The great day at the dore and he cometh with clouds that shall judge the quick and the dead, and reigne on the earth with all his saints, not for a thousand yeares in this corrupt and sinfull world, as some coruptly conceive and teach, nay, but for a thousand and a thousand and ten thousand times ten thousand thousands of yeares, even for ever and ever, eternally in the world to come ... proved clearly by the word of God ...

The great day at the dore and he cometh with clouds that shall judge the quick and the dead, and reigne on the earth with all his saints, not for a thousand yeares in this corrupt and sinfull world, as some coruptly conceive and teach, nay, but for a thousand and a thousand and ten thousand times ten thousand thousands of yeares, even for ever and ever, eternally in the world to come ... proved clearly by the word of God ...

Table of contents

Title page

TO THE TRULY HONORABLE, The Seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob▪ the Children and Heires of God, and Ioynt-he••es with Christ; Of what People, Nation, or Tribe soever; and in what degree of place, High or Low, Grace and Truth, and Peace, be multiplied.

Honored and Beloved, All these words doe the Millinaries take as spoken to their purpose, which I request ye (beloved of the Lord) well to consider.

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Honored and Beloved,
All these words doe the Millinaries take as spoken to their purpose, which I request ye (beloved of the Lord) well to consider.

THE things that I shall here in the first place present unto your confideration, are the Scriptures whereon the Milli [...]aries doe ground their opinions before mentioned: the first and chiefe being this;

REV. 20. 4, 5, 6.

And I saw Thrones, and they sate upon them, and judgement wa [...] given [...] them.

And I saw the souls of the [...] that were beheaded for the witnesse of Iesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the Beast, [...]ither his Image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their h [...]ds, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yeares. But the rest of the dead lived not again untill the thousand yeares were finis [...]d. This is the first resurrection.

Blessed and [...]oly is he that hath part in the first Resurrection, on such the [...] death hath no power: But they shall be Priests of God, and of Christ, and shall reigne with him a thousand yeares.

ANd first this, how Iohn could with any sense or truth, say, And I saw thrones, and they sate upon them, &c. and mean by They (as the Millinaries expound him) the s [...]uls of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Iesus, &c. which were shewed him afterward. Or why Iohn (if he had so meant) would not then rather have said first, And I sa [...] the souls of them that were beheaded, &c. and then have said after this, And I saw [...], & they [...] upon them, &c. but that he had respect unto some other person [...], whom he had seen and spoken of before: and who may they [...] thought to be, but the Beast and the false Prophet, and those Kings of the [...] that gathered themselves together against him that sate upon the white. Ho [...]se, and against his Army, Chap. 1 [...]. For they [...] [Page] and had power and great authority, and judgement given [...]nto them, and they beheaded the Saints for those causes mentioned, as by Chap. 13. 1, 2, 15. & 14. 12, 13, 14, appeareth, according to Dan. 7. 25.

But because Iohn had seen another vision of binding the Dragon before this of the Thrones, &c. therefore, that we may the more clearly understand these things, we are to consider of the same, in the first place, as a thing going before.

Vers. 1, 2, 3. And I saw an Angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomlesse pit, and a great chain in his hand, and he laid hold on the Dragon, that old Serpent, which is the Devill, and Satan, and bound him a thousand yeares, and cast him into the bottomlesse pit, and shut him up, and set a seale upon him, that he should deceive the N [...]tions no more, till the thousand yeares should be finished, and after that he must be loosed a little season.

What is to be understood by th [...]s Dragon, (called here, that old Serpent, the Devill and Satan) and what this binding of him should meane, and what his deceit was wherewith he deceived the Nations before he was bound, and when this binding of him should be, are things not here exprest: Neither is there any thing at all spoken or shewed, that the Dragon did, or should doe under that name or title of the Dragon, during all the time of the Beasts reigne, from the beginning of Chap. 13. unto th [...]s place; except that of giving his power, and his throne, and great authority to the Beast, chap. 13. 2. onely in chap. 12. his doings are at large declared, and what was done to him. There, after Iohn had seen that great wonder in Heaven, A woman cloth [...]d with Sunne, and the Moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve Starres, and gr [...]at with child, crying and pained to be delivered, he s [...]i [...]h, And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red Dragon having seven heads and ten horns, &c. ve [...]se 3, 4, 5.

This great red Dragon thus described, with these h [...]ads and horns, cannot be taken for the Devil, Satan onely and alone conside [...]ed, but must needs be understood of those Pagan Emperou [...]s of Rome, in whom Satan dwelt, and by whom he ruled and wrought all th [...]se w [...]cked workes there described. This was he that so cruelly used that heavenly woman, the Church and Spouse of Christ, drawing down with [...] of De [...]fied Ces [...]rs, a third part of the Starres of hea [...], (with who [...]e D [...]ctrine she was crowned, and in the light whereof she wa [...]k [...]d) and cast them to the earth: and that stood before the woman, ready to devoure her child as soon as it was born, even all the fi [...]st fruits of spirituall off spring, that man child which her Lord promised should [...] [Page] all Na [...]ions with a rod of Iron, Rev. 2. 26, 27. This was he that with tho [...]e his evill Angels forced the woman from her most eminent bright shining primitive estate, and to betake herselfe unto those two wings (which her Lord then gave her) of his word of Truth, and [...] into the Wildernesse, (there to have some refreshing from the face of the Sespent, and be sed of God a thousand two hundred and sixty dayes: For then was that great warre in heaven, Michael and his Angels fighting against the Dragon, and the Dragon and his Angels against Michael.

For the Name and Gospel of Jesus Christ, and worship of the true God that made heaven and earth, by Michael and his Angels, that is to say, Christ and his Apostles, and their faithfull followers.

And in opposition to the same with sword and fire by the Dragon and his Angels, those bloody Cesars, for their open profest Idolatry, Paganisme and superstition, [...]triving by all wicked means to root out the Name of Christ, and worship of the true God from the earth, and so settle himselfe in his throne, to be worshipped and adored for ever.

But they prevailed not, as the Text saith, neither was their place found any more in heaven, Michael and his Angels overcame them by the word of their testimony, and their patient suffering their most cruell murders and tortures: And the great Dragon was cast out, as there it saith, ver. 9. where he is described even as he is here, ch. 20. 2. by the names of that old Serpent, the Devil & Satan, which deceiveth the whole world, &c. his deceit being that of his Paganisine before mentioned; and now was the time for Michael (that Archangel Jesus Christ) (he having overcome the Dragon and cast him down) to lay hold on him, and binde him, that he should so deceive the Nations no more, nor so universally pursue the blood of the Saints, slaughtering all that professed the Name of Jesus Christ, as he had done for a thousand yeares space at the least, during all the time of the Beasts reigne that was to succeed him, whilst the true Church and Spouse of Christ should remain in the Wildernesse close, and hidden, as it were, out of his fight, till afterward, that she should be seen abroad again with her graces shining, and he loosed for a little season out of his prison.

This was he which Paul spake of, that untill he was th [...]s taken out of the way, letted the [...] of Sin to be revealed, 2 Thess. 2. 7, 8. that Beast which Iohn saw rise out of the Sea, Rev. 13. 1.

All these things confidered and understood, who now can be thought to be they that sate upon the thrones which Iohn saw after he had seen the Dragon bound, Revel. 20. but the Beast and the false Prophet his [Page] Clergy, and those ten hornes that had crowns on them, who received power as Kings one houre with the Beast, mentioned chap. 13. 1. 11. and 17. 12. and 19. 19, 20, 21.

These, though professing the name of the true God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ his Word and Sacraments, and themselves to be his Church, yet being possest with unclean Spirits of Devils, should by▪ another more secret way than the Dragon used, deceive a great part of the world. (And having changed times and lawes, and power and judgement being given unto them for a time and times, and half a time) should consume the Saints of the most High, kill them▪ behead them for those causes mentioned, Rev. 13. 5, 6, 7. & 14. 12, 13. & 17. 6. & 20. 4. where the souls of them they should behead, are shewed, according to that of the pale Horse, on which Death sate, and Hell followed, Rev. 6. 8. whereupon Iohn seeth also the soules of them that they should kill for the word of God, &c. vers. 9, 10, 11. and to that of the second Woe, upon the sounding of the sixth Angel, chap. 9. 13. and chap. 11. where they are said to tread the holy Citie under foot fourty and two months, vers. 2. Every place agreeing to that in Dan. 7. 25. speaking in order of one and the same things, the Dragon or Pagan Empire first tyranizeth; the Beast, or Horn that had eyes, succeeds him in his throne; the Saints are slain for the word of God, and not worshipping the Beast, the great day of the Lord followeth in every place.

