A Discourse Upon the Powers of the World to Come, Discourse · Chapter 7

A Discourse Upon the Powers of the World to Come · Discourse · Chapter 7

p. 58CHAP. VII. The Direct Proof of the Power of Miracles Returning, by the following Arguments for it.

I Now Addreſs my ſelf to the Immediate proof, That Miracles are not ſo Ceas'd, notwithſtanding an Interruption of 1260 years, but that they ſhall yet Return, when the Succeſſion of the Kingdom of Chriſt, and the ſervice of that Kingdom ſhall Require it.

Argum. 1. The general Argument I give for it, is this, That Miracles have not perfected the End, and Intention of God in that, whereunto they are appointed; Now all the Works of God are Perfect, and ſhall attain their End; If then they have not done it, it is certain, they muſt return to do it; For God cannot be Diſappointed, or Fruſtrated, in what he Deſigns.

There are two great Ends of Miracles, which have not yet been Anſwered by them, which are Aſſurances to us, Miracles ſhall, and muſt Return.

Partic. 1. Miracles are Appointed by God to Attend the Goſpel in its motion to the Ends of the Earth, as the Goſpel is the p. 59Rod of Chriſt's Strength, by which he is to Rule ſo Extenſively to the Ends of the Earth; That hath not yet been Done; Therefore Miracles muſt Return to do it, as I ſhall now Argue. Firſt, I ſay, the Goſpel was, and is to prevail to the very Ends of the Earth. This we ſee is not yet done; The Goſpel is to Eſtabliſh the Glory of Chriſt, the Glory of his Sacrifice, of his Righteouſneſs, of his Interceſſion, the Greatneſs of his Kingdom; Theſe Things, we know, how Imperfect they are as yet, both in the Clearneſs of their Knowledg, in the Extenſiveneſs of them, and in the Ʋniverſal Communication of the Goſpel to all the World.

Now if any one will ſay, why may not a mighty Pouring out of the Spirit of Chriſt, together with greater Light, and more Abundant Evidences of the Goſpel, and of the Truths of it ſerve in the place of Miracles; ſeeing it is an Affirmation almoſt General, God works no Miracles, except upon Neceſſity?

I Anſwer, It is True, If it pleaſed God; It might be ſo, but then ſo It might have been in the Days of Chriſt, and of the Apoſtles; Do we not certainly know, that the Power of Chriſt, could in the Days of his Fleſh, and by the Preaching of his Servants, with the Preſence of his Spirit, have done all He, and they Did, without Miracles; and wrought yet even to the utmoſt Effect? If he had not pleaſed and thought fit to make Miracles the Convoy, and, as it were, the Triumphant Chariot, in which That Power ſhould Ride: For when the Apoſtle ſaith, God bare them Witneſs with Signs, and Wonders, and Divers Miracles, and Gifts of the Holy Spirit: He yet adds, According to his own Will: He ſaw no ſuch Neceſſity of Miracles, but all was according to his own Will, his own pleaſure.

It is moſt certain, If he had not Freely choſen to Work by Miracles, his Spirit would have immediately Reach'd any Heart without them; we find it did ſo. If Chriſt ſpake to any Perſon; In the very moment, he Roſe up immediately and Followed him; As Matt. 9▪ 9. He ſaw Matthew ſitting at the Receipt of Cuſtom, and he ſaith unto him, Follow me; and Immediately, he made no more words of it, but Roſe up, and …ollowed Him, He Conferr'd not with Fleſh and Blood. He was in a Profeſſion, that required much Intention; He was in the Very Buſineſs of it, and warm, as we ſay in it; and it was in ſuch a Kind of Profeſſion, as Men do not uſe eaſily to be call'd off from, to mind Things of a Religious Concernment; For Publicans and Sinners often in the Goſpel Joyn'd together, were Men of no Tender, or Scrupulous Conſciences; p. 60Yet when Chriſt Commanded, and no Miracle was wrought, he was Obeyed; If a Man among us were waiting upon his main Buſineſs, his way of Gain and Profit; and one ſhould come to him without ſuch a Power, as the Spirit of Chriſt Acts by, and ſay to him; ſuppoſe on any Goſpel Account, when the Man was a Stranger to it; Leave that you are waiting upon, tho it be your Office, and your Intereſt, and attend the Goſpel of Chriſt; what a Scorn would ſuch a one make of ſuch a Propoſal; But the Power of Chriſt can, where he pleaſes, Touch a Heart, Bow a Heart without the outward conveyance of a Miracle; But even a Miracle, tho It may Amuſe, and Startle, yet if the Power of Chriſt come not along with it, it could not do more, than amuſe, and poſſibly move for a while.

In Zaccheus it was the very like Caſe. To Andrew, and Peter Chriſt firſt gave his Commands and his Promiſe, to make them Fiſhers of Men, and they left their Nets, and Follewed him, without any Miracle at firſt, becauſe his Spirit wrought Effectually in all things.

But then on the other ſide, as I have ſhew'd abundantly; Miracles did not prevail, when the Spirit came not; For how many ſaw the Miracles of Chriſt, and yet Believed not?

