The Retired Mans Meditations, Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI.
Treating of the time of the manifeſtation of the ſonnes of God, their ſitting with Chriſt on his Throne, ruling and influencing all things on earth, during the ſpace of a thouſand years.
HAving finiſhed what relates to the Saints being made one dead or crucified body with Chriſt, and ſhewed the oppoſition which is exerciſed by the Devil thereunto: that which remains to be conſidered, is the gathering alſo of the Saints together into one glorified body with Chriſt, at his ſecond coming; when it ſhall appear what thoſe ſhall be, that now, though they are ſons, are undiſtinguiſhed from thoſe that are not: who have beene planted into a conformity with Chriſt in his death, and who, conſidered as his dead body, having beene expoſed to the bruiſing of their heele by Satan before his being bound up, ſhall be declared the proper ſubjects and inheritours of this firſt reſurrection, in the exerciſe of the power and glory thereof, as KINGS and PRIESTS reigning with Chriſt a thouſand years.
This time of the manifestation of the ſonnes of God is ſaid to be that, which is the earneſt expectation of the very creature it ſelf, Rom. 8. 19. as the ſeaſon alſo wherein the whole creation is to be reſtored to its Primitive purity, and to be delivered out of the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the ſonnes of God, as the benefit which it ſhall then receive, by vertue of the price of Chriſts blood, paid for all: for the want of which, it now groaneth and travelleth as in paine, as deteined under the bondage it is fallen into by ſin, and is ſtretching out its neck (as it were) with a holy impatiency after theſe times of refreſhing, that are to come from the preſence of the Lord, by the ſending of Jeſus a ſecond time, and revealing him with power from heaven, to reſtore all things, and accompliſh the full redemption of the body: which God hath ſpoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets, ſince the world began, Acts 3. 19, 20, 21.
But conſidering the diſtinct and large handling of this weighty ſubject, from teſtimony of Scriptures and otherwiſe, in Volumes lately made extant; together with the reſerve, which Chriſt thinks fit to keep in his owne hands, as well of the time as the exact patterne and material circumſtances of this his Reign; it ſhall ſuffice me to be joyning in teſtimony unto this great truth, according to the general proſpect thereof, which hath beene given in to my faith, in ſome ſmall glimpſes, as well from the inward as outward Word of God; in a patient and humble expectation of the clearer and more certaine deſcription thereof, as the things themſelves are drawing on, which Chriſt in his times will fully ſhew, by the brightneſſe of his owne coming, unto which the children of light and of this day are exhorted to be haſtning, as that which is haſtning upon them, that ſo it may not overtake them as a thief in the night, at unawares; but the mindfulneſſe thereof may keep them in a meet poſture, with their loines girt, and lamps burning, as men waiting for the coming of their Lord.
Paul in 1 Tim. 6. 15, 16. does call theſe dayes, the times of Christ, in which he will ſhew, that his judgment and power ſhall bear ſway in diſtinction from and oppoſition to the power and judgement of mans day, (now in exerciſe and credit throughout the world) himſelf being the bleſſed and only POTENTATE, the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS, that muſt take place with his everlaſting Dominion. This Scripture compared with Rom. 8. v. 19, to v. 24. Acts 3. 19, 20, 21. 1 John 3. 2. Hab. 2. 3, 14, 20. 2 Theſ. 2. 8. Phil. 3. 20, 21. Dan. 2. 44, 45. and Dan. 4. 3. and Chap. 7. 26, 27. does evidently declare thus much; that the hidden life and immortality, wherein the man Christ Jeſus does remaine with God (as him that is inviſible, ſeene only to the eye of faith, by the true ſons and heirs of ſalvation) ſhall have a ſeaſon and time to be manifeſted and brought to light openly, before the eyes of all: and this two manner of wayes.
Firſt, in a way, which ſhall be peculiar to the ſpiritual ſeed, and extend only to them; who having died with Chriſt ſhall now live with him, and having ſuffered with him, ſhall now reigne with hiw, as gathered into one ſpiritual and heavenly body with himſelf, through his changing their vile body into the likeneſſe of his moſt glorious body, according to the working of his mighty power, whereby he is able to ſubdue all things unto himſelf.
Secondly, in a way, which ſhall be common to all natural men, yea, to the whole creation of God, ſo as every eye ſhall ſee him, and every tongue ſhall confeſse him, and every knee ſhall how to him; either voluntarily or by compulſion, as unto the only POTENTATE unto whom they owe their ſubjection, and that in the right of the redemption by him procured for them, who became a ranſome for all, to be teſtified in due time, through which they ſhall be actually and entirely delivered from the bondage of corruption, and reſtored into their Primitive purity, natural life and glory, upon the ſame tearmes of mutability, as wherein Adam was at firſt created; yea, with this advantage over and above what he had, not only a being taught by his experience, but aſſiſted with thoſe means which he experienced not in the manner they ſhall do, together with a freedome from any exerciſe of that old Serpents power or ſubtilty upon them, who during the time of the whole thouſand years; ſhall be bound and ſealed up in the bottomleſſe pit, by the power of Chriſt, Rev. 20. 2, 3. and ſo, totally diſabled to deceive or beguile the Nations any more, all that while, as he beguiled Eve, that Chriſt may rule in righteouſneſſe amongſt them without diſturbance, nothing being left to hurt or deſtroy them, in all his holy mountaine or Dominion, if they deſtroy not themſelves, for they ſhall be left unto the full and entire ſcope of their own free will, ſelf-managing and diſpoſal, that they may be as good as they themſelves ſhall deſire to be, and have the means at hand to keep them ſo, if themſelves be not in the fault.
That which Chriſt will do at his ſecond coming, is intimated by thoſe greater works he ſpeaks of, John 5. v. 20, to v. 30. at the ſight whereof every one ſhould marvel. In which Scripture we find a twofold power, that ſhall then be exerciſed by Chriſt.
Firſt, a quickning power, for Chriſt ſhall then quicken whom he will, calling whom he pleaſes out of their very graves, whether ſpiritual or literal, and they ſhall hear his voice and come forth: the grave, at his call, ſhall yeeld up her dead, not being able to reſiſt the power of this quickning ſpirit of his, who then, as by the voice of the Arch-Angel, the trump of God, 1 Theſ. 4. 16 ſhall viſibly declare the exceeding greatneſſe of his power over death and the grave it ſelf, in the ſight of the whole world, to the admiration of all, and to the ſtopping the mouths of the greateſt enemies and gain-ſayers, that would be apt to contradict and oppoſe the glory of his Kingdome.
