The Little Horns Downfall, Treatise 2 · Discourse · Part 1
THe Spirit of God in the former verſes, having declared the riſe, actions, and end of the little Horne that was to afflict the Saints: and ſhewing how that at laſt the Saints ſhould overcome him, Saies expreſly, They ſhall take away his Dominion, to conſume, and to deſtroy it unto the end; and then ſaies in this verſe, that the Kingdome, and Dominion, and the greatneſs of the Kingdom under the whole heaven ſhall be given to the people of the Saints of the moſt high, &c.
The aſſertion which is laid down in theſe words is plaine and cleare, and needs no explanation at all, which is this.
That not only this Kingdom of England, and ſome few others, but all the Kingdomes and Dominions in the whole world, ſhall in a more peculiar and more eminent manner than yet they have been, be ſubjected to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and by him given to his Saints to poſſeſs.
This ſame truth likewiſe is poſitively aſſerted in the 13, 14, 18, 21, and 22 verſes of this Chapter; in the 13 and 14 verſes, where the Viſion it ſelf, of which theſe verſes are an interpretation, is declared; there it is thus expreſt, I ſaw in the night viſion, and behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of daies: and they brought him neere before him, and there was given him Dominion, and glory, and a Kingdom, that all People, Nations, and Languages ſhould ſerve him; his Dominion is an everlaſting Dominion, which ſhall not paſs away, and his Kingdome that which ſhall not be deſtroyed.
So that this is clearly aſſerted here alſo, that the Dominion, not only of ſome, but of all people, Nations, and Languages ſhould be given to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who is here expreſt by this appellation, The Son of man, by which he is often expreſt in the New Teſtament: and this is to be done after the Beaſt is deſtroyed, as is here expreſt.
And what is in theſe verſes ſaid to be given to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is in the 18, 20, 21, and 27, verſes, ſaid to be given to his Saints: for in the 18 verſe it is ſaid, that the Saints of the most high ſhould take the Kingdome, and poſſeſſe the Kingdome for ever, even for ever and ever, and in the 21, 22, verſes, that the Horne prevailed againſt the Saints, untill the Ancient of daies came, and Judgement was giuen to the Saints of the moſt high, and (the ſeverall beaſts having had the Kingdomes of the world for their appointed times) the time (then) came, that the Saints poſſeſſed the Kingdome, and in this 27 ver. that the Kingdom, and Dominion, and the greatneſſe of the Kingdome under the whole heauen ſhould be given unto the people of the Saints of the moſt High.
Thus what was in the 18 verſe ſaid to be given to the Lord Jeſus, there called the Son of man, is in theſe ſeverall verſes ſaid to be given to his Saints. The truth is, that which is given to the head, is given to the members, that which is given to the Huſband, the wife muſt partake of: for there is nothing that he poſſeſſes, which ſhe hath not a right unto. And the Saints of Chriſt are the members of Chriſt, they are the Lambs wife: and having given himſelfe unto them, he will not with-hold any thing that is his from them; but when all the Kingdomes, and Dominions under the whole heaven are given to him, they ſhall poſſeſſe them with him.
Thus is this aſſertion, that is laid downe in this verſe, confirmed in ſeverall other paſſages in this very Chapter, namely,
That all Kingdomes, all the Nations, and Languages, and People under the whole heaven, ſhall be in a more peculiar, and a more eminent manner than yet they have been, be ſubjected to the Lord Jeſus, and by him be given to his Saints to poſſeſſe.
And as it is cleare here, ſo there are very many other Scriptures wherein it is as clearly aſſerted, ſeverall of which Scriptures I ſhall here produce, that out of the mouth of many witneſſes it may be confirmed againſt all contradictions, which I ſhall the rather do, becauſe this Doctrine is ſo much deſpiſed by profane men, who jeering at Saints, ſay, theſe are the meek that muſt inherit the earth.
But firſt let me premiſe;
That though it be unqueſtionably true, that the riches of this world, which hath been hitherto equally diſpenſed alike to all, ſhall in a very ſhort time be abundantly given to the Saints of the moſt High: as Canaans Land was to Iſrael of old, which was but a ſhadow of what ſhall come to paſſe in the latter daies: that yet,
Firſt, they that are indeed the Saints of the moſt High, and that walke moſt with God will be the leaſt ſeekers of this worlds wealth; and
Secondly, They that ſeeke it leaſt, and leaſt deſire it, ſhall have more than they that ſeek it eagerly, and alſo ſhall injoy it moſt comfortably, and with greateſt joy in God.
Thirdly, that thoſe ſaints that God will moſt honour (though they ſhall have abundance of the world, yet they) ſhall not ſet their hearts upon it; but ſhall prefer the leaſt degree of the flowings of the ſpirit of God (which they ſhall in theſe daies abundantly have) above all the treaſures of the whole world. No: their hearts ſhall not Zach. bee ſet upon the world: but their 10. 7. hearts ſhall rejoyce in the Lord.
Fourthly, that the advanced ſaints of God, ſhall not in theſe daies ſeeke the wealth of the Nations, but the Nations themſelves, (as Paul expreſſes himſelfe, 2 Cor. 11. 14. we ſeek not yours, but you;) that is, not their wealth, but their weale; not their treaſure, but their ſafety; not their riches but their happineſſe; not their outward things, but the ſalvation of their ſouls: and they that ſeek not theſe things, to wit, the publike weale, and ſafety, and happineſſe, and ſalvation of all; but that doe covet to treaſure up moſt riches for themſelves, and to poll, and rob, and cheat the people, to inhance their owne eſtates, and make themſelves great in the world, and their children gay and ſplendid amongſt men; as doe Kings, Princes, and evill Governours, (not to mention ſome ſorts of Committee-men) theſe ſhall become the baſeſt, and the vileſt among men; and their children be deſpiſed, and contemned for their ſakes: eſpecially if they walk in their ſteps.
