A Discourse Upon the Powers of the World to Come, Treatise · Treatise proper · Part 2 – Part 3
Argument 1 That which I have already ſaid is moſt manifeſt; That the mention of the Kingdom of Chriſt, to which the Apoſtles Diſcourſe before made haſte, and to which the whole Epiſtle after iſſues, hath immediate Relation to this Context: For the Connexion and Coherence is ſo cloſe and ſtrict, that there is no dividing the one from the other; as will appear in the following Particulars. For,
2. The Apoſtle gives notice what Kingdom of Chriſt He had regard to, when He Styles it in Remembrance of that Kingdom Promiſed in Daniel, the Everlaſting Kingdom, as it is there Styl'd, C. 7. an Everlaſting Dominion, and a Kingdom, that ſhall not be deſtroyed.
3. In that ſo Emphatically, He gives the Title of Saviour to Chriſt; as the Apoſtle Paul joyns the appearance of the Great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt together: For therein above All Chriſt is ſeen, and will be known to be the Saviour, Reſtoring All that was Ruined by the ſin of the Firſt Adam.
4. The great care the Apoſtle expreſſes, They ſhould have that Kingdom in remembrance, although they were eſtabliſh'd in the preſent Truth, that Miniſters but an entrance into that Kingdam; as was intimated before.
5. The Apoſtle, as the New-Teſtament generally does, calling the Kingdom of Chriſt his coming, remembers the Admonition Chriſt gave him of hss dying, or putting off that Tabernacle before he ſhould ſo come; whereas the Apoſtle had an expectation of that Kingdom immediately, as they ſaid; Wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdom to Iſrael.
6. The Apoſtle giving ſo full a Repreſentation of the Transfiguration, which was it ſelf an admirable Landſkip, and a Model of it, gives it on purpoſe to foreſhew it; the Apoſtle therefore gives it in Terms moſt expreſſive of the Kingdom of Chriſt, v. 16. to v. 19.
1. It is called the Power and Coming of Chriſt, and the word Majeſty imports Royal Gr…atneſs, v. 16.
2. The ſollemn Inauguration of Chriſt by the Voice from …he excellent glory; This is the beloved Son, in whom I am well pleaſed; like unto that other ſo great Declaration of him, Thou art my ſon, this day have I begotten thee, when he ſet his Kingdom on his holy hill of Sion, v. 18.
3. As the New-Jeruſalem, the Palace of the Kingdom of Chriſt is an exceeding high and holy Mountain, ſo all this glory was on the holy Mountain.
4. In that the Apoſtle is ſo apprehenſive, it might be ſuſpected to be a cunningly deviſed Table, which Caution of the Apoſtle is indeed a great Key of this whole Diſcourſe; and will lead us into the reaſon of this Context, as ſhall appear after.
5. In that the Apoſtle paſſes ſo immediately from the Transfiguration, to the ſure Word of Prophecy, and to prophecy ſhining as a light in a dark place; by which two Characters put together, it manifeſtly appears the Kingdom of Chriſt in…ended is neither the Kingdom of Grace, the Spiritual Kingdom, the Goſpel of Grace, as we generally ſpeak; not the Kingdom of Eternity; not the Kingdom of Grace; becauſe not only Prophecy looks to things to come, if ſtill in Prophecy, and to be fulfilled; but alſo if it ſhould be ſuppo…'d: That Prophecy ſhin'd in that Kingdom of Grace, and of the Goſpel by the Apoſ…les ſo Illuſtrious Miniſtry; that could be by no mean called a dark or ſqualid or foul place: For it was the Gloriouſeſt State of the Kingdom, and of Prophecy fulfill'd in it, that had been ever before, or hath been ſince, or that ſhall be, till that very Everlaſting Kingdom of Chriſt come into its ſucceſſion; then it could not be the Kingdom of Eternity, For the Kingdom of Eternity is not the manifeſtation of Prophecy, but one of the plaineſt and moſt Fundamental Doctrines of the Goſpel, and of Chriſtianity.
I come therefore to the ſecond thing; that this Epiſtle of the Apoſtle Peter is adjuſted to, and that is, to the ſhewing the time of the Kingdom; for which I give theſe Arguments.
