A Discourse Upon the Powers of the World to Come, Half title – Dedication
A DISCOURSE UPON THE Powers of the World to come: AND The Great Charter FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF THE Prophecy of Scripture.
ADVERTISEMENT.
THere is an Expoſition upon the whole Book of the Revelation, Explaining the Sacred Text Word by Word, and opening and arguing the Divine Senſes of that great Propheſy.
Sold by Richard Wellington at the Lute in St. Pauls Church-Yard, and are to be had at Mr. Marſhals, at the Bible in Newgate-ſtreet, and of Mr. Salisbury, at the Riſing-Sun in Corn-hill.
A DISCOURSE UPON THE Powers of the World to come: OR, The Miraculous Powers of the Goſpel, and Kingdom of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
And their Certain Return at the Kingdom of Chriſt in its Succeſſion.
To which is Adjoyn'd The Great Charter FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF THE Prophecy of Scripture, And more particularly, of the Prophetick Numbers of Time; Evincing the Kingdom of Chriſt in Succeſſion at 1697.
And Conſequently MIRACLES ſhall then Return.
By T. Beverley.
London, Printed for the Author, and are to be Sold by W. Marſhal, at the Bible in Newgate-ſtreet. 1694.
TO The Right Honourable Sr. John Somers, THE Lord Keeper.
My Lord,
THAT I take the Boldneſs to make this Dedication to your Lordſhip, is not, that I can make the leaſt pretenſion to be Known to, or to Know your Lordſhip; but as you are on ſuch an Eminence, you cannot be hid; and as a Luminary of the Nation, every Eye is upon you.
But yet I have made this Preſumption on Great Reaſons.
Firſt, That, the Truths I offer in the enſuing Treatiſe, are ſo little conſider'd, or Receiv'd; that they are under a Neceſſity to remove from the Rigor of Prejudicate Opinion, and to make Appeal to the Chancery of a moſt Equitable Review.
Then, that I have much Reaſon to be perſwaded, your Lordſhip hath in peculiar manner, in the Greatneſs of your Apprehenſion, the Noble Freedoms of a ſolid Judgment, and moſt condeſcending Chriſtian Temper, a truly High Court of Chancery in your own Breaſt; and will allow it to ſober Propoſals of Truth, Analogous to Faith, and Chriſtian Morality, however Old Bottles, and Palates refuſe New Wine; New to them, not ſo in it ſelf; but ſpoken of by All the Prophets ſince the World began.
Another Great Reaſon I have, is, That tho I pretend to no Prognoſticks, except Juſtified by the Sure Word of Prophecy; yet, ſpeaking humanely, it is very probable your Lordſhip ſhall continue in your High Adminiſtration till 97. and then I have Great Aſſurance, it will be capable of being made much Higher, and more Honourable, by the Kingdom of that Great Prince of the Kings of the Earth coming into its Succeſſion: Wherein, undoubtedly, every Character of Humane Honour; Appointed, and Juſtified by his Word, and ſeated in Perſons ready to Kiſs the Son, and pay Homage to him; will receive unexpreſſible Additions.
And hereunto I add, That it is moſt Reaſonable, ſo publick a Perſonage, and that bears, as is ſaid, the Conſcience of the Government, and ſo fitteſt to make Judgment on ſuch a Point; ſhould have both the Notices and the State of ſo great a Thing laid before him, and before the whole Nation in him.
Lastly, Although I very well know how Great a Prince I herein ſerve, and do moſt Freely, ſubmit, as to my ſelf, to his turning your Heart this way, or that way, as the Rivers of Water; yet I think it no way diſagreeing to my Duty, according to his preſent Diſpoſe, to deſire ſuch a Patronage as that of your Lordſhip; that I might reſt under your ſhadow; and wait for the mighty Ratifications of All I have writ on ſo great a Subject; by Mighty Power.
It is now (My Lord) Ten Years, ſince I firſt made Publick the Prophetick Calendar of Time; and I have not found Reaſon to Vary from the Firſt Moments, on which I Fix'd it; but have receiv'd Greater Additions of Light, and Aſſurance, as I have continually, and publickly Remonſtrated; and yet I have always, and do ftill diſown all things Enthuſiaſtick, and am upon the plain Principles of Letter of Scripture, Scripture Arguments, according to the moſt undoubted Chronology, and Hiſtory; and ſo offer my ſelf Freely to the Attack of All that can bring Contrary Reaſons: And have now, as in a Chancery Proceeding, preſented the Caſe to your Lordſhip; Let him that finds Reaſon, in the ſame Way, put in his Anſwer.
A Greater Cauſe, than this cannot come before your Lordſhip; Whether the Books of the Prophets of the New and Old Teſtament have declar'd ſuch a Glorious, Viſible Kingdom of Chriſt; Whether they have declar'd it ſhall be Firſt in Succeſſion, preparing for its Glory by an Univerſal Preaching of the Goſpel, as by a Flying Angel, ſeal'd with the Return of Miracles; For All this I affirm; And whether they have given a Line of Time, Determining that Succeſſion to 1697. For ſuch a Line I affirm alſo, and have produc'd it, from the Sure Word o… Prophecy, by a Charter for Interpretation.
Now may that Supreme Prince, whom I declare, who is Eſſential Wiſdom, by whom Kings Reign, and Princes Decree Juſtice; Even the Judges, and All the Counſellors of the Earth ſee in his Light; (And who is ſo nigh Coming, as I affirm, to Reign in his own Name;) Guide your Lordſhip in all the things, that concern your own immortal Spirit; in all the Arduous Matters of ſo High a Judicature; and particularly a Rich and Glorious entrance into his Everlaſting Kingdom I now preſent, as,
My Lord, Your Lordſhip's moſt Humble Servant In the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt, T. BEVERLEY.