Fiftly and laſtly, it is heaven and not the earth; It is the kingdom of God, and Math. his righteouſneſſe that Saints will 6. 33. ſeek after: and theſe things ſhall bee added unto them.
And now having thus premiſed, I ſhall come to mention thoſe Scriptures which do ſo cleerly demonſtrate that which is here aſſerted; and the truth is, the Scripture is ſo pregnant, and ſo full of ſuch paſſages, as it would be very tedious to mention them all; and doubtleſſe many ſaints are very well acquainted with them; but for ſatisfaction to others, I ſhall mention ſome of them, and the firſt ſhall be that known place in the ſecond Pſalme; where it is cleerly aſſerted, that all the kingdomes of the world, ſhall in a moſt eminent manner be ſubjected to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and that hee ſhould rule over Kings, Princes, and Judges, (which would not obey him,) with a rod of Iron, and break them in pieces like a potters veſſell; if they caſt not their Crownes at his feet, and kiſſe him with the kiſſe of faith and obedience.
In the three firſt verſes of that Pſalme, the Prophet ſeemes to have in his eye the rage of the heathen, and the fury, and the madneſſe of the Kings of the earth, at that time when God ſhall ſet up the kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt over the whole world; as if that as ſoon as they ſee preparation unto ſuch a thing, that their ſpirits ſhould be preſently inraged; and they, their Kings, and rulers eſpecially, ſhould ſet their whole ſtrength, conſultations, and counſels againſt the effecting hereof, as being being reſolved not to ſuffer it; and therefore when they ſee that God is ſetting up of his Chriſt or anointed; they ſay among themſelves: Come let us break their bonds, and caſt away their cords from us. But alas poore wormes what doe they? He that ſit in the heavens ſhall laugh, (ſaies the Pſalmiſt) *verſ. 4, 5, 6.The Lord ſhall have them in deriſion: Yea he ſhall ſpeake unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his ſore diſpleaſure, when they ſhall ſo doe, and notwithſtanding hee will ſet his King upon his holy hill of Sion, and ſhall give him the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the earth for his poſſeſſion; ſome of which being pertinacious, and obſtinate oppoſers, he ſhall breake with a rod of iron, and daſh them in pieces like a potters veſſell. And therefore the ſpirit exhorts all thoſe Kings, Rulers, and Judges of the earth to bee wiſe, and receive this inſtruction even to kiſſe the Sonne, and and to ſerve the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling; leſt the Sonne bee angry, and they periſh in the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. But for the comfort of others who long to ſee that day, of the King, the Lord Chriſt his exaltation; hee addes, Bleſſed are all they that wait for him. Thus this Scripture fully concurres with the preſent Text, in aſſerting this thing; That all the Kingdomes of the world, ſhall bee ſubjected to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and as its ſaid here, that all dominions (or as the word may be more rightly rendred, all Rulers) muſt ſerve and obey him: ſo the ſame is cleerly declared, in this Propheſie of the Pſalmiſt alſo.
The next Scripture, which I ſhall quote for the clearing of this point, ſhall be that in the 110 Pſalme, which is alſo very full to this purpoſe: for there the Pſalmiſt ſpeakes of a time when the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, (there ſtiled a Prieſt for ever after the order of Melchizedeck) ſhould be ſet up and exalted above all the Kings and Potentates of the world; and when he ſhould rule in the midſt of his enemies; and ſhould have his enemies made his footſtoole, and ſhould judge among the heathen, and wound the heathen, and wound the heads over many Countries, and fill them with the dead bodies; and his people ſhould be willing in that day of his power, ſo that hence it is cleare alſo, that there is a time coming when Jeſus Chriſt ſhall have the Kingdomes of the world ſubjected to him. And becauſe it is, and will be ſo, that when he comes thus to rule and raigne, that many people, but eſpecially the great ones, Kings, Princes, Rulers, and Heads of Kingdomes, ſhall endeavour to oppoſe the Lord Jeſus in ſo doing: therefore it is ſaid here, that he ſhall ſtrike through Kings in the day of his wrath, and wound the heads over many Countries. The third Scripture which I ſhall cite for the confirming of this truth, ſhall be that in the 149 Pſalme, (a place already mentioned upon another occaſion) where it is ſaid; That the Lord taketh pleaſure in his people, and he will beautifie the meek with ſalvation, and that the high praiſes of God ſhall be in their mouths and a two-edged ſword in their hands; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and puniſhments upon the people, to bind their Kings in Chaines, and their Nobles in Fetters of Iron: to execute upon them the Judgement written. This honour have all his Saints.
Now true it is, that (almoſt) hitherto ſince the Primitive times: the Saints have been as it were trodden under feet of the Gentiles (that is of heathen or profane men) and they have trampled upon them, and ſorely afflicted them. For they have both impriſoned them, and chain'd, fetter'd, and whipt, and cropt, and mangled, and rackt, and burnt them & what not? For all the cruelties that wit ſharpened with malice, could either invent or inflict, have the meek, the precious ones of God undergone at the hands of their cruell raging enemies. BUT here they have a promiſe, that the Lord who taketh pleaſure in his people, will at laſt beautifie the meek with ſalvation. And what ſhall the iſſue thereof be? It ſhall be this. That whereas, for thus long time, they have been in a mourning, and a ſad condition, wearing ſackcloath for a time, times, and halfe a time.