Secondly, a Judicial power; For Christ ſhall then receive authority from the Father, to execute judgement alſo, and that, as the Sonne of man; according as it is alſo expreſſed, Acts 17. 31. He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteouſneſſe, by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given aſſurance unto all men, in that he hath raiſed him from the dead. Thus then, as the Father hath life in himſelf, that is to ſay, the proper life of God, abſolute, ſupreme, irreſiſtible and Almighty; the SONNE OF MAN ſhall then alſo come forth in the exerciſe of the ſame life, in unity with the Father; it being given to him, in like manner, to have life in himſelf, and to effect and execute all that which he deſires and thinks fit in both theſe reſpects, in the exerciſe of the ſame abſolute and Almighty power of God himſelf: By reaſon whereof it ſhall come to paſſe, that all men ſhall honour the Sonne, even as they honour the Father, and whoſoever honoureth not the Son, ſhall be proceeded againſt, in judgement and in the execution of Gods wrath, as if he had not honoured the Father. For, unto the Sonne of man, in this day of his power and glory, ſhining forth in the beauty of his new name that is above every name, either in this world, or in that which is to come, every knee is appointed to bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and the duty of every tongue ſhall be to confeſſe that Ieſus is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Hence then it is evident, that as God or the WORD in Chriſts firſt appearance, was pleaſed to be manifeſted in fleſh, wherein to condeſcend and make himſelf of no reputation, by taking upon him the forme of a ſervant, and being made in the likeneſse or habit of a man, and in this faſhion, as a man, ſubjecting himſelf to the doing and ſuffering all that, which was required to be done and ſuffered, on the behalf of ſinful mankind, and for the bringing many ſonnes unto glory; ſo alſo is he (that thus did and ſuffered all things as a man, in the dayes of his fleſh, for our redemption) at this time to ſee his ſeed, and reap the fruit of the travel of his ſoul, which then he made a ſacrifice for ſin, being now a ſecond time to appeare, without any reference to ſinne, as then he did; but inſtead thereof, to declare himſelf the Sonne of God with power by the reſurrection from the dead. So as in and by this ſecond appearance, the man Chriſt Ieſus, in the faſhion and forme of his exalted and glorified manhood, conſiſting of ſpirit, ſoul and body, in ſubſtantial or perſonal union with the WORD, is to ſhew and manifeſt himſelf in the glory of the Father, in the joynt and united exerciſe of the ſame divine life and power with him, and therein to give a plaine demonſtration, that he is the Sonne of God, as by his being made fleſh, and becoming obedient to the death of the Croſſe, he did undeniably demonſtrate that he was really and properly the Sonne of Man, made of the ſeed of David, according to the fleſh; living the life, and dying the death, of a perfect natural man.
Thus the Sonne of man ſhall come with power and great glory, ſitting with the Father upon the ſame Throne, therein ſhewing himſelf the only POTENTATE, the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS, dwelling in immortality, and that light, which no man can approach, hath ſeene or can ſee.
Chriſt then (conſidered as thus dwelling in immortality and that light which is inviſible and inacceſſible, in reference to all thoſe that are meer natural men) ſhall at this time declare himſelf to be the life and quickning of his own dead body, and the object of their converſe, who having been made one dead body with him, as planted in the ſimilitude of his death, ſhall now be called and gathered together unto him, in one incorruptible, immortal, glorified ſtate of ſpirit, ſoul and body, & be planted into the likeneſſe of his Reſurrection, to the attaining of their compleat adoption, and the redemption of the body, at this manifeſtation of the ſonnes of God, and heirs of ſalvation, which is ſpoken of, Coloſ. 3. 4. where 'tis ſaid, that when Christ who is our life ſhall appear, we ſhall alſo appear with him in glory; and 1 Iohn 3. 2. we are now ſonnes, but it doth not yet appear what we ſhall be; but we know, when he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him: for we ſhall ſee him as he is; or as he dwells in immortality, and in that light, from whence he excludes every natural eye, reſerving it as the peculiar enjoyment and inheritance of his friends, whom he loves, that are Heirs of God, and Co-heirs with Chriſt, in the things prepared only for them, which neither eye hath ſeene, nor eare heard, nor have entred into the heart of the natural man to conſider.
This likeneſſe which the true Saints ſhall be brought forth into with Chriſt, the beginning and firſt-begotten from the dead, is deſcribed in general, by the promiſe Chriſt makes to them on that behalf, And Ieſus ſaid unto them, Verily I ſay unto you, that ye which have followed me in regeneration, when the Sonne of man ſhall ſit in the Throne of his glory, ye alſo ſhall ſit upon twelve Thrones, judging the twelve Tribes of Iſrael, Matth. 19. 28. So, Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh (ſayes he) I will grant to ſit with me on my Throne, even as I alſo overcame, and am ſet down with my Father on his throne; which imports,
Firſt, that as by the Fathers quickning of Chriſt, raiſing him up, and fitting him in ſpiririt, ſoul, and body, to exerciſe in unity with him, the ſame divine life and power, to the making his manhood Second with him on the Throne: ſo Chriſt, in like manner, will quicken and raiſe up all the members of his dead body, or ſlaine faithful Witneſſes, that have beene made conformable unto him in his death, and fit them in their ſpirit, ſoul, and body, to exerciſe in unity and aſſociation with his heavenly manhood, the life and power which he is enabled to exerciſe, as he is the exalted Sonne of man, to the rendring them a fit Bride, Queene, and Second with him, in his Throne, where they ſhall nevertheleſſe ſit as upon Thrones of their owne, as his Equals and co-heirs, yet in ſubordination unto him, judging the twelve Tribes of Iſrael, in a light and glory, ſuperiour to the earthly Jeruſalem or worldly Church; yea, to the good Angels themſelves, who ſhall be found but ſtanding about the Throne, whilſt the Saints ſhall be ſitting downe with Chriſt, upon it.
Secondly, as the Father gives authority to Chriſt in the capacity of the Sonne of man, to execute judgement as the only l'OTENTATE, KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS, under him, ſo Chriſt alſo ſhall give and derive to his body (the general aſſembly of the firſt-borne, whoſe names are written in heaven) authority to be the only Potentates, Lords of Lords, and Kings of Kings under him, whoſe Decrees and Ordinances, ſhall be binding unto all in heaven, or in earth, or under the earth, next and immediately under Chriſt their head; and this, as well in reference to the regulating and well-ordering the ſervice and worſhip of God in the ſocieties of Saints and all his true worſhippers; as in reference to the governing and well-ordering the natural and outward converſe of men in their humane ſocieties, during the reigne of Chriſt upon earth, the thouſand years.