Now concerning the soules of them that (during the reigne of the Beast) should be beheaded for not worshiping the Beast, &c. I request you, unto whom I present all these things, wel to consider, Iohn doth not say, And I saw the souls that were beheaded, as if such a thing could be; Neither doth he say, I saw the bodies that were beheaded, & they lived & reigned with Christ a thousand yeares, as the Millinaries would seem to expound him, or turn the words, conceiving that Iohn nameth the Soule for the Body, and would have a resurrection of the body to be meant, and it to be the first resurrection Iohn speakes of, which is not so: for the words are plain, And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded, &c. And they, that is to say their souls, liv [...]d and [...]eigned with Christ, &c. not their bodies that were beheaded, but their souls onely.

Neither may the soule be named for the body in the resurrection of the body, as to rise from the dead with it, or for it, or for both, because it is a meere falshood, and a contrad [...]ctory thing; Iohn might as well and as truly have said, I s [...]w the s [...]uls that were beheaded, and so have named the soule for the beheading of the body, as for the resurrection of [Page] it, if it had been a thing sensible or true; but he saith (and that sensibly and truly) And I saw the souls of them, &c.

When those bodies of Saints which slept, arose, Matth. 27. 52, 53. it is not said their souls arose, but their bodies onely.

And although in some other cases while the soule and the body liveth together, the soule being the principall part of man, may be named for both, as Gen. 46. All the souls of the House of Iacob wch came into Egypt, were threesoore & t [...]n; yet in this case it cannot be so, except they will make the soule to dye or be [...]lain with the body, and so lye dead in the grave with it, that it may rise with it, as some of them have been bold to say, and some to publish, contrary to many cleare testimonies of Scripture, and to the words of Christ, Iohn 11. 25. I am the resurrection and the life, he that beleeveth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and beleeveth in me, shall never dye. By which words it is evident, that whosoever is once quickned and made alive again in soule, by faith in Christ, from that spirituall death, which it (being once alive in Adam) was brought unto by the fall, and his own sinnes, this soule shall never dye more, he is passed from death to life, as Christ saith, Iohn 5. 24, 25. and Christ will raise his body up at the last day, according to his word, Iohn 6. 4.

It is true, that the soules of the unregenerate reprobates, which were never quickned and made alive again by faith from that death they had by the fall, and their own sinnes, their bodies dying, their soules remain spiritually dead in some low place of darknesse, where evill spirits are, untill the last day, when both body and soule shall come forth and live, to undergoe the second death.

So then, when Iohn saith, And I saw the soules of them that were beheaded for the testimony of Iesus, &c. and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yeares, he meaneth their soules and not their bodies▪ and by a thousand yeares, all the time of the Dragons being bound, and the Beasts reigne, and thei [...] bodies suffering for the word of God, &c. even to the loosing of the Dragon, and end of the world, according also to that in Rev. 6. where the soules under the Altar cryed, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth▪ And white robes were given unto every one of them, and it w [...]s said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, untill their fellow-servants and their brethren which should be killed [...] they were, should be fulfilled, vers. 9, 10, 11. which must needs be understood from the beginning of the Beasts [Page] reigne, (when they first began to suffer for those causes) unto the end of the world, because their brethren that should be killed as they were, would not be fulfilled till then; and all the Saints are in one kind or other, killed for Christs sake, as it is written: For thy sake, O Lord, are we slain all the day long, and counted as sheep to the slaughter.

And because this resurrection of the soule is effected here while the soule is in the body, by the Word and Spirit of God, as Iohn well knew, according to that which Christ had said, Iohn 5. 21, 24, 25. and 11, 4, 5, 6. and to that of Paul, Ephes. 2. 1, 4, 5, 6. Col. 2. 12, 13. Col. 3. 1, 2. 2 Cor. 4. 16. Ephes. 4. 23. Titus 3. 5. and other places, and was also in those dayes well known to the Saints; in consideration whereof Iohn saith, This is the first Resurrection: The first, implying plainly, that it is the very fi [...]st in which every Saint hath his part, and therefore he saith again to the comfort of them all in their afflictions here, Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first res [...]rrection, on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be Priests of God, and of Christ, and shall reigne with him a thousand yeares, even till Christ shall come in his glory, and avenge their blood, and raise their bodies, and receive them body and soule into his kingdome.

If therefore this resurrection of the soule and spirit, be the first resurrection, as is before sufficiently proved, then there cannot be another first, that which comes after it must needs be the second and genera [...]l resurrection spoken of Iohn 5. 28, 29. Rev. 20. 12, 13. So that this place serves nothing at all to the Millinaries purpose, but is wholly against it.

Neither because the casting of the Beast and false Prophet into the Lake of fire, was shewed unto Iohn (chap. 19. 20.) before these things, chap. 20. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 was it therefore to be done before the same, (as the Millinaries would have it?) no more than the condemnation of that great Whore, and the rejoycing of the Saints thereupon, shewed him, chap. 17. and 18. to the 10. verse of the 19. was before the Beast and his followers gathered themselves together against him that sate on the white Horse, shewed him presently after, chap. 19. or than the second one, chap. 11. 14. was before the Dragons persecuting the Woman, chap. 12. that second [...]oe being the reigne of the Beast that rose after he Dragon was cast down, and was to continue fourty and two moneths, as by chap. 11. 2. compared with chap. 13. 5. appeareth.

But because the loosing of the Dragon, and the great day of the Lord, the generall resurrection of the bodies of all, the judgement [Page] and state eternall, are th [...] chiefe things intended to be shewed in this last place of the Revelation; and they being to follow next after the second woe, and casting the Beast and false prophet into the lake of fire, (as by chap 16. also appeareth) where after the fifth Angell had powred out his Viall upon the throne of the Beast) v. 10, 11. the sixth Angel powreth out his Viall upon the great River E [...]phrate [...], & Iohn seeth three unclean spirits like Frogs, come out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the Beast, and out of the mouth of the false Prophet, to go forth unto the Kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battel of the great day of God Almighty. Therfore to make the way clear to those great things, the binding of the great Dragon, the thrones & rule of those that should [...]it on them the while, & the living & reigning of the souls of them they should behead, are here briefly shewed; as being the summe of all the same things that had been so largely shewd before from chap. 12. to this place.

But there are yet other places where a thousand yeares are named, which the Millinaries to confirm their opinions) add to this, as,

2 Pet. 3. 8. One day is with the Lord as a thousand yeares, and a thousand yeares as one day, &c.

And Psal. 90. 8. For a thousand yeares in thy fight are but [...] yesterday when they are past, and as a watch in the night, &c.

Both these places they will have to intend their thousand yeares Monarch and day of judgement, though neither of the places aim at any such things: but they speak of the time of Gods long forbearance for the bringing in of his chosen, and of their sufferings during that time before the Lords coming.

As first for the words of Peter, it is manifest that he speaketh first in reproofe of those s [...]offers that in the latter dayes should mock and say, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the Fathers slept, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation, &c. vers 2, 3, 4, 5, &c. and then [...]aith to the faithfull, But (beloved) be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand yeares, and a thousand yeares as one day: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slacknesse, but is long suffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thiefe in the night, &c. vers. 8, 9, 10.

Where the Apostle giveth them and us all to understand, that the long time of a thousand yeares and more, (which he fore-saw would [Page] passe before the day of the Lord should come, would be the time of Gods long-suffering to [...]-ward, that all his elect might come to repentance and be saved, though they were to passe through many tribulations, especially under the long reigne of Antichrist.

Which time therefore, they might well think long, though in the account of God in respect of his eternall mercies, they are but as one day, as yesterday, when they are past.