1. That the Apoſtle calls it the Everlaſting Kingdom; by which; as was before intimated, he refers to Daniel's Prophecy of that Everlaſting Kingdom and Dominion, Dan. 7. 27. which is poſtpon'd to four Kingdoms and Monarchies, the laſt of which was then in courſe, when the Apoſtle wrote this; and to the laſt ſtate of which, viz. the Feet of Iron and Clay, and the ten Horns, and a little one chief of the Ten, there was an allowance of Time, Times and Half a Time, before the Kingdom of Chriſt could come into its Succeſſion.
2. The Apostle by ſaying, The ſure word of prophecy ſhines as a light in a dark place, intimates, it foretels the time of that glorious Kingdom; how could it ſhine ſo effectually, as to enlighten the dark place, if it gave no Knowledge, when Prophecy ſhould be fulfill'd. For that Prophecy does not paſs immediately into effect, made the ſpace between the appearance of Chriſt in Fleſh and in Glory dark: and therefore the light of Prophecy gives us a direction upon the Time, when the eflect of Prophecy ſhall be, the hope and aſſurance of which Enlightens.
3. The Apoſtle according to other Scriptures, diſtinguiſhes between the day dawning, and the Day-Star ariſing; one ſignifying the ſucceſſion of the Kingdom of Chriſt; the other the glory of that Kingdom. So the Myſtery of God is to be fulfilled in the days of the Seventh Angel, and then Chriſt appears in his Glory. So the Apostle diſtinguiſhes between Chriſt blaſting the man of ſin with the Breath of his Mouth; which is by the mighty power of the Everlaſting Goſpel, and then utterly conſuming and annihilating Him, with the Brightneſs of his Coming, or Appearanee.
4. The Apoſtle deſcribes the Apoſtacy that ſhould ſo long delay the Kingdom of Chriſt in myſtical Terms, under the ſhade of Nicolaianiſm, and Gnoſtiſciſm, ſo fit to type out the Idolatry, impurity of Manners, and all the Abominableneſſes of the Antichriſtian State; of which Antichriſt, the little Horn in Daniel, whoſe repreſentation Daniel gave, as thinking to change Times and Laws, until the time of the Kingdom of Chriſt; Now of this very changing Times and Laws, is the Second Chapter of this Epiſtle a delineation and moſt prophetically, and at greateſt advantage after the mention of Prophecy, it is given.
5. His Third Chapfer moſt plainly and exprſly refers to Time; for he anſwers not as ſome think, the Atheiſts, but the Antichriſtians Objection, thoſe great Burleſquers of Chriſtianity into Fables; called therefore Scoffers; who ſay, That all things from the Flood having continued as they were, there is no ſuch change as of the Kingdom of Chriſt to be expected; and ſo all that which concerns the Kingdom of Chriſt hath paſſed with them for Millenarian Hereſie. The Apoſtle hath therefore laid down the Rule and Standard of Time, accounting the Six-days of Creation, each as at a Thouſand Years; and in the Evening, or as between the two Evenings of the ſixth Millenary begins the Sabbatical Milenary, or the Seventh Thouſand; which is with the Lord; that is, with relation to the Lord, or the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in relation to his Kingdom; but as one day, often called the Day of Judgment, and that Sabbath Day; in which Saying of the Apoſtle, That a Thouſand Years is as one Day; there is a manifeſt foreſight of the Di…ine Spirit, what it would make known by John, even that number'd, exactly Numbered Time of a Thouſand years; which the Apoſtle Peter affirm'd to be with the Lord, viz. as Time deſigned, and ſet out to the Lord as his own Times That one Day.
Now as this view of this Epiſtle gives us a clear apprehenſion, how full to the purpoſe of Prophetical Scripture, this Epiſtle is written, how it ſimpathizes, and is contemporate with the whole Scope and Spirit of it; ſo the Words and Senſe of Interpretation is exactly fitted to all, and no other can fit it.
For there were two things, all the Hebrews, both unbelieving, and believers, were fully agreed in.
1. That the Prophecies of Scripture were of Divine Inſpiratien; that Prophecy of Scripture came not by the will of man, but was from the Holy Spirit: This the Believing, and Unbelieving Jews were both moſt zealous of.
2. That Meſſiah had a Kingdom aſſured to him in the Prophe…ies of Scripture: This even the Unbelieving Jews were all in …igheſt expectat…on of at that very time; and the Believing Jews alſo were earneſtly at that time in expectation of.