Now the high praiſes of God ſhall be in their mouths; and whereas the heathen, viz. profane men, have trampled upon them, and made them as the filth of the world, and as the off-ſcouring of all things, Now they ſhall have together with the high praiſes of God in their mouth, a two-edged ſword in their hands, to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and puniſhments upon the people: to bind their Kings in Chaines, and their Nobles with Fetters of Iron: to execute upon them the judgement written, This honour have all his Saints.
Thus, Kings, and Nobles, and mighty men, are to be ſubjected to his Saints, This honour have all his Saints.
The fourth Scripture which I ſhall produce for the illuſtrating of this truth, ſhall be that in Iſa. 51. 21. &c. which is a promiſe to this purpoſe alſo, in theſe words; Heare now this thou afflicted and drunken, but not with wine. Thus ſaith the Lord, the Lord and thy God, that pleadeth the cauſe of his people. Behold I have taken out of thy hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury, and thou ſhalt no more drink it again: But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee: which have ſaid to thy ſoule bow down that we may go ever, and thou haſt laid thy body as the ground, and as the ſtreet to them that went over.
Here it is expreſſy ſaid, that the cup of trembling, and fury, ſhould be ſo taken out of the hand of the Church, as they ſhould never any more drink it againe; and not only ſo, but that it ſhould be put into the hands of them that afflicted her. So that thoſe great and wicked ones, that moſt ragefully, and moſt bitterly have afflicted and deſtroyed the Saints of God, muſt now drinke off the dregs of that cup, both that ſcarlet Beaſt the Pope, and all thoſe Kings, Princes, Prelates, and inferiour perſons, that continue implacable enemies of his Saints.
Another cleare paſſage to this purpoſe is in Iſa. 51. 8, &c. in theſe words, Thy watchmen ſhall lift up the voice, with the voice together ſhall they ſing: for they ſhall ſee eye to eye, when the Lord ſhall bring againe Sion, break forth into joy, ſing together ye waſt places of Jeruſalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people; he hath redeemed Jeruſalem: The Lord hath made bare his holy arme, in the eyes of all the Nations: and all the ends of the earth ſhall ſee the ſalvation of our God.
Here then its cleare, that not only ſome, but all the Nations ſhall ſee the glory; and all the ends of the earth the Salvation of our God. He will make bare his holy arme in the eyes of every Nation, and People under heaven, and they muſt all ſtoope to the Scepter of his Son.
Another clear confirmation of this truth we have Iſa. 60. 1, 2, 3, &c. in theſe words, Ariſe, ſhine for thy light is come: for the glory of the Lord is riſen upon thee, for behold the darkneſſe ſhall cover the earth, and groſſe darkneſs the people: but the Lord ſhall riſe upon thee, and his glory ſhall be ſeen upon thee: and the Gentiles ſhall come to thy light, and Kings to the brightneſle of thy riſing. Then thou ſhalt ſee and flow together, and thine heart ſhall feare and be inlarged: becauſe the abundance of the ſea ſhall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles ſhall come unto thee. They ſhall bring Gold and Incenſe, and they ſhall ſhew forth the praiſes of the Lord. Surely the Iſles ſhall wait for me, and the ſhips of Tarſhiſh first, to bring thy Sons from far: their ſilver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the holy one of Iſrael, becauſe he hath glorified thee: and the Sons of ſtrangers ſhall build up thy walls, and their Kings ſhall miniſter unto thee: and the Nation and Kingdome that will not ſerve thee ſhall periſh; yea thoſe Nations ſhall bee utterly waſted. The ſonnes alſo of them that afflicted thee, ſhall come bending unto thee; and all they that deſpiſed thee, ſhall bow themſelves down at the ſoles of thy feet; and they ſhall call thee the City of the Lord, the Sion of the holy one of Iſrael: whereas thou haſt been forſaken, and hated, I will make thee an externall excellency, the joy of many generations. Thy people alſo ſhallbe all righteous, they ſhall inherit the Land for ever, the branch of my planting, that I may bee glorified: a little one ſhall become a thouſand, and a ſmall one a ſtrong Nation. I the Lord will haſten it, in his time.
Theſe words are a Propheſie of the glorious eſtate which the Church muſt in theſe latter daies, (after all her ſufferings) be advanced unto.
And firſt it is ſaid of the Church, that is, the ſaints of the moſt high: that the Light of the Lord ſhall riſe upon them, and his glory ſhall bee ſeen upon them; and that ſo evidently and cleerly, as that the Gentiles, i. e. the prophane men of the world ſhall come to that light: And not onelyonly the poore, and the mean among the Gentiles; but ſome of their Kings, and great ones ſhall be converted, and imbrace the light, and come to the brightneſſe of the ſaints riſing.
And ſecondly, as abundance of the heathen ſhall bee converted; ſo thoſe of them, that have formerly afflicted the ſaints of the moſt High, ſhall come bending unto them; and thoſe that deſpiſed them, ſhall bow themſelves downe at the ſoles of their feet, and that out of pure love to them: becauſe they ſhall ſee, that they are the people of the Lord, and the Sion of the holy one of Iſrael.
And thirdly, thoſe converted Gentiles, ſhall further manifeſt their love to the ſaints of the moſt High: by bringing in their wealth, their riches, their treaſures, their ſilver and their gold to them; and by building their wals for them, in this alſo their Kings miniſtring unto them.
And fourthly, the Church (the ſaints of God) ſeeing theſe things, and being thus favoured, and bleſſed of the Lord, ſhall be in in a ſweet frame of ſpirit, being filled with joy, and therewith inlarged and heightned; and this joy mixed with a holy feare, and trembling, walking altogether in the paths of righteouſneſſe.
