The Two Personal Comings of Christ, Observations

The Two Personal Comings of Christ · Observations

p. 17Certain Obſervations, uſeful for the underſtanding of divers Myſtical Prophecres of holy Scriptures, See the Irenicon, pag. 53, 54, 55.reſpecting the latter dayes, for the encreaſe of Joy and Conſolation to faithfull Chriſtians.

Obſ. 1 FIrſt, Where things that concern the Myſteries of the laſt times are expreſſed more fully in the Old Teſtament, they are uſually touched more briefly in the New: as for example, What is ſaid of that Mother-Text, Dan. 7.9, 10, 11. (as Mr. Mede calls it) of the firſt Seſſion of the Great Day of Judgement, or the Judgement of the Great Day, (as St. Jude ſpeaks) ſetting forth God's manner of deſtroying Antichriſt, as is ſaid, remarkably; becauſe of the great words the Horn ſpake, &c. Dan. 7.9, 10, 11. That is, for the Popes abominable Blaſphemies, Tyranny, Pride and inſolent Impieties, &c. which in the New-Teſtament is but briefly, many times, ſet down, as 2 Theſſ. 2.8. whom he ſhall deſtroy with the appearance of his coming; the like, chap. 1.7, 8, 9. of which and the like Scriptures in the New-Teſtament, the ſaid text, Dan. 7. was the ground and warrant; ſave only in the order of the accompliſhment St. John had a particular Viſion to the like purpoſe, Rev. 19, 11. to the end.

2Secondly, The firſt ſaid Seſſion of the Great Day of Judgement will be for the deſtruction of the firſt Gog and Magog, to wit, of the Turk and Pope, who were ſo under thoſe terms repreſented to the Jews, Ezek. 38.39. before the ſetting up of the New-Jeruſalem, Ezek. 40. to the end of that Book; and the ſecond Seſſion will be upon the deſtruction of the ſecond Gog and Magog, above a thouſand years after, Rev. 20.9. at the end of the world. Where again obſerve, that Gog and Magog are taken for the great, obſtinate, reſolved Enemies of God's People, whom he will powerfully deſtroy. Now at both the ſaid Seſſions of the great Day, and at the ruine of both ſorts of thoſe wicked men, it is ſaid, that the Judgment was ſet, and the Books were opened, which ſeem proper to the Judgment of the great Day, Dan. 7.10. Rev. 20.4, 14. And again, obſerve, See Parallel of Roman Mon. the 6th head.that at both the ſaid Seſſions, quick and dead are ſaid to be judged: Firſt, the wicked quick, namely, Antichriſt and his followers, &c. then to be ſent to the Lake of Fire and Brimſtone, from the Armageddon-battel, deſcribed Rev. 19. from ver. 11. to the 20th. Concerning the ſame it is again ſaid p. 18of the ſame time when the third Wo came, Rev. 11.18. Thou haſt deſtroyed them that deſtroyed the Earth, See Irenicon, p. 99.when the Nations were angry, and God's Wrath was then come, as the twenty four Elders that praiſe God for the ruine of Antichriſt at that time, and likewiſe for judging the dead (then) by giving reward unto his Servants the Prophets, and to his Saints, &c. which Mr. Mede conceives he will be doing all the thouſand years, Raiſing the Saints in their own order (as St. Paul ſpeaks) which is called by Chriſt the firſt Reſurrection, Rev. 20.5. and of which St. Paul likewiſe ſpeaketh remarkably, when he had ſpoken of Chriſt's Reſurrection as the firſt fruits thereof, which was to be above 1600 years before, then ſaith he, foreign, afterwards they that are Chriſts at his coming, namely, foreign, at his coming or preſence, at Antichriſt's deſtruction; and then (foreign) he ſpeaks of the coming, of the end, 1 Cor. 15.23, 24. which Chriſt ſhews ſhould be above a thouſand years after the former, Rev. 20. namely, (as St. Paul further adds) when Chriſt had put down all Rule, all Authority and Power, and when he had deſtroyed the laſt enemy, Death, ver. 26. Which Chriſt again ſhews ſhall be done at his laſt Seſſion of Judgment, Rev. 20.14. before he gives up again the Kingdom to his Father, and until that time St. Paul poſitively aſſerts the Reign of Chriſt in the world, namely, from his ſecond Coming or Appearance to the end of the ſecond Seſſion of the Judgment of the Great Day, See Diſcov. next after the Parall.as ver. 25. for (ſaith he) he muſt reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his feet; which Reign Chriſt teacheth muſt be a thouſand years, with his eminent Saints firſt raiſed, Rev. 20.4. and at the end likewiſe quick and dead will be again both judged: firſt, the wicked quick (then) at the deſtruction of the laſt Gog and Magog, and then the dead both good and bad when the reſt of the dead ſhall be raiſed, as they are called, Rev. 20.5. & 12.13.

3Thirdly, The deſcription of the New-Jeruſalem, Ezek. 40. to the end of the Book, whoſe name is there ſaid to be Jehovah Shamma, or the Lord is there; becauſe there his Saints ſhall behold his glory given to him in his Kingdom on Earth, as Mediator, for a reward in time of that his great work in time, as Dan. 7.14, 15. which by his laſt Will and Teſtament in the preſence of his Father and his Diſciples he declared at the end of that Prayer, See Obſ. 20.John 17.24. after he had ended his Farewel-Sermon, Joh. 16. and then the Lamb will be the viſible light of that heavenly City, come down from God out of Heaven, whoſe maker and builder is God, Heb. 11. to remain in the world above a thouſand years. But (I ſay) that deſcription of the ſaid City in the Old Teſtament ſeems there to be ſet forth ſutably to the ſtate of the p. 19Jews under the Old Teſtament, when Ezekiel was their Prophet. But the deſcription of the New Jeruſalem under the New Teſtament (which upon many conſiderations from the context, and the ſeries of the times, which both deſcriptions relate unto, appear plainly to be one and the ſame thing) I ſay, that Deſcription of Chriſt, Rev. 21. is ſet forth more ſutably to the ſtate of the Chriſtian Church in a more glorious manner, unto which a more eminent degree of Chriſt's Glory was manifeſt, before that triumphant State of it came, which ſhould ſo deſcend from God out of Heaven, to be for ſuch time in the world; which conſiſting of the raiſed Saints, is not only called The Beloved City, which thoſe bleſſed and holy ones at their reſurrection (as they are called, Rev. 20.6.) ſhall then inhabit, and have manſions therein, (and the holy Jeruſalem, Rev. 21.10.) for the time of their reign with Chriſt there; But they being in it then made one, and perfect in one, as Chriſt prayed, John 17.11. as Chriſt and the Father are one, &c. (conſider well the Prayer of Chriſt, being all along prophetical of the enſuing times) that Jeruſalem will be then the Bride, Rev. 19. and the Lambs Wife, Rev. 21. and was of old fore-ſpoken of, as his Spouſe, in the Song of Solomon, his type therein: So the Wiſdom of God ſeems to fit the deſcriptions thereof ſuitably to their ſeveral ſtates to whom it was ſo repreſented.

4Fourthly, The moſt of thoſe Prophecies which concern the Jews are more fully ſet forth in the Old Teſtament. Hence the Turk's ruine, who is the ſixth Trumpet, Rev. 9.11. is more fully deſcribed, Ezek. 38, 39 chapters, under the name of Gog, and the Pope's there both briefly under the name of Magog, in chap. 39. referring us Chriſtians intime to come, to look into the New Teſtament, for what God would after, for our uſe then make known of Antichriſt more largely.

