A Little Cabinet, Section 52
Of the Reign of Chriſt, or kidgdom of Chriſt in this world, though not of this world.
AS to this point I cannot write as to the former, but under correction, and with ſubmiſſion to better Judgements; (I crave leave to preſent mine) and then let me tell the Reader, I have ſeriouſly read once, and again over and over all that I have heard of and met with both for the perſonal Reign, and alſo againſt the perſonal Reign of Chriſt, and ſearched the Scriptures, and debated and reaſoned with Chriſtians many times for many moneths, and I cannot, yea, I dare not poſitively affirm any ſuch thing; nor totally in any ſenſe (warily underſtood) deny it. For the Scriptures ſeem to point at ſuch a thing, although I do not find it ſo fully confirmed, as many people of note pretend it doth; ſo then although I dare not ſay the Kingdom of Chriſt is of this world; yet I dare not deny but his Kingdom in a ſenſe may be in this world: Though I cannot affirm that he ſhall Reign perſonally on earth a thouſand years, yet I have ſome ground to affirm, that he ſhall Reign ſpiritually, a…d have a ſpiritual Kingdom for a ſeaſon; or elſe what means that Scripture? Rev. 11. 15. And the ſeventh Angel ſounded, and there were great voices in heaven, ſaying the Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chriſt, and he ſhall reign. Doth not this Scripture point to the ſame thing? Dan. 7. 27. And the Kingdom and Dominion, and the greatneſs of the Kingdom under the whole Heavens ſhall be given to the people of the Saints of the moſt high, and all Nations ſhall ſerve and obey them. Doth not the Prophet Iſaiah ſpeak to the ſame thing? Iſal. 2. 2, 3. And it ſhall come to paſs in the laſt daies, that the mountain of the Lords houſe ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the top of the mountains, and ſhall be exalted above the hils; and all Nations ſhall flow unto it, for out of Sion ſhall go forth the Law, and the word of the Lord from Jeruſalem, Iſai. 1. 26. And I will reſtore thy Judges as at the firſt, and thy Counſellors as at the beginning. Jer. 3. 15. And I will give you Paſtors according to mine heart, which ſhall feed you with knowledge and underſtanding: Moreover the light of the moon ſhall be as the Light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun ſhall be ſeven-fold, Iſai. 11. 6. Then ſhall the Wolf dwell with the Lamb, and the Leopard ſhall lie down with the Kid, &c. Verſ. 7. And the Cow and the Bear ſhall feed their young, and the Lion ſhall eat ſtraw like the Ox. ver. 9. They ſhall not hurt nor deſtroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth ſhall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the ſea, Jer. 32. 39. And I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for ever, Zech. 14. 9. Then the Lord ſhall be one, and his name one. Zeph. 3. 9. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the Lord to ſerve him with one conſent. Act. 3. 19. Is not this the times of refreſhing that ſhall from the preſence of the Lord? Acts 3. 21. Is not this the time of reſtitution of all things which God hath ſpoken by the mouth of all his Prophets ſince the world began? Compare this with Acts 19. 21. and Rom. 8. 19, 20, 21, 22.
Shall not the Jews be converted and imbrace the Goſpel, and the fulneſs of the Gentiles come in? Rom. 11. 12. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminiſhing of them the riches of the Gentiles: How much more their fulneſs? ver. 15. For if the caſting away of them be the reconciling of the world: What ſhall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? ver. 26. And ſo all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved, as it is written, there ſhall come out of Sion the Deliverer▪ and he ſhall turn away ungodlineſs from Jacob, Iſa. 35. 6, 7. Then ſhall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb ſhall ſing, for in the wilderneſs ſhall waters break forth, and ſtreams in the deſart, and the parched ground ſhall become a pool and the thirſty land ſprings of water, Deut. 28. 13. Dan. 7. 27. Then the Lord ſhall make his people the head and not the tail. Zeph. 3. 19, 20. Behold at that time, I will undo all that afflict thee, and will ſave her that halteth, and will get them a praiſe and a fame in every land, where they have been put to ſhame, for I will make you a name and a praiſe unto all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, ſaith the Lord.