And fifthly, the Church or ſaints, at this their riſing, ſhall grow ſo potent, as that a little or deſpiſed one, ſhall become a thouſand, and a ſmall one a ſtrong nation.
And ſixthly, The Nation and Kingdome that will not ſerve Sion, i. e. the ſaints, ſhall periſh: yea thoſe nations ſhall bee utterly waſted.
And ſeventhly, whereas the ſaints have been (during the time of the prevalency of the Beaſt) a deſpiſed and a contemned people, they ſhall now be an eternall excellency; and the joy of many generations.
Thus in this Scripture is this truth moſt evidently demonſtrated; That there muſt be ſuch a time, when the ſaints muſt bee ſo lifted up out of the duſt, as they muſt be the top and the head of all Nations: and whatſoever Kingdome and Nation will not ſerve them muſt periſh (which yet hath not been accompliſhed) the Kings, and Princes of the Nations bringing in their treaſures to Sion, the redeemed of the Lord.
And as full to this purpoſe alſo is that paſſage, Eſa. 65. 8, 9, &c. Thus ſaith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluſter, and one ſaies deſtroy it not, for a bleſſing is in it: ſo will I doe for my ſervants ſake, that I may not deſtroy them all; and I will bring forth a ſeed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountaines; and mine elect ſhall inherit it, and my ſervants ſhall dwel there: and Sharon ſhall bee a fold of flockes, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie downe in, for my people that have ſought me. But ye are they that forſake the Lord, that forget my holy mountaine. — Therefore thus ſaith the Lord, behold my ſervants ſhall eate, but ye ſhall be hungry, my ſervants ſhall drink, but yee ſhall be thirſty: Behold, my ſervants ſhall rejoyce, but yee ſhall bee aſhamed, behold my ſervants ſhall ſing for joy of heart, but yee ſhall cry for ſorrow of heart, and ſhall howle for vexation of ſpirit; and yee ſhall leave your name for a curſe unto my choſen: For the Lord God ſhall ſlay thee, and ſhall call his ſervants by another name: that he who bleſſeth himſelfe in the earth, ſhall bleſſe himſelfe in the God of truth: and hee that ſweareth in the earth, ſhall ſweare by the God of truth; becauſe the former troubles are forgotten, and becauſe they are hid from mine eyes: For behold I create new heavens, and a new earth, and the former ſhall not be remembred, nor come into minde: but be you glad and rejoyce for ever, in that which I create; for behold I create Jeruſalem a rejoycing, and her people a joy: and I will rejoyce in Jeruſalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping ſhall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There ſhall bee no more thence an infant of daies, nor an old man that hath not filled his daies; for the child ſhall die an hundred yeeres old, but the ſinner being an hundred yeeres old ſhall be accurſed; and they ſhall build houſes and inhabite them, and plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. They ſhall not build and another inhabit; they ſhall not plant, and another eate: for as the daies of a tree, are the daies of my people; and mine elect ſhall long enjoy the work of their hands; They ſhall not labour in vaine, nor bring forth for trouble: for they are the ſeed of the bleſſed of the Lord, and their off-ſpring with them: and it ſhall come to paſſe, that before they call I will anſwer; and whiles they are yet speaking, I wil heare. The Woolfe and the Lambe ſhall feed together, and the Lion ſhall eate ſtraw like the Bullock, and duſt ſhall bee the Serpents meate; they ſhall not hurt nor deſtroie, in all my holy Mountaine ſaith the Lord.
This Scripture alſo fully concurres with the former in clearing this truth; moſt ſweetly holding forth, that Chriſt (who was to come of the ſeed of Jacob and of the tribe of Judah) and his Saints (here ſtil'd Gods elect) ſhall inherit the Mountaines, or Kingdomes of this world, which are the Lords: (verſe 12.) And that when that time comes, the ſaints former afflictions and ſorrow, ſhall be ſo done away, as they ſhall be as forgotten, and hid from their eyes. (verſes 16. 19.) And to make them joyfull, yea full of joy; they ſhall have all the good things that their hearts can wiſh for.
For, firſt they ſhall be filled with the ſpirit, and bleſſe themſelves, or ſee themſelves bleſſed in the God of truth: and the Lord will rejoyce in them, and joy in his people, verſes 16, 19.
And ſecondly, all their prayers ſhall bee ſpeedily heard, and anſwered, ver. 24.
And thirdly, as they ſhall bee the bleſſed of the Lord, ſo ſhall their of-ſpring be alſo: that ſo their joyes may be without mixtures of ſorrow, ver. 23.
And fourthly, they ſhall inhabit the houſes which they build, and eate the fruite of the vineyards which they ſhall plant, & none ſhall take them from them; but they ſhall long enjoy the work of their hands; and they ſhall have abundance of flockes, and herds; and eate and drink, and rejoyce in the Lord, and ſing for joy of heart, verſes 10, 13, 14, 21, 22.
And fifthly, they ſhall live till they come to a good old age, and be bleſſed, verſes 20, 22.
And ſixthly, no ravenous, or hurtfull, or devouring creature ſhall then do any hurt to man or beaſt, verſe 25.
And becauſe the condition of the Saints ſhall be ſo happy, and the Kingdomes of the world ſhall be put into ſuch a new poſture, and be ſo changed from what they were; therefore the ſpirit of God here calls them, new heavens, and a new earth: (ver. 17.) and the holy Mountaines of the Lord (verſes 9, 25.) for ſo they will bee when theſe things are accompliſhed: and the confuſions, and combuſtions, and oppreſſions, and troubles that were in the old frame of the world ſhall be forgotten, verſes 16, 17.