Both theſe powers and juriſdictions ſhall be reſiding in the general aſſembly of the firſt-borne, whoſe names are written in heaven, who ſhall then be declared the Bride, the Lambs wife, the New Ieruſalem, coming downe from God out of heaven, deſcribed, Rev. 21. 2. as ſhe that is prepared as a Bride adorned for her huſband, being that Tabernacle of God with men, wherein he will dwell with them, and they ſhall be his people, and he himſelf will be with them, and be their God, wiping away all teares from their eyes, ſo as there ſhall be amongſt them no more death, nor ſorrow, nor crying, neither ſhall there be any more paine: for the former things are paſſed away, and by the power of him that ſits upon the Throne, all things are made new.
This GENERAL ASSEMBLY, in the exerciſe of their Judicial power, are to be conſidered in a twofold capacity.
Firſt, that wherein they are properly ſpiritual or heavenly men, qualified with a diſcerning peculiar to the ſpiritual ſeed, through the anointing which is truth and no lie, whereby they enter within the veile, and are admitted into that light and immortality, which their owne natural man ſees not, nor can ſee, but by the help and teachings of this anointing; and that, at ſecond hand.
As thus conſidered, they have committed unto them, the power of the KEYS, in the full extent and exerciſe thereof, whereby, all that they binde in earth, ſhall be bound in heaven, and all that they looſe on earth, ſhall be looſed in heaven: ſo as all the declarative power of what infallibly is truth, and the mind and will of God, to be obſerved in heaven or in earth, by all the inhabitants of both, ſhall be in them: and all diſobedience and oppoſition thereunto, ſhall be puniſhed by their Church-Cenſures, in a way of Excommunication, conſidered in the Scriptures, either as conditional, and referring to ſianes againſt the Son of man, as in his firſt appearance; or the diſobedience againſt the firſt Covenant, capable of releaſe in this world: or, Secondly, as the final, irrevocable ſentence, called the ANATHEMA MARANATHA, reſpecting the ſinne against the holy Ghoſt, Chriſt in his ſecond appearance; or the wilful diſobedience againſt the ſecond Covenant: from which cenſure, none ſhall be able to eſcape or appeale; this JUDGEMENTSEAT of Chriſt, having for its attendants and Miniſters of juſtice, the holy and mighty Angels, ready with flames of fire to take vengeance on all that ſhall not obey the Goſpel, and to puniſh them with everlaſting deſtruction from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
Secondly, the ſame GENERAL ASSEMBLY do alſo in another capacity, exerciſe their Judicial power: to wit, as they are properly natural men, qualified with a pure natural diſcerning, wherein they are found acting the powers and faculties of the natural mind, in all the righteous and holy operations, required by the firſt Covenant, in a newneſſe of life received by the reſurrection from the dead, and as they are made one glorified incorruptible body, with Chriſts natural man.
In this ſenſe, they have the power of the ſword committed to them, as ſupreme Miniſters of natural right and juſtice, under Chriſt, the KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESSE, and in aſſociation with the innumerable company of holy Angels, Heb. 12. 22. who, in the exerciſe of this part of Judicial power, are joynt-Rulers with the Saints, that in the firſt, were but ſervants and attendants, as thoſe PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS in heavenly places, unto whom the manifold wiſdome of God is made knowne by the Church, Epheſ. 3. 10.
By Saints, in this capacity, Chriſt will judge the world, and rule the Nations as with a rod of yron, breaking thoſe in pieces, as a potters veſſel, that are ſtubborne and rebellious; binding their Kings in chaines, and their Nobles in fetters of yron: as it is written, Pſal. 149. Such honour have all his Saints; to wit, as met together in this GENERAL ASSEMBLY, authorized and enabled to adminiſter as well the diſtributive as the revenging juſtice of God, ſo as to be a terrour unto all that preſume to offend againſt the principles of natural good and right, held forth in and by the righteouſneſſe of the firſt Covenant: and a protection and encouragement unto all that do well, and ſhall be found approving themſelves in the practice of thoſe pure natural and holy principles.
Unto this, that in 1 Cor. 6. 2. muſt neceſſarily referre, where Paul ſaies, Do you not know that the Saints ſhall judge the world, taking cognizance of things pertaining to this life? and to ſhew the ſuperiour juriſdiction, which the Saints as the Church, or in their ſpiritual capacity have over Angels themſelves, he ſaith alſo, v. 3. Know ye not that we ſhall judge Angels? how much? more things that appertaining to this life? It is in this ſenſe likewiſe, we are to underſtand what is mentioned, Rev. 21. 24. where the Nations that are ſaid to be ſaved (that is to ſay, with the common ſalvation, which by vertue of Chriſts ranſome, ſhall then be effectually applied to all men in general, to the freeing the natural man from the bondage of corruption, at the reſtitution of all things, then to be made) during this THOUSAND YEARS REIGNE, ſhall walk in the light, or live under the Protection of this Government, which ſhall flov forth from the new JERUSALEM and true MOUNT SION, there deſcribed; ſo as not only the Kings of the earth in their owne perſons ſhall bring their glory and honour into it, as contented to do homage, and to be under the bleſſings of it, but they ſhall alſo be willing to be the means of bringing the glory and honour of the very Nations themſelves thereinto, by their patterne and example, v. 26.
Thus there is a quicknin and judicial power, as we have ſhewed, which the Saints ſhall put forth, through their conformity with Chriſt in his reſurrection; by means whereof, they ſhall ſtand poſſeſſed of the power and perfection, as well of the true Church and Miniſtery, as of the right Magiſtracy, or worldly Rule and Dominion: both which ſhall then be found in their purity, as well of their practice as inſtitution, in this triumphing Church of the NEW JERUSALEM, and univerſal worldly Government or Magiſtratical Dominion, in this true COMMON-WEALTH OF ISRAEL, for whoſe ſakes, all thinigs ſhall be made new, all being theirs, as they are Chriſts, and Christ is Gods, 1 Cor. 3. 22, 23.