Indeed in the Converſion of the Apoſtle Paul, Jeſus Chriſt ſaw fit, for the great purpoſes, for the Honour, and for the Manifeſtation of his Kingdom, of the New Creation, there ſhould be a Miraculous Appearance; A Light therefore ſhone round, and other Manifeſtations of the Powerful Viſible Preſence of Chriſt, were given at it.

All this ſhews then another great Reaſon, why God is pleas'd to make Miracles the Conveyance, (as I have ſaid) the Chariot of his Mighty Spirit; and what End, but that God would give Teſtimony, That a New Creation, a New Heaven, a New State of Things, a World to come ſhall be, when the Goſpel ſhall attain its Glory; Then ſhall be a Viſible Repreſentation of the Inward Spiritual Glory; The Caſe, and outſide to the Inward Glory ſhall be the outward Glory, the outward Glorious State of all Things; ſome Parcels and Portions of which are according to the Word of God ſhewn with the Goſpel, at ſuch Times, and in ſuch Caſes, on ſuch occaſions as the Lord ſees meet.

For this is Demonſtration, If without Miracles Chriſt drew Souls, when he pleaſed, even whole Cities (as that of Samaria, John 4.) without any Miracles we Read of; And if, notwithſtanding p. 61Miracles, he left many to the Blindneſs, and Hardneſs of their Heart: It is then Evident; There is no neceſſity of Miracles, but the Spirit powr'd out from on High is Enough, and only Enough with Miracles, or without, for Converſion; It follows then, Miracles are wrought chiefly becauſe God would give Pledges, and, as I ſaid, Parts, and Peices of the World to come before hand; that ſhall be a Viſible Glory over and upon the Spiritual Inviſible Glory of the Goſpel at its Height and Perfection; Tho it may Collatterally ſerve for Confirmation, and a Teſtimony to it now.

Yet ſtill Miracles duly attend the Goſpel in the World, in the Days of Chriſt, and of the Apoſtles; in All its Grander Appearances in the World; as is allowed, and agreed on all ſides; I Argue then, ſeeing the Goſpel is yet in a very Imperfect State of Acquiſt, or of getting the whole World into its poſſeſſion; therefore, when ever the Goſpel is to come out again in that Glory, and Power, as to bring the uttermoſt Ends under it; Then even in Courſe there muſt be, there ſhall be a return of Miracles: Tho as I ſhall Argue much more, becauſe the Goſpel ſhall then Introduce the Kingdom of Chriſt, and the World to come, It muſt be attended by Miracle.

But to Argue firſt, according to the Allowances of Men with whom we now deal, let us look on the ſecond Pſalm v. 7. ſaith Chriſt, I will declare the Decree, the Lord hath ſaid unto me; Thou art my Son, This Day have I begotten thee; Ask of me, and I ſhall give thee the Heathens for thy Inheritance, and the uttermoſt ends of the Earth for thy poſſeſſion. This ſhall indeed be done by Angry Power, by a Rod of Iron, where the Goſpel does not prevail; but yet it is to be done alſo, and principally too by the Goſpel: For Pſal. 110. When the Lord ſhall ſend the Rod of Chriſts ſtrength out of Zion, That he ſhall Rule in the midſt of his Enemies, and, even as other Scriptures ſay, to the very Ends of the Earth; His People ſhall be willing in the Day of his Power and through the Power of Converting Grace, he ſhall, as in regard of Abundance of Converts, have the Dew of his Youth, the Children of his Youth Renewed, at that Time, Like the Eagles, as numerous as the Drops of Dew from the dawn of the Morning. His People perſwaded by the Goſpel, ſhall come in, as Free-will▪Offerings in ſo great numbers: When this Day of Chriſt's Power therefore ſhall be, and the Effects of the Goſpel Preaching ſo mighty, then according to all Rules of Proportion Miracles ſhall return to attend the Goſpel.

p. 62But I Argue further from poſitive, and Expreſs Scriptures beyond Contradiction (and indeed, I do not find many, that are ſo unreaſonable, as to diſagree, however, they may think, that Miracles ſhall not Return) that the Goſpel muſt have yet a greater Publication to the ends of the Earth, than it yet hath had; For we know, what vaſt parts of the Earth there are now, that are without the Goſpel, not only without the Belief of it, but without the very Sound of it; or at leaſt a Sound, that is at all Conſiderable, if any at All; Yet few think it ſhall be ſo to the very End; Few think God hath done, what he intends to do; that God hath gone over the World with the Goſpel, as far as he hath any purpoſe to go; and that he intends to go no further.

But whoever may think ſo, Chriſt Diſcourſing concerning the End, hath told us, Matt. 24. 6, 14. There ſhall be Wars, and Rumors of Wars, but yet we muſt not be ſo ſhaken in Mind, as to think, therefore, The End muſt needs be; For, ſaith he, The End is not yet; It is True, ſaith Chriſt, I have been Prophecyed of as the Prince of Peace; and that under my Government Wars ſhould be made to Ceaſe to the Ends of the Earth; that the Nations ſhould learn War no more; but beat their Swords into Plowſhares, and their Spears into Pruning hooks, That I ſhould Break the Bow, and Cut the Spear, and Arrows Aſunder, and Burn the Chariots in the Fire; And therefore when ever you have Wars, and Rumors of Wars, you may think that it muſt needs be, I muſt Come, and put an End to all Things, as in this State of the World, that I may put an End to Wars; But ſaith Chriſt, Theſe things muſt be, yet the End ſhall not, as yet, be.