5Fifthly, The fifth and ſixth Trumpets, which are the firſt and ſecond Wo-Trumpets, Rev. 9. See Abridgm. Dan. 11.40.Dan 11:40which were to ruine the Eaſtern Roman Empire, are the Sarazens and Turks, ſet forth by the titles of the King of the South, and the King of the North, Dan. 11.40, &c. being likewiſe the oppreſſors of the poor Jews.

6Sixthly, The Armageddon-battel being for the deſtruction of the firſt Gog and Magog, is ſet forth in both Teſtaments, as referring to the Enemies of both Chriſtian Jews, and Gentiles, firſt ſet down in the Old Teſtament, Ezek. 38, 39 chapters, Joel 3.7, 11, 12. Dan. 11.45. & Zech. 14. as in reference to the Jews. Secondly, in the New-Teſtament, Rev. 14 & 15 chapters, and 16th under or after the ſixth Viol, and Rev. 19.11, &c. as in reference to the Gentiles.

7Seventhly, The greatly-beloved Prophet Daniel chiefly ſets down p. 20what might be ground of comfort to the faithful Jews: See Irenicon, pag. 63.But the beloved Diſciple and Apoſtle St. John, mainly ſpeaks of what might be uſeful for the Faithful in the times of the Gentiles, Luke 21.24. whilſt the body of the Jewiſh Nation remained caſt out.

8Eightly, The 12th chapter of Daniel's Prophecy is uſeful to open the way for underſtanding the Myſteries of that Book, as the 17th chapter of the Revelations is for the underſtanding much in that Book. See Abridgm. on Dan. chap. 12.Dan 12For from Daniels 12th may be underſtood the time and order of Chriſts appearing, with the terribleneſs thereof, ver. 1. and of the Jews deliverance therewith, v. 1. and how long before both will come, v. 11, 12. and what ſtate that Church and the Saints in it ſhould be in then, v. 1, 13. in what ſtate the Church of the Jews was in before Chriſt's appearing, very troubleſom, v. 2, 3. how long theſe Myſteries ſhould continue ſhut up, v. 4, 9. and what was meant by the time of the end when they ſhould be opened, compare ver. 9. with verſe 40 of chap. 11. and then what ſtate was to be of the Church of the Gentiles, ver. 4. latter part of the verſe, and v. 5, 6, 7. which Daniel (then) underſtood not, v. 8. becauſe then ſealed up, v. 9. and likewiſe concerned things long after to come in the Gentile-Church, and yet he had it expounded to him before by one that ſtood by, chap. 7.16, 21 to v. 27. So alſo Rev. 17. is a chapter remarkably ſet down by the Spirit of God, very uſeful for the opening of divers Myſteries contained in the Book of Revelations, See Irenicon, p. 26, 27, 28, &c.concerning Antichriſt's riſe, reign and ruine, with many other things thereunto partaining, mentioned chapters 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, &c. as may be obſerved in the Letter of May 20. in the Fore-runner, and in the Irenicon, pag. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. &c.

9Ninthly, Then obſerve, Daniels Viſions were ſealed to the time of the end, chap. 12.9. which was to the times of the Sarazens & Turks, or (which is contemporary) in Antichriſt's time, times, and the dividing of a time, as Dan. 11.40, &c. & Dan. 12.5, 6, 7. & chap. 7.24, 25. compated with Rev. 9.11. & chap. 11. & chap. 13. at which time they were to be unſealed in reſpect of both thoſe enemies both of Jews and Gentiles, as Daniel and the Book of Revelation ſet them forth in their due order, as was ſaid.

10Tenthly, What Daniel briefly ſhewed the Jews ſhould be done for them at Chriſt's Appearing, See Abridgm. on Dan. 12.Dan 12namely, (that then his People ſhould be delivered) Dan. 12.1, &c. the Prophet Ezekiel in that reſpect more fully explained, from the Viſions of God, chap. 37. firſt, by the riſing of the dry bones; and after by the uniting of two ſticks into one under one King, to them both for ever: and chap. 38, 39. by removing Gog the hinderer of their riſing. And laſtly, chap. 40, 41, 42, to the p. 21end of the Book, by ſhewing to him the New Jeruſalem then to enſue after Gog's ruine: and both Daniel and Ezekiel, being God's Prophets, ſent to the Jews in the time of their Captivity, and both fore-telling their great reſtoration, and the time thereof (though myſtically) as two witneſſes of God's Truth to comfort the Faithful Jews in the low ebb of their dejected condition till then.

11Eleventhly, The firſt three worldly Monarchies being paſt, which had oppreſſed the Jews before Chriſt came in the fleſh, the Book of Revelation ſpeaks nothing of them; See Abridgm. on Dan.nor of the Roman Monarchy till Chriſt's Reſurrection, at the opening of the firſt Seal, Rev. 6. & Pſal. 45. when Chriſt having all power in Heaven and in Earth given to him, he gave Commiſſion to his Diſciples for the preaching of the Goſpel, Mat. 28.18, 19, 20. See Irenicon, p. 26, 27, &c. and pag. 61, 62, 63.But afterwards the orders of the times and things in Daniel, as reſpecting the proceedings of things in the Roman Monarchy, to the time of its ruine, and Chriſt's Kingdom following upon it, both the Prophecy of Daniel and the Book of Revelation exactly agree, as being revealed by the ſame eternal Spirit of Truth, namely, from the finiſhing of Chriſt's work of Redemption to his coming again: But after that for the ſtate of things, in Dan. 7.13, 14, 15. to the end of that chapter, that it ſhall be for a thouſand years, Chriſt only in Rev. 20, 21, & 22. further informs us, ſaving it is darkly imployed, Dan. 12.13. where it is promiſed to Daniel that he ſhall ſtand up in his lot at the end of the dayes, that is, at the reſurrection of the Juſt, or firſt reſurrection, Rev. 20.5.

12Twelfthly, Hence it may appear that though Chriſt, as man, upon Earth, knew not the time of the laſt day, yet having ſince aſcended, and ſitting on his Fathers right hand in Heaven, revealed now for our uſe (in a latitude) both concerning the laſt day, and alſo many other great myſteries contained in that Divine Book of the Revelation; and by means of that (together with the aſſiſtance of God's holy Spirit) what was ſhut up before in Daniel likewiſe, till the time of the end, but ever ſince to be ſought after to be known for the benefit of his Church, as they are recorded by his Apoſtle St. John, with promiſe of bleſſing to the due performance thereof.

1313ly. Such Scriptures as have ſpecial ſtamps upon them of the laſt times, as Jacob's and Moſes his Prophecies of the twelve Tribes, Gen. See Iren. p. 59, 60, 61.49. & Deut. 33. and that Song of Moſes penned for poſterity, Deut. 32. and Balaams Prophecy, Num. 24. &c. uſually contain ſomething in them reſpecting the ſame times.