Hold out faith and patience but a little, and he that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry, but bring his Reward with him; and ſo bring about a ſwifter, a fuller, and a more univerſal happineſs then any could imagine. Before Sion travelled ſhe brought forth: and at even-tide it ſhall be Light, Zach. 14. 6.
Oh who would but Love the appearing of Chriſt in ſpirit, and look for, and haſten to the coming of this day of Reſtitution! Let our note become: O why are his chariots ſo long in coming? the ſweeter the enjoyment, the ſtronger ſhould be the deſires: Oh that the day ſhould be ſo great, and our deſires ſo ſmall! the ſpouſe doth deſire the day of her marriage, the priſoner his liberty, the malefactor his pardon, the Labourer his reſt, and Heir his inheritance, an Apprentice his freedom, the Marriner his port, and ſhall not we live in a continual expectation of that day, which removes every ſorrow, and ſupplies with every comfort? In a word, this day will be a clearing from all undue imputations. Now a Chriſtian is ſometimes called Diſſembler, Anabaptiſt, Separate, Hyppocrite, and what not? But he may ſay when Chriſt doth appear, his Innocency ſhall appear too; all ſlanders and defamations ſhall fall off from the Saints, and their very enemies ſhall be fain to confeſs, that theſe people whom they have hated, are thoſe whom the Lord hath bleſſed, &c. The bleſſedneſs of this ſtate doth conſiſt in theſe and the like things.
1. A clear Apprehenſion of God reconciled to us in Chriſt, 2. Cor. 5. 19. Col. 1. 20, 21.
2. A clear apprehenſion of our ſelves, cloathed with the Righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, Col. 1. 28.
3. A clear apprehenſion that all ſin is forgiven, Iſai. 53. 6 1 Pet. 2. 24.
4. A clear apprehenſion of our Conſciences being purged in the blood of Chriſt, Hebrews 9. 14.
5. A clear apprehenſion of the Law, perfectly by Chriſt fulfilled for us, Rom. 10. 4.
6. A clear apprehenſion of that real, cloſe, ſpiritual, glorious and inſeparable Union that there is between Chriſt and our ſouls.
7. A clear apprehenſion of that ſaving teſtimony of the Spirit of God, ratifying and teſtifying all this in the ſoul.
We find that the Apoſtles themſelves, and alſo Churches with whom they walked, made uſe of theſe benefits and priviledges that they ſhould have at Chriſts next coming, to bear up their ſpirits under their ſufferings here, viz. 1 Pet. 1. 13. Wherefore gird up the loyns of your mind, be ſober, and hope to the end, for the Grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jeſus Chriſt.
James 5. 8. Be ye alſo patient, ſtabliſh your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Heb. 9. 28. Ʋnto them that look for him, he ſhall appear the ſecond time without ſin unto ſalvation, 1 John 3. 2. Beloved, Now we are the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we ſhall be; but we know that when he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him, for we ſhall ſee him as he is, Rev. 22. 20. He which teſtifieth theſe things, ſaith ſurely I come quickly. (Let us all ſay with the Church) Amen, even ſo come Lord Jeſus.
The divers expreſſions in Scripture concerning the coming of Chriſt, which ſet him forth as coming in various Dreſſes, Viz. Sometimes as a Bridegroom, ſometimes in Fire, ſometimes as a Warriour, ſometimes as a Judge; are not to be underſtood of divers Comings, but one and the ſame coming in divers Reſpects; as to his people, he comes as a Bridgroom, when in reſpect of the wicked, he comes in fire, and as a Judge.
I ſhall cloſe up this point with two Scriptures, Iſaiah 61. 5, 6. And ſtrangers ſhall ſtand and feed your Flocks, and the ſons of the Alian ſhall be your Plough men, and your Vinedreſſers.
But ye ſhall be named the Prieſts of the Lord, men ſhall call you the Miniſters of our God. Chap. 14. 2. They ſhall take them captive, whoſe captives they were, and they ſhall rule over their oppreſſors, &c.