And therefore I freely profeſs though we ſee the World at this Day, almoſt All in a Combuſtion, in a Flame; Every one knows what an Univerſal State of War there is at this Time; yet I ſhould not look on this as an Argument of the near Approach of the Kingdom of Chriſt, if there were not more Aſſured Arguments from the Scripture Line of Time; For Chriſt hath told us that there ſhall be ſuch Things all along, and we may ſee by the Hiſtory of All Nations; There have been Wars, and Rumors of Wars all along; and yet this is no Argument, The End ſhall yet be; But v. 14. Chriſt tells us, what ſhall be an aſſured Argument, The End ſhall be; that is, The End of this State of the World; For, ſaith he, v. 14. This Goſpel, This very Goſpel of the Kingdom (it is very Remarkable, It is the Goſpel of the Kingdom of Christ) It ſhall be Preached in all the World for a Witneſs unto p. 63all Nations, and then ſhall the End Come; Surely there can be nothing more Expreſs, and Full to the purpoſe; That there muſt be juſt upon the End, a Preaching of the Goſpel in all the World; Take what Preaching of the Goſpel you will, that hath been before, if the End hath not Followed upon it; That is not the Preaching of the Goſpel, on which the End Follows, that is here ſpoken of; This muſt needs be granted; For when Chriſt ſays, ſuch things ſhall Be, but the End ſhall not be yet: This Preaching ſhall be, and the End ſhall be; Nothing can be more Full, that it is the Preaching of the Goſpel at the End, and no other, that Chriſt ſpeaks of▪ The End muſt immediaiely Follow that Preaching.

And if any one ſhould ſay, By the End, is not meant the End of this State of the World, but the End of the Jewiſh State; I Argue further, If it be the Goſpel of the Kingdom, and be juſt before the End; It muſt bring in the Glory of Christs Kingdom, at that End, or elſe the End comes, and yet the Goſpel hath not done its work, and attain'd its End; Why is it then call'd the Goſpel of the Kingdom, If it brings in an End, and yet does not bring in the Kingdom. Now we know the Kingdom was not brought in by the Jewiſh Deſolations; For beſides, that Iſrael muſt be a Glorious part of Chriſt's Kingdom, as all Scripture Witneſſes; The Roman Pagan Monarchy kept out the Kingdom of Chriſt for near 300 years after the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem, and the Papal Roman Monarchy hath (except a ſhort Symbol of it in the Chriſtian Empire) kept it out ever ſince; ſeeing therefore the Kingdom has not come, The End has not come; and if the End be not come, that Preaching of the Goſpel, Chriſt intended, has not yet been: I Argue laſt of all; the Goſpel had not been Preached in All the World, before the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem, nor ſo far, as it hath been ſince; Nor was any Thing, but the Kingdom of Chriſt the proper Thing to be Witneſſed to all Nations; the concernment being ſmall to ſeveral Nations in the Deſtruction of the Jews, eſpecially if compar'd with the Kingdom, which the Goſpel is the Goſpel of; or with the End of this World, that is juſt before that Kingdom. By all which it is moſt manifeſt, there is yet the greateſt Preaching of the Goſpel to come, that ever yet hath been; why then ſhould Miracles be Divided from it, ſeeing all acknowledg they are ſo proper to it? And why, ſeeing it is the Goſpel of the Kingdom, and Miracles and the Kingdom are ſo together, that Chriſt ſaid, If I do indeed Act by a Miraculous Power, no doubt, the Kingdom of God in a gracious Offer of it is come upon you? And how ſeeing the End, and the State after it depend p. 64on a Miraculous Power to bring them in, can Miracles be divided from Them!

Another Scripture I Argue upon, is Rev. 14. 6. After Chriſt had Riſen; After the Apoſtles Preaching ſome Numbers of years; ſome reckon 70 years, ſome more before the Revelation was given; all which time the Goſpel was Running, and (if at any time yet) Flying through the World; yet it is ſaid, After that, I ſaw another Angel Fly through the midſt of Heaven, having the everlaſting Goſpel to Preach to them that Dwell on the Earth, and to every Nation, Kindred, Tongue and People; ſaying with a loud Voice, Fear God, and give Glory to him; For the Hour of his Judgment is come; I deſire you would weigh this; ſaith our Lord; The Goſpel muſt be Preached to All Nations, and then the End ſhall be; ſaith John, I ſaw an Angel having the Goſpel to Preach, and to ſay, the Hour of his Judgment is come; therefore no Preaching of the Goſpel but at the Hour of his Judgment is the Preaching here ſpoken of.