1414ly. That uſual phraſe in Scripture in the Original, foreign, the poſtremity of dayes: in the Septuagint foreign, in the laſt of p. 22dayes: by ours read, in the latter dayes, hath reference uſually to theſe Times wherein theſe great Myſteries were to be opened by degrees, and the things contained in them accordingly fulfilled in their orders, as is obſervable in theſe Scriptures following, Gen. 49.1. Numb. 24.24. Deut. 4.30. Prov. 31.25. Iſa. 2.2. Mic. 4.3. Jer. 23.20. Ezek. 38.16. Hoſ. 3.5. But eſpecially take notice of theſe two following places, Dan. 2.28. & 10.14. to which may be added Dan. 8.17. the time of the end, and ver. 19. the laſt end of the indignation; and the like, chap. 11.36. till the indignation be accompliſhed: where the former or ſuch other like expreſſions of the latter dayes are uſed, which all uſually refer to the Myſteries of theſe latter times. But Daniel in the firſt text tells Nebuchadnezzer expreſly, [that God had made known unto him what ſhould be in the poſtremity of dayes, &c.] viz. in the fourth and fifth Monarchies as he proceeds to explain to him: And chap. 10 14. after Daniel had ſeen a glorious Viſion of Chriſt, an Angel was ſent to comfort him, and told him expreſly that he was ſent to make him underſtand what ſhould befall his People in the latter, or poſtremity of days: See Abridgm. on Dan. 11.36, 40Dan 11:36Dan 11:40and ſo the other like phraſes at the time of the end, Dan. 11.40. that is, in the laſt times: So chap. 12.4, 9, 13. in the end of the dayes; at the reſurrection of the Juſt, that is, when Daniel was to be raiſed again to ſtand in his lot: and the other phraſe, the laſt end of the indignation, Dan. 8.19. and chap. 11.36. is to be underſtood of the Jews full & great Reſtoration at Chriſt's Appearance, as Dan. 12.1. which are the particular drifts of thoſe ſeveral phraſes by the orders of his Viſions and the intents of them (as may appear by their accompliſhments in part) and by what is further ſtill to be done, as we have ſet down in their due place in our Abridgment of Daniels Viſions, on divers of thoſe places and phraſes. Therefore, beſides many other conſiderations from the Prophecies of Daniel, which might be convincingly added, take notice of this one; How unwarrantably ſom… men, contrary to the ſcope of the Spirit of God, and the natural ſign… fications of theſe many phraſes and expreſſions ſet down by the holy Ghoſt along that Book, beſides the experimental fulfilling of divers things therein accordingly, as chap. 11.40. & 12.4, 9. & 2.28. in part fulfilled: yet notwithſtanding all theſe, they have (I ſay) very miſtakenly gone about to limit and confine all Daniel's Prophecy to the Greek Empire, which our Saviour hath manifeſted in the Book of Revelation, will not be fulfilled wholly in about two thouſand years after, or (happily) near upon it. See our Abridgment on Daniel, and the fum of the Revelation in the Irenicon, pag. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.

p. 231515ly. God's Covenant with Abraham, to be the Lord his God, and thereupon to give to him and his ſeed the Land of Canaan, renewed afterwards to Iſaac, Gen. 26.3. and alſo to Jacob, Gen. 35.12. See Fore runner, p. 38, 39.and confirmed by Moſes for all three together, Exod. 6.3, 4. yea, and as he ſpeaks, ſworn by God to them, Deut. 30.20. Yea and again, with a very remarkable and ſtrong expreſſion, reaching to and comprehending the Kingdom of Chriſt in the thouſand years, as appears Deut. 11.21. he ſware it (ſaith Moſes) as the dayes of Heaven upon Earth, foreign: Upon the account of all which God ſeems to tell Moſes, Exod. 3. that that ſhould be his Memorial through all Generations, that he was the God of Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob; which Memorial he there three times repeated, v. 6, 15, 16. to aſſure all Generations of the firſt Reſurrection of the Juſt, Rev. 20.5, 6. having not only perſonally promiſed it to them all, but ſworn it in ſuch manners as Moſes recordeth. And yet again, his own Spirit and Word in his Servants mouths again declares, that in their natural lives they lived on Earth, this Promiſe made perſonally to them was not fulfilled (as St. Stephen expreſly ſpeaks, Acts 7.5.) they had not ſo much as to ſet a foot upon by that Covenant, (though they purchaſed Burying-places that their dead bones might keep poſſeſſion thereof by that means till the Reſurrection of the Juſt, or firſt ſaid Reſurrection, Rev. 20.5, 6.) when Chriſt that one promiſed Seed, Gal. 3.16. in ſpecial and chiefly to be underſtood as their Seed, not Seeds, as the Apoſtle remarkably diſtinguiſheth, and expoundeth too in that Text: I ſay, Chriſt that promiſed Seed ſhould put them into poſſeſſion then of that Land of Canaan, wherein they had been only ſtrangers and pilgrims before, as Heb. 11.9. and dwelling in Tabernacles, as was the condition alſo of Iſaac and Jacob, as the Apoſtle ſhews, though they were Heirs of the ſame Promiſe, ver. 9. and yet he had ſaid of Abraham particularly, ver. 8. That Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he was afterward to receive for an Inheritance, obeyed, not knowing whither he went: So that not having yet received it, he muſt (according to Scripture) receive it at the ſaid firſt Reſurrection; See Fore-runner, p. 38, 39.for God's Promiſes and Oaths will not fail (though many mens faith may much fail in theſe things, as is by our Saviour foretold, Luke 18.8.) when he (Abraham) ſhal appear to be the Heir not only of Canaan (but of the World) through faith, as the Apoſtle Paul further teacheth, Rom. 4.13. and this Mr. Mede ſhews to be the drift of our Saviour's Argument, Mat. 22.27. & Mark 12. that therefore God is the God of Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob, according to the tenour of that Covenant, in that they muſt live again upon Earth to inherit (then) that promiſed Land p. 24of Canaan, to wit, at that time of the reſtitution of all things, Act. 3.19, 20. foreign, in the New Creation of all things; as our Saviour ſhews, Rev. 21.5. Behold, I make all things new; and in this ſenſe Beza underſtands that place, foreign, according to five or ſix copies, diſtinguiſhed by a comma, to be underſtood in that ſenſe, of new creation of things, not ſpiritual regeneration, as men uſe to take it: when all ſuch faithful Spirits ſhall be counted (as our Saviour ſpeaks) worthy to obtain that World, and the Reſurrection of the Dead, that which is called the World to come, Heb. 2.5. foreign. And when Abraham's, Iſaac's, and Jacob's poſterity ſhall enjoy that Land with them, Deut. 30. to ver. 11. & Deut. 32.43. as Davids Kingdom ſhall then be ſtabliſhed before himſelf for ever to the end, 2 Sam. 7.16. And ſo likewiſe the Promiſe and Covenant made to David, of the Kingdom for himſelf and his Seed for ever, will (then) in Chriſt the Seed of David on Earth be fulfilled, when alſo the firſt Adam's loſt dominion, as was fore-propheſied, Pſal. 8. and explained and applyed by the Apoſtle, Heb. 2. will be regained to the raiſed Saints from the dead at the firſt ſaid Reſurrection, by Chriſt the ſecond Adam; Conſider ſeriouſly theſe Scripture-evidences, and the things held out by them.

1616ly. Such Prophecies as ſpeak of good things to come to Iſrael, Ephraim, or Joſeph, together with Judah joyned with them, uſually contain ſomething belonging to the great Reſtauration at Chriſt's appearing and his Kingdom, 1 Tim. 4.1. when he firſt begins to judge quick and dead at the firſt ſeſſion of the day of Judgement: when God's ancient People of Iſrael, or Ephraim and Judah ſhall be joyned together into one ſtick, under one King, to them both for ever, even Chriſt being his Promiſed Seed, which will be accompliſhed in thoſe laſt dayes (as was ſaid) from Ezek. 37.

1717ly. When David by his prophetical Spirit foretelleth of things incompetible to his own Kingdom, or to his natural ſeed, ſuch things muſt neceſſarily be referred to Chriſt's glorious Kingdom on Earth, See Iren. p. 77, 78, 79, 80.in the thouſand years.