Againe, This is alſo cleared, Jer. 30. 16, &c. and 31. 1, 2, &c. in theſe words, They that devoure thee ſhall be devoured, and all thine adverſaries every one of them ſhall go into Captivity: and they that ſpoile thee ſhall be ſpoiled— And ye ſhall be my people, and I will be your God; behold the whilewind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlewind: it ſhall fall with paine upon the head of the wicked; and the fierce anger of the Lord ſhall not returne untill he have done it; and untill he have performed the intents of his heart, in the latter daies ye ſhall conſider it; at the ſame time ſaith the Lord, will I be the God of all the Families of Iſrael, and they ſhall be my people— Againe, I will build thee, and thou ſhalt be built a virgin of of Iſrael: thou ſhalt againe be adorned with thy tabrets, and go forth in the dances of them that make merry— For thus ſaith the Lord, ſing with gladneſſe for Jacob, and ſhout among the chiefe of the Nations: publiſh ye, praiſe ye, and ſay, O Lord ſave thy people the remnant of Iſrael— Heare the word of the Lord, O ye Nations: and declare it in the Iſles afar off; and ſay, he that ſcattered Iſrael will gather him, and keep him as a ſhepheard doth his flock; therefore they ſhall come, and ſing in the height of Sion: and ſhall flow together to the goodneſſe of the Lord for wheat, and for wine, and for oyle, and for the young of the flocke: and their ſoule ſhall be as a watered garden, and they ſhall not ſorrow any more at all; then ſhall the virgin rejoyce in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turne their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoyce from their ſorrow.
Though theſe words do more particularly, and peculiarly concerne the ſeed of Abraham after the fleſh, or the naturall Iſraelites, (who ſhall againe be received into the love and favour of God: which ſhall be to them, and others, as life from the dead, Ezek. 37. 5. Rev. 11. 15. and be pardoned, and cleanſed from all their ſins, Ezek. 36. and become very glorious;) yet in generall do they alſo concerne all the Saints, and people of God, and muſt be applied to them; and whereas they have for many hundred of yeares been oppreſſed, and devoured, and ſpoyled, and as captives, impriſoned, and afflicted: the Lord here aſſures them, that they that thus dealt with them ſhall be devoured, and ſpoyled, and captivated, and deſtroyed themſelves, and that his fury and fierce anger, (that hath been ſo provoked by the unjuſt, malicious, and cruell dealings of thoſe wicked ones, with his own deare, precious, and beloved people,) ſhall go forth like a whirlewind, and fall with paine, with a witneſſe upon the head of thoſe wicked ones: and not returne untill he have performed the intents of his heart, and this muſt be in the latter daies; And is this all God will then do for his people, to avenge them upon their enemies, and to bring down their power and pride? No, this is not all, but at the ſame time will he lift up his people, and build them, and gather them, and make them glorious, and fill them with joy, and rejoycing, and turn their mourning into joy, ſo that they ſhall not ſorrow any more at all.
Thus this Scripture alſo ſpeakes the ſame truth with the reſt foregoing; and by all theſe is this truth ſufficiently confirmed: And though I am ſure that multitudes of faithfull and judicious ones are fully acquainted with theſe truths; yet knowing that ſome yet are not, and that thoſe that are, will be rather delighted than wearied, by taking a review of theſe Scriptures compared together, and conſidering the wilfulneſſe of ſome, in ſhuting their eyes againſt the light, breaking forth both from the word and works of God in clearing theſe things. I ſhall therefore add ſome other Scriptures, in which this is further manifeſted: and the next ſhall be tha… Dan. 2. 37, 38. and ſo on, where Daniel interpreting Nebuchadnezzars dreame, declares, that after the foure Monarchs, the Golden, the Silver, the Braſſe, and the Iron Monarchs, have been ſet up in the world, and continued their appointed times: that then the God of heaven ſhall ſet up another Kingdom, which ſhall as a ſtone cut out of the Mountaines without hands, break in peeces this laſt Monarch of Iron, and clay, and ſtone; and ſhall it ſelfe become a great mountaine, and fill the whole earth, and this Kingdom ſhall never be deſtroyed, nor be left to other people, but it ſhall ſtand for ever.
This is that Kingdome that Chriſt and his Saints muſt poſſeſſe, whoſe riſe and beginning may ſeem ſmall, but as a little ſtone cut out of the mountain, and that without hands, without the help of the ſtrength and power of the Kings and great ones of the earth: and yet this ſeeming ſmall riſing of Chriſt and his Saints ſhall be hard enough, and potent enough to break in peeces the Roman Iron legs, that laſt and worſt Beaſt, and to make the Iron, and the Clay, and the Braſs, and the Silver, & the Gold, to be as the chaffe that is carried away of the wind, and this is undoubtedly that which is now a doing.
Another confirmation of this we have Joel 3. 1, 3, &c. For behold in thoſe daies, and at that time, when I ſhall bring again the Captivity of Judah and Jeruſalem; I will gather all Nations, and wil bring them down into the valley of Jehoſhaphat, and I will plead with them there— Proclaime yee this among the Gentiles: prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw neer, let them come up: beat your plowſhares into ſwords, and your pruning hookes into ſpeares: Let the weak ſay I am ſtrong; aſſemble your ſelves, and come all yee Heathen, and gather your ſelves together round about; put yee in the ſickle, for the harveſt is ripe: get ye downe for the preſſe is full, for the wickedneſſe is great; multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of deciſion: for the day of the Lord is neer, in the valley of deciſion. The Lord alſo ſhall roar out of Sion, and utter his voice from Jeruſalem, and the Heavens and the Earth ſhall ſhake; but the Lord wil bee the hope of his people, and the ſtrength of the Children of Iſrael: So ſhall yee know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Sion. And it ſhall come to paſſe in that day, that the Mountaines ſhall drop downe new Wine, and the Hils ſhall flow with milke, and all the Rivers of Judah ſhall flow with waters, and a Fountaine ſhall come forth of the houſe of the Lord, and ſhall water the Valley of Shittim.