I appeal therefore; if there Remain ſuch a Preaching of the Goſpel, as never has been yet, ſo Great, ſo Mighty, ſo Univerſal, that ſhould come to every Nation, Tongue, and Language; whether then ought not to be upon All Christians an Expectation of the Return of Miracles? I appeal to the Reaſon of All Men; and moſt particularly to the Searchers of theſe Things; For tho it may look like a ſingular Opinion, that Miracles ſhould return again; yet it is no ſingular Opinion, that Miracles ſhould return again; yet it is no ſingular Opinion, That the great End of Miracles is to go along with the Preaching of the Goſpel; and to be a Testimony from Heaven to it; This is generally Conſented in; If therefore there remains ſo great and univerſal a Preaching of the Goſpel, certainly Miracles ſhall return to wait upon it.

And how nearly this is Conjoyn'd with that World to come, whereof we ſpeak, is Evident; In that it is call'd the Everlaſting Goſpel; even as the Reſtitution of All Things is that, which hath been ſpoken of by the Mouth of all the Prophets, ſince the World began, Acts 3. 18. &c. And as the Finiſhing of the Myſtery of God is ſaid, Rev. 10. 6. to be that, which he had Evangeliz'd or Preached as Goſpel, before, or of old, by his Servants the Prophets; So the Everlaſting Goſpel muſt needs be that which hath been always Preaching, and Declaring; It muſt be therefore the Preaching of that Reſtitution, of that Myſtery always Preached as Goſpel.

Again it is ſaid; The Hour of his Judgment, that is, of his Government, or of his Kingdom is come; For his Kingdom is both Judgment in a ſtrict ſenſe, or the Univerſal Government p. 65of Chriſt; So that it muſt be, as Chriſt call'd it in the forenam'd Matth. 24. The Goſpel of the Kingdom. Thus it is every way prov'd, there muſt be a Return of Miracles; both in Regard, the Intention of God in Miracles is not accompliſhed in the Univerſal Preaching of the Goſpel; or in the Kingdom brought in by the Preaching of the Goſpel; of which Kingdom, the Goſpel is the Goſpel; and for the Bringing in of which Kingdom, or Reſtitution, or World to come, Miracles are ſo cloſely joyn'd with the Goſpel.

Particular 2. But I come to a ſecond Particular, to ſhew Miracles muſt Return; becauſe the great End of Miracles in Bringing in the Kingdom of Chriſt, the Reſtitution of All Things, the World to come, the New Heaven, the New Earth, is not yet Finiſh'd, and Perfected; ſeeing, as I have, I hope, fully made out; All Miracles are but Parts, Portions, Parcels of that New Creation, Speciminous Appearances of that great Power on the Throne, that ſaid, Behold I Create All New.

Now that Chriſt is to have ſuch an Univerſal Kingdom, and in a Reſtitution of All Things, is ſo Evident, that they, who would deny it, are Forc'd to Fly to a Spiritual Kingdom, and to a Providential Kingdom; In the Spiritual Kingdom, they think all Things may be ſaid to be now Reſtor'd and made New; In the Providential Kingdom, They think, All Things Subdued under him, and whatever is beyond Theſe, they Conſign over to Eternity.

Now it is moſt True, All theſe Kingdoms are to be acknowledg'd; and I do Acknowledg them with all my Heart; and I do confeſs, It would be prejudice enough againſt any Doctrine that ſhould deny, that Chriſt hath now a Spiritual Kingdom▪ a Providential Kingdom; and a Kingdom in Eternity, he ſhall moſt aſſuredly have.

But yet that he hath diſtinct from theſe, a Kingdom of Reſurrection, of Reſtitution, of Judgment, putting All Things under him; a Kingdom of New Heaven and New Earth; and before the State of Eternity; I will endeavour to make out; and that this being not yet accompliſhed, There cannot be yet ſuch a Ceſſation of Miracles, but that they muſt Return to ſerve ſo great an End.

That h…s Providential Kingdom or Spiritual Kingdom (if any ſhould think of That) have not brought all things under him is moſt p. 66Evident by two places of Scripture; Heb. 2. 8. Thou haſt put all Things in ſubjection under his Feet, For in that he hath put all Things in ſubjection under him, He left nothing, that is not put under him; but yet in the ſenſe, wherein All things are put under him; It is my poſitive Doctrine, ſaith the Apoſtle, All Things are not yet put under him. It was in the Time, when Chriſt was Riſen, the Apoſtle ſaid this; when he was Aſcended, when he was Crown'd with Glory and Honour. For this, ſaith the Apoſtle, we do ſee, viz. by an Eye of Faith; thus he Diſtinguiſhes between what we do ſee, and what we do not ſee, ſo much as by the Eye of Faith. I am ſure, If All Things were not put under him then; They are not put under him Now; For there was a far greater Appearance of All things put under him at that Time, Than of All things being put under him at this Time; even in regard of his Providential Kingdom, and much more in regard of his Spiritual Kingdom; and that his Kingdom in Eternity is not the Kingdom, wherein All things ſhall be put under him is moſt Evident; For when All Things are put under him, even the laſt Enemy Death; then he delivers up the Kingdom to God and the Father, that God may be all in all; which ſurely, If we can have any Apprehenſions of the Eternal Kingdom muſt needs be that Kingdom of Eternity; Before the Kingdom of Eternity, therefore All Things muſt be put under him. And ſeeing the laſt Enemy, that is to be Subdued is Death; The Spirit of God hath given us the exact Time of the Subduing the Laſt, even Death; And it is not till after the Thouſand years of the Kingdom of the firſt Reſurrection; For then the Devil, All the Dead, and Death and Hell are caſt into the Lake; ſo that, as it is ſo far Subdued in the beginning of the Thouſand years, as that the Dead Saints are rais'd, the Living Saints Chang'd; So at the End of the Thouſand years it is utterly Aboliſh'd, and can never again make the leaſt appearance or poſſibility of Entrance any more for ever; upon any of the Saints, who are ſecur'd in an Eternity of Life; ſo it remains ſhut up with its own Dead for ever; And this is that Second Death oppos'd to the Firſt Reſurrection. Rev. 20. 14, 15.