And to this purpose also are the words of Moses in his Psalm, vers. 8. And therefore he saith after, vers. 13, 14, 15. Return, O Lord, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants, O satisfie us early with thy mercies, that we may rejoyce and be glad all our dayes. Make us glad according to the dayes wherein thou hast afflicted us, and to the yeares wherein we have seen evill.

Where Moses (counting also the time long wherein the Lord afflicteth his servants) prayeth as we see, not that he would have us to understand him, as the Millinaries conceive, as if he desired that the mercies of God which he prayed him to satisfie his servants with early, &c. should be limited to the time of a thousand yeares, or to be of no longer continuance than the dayes or yeares of their afflictions. Which although they were and are to be and continue, all the dayes of this present world, yet when they are past, are but as yesterday, as a watch in the night; yea but as a moment in comparison of his everlasting mercies; For so speaketh the Lord unto his afflicted Church, to comfort her in all her afflictions, saying, For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercy will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my f [...]e from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer, &c. Esay 5 4. 7, 8, &c. According to which the Apostle Paul also speaketh, saying, For our light afflictions which are but for a moment, worketh for us a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17. Worketh for us, saith he; not that affl [...]ction doe merit or deserve the same, but because of the Lords promise and mercies, which is to reward them according to their workes, as Christ saith, Matth. 5. 10. 11. and other places: not in proportion of time, or worth of work, but for exceeding all, an eternall weight, as he saith.

And so the words of Moses, Make us glad according to the dayes wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the yeares wherein we have seen evill, are to be understood. It is too farre fetcht, and very unreasonable, to turn his words to a thousand years Monarch; especially, considering [Page] what he said before, vers. 8. For a thousand years are but [...] yesterday, [...] a watch in the night: and what the Prophet Esay and the Apostle Paul saith of the whole time of all the Saints affl [...]ctions, counting it but as a moment, and all their afflictions but light in respect of the everlasting mercies and kindnes of the Lord, and the exceeding and eternall weight of glory he hath prepared for them, and they shall receive in the kingdome of Christ, when he cometh in his glory, and all his holy Angels with him, and shall fit in the throne of his glory, as he hath said, which is never likened to a small moment, or watch in the night, or to yesterday, as the time of their afflictions is; nay what were his kingdome then?

The next chiefe place whereon they would ground their thousand yeares Monarch, is, 1 Cor. 15. 24, 25, 26. Then commeth the end, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdome to God, even the Father, when hee shall have put down all rule, all authority and power: For he must reigne till he hath put all enemies under his feet, the last enemy is Death, &c.

These words of the Apostle they make great use of to their purpose, conceiving, that the Kingdome which Christ is to deliver up at the end of the world, is his own Kingdome which he is to possesse at his second appearing, concluding in their minds, that there shall be a thousand yeares time between his appearing and the end of the world, wherein he with his Saints is to reign and judge: [...] the end of those yeares, all the dead that were not raised at the beginning of them, and that shall die within the time, to be raised, and he to deliver up his kingdome.

This in briefe is that which they conceive and conclude to be the meaning of the Apostle, and so they argue from these words, Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the Kingdome to God, even the Father, to prove the kingdome of Christ to be in this world, for a thousand yeares, and then to end; often using the words, and repeating them in their bookes, saying, For Christ is to deliver up his kingdome at the end of the world.

Here also, I request ye to confider, how they misunderstand the Apostle, turning The Kingdome, into His Kingdome; whereas the word [...] are plain, Then cometh [...]he end when he shall have delivered up the Kingdome to God, even the Father, &c. meaning by The Kingdome, the high and supream Kingdome of God the Father, where Christ is now fitting and reigning with him at his right hand in the heavens, expecting till his enemies be made his foot-stoole. Which Kingdome when [Page] he cometh from thence to judge the quicke and the dead, and to reign in his own Kingdome) hee is to deliver up and resigne unto God the Father: Then are the Saints raised up, the last enemy is destroyed, the end is come, as the Apostle saith: Christ the first fruits, then afterward they that are Christs at his coming, then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdome to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down all Rule, all Authority, and Power. All these are to be done at one time, without any yeares or dayes between.

And so the Apostle argueth, saying, For he must reign till he hath put down all enemies under his feet, the last enemy that shall be destroyed, is Death, &c. proving by the words of David (The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, untill I make thy enemies thy Foot-stoole, Psa. 110) That the Kingdome which Christ is to deliver up at his coming, is the Kingdome wherein hee now reigneth in the throne of God the Father, with him, at his right hand in the Heavens, expecting till his enemies be made his foot-stoole. And therefore he saith, For he must reign untill, &c.

And to the same purpose hee proceedeth further, and saith, And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Sonne also himselfe be subject unto him that put down all things under him, that God may be all in all▪ declaring plainly, that while Christ sitteth at the right hand of God in his throne reigning with him, hee is not subject unto him, as hee shall bee when God the Father shall have put down all things under him; nor God all in all now, as he shall bee then when he hath delivered up the supream Kingdome wholly unto God the Father, which he is to doe at his coming to judge the quick and the dead, and to reigne in his owne kingdome, and sit upon the throne of his Father David for ever; not in th [...]s world, but in that to come, which is to be subject unto him, as the Apostle testifieth, Heb. 2. 5, 6, 7, 8 9.

This is Christs Kingdome, which God the Father hath appointed unto him, wherein the Saints shall reigne with him, as he said, And I appoint unto you a kingdome as my Father hath appointed unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdome, and sit on Thrones, &c. Luke 22. 29, 30. And again, To him that overcometh will I grant to fit with me in my throne, even as I overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne, Rev. 3. 21.

And so it is true, that the Kingdome wherein Christ now reigneth [Page] with God the Father crowned with glory and honour, is limited within the compasse of a certain time, even untill the Father hath put down all things under him. And it is true also, that the living and reigning of the souls of the Saints in the first resurrection, is limited within the compasse of the same time, even till he cometh, and shall bring them all with him, and cloath them with spirituall and heavenly bodies, to live and reign with him body and soule in his kingdome for ever.

Which kingdom of his, he is never to resign nor deliver up, neither is it to passe away, nor be destroyed, nor have an end, as the Scriptures witnesse, 1 Chron. 17. 11, 1, 29, 13, 4. Psal. 89. 36, 37. Esay 9, 6, 7. Dan. 7. 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 27. Micha 4. 7 and sundry other places.

And as the Angel Gabriel testified unto Mary his mother, saying, He shall be great, and shall be called the Sonne of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of [...] Father David, and be shall reign over the House of Iacob for ever, and of his kingdome there shall be no end, Luke 1▪ 32, 33. according to Esay 9. 7. No end is beyond all limitation of time.

Another place which some of them alledge, is, 1 Thess. 4. 16. The dead in Christ shall rise first; conceiving the Apostle to [...], before the dead out of Christ shou [...]d rise, which they would have to be a thousand yeares after: whereas the Apostle in those words hath no respect unto them at all, but unto the Saints that shall be alive and remain to the coming of the Lord, as in vers. 15. these shall not prevent them that are sleep, as to receive a [...]y glory before them; but the d [...]ad in Christ shall ri [...]e first, and th [...] they that are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord &c. as in ver. 17. he declareth.

And so they would understand him (1 Cor. 15. The first fruits is Christ, then afterwards they that are Christs at his coming) to intend a resurrection of those that are not Christs a thousand years after, as Christ the first f [...]ui [...]s was a thousand years and more before: whereas the words spoken there, conc [...]rn [...] not them at all, they are not fruits, neither is death to be counted an enemy in respect of them; but of those that are Christs, unto whom death will then be swallowed up in victory, although they shall then bee raised also, as Christ saith, The houre is coming, wherein all that are in the grave [...][Page]shall heare his voyce and shall come forth, they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evill, unto the resurrection of condemnation, Iohn 5. The h [...]re cometh (saith he) he saith not, the day, nor the thousand yeares, but, th [...] houre; for, no doubt, in the same houre that the Lords voyce goeth forth, it shall be done, The Trumpet shall sound, the d [...]ad shall be raised, and we shall be changed in [...] moment.