Nor have the Scriptures left us without witneſſe herein but in ſundry particulars do lay open and declare the manner how, and ſteps whereby Chriſt proceeds, as well to the bringing in, as to the actual ſetting up of this Kingdome of his, during a THOUSAND YEARS, to be managed by himſelf, and the quicken'd, glorified body or ſociety of his Saints, as the Church or general Aſſembly of the firſt-borne, fitted and adorned by himſelf, to ſhare with him in this his Rule and Government.
The preparatory diſpenſation unto this, is a dark MIDNIGHT, Matth. 25 6. ſuch a time of trouble, as never was, ſince there was a Nation; in which the powers of the holy people ſhall be ſcattered and utterly broken, Dar. 12. 1, 7. the earthly Jeruſalem or worldly Chriſtian Church ſhall be beſieged and taken, Zech. 14. 1, 2. that great and holy City, Rev. 11. 2, 8. which for her hypocriſie and ſpiritual whoredomes, apoſtaſie, and enmity againſt the faithful WITNESSES of Chriſt is compared, Rev. 11. to SODOME and EGYPT, anſwering to the ſtate of the ſame Jeruſalem in the letter, where our Lord was crucified.
And therefore in Matth. 24. and other Scriptures where the literal Jeruſalem is threatned with deſtruction, the Myſtical earthly Jeruſalem, or worldly Church under the Gentiles is therein comprehended and alſo meant, as that which ſhall at the end of the world, and in the laſt times, be found in a moſt corrupted, declined eſtate of Apoſtaſie, 2 Theſ. 2. 3. 1 Tim. 4. 12. 2 Tim. 3. 1, &c. unto which therefore ſeveral characters and ſignes are appropriated, that cannot be underſtood to be accompliſhed at the deſtroying of the material Temple and outward Jeruſalem, but are neceſſarily to be meant of this Myſtical one, as the Heavens that are remaining to be ſhaken yet once more, Heb. 12. ſignifying the removing of thoſe things that may be ſhaken, as of things that are made; that thoſe things that cannot be ſhaken, may remaine.
This Myſtical earthly Ieruſalem is that which ſhall not have one stone left upon another, as well as the other Typical Ieruſalem: not ſo much as any viſibility or forme of worſhip ſhall be left to her, but ſhe ſhall be given to the Gentiles or prophane world, who ſhall tread this holy City under foot, fourty and two moneths. And to make this hour and power of darkneſſe the more terrible, there ſhall be warres and rumours of warres; Nation ſhall riſe up againſt Nation, and Kingdome againſt Kingdome, and there ſhall be Famines and Peſtilences and Earthquakes in divers places; yea, all theſe things ſhall be but the beginning of ſorrows; For as thus, warres and troubles and ſorrowes ſhall be in reference to the outward man; ſo alſo deceit and errour by falſe Prophets, and falſe Chriſts, ſhall ariſe, cauſing much defilement, in reference to the inner man; whence will flow great declinings and apoſtaſies from holy and righteous principles; for ſaking of the truth, or a waxing cold in the love of it, amongſt the inhabitants of this Myſtical earthly Ieruſalem; and not only ſo, but there will ſpring up a root of bitterneſſe, and an implacable perſecuting ſpirit againſt the faithful WITNESSES of Chriſt, that ſhall in thoſe dayes be found in her, to the afflicting, killing, or flaying of them, and letting their dead bodies lie unburied in the ſtreet of this great City, which the Nations ſhall come and deſtroy for all her whoredomes and apoſtaſies (as they did the literal Ieruſalem) God putting it into their hearts, to agree together, and burne this Whore with fire.
And then they themſelves that are thus made the rod of Gods anger, and executioners of his vengeance on this great City, ſhall not eſcape, but, Zach. 14. 3. The Lord ſhall go forth and fight againſt thoſe Nations, as when he fought in the day of battel, For a great tumult from the Lord ſhall be among them, and they ſhall lay hold, every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand ſhall riſe up againſt the hand of his neighbour, ver. 13. So, Mat. 24. 29, 30. Immediately after the tribulation of thoſe dayes, ſhall the Sunne be darkned, and the Moone ſhall not give her light, and the Starres ſhall fall from Heaven, and the powers of the Heavens ſhall be ſhaken. And then ſhall appeare the ſigne of the Sonne of Man in Heaven: and then ſhall all the Tribes of the earth mourne, and they ſhall ſee the Sonne of man coming in the clouds of Heaven, with power and great glory; actually entering upon the exerciſe of his Kingdome: and this,
Firſt, by ſending forth his Angels, and gathering together his Elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other, as into one glorified body with himſelf, to the conſtituting of this GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the FIRST-BORNE, which ſhall be made up, partly of thoſe the Lord brings with him; and partly of thoſe which ſhall be found alive and remaing unto the coming of the Lord; or ſhall be in the natural body, during the thouſand years; all which ſhal be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, by way of tranſlation, as it was with Enoch, and not ſee death: Whereby their mortal ſhall put on immortality, and their corruptible ſhall put on incorruption; and death and the grave ſhall be ſwallowed up in victory.
The firſt in order then, which Chriſt quickens at his coming, ſhall be his own Myſtical dead body, for the dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt, 1 Theſ. 4. 16. that is, thoſe that have beene ſlaine, and have born the marks of the dyings of Jeſus upon them, who are called, Rev. 20. the ſouls of them that were beheaded for the witneſſe of Jeſus, and for the WORD of God, who all of them at this time, through the quickning power of their Head, ſhall live and reigne with him, the firſt-fruits, who hath already for a long time beene living and reigning at Gods right hand; as it is written; 1 Cor. 15. Every man in his owne order: Chriſt, the firſt-fruits, afterwards they that are Chriſts at his coming, whom he builds or raiſes up with himſelf into one ſpiritual and glorified body, v. 44. cauſing them thereby to bear the image of the heavenly and laſt Adam, as they have borne the image of the earthy or firſt Adam, and this in the utmoſt perfection thereof (as arrived to the meaſure of the ſtature of that fulneſſe and perfection, which declares and manifeſts it ſelf in Chriſts heavenly manhood) enabled to exerciſe in copartnerſhip with him, the power and glory of a threefold humane life and perfection, in which he went before them.
Firſt, when upon the laying down of his natural body, he came into the exerciſe of a life proper to the ſpirit of a juſt man made perfect, in likeneſſe and equality with that of the holy Angels, who ſtand in a ſuperiority of life unto the earthly man, even of Chriſt himſelf, Heb. 2. 9.