The ſecond Scripture I Rely upon for the Proof, that the Kingdom of Chriſt, wherein All things ſhall be brought under him is not yet ſo Accompliſhed; as that All Things ſhould be indeed under him, till the Time Appointed by the Father; is that Evident one Heb. 10. 13. where the Apoſtle ſpeaking of Chriſts ſitting down on the Right Hand of God, ſays, He ſits expecting, till his Enemies be made his Footſtool; Expecting; Now, as the Apoſtle ſaith, what we ſee fulfill'd, and accompliſhed, why do p. 67we yet hope for, there is no more work for Hope; If the thing be ſeen, and Fullfilled; ſo to what End is Expectation of a Thing already come to paſs; why ſhould any one ſit expecting, for what he hath already in Hand: It is, as if a Man ſhould ſay, when the Sun is up, and hath Fill'd the Air with Light, and ſpread his Beams upon the whole Earth; I am waiting to ſee when the Sun will Riſe: You know that Man would be counted a Fool, or a Madman of any one, that ſhould hear him ſay, when the Sun is in his Eye, and its Rays ſpread on the Mountains about him; I am waiting to ſee, when the Sun will Riſe; ſo if Chriſt ſhould ſit in Heaven Expecting, that his Enemies ſhould be made his Footstool, and they are already his Footſtool, would it not be to impute the greateſt Folly to Chriſt? Seeing therefore in this ordinary way of Gods Government of the World, The Enemies of Chriſt are no more probable to be made his Footſtool, than they have been theſe ſo many Hundred Years now paſt; There muſt be Miraculous Appearances of God for the bringing this great thing to paſs, and therefore they cannot be ceaſed ſo, as not to return; For All the Scripture Witneſſes, God will do this great Thing with great Wonders of Power; He will be rais'd up out of his Holy Habitation, when his Enemies ſhall fall before him.

Thus we find in the Revelation, in the very beginning of the Kingdom of Chriſt, or for the making way to its Succeſſion; there muſt be a Raiſing thoſe Witneſſes from the Death, under which they had long lain, and under which they continue to Lye, Till a Spirit from God enter into them, like a Reſurrection, which we all acknowledg Miracle; even as the Aſcenſion to Heaven in a Cloud Following upon it; there muſt be a Dreadful Earthquake, a Myſtical Earthquake, wherein the Powers of Nature have nothing to do; and ſo it muſt muſt be immediately from the Power of Chriſt; wherein that Gabaliſtick (as I may call it) or Figurative Tenth of the great City Falls; that is; all the Kings, that now give their power to the Beaſt, (which Prophecy ſo often gives by the Number of the Toes of the Feet of the Image, the Feet of Iron, and of Clay;) Theſe Ten ſhall Fall off from the Beaſt, and that Roman Woman they call, Holy Church ſit…ing upon it; whom then They ſhall hate, Seven thouſand Names, thoſe many Orders of Antichriſtian Founding; from the Pope, that ſits on the Throne, to the meaneſt of that Hierarchy, the pooreſt Fryars that profeſs Mendicancy, or Beggary; All theſe ſhall lie like the Witneſſes ſlain, wholly diſpirited; but ſhall not, as they, ever any more be Viſited p. 68with any Spirit of Life; The Remnant ſhall be Affrighted, and give Glory to the God of Heaven; that is, multitudes of the Proſelites of Popery ſhall be Affrighted, and give Glory to the God of Heaven; The Second Woe, that is, the Tyranny of the Turks, that hath hung like a Scourge over the Chriſtian (as we call it) World, and particularly lain with a full weight upon thoſe, we Stile Greek and Eaſtern Chriſtians, This ſhall paſs off; All theſe, when we come to ſee them, what Wonders will they appear! when we ſee them, we ſhall Account them Miracles, and they ſhall bring in greater Works than theſe, even the Kingdom of Chriſt in Succeſſion, proclaim'd by thoſe Loud Voices in Heaven, ſounding down to Earth; The Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Christ: So while theſe things are to be done, and yet are not done; Miracles, tho ſuſpended, are yet not ceaſed.