1818ly. Again, it is obſervable in Myſtical Prophecies, that the Spirit of God ſeems many times to lay down great things in generals, and after by degrees to give expoſitions of them, See Abridgm. on Dan.as in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Dan. 2. and Daniels Viſions of the ſame matters, Dan. 7. both which are by Daniel and the Angel in the ſame chapters in ſome brief way firſt expounded: and both again more particularly afterwards in the following Viſions in their order, chap. 8. and ſomewhat in chap. 9. but afterwards more fully in many things, in their order, in his laſt p. 25large Viſion, chap. 10, 11, 12. and ſo in the Revelation in chap. 4, 5, & 7. ſome general heads are touched at, which are more particularly explained in a great part of the Book following: So in the latter part of chap. 14. the decay of the Papacy is ſpoken of, which afterwards is again explained, chapters 15 & 16, more briefly, and ſome of the Vials again more largely, chapters 18, 19, & 20.

1919ly. In the Book of the Revelation when things are not ſaid to ſucceed one the other, as 1ſt, 2d, 3d, &c. as the Seals, Trumpets & Vials, but one meaſure of time is aſſigned and ſuited to them all, or one table of Chronology is fitted to them all, ſuch diſtirct Viſions are contemporaries, as all that concerned the true and falſe Church in Antichriſt's time have the ſame meaſure (though diverſly computed) by months, dayes, and a time times and an half; all agreeing in 1260 years, the date of the Beaſt, the mourning-time of the Witneſſes, the Woman's Wilderneſs-condition: by which alſo the Whore of Babylon, the ten crowned Horns, with the two-horned Beaſt, &c. are limited to their ſeaſons: So all thoſe Viſions under or after the 7th Trumpet, See the Irenicon, pag. 30.have one Chronological Table to compute their time [as chap 11. to v. 15. contained the forty two months for the night-workers in darkneſs: and a thouſand two hundred and ſixty dayes of ſuch as are of the Light, and walk therein:] So all the Viſions (I ſay) in the three laſt chapters, have one Chronological Table to compute the time of them all, to wit, [a thouſand years] wherein Chriſt will reign with his Saints, the Devil ſhall be bound and ſhut up, &c. the New Jeruſalem come down from God, and God's Tabernacle be with men; and the New Heavens and New Earth, and the Paradiſe of God, and the Tree of Life, and the pure River, &c. all for the ſaid time of the thouſand years, and ſo are contemporaries, and all ſtrongly there aſſerted and confirmed. See Irenicon in ſeveral places.

2020. Obſerv. After Chriſt Jeſus our Saviour had finiſhed his Farewel Sermon, Joh. 16. he then in the preſence of his Diſciples made that moſt excellent declarative Prayer, Joh. 17. wherein a large Prophecy of many things to come is very divinely (though myſtically) couched: wherein we may obſerve many things in order, according to the Will of his heavenly Father, ſet forth by Chriſt, which ſhould afterward according both to his prayer, prediction or diſpoſal, be done, and hath herein cauſed to be recorded, which ſhall have their due accompliſhment in their times, begining from his making that excellent prophetical Prayer; who alwayes prayed according to his heavenly Father's Will, and (as he ſaid) was alwayes heard of him: and ſo it is to be known by us, that all here he prayed for, in reſpect of himſelf, p. 26his Diſciples, and the faithful Paſtors and Chriſtians ſucceeding, even all ſuch as his Father had given him till his coming again, and all that believed through their word, namely the Apoſtles Doctrine, through the time of the wicked world, which he prayed not for till the time of the good world came, that ſhould both believe and know him whom the Father had ſent; when that Glory ſhould be given to his own, that the Father had given him: concerning which he then made his Will, v. 24. that they ſhould behold his Glory in his Kingdom, Dan. 7.13, 14. at the Reſurrection, in that World to come of which he ſpeaks, Luke 20.35, 36. which, as was ſaid Heb. 2.5. is ſtiled foreign, the world (habitable) to come, of which the Apoſtle there ſaid he ſpake, namely chap. 1.6. where he had ſaid foreign, when he ſhall bring his Son again into the World, that is, the ſecond time, he ſaith, and let all the Angels of God worſhip him: for he ſhall then (as both Daniel, and from Daniel three of the Evangeliſts witneſs Chriſt's words of his coming) come in the clouds of Heaven, as was foretold of him, and all his holy ones with him, both Saints and Angels. And in reference to this order of this prophetical declarative Prayer of our bleſſed Saviour, obſerve the enſuing ſteps of his proceeding therein to the ſaid purpoſes, which we have already hinted, to be now further obſerved and duly conſidered accordingly. Ver. 1. he ſaith, Father, glorifie thy Son, that thy Son may alſo glorifie thee: which was evidently ſoon after anſwered in his Reſurrection from the dead; of which God ſaid, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee, Pſal. 2.7. applyed largely by St. Paul to Chriſt's Reſurrection, Acts 13.33, 34, 35, 36, 37. with other Scriptures; of which, ſaith he again Rom. 1.4. he was declared to be the Son of God with power by the reſurrection from the dead: And being ſo glorified by his Father, he alſo glorified him by ſetting up the preaching of the Goſpel, and give Salvation thereby, v. 2, 3, 4. when all power being given to him in Heaven and in Earth, as he ſaid Mat. 28.18. he then mainly improves the ſame in commiſſionating and fitting, and ſending his Diſciples to be his Apoſtles to preach the Goſpel (as in the Prayer is to be obſerved afterwards) and Mat. 28.19, 20. Go, preach the Goſpel to all Nations; and Mark 15. Go, preach the Goſpel to every creature; and alſo glorified his Father many wayes in the forty days after his Reſurrection; but eſpecially he is ſaid then to ſpeak to his Diſciples of the things that concerned the Kingdom of God, Acts 3.3, 4, 5. whereupon ſeemed that queſtion of the ſame Kingdom then to be moved by them, &c.

The next ſtep was his Prayer for his Aſcenſion into Heaven, v. 5. to be glorified with that Glory which he had before in the Boſom of his p. 27Father before the world was, when he was foreign, but thenceforward ſhould as foreign, God-man in one perſon, ſit at the right-hand of the Father in his Caeleſtial Glory, which he had with the Father before the world was: and then v. 6, 7, 8. having declared divers things reſpecting his Diſciples, what he had done towards them, and what effect was found in them, &c. he proceeds in v. 9, 11. to make his Prayer for his Diſciples, after to be his Apoſtles, being in the world when he was aſcended, that his Father would keep them from that evil world, as he had done for them to that time, v. 12. having ſhewed their joynt intereſt, ver. 10. and ſhews the end why he ſpake theſe things ſuitable to their preſent ſtate, v. 13, 14. and ſhewing what Perſecution they were to look for, but how they ſhould be preſerved, &c. he proceeds to limit his Prayer for his Diſciples, v. 15. not that they ſhould be taken out of the world, but that they ſhould be kept from the evil: And ſince they were not of that world, v. 16. he prayes further in v. 17. to have them ſanctified by the Word of God's Truth: and giving them their Miſſion, v. 18. he ſhews, the end of his ſanctifying himſelf was for their ſanctification by that means, v. 19.