In theſe words here is a very great war proclaimed; for what end? To bring againe the Captivity of Gods people, (ver. 1.) or to inlarge and ſet them at liberty, and bring them out of all their troubles; and to this end the Lord ſaies that hee will plead with all Nations, that have afflicted his people, (ver. 2.) And being determined to ſhew forth his great power, and glory, and his tender love to his people, he proclaims a War, and ſummons all the Nations to gather themſelves together, and to prepare for War, and to awaken all their mighty men, all their moſt puiſſant, and valiant men of War: and to make the greateſt proviſion of men, and ammunition, that 'tis poſſible for them to make. To that end to beat their inſtruments of Husbandry into inſtruments of War; and to gather together the greateſt ſtrength imaginable: and when they have done this, then will he ſit to judge the heathen, and thither cauſe his mighty ones to come, to bee as a ſickle to cut downe this ripe harveſt of wicked men; whoſe wickedneſſe is great, and then by deſtroying their multitudes, to decide the controverſie between them and his owne people; which ſhall be an occaſion of calling the place where it is done, the valley of deciſion: for there the Lord will marvellouſly ſhew himſelfe, to the cauſing of the whole earth to ſhake; but to the joy and conſolation of his people: for he will then be their hope, and their ſtrength, and then it ſhall be knowne that the Lord dwelleth in Sion, and they ſhall abundantly enjoy the bleſſings of the Lord; and bee delivered from all their troubles for evermore.
Another Scripture which ſpeakes of theſe ſame times, (though it doe not ſo fully declare particulars) is that in Act. 3. 19, 20. &c. Where Peter ſpeaking unto the Jews, charges this upon them, that they had denied the holy one and the Juſt, and kil'd the Prince of Life, whom God had raiſed from the dead; by faith in whoſe Name the lame man was healed: hee addes, Now brethren, I wot that through ignorance yee did it, as did alſo your Rulers; but theſe things which God before had ſhewed by the mouth of all his Prophets that Chriſt ſhould ſuffer, he hath ſo fulfilled: repent you therefore and be converted, that your ſins may bee blotted out when the times of refreſhing ſhall come from the preſence of the Lord: and he ſhall ſend Jeſus Chriſt which was before preached unto you, whom the heavens muſt receive untill the time of reſtitution of all things, which God hath ſpoken of by the mouth of all his holy Prophets ſince the world began.
Peter here preaching to thoſe that had been the actors of that moſt unjuſt, and moſt unrighteous act that ever was acted by the moſt wretched, and moſt ſinfull of the ſons of men: he charges it home upon them, ver. 12, 13, 14, and 15. and having done ſo, he is guided by the wiſdome of the Spirit, (leſt they ſhould in the ſenſe hereof be driven to deſpaire,) to mitigate the terrour of of it; (though the ſin was ſo hainous) by theſe two conſiderations.
Firſt, their ignorance, verſe 17. ſutable to which is that paſſage of Paul, 1 Cor. 2. 8.
Secondly, by the determinate counſell of God, which he then fulfilled in that act of theirs, which was in it ſelfe ſo hainouſly ſinfull as it came from them.
And having thus done, he preſſes them to repentance, and to an embracing of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: from whom he preaches peace, notwithſtanding their great ſin againſt him; telling them that upon their being converted unto him, their ſins ſhould be blotted out; and tels them withall, that though they had crucified him, and he according to the counſell of God had ſuffered death; of which all the Prophets had ſpoken: that yet there was a time comming, when that Jeſus Chriſt which had been crucified, who was gone to heaven, and muſt there remaine untill that appointed time, even that Jeſus Chriſt ſhould come again and (v. 21.) reſtore *Reſtore all things, that is, to reſtore to his Saints a comfortable and free enjoyment of all the comforts of the Spirit of grace, and of all the comforts of the whole Creation; and when the Apoſtle here ſaies, he ſhall reſtore all theſe things, he meanes, he ſhall reſtore them to thoſe that are converted; to his Saints only; and not to all men, as ſome would have it, for that is directly contradictory to other Scriptures that ſpeake of this ſame time, as Iſa. 65. 13, 14. 15, 20. Iſa. 51. 22, 23. Jer. 30. 23, 24. Rev. 21. 8. Chap. 22. 15. beſides many others to this purpoſe that are as cleare; for if this were true, then may it be ſaid in this caſe as Paul in another ſaid, if ſo, &c. Saints are of all men moſt miſerable, in that they ſuffer ſharpe afflictious, and drinke many a bitter cup from the hands of wicked men, becauſe they will not do as they do, and ſay as they ſay; becauſe they are more righteous, and for righteouſneſſe ſake: but they it ſuffer becauſe they know that the righteous Judge of all the earth will quickly come, and reward every one as his work ſhall be, Rev. 22. 12. even to them who patiently continue in well doing eternall life, but unto the ungodly workers of iniquity, indignation, and wrath, tribulation, and anguiſh upon every ſoule of man that doth evill, of the Jew firſt, and alſo of the Gentile, Rom. 2. 6, 7, 8, 9.all things, and pardon their ſins, and refreſh (v. 19.) & comfort them; and this is that time, ſaies Peter, which God hath ſpoken of by the mouth of all his holy Prophets, which have been ſince the world began; and this doubtleſs is that which is ſpoken of by the Prophet Daniel, in this paſſage we are treating of.