Arg…m. 2. The ſecond Argument I give, Miracles are not Ceas'd, However ſuſpended, is; That Scripture, Acts 2. 17. For there the Apoſtle Peter is giving an account of the ſame Things, as in this Text, Heb. 2. 4 Thoſe Divers Signs, and Wonders, and Gifts of the Holy Spirit; ſo ſays the Apoſtle out of Joel, And it ſhall come to paſs in thoſe days, I will powre out my Spirit on All Fleſh, and your Sons and Daughters ſhall Prophecy, &c. before that Emphatical, that Illuſtrious day of the Lord come. Indeed the Apoſtle does ſay, This is that was ſpoken of; It began then; God gave a very bright ſhow of it then; It looked out upon the World with a great Glory at that Time; But an Eclipſe came upon it; it is yet notwithſtanding due to that great and Notable Day of the Lord, that Day, which he calls by a word that ſignifies Illustrious, Apparent, Glorious; and ſo, as we Tranſlate, Notable Day; How Notable, and ſo Illustrious, but by many Wonderful Magnifyings of Divine Power upon it in ſo Immediate a way; So indeed none can deny, that Miraculous Powers muſt needs introduce that Day of Judgment according to the general Notion, or Doctrine of it.

But ſaith the Apoſtle further, Before that Notable and Illustrious Day of the Lord Come; Now to have ſpoken this only of that Thing, that was ſeventeen Hundred years ago already, or very near it; and we don't know, how many more it may be, if we have not a True Judgment upon Time by the Scripture Line of Time, and the Expoſition of the Sure word of Prophecy p. 69concerning the nearneſs of that Day, we don't know how much longer, how many years more it may be to it; and yet to call this pouring out of the Spirit, before it, that was ſo long ago, as if it were but juſt before it; ſeeing God ſpeaks to us, as to Creatures of Time; is a very unexpected way of ſpeaking in any, and not eaſy to be Allowed to be the way of the Divine Spirits ſpeaking; conſidering how often Scripture ſpeaks of Great Things juſt upon that day, and not ſo long before it.

This indeed ſeems ſo unreaſonable to very ſagacious Interpreters, that they cannot acquieſce to, before that Day, ſo long before it; and therefore have found this way to ſalve it; to underſtand this Notable Day of the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem, and of the day of the Vengeance of God upon the State of the Jews; I do not deny, but that is made every where a Type of the very Day of Judgment; But that Day of Deſolation, however on many accounts very great, is not yet great enough to Anſwer as a Reaſon of ſo great a Thing as before that Day only; nor will it be adjuſted to the things ſpoken of in the Prophet Joel, nor to the great Things every where ſpoken of in Scripture, as coming near that day.

It cannot therefore in juſt Reaſon be underſtood only of that Day of the Judgment of God upon that City and Temple; nor indeed at all of it, but as of a Type and Symbol of that Day; and yet if be not ſo underſtood, except another powring out of the Spirit be understood before that day as near; we make a wide breach, and Gap of Inconſequence in the Apoſtles Diſcourſe; and yet ſtill the general Opinion even of Chriſtians, and their uſual way of Diſcourſe, makes that Notable Day of the Lord no nearer, than it was a Thouſand and more years ago; So far are we from what the Apoſtle Requires, of haſtning on to that Day of God.

Argum. 3. I Argue from the great Truths, that are yet to be Preached in Declaration of, and order to this Kingdom of Chriſt. For Miracles are to give Teſtimony to Truth, when God hath great Truth to Communicate to the World, and that Univerſally to be given; As the great Things of the Goſpel had ſuch a Glory of Miracles to Seal them; even ſo the Truths, that are given proper to that Time, ſhall be Witneſſed, and Sealed with mighty Power of Miracles: The great Maſters of Diſcourſe concerning Miracles are herein Agreeing; that one great Reaſon of Miracles is to recommend ſome Manifeſtations of God; p. 70that had not been before made, at leaſt, ſo far known, or ſo plainly known, or ſo convincingly known.

I doubt not therefore, every One will be ready to ſay; hath not God made known all Truth already? In theſe laſt days hath he not ſpoken all Truth by his Son, and by his Apoſtles that heard him? hath he not Seal'd up, as we ſay, the Canon of his Word, the Treaſury and Standard of Truth? What Truths therefore can there be expected, that will need or require the preſence of Miracles to give Honour and Aſſurance to them? Is not this very thing a ſufficient Argument againſt any Further Expectation of Miracles, that there are no ſuch New Diſcoveries of Truth, to which they can be proper?

I will therefore give three Inſtances of the Truth, that at leaſt, in the further more Glorious Manifeſtation of, eſpecially after the Time of the Apoſtaſy, God will grace with Miracles.

I. The firſt great Truth, that ſhall be in a wonderful manner Preached, is, The Freeneſs of the Grace of God in Chriſt, the riches of Redemption in his Blood.

I do acknowledg, This is Preached now ſo, that there is a very high meaſure, as I may ſay of yea yea; yea, and Amen, concerning it, among the Servants of Chriſt; both as to Converſion, and Calling, according to his purpoſe, and as to the Juſtification of Sinners Freely by his Grace, through the Redemption that is in Jeſus Chriſt: But it muſt needs be confeſs'd alſo; there is a great deal of Cloud, and Darkneſs concerning it; It is much Conteſted and Encountred on all Sides.