Secondly, when he alſo came forth in the exerciſe of a humane bodily life, raiſed up in a glorified and incorruptible forme, never to die more, Rev. 1. 18. in which he converſed with men, the fourty dayes betweene his reſurrection and aſcenſion.
Thirdly, when yet farther he came forth in the exerciſe of a divine humane life, in which, aſcending to his God and their God, to his Father and their Father, he was exalted into a unity and copartnerſhip in life and operation, with the ROOT OF DAVID, the WORD OF LIFE, the firſt-born of every creature, and firſt-begotten from the dead. This is ſpoken of, as the fruit alſo of his reſurrection from the dead, Epheſ. 1. ver. 20, 21. When through the mightineſſe of Gods power that wrought in him, he was raiſed from the dead, and ſet at Gods owne right hand in the Heavenly (or in the firſt and Heavenly Tabernacle that is ſet up in the WORD, treated on by us in the firſt Chapter) farre above all prin ipality and power, and might, and Dominion, and every name, or particular nature and being, not only in this world, but alſo in that which is to come.
In which life, ver. 22. 'tis ſaid, that to the humane nature of Chriſt, it is given to be the Head over all things, or in a ſuperiority in all things, unto the Church, or true ſpiritual ſeed, which is his body, the fulneſſe of him that filleth all in all, built up into a Heavenly conformity in all things, as a Wife and Spouſe unto this her Head and Husband.
This excellency of Chriſts exalted manhood, was (ſurely) intimated unto Iaceb, by that ladder, Gen. 28. 12 which in his dream he beheld, ſet upon the earth, the top whereof reached to Heaven, as alſo, the Angels of God aſcending and deſcending upon it. For thus we find it interpreted by himſelf, Iohn 1. 50, 51. as that greater ſight of his humane perfection, then what could be ſeene in the dayes of his fleſh: Verily, verily (ſayes he) I ſay unto you, hereafter you ſhall ſee Heaven open, and the Angels of God aſcending and deſcending upon the Sonne of man: as if he ſhould have ſaid, You ſhall ſee the Heavenly Temple of God opened, Rev. 11. 19. that is to be found in the WORD OF LIFE; and the heavenly diſcoveries flowing thence, or ſent forth from the ſame, in their aſcents and deſcents in and upon the manhood of Chriſt, as the means choſen for the making manifeſt the riches of his glory to men and Angels, in their particular beings and perſons.
In theſe three reſpects ſhall the true SONNES AND HEIRS OF SALVATION, fitted and adorned as a Bride and Heavenly body to this Husband and Head, appeare bearing on them the image of the laſt Adam, made like unto him, to the ſeeing of him as he is; and ſhining forth in this likeneſſe, they will have accompliſhed upon them, that manifeſtation of the ſonnes of God, which ſhall vaſtly difference them from the naturall or fleſhly ſeed, conſidered in their higheſt mutable perfection, or in the incorruptible forme wherein they ſhall be raiſed up to everlaſting contempt.
By vertue then of this conformity in image, which the Saints ſhall be brought into, with Chriſts heavenly manhood, they ſhall come forth in the exerciſe of this threefold life, in kind, wherein the manhood of Chriſt hath beene converſant, ever ſince the laying down of his earthly and natural body.
Firſt, of that life, which all the true ſonnes and heirs of ſalvation, that have died in the faith, have beene exerciſing, ever ſince their change or falling aſleep in the Lord; that is to ſay, the life of the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect, a life like that of the Angels or perfect ſpirits, that can live and act without dependance upon bodily life and motion; deſcribed by Chriſt himſelf, where he ſayes, that they, who ſhall be accounted worthy to obteine that world, and the reſurrection from the dead (as were Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob, who then were, and yet are in the poſſeſſion of it) neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they are equal unto the Angels, and are children of God, and of the reſurrection, Luke 20. 35, 36, that is to ſay, are the children of God in their ſpirits made perfect, and thereby are become equals and fit aſſociates for the holy Angels themſelves, as the ſouls of wicked men, departed this life, become equals and fit aſſociates for the evil Angels, concerning which ſtate alſo, in the beſt ſenſe, Chriſt ſpake unto the thief upon the Croſſe, when he ſaid, This day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe.
The ſecond exerciſe of life which the Saints, as gathered unto Chriſt their Head, at his ſecond coming, ſhall be brought forth in, is that of a glorified, incorruptible body, in faſhion made like unto his glorious body, Phil. 3. Into the exerciſe of which life, they are not yet entered, but reſerved for it, by the MAN CHRIST IESUS, the FIRST-FRUITS, who will have the ſouls of thoſe, ſlaine under the Altar, to reſt yet for a little ſeaſon, in the ſingle exerciſe of their Angelical life, as ſpirits of juſt men made perfect, untill the gathering of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the firſt-borne together, and ſetting them (who have beene the ſlaine Witneſſes of Chriſt) upon their feet, in the exerciſe of this immortal, incorruptible bodily life, here in this world, wherein they are to continue and abide for a THOUSAND YEARS, keeping the true Sabbath of Reſt unto the Lord, in that ſeventh part of the time of the worlds duration.
All worldly ſtrength, wiſdome and power, ſhall then, as the walls of Iericho, fall flat before Ieſus, the true Ioſhua, and theſe true Iſraelites (as having beene by them compaſsed about ſix dayes, and now on the ſeventh, a thouſand years being with the Lord, as one day, 2 Pet. 3. 8.) making way for the end, mentioned, 1 Cor. 15. 24. to come and ſhew it ſelf: at which time the fleſhly Rule and Kingdome of Chriſt in his firſt appearance (till then kept up in the world as the firſt general Dominion) is delivered up unto the Father (the Sonnewillingly becoming ſubject herein, with reference to the bringing himſelf forth in his ſecond appearance, to rule and reign in the place of the firſt) that God may be all in all, and that all other rule, authority and power may hereby be put downe; yea, death it ſelf, as the laſt enemy, may be deſtroyed, and made unable to deteine any under its power, that the quickning vertue ſhining forth in this preſence and appearance of Chriſt, ſhall call forth, and give freedome unto.
