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<CHANGE>
<DATE>2013-04-12</DATE>
<RESPSTMT>
<NAME>Geremy Carnes</NAME>
<RESP>MURP</RESP>
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<ITEM> x * Review overall document structure and hierarchy, including GROUP TEXT FRONT BODY BACK DIVs x * Proof title page(s). x * Observe divtop and divbottom material marking beginnings and ends of divisions, check that they are correctly tagged as HEADS, HEADNOTE, CLOSER, OPENER, TRAILER, ARGUMENT, EPIGRAPH, SIGNED, DATELINE, BYLINE, etc. x * Look for unobtrusive numerations and other occult signs of structure. x * Add TYPEs to DIVs in order to validate, making sure that the @type structure makes sense as a navigational aide, and that each type makes sense wrt to the one above it. x * Survey book for troublesome formats of all kinds, including lists, illustrations, tables, music, math, end-notes, and parallel texts and quasi-tabular arrangments. Made sure that it was correctly tagged. Decide how much is worth changing. x * Assess marginalia. Notes? Running summaries? Multiple series? Are any of them milestones, headings, or labels? x * Look for FIGUREs, make sure that usable text within them has been captured and correctly tagged (especially: head, q, l, lg, byline). x * Check for GAPs and ABBRs. x * Watch for any part of the book in a diff language. Use appropriate lang attributes. x * Check for "q;" x * Check for ="", ^, I / J, ae / oe, abq, _, LB, --, &amp;c., @, # x * If appropriate, check for yoghs. x * If appropriate, check for units of measure, symbols (alchemical, astronomical, etc.) and the like. x * Do cursory check of completeness of page breaks (and placement relative to DIVs) x * Correct the errors found during proofing. x * Survey the illegibles. decide whether resolving them is feasible or even possible. Use the 100 rule only as a rule of thumb. Resolve those you can. Check &punc; x * Run 'skint' x * Run 'check' x * Run "v' (again) DONE.</ITEM>
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<IDG S="marc" R="UM" ID="A27585">
<STC T="W">B2126</STC>
<STC T="C">R23687</STC>
<BIBNO T="oclc">7873689</BIBNO>
<VID>40234</VID>
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<TEXT LANG="eng">
<FRONT>
<DIV1 TYPE="title page">
<PB REF="1" MS="y">
<P>THE CATECHISM OF THE KINGDOM OF OUR <HI>Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t:</HI> IN THE Thou&s;and Years.</P>
<P>Shewing by Scripture, That the Great Articles of the <HI>Redemption,</HI> the <HI>Re&s;urrection,</HI> the <HI>My&s;tery of the Saints</HI> not <HI>Dy|ing</HI> but <HI>Chang'd,</HI> the <HI>Judgment,</HI> the <HI>Delivery up of the Kingdom</HI> to <HI>God All in All,</HI> cannot be Ex|plain'd at Full Dimen&s;ions without it.</P>
<Q><BIBL>Luke 1. 4.</BIBL> That thou maye&s;t know the Certainty of the Things wherein Thou ha&s;t been Catechized, or In|&s;tructed.</Q>
<P><HI>London,</HI> Printed for the Author, 1690.</P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="dedication">
<PB REF="2">
<PB REF="2">
<HEAD>To the <HI>Bi&s;hops</HI> A&s;&s;embled in <HI>Parliament.</HI></HEAD>
<HEAD TYPE="sub">And to the <HI>Evangelical Epi&s;copacy,</HI> throughout the <HI>Prote&s;tant</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Acts 2<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">. 28. 1 Pet. 5. 2.</NOTE> <HI>Churches of Chri&s;t</HI> in the&s;e Nations, <HI>Grace, Mercy,</HI> and <HI>Peace,</HI> from <HI>God the Father,</HI> through our <HI>Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t,</HI> by <HI>the Eternal Spirit.</HI></HEAD>