But there is yet one thing more, (which hath been a long time held as an Article of faith, that notonely at first drew them o [...] to the opinion, but doth still hold them fast to it) the thing is this, That Christ at the end of the world (after the generall resurrection and judgement) shall ascend with all his Saints into heaven, and there remain and dwell for ever, and the creation of the Heavens and the Earth passe away and be no more, as is commonly beleeved by the multitude, and they judge to be true, which if it be, then of necessity, the glorious Kingdome of Christ, with his Saints (so much spoken of in Scripture to he on earth, and not yet fulfilled) must be before the end of the world, and then at the end thereof cease, as they say. The Scriptures they alledge for proofe, are, Iohn 14. 2, 3. 2 Cor. 5. 1. 1 Pet. 3. 4, 5, 6. Heb. 6. 19, 20. 1 Thess. 4. 17.

This likewise I request ye to consider, not so much the common opinion of the multitude, or judgement of the Millinaries, which proves nothing, as the Scriptures they alledge for their opinions, which ought duly to bee weighed. And first, the words of Christ, In my Fathers House are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you: I goe to prepare a place for you, and if I goe and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto my selfe, that where I am, there ye may be also.

Christ doth not say nor mean here, that he would goe and prepare his Fathers house, or the many mansions that are therein, for them, as some think; but a place, as he saith, which no doubt is that whereof God spake before unto David, saying, Also I will prepare a place for my people Israel and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be m [...]v [...]d no more, &c. 1 Chron. 17. 9. Where he promised likewise to establish the Kingdome and Throne of Christ for evermore, vers. 11, 12, 13▪ 14.

Neither doth Christ say, I will come again and receive you up into heaven to the Throne of God from whence I shall come, but unto my selfe, that where I am, there ye may be also. And Christ is then [Page] to be in his Kingdome, which the Father hath appointed unto him, in the world to come, where all things shall be in subjection unto him, when there shall be new heavens and a new earth, as the Prophet Esay testifieth, and Peter also; and as Iohn foresaw with the new Ierusalem coming down from God out of Heaven, even that heavenly Countrey and Citie, having foundations, which all the holy Fathers thers looked for. And this is the place which Christ went to prepare for them, and for all their children, and wherein (when he cometh and receiveth them unto himselfe) they shall be with him, and he will be with them, and God himselfe also, and will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and he will be their God, as he hath said, Rev. 21.

And concerning the words of Paul, 2 Cor. 5. 1. For we know, that if our earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an House not made with hands, eternall in the Heavens.

Here the Apostle speaketh of our bodies, which hee calleth [...] earthly House of this Tabernacle, and before, chap. 4. our outward man, if this be dissolved, we have a building of God, &c. By which he declareth plainly, that as wee beleeve the resurrection of our bodies at the last day; so we are to know, they shall not be then, earthly, naturall, vile, corrupt, mortall, weak, dishonorable, without glory, as now they are: but they (both the dead that are risen, and the living being changed) shall be heavenly, spirituall, incorruptible, immortall, powerfull, honorable, glorious, for so he had testified before, 1 Cor. 15. And in another place again, saying, For our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Lord Iesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, &c. Phil. 3. 20, 21. And that this building of God, or House, is not temporall, or fading, but eternall; and not lying now in the grave, nor being any where now in earth (in respect of this glorious change of cloathing) but in Heaven, from whence it is to come, as he saith, v. 2. For in this we groan earnestly, desiring to be cloathed upon with our House which is from Heaven, &c. And he calleth it a building of God, an house not made with hands, as having respect unto the day of the Lord, that great day of the generall assembly of them all, his first born; so cloathed and adorned, when they shall manifestly appeare to be that true and heavenly Tabernacle spoken of, Heb. 8. 2. and 9. 11. that holy Citie, the New Ierusalem, which Iohn saw coming downe from God ou [...] of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; such a glorious [Page] change shal there be of the bodies of the Saints at the resurrection.

And as touching the words of Peter, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Th [...]s inheritance incorruptible, &c. is the same spoken of before, (reserved in heaven ready to be revealed from thence in the last time, as Peter saith, 1 Pet. 1. 5.) and that within the veil, spoken of Heb. 6. 19. whereinto the forerunner Jesus Christ is for us entred.

And for the words of Paul, 1 Thess. 4. 17. Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them, to meet the Lord in the aire, and so shall we be ever with the Lord.

If the Apostle had said, the Lord would come to meet us in the aire, there might have been some reason for us to think (as many neverthelesse doe) that he meant to take us up into heaven from whence he came. But his words being, We shall be caught up to meet him, doe plainly imply, that he cometh unto us, to the earth which is his inheritance, and to some one place therein, which no doubt will be (as the Prophet sait [...]) The mount of Olives, from whence he did ascend, neare unto Mount Sion, where Davids Throne was, and his is to be, according as God said (notwithstanding all his opposites) yet have I set my King upon my holy Hill of Sion. And because his elect wil be then (at his coming) as they are now, dispersed over all the earth, and he being one person, who can be but in one place at once, and coming from heaven, he will send his Angles, as he hath said, who shall take them up out of all places, to meet him in the aire, and so they shall be ever with him in his Kingdome, which at his appearing shall be manifested, as it is written.

Neither is there a word in all the Sc [...]iptures that speaks of Christs ascending up with his Saints into the heavens (where he now is) after his coming, and the resurrection of their bodies; nor that promiseth the same for their habitation. But that they shall inherit the earth, and dwell therein for ever, there are many words and promises in many places of Scripture, where this is exprest, as Psalm 25. 13. Psalm 37. Mat. 5. 5 Heb. 11. 8. Rom. 4. 13. and sundry other.

And whatsoever things are said to be prepared and reserved in heaven for the Saints, or promised as rewards unto them, as Christ [Page] saith, Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evill against you falsly for my sake, Rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, &c. Matth. 5. and other places. All those great rewards and things that no eye hath seen, will Christ bring with him, as it is written, Esay 40. 10. and 62. 11. Rev. 22. 12.

And as concerning Gods creation of the Heavens and the Earth, that God should destroy the same, or turn all unto a Chaos again, as some imagine, the Scriptures no where speake to any such purpose, but the clean contrary often, That he hath established it, and will, so that it shall never be moved, as 1 Chron. 16. 30. Psal. 78. 69. Psal. 93. 1. Psal. 104. 5. Psal. 144. 5, 6. Esay 45. 17, 18.

Onely the corrupt and evill estate of all things, with the curse which our sinnes have caused, shall bee r [...]moved, in which respect the whole creation is said to groan, and the creature to be delivered from the bondage of corruption, as Rom. 8. So the Heavens and Earth that now are, shall passe away, and no place any more be sound for them, as it is written, Esay 65, 16, 17. 2 Pet. 3. 10. Rev. 20. 11. and 21. 1.

And all this shall be done in the very same day wherein Christ shall come, as Peter saith, and as Iohn also testifieth, saying, And I saw a great white Throne, and him that sate on it, from whose face the Earth and the Heavens fled away, and there was found no place for them. They are to flye away at his coming.

For, corruption and evill may not abide where the Throne of God, and of the Lamb shall be, nor where his holy City shal appeare, and therefore Iohn saith, I saw a new Heaven, and a new Earth, and the former were passed away, &c.

It were a very unreasonable thing, & unbeseeming us once to think, that God should make this excellent frame and wonderfull worke of the world, the Heavens, Sunne, Moon and Starres, the Earth, plants, & all other creatures, to destroy the same. This were to make God weak, like unto man, that builds and pulls down again, because it is not to his minde.

Neither are we to conceive that God doth alter his purpose in any thing, but what he first determined shall stand. God created not the world for the time or state before the flood, that old world which perished, nor for this corrupt on [...] that now is, as if it had been the utmost end he had respect unto therein: Nay, but we are to know, [Page] it was for that which is to come, where God onely shall be exalted in that day above all, and his anoynted one Jesus Christ be under him King over all the earth, and his redeemed an holy Nation, and a Kingdome of Priests before him for ever, world without end, as it is written, Esay 2. 11. 17. Psalm 2 6, 7, 8, 9. Psalm 72. 8. Dan. 7. 14. Exod▪ 19. 5, 6. Ier. 31. 36, 37. Ier. 33. 20, 21, &c. Esay 45. 17, 18, 19. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Rev. 5. 10. and sundry other places.

The Millinaries wi [...]l have marrying, and giving in marriage, infants of dayes waxing old, and people to dye in their Christian Monarch.