So having done with what concerned his Diſciples to be ſent as Apoſtles into the world, and in them for all faithful Meſſengers of the Goſpel that were to ſucceed: he then proceeds, v. 20. to pray for all truly faithful and believing ſouls [through their Word] (as he ſpeaks) even from that time of their Miſſion to his Coming again (as may many wayes appear by what follows from ver. 20. to 25.) wherein all ſuch faithful perſons ſhould be equally concerned; ſhewing that the end and drift of all their believing [through their Word] or of any of his Meſſengers, was, that they might all be one, as the Father was in him, and he in the Father; that they might be one, as the Father and the Son were one, v. 21, 22. that is, that they ſhould be, as the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, is one with her Head in the New Jeruſalem, come down from God out of Heaven, Rev. 21. and ſo made perfect in one, v. 23. at Chriſt's ſecond coming; or his coming again into the world, as Heb. 1.6. when that good world to come ſhall believe that the Father hath ſent him, yea, and know it too in an eſpecial manner, as he adds and repeats in part the ſame thing, v. 21, 23. having ſhewed in v. 22. that he had given them the ſame Glory that the Father had given him in his Kingdom, Dan. 7.14, 15. and for that end that they might be one (as was ſaid before) as he and the Father are one, who loved them as he had loved him. And v. 24. he further declares his own laſt Will and Teſtament in that particular, reſpecting the enjoyment of that happineſs with himſelf in the ſaid Kingdom which his p. 28Father had given him, as Mediator, as a reward in time for that work, finiſhed in the time of that his Office, which the Faithful ſhould enjoy with him in the time of that ſaid good World to come, when they ſhould be where he ſhould be, and behold to their happineſs the Glory then given him by his Father, from his love to him, as his obedient Son and faithful Servant, before the foundation of the world: and in the two laſt verſes concludes with ſome ſpecial conſolations reſpecting his Diſciples, as follows, ver. 25, 26. to the end of the chapter.

Thus divinely hath our bleſſed Saviour, according to his infinite Wiſdom, couched the order of theſe glorious Myſteries, in his making and leaving this moſt excellent Prophetical and declarative Prayer of his before his departure out of the World, recorded by his beloved Apoſtle St. John, for the information and conſolation of his poor and little little Flock, to whom, with himſelf, it was his Father's pleaſure to give that Kingdom with himſelf on Earth, Rev. 20.4. & Rev. 5.10. And the advancement of that ſtate is the great drift of our Lord's Prayer, recorded alſo by two Evangeliſts, namely that God's Name may be hallowed, See Irenicon, p. 30.and his Kingdom come, and conſequently his Will be doen in Earth (then) as in Heaven (before;) for which purpoſe, as God's People ſhould alwayes endeavour faithfully, ſo they have abundant ground to believe from the Word it will be ſo done in the time when the Devil will be ſhut up in the bottomleſs-pit from ſeducing the Nations for a thouſand years ſpace, Rev. 20. The bleſſed and holy Saints ſhall come with Chriſt to take their bodies in their own order: The glorious Angels ſhall come and worſhip him, and do their ſervice to him in the world, Heb. 1.6. And all the creatures in Heaven and Earth, and under the Earth, ſhall bow the knee, and be ſubject unto him, Phil. 2. and all things be made new by him, Rev. 21.5. all which ſince his Word declareth moſt ſurely, ſhall be performed.

2121. Obſerv. That the perfect Dominion over the Creatures (which was part of the Image of God upon Man in his innocency) will be reſtored again unto him, the holy Scriptures make evident; which the Apoſtle Paul ſaith, The whole Creation groans for to be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God, Rom. 8. and this David prophetically foreſhews will be done in Chriſt, Pſ. 8. where he ſaith, God had viſited him, the Son of man, and made him for a little time [as both the word in the Original foreign. and alſo the Septuagint [foreign] ſignifie) lower than the Angels, and crowned him with Glory and Worſhip, making him to have dominion over the works of his hands, and putting all things under his feet, &c. Which the Apoſtle applyes to Chriſt, Heb. 2. and alſo ſaith, he hath made him, p. 29(foreign) a little while (as our Tranſlation hath it in the margent likewiſe) inferiour to the Angels; and then ſpeaketh of the ſame ſubjection of the creatures under him, then afterwards to come; and therefore ver. 8. he ſaith, we do not yet ſee all things put under him: only we ſee Chriſt in his own perſon, that for a little while was made lower than the Angels, for the ſuffering of death, crowned with glory and honour. But he again further teacheth, Phil. 2.9, &c. that God had given him a Name above every name, that at the Name of JESUS every knee ſhould bow (or be ſubject) of things in Heaven, and things on Earth, and things under the Earth; and that every tongue ſhould confeſs that Jeſus Chriſt is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Which will not be done till he hath received his Kingdom, and ſhall return (as he himſelf ſpeaketh, Luke 19.12, 15) and all theſe things can at no other time upon Scripture-ground be expected but at his ſaid 2d coming, when God ſhall bring again his Son into the world, and ſay, Let all the Angels of God worſhip him, Heb. 1.6. and that was alſo foretold, Pſal. 97.7. which whole Pſalm (beginning, The Lord reigneth, let the Earth rejoyce, &c.) ſetteth forth prophetically in what a glorious manner Chriſt will come then to ſet up his glorious Kingdom, both by deſtroying his Idolatrous Enemies, and wonderfully delivering and exalting his People (as is obſervable throughout the whole Pſalm,) and this as to the time and order Chriſt ſuccinctly explains, Rev. 20.4. ſaying, the Saints reigned with Chriſt a thouſand years. And accordingly thereunto are all the Promiſes of raiſing again the Tabernacle of David which was fallen, Amos 9.11. & Acts 15.16. and thoſe for the perpetuity of Davids Kingdom to his ſeed ſo long as the Sun and Moon do endure, See Irenicon, p. 77, 78, 79.and the like, are all to be interpreted; which will be manifeſt when the Kingdom of the Stone, Dan. 2.33, 34. ſhall become a great Mountain, filling the whole Earth: And this is that Coming of the Son of man in his Kingdom, ſpoken of by Chriſt Matth. 16.28. of which he ſoon after ſhewed a glymps unto his three Diſciples, Peter, James, and John, at his Transfiguration, Mark 9.1. Luke 9.27. Neither can theſe Texts be juſtly denied to be meant of ſuch a Kingdom of Chriſt to come upon his coming again, nor warrantably be interpreted in any other ſenſe, if the ſaid Texts be ſeriouſly and duly conſidered.