To theſe the Apoſtle therefore cannot be ſuppoſed to direct the force of his Diſcourſe.
But that Jeſus Chriſt was not to be owned as the true Meſſiah, the Son of God, and the King of Iſrael; notwithſtanding his Kingdom did not immediately appear; was a Point the Unbelieving Jews are to this day ſcandalized at, even to their rejection of Chriſt the True Meſſiah; and the Chriſtian Hebrews were very tender in. Therefore that Jeſus Chriſt was the True Meſſiah, and that great Prince, the Apoſtle gave firſt the p…oof of the Transfiguration, as hath been ſhewn: And that he with James and John were Eye and Ear-Witneſſes; Three Witneſſes; in the Mouths of whom it was eſtabliſh'd, and no Cunningly deviſed Fable, to ſhift off the Scandal of the mean Appearance of our Lord, in the days of his Fleſh. But, ſaith the Apoſtle, We have a more ſure word of Prophecy, as hath been opened; to which you do well to take heed.
But the Objection ſtill remains; That the Prophecys run all upon a Glorious Kingdom of Meſſiah at that time to appear, as the Unbelieving Jews thought; and therefore the Scribes, Phariſees, Chief-Prieſts, Elders, their whole Sanhedrim determin'd againſt him with a high hand, that he was a Deceiver. The aſſerting therefore the Divine Inſpiration of Prophecy could not be to the main purpoſe; but that it is not of Private Interpretation, but that ſerious Chriſtians may find the ſenſe and meaning of it, and that it is not within the Encloſure or Embaraſſe of any Sanhedrim, Council, or Infallible Breaſt; This is indeed highly to the purpoſe; and that according to the Senſe and Meaning of the Divine Spirit in it; one part compared with another, by the Aſſiſtances of the ſame Spirit; it would appear, that as Daniel's Seventy Weeks brought down Time to its fulneſs, viz. at the Death, Reſurrection, and Aſcention of Chriſt, that a dark place, or Interval of delay and patience, for that Kingdom muſt needs be for a long ſpace, but that yet that all Takers heed to prophecy Prophecy leads through the dark place, with the Illumination of that Courſe of Time, and how long it ſhall be until the dawning of the day, and the ſhining of the day Star into the hearts of all his Saints, by the glorious appearance of Chriſt, and in the fulneſs of times, or all Times.
Now all this is very evidently to a great and admirable end, purpoſe and …ffect in the Apoſtle's Diſcourſe in this Context and whole Epiſtle, viz. to ſettle the hearts of the Believing Hebrews, and of all Chriſtians in the comfortable Expectations of that Kingdom, in the midſt of the greateſt Darkneſs of the worſt Times; and it is with the greateſt Wiſdom of the Divine Spirit of Prophecy, that at this very Advantage the Apoſtle goes on to ſet out this Apoſtacy, at this very Joint of Diſcourſe of the dark place, which that very Apoſtacy was to create; and at naming of prophecy; and tells them, that there ſhall be falſe Prophets among Chriſtians, as there were among the People of Iſrael of old: (So the Apoſtle John in the Revelations joins the Antichriſtian Beaſt, and Falſe Prophet) in ſeveral Particulars oppoſite to the Apoſtles Doctrine, concerning Prophecy and Interpretation of Scripture, whe…ein they have Antichriſtianiz'd, as the Phariſes at that time had Prevaricated.
1. In that inſolent Pretence to Infallibility of Interpretation by a Pope▪ and Council; and their Clergy would engroſs Interpretation, and the Power of Interpreting Scripture, as their own Propriety, Right and Dominion.
2. In their Locking up Scripture from the people, under this very Pretence; They cannot interpret, nor have right to interpret it; ſo they cannot a tend to the ſure word of prophecy, as they are commended here for doing.
3. In their peculiar Enmity to the ſearching the Prophecy of Scripture, and denying even to the moſt Learned to intermeddle with it, ſeeing their own Condemnation in it; contrary to the Apoſtle's moſt peculiar Commendation of thoſe, who give heed to Prophecy.
4. In their ſetting up Tradition, a thing dependent wholly on Human Will above Scripture; whereas the Apoſtle commends Scripture and its Prophecy, that it came not by the Will of man, but by the Spirit.