But the Scriptures absolutely deny such things to be in that world where the Kingdome of Christ is to be with his Saints after the resurrection of their bodies, when God shall have created new Heavens and a new Earth, and Ierusalem a rejoycing, &c. as he saith, There shall not be thence an infant of dayes, nor an old man that hath not filled his dayes, &c. Esay 65.

And Christ also more fully confirmeth it, saying, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage, but they which shall be counted worthy of that world, and of the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage, neither can they dye any more, &c. Luke 20. 34, 35, 36.

And the Apostle Paul saith to the faithful, Behold, I shew you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last Trump; for the Trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed; For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortall must put o [...] immortallity, &c. 1 Cor. 15. 51, 52, 53. &c.

By all which testimonies it is plain, that in the world to come after the resurrection of the Saints, there shall be no more marrying, nor any more children of dayes, nor old men whose dayes are not filled, nor any mortallity or dying. All these things (which were before in the former worlds) shall now cease and be no more, The childe of what dayes soever he was before, few or many, shall die and be changed, as the old man that is an hundred yeares old, there shall be in the resurrection and change no such difference, there shall bee on defect in the child for want of dayes, nor in the old man by reason of many dayes. Both shall be, thence, in a perfect, incorruptible, immortall, and unchangeable estate. But the sinner being an hundred yeares old, shall be accursed, as the Prophet saith: Hee shall have no change for the better, but to a farre worse condition.

[Page] Now if all these things be so, if there shall be no more infants of dayes, nor old men that have not filled their dayes, nor marrying, nor dying after the resurrection of the just, but all Gods chosen, as well they that are alive, as they that are dead, being raised, shall bee changed to perfection, incorruption, immortallity and glory; and the sinners be accursed, as the Scriptures declare; where then will the Millinaries find time, or place, or persons for their Millinary Monarch, let them speak.

And as concerning the other sort of Millinaries, I mean those that will have all the prophesies and promises of the Kingdome of Christ with his Saints, so abundantly spoken of in Scripture, fulfilled on a remnant of naturall Jewes, which they imagine shall bee all converted to the faith of Christ, and gathered out of all parts to the land of Canaan, and with the Christian Gentiles, become a glorious Church and Kingdome for a thousand yeares before the end of the world, or resurrection of the bodies of the Saints. Let these also consider the things before spoken, and what I shall here further propound unto them.

And first this, That if the promise of the Land of Canaan, (Gen. 13. 14, 15, 17. Gen. 15. 7, 8 9. Gen. 17. 7, 8. Gen. 26. 1, 2, 3, 4. Gen. 28. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.) be as plainly and truly made unto Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob their own persons, to be given them for an everlasting inheritance, as well as to their seed, and to all the seed as well as to a part, or any one of them.

And secondly, if the Gentiles, which have the saith of Abraham, be of the same seed, and included also in the promise, as well as the Jews having the same faith, as the Lord spake and promised to▪ Abraham, Gen. 15. 5. and Gen. 17. 9, 10, 11. and as Paul accordingly declareth it, Rom. 4. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. and Gal. 3. 28. For I take it as granted of all, that the children of the promise are counted for the seed, and not the children of the [...]lesh, as the Apostle saith, Rom. 9. 8.

If all these things be so, as these Scriptures speake, which I suppose no understanding Christian will deny; Then I demand of them a reason why the holy Fathers themselves, as well as their seed, and all the seed as well as a part, should not inherit the same, and not any one, or part to be excluded, seeing God is faithfull that promised. Let them answer.

God did covenant also with Abraham, Gen. 17. 7, 8. to be his God, & the God of his seed, & he established the same in no plainer nor surer [Page] ner than he did to give them the land for an everlasting possession. But if God should faile either Abraham, or any of his seed in this respect, how did he then keep his covenant? Even so of the other concerning the Land, which Paul expresseth by the name of the World, saying, For the promise that he should be the heire of the world, was not to Abraham or to his seed, through the Law, but through the Righteousnesse of Faith, &c.

So that therefore as God will not faile Abraham, nor any of his seed, to bee their God, neither will hee faile to give them the Land of Canaan, and all the world besides (after the resurrection and change, when all things shall be heavenly) for an everlasting possession.

And all this did Abraham well understand, and looked for the accomplishment thereof accordingly; as the Apostle declareth, Hebr. 11. saying, By Faith Abraham when hee was called to goe into a place, which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and went not knowing whither he went. By faith [...]e sojourned in the land of Promise as in a strange Countrey with Isaac and Iacob, the [...]eires with him of the same promise. For he looked for a Citie which hath foundations, whose Builder and maker is God, vers. 8, 9, 10. and so to vers. 13. where hee saith, These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afarre off, and were perswaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrimes on earth. And they that say such things, (saith the Apostle) declare plainly that they seek a Countrey. And truly, (saith he) if they had been mindfull of the Countrey from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have retu [...] ned, but now they desire a better countrey, that is an heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for hee hath prepared for them a-Citie, vers. 14, 15, 16.

And so through the Chapter, the Apostle having spoken of Moses and the Prophets, and others of the faithfull, concerning their faith, and patience in suffering, saith, And these all having obtained a good report through faith received not the promise, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us, should not be made perfect. vers. 39, 40.

By which testimony of the Apostle it is evident, that all the holy Fathers, Prophets and Saints (upon the words of the promise) looked for a heavenly countrey, and an eternall Citie in a better world than this is, and that they all died in faith, and received not the promise, [Page] nor might, untill all the seed were accomplished as well they of the many nations, as they of the Jewes. And then they shall hee raised out of their graves, even all the holy Fathers and Prophets, & obtain that better resurrection wch they so confidently (in their pilgrimages) and suffrings hoped for, and be delivered (all of term) from all their captivities and troubles, and brought to their owne land, where Christ their Redeemer shall be their King, and they with all their seed be an holy nation, and a kingdome of Priests unto God the Father for ever, according as Moses and the Prophets, and Christ and his Apostles have spoken.

But that all the Jewes and Israelites now remaining, should be all converted to the faith of Christ, and become a great nation and kingdome, this is a thing not onely beyond all probability in reason, but also besides all ground of Scripture.

The sayings of Paul, Rom. 11. which they chief [...]y alledge, make nothing at all to such purpose: he speaketh only of them of the election, both in respect of the time past, as in the dayes of Elias, vers. 2, 3, 4. and his own present time, as vers. 1. 5, 6, 14. And also of the time from thence to come, and severeth and distinguisheth them from the rest; (the reprobate part) as verse 7. where he saith, What then, Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded, according as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should n [...]t see, and eares that they should [...] heare un to this day, vers. 8, 9, 10. And again, v. 15. For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest yee should be wise in your owne conceits, that blindnesse in part is hapned to Israel untill the fulnesse of the Gentiles be come in. Blindnesse in part, hee saith not in the whole, he still reserveth them of the Election, as in v. 7. The Election obtained it, the rest were blinded. And so vers. 18. As concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: But as touching the Election, they are beloved for their Fathers sakes: hee still severing them of the election from the rep [...]bate part; against whom in another place he concludeth, saying, Who both killed the Lord Iesus, and their owne Prophets, and have persecuted us, and they please not God, and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak unto the Gentiles, that they might be saved▪ to fill up their sin alwayes, for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost, 1 Thess. 1. 15, 16. According to that which Moses had foretold of them long before, Deut. 28. 49. And Esay 6. 9, 10. David also, Psal. 69. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. And Christ himselfe, Luke 21, 22, 23, 24.

[Page] All which hath been seen fulfilled not only upon those of that present age, who so obstinatly stood out against Christ and his Apostles, and their manifest approved testimonies to the very destruction and and desolation of Ierusalem; but upon their posterity also to this day, even as it was foretold, and as themselves in their rage against Christ, cryed out, saying, His blood be upon us and upon our Children.

For this blindnesse and wrath fore-told, was to continue upon them not for a short time like to the captivity in Babylon, nor for a thousand and six hundred yeares, as already it hath, and then, or soon after to cease, as the Millinaries imagine; nay but continually as David said, Psal. 69. 23. 24. alwayes, even untill the fulnesse of Gods elect Gentiles should come in, as Paul concludeth, Rom. 11. 25. which must needs be understood to the end of the world, because the fulnesse of them will not be come in till then.