2222. Obſer. I have obſerved only three great Earthquakes, ſpoken of in all the ſeries or order of the Book of Revelation: And where the Spirit of God calls them great, we may expect they will be great indeed, (For Earthquakes are often ſpoken of beſides theſe great ones). The firſt is upon the opening of the ſixth Seal, Rev. 6.12. when God by Conſtantine the Great overturned Satan's Paganiſh Kingdom, p. 30when five or ſix ſeveral Caeſars were ſo potent to oppoſe him, See Fore. runner, p. 29.and caſt down Satan from his Heaven of Heatheniſh Worſhip into the Earth, Rev. 12.9. which was ſpoken of the ſame time which is deſcribed, as a day of Judgment, Rev. 6. to the Paganiſh Powers (as indeed it was) and there the Spirit of God ſets down an Ecce before it; and Lo (ſaith he) there was a great Earthquake. The ſecond is, Rev. 11.13. at the aſcenſion of the two Witneſſes after their reſurrection, and then the holy Spirit tells us at the ſame hour there was a great Earthquake, when the tenth part of the Dition of the City of Rome probably will quite fall from it, See Fore runner, p. 8.where the Witneſſes are to riſe again, &c. and this Earthquake we may daily expect: But thirdly, there is another great Earthquake, afterwards ſpoken of to come, which he further illuſtrates much above both the former, and that will be at or about Antichriſt's final deſtruction, at the end of the ſixth Viol, and pouring-out of the ſeventh for the compleating of his ruine, Rev. 16.17, 18. and then the Spirit of God ſpeaks with a great deal of emphaſis of it, ſaying, v. 18. And there was a great Earthquake, ſuch as was not ſince Man was upon Earth, ſo mighty an Earthquake and ſo great: Which ſeems to be further deſcribed in the three following verſes, and ſeems to be at or about the ſame time of Michael's ſtanding up to deliver Daniels People, when ſuch a time of trouble will be as never was ſince there was a Nation, Dan. 12.1. and when St. Paul ſaith of Antichriſt, 2 Theſſ. 2.8. Chriſt will deſtroy him with the appearance of his coming; and happily of both, Rev. 14. latter part of the chapter: And then will not only the Earth be ſhaken, but alſo the Heavens, as ſaith the Prophet, Hag. 2.6, 7, 21. & Heb. 12.26. and as upon good reaſon from ſeveral Scriptures ſeems to be the main drift of them then to be fulfilled, as Mal. 3.2. Rev. 11.16. Which ſhaking of the Earth (probably) may ſeem was firſt at that great Earthquake, Rev. 6.12. when God by Conſtantine the Great overthrew Paganiſh Idolatry: and may be again by the next great Earthquake now approaching, Rev. 11.13. which will alſo begin to ſhake Antichriſtian Idolaters, who are called in this Book, the men of the Earth: and the perfecting of that ſhaking is to be at that third and greateſt Earthquake, Rev. 16.18. when not only the Earth and evil men will be ſhaken, but alſo the Heavens, namely, ſuch Churches as will be then in a degree reformed Churches; and thereupon will the new Heavens and new Earth enſue of both reformed Church and State in the whole World, I conceive at the ſetting up of Chriſt's Kingdom on Earth, Rev. 20.4. & 5.10.

2323. When the Prophet Moſes denounceth threatnings againſt the twelve Tribes, the Spirit of God ſeems to guide him (divers times) p. 31to ſet them down prophetically, as including Prophecies, in their order afterwards to be fulfilled: as is obſervable, Lev. 26. Deut. 28. & 4.30. which he ſaid expreſly ſhould be in the latter dayes; and Deut. 32. from ver. 1. to 44. See theſe Texts more fully in the Irenicon, pag. 60, 61.

2424. Obſer. The heavy weight of God's wrath upon mankind next after the fall of the firſt Adam ſeems very obſervable through the firſt great Period of the World until the Flood: for, firſt, good Abel (the remoteſt type of Chriſt after Adam) being ſlain by his brother; Yet curſed Cain was then ſuffered to live to people the World: which further appears, that in thoſe firſt ages of the World to the Flood, few are recorded or hinted in Scripture, to be faithful or ſaved; and that in a few ſucceſſions amongſt ſuch long-lived perſons, at the end of 1656 years (as the old World's time is computed) it was then for mans wickedneſs and impenitency drowned by an univerſal deluge; ſaving thoſe few in the Ark with Noah, and they not all good neither: But afterwards the more remote men lived from the firſt Adam's fall, and the nearer they drew on to the 2d Adam's firſt coming, the more clearer manifeſtations of God's Grace have appeared in the World: But when Chriſt at his ſaid firſt coming both purchaſed and tendered greater Grace towards both Jews and Gentiles, and that more clearly and largely than ever before: Yet how few (as our Saviour warned) of either ſorts (in compariſon) even in the beſt times, have under that Kingdom of Patience been ſaved! Mat. 7.14. Luke 12.32. but eſpecially all that time the Wrath hath lain heavy upon the Jews (according to their own Curſe upon themſelves and their Poſterity) in a remarkable viſible manner, for above ſixteen hundred years: And ſo ſtrait and narrow hath the way been found to Heaven, in all the times of this Kingdom of Patience even to the Gentile Chriſtians, through all the Heatheniſh, Heretical and Antichriſtian Perſecutions, even to this day; that few (as our Saviour ſaid, Mat. 7.) have ſince found it: But when the times of the Jews free-promiſed mercy (who are alſo yet beloved for their Father's ſake, Rom. 11.) ſhall once appear; the Grace of God by Chriſt will not only be rich and wonderful to them, and to them more eſpecially, But alſo (together with them) to thoſe Gentiles, then to come in at their riſing, Iſa. 60.3 to 17. with other like places; for then he, the great Meſſiah, will appear wonderfully glorious, in reſpect of both, (then) made one in him (Joh. 10.16.) the ſecond Adam: and that not only in the tenders of his Grace (as formerly to the Jews before Chriſt's birth) and afterwards towards all in the firſt preaching of the Goſpel; but alſo (then) his glorious Grace p. 32will appear in the power and efficacy thereof abundantly, in his pouring-forth his Grace and Spirit upon them both, and cauſing them to walk in his wayes according to his promiſes, Ezek, 36. Jer. 23. Deut. 30. 1 to 11. And likewiſe then he will ſhew himſelf in his Perſon, more powerful to ſave his Saints, and ſubdue his Enemies, than the firſt Adam was weak and ſinful in ruining his natural race, and giving all Enemies advantage againſt all God's Choſen People till that time: that as Luke 1.74. they ſhall (then) be delivered from thoſe Enemies, and the hands of all that hate them, to ſerve him, &c. for from that time of his Kingdom of Power neither Enemies temporal or ſpiritual ſhall have thenceforward any advantage or power to hurt the Saints (though once they will attempt it, Rev. 20.8, 9.) So that what the firſt Adam loſt for himſelf and his poſterity ſo fooliſhly, ſinfully and ſhamefully; the ſecond Adam will (then) happily manifeſt he hath again regained, even to his ſpiritual ſeed on Earth moſt holily, powerfully and gloriouſly.

2525. Obſer. Our Saviour aſcended from Mount Olivet, Acts 1.12. and was then taken out of his Diſciples ſight by a cloud, ver. 12. and he ſhall ſo come again in the clouds, (ſaid the Angels) v. 11. as is ſhewed, Mark 13.26. Rev. 1.7. and it ſeems probable, that Propbecy of his feet ſtanding upon Mount Olivet at that time, when he will at his coming again manifeſt himſelf to the Jews for their National Converſion, and (as Mr. Mede is of opinion, will then ſpeak to them) will then have its fulfilling, Zech. 14.4. which chapter ſets forth many things then to be accompliſhed, &c.

2626. The Prophet Malachi ſpeaks of two harbingers or forerunners of Chriſt at his firſt and ſecond coming. The firſt was John Baptiſt, Mal. 3.1. Behold, I ſend my Meſſenger before thy face, &c. which was applied by the Angel, Luke 1.76. Matth. 11.9, 10. ſhewing in what ſenſe he was called Elias by the Angel here, and by our Saviour afterwards, as Luke 1.17. namely in the Spirit and Power of Elias; and our Saviour ſpeaketh of both Eliaſes together, Mat. 7.11, 12. and what the turning of fathers to the children may be, ſee Eph. 2.14. The other harbinger or forerunner which Malachi ſpeaks of, chap. 4.5, 6. to be before the great and dreadful Day of the Lord come, which whether it ſhall be Elias the Tiſhbite, or John Baptiſt raiſed again from the dead (as ſeveral of the Ancients have ſeverally conceived) or whether it ſhall be one at that time to be ſent (as John Baptiſt was) in the Spirit and Power of Elias at his coming again, as the Angel before expounded concerning John Baptiſt, Luk. 1.17. I will not contend: But this I aſſuredly believe, that that Meſſenger to be ſent before p. 33Chriſt at his ſecond coming, ſpoken of Mal. 4.5, 6. ſhall then alſo be ſpirited and fitly qualified for ſo great a work, &c.