The Saints in the exerciſe of this life with Chriſt upon earth, during this THOUSAND YEARS, ſhall be thoſe, in whom Chriſt will be admired, and the Father glorified. This ſtate of theirs, is the reward ſpoken of in Scripture, where it is ſaid, The meek ſhall inherit the earth; and, Godlineſſe hath not only the promiſe of the life to come, but of this alſo, 1 Tim. 4. 8. So, Rom. 4. 13. The Promiſe to Abraham that he ſhould be heir of the world, is declared, not to be by the Law, or to have its accompliſhment under the firſt Covenant-diſpenſation; but through the righteouſneſſe of faith; that it might be by grace; to the end the Promiſe might be ſure to all the ſeed; not to that only, which is of the Law; but to that alſo, which is of the faith of Abraham, who with other beleevers, died, and received not the making good thereof. It therefore remains to be performed in its due time, at this manifeſtation of the Sonnes of God, which faith ſees and acknowledges, Heb. 11. 39. Theſe all having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promiſe, (to wit, this promiſe, of being heirs of the world, and of all Nations being bleſſed in and by the meanes of the ſpiritual ſeed) which will certainly be fulfilled to them, in the times of the NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH, Iſa. 65. 17. &c. God having foreſeene and reſerved ſome better thing for us, (ſaith the Author to the Hebrews) that they without us ſhould not be made perfect; but that all of us may enjoy that better thing together at once, in the keeping of a holy Sabbath unto the Lord, at the coming of this day of God, in which the Heavens that now are, ſhall paſſe away with a great noiſe, and the Elements ſhall melt with fervent heat; the Earth alſo, and the Works that are therein, ſhall be burnt up, to make way for, and give place unto the NEW HEAVENS and NEW EARTH wherein dwelleth righteouſneſſe, which we look for according to his promiſe, 2 Pet. 3. 10, 13.
Nor are we to think that the Saints departed, who are now exerciſing the life that is equal to Angels, are at all debaſed or leſſened in their heavenly or Angelical enjoyment, as brought forth & gathered together into one ſpiritual and glorified body with Chriſt, at his coming. For hereby, they are enabled to exerciſe (over and beſides the firſt) that life which Chriſt led here upon earth after his reſurrection; which excludes them not from being with the Lord in the aire, 1 Theſ. 4. 17. or in the exerciſe of their Angelical life, in which they are for ever with him, for as much as they do aſſume the exerciſe of this bodily life againe, in its incorruptible forme, upon ſuch termes, that it is no hinderance to, or in the leaſt, inconſiſtent with the free and abſolute exerciſe of the former Angelical life, but ſerves rather as the meanes for them to be in the body as well as out of the body, at their owne pleaſure, and as they ſhall find it moſt ſuitable to Gods deſignes, for the maintaining and keeping up the Rule and Dominion of Chriſt in the world, during the thouſand years, in the hands of this GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the firſt-borne, who, as the Jeruſalem coming downe from God out of Heaven, are to be the Tabernacle of God with men, to adminiſter the accompliſhment of Gods promiſe, as to the making good the reward which godlineſſe is to receive, even in this life, and the promiſe unto Abraham and his ſeed, of making them heir, of the world through faith, Rom. 4. 13. by vertue of the quickning power of Chriſt, which he ſhall put forth at this time of the Reſtitution of all things.
The forementioned exerciſe of this bodily life, to be aſſumed by Saints departed, at the Reſurrection, is intimated to us, by what is recorded, Matth. 27. 52, 53. And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the Saints that ſlept, aroſe, and came out of the graves after his reſurrection, and went into the holy City, and appeared unto many; Signifying by way of figure and prediction, the common practice hereof at Chriſts coming to quicken his Myſtical dead body, and bring them out of their graves; as it is written, Eſay 26. 19. Thy dead men ſhall live, together with my dead body ſhall they ariſe: awake and ſing, ye that dwell in duſt: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth ſhall caſt out the dead.
The third and laſt ſort of humane life, which the body or Church of Chriſt ſhall by their Head be brought into the exerciſe of, is that of his exalted ſtate, as He aſcended to his God and their God, to his Father and their Father, going before to prepare a place for them; as being unwilling that his Saints ſhould reſt, ſo much as in the ſecond degree of life, ſhining forth in his perſon, by the Reſurrection, without expecting a higher; which he gave notice of to Mary, when he ſaid. Touch me not, for I am not yet aſcended to my Father, John 20. 17. in whoſe houſe there are many Manſions, John 14. 2. which at the end of the thouſand years he hath in ſtore, to lead them into, as their final and utmoſt degree of glory and perfection in heaven, in the immediate and beatifical viſion of God (when the world ſhall be no more mentioned, Rev. 20. 11) and as the laſt retreat to the full Reſt, God hath prepared for his Saints, when upon the expiration of the thouſand years; Satan being let looſe out of his priſon, ſhall have muſtered up his laſt reſerve of force againſt them from all the four quarters of the earth, even Gog and Magog, who for number are as the ſand of the Sea, who come up, on the breadth of the earth, and compaſſe the camp of the Saints about, and the beloved City, the NEW IERUSALEM, which thereupon aſcends up into heaven (their enemies beholding them) into this utmoſt degree of the Reſurrection and their exaltation; as made with Chriſts manhood, to aſcend to their God and his God, to their Father and his Father, in the exerciſe of the life of the firſt-borne of every creature and firſt-begotten from the dead, to the obteining a name above every name, which ſets them with Chriſt, far above all principality and power, might and dominion: the name or nature of any other particular being whatſoever. And all this they attaine unto, by their being made one with Chriſt, Davids OFF-SPRING, as this OFF-SPRING or BRANCH is made one with his owne ROOT, who is the beginning and firſt-begotten from the dead, having in all things the preheminence, as being from above, and over all; made higher then the Heavens, better then the Angels, (as having by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they, ſo that Angels and authorities are made ſubject to him) and therefore in a ſtate, exalted above all natural men, for they are lower then the Angels.
In this capacity, Chriſt in his own perſon, received the pouring out of the Spirit without meaſure; and in this capacity, his body the Church ſhall, as at the ſecond hand, in this day of their aſcenſion and final exaltation, receive the effuſion of this ſame Spirit without meaſure upon them, unto which they have ſpiritual ſences in ſome degree fitted and ſuited, whilſt they are here in the body, (through the newneſſe of life and motion ſet up in them by faith, or the new Creation) which are yet farther heightned and enlarged after the laying down of the body, by the two firſt degrees of glory and power, into which they are brought by the reſurrection from the dead, but ſhall then be ripened to their moſt abſolute capacity, compleat exerciſe, and perfect uſe, upon this their aſcenſion and higheſt advance, at the expiration of the THOUSAND YEARS.
