A Discourse Upon the Powers of the World to Come, Treatise · Treatise proper · Discourse
I am now come to the laſt Head of this Diſcourſe I propoſed; Some Brief Reflections, by way of Inference upon the whole.
Infer. 1. This ſhews the great Price God hath put into our Hands, in the Profeſſion of Chriſtianity, of giving mighty Evidence to the Truth of the Scriptures; if the Apoſtacy that hath come upon our Profeſſion, had not Robbed us of the Hearts, to make uſe of it.
For God hath given us a Sure werd of Prophecy, that cannot Fail, nor deceive us in any of the great Futurities, the things to Come, It hath Foretold; They ſhall certainly be Fulfill'd, each in their Seaſon; For Infinite Wiſdom, hath diſigned, and contrived them, that cannot upon any Emergent Unconſidered, Change its Counſel; For it calls the End at the very beginning; Infinite Veracity or Truth hath Declared them, which cannot deceive, it is a ſure word; and Allmighty Power will bring them to paſs.
Now Prophecy, or Declaring things to Come is by God inſiſted upon, as the greateſt Aſſurance of the Divine Being; Declare to us, ſays God, Things to Come, that we may know, you are Gods: Yea, do good, or evill; viz. When you have Foretold them; Let the Things Foretold come to paſs by your power: Now ſeeing our Scriptures are full of Prophecies, on which theſe Evidences muſt be Founded; There wants nothing but Interpretation; Adjuſting what is paſt, to its Juſt Times of Coming to paſs, according to Prophecy, and History; and thereby laying aſſured Grounds of Interpr…ting Prophecy concerning what is to come: Oh, why do we not then concerning Things to Come, which Chriſt hath Promiſed, the Spirit ſhall lead us into and ſhew us; engage our ſelves in Interpretation? Seeing the Apoſtle Peter hath aſſur'd, No Prophecy is of Private Interpretation, or Reſerv'd; even as in things paſt, Relating to Chriſt, which we ſo vehemently Argue upon againſt the Jews, and with ſo great Reaſon, why not in things to come concerning his Kingdom?
Infer. 2. We have hence Authority to Joyn Interpretation of Prophecy, and the Expectation of the Return of Miracles together, that when in Daniel, c. 12. 6. It is Enquired, How long ſhall it be to the End, or to the Perfecting of Wonders? Thoſe great Numbers of Time leading to the Bleſſed Time of the 1335 Days, that ſhall make every one Bleſſed, that Comes to them are Given; Certainly therefore Wonders ſhall be, or Miracles Return, when the Time of Finiſhing is. And thoſe numbers muſt Lead to that Time.
Infer. 3. How Earneſt, and Diligent ſhould we be to be Found of him in Peace, without Spot, and Blameleſs; not in a ſtate of War, when that Prince Comes, with his Name written on his Veſture, and on his Thigh, King of Kings, Lord of Lords; who in Righteouſneſs Judges, and makes VVar, and ſlays with the Sword, that proceeds out of his mouth: Oh, Let us therefore be Diligent, we may be found of him in Peace, and not in the Army of Armageddon, in that Battel with God Almighty; this is the coming to the 1335 Days, A Bleſſedneſs is pronounced upon in Daniel; A Coming with Chriſt, with the Armies of Heaven, in white Linen, on white Horſes, as his Called, Faithful, and Choſen; with him; on his ſide. How looking, and conſiderate ſhould we be upon this Concernment! That we be found truly Fix'd in the Firmament of Chriſtianity, that neither in Regard of the fowl Antichriſtian Errors, nor the inward Impurities of Heart, and Life, we are as wanding, and Falling Stars, for whom is reſerv'd the blackneſs of Darkneſs for ever; but may ſhine, as the Stars, and as the Firmament, Fix'd in that Firmament of Chriſtianity; by the light of which Holy Men are now wiſe to win Souls, and to turn many to Righteouſneſs; from which Antichriſt by Tranſgreſſion Fell, as a Star from Heaven upon Earth, and went down to Open that bottomleſs Pit, and fill'd the World with Darkneſs and Smoke; and ſhall be caſt into his own place at that day, the Lake that Burns Rev. 9. 1.with Fire and Brimſtone; But the Righteous ſhall ſhine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father, in the New Jeruſalem with God and the Lamb; and for Ever.
If theſe Things ſeem hard to be underſtood, let us therefore grow in Grace, and in the Knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. To him be Glory for Ever.
THE END.