5. In their allowing to their own Votaries the Credit and Honour of their pretended Inſpirations above the Cloſe attendance to Scripture Prophecy, and its Interpretation; which the Apoſtle hath here ſo recommended to every Chriſtian, and without the leaſt ſignification of Inſpiration Given to All; and his plain making former Scripture the Teſt of All following.
6. By exalting their Fabulous Legendary Miracles above Scripture, or the Prophecies; notwithſtanding even to the Transfiguration, The Apoſtle prefers the ſure Word of Prophecy, Although That was no Cunning deviſed Fable, and of ſo great an Excellency; by which the Apoſtle ſeems prophetically to Glance moſt ſeverely upon thoſe Cunningly Deviſed Fables, that ſhould ariſe in the Chriſtian Profeſſion.
7. The Apoſtle, Foretelling thoſe Scoffers in the laſt days, who ſhould ſet up the Mock Fifth-Monarchy; ſo earneſtly recommends the Words of the Prophets, and the Commandments of the Apoſtles of the Lord and Saviour, the Great Meſſiah, and Jeſus; whereby he hath alſo given a very damning Predictory Admonition of the Grand Antichriſtian Apoſtacy.
Now in all theſe, it may be ſaid to thoſe Antichriſtians, as it was to the Jews, and their Rulers of old; while they read theſe Scriptures, and the Prophecys of Scripture in their ownway, they not underſtanding the Voices of the Prophets, are moſt juſtly condemned in fulfilling them. For thus ought the Antichriſtian Apoſtacy to do, though moſt wickedly they do ſo, that theſe Scripture Prophecys may be fulfilled.
All that hath now been ſpoken being by way of premiſal and preparation, I lay down theſe Propoſitions;
1. That Scripture Prophecy is given by God, for a Light that muſt ſhine in the dark place of the Antichriſtian Apoſtacy, till the end of which the Kingdom of Chriſt is in delay.
2. Chriſtians do well to take heed to it as ſo ſhining, and giving the time, when the day of that Kingdom ſhall dawn, and the day Star of it ſhine into the hearts of all Saints.
3. Such heed cannot be given, except there be a Right given to Chriſtians, and a power of interpreting Scripture Prophecies.
4. It is a Firſt Principle to Chriſtians, of the Apoſtle's ſetting and fixing; that all and every Prophecy of Scripture, and particularly of Time relating to the Kingdom of Chriſt is Open and Free, and not a Private Record, or of any way an Enclos'd, Impropriated, …or Appropriated Interpretation.
For the more clear and illuſtrious arguing the Grand Propoſition; That all, and every Prophecy of Scripture is not of a private or ſecret, but of an open, free, and publick Interpretation; I will firſt proceed by direct and down right proof and Argument, that of all Scripture, except that which lays down the Truths, preciſely, and abſolutely neceſſary to Salvarion: The Prophecy of Scripture is in its Interpretation, moſt Free, open, and moſt certain.
I will in the ſecond place give Anſwers to the great Objections againſt this Propoſition ſo prov'd.
I will in the Third Place conſider what Standards according to Reaſon and Scripture-underſtanding may be given, whereby we may judge whether any one hath given a true Interpretation of Scripture Prophecy, viz. whereby the perſon giving ſuch Interpretations, may know himſelf he hath given ſuch true Interpretation, and whereby Any other may judge of it, and find it ſo.
In the Fourth Place, I will draw out in moſt publick view, the Evidences I my ſelf have within my ſelf, and have offered to others, that I have given a True Interpretation of Scripture Prophecy.
All this I will do with moſt particular relation to prophetical numbers of Time.
I will Super-add a Judgment upon the ſtate of Time Intermedious from hence to the Kingdom of Chriſt; and ſhew, that the Kingdom of Chriſt ſhall be very ſudden, and as Lightning: And this I ſhall do by way of retractation, and correction of Any thing wherein I have err'd in this matter; and what will be as an Anſwer of an Objection, that Glories in the preſent appearance of Things to Senſe, as if no ſuch Kingdom were near.
I will recollect the whole in ſome very Brief Reflections for the ſettlement of the Judgment and practice, in relation to Scripture Prophecy, concerning Time.