Into this ſtate of glory, Chriſt (as we have ſaid) did arrive in his own perſon, upon his aſcenſion, having received of the Father the promiſe of the holy Ghoſt, or the actual poſſeſſion of this inheritance of God, at Gods right hand, where his man-hood doth ſo become the INGRAFFED WORD of God, that as man, he is taken into the enjoyment of Gods naked glory, and very ſimilitude and forme, beholding him face to face, and converſing with him, as friend ſpeaks with friend, mouth to mouth, ſharing and partaking throughout with the WORD of life, the ROOT of David, in all thoſe firſt creature-operations that are ſet up by the immediate Workman-ſhip of the Trinity, when they perſonally appeare in the WORD: in reſpect whereof, this creature-ſtate in Chriſt, is ſaid to be without Father, without Mother, without deſcent, Heb. 7. having neither beginning of dayes, nor end of life: but made like unto the Sonne of God, abides a Prieſt for ever, at Gods right hand. By which deſcription it may appear, that the manhood of Chriſt, conſidered as the OFF-SPRING and BRANCH, is brought forth into ſuch likeneſſe and equality with the ROOT, as to be made a fit aſſociate to the Son of God, conſidered as the ROOT.
And thus it is (by way of figure and reſemblance with the nature of man, in the firſt degree of life, attained by the reſurrection from the dead, as he is brought forth into the exerciſe of life, like unto Angels, and ſo becomes their equal, yet is not an Angel, nor loſes the ſubordination and inferiority of his natural being, unto the Angels: So alſo, Chriſt is ſtill perfect man, notwithſtanding this his exaltation; yet ſo, as that he is alſo in the ſame perſon, God, as we have ſhewed; and the Saints, that come thus to be branches of the ſame perfect heavenly manhood with him, are ſo nevertheleſſe, in a diſtinguiſhed ſtate of ſubordination and inferiority to him; in the capacity of the Bride, the Lambs wife, who by all this their exaltation are neither Godded with God, nor Chriſted with Chriſt, but are ſtill in the proper capacity of creatures, but of the higheſt and beſt creatures under Chriſt their Head, exalted above all Angels or any particular nature whatſoever; and brought thus at laſt into the enjoyment of the beatifical viſion of God, in the face of the bleſſed Trinity.
Thus we have endeavoured to deſcribe the glory wherein Chriſt is given to be the Head and Husband to the whole ſpiritual ſeed, as actually eſpouſing and taking to wife, the whole general aſſembly of the firſt-borne, bringing them into the ſame glory with himſelf, as he hath received power from the Father, and expreſſing it to be his will and deſire, that they ſhould participate of the ſame glory, and be one with him, as he is one with his Father.
Nevertheleſſe, by this dignity given unto them, they do not attaine unto the priviledge and preheminence that is due only unto their Head, in that Hypoſtatical union, into which he is taken; but have that which belongs to them, as the BRIDE the LAMBS WIFE, in a ſecondary and ſubordinate way, by marriage-union with Chriſt; wherein they are one with Chriſt, as he is one with the Father, Heirs of God, and co-heirs with Chriſt, but a in weaker, inferiour ſtate of glory. This is figured out by the woman, who partakes of the ſame life and glory in kind with the man, as ſhe is his image or glory; and ſo is as his equal, yea, one with him by marriage-union, yet ſingly conſidered, is in a ſtate of ſubordination and inferiority to him.
And as thus we ſee what is the attainment, unto which the right heirs of ſalvation do come, by the reſurrection from the dead, when they ſhall be made like unto Chriſt, and ſee him as he is; ſo we alſo have hereby ſignified unto us, what the wicked do arrive unto, (who muſt alſo partake of the reſurrection from the dead, and be raiſed up in diſhonour, to everlaſting contempt) and that conſiſts, firſt, in their being made equal in the firſt degree of the reſurrection with wicked Angels, and fit aſſociates for them, as ſpirits perfected, to be kept up as veſſels of diſhonour in a way of contempt. Secondly, in that ſtate of diſhonour, into which their body returnes at the reſurrection thereof, wherein it becomes incorruptible, never to be changed more.
And now, for as much as in this manifestation of the ſons of God, there ſhall be found the perfect uſe of the natural ſences of their minde and body, wholly ſubjected by the Croſſe of Chriſt to their ſpiritual and heavenly; in this perfect and compleat exerciſe of their natural ſences, they ſhall hold forth that Law of righteouſneſſe, and the obedience thereof, unto which natural men in thoſe dayes ſhall be required to conform, who ſhall for that end, not only be ſet at liberty, from the bondage of corruption, but ſtand free from the aſſaults and wiles of Satan, (who ſhall be bound up from moleſting them) and be moreover advantaged with all needful and requiſite helps and meanes to further them therein, under the influence of a Miniſtery and Magiſtracy, brought forth in the higheſt and utmoſt perfection and purity that can be enjoyed on earth, managed by the perſon of Chriſt himſelf, and the whole GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the firſt-borne. The book of the creatures ſhall alſo be made legible in the faireſt characters wherein they can be written out, and the Scriptures opened in the higheſt degree of clearneſſe and full comprehenſiveneſſe thereof; an inſtance of which Chriſt gave, after his reſurrection, Luke 24. 27. who beginning at Moſes, and all the Prophets, expounded unto them in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himſelf: which will be the general practice of the Saints after their reſurrection, all along the thouſand yeares Reigne.
Hence it is, that beſides the change that we have already ſpoken of, which is peculiar to the Saints, there ſhall be brought forth by the Saints, as the ſecondary meanes in Chriſts hand, a moſt glorious change, next in order unto theirs upon the whole creation, (as we have already laid open in general) which, in reference to men, the principal part of it, ſhall be as a ſtate of common ſalvation, mutable and temporary, to the affording of the higheſt example and proof that poſſibly can be given, of this common ſtate of purity and excellency, appertaining to the natural man; which men have ſo generally admired, and been ſo fond of, from the beginning of the world to this time. Then it will ſhew it ſelf in its kind, and plainly diſcover what it will ſignifie and amount unto at its beſt, where it ſhall be only reteined ſingle, and want the benefit of aſſociation and conſortſhip with the ſpiritual ſences, which are found in the minde of true Saints, to the making Chriſt admired in all them that do beleeve, and to the abaſing and entirely bringing down the pride and glory of all fleſh.
