The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened, Parable · Verse 13 · Question 2
Queſt. 2. Why is that called the Coming of Chriſt, which yet ('tis thought) will be ſo long before his Perſonal or Proper Coming?
Anſw. Becauſe of the full Reſemblance that is between them, as may be thus made out.
1. With reſpect unto the Signs of Both. Chriſt's Perſonal Coming will be notified by many Signs, both in the Sun, and Moon, and Stars, and Earth, and Sea, and Powers of Heaven, Luke 21. 25, 26: ſo will This Coming be, We have had wonderfull ſigns of ſuch a Nature (and in the Letter) of Later years; though we Now ſee them not, Pſalm. 74. 9. And in the Myſtery yet more Abundantly. The Scriptures (fitly anſwering to the Sun, or Fountain of Created Light) have been extreamly Darkned, as Mat. 24. 29; and more eſpecially ſome Part thereof. And that which Borroweth its Light from thence (or Moonlike Preaching) hath been turn'd into Blood, as Joel 2. 31. at leaſt not given her Light, Mat. 24. 29. Church-Officers are called Stars, Rev. 1. 20; and theſe have ſadly fallen, Mat. 24. 29; at leaſt withdrawn their ſhining, Joel 3. 15. The Earth (or Civil State of things) hath oft-times Quaked. The Sea (or Many Waters) denoteth People, Rev. 17. 15; whoſe Waves have roared. The Powers of Heaven alſo, (or of the Churches) have been ſhaken.
2. With reference unto the ſtate of things Immediately foregoing Both. Elijah muſt goe before the Coming of that Great and Terrible Day, Mal. 4. 5. and ſuch a Meſſenger muſt Prepare Chriſt's way into his Temple, Mal. 3. 1; ſomething Like unto which our Eyes have ſeen. Chriſt's Perſonal Coming will be uſhered in with great Oppreſſions and all manner of Wickedneſs, Mat. 24. 29: ſo will his Preſent coming be; by means of Hypocritical Profeſſors firſt, and the Aſſyrian afterwards, Iſa. 10. 5, 6. Yet will all ſorts of ſinners, Then, be Careleſs or ſecure, 1 Theſſ. 5. 3. ſo will they Now, both in Jeruſalem, Iſa. 32. 9. and in the Iſles of Magog, Ezek. 39. 6. But they will Then be Generally deſtroyed, 2 Pet. 3. 10. ſo will they Now, as by an Earthquake, Immediately foregoing it, Rev. 11. 13, 15.
3. With reference unto the Manner of both theſe Comings. His Perſonal coming will be with the Laſt Trump of all, 1 Cor. 15. 52: and This will be with the Laſt Trump of ſeven, Rev. 11. 15. That coming will be with a Glorious Train of Saints and Angels, 2 Theſſ. 1. 7. 10. and ſo will This with a Glorious Change of Church-Members, Iſa. 4. 3, 4. and Church-Officers, Zech. 3. 4, 5. who are oft-times called Angels. That coming will be on a ſudden, 1 Theſſ. 5. 3: and ſo will This, Rev. 3. 3. and 11. 14. That Coming will be with Clouds, Mat. 24. 30. and ſo will This, Pſal. 97. 2. both in the Letter and Myſtery. That Coming will be with a ſhout, 1 Theſ. 4. 16. and wailing, Rev. 1. 7. juſt ſo will This, with reference unto a Diverſe ſort of Perſons then, Rev. 11. 17, 18. and 18, 19, 20.
4. VVith reference to the Effects (and Principal Deſigned Ends) of both. He will [Then] raiſe the Dead, John 5. 28, 29. So will he [Now] Revive his VVork, Hab. 3. 2. and People, Iſa. 26. 19. as to their Joy, Pſal. 85. 6. He will [Then] Reign, and all his Servants with him, Rev. 20. 4. So will he [Now] Rev. 11. 15. 17. before his Ancients Gloriouſly, Iſa. 24. 23. He will [Then] Judge the Quick and Dead at his Appearing, or at his Kingdom, 2 Tim. 4. 1. So will he Now, Rev. 11. 18. He will then Bind the Devil, Rev. 20. 2. and Satan will be Rebuked by him Now, Zech. 3. 2. whoſe wrath (a little before) will therefore be the Greater, as of Old, Rev. 12. 12. That Perſonal Coming will bring Reſt unto the Saints, 2 Theſ. 1. 7. and ſo will This, Iſa. 10. 27. and 33. 20.
5. VVith reference to what will follow both a long while after their Beginning. Chriſt's Perſonal Reign will be a Thouſand Years, Rev. 20. 4. and This Dominion is (in ſome Reſpect) for Ever, or Everlaſting, Dan. 7. 27. That Coming will Eſtabliſh All, in their Reſpective preſent ſtates, Rev. 22. 11. and ſo will This, as to the Generality of Old Profeſſors, viz. the VViſe and Fooliſh Virgins, Dan. 12. 10. But Satan will be Looſed Then at Laſt, Rev. 20. 7, 8. So will he Now, as is Apparent from his being Bound (a little after) for a longer Time, Rev. 20. 2. And as there will be [Then] a further Reſurrection, Rev. 20. 12. ſo will the Literal Jews be Now Converted, Rev. 16. 12. or Raiſed from the Dead, Rom. 11. 15. And as Chriſt's Perſonal Kingdom [then] will be given up unto the Father, 1 Cor. 15. 24. So will the Saints Dominion [Now] be given up unto the Son.
6. With reference unto the ſignal Property of both, viz. the Concealment of that very Time, wherein they will begin: which (in Relation to them Both) is here aſſerted, and other-where, Pſal. 74. 9. Mat. 24. 36. 42. Mark 13. 33. 35. 32. This ladeth me to the Next Enquiry.