<P><HI>I</HI> Have heretofore Repre&s;ented to you the <HI>Maje&s;ty,</HI> and <HI>Kingdom of our Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t,</HI> that &s;hall <HI>Seven Times</HI> hence after the Expiration of the <HI>Apo&s;ta&s;ie</HI> (now <HI>Ecclip&s;ing</HI> it) be Daily more, and more Vi&s;ible; Till it &s;hine out in perfect Glory. This I have done according to the <HI>Sure Word</HI> of <HI>Prophecy,</HI> which is of no <HI>private Interpretation,</HI> but being <HI>Scripture,</HI> mu&s;t be &s;earch'd even as All other <HI>Scripture,</HI> and &s;o be, as All other <HI>Scripture, Pro|fitable;</HI> and it hath this Excellency above other <HI>Scripture;</HI> That It particularly &s;hines, as a <HI>Light</HI> in a <HI>Dark place,</HI> viz. In this Time of <HI>Eclip&s;e,</HI> or, as the Pole-Star in the Night, that we may know, whereabout we are in Time, and State.</P>
<P>Yet becau&s;e the General Prepo&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion of Men, <HI>Caring for none of the&s;e Things,</HI> would not have <HI>Prophetic Scripture Search'd;</HI> that I might make <HI>Acceptable</HI> this Great Truth every way; I have now Repre&s;ented it, as It is Carv'd, and Wreath'd into the whole <HI>Analogy of Faith,</HI> the Great <HI>Articles,</HI> and <HI>Principles</HI> of the <HI>Do|ctrine of Chri&s;t,</HI> according to the mo&s;t In&s;tructive <HI>Scriptures,</HI> viz. the <HI>Redemption,</HI> the <HI>Re&s;urrection,</HI> the <HI>Eternal Judgment,</HI> the <HI>Saints</HI> not <HI>Dying,</HI> but <HI>Chang'd,</HI> the <HI>Delivery</HI> up of the <HI>Kingdom to God All in All;</HI> which cannot be without the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> Explain'd at full Dimen&s;ions.</P>
<P>Now I call the Following Treaty hereof, a <HI>Catechi&s;m,</HI> as an Inti|mation of the Plain manner of Handling for the benefit of All; and of the nece&s;&s;ity of Con&s;ideration, and Repeated Application of our Minds to it; and al&s;o to &s;hew; The Kingdom of Chri&s;t, though it yet lye Hid in its Roots the Fore-nam'd Articles, is &s;till a <HI>Fundamental Truth;</HI> and &s;o though <HI>Catechi&s;m</HI> may &s;eem below your Orb, yet This of the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t,</HI> even as All <HI>Catecheticall</HI> Truths, de&s;erves the Grave&s;t and mo&s;t Awful Judgments to Try and Recom|mend Them.</P>
<P>I do Acknowledge my &s;elf the unworthie&s;t of the Servants of Chri&s;t, in the mo&s;t Aba&s;ed Circum&s;tances; and lay my &s;elf at the Feet of the <HI>Church of Chri&s;t</HI> with mo&s;t Penitential Confe&s;&s;ions and Ac|knowledgments; Yet I mu&s;t be Bold in our God to
<PB REF="3"> &s;ay, He hath been plea&s;ed to Reveal to me, of an <HI>Infant Under&s;tan|ding</HI> in Compare; and the <HI>Chief of Sinners;</HI> what He hath not &s;o fully Reveal'd to the more <HI>Holy</HI> and <HI>Prudent; Even &s;o Father, For &s;o It &s;eemed Good in thy &s;ight.</HI></P>
<P>I mo&s;t Humbly therefore Be&s;eech, and do even <HI>Adjure</HI> you by the <HI>Coming of our Lord Je&s;us,</HI> and by our <HI>Gathering together to</HI> Him in the <HI>General A&s;&s;embly</HI> of his <HI>Kingdom,</HI> That You would either &s;hew by <HI>Scripture; The&s;e Things</HI> cannot be <HI>&s;o;</HI> or Re|ceive this <HI>Mini&s;tery,</HI> as the <HI>Oracles of God,</HI> and Te&s;tify your Re|gard to it, that now makes in your Ears the <HI>cry of the Bridegrooms Coming</HI> in <HI>his Kingdom,</HI> That none of us may be among the <HI>Slum|bring,</HI> though <HI>Wi&s;e Virgins,</HI> much le&s;s among the <HI>Fooli&s;h.</HI></P>