And so the fulnesse of the Gentiles being come in, as the Apostle saith, All Israel shal he saved, as it is written, There shal come out of S [...]m the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodlinesse from Iacob; v. 26. meaning by all Israel and by Iacob, all the whole house spirituall, even every one of that seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, who are the children of the promise, and heires with them, according to Rom. 4, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Rom 9. 8. Gal. 3. 7, 8, 28, 29. Not one shall be lost of what Nation, Tribe or people soever, they that have been in times past, are now, or shall be hereafter among the blinded Jewes, or the ten Tribes, wheresoever disperst, the Lord that knoweth them all, will search them out, and gather them together, that they with their Fathers and their brethren, Gods elect Gentiles (whom the Lord will also search out and bring,) may make up that one fold, and one nation, to that one King and one Sheepheard, Jesus Christ, and be the Tabernacle and Sanctuary of God for evermore, as Ezekiel prophesied, chap. 37. and as Christ also fore-shewed, Iohn 10. 10. Rev. 21. 2, 3, 4.

All these things considered, what ground or foundation is there to be thought the Millinaries can find in Scripture for a thousand years Monarch of any kind, let them search and see.

Nay, if they did rightly understand the Scriptures that speake of those glorious things that are to be manifested at the appearing of Christ and his Kingdome, and of the fignes going before the same, and the end, they would know that there is not, nor will be found so much as one hundred years time to come (here in this world) for any Monarch or Kingdome soever.

[Page] And were they not too highly conc [...]ited of their own wisdome, they might perceive is by that which is [...] (though in a plain and simple way) exprest; they would reprove their own thoughts, repent of their error, and not any longer hold it as an Article of their faith, that there must be such a Monarch as they speak of: nor think that the present reformation in respect of the Ministery and forme of Church-government, is the beginning thereof, that Christ is thereby set upon his throne, [...] some of them give out. Nay,

But would rather know this, that if there be any thousand years Monarch fore-told in the Scripture, that should in this world rule over the nations under the name and profession of Christ and his Church, [...] is that of Rome and no other, which hath made such a profession, and hath so ruled 1240 yeares already, there lacking but 20. more at most to make up the 1260. (the full time determined in Scripture for that B [...]ast and his Church to rule) which being acco [...] plished, and his City [...] in that year [...] of his number 666. (as will be known throughout the world when it is) there will bee thence but 45 y [...]ar [...] more to the end, as the Lord hath diclared, Dan. 12. where he having spoken of the abomination of that Man of Sin, and numbred the dayes thereof to be (according to the Chaldee account) 1290. faith, Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the 1335. dayes. And then faith to Dani [...]l; But goe thou thy way till the end be, for thou shalt rest and stand in the lot at the end of the dayes, vers. 12, 13.

So that if Daniel was to goe his way till the end should be, and shall stand up in the lo [...] at the end of the 1335. dayes, as the Lord hath there spoken, then the end of the world must needs be at the end of those dayes. Let this be considered: for the word of the Lord is true.

And concerning the signes that are to go before that day of the Lord, & end (that we may understand things clearly) we are to consider first, how the estate now standeth as this present, and then what i [...] to follow according to the Scriptures.

That the end was not to come till first the Man of Sinne should be revealed, and his dayes ended; it is plainly fore-told in Scripture, and beleeved by many, and that his dayes are now neare at all end.

And it was also fore-told that those dayes of the abomination and tribulation, should (for the elects sake) be shortned, and that the light of the Gospel (which Antichrist and his false prophets had obscured) [Page] should break forth for the saving of the elect, and convincing of those their enemies, which hath been and is in part fulfilled, and shall more clearly and fully, after the full end of those abominable dayes; as the Scripture declares.

The Lord having now in this last age of the world, a great number of his elect to call and sanctifie, his last fruits being now to be all gathered in, for which cause also peace is to be in Christendome the most part of those fourty five years, according to Ezek. 38. 8, 11, 12. and Dan. 12. 12. Even untill Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and (with those foule spirits of Devils) go forth unto the Kings of the Earth, and of the whole world, to deceive them, and the nations of the foure quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battell (whose number is as the sands of the Sea innumerable) and shall compasse the Camp of the Saints about, and the beloved Citie, for a litle season, untill fire shall down from God out of heaven and devoure them, as it is written, Ezek. 38. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Ezek. 39. 2. Rev, 16. 4. Rev. 20. 7, 8, 9.

And then, in the time of this battell, will be that great earth-quake spoken of Rev. 6. 12. Rev. 16. 18. that great sh [...]king in the Land of Israel, foretold by Ezek. 38. 18, 19, 20. that of which it is said, Yet once more will I shake not the earth onely, but also heaven, testified Heh. 12. 26. from the words of the prophet, Hag. 2. 6, 7.

Then shall the Sunne be darkned, and become black as Sackcloth of haire, the Moon shall lose her light, and also become as blood, the Starres shall fall from heaven to the earth, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken, as it is written, Esay 34. 4, 5. Ioel 2. 30, 31. Ioel 3. 14, 15, 16. Matth. 24. 29. Rev. 6. 12, 13. 14.

All which things being figuratively intended according to that in Rev. 8▪ 12. and Rev. 12. 1. fulfilled long agoe.

So that by the Sunne we are to understand the Gospel of Christ, and the l [...]ght thereof: and by the Moon, the earth, and the i [...]habitants of it, whose light of f [...]ith, and [...], depen [...] on the light of the Gospel, as the light of the naturall Moone doth on the light of the Sunne: and by the Starres, those in the Church of God as are in place as st [...]rrs and lights to the world; some of which, b [...]ng faithfull, sh [...]ll [...]e [...], and fall to the earth, for the witnesse of Christ and his truth, l [...]ke unto that third p [...]r [...] of the starres in the primitive time, whom the Dragon with his taile drew downe and cast to the earth, Rev. 12. And others being unfaithfull, like untimely Figges, [Page] shall fall away from Christ and his Gospel, to Mahumatisms and other heathenish Apostasie and wickednesse. And by the powers of heauen, th outward estate of the Church, and all meanes of salvation to the world.

The number of Gods elect being accomplished, the limited day of grace will be ended, and there shall be time no longer, no time nor place, for any man more, to turn unto God by repentance, and reconciled unto him by faith in Christ. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still, and he which is filthy let him be filt [...]y still, and he that is righteous let him be righteous still, and [...]e that is holy let him be holy still. This will be the case at this time, as the Lord hath spoken, Rev. 10. 7. Rev. 22. 11. Where he also saith, And behold, I come quickly, &c. vers. 12, 13.

The Armies of Gog will now spread themselves upon the breadth of the Land, throughout the Lords mountains, as it is said, Ezek. 38. 8, 9. And there will be a great shaking in the land of Israel, and the troubles for the time will be great. But the Lord God (he having respect to his faithfull in defence of [...]hem, and for his own holy name & glory sake) will call for a Sword agai [...]st them throughout all his mountains, every man [...] Sword shall be against his brother, and the Lord will plead against them with pestilence, and with blood, and will rain upon Gog, and upon all his Bands, and the many people with him, an over flowing rain, and great hailstones, fire and brimstone, and they shall fall upon the mountaines of Israel, and bee devoured, as it is written, Ezek. 38. 21, 22. Ezek. 39. 3, 4, 5. Rev. 16. 24. Rev. 20. 4. So the moon will be turned into blood.

The Lord will now bathe his sword in heaven, as he hath said, Esay 34. 4, 5, 6. The land shall be soakt with blood, and the dust thereof made fat with fatnesse. Hee will call every feathered fowle, and every beast of the field, and say, Assemble your selves and come, gather your selves together on every side to my slaughter that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood. Ye shall eat the flesh of the Mighty, and drink the blood of the Princes of the earth of Rammes and of Lambs, and of great goats, of Bullocks, all of them fathings of Bashan, and ye shall eat fat till ye he full, and drink blood till ye be drunken of my sacrisice which I have sacrificed for you.