2727. Obſerv. When the ſtamp of the Primitive times, Dan. 4. latter part of the verſe, [Many ſhall run to and fro, See Irenicon, p. 63, 64.and knowledge ſhall be encreaſed:] and then Antichriſt's time, times, and the dividing of a time, v. 5, 6, 7. ſet forth myſtically and very darkly to Daniel, being things that concerned not the Jews (directly) but the Gentile Chriſtians in both thoſe times, being to come a long time after; He thereupon ſaid; v. 8. Though I heard, yet I underſtood not, though in part expounded to him before by the Angel, Dan. 7.24, 25. But of what concerned his People the Jews both before and after, he had further ſuch marks ſet down in the following part of the chapter, that were like in time to come to be more diſcernable by them, ver. 10, 11, 12, &c. as mainly concerned themſelves in the time of the end, chap. 40, &c. but were to be ſhut up till then, v. 4, 9. See Abridgment on Dan. 12.4, 5, 6, 7, &c.

2828. Obſer. Chriſt's eminent execution of his three great Offices in reſpect of his Univerſal Church in the three great Periods of the World, is very obſervable in Scripture and Providence: Firſt, of ſuch his Prophetical Office under the Old Teſtament, by his Spirit of Wiſdom and Revelation. Secondly, of ſuch his Prieſtly Office under the New Teſtament, both by his Sacrifice and Interceſſion, unto his coming again by his Spirit of Grace and Truth. Thirdly, in his eminent Kingly Office in his Thouſand years Reign, beginning when he ſhall begin to judge quick and dead, at his Appearance, and his Kingdom, 1 Tim. 4.1. and continuing to the looſing of Satan after he hath been bound & ſealed up in the bottomleſs-pit the ſaid thouſand years, Rev. 20. to be manifeſt (then) by his Spirit of Power and Dominion. See theſe largely conſidered in ſeventeen Theſes, with Texts of Scripture, in the Forerunner, pag. 12, 13. and confirmed by Arguments in the Irenicon, pag. 33, 34.

2929. Obſerv. The Spirit of God ſeems frequently to joyn matters of the latter times together, which will be fulfilled at a great diſtance, and particularly concerning the two Reſurrections, Rev. 20. and even the whole Doctrine of the Reſurrection (almoſt) (as we noted in the Irenicon, pag. 102. and elſewhere) was made known by degrees, and ſo the two Seſſions of the great day of Judgment, vide Obſer. 2. But as we here obſerve, St. Paul ſets three great things down together, namely, Chriſt's Reſurrection as the firſt fruits of the Reſurrection of the Juſt, at the ſaid firſt Reſurrection, or at his ſecond coming, which is like to be about 1700 years after, and then cometh the end, which according as Chriſt hath revealed, will be above a thouſand years after p. 34his ſecond coming, and at his third. So that mark of the Primitive times, Dan. 12.4. to wit [Many ſhall run to and fro, and knowledge ſhall be encreaſed] divers hundreds of years before Antichriſt's time, times, and the dividing of a time: which are ſet forth in a wonderfull Viſion of Chriſt (as Rev. 10. likewiſe) in the three next verſes, 5, 6, 7. which contain 1260 years more. So three Queſtions are propounded by Chriſt's Diſciples, Mat. 24. of the ſigns of Jeruſalems deſtruction, and of his coming again or returning (as he called it before, Luke 19.12.) and of the end of the World. To all our Saviour anſwers, but much of the neareſt, and gives divers ſigns of his ſecond coming in the clouds of Heaven, which he ſpeaks of, ver. 30. but cloſely thereunto adjoyns what ſhould be done at his third coming, v. 31. which was not to be ſo much revealed (ſaving myſtically afterwards in the Book of the Revelation) which was in reſpect thereof to be the true Key to open in after-times the ſpiritual Cabinet of divers (otherwiſe) myſtical Texts, darkly ſet down by Chriſt and his holy Spirit, in other places of Scripture to the like purpoſe: (and ſo to be ſuch a Key for other things) See the like, Mat. 25.31. ſpeaks in part of his ſecond coming; and in the other part of that verſe, and ver. 32. he ſpeaks of what ſhall be done at his third coming, largely expounded ſo by himſelf, Rev. 20.11, to the end of the chapter. So again St. Paul in 1 Theſ. 3. ult. and chap. 4.14. he ſpeaks of Chriſt's ſecond coming, when Chriſt will bring all his Saints, and all that (then) ſhall ſleep in Jeſus, with him: but in ver. 16. he ſpeaks of his laſt coming, as alſo expounded by Chriſt in the ſaid place. Alſo again, 1 Cor. 15.23. the Apoſtle plainly ſpeaks of his ſecond coming, and ver. 52. ſets down divers things to be done at Chriſts coming at the laſt Seſſion of Judgment and laſt Reſurrection: And becauſe it appears God would have theſe things concerning the laſt times of the World to be ſo darkly delivered for the moſt part, and in myſteries in the Revelation. Hence it hath come to paſs, that ſuch imperfect and miſtaken apprehenſions have for the moſt part been entertained by all ſorts of men; and without ſome ſpecial guidance of God's Spirit could not (probably) be otherwiſe found out, who himſelf is ſaid to have opened the Diſciples underſtanding after his Reſurrection, Luke 24.45. that they might underſtand the Scriptures: but as many then which heard them neither believed nor regarded what they taught; and thoſe matters of Salvation by Jeſus Chriſt crucified, riſen and aſcended, were hidden from moſt mens eyes; ſo it is to be expected it will be (as we are forewarned) with moſt men in reſpect of Chriſt's deſcending or coming again the ſecond time, by ſtumbling at ſuch Scriptures that concern it p. 35on one prejudice or miſtake or other. It concerns thoſe therefore that will approve themſelves wiſe, to be wary in ſuch matters, of putting them by ſlightly, which ſuch as rightly ſhall receive and own, are like to find much ſweetnes and benefit by them, being ſuch as duely ſearch into them: For Chriſts bleſſing, Chap. 1.3. will not be void or vain, ſay vain men what they can, or wicked men and devils act what they can to the contrary. See Diſcovery of his Second and Third coming, next after the Parallels.

3030. Obſerv. That of Daniel, 12.2, 3. is ſpecially meant of the civil Reſurrection of the Jews, from their bondage and diſperſion, the time of which is afterwards ſet down, verſ. 12. which (in a viſion of the dry bones, Ezek. 37. is ſhewed to Ezekiel) is many wayes evident; (as afterwards follows) and ſo that Reſurrection was to be carried on to the end of the fourty five years, verſ. 12. afterwards; when Chriſt will fully deliver them both temporally and ſpiritually, as verſ. 1. Many arguments might be raiſed from the words to this purpoſe, and from the time wherein the things are to be fulfilled, according both to Ezekiel and Daniel: When it is ſaid, Many ſhall ariſe, not all. And again it is ſaid, They ſhall be turned unto righteouſneſs, that is, the righteouſneſs of Juſtification by Faith in Chriſt; which was contrary to the Legal righteouſneſs, that the Jewes before ſought after. Again ſome ariſe to ſhame and contempt at that time, that is, by revolting from the faithful Jewes (then) by fears, or hopes, or threatnings, or the like, from the enemy; and ſo fall into ſhame and perpetual contempt both temporally, ſpiritually, and (conſequently) eternally. It is obſervable that the Spirit of God ſometimes ſetteth down Myſteries of Judgements in the order they are to be fulfilled, in the reſemblance of a day of Judgment, as here; and ſometimes though ſuch things be done long before the end of the world; as in Rev. 6. When the ſixth ſeal was opened, in Conſtantines time, which is above one thouſand two hundred years ago, and yet there deſcribed as a day of Judgement, but yet it was but a particular one for that time; but no Judgement ſaid then to be ſet, nor Books opened, and quick and dead both Judged, as will be at Chriſts ſecond and third Comings; as was ſaid in our ſecond large Obſervation.