This was the New Song, that was Sung, Revel. 5. ſaying to the Lamb, Thou art Worthy to take the Book of the Kingdom, and to open the Seals thereof; For thou waſt ſlain, and haſt Redeemed us by thy Blood out of every Tongue, People, Kindred, and Nation: And this Redeeming by the Blood of the Lamb, that was ſlain, was the moſt eſpecial Truth, that Miracles at firſt gave Teſtimony unto in the Apolical Times.

Now in the Deep Times of the Apoſtacy, this New Song was loſt alltogether; and tho at the Reformation it was in ſome meaſure Recovered, yet even as …he Reformation hath ſunk, as almoſt all Conſidering Men allow; ſo hath the high and Lofty Ayres of this Song been Lowerd; So that at the Time of the Witneſſes coming out of their Sackcloth, and when the Servants of God, who have all this Time bore a Seal of Concealment on their Foreheads, ſhall appear with p. 71the Fathers Name on their Foreheads in open, legible Characters, made ſo plain, that he that Runs may read them.

This Song therefore, ſhall be as it were a New Song; I lay great ſtreſs on this word, foreign, as it were a New Song: It is not a New Song; For it was Sung in the Days, and Times of the Apostles; but yet it hath been ſo much loſt, that it is, as it were a New Song: And the Hundred forty four Thouſand, that bare the Seal of the Living God in their Foreheads▪ ſhall now bear his Name openly on their Foreheads: Now the Spirit of God hath aſſur'd us, It is the Law of the Name of God, that when that Name is Near, His wondrous works ſhall declare it. So then Theſe Hundred forty four Thouſand ſinging this, though but as it were, New Song, ſhall ſing it with the Fathers Name on their Foreheads: That is, with an open Manifeſtation of Miracles: And it being as a New Song, It calls for a Power of Miracles to make the manifeſtation of it Honourable in the Reſtoration, even as it was in the firſt manifestation, or ſinging of it by the Apoſtles; and None then ſhall be able to open their mouths againſt it; The Harpers Harping ſo ſweetly, and Theſe Sweet Singers of Iſrael Taking this Song from them, ſhall drown and overcome All other ſounds; And that this may be moſt Evidently; The Fathers Name, with his wonderful Works declaring it, ſhall be on their Foreheads: And ſo it ſhall go along with them in the propagation of that Doctrine or that Song.

And as the Sealing on the Forehead, was an interruption, and ſtop put on Miracles, that there could be no Miracle wrought during the Time of that Sealing, with which the Witneſſes Sackcloath was concurrent; So when the Seal is taken off, and the Name Written on the Forehead, Miracles cannot but be; and then ſhall that New Song be Sung, as one Principal Point to which Miracles ſhall give Witneſs.

And then ſhall no Dog move his Tongue againſt this Truth; as the Apoſtle calls them Doggs, that were of the Conciſion, cutting ſhort the Robes of the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, to the Diſhonour of Chriſt, and of his Saints, for thereby the Saints ſhame is ſeen: In that their own Righteouſneſs is worſe than Filthy Raggs; Now ſuch cut ſhort, I ſay, the Robes of the Pure and Perfect Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, that they may find room and ſpace for the Works of men: And as Dogs they bark at the Free grace of God: But then none ſhall ſo much as move their Tongue, againſt that ſo Glorious Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt.

p. 722. The Second Truth to be Sealed and Witneſſed to by Miracles ſhall be the Free Declaration of the Immediate Appearance of the Kingdom of Chriſt: We know, Any, that now ſpeak of it, ſpeak of it with greateſt Diſadvantage; we are as the Jews to the Spiritual Kingdom of Chriſt; they could not believe that; So we cannot Believe this Spiritual Kingdom, that hath been now in the time of an Adulterous, and perverſe Generation kept ſo low, as to all Glory of Appearance; that it ſhall now ſhine out, and be ſeen in Glory, the Kingdom of the great Son of Man, that hath been ſpoken of by all the Prophets, and by the Apoſtles of our Lord, and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt; when therefore that Kingdom ſhall come into its Succeſſion in the Days of the ſeventh Angel, when he ſhall begin to ſound, and that Myſtery of God be Immediately to be Finiſhed; a Miraculous Power ſhall Cleave this preſent World, ſo that through the Clefts, and Breaches of it, we ſhall ſee the World to come on every ſide; Theſe Miracles Attending that Swift Miniſtry of the Flying Angel will make all indeed know, that the Hour of his Judgment, or Kingdom and Government is come: For that is undoubtedly the great Truth of the Everlasting Goſpel, that the very Hour of his Judgment is come; and if the Goſpel in its Firſt Preaching, when that Hour of his Judgment was not come, had Miracles to Seal it; how much more, when that Everlaſting Goſpel is Preached, and the very hour of his Judgment is come, ſhall Miracles certainly wait upon that Everlaſting Goſpel, not only as the Goſpel, and as then more Admirably Appearing to be the Everlaſting Goſpel, but as it Brings that great Truth, that the Hour of his Judgment is come; This Power of Miracles ſhall Exalt that Voice, and make it a Loud Voice, ſounding through the midſt of the Heavens of the Lord.

