by many learned perſons been written to this purpoſe, and preached upon this Text, Rev. 20.4, 5, &c. that I judge it needleſs to adde any more here upon that account: OnelyOnly obſerve how Daniel and the Revelation agree in our Parallel of the Ruine of the Roman Empire, (which is now haſtening under the laſt head thereof) when Chriſts ſaid Reign will begin: Whoſe abominable wickedneſs, vailed under ſuch hypocritical pretences of piety and charity, varniſhed over with a ſeeming colourable antiquity, propt up by the Popes ſo long falſified infallibility, under which and other falſe Vizards, whilſt the ſaid Pope with his Complices pretend moſt zeal for Chriſts Religion and Souls Salvation, even then they really ſight moſt againſt the one, and really ſeek to …eſt…oy the other, (as woful experience …th long manifeſted) one the one part undermining the Truth, making void the Ordinances and Inſtitutions of Chriſt, by adding to then, or taking from them, pollute his Worſhip, diſhonour his Goſpe…, and cauſe his Religion to be reproached, and his Name blaſphe…ed, amongſt … Paganiſh and Barbarous Nations, that know him not: And on the other part, by their many Cra…ts and Cruel… to … and perſecute poor ignoran: Souls, or others tha… fall into their Nets, or by their tyrannous Practices, (the myſterious in quity whereof will be p. 36revealed when their Inquiſitors ſhall come to be anatomized) whereby they have earneſtly laboured to force them to yield to their evil deſigns; Yea how have they violently for many hundreds of years paſt killed the Saints? How many moſt barbarous maſſacres and bloody perſecutions have they acted in againſt thoſe meek Lambs of that (now alive, yet once was) ſlain Lamb of God Chriſt Jeſus, who ſhortly to their terror ſhall appear to be the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Rev. 5.5. when they have filled up their meaſure, which they have ever been doing from the time the great red Dragon gave unto that multi-form'd Beaſt his Seat, with great power and authority to act therein for his forty two months, Rev. 13.1, 6 7. which he hath accordingly improved, as both Hiſtory and Experience hath abundantly (though ſadly) diſcovered; and will do ſo more and more to his power, (which is the heavy ſpiritual Judgment of that man of Sin, and therefore more heavy, becauſe ſo ſenceleſs of it) even until his time ſhall be no longer, Rev. 10.6 7. as the Angel (probably Chriſt) forewarns that ſtrange Creature, and when it will be: And doth not the height of thoſe prodigious impieties and prevailing abominations too too conſpicuous in that whole Antichriſtian Body, and every Limb thereof, in the ſight of all obſervant perſons and people appear evidently to haſten the deſtruction thereof, together with that ſaid Beaſt, who as Daniel alſo foreſaw ſhould be then ſlain, and his body given to the burning flame, chap 7, 11. Of which Propheſie and Viſion this glorious appearance made by Chriſt of his next coming, chap. 19 11. is a clear comment and decyphered completion ſhortly to take place (as we have reaſon to expect and alſo to be fully accompliſhed accordingly.

And then likewiſe together with Babilons ruine will happily haſten the raiſing up of Sion. And upon Antichriſts deſtruction will certainly ſucceed Chriſts ſaid ſo wonderful exaltation in in the world, in that his Divine and Kingly viſible Glory and Majeſty then to be manifeſt, namely to be the Prince of the Kings of the earth (as Rev. 1.5. though formerly rejected by ſuch many times) and that in the ſight of men, angels, and all creatures, Rev. 5.9, 10, 11, 12, 13. who ſhall then bow the knee and acknowledge him to be the Lord, Phil. 2.9. for which at preſent the whole creation moſt he…vily groaneth, Rom. 8.22, 23. When that bleſſ…d new Jeruſalem ſtate ſhall appear, which then will be repleniſhed with its holy and happy new raiſed Inhabitants, with all that bleſſed communion of doubly ſaved Saints and holy Angels in ſuch great and innumerable multitudes, which ſaid Angels as in heaven before they were wont to rejoyce in ſinners converſion, and even to be ſerviceable therein, ſo p. 37will they then much more rejoyce in ſuch happy communion of ſuch multitudes of ſaved Saints, Jews and Gentiles then to come in, and of the perfectly holy communion of the before deceaſed Saints, but then inveſted (happily) with their new raiſed bodies by the ſame power of Chriſt, whereby then he will perfectly ſubdue all things (in their due order) unto himſelf (as the Apoſtle Paul inſtructs us, Phil. 3. ult.) Then ſhall they be Iſangeloi, as our Saviour ſpeaks, like to the Angels of God (before) in heaven, when the ſaid Hiero-metropolis, or holy mother City, as the Prophet Eſay foretold, will ariſe and ſhine becauſe her light is come, and the glory of the Lord is riſen upon her, ch. 60. ver. 1. as in thoſe large and various deſcriptons of the manifold excellency of that City, both in former and following chapters are ſet down, as alſo in many other portions of holy Scripture may be obſerved: Some of which are applied, Rev. 21. to that City particularly (as we noted) whereby the Spirit God teacheth us evidently their proper meaning and literal ſence, riz. reſpecting the happy eſtate of that great and holy New Jeruſalem, whoſe beauty and glory; and bleſſedneſs on earth would require a large volumn aptly to diſplay, in what from Scripture grounds might to that purpoſe be evidenced, reſpecting the ſame, and yet many things more than what now we can attain to, may be groundedly expected. For that time when the Temple of God ſhall be opened in heaven, and men ſhall ſee in his Temple the Ark of his Teſtament, Rev. 11.19, and the light of the Moon ſhall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of one day ſhall be ſevenfold as the light of ſeven daies, as is foretold thereof, Eſ. 30.26. many myſteries of Chriſt and his Religion, of his works of Creation, Redemption and Providence, and many myſteries now in the varieties of the creatures (many wayes till then little underſtood as is probable) when the Lord ſhall be unto that City her everlaſting light, and her God her glory, Iſa. 60.19. And the earth ſhall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the Waters cover the Sea. Hab. 2 14. It will then be a filling of the Earth with knowledge, and that of the glory of the Lord, and in ſuch meaſure as ſhall be to the uttermoſt capacity of it, as the Sea, ready to overflow where it hath any paſſage, and would cover every place with its waters; ſo in that time there will be a knowledge of all then knowable, as we may ſay. Beſides thoſe Excellencies ſet down to be before, in, and after the thouſand years of Chriſts ſaid Reign (as in our firſt convincing Argument in the Word Written are to be ſeen) concerning which a Body of Divinity reſpecting that world might uſefully be written from Scripture warrant, from all which as from an excellent School reſerved for the higheſt form of p. 38thoſe than ſo excellent God glorifying Creatures, raiſed Saints and Angels, with others, when all things by Chriſt ſhall then be made new, as Rev. 21 5. I doubt not but abundant matter of everlaſting pra…ſe will ſtrong y for that ſtate enforce the ſame, yet with the greateſt will…ngneſs and complacency, upon all ſuch or the like advantager. Whereupon theſe afterwards everlaſting Hallelujahs will moſt amply and perpetually be ſung to the Trin-Une Deity of Father, Son, and holy Ghoſt, eternally moſt bleſſed holy and glorious, by men and Angels (as was ſaid) for ever and ever. Amen.

To Glory's God all Glory's due for aye:

To him alone this Due let all ſuch pay.

AMEN.

FINIS.

End of the text · William Sherwin, The World to Come (1671)