Thus Chriſt, as ſitting upon this Throne of his glory, and his Saints with him, ſhall make all things new, by bringing forth the ſecond change before mentioned, which ſhall come upon the world, the former things as old, being made to paſſe away, and to receive a conſuming by fire, that all things may be renewed and reſtored into their firſt purity and natural perfection, throughout the whole firſt creation, in all the parts and members of it, by vertue of the powerful influence, that ſhall come from this healing & refreſhing preſence of the Lord, in & with his Saints, for that purpoſe; at which time he ſhall make good that ſaying of the Apoſtle Paul, 1 Cor. 3. 22, 23. All things are yours, and you are Chriſts, and Chriſt is Gods, by granting a general day of JUBILE and releaſe unto all natural beings then in the world, from under the power of ſin and Satan, and ſetting up means for the keeping and preſerving of them, during the thouſand years, in this their ſpotleſſe ſinleſſe nature, (not ſuffering the Devil to annoy them, or deceive the Nations, till the thouſand years be fulfilled) executing upon the rebellious and diſobedient, his fiery vengeance and indignation to the cutting them off from the Land of the living, as Ananias and Sapphira were dealt with, making good that Word of the Lord, Act 3. 23. And it ſhall come to paſſe, that every ſoul which will not hear that Prophet, in theſe his dayes, he ſhall be deſtroyed from among the people. For all thoſe that ſhall then diſcover that they love not the Lord Jeſus Christ in ſincerity, ſhall be Anathema Maranatha, or accurſed, by this coming, and from this preſence of the Lord.
And therefore we are to know, that the natural generation of men which ſhall be in thoſe dayes (how pure and ſpotleſſe ſoever their fleſhly nature be, yet being but mutable) will have either a good or an evil change paſſe upon them. The good we have already ſpoken to; and of the evil, we ſhall ſay but little here, ſince we have ſo at large treated of it alſo, as it is the ſerpentine ſeed, growing up in and under that which is good, to the fixing and hardning of men at laſt, in an implacable rage and enmity againſt Chriſt in his heavenly and ſecond appearance. For this hardning, when it is perfected, proves an unchangable enmity, and brings on the ſpiritual or SECOND DEATH, wrought out in the natural mind, which is not ſubject to the Law of the Spirit of life in Chriſt Jeſus, nor ever can be, no place being now left for repentance.
Theſe veſſels of wrath will then be raiſed to everlaſting contempt, and will have the perfect exerciſe of their natural ſences, in ſpirit, ſoul and body, fitted and prepared for the taking in of the full vials thereof, that ſhall be poured out upon them for ever, from the preſence of the Lord; Yea, for this purpoſe they are alſo heightned to a partaking with the wicked Angels, in the raiſedneſſe of their Angelical beings; ſo as to become of equal capacity with the evil Angels, through the power of the reſurrection from the dead, that raiſes them up into everlasting contempt, and gives them their portion with the Devil and his Angels; unto whom they ſerve as a Temple and habitation, in like manner, as the Saints in their glorified body, are the Tabernacle of God.
And in this Idols Temple, the Devil ſhall be ſo able to transforme himſelf into an Angel of light, by the experience he will have gained during the thouſand years, and ſo to transform his Miniſters alſo as the Miniſters of righteouſneſſe, and Apoſtles of Chriſt, that he ſhall have the confidence (at the end of the thouſand years, when he ſhall again be let looſe) to embody his party of wicked Angels and men, from all quarters, and come up in this ſeeming glorious poſture, to vie it out at laſt with the New Jeruſalem, the City of the living God, in this its earthly ſtate, gathering Gog and Magog to battel, the number of whom is as the ſand of the Sea, who (hoping to carry all before them) ſhall come up on the breadth of the earth, and compaſſe the camp of the Saints about, the Beloved City, deſiring and endeavouring to ſwallow up that Aſſembly of true Saints on earth, who have not had as yet their finall change brought upon them, but are waiting for it, univerſally to be accompliſhed, at the end of the thouſand years. At which period of time the Devil being let looſe, and putting forth his laſt and utmoſt power doth play his game by transforming his party into the likeneſſe of the glorified body of Chriſt and his Saints, gathering into one counterfeit ſpiritual body, all his children and ſervants, whoſe coming then ſhall be with ſuch power and ſignes and lying wonders, as were never put forth by him before.
Then Chriſt, in a moment, ſhall finally perfect his glorious change upon all the Elect, and carry them all up with him to the manſions provided for them in his Fathers houſe; from whence he ſends down fire to devour all their adverſaries, and the whole viſible frame of the creation, caſting the Devil into the Lake of fire where the BEAST and FALSE PROPHET are, and ſhall be tormented for ever, day and night, by vertue of the juſt judgement of God, which then ſhall be revealed againſt the wicked, when the laſt JUDGEMENT ſhall be ſet, and there ſhall appeare a great white Throne, and one ſitting upon it, from whoſe face the heaven and the earth ſhall flee away, ſo that there ſhall be no more place found for them, even, for that heaven and earth, wherein there had beene made a full reſtitution of all things, in thoſe times of refreſhing from the preſence of the Lord, during the reigne of the thouſand years.
Then the great and laſt univerſal day of judgement ſhall be brought forth, when the dead, ſmall and great ſhall be made to ſtand up before God, and then the books will be opened, and another book will be opened, which is the book of life, and the dead ſhall be judged out of thoſe things that are written in the books. And the ſea ſhall give up the dead that are in it, and death and hell ſhall deliver up the dead that are in them: and they ſhall be judged every man according to their works.
To be more particular in deſcribing the ſtate of things, as to the change which does reſpect the whole creature, during this thouſand years, will be needleſſe; conſidering that the general expreſſions are ſo clear and full, that it ſhall be a glorious, pure, incorrupt ſtate unto the whole creation, which ſhall then keep a holy Sabbath and Reſt unto the Lord, a ſeventh part of the time of the worlds continuance, in which there ſhall be no ſowing of the field nor pruning of the vineyard, nor exacting any labour from the creature, but what in voluntary ſervice it ſhall performe by way of homage and worſhip unto Chriſt, for the uſe of his Saints, during the thouſand years, who are yet in their corruptible natural body, expecting their great change. Even ſo, come Lord Jeſus, Come quickly.
FINIS.
End of the text · Henry Vane, The Retired Mans Meditations (1655)