Argum 4. A Fourth Argument that ſtrongly perſwades me; There ſhall be a Return of Miracles is that Scripture, Jerem. 16. 16. A place I deſire we may often Meditate upon; becauſe the Time of its Fullfilling is very near, and even at the very door; Oh, let us Pray that Prayer of Jeremy joyn'd with that great Aſſurance; Oh Lord, my S…rength, and my Fortreſs, my Refuge in the Day of Affliction; the Gentiles ſhall come unto thee from the Ends of the Earth, and ſay, Our Fathers have Inherited Lies, and things werein there is no Profit: Nothing will make God appear a greater Refuge in the day of Afflictipn, than to be deeply apprehenſive of this; For God that can do this, can be a Refuge in the moſt Extreme neceſſity. How ſhall this Work on Men, to p. 73hear ſuch Gentiles ſaying, Shall a Man make himſelf Gods, and they are no Gods? How will this Affect all that Hear, and draw them off from their Idols of Silver, and of Gold!

Or theſe words may be look'd upon, as Gods words by the Prophet; ſhall a man be ſo unreaſonable, or bruitiſh, as to make Gods to himſelf of them, that are no Gods? And ſo they are rather to be taken; but which way ever we take them; Therefore, or Becauſe of this ſo great Miſpriſion of me, ſaith God, I will this once cauſe them to know my Hand, and my might, and they ſhall know, that my Name is Jehovah; Now the Hand of God, and Might, and Power of God, are every where in Scripture, expreſſions of Miracles; And they ſhall for this once know my might; It is an expreſſion to be paralell'd with that, Heb. 12. 27. Yet once more I ſhake Heaven, and Earth; So once more, the Nations ſhall know my Might; God hath oftentimes in one way, or other made the Nations know his might; eſpecially in the Days of Chriſt, he made them know his might in a ſenſe of Miraculous Power, above any time before it; but the making the Nations know for this once, is the making them know for once, that they ſhall never need to be made to know any more; That Once ſhall be ſo Efficacious a making to know. For ſo the Apoſtle hath Taught us to underſtand This Once, or yet Once: It is taking away, or removing every thing, that is to be moved out of its place by ſuch ſhaking; ſo the making the might to be known this once, is the utmoſt removing all the Pagan Ignorance, or Bruitiſhneſs of making Gods to themſelves, that are no Gods. Now ſeeing the Gentiles have not yet been ſo made to know, it is manifeſt, It was not this Once, that God here ſpeaks of; For it muſt needs have produced the Effect ſo, that it never ſhould have needed to be produced any more; It muſt therefore be the laſt making known; and conſequently the Miraculous Power muſt Remain to that laſt making known; which is therefore great Proof, the Power of Miracles is not ſo ceas'd, but that it ſhall Return.

Argum. 5. Another Argument I would give for the return of Miracles, is that Prayer, Acts 4. 29, 30. Lord grant unto thy Servants, that with all boldneſs, they may ſpeak thy word, and that Signs and Wonders may be done by the Name of thy Holy Child Jeſus. I deſire to know, what words of Limitation are to be found in this Prayer? or where any place of Scripture can be found, where the Servants of God are Diſcharg'd from expecting Miracl…s any more? Where is it ſaid, Hitherto ſhall Miracles go, p. 74and no further? Where is it ſaid, they ſhall ceaſe here; or here, They are ceaſed, here are the Bounds? I have given Leave, They ſhall reach unto this Point, but no further? There was a Sealing up Scripture from the Day of Malachy the Prophet, until John the Baptiſt his Times; With him Scripture began again by the Evangeliſts. There is a ſealing up Scripture again by the Apoſtle John in the end of his Goſpel, c. 20. 39. c. 21. 25. Theſe things are written, that ye might Beleive, and if All things were written, the World could not contain them. It ſeems order'd by Peculiar Diſpoſes of Providence, that the Books of Scripture ſhould be claſp'd up with that End of the Revelation, c. 22. 18, 19. But there is no bound ſet to Miracles, or Miraculous Power; It is true it hath ceaſed, but by no Act cutting off, as I may ſay, the Entail; tho there is a ſuſpenſion; This Prayer therefore, altho it hath had a long Interruption in its effect, yet it hath no ceſſation put upon it; but It ſhall prevail unto the Kingdom of Chriſt, from the Promiſe of which, Pſal. 2. it was taken; The Hand of God, we know, is not ſhortned, that it ſhould work no more Miracles; but the Apoſtaſy fallen upon the Profeſſion of Chriſtianity hath brought forth this long Interval; yet the Lords Hand ſhall be again ſtretched out, and ſhall not be called back, till he hath accompliſhed the thoughts of his Heart; and whatever he hath ſpoken concerning the Glory and Kingdom of Chriſt; and of that World to Come, whereof, ſaith the Apoſtle, we ſpeak, when we ſpeak of the various Miracles, and Gifts of the Holy Spirit according to his own will; there being ſo cloſe a Connexion between the one, and the other.