<P>And You, to whom This Addre&s;s will fir&s;t Come, ought to be the more <HI>Watchful,</HI> becau&s;e the Worldly Splendor of Your Sphere not &s;o well Agrees with the pre&s;ent Ecclip&s;e of <HI>Chri&s;tian Glory,</HI> with the <HI>Tri|bulation</HI> and <HI>Patience</HI> of the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t;</HI> and that <HI>Sack|cloth,</HI> and <HI>Fa&s;ting</HI> &s;tate for the <HI>Bride-grooms Ab&s;ence;</HI> You &s;hould then &s;urmount that Di&s;agreement by more Eminent Services to this <HI>King|dom,</HI> lea&s;t There &s;hould &s;eem Any <HI>Surrogation</HI> in the <HI>Reformation</HI> to the <HI>Feet of Clay;</HI> the <HI>Papacy,</HI> the <HI>Cardinali&s;m,</HI> the <HI>Roman Hic|rarchy;</HI> who as the mo&s;t Diametral oppo&s;ites to the <HI>Kingdom</HI> of Chri&s;t <HI>Receive</HI> the Fir&s;t Stroke of the <HI>Stone Cut out of the Moun|tains without Hands;</HI> and &s;o You Receive the Di&s;honour of any part in their Fall, at lea&s;t of Lukewarmne&s;s for that Glory of Chri&s;t; Or lea&s;t, as They by a Fal&s;e Glory, as if 'twere the Glory of Chri&s;t, Glittering in this worldly Glory, Rob the True Light, and are Effaced by that True Light Appearing, or its Epiphany, You &s;hould at all &s;hare in that Effacement.</P>
<P>That we may be therefore All Guided by the <HI>Father of Lights,</HI> with whom is no <HI>Variation,</HI> nor <HI>Shaddow</HI> of <HI>Turning,</HI> to <HI>Try the Spirit</HI> of this Doctrine; and not to Call the <HI>Light</HI> of it <HI>Dark|ne&s;s;</HI> but to Come perfectly out of the pre&s;ent <HI>Ecclips;</HI> to <HI>Go on to Perfection</HI> in the Doctrine of Chri&s;t is, and &s;hall be the mo&s;t zealous Prayer of</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>Your mo&s;t Humble mo&s;t Affectionate Servant in the Go&s;pel of the Kingdom. <HI>Tho. Beverley.</HI></SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="to all Christians">
<PB REF="3">
<HEAD>The General PREFACE To all Chri&s;tians.</HEAD>
<P><HI>I</HI> Know it will be &s;aid with Plau&s;iblene&s;s again&s;t this Following <HI>Catechi&s;m;</HI> We had rather Preach, and Hear of the Plain, Safe, Fundamental Points of <HI>Faith,</HI> and <HI>Repentance,</HI> of the <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> of the <HI>Dead,</HI> and of <HI>Eternal Judgment,</HI> in the Ordinary way of Di&s;cour&s;e; The <HI>Old Wine we have Ta&s;ted is Better;</HI> We will not, as it were, <HI>Ask a Sign,</HI> and <HI>Tempt God</HI> in<NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;ay. c. 7.</NOTE> &s;eeking to under&s;tand <HI>Prophecies,</HI> and <HI>My&s;teries.</HI></P>