Thus shall ye be filled at my table with Horses, with Chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war▪ saith the Lord God, Ezek. 39. [...]0, 18, 19, 20. according to Esay before mentioned; who thereupon sayth, [Page] For it is the day of the Lords vengeance, and the yeare of recompence for the con [...]roversie of Sion, Esay 34. 4, 5, 6. 7, 8. As also chap. 63. 4. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the yeare of my redeemed is come.

For, as the Dragon, or Romans, compassing Ierusalem about, was, as Ch [...]ist fore-told his faithfull, the very last and infallible signe of the desolation thereof; so this of the Dragons compassing the Camp of the Saints, and beloved City with his Armies of Gog and Magog, and their destruction by fire from heaven, will bee the last and most certain signe of the end of this world, and of the coming of Chr [...]st in his Kingdome: And therefore Ezekiel as well as Esay, thereupon faith, Behold it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord, this is the day whereof I have spoken, Ezek. 39. 8.

And Rev. 16. upon the very same, when the seventh Angell had powred out his viall into the aire, there came a great voyce out of the Temple of heaven, from the Throne, saying, It is done.

And Rev. 21. after the same destruction of Gog and Magog, And he that sate upon the Throne, said, Behold I make all things new, and he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, &c. verse 5, 6.

Let all sorts of Millinaries consider of these things and know, that there is not so much as one hundred yeares time to come of this world, before the end, for any Kingdome, Lordship, or State soever.

And let them see their error and great mistake of the Scriptures, and repent of the same, and take heed of all such vain aspiring thoughts of greatnesse here, of pride, of covetousnesse, and of all carnall and worldly de [...]ires, and that they scorn not to bee admonished.

Let them be content with any low estate in this world, and preferre godlinesse for their gain, and not think much, nor envy at it, that they of Rome should have the priviledge and honour to bee the onely thousand yeares monarchy that ever was, or shall bee in this world. Nay, but let them alone with it to have it; for it is all the portion of happinesse they are ever like to have, which will shortly cost them deare.

And ye that are the children of the promise, and heires with Christ of the everlasting Kingdome; to whom chiefly I present all these things; Take heed also and remember the words of Christ, Luke 21. where he having fore-told of the great troubles and signes that should goe before the day of his coming, and end of the world, exhorteth you saying, And take heed to your selves, lest at any time your hearts be overcome[Page]with surfeiting and drunkennesse, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares, vers. 24.

Meaning by surfeiting and drunkennesse, that of the soule, with the wealth, pride, fulnesse, pleasures, profits, and prmotions of this world, which will assault you, and are apt to entangle even your minds, they being things pleasing corrupt nature of flesh and blood. Nor on the other side, with the cares of this life, which doe much quench the Spirit, and take off the affections of the minde from the love of Christ and his truth, and from minding the heavenly and eternall things to come.

And therefore left that day should come upon you unawares, the Lord fore-warneth you to take heed to your selves, and giveth you a strong Reason to perswade you to it, saying; For as a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth, vers. 35.

Meaning by All them that dwell, &c. all the ungodly reprobate people of the world, whose soules are drunk with all those things, their hopes, their hearts delights and dwellings, being there with them.

And therefore he exhorteth you again, that are his pilgrimes, and dwell not here, saying, Watch ye therefore, and pray alwayes, that yee may be counted worthy to escape all these things, and to stand before the Son of Man, vers. 35.

And meaning by Wat [...]hing & praying always; always indeed, in the spirit, every houre of the day, and watch of the night, according as he had said before, L [...]ke 18. 157, 8. And as Paul saith, Eph. 6. 18. 1 Th [...]ss. 1. 5, 7. 1 Pet. 4. 7.

And be ye ware of those learned Authors of the Millinarie Doctrine, who would make ye beleeve that the words and exhortations of Christ, Luke 21. 9, 34, 35, 36. and of the Apostles, Hebr. 10. 23, 24, 25, 35▪ 37. Iam. 5. 7, 8. 1 Pet. 4. 7.) did concern the Christian Jews onely in that time, and were to be understood of the coming of the Roman power against Ierusalem, and end of the Jewes State (fulfilled above 1500. yeares agoe (but was then neere at hand to come) judging it a senslesse thing to watch and pray in respect of the coming of Christ, and end of the world, so long before it should be. A [...] in a Book intituled. The Apostasie of the latter times, pag. 88, 89, 90, 91. By Ios [...]ph Mede, approved by D. Twiss [...].

Whereas it is very plain, that Christ and the Apostles (in all [...] [Page] places) speak of the coming of Christ in his glory, and end of the world, and have respect to the Christian Gentiles, as well as to the Christian Jewes, which those learned men ought to have known, and that it was no senslesse thing, nor without reason or cause to watch and pray in hope and expectation of the same, especially considering, that all the wise virgins in all ages and times, did so watch and pray, and though (they being weak) did some times slumber and sleep, yet they had their lamps alwayes burning, and oyle with them, expecting with fervent desires in their heart, the coming of their Lord the Bridegroome.

For they well understood by the word of the Lord, that all those evill servants, and foolish Virgins, which say in their heart, My Lord delayeth his coming, and begin to smite their fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, not caring to watch or pray in respect of his coming, nor to have oyle or light in their lamps, and so live and die, will be so found in that day of the Bridegroomes comming, and shall then be shut out from ent [...]ing into the Bride chamber for ever.

Therefore ye that are the Lords faithfull and wise Servants, and of the wise virgins, watch ye, and pray alwayes in the Spirit, as Christ and his Apostles have exhorted you, and in meeknesse doe ye minister unto your fellow-servants (in the House) good things, whatsoever those evill servants, and foolish virgins say or doe.

And take ye heed also of those, who would make ye beleeve, that the Bridegroome Jesus Christ is already come, and fitteth now in the Throne of his glory, judging the quick and the dead.

That the resurrection of the Body, spoken of 1 Corinth. 115 [...]. and other places, the perfection, the salvation, the glory, and all whatsoever the Scriptures have spoken concerning Christ and his Kingdome and reign with all his Saints, are now at this present time (in a secret mysticall manner fulfilled, turning all Scriptures into allegories, and making Jesus Christ a mysticall thing, and all persons names, matters and things therein spoken of, and written, to have my-sticall meanings, which they undertake to declare in a kind of Philosophicall way.

And is well pleasing to those wandring professors that could never yet learn to repent of their sins unto God, and de [...]ire mercy through faith in Christ, like the similitude of the lost Sonne, and poore publican; but having turned from one opinion, and form of Religion [Page] to another: and now, at last, meeting with this, readily entertaine it; and especially such men, as are most delighted with their Philosophy, tending so much to liberty, and such wanton women, as like to fulfill their carnall pleasures, of which sort the most are that embrace the doctrine, as experience proveth.

And strong reason ariseth from their doctrine, that it should be so.

For if Christ be already come in his glory, &c. And that the resurrection of the body is now, while men live, and that when they dye they return into their first principles, and so remain for ever, as they were before they knew they had a Being, as they say. Then well may they eat and drink and take their pleasure: for who knoweth of any felicity or pain he had before?

Therefore take heed, hearken not unto them, but know yee, and beleeve it assuredly, that the Lord Jesus Christ shall come personally and truly, and be seen in his glory with all his Saints, as hee was by Peter, Iames and Iohn (with Moses and Elias) in the holy mount. And the bodies of the Saints shall be truly raised and changed, as before is proved by cleare Scriptures.

And be ye ware also of those that shall offer to perswade you, that the Scriptures which we have in our native language, is not, nor do declare unto us, the word or minde of God; but that we must looks for some new Apostles, endued with such miraculous gifts as Peter and the other Apostles once had, to be sent from God to instruct us, and to plant new Churches. Or that another Elias must come and restore all things, before we can know the truth, or see a true Church.

Beleeve them not, but know yee, that if it were true, that some places of Scripture should be, by the [...]ranslators, or by the Copier mistaken, or mistranslated, yet could not that make the word or mind of God in the same places, unpossible to bee understood, especially by those servants of God, which have that unction from the holy O [...]e, whe [...]eof the Apostle I [...]hn speaketh, (and which Chris [...] promised should be with them to the end of the world) or if it could, yet doth it not therefore darken or deprive them of the understanding of all, or any of the rest. N [...]y, the grace and wisdome, the Divine power and majesty of the Scriptures, as they are in our nativ [...] Language, proveth the same to bee the word of God, declaring hi [...] mind and will unto us.