3131. Obſerv. The harmoniouſneſs and uniform agreement of theſe divine Truths, reſpecting the Reign of Chriſt the thouſand years (touched (at leaſt briefly) in divers of the preceding Obſervations) ſhewes them to come from God, and their agreeing with the divine Oracles of the holy Spirit, ſcattered in all parts of the ſacred Scriptures (as in many particulars have been here already ſet down, and as we may p. 36afterwards point out, or at leaſt briefly hint at) As in the two Seſſions of the great Day of Judgment: with the four particulars proper to the day of Judgement. Firſt, In both, the Judgement is ſaid to be ſet. Secondly, In both, The Books are ſaid to be opened. Thirdly, In both, firſt the quick: And Fourthly, In both, laſt the dead are judged. See the large ſecond Obſervation to theſe purpoſes. Again, theſe particulars are ſuitable to the ſecond perſonal coming of Chriſt, to be hereafter at the beginning, and after the little ſpace, when the thouſand years ſhall be ended. See them at large in the Plain Diſcovery after the Parallels. At the firſt Chriſt removes the hinderers and oppoſers of his reigning in the World, towards whom God had ſhewed long Patience all the time of Chriſts ſitting at his right hand; and his faithful Servants patience had been all along exerciſed by them: Yet notwithſtanding by their Faith and Patience all along, that Kingdom of Patience (now almoſt at an end) have inherited the Promiſes hitherto, and ſtill ſhall do through the thouſand years: But Pſal. 110. at the end of Chriſts ſitting at Gods right hand in Heaven, he will begin to make his foes his foot-ſtool; by deſtroying the firſt Gog and Magog, the Turk and Pope, by a complication of Judgments; Ezek. 38, & 39. Rev. 19.11. & 16.18. Dan. 12.1. with Dan. 11.45. And binding Satan. Rev. 20.1, 2, 3. See Obſerv. 3. Then God will ſet his King upon his holy hill of Sion, Pſal. 2. and ſo perform the ſure mercies to David for ever, and that before himſelf: for all which it is plainly recorded (as is to be well obſerved, 2 Sam. 7. in a great part of that Chapter) See Obſerv. 21. And then he will make every knee to bow to him in Heaven, and Earth, and under the Earth, Phil. 2. Having given him a Name above every Name, &c. For then thoſe in Heaven, Angels and Saints, come with him into the World, when God ſhall bring his Son the ſecond time into it; as Heb. 1.6. which was propheſied of by David, Pſal. 97. throughout, and many other Scriptures. Vide Irenicon, from pag. 42, to pag. 88. And then, all ſuch as ſleep in Jeſus will God bring with him, 1 Theſſ. 4.14. See Obſer. 21. And he will (then bodily) begin to reward his Servants the Prophets, and his Saints, &c. Rev. 11.18. by that bleſſed firſt Reſurrection, Rev. 20.6. and (probably) as they were eminent in grace, or ſufferings, or both, ſo much the ſooner. And in Earth, the Jews will then become, upon a miraculous Call and Converſion, a very zealous and bleſſed People, being beloved for their Fathers ſake, Rom. 11. See Obſerv. 15. The heathen Gentiles will earneſtly (then) ſeek Chriſts face and favour; and even make uſe (then) of the Jews intertereſt to procure Chriſts favour, Iſa. 6. Iſa. 19. &c. The very inferiour p. 37creatures then will be freed from their bondage of co…uption, Rom. 8. For there ſhall be no wicked men, that ſhall then dare to abuſe them, or tyrannize over them as formerly. See Obſerv. 21. yea even ſuch wicked men as will then be ſpared, proving hypocrites (as is probable) will themſelves be made ſlaves then, as diverſe Scriptures ſeem to ſpeak. For as ſin brought alwayes with it a Spiritual ſlavery before; ſo it is like always remarkably to add an outward viſible ſlavery, to all evil men in the world then: But thoſe Creatures will be matter of Gods praiſe to the Saints, &c. Chriſt will then delegate the power and management of that his Kingdom to the Saints, for him, Dan. 7.18, 22, 27. even that Kingdom he received of the Father, and which he gave to them (as he ſpeaks) and that they may rule for him, v. 27. Firſt, to the firſt raiſed Saints, and then to other eminent Saints in the natural life; as his enemies which he came to deſtroy, had ruled againſt him before, which will be the juſt reaſon and cauſe of their ruine then, Luke 19.27.

The Covenant and Mercies to Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, promiſed and ſworn to them perſonally, and yet never perſonally performed, in reſpect of their enjoying the Land of Canaan: neither had their natural Seed that Land, as it was made ſure to that one ſeed, Chriſt, Gal. 3. for ever, Deut. 30. and Deut. 11.21. and that as the dayes of heaven upon the earth, &c. See Obſerv. 15. But it ſhall be then accordingly performed as it was promiſed and ſworn. As likewiſe the Oath to David in David's Seed, and Saviour, and Antitype, to reign ſo long as the Sun and Moon ſhall endure. See Irenicon, pag. 77, to pag. 80. And Obſerv. 21. So of the New Jeruſalem, called, Jehova Shamma, Ezek. 48. ult. which is ſaid, to come down from God out of Heaven, Rev. 21. where the Tabernacle of God, is ſaid to be with men. See Obſerv. 3. And, the new Heavens and new Earth. See Obſerv. 22. later end; with divers other Contemporaries for that thouſand years, as the Tree of Life and pure River. See Iren. pag. 30. whereby the bleſſed, gracious and glorious ſtate of all things then are decyphred, &c.

If theſe and the like points of Doctrine were enlarged upon, and ſitly placed in their due order of accompliſhment, as the holy Scriptures ſet them forth, with ſuch Rational and Scriptural Illuſtrations, as are beſt ſuitable to their natures amongſt themſelves, and in their ſweet harmony, with all other divine Truths, there ſet down; I doubt not but when once God ſhall give any ſorts of men ſuch Faith, as to receive theſe things upon the divine authority of his Word, they will appear both comfortable and excellent, and prove forcible to ſuch true Believers for increaſe of ſanctification, above what they received p. 38before, and make to them (as I have found by experience) many parts of holy Scripture more clear and ſweet, and many wayes more uſeful, than otherwiſe they can be to them; whereas, without theſe Doctrines, I find I did not, nor could ever have rightly underſtood or known them; namely, what ſuch Texts of Scriptures, reſpecting theſe and the like Doctrines, do chiefly mean or drive at; and I believe many others by degrees may find the like experience thereof in time.

But I am now many wayes reſtrained from enlarging therein, and therefore only at preſent, hint theſe things to believing Chriſtians in ſuch reſpects, &c.

foreign.

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

To Him alone, this Due, let all his pay.

FINIS.