<P>But is <HI>it not enough for you to weary Men,</HI> but will ye <HI>wea|ry my God al&s;o,</HI> who hath given you <HI>Prophecy</HI> to &s;earch it, and the <HI>Strong meat of Scripture,</HI> and not only the <HI>Milk,</HI> as to <HI>Children unskillfull in the word of Righteou&s;ne&s;s?</HI> He hath commanded you to <HI>leave</HI> (not by way of For&s;aking) the <HI>Word of the Beginning of Chri&s;t,</HI> but to <HI>Go on to perfection;</HI> not di&s;honourably &s;taying in Foundations without a Super&s;tructure; He hath given you the Example of &s;teddy Re&s;olution herein; <HI>This we</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Heb. c. 5. 11. c. 6. 1.</NOTE> <HI>will do, if God permit.</HI> He hath in a Figure Repre&s;ented to you the <HI>Primitive Chri&s;tian Church,</HI> not doing thus, though it was &s;o plentiful a <HI>Partaker of</HI> mighty effu&s;ions of<NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">Wonderful Gifts.</NOTE> <HI>the Holy Spirit,</HI> had a Liberal Ta&s;te of the <HI>Good word of God;</HI> They <HI>Ta&s;ted</HI> of the<NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">Miracles.</NOTE> <HI>mighty Powers of</HI> the <HI>World to come,</HI> viz The <HI>Kingdom</HI> of Chri&s;t; Yet through Re&s;ting in <HI>Principles,</HI> not <HI>Loving Truth,</HI> not <HI>Going on to Perfection,</HI> They Dwindled away, and fell into the <HI>Antichri&s;tian Apo&s;tacy,</HI> and came to <HI>Crucify</HI> in that <HI>Spiritual Sodom,</HI> and <HI>Egypt</HI> (even <HI>Rome,</HI> Call'd <HI>Catholick Church</HI> now, where al&s;o <HI>Our Lord</HI> was <HI>Crucified,</HI> viz. under its Domini|on) the <HI>Son of God afre&s;h in</HI> his <HI>Witne&s;&s;es,</HI> and have <HI>put him</HI> to an <HI>open Shame;</HI> And through the <HI>Impo&s;&s;ibility of Repentance,</HI> as &s;uch an <HI>Antichri&s;tian Church,</HI> as we &s;ee <HI>Rev. 16. 9.</HI> It cannot be <HI>Renewed;</HI> But under all the <HI>Droppings of the Reformation</HI>
<PB REF="4"> upon it, it is a <HI>Ground</HI> over-grown with <HI>Briars</HI> and <HI>Thorns,</HI> and is very <HI>nigh</HI> now to a <HI>Cur&s;e,</HI> who&s;e <HI>End is to be Burn'd,</HI> Rev. 18. But of <HI>Reformed Churches,</HI> and <HI>Chri&s;tians</HI> we <HI>Hope Better Things,</HI> and <HI>Things,</HI> that have <HI>Hold</HI> of that <HI>Great Salvation</HI> of the <HI>Kingdom,</HI> though <HI>we thus &s;peak;</HI> The <HI>Lord therefore &s;hall give you a Sign,</HI> a <HI>Mahar-Schalal-Ha&s;h-Baz,</HI> a <HI>Sign</HI> of his <HI>ma|king</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">I&s;ay c. 6. c. 9. 9.</NOTE> <HI>ha&s;te to the Prey.</HI> For as &s;oon as the <HI>Child</HI> now <HI>Born</HI> &s;hall by a <HI>&s;even years Age know to chu&s;e the Good,</HI> and <HI>Refu&s;e the Evil;</HI> That Great <HI>City</HI> &s;hall be <HI>For&s;aken</HI> of its <HI>Ten Kings,</HI> who have &s;o long <HI>given their Kingdom to the Bea&s;t;</HI> and &s;o its <HI>Tenth</HI> &s;hall <HI>Fall,</HI> and the <HI>Witne&s;&s;es &s;hall Ri&s;e;</HI> And this, <HI>as it were, New Song,</HI> &s;hall be <HI>Sung,</HI> and the <HI>Everla&s;ting Go&s;pel</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. 14. 1.</NOTE> <HI>Preached,</HI> and we &s;hall be as <HI>New Bottles</HI> fill'd with the <HI>New Wine</HI> of the <HI>Kingdom:</HI> And the&s;e Truths &s;hall be no longer call'd Novelties, Whim&s;ies, and Intoxications; nor men &s;ay any lon|ger; <HI>We like the Old Wine Better.</HI> For <HI>Chri&s;tians</HI> &s;hall be <HI><GAP DESC="foreign">, Pur&s;uers of Truth in Love,</HI> Ephe&s;. 4. 13. &amp;c. as of <HI>perfect Age, Growing</HI> up to the <HI>Fullne&s;s of Chri&s;t;</HI> and <HI>Strong Meat</HI> &s;hall belong to them, as <HI>Having Sen&s;es exercis'd to di&s;cern Good and Evil.</HI> For then the Apo&s;tacy &s;hall go off, and the mighty <HI>Gifts</HI> that were but <HI>Ta&s;ted</HI> at fir&s;t as to length