[Page] And as for miracles to confirm it, there is no need, because that hath been done sufficiently already.

Neither is there such necessity of new Apostles, or of another Elias, or of one to come from the dead to instruct the people. Nay, but as Christ said once, in way of admonition to such persons of the Jewes, They have Moses and the Prophets, let them heare them, &c.

So now, we have Moses and the Prophets as well as they; yea more, we have Christ and his Apostles▪ and we have the Elias also that was to come, even Iohn the Baptist, insomuch as we have his, and their words▪ their testimonies and examples.

And Christ himselfe prayed for those that should beleeve in him through their word, Iohn 17.

And if we will not heare nor be perswaded by them, to repent and beleeve, neither will we if new ones, or some of them should come and preach anew unto us.

And as concerning the Church, or House of God, the Apostle Paul declareth unto us plainly, that it is, and hath been ever since his time, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner stone. There are no new builders to be looked for, to lay a new foundation.

And the living stones of this House, are those wise Virgins that have their lamps alwayes burning, waiting and attending the comming of their Lord the Bridegroome, whose great Day is so neere a [...] the Dore.

And so unto your sensure who are the children of the Bride-chamber, I refer all these things.

And the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

And if any man shall conceive that I have herein been to bold, let him consider what one saith▪

We having the same Spirit of Faith according as it is written, I have beleeved, and therefore have I spoken,

We also beleeve, and therefore speak.

FINIS.

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§

§

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[Page]

THE Great Day at the Dore.

And He cometh with Clouds that shall judge the Quick and the Dead, and reigne on the Earth with all his SAINTS.

Not for a thousand yeares in this corrupt and sinfull World, as some coruptly conceive and teach,

Nay: But for a thousand and a thousand, and ten thousand times ten thousand thousands of yeares, even for ever and ever, eternally in the world to come.

Wherein Righteousnesse and Peace, Incorruption, Immortality and Joy, shall habit and dwell for evermore, world without end.

Proved clearly by the Word of GOD.

Against all those Cabbilisticall Millinaries, and Jew restorers for a thousand yeares: Mysticall Familists, and all other such like raisers of new lights out of the old pit of darknesse, discovering their visions to be nothing else but meere conjectures, fancies and lies.

DAN. 7. 13, 14, 15.

I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the Clouds of Heaven, and came to the Antient of Dayes, and they brought him neere before him.

And there was given him Dominion, and Glory, and a Kingdome, that all People, Nations, and Languages should serve him: His Dominion is an Everlasting Dominion which shall not passe away, and his Kingdome that which shall not be destroyed.

Verse 27.

And the Kingdome and Dominion, and the greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole Heaven, shall be given to the people of the Saints of the M [...]st High, whose Kingdome is an Everlasting Kingdome, and all Powers shall serve and obey him.

Printed at London by Matthew Simmons. 1648.

TO THE TRULY HONORABLE, The Seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob▪ the Children and Heires of God, and Ioynt-he [...]es with Christ; Of what People, Nation, or Tribe soever; and in what degree of place, High or Low, Grace and Truth, and Peace, be multiplied.

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HOnorable and beloved in the Lord. That the [...]e is a [...] ▪ Countrey, and a Citie having Found [...]tion, and a Kingdome that cannot be moved, prepared for you▪ he [...] fully assused: For it is most certain, there being [...] thing more abundantly spoken of [...] more clearly promised in all the Scriptures, than the [...] And that yee shall bee delivered from all your [...] and troubles in all places wheresoever yee are [...] and from all your mournings, sorro [...]es, paines [...] teares, graves, dust▪ and brought to inherit all those g [...]eat th [...]ngs promised, with all the holy Fathers and their Ch [...]ldren, and childrens children that have been before you; and with Christ your Prince at his appearing and his Kingdome, which will be now very speedily, be ye a so [...] assured. And so look yee for him, and for it.

And [...] take heed, that in the little mean time (which is to be between this present hou [...]e and [...] of his appe [...]ring) no man deceive you by any way or meanes. For as there hath been false Prophets, and deceiving Spirit [...] in the world, that [...] deceived many, as Christ fore-told they should▪ So there are still many, even [...] with us [...] ha [...]d, as well as els [...] here that sh [...]ll and doe d [...]ce [...]ve. And [...] Doctrine you [...] heare of, or read tending to the taking your minde, off from [...] hope and expectation of your eternall inheritance in the world to [...]ome, [...] same upon any thing that is or can be imagined to be here in this present [...] not unto it: For all such Doctrine is of the Spirit of Satan, and not of [...] glorious shew soever it makes.

And as touching the Doctrine of the [...]illinaries; Although it be [...] [Page] very next ensuing age after the Apostles, the beloved Disciple of Christ having written the Revelation, and sent it to the seven Churches of Asia (they being not yet disp [...]rsed by the persecution of the Dragon) the same opinion of a resurrection from the dead, and glorious reigne of Christ with his Saints on Earth for a thousand yeares before the generall resurrection, and end of the world, was conceived, taught, and held up by many Christians then counted [...]ound in the faith, Orthodox, as they speak. Some of which being men of great note, Tertullian, Ereneus, Iustine, and others, all grounding their opinion chiefly on this place of Scripture, Rev. 20. 4, 5, 6.

And that now the opinion ( [...]aving lain dead for many hundred years) is again revived and maintained by men of great esteem also [...]or learning, &c. whose names for the credit of the opinion, that it may carry the greater countenance and authority with it, are (by those that have published books of the same) mentioned and described with high applause, insomuch as the Doctrine is almost generally entertained both by Ministers and people, and those especially that seem the most zealous, who embrace it with great affection, as a most excellent mystery of truth.

Although all this bee so, yet neverthelesse it may possibly be, And if one so farre inferior unto them in those great respects of learning and esteeme, as there is no comparison, may be so bold, I then durst say, they are all deceived, and erre, not understanding the Scriptures.

And this I doe not onely say; but by the grace of God, shall also make it plainly to appeare, though not unto all men, yet unto you that are the children of Wisdome, whom the Kingdome doth concerne, and who can best discerne and judge between truth and error.

And this is all I doe request of you, that ye will be pleased to read, and duly to consider the things I here present unto you; and if ye shall finde that I speak not the words of truth and sobernesse, let me then be reproved.

And so I submit my selfe unto your censure, praying alwayes unto the Lord, and desiring with my whole soule, that his truth may prosper in the world, and take place in the hearts of all his chosen people in these last dayes; and that [...] would give unto us all his holy Spirit of truth to teach us, and lead us into all truth, and to enable us to walk worthy of the same truth, to the glory of his holy name, and our owne comfort and peace of mind here, and salvation hereafter in that world to come, through Jes [...]s Christ our Prince and Saviour, unto whom with the Father and the holy Spirit, be all praise and thanks for ever and ever. Amen.

Your most unworthy Christian Brother, I. E.

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Title statement

The great day at the dore and he cometh with clouds that shall judge the quick and the dead, and reigne on the earth with all his saints, not for a thousand yeares in this corrupt and sinfull world, as some coruptly conceive and teach, nay, but for a thousand and a thousand and ten thousand times ten thousand thousands of yeares, even for ever and ever, eternally in the world to come ... proved clearly by the word of God ...

Eachard, John, 17th cent.

Edition statement

1648

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A39212

ID [STC]

Wing E49

ID [STC]

ESTC R149

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

12574242

ID [OCLC]

ocm 12574242

ID [VID]

63532

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A39212)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 63532)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 314:17)

Source

— The great day at the dore and he cometh with clouds that shall judge the quick and the dead, and reigne on the earth with all his saints, not for a thousand yeares in this corrupt and sinfull world, as some coruptly conceive and teach, nay, but for a thousand and a thousand and ten thousand times ten thousand thousands of yeares, even for ever and ever, eternally in the world to come ... proved clearly by the word of God ..., Eachard, John, 17th cent..

Extent

[4], 28 p.

by Matthew Simmons,. Printed at London :: 1648.. (Signed on p. [4]: I.E.) (Attributed to John Eachard. Cf. NUC pre-1956.) (Reproduction of original in Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.)

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