And this is that which Paul alſo ſpeakes of, Rom. 8. 18, 19, &c. in theſe words, The ſufferings of this preſent time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which ſhall be revealed in us; for the earneſt expectation of the Creature waiteth for the manifeſtation of the ſons of God, for the Creature was made ſubject to vanity: not willingly, but by reaſon of him who hath ſubjected the ſame in hope; becauſe the Creature its ſelfe alſo ſhall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God; for we know that the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth together in paine untill now; and not only they, but our ſelves alſo, which have the firſt fruits of the ſpirit: even we our ſelves groane within our ſelves; waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodies.
Here the Apoſtle ſpeaking of this exalted condition of the Saints, in theſe latter daies, doth illuſtrate it in theſe 5 particulars; by which he ſets out what the condition of ſaints ſhall be, and by ſix particulars, in which he ſpeaks to the condition of the whole Creation. The particulars wherein he ſpeakes to the condition of the Saints are theſe.
Firſt, That the condition of the Saints, untill that time come, whatever their enjoyments are, and how comfortable ſoever it ſhall be, yet (in compariſon of that) it ſhall be a ſighing, a groaning, a ſorrowing condition; for ſo he ſaies: even we our ſelves, we that are Saints, and have the firſt fruits of the ſpirit; which are exceeding precious to us, and in which we have ſo much joy, and peace, as Rom. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11. we groan within our ſelves, are in a ſighing, ſorrowing condition, waiting for the Adoption, or Redemption of our bodies, untill when we ſhall ſigh; and indeed ſo it muſt needs be: for beſides outward troubles we meet with from wicked men, we the beſt, Pauls, Cephas's and Primitive Saints, which are indued with the moſt eminent gifts, are alſo troubled with ſin that dwels in us; ſo that when we would do good evill is preſent with us. But
Secondly, He tels us that at that time the condition of Saints ſhall be ſuch, as that their bodies ſhall be redeemed from the ſervitude, and ſlavery in which they have been ſubjected to men, in that (over their bodies) other Lords have had dominion, for that muſt needs be his meaning in thoſe words,
Waiting for the redemption of our bodies. What ſhall our bodies have redemption from elſe but that? And that is alſo the meaning of thoſe words, The glorious liberty of the children of God. They have not been in their bodies free, nor in liberty, but in bondage, and ſubjection; but then comes the redemption of their bodies; and they ſhall be at liberty. And
Thirdly, They ſhall alſo be freed from the power of corruption within: as well as from the outward ſlavery and ſubjection of wicked men; and this is expreſt in theſe words, The glory which ſhall be revealed in us; preſent ſufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory which ſhall be revealed in us; the inward glory of Saints conſiſteth only in ſuch things as theſe, in the preſence and power of the ſpirit within them, in ſubduing all corruption, and in leading them into the paths of righteouſneſſe, when they do no *Pſal. 119. 2.iniquitie, but walk in his law and light, &c. Then are they all-glorious within: and this is the glory which ſhall be revealed in them: and in this moſt eminently ſhall they bee freed from the bondage of corruption.
Fourthly, that condition wherein the ſaints ſhall then be, ſhall bee ſuch as wherein they ſhall be cleerly and viſibly manifeſted to be the ſonnes of God, which is expreſt in theſe words: Waiting for the manifeſtation of the Sonnes of God. The ſaints having all this while been as it were in obſcurity, and laine among the pots (to uſe the Pſalmiſts expreſſion) they ſhall then ariſe, and bee as the wings of a Dove, covered with ſilver, and her feathers with yellow gold; for then ſhall be the manifeſtation of the ſonnes of God. For then, ſhall God ſo fully and ſo evidently owne them, and appear in them, and for them, as that the heathen ſhall ſee it, and acknowledge it to them; and then to all ſhall they be manifeſted to be the ſonnes of God: This is expreſt in theſe words alſo; waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodies: he cals this time the adoption, becauſe then the ſonſhip of the ſaints of God, as before he had ſaid, ſhould be made manifeſt: but that in the word the adoption, hee might be underſtood, hee addes this, to wit, the redemption of our bodies; implying that the time of the redemption of our bodies, will be the time of the manifeſtation of our ſonſhip or adoption.
Fifthly, this condition of the ſaints ſhall be a moſt glorious condition; that's expreſt in theſe words, the glory that ſhall be revealed in us, and the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Thus in theſe five particulars doth the Apoſtle ſet out, what the condition of the ſaints ſhall be at that time: which is alſo further cleered in thoſe ſix particulars, in which hee ſpeakes to the condition of the whole creation: which are theſe,
Firſt, that the bondage of corruption is now univerſally ſpread over the whole creation: as all mankind, ſo all other creatures ſince man ſin'd, and corruption broke forth in him; (whereby hee violated the Law of a righteous Creator) are expoſed to miſery and paine; ſo grievous was the fall of man, and ſo hainous is the ſin, as that there is none of the ſons of men, nor yet of the creatures, which were appointed for the uſe of man; but the weight and bondage of ſin it lies upon.
Secondly, that this bondage lies ſo heavy upon the whole Creation, as it makes it groan under the burthen of it, as being very irkſome and painfull to it. The whole Creation groaneth, and travelleth together in pain.
Thirdly, that it was not willingly, but with reluctancy and paine, that the creature became ſubject to vanity; to wit, to the bondage of corruption, that is the miſery that ſinne and corruption brought upon it: It is not willingly, that any of them ſuffer pinching cold, and pining hunger, and killing ſtormes, and many other judgements which ſinne brought into the world: (though willingly, and with delight ſome creatures, doe and ſhall performe that ſervice to man in which they were appointed to be uſefull to man, as man is Lord over all creatures: as the horſe ruſheth into the battell, and ſwiftly carries man in journies, ſometimes without whip or ſpur, and the Ox willingly takes the yoak, and other ſervices ſeverall creatures willingly performe, when they are not abuſed by men that are unreaſonable. The good man is merciful to his beaſt.) But painefull ſufferings, and all the bondage that ſinne brought upon the creature, it was not willingly ſubjected to. The Creature was made ſubject to vanity, not willingly, &c.
Fourthly, that when it was ſubjected to vanity, it had hope given it of deliverance; not willingly, but by reaſon of him, who hath ſubjected the ſame in hope: So that it was ſubjected in hope; not that ſuch hope can be in an unreaſonable creature, as there may be and is in reaſonable man; who hopes, and hath a reaſon of his hope: but it is with ſuch a hope as its nature is capable of; of which to give an exact definition, I will not undertake: But certain it is that it hath a hope ſuch as it is; and this hope it had when firſt it was made ſubject to vanity, and in this hope it was ſubjected: for though it was with reluctancy, not willingly, that it was ſubjected; yet, ſubjected it was, by reaſon of him, who ſubjected the ſame in hope: Who for ends beſt knowne to himſelfe, both ſubjected it, and ſubjected it in hope.
Fifthly, as the whole creation was ſubjected in hope, ſo doth it waite for and expect accordingly, that liberty that it ſhall have at the time of the glorious manifeſtation of the ſonnes of God. Yea it earneſtly expects and waits for it, as it is expreſt in theſe words. The earneſt expectation of the creature, waiteth for the manifeſtation of the ſonnes of God. But this expectation and waiting muſt be underſtood, of ſuch an expectation and waiting, as the creature is capable of, and not of any ſuch expectations or waitings as are in reaſonable man, it being not capable of it.
But ſixthly, and laſtly, the creature that thus is as hath been ſaid, under the bondage of corruption; under which it groanes and travels, being not willingly but with reluctancy under it; but yet hoping for, and waiting for and expecting deliverance, ſhall at that time, when the ſaints by being ſet at liberty from the preſſures of inward corruptions, and outward enemies, be gloriouſly manifeſted to be the ſons of God; bee alſo ſet at liberty from all its preſſures, and griefes, under which it groanes: and ſet into a condition of gladſomneſſe and freedom.
Thus in this place of Paul is this great truth, ſo much ſpoken of by the Prophets, and ſaints, confirmed by Paul: wherein becauſe he in ſome things, ſpeakes more particularly of the ſtate of the creatures at that time. I could not paſſe it by without this briefe obſervation of it; wherein wee may ſee that the condition of the Saints muſt needs be exceeding glorious, ſince the creatures over which man is Lord, ſhall be then in ſuch a ſtate of freedome and liberty.
I ſhall not inlarge any further, in producing any other of thoſe many paſſages in Scripture, which witneſſe this truth, but onelyonly thoſe two, Rev. 5. 10. and Rev. 11. 15, 16, 17, 18. Both which, do alſo punctually ſpeak in the language of the Prophet Daniel here in this Chapter; to wit, that the Kingdomes of this world, muſt more viſibly and more fully then yet they have been, become the Kingdomes of the Lord Jeſus, and obey him. So Dan. 7. 14, 27. and Revel. 11. 15. And that when that time is, the Saints muſt poſſeſſe the Kingdome, and reigne on earth: ſo Dan. 7. 22, 27. and Rev. 5. 10.
The firſt of theſe paſſages mentioned in the Revelation, is that, Chap. 5. 9, 10. which runs thus. Thou waſt ſlaine, and haſt redeemed us to God by thy blood; out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation: and haſt made us unto our God, Kings and Prieſts, and we ſhall reigne on the earth. Theſe words are a part of a ſong, ſung by Saints, wherein they praiſe the Lambe, and herein they have in their eye, as matter for which their hearts are ingaged to honour and glorifie Chriſt: both that which he had already done for them, and alſo that which he had not yet done, but would doe for them. That which hee had done for them, in theſe words; Thou waſt ſlaine, and thou haſt redeemed us— and thou haſt made us unto our God Kings and Priests: and that which ſhould bee done for them by Chriſt in theſe words, and wee ſhall reigne on the earth: this being that which they knew hee would doe; hee having declared it by the mouth of all his Prophets, therefore they ſing it out, we ſhall reigne on the earth.
The other paſſage, which is, Rev. 11. 15, 16, 17, 18. runnes thus. And the ſeventh Angel ſounded, and there were great voices in Heaven, ſaying, the Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Chriſt, and he ſhall reigne for ever and ever: and the four and twenty Elders which ſate before God on their ſeates, fell upon their faces and worſhipped God, ſaying, We give thee thankes, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and waſt, and art to come: becauſe thou haſt taken to thee thy great power, and haſt reigned; and the Nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they ſhould be judged; and that thou ſhouldeſt give reward unto thy ſervants the Prophets, and to the Saints, and them that feare thy name, ſmall and great, and ſhouldeſt deſtroy them which deſtroy the earth. And the Temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was ſeen in his Temple the Ark of his Teſtament; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
This Scripture being ſo pertinent unto the preſent purpoſe; and having already in another Treatiſe opened the former part of this Chapter, from the firſt to the 15 verſe; I ſhall therefore be the more copious in opening of this part, which is from the 15 verſe (where I left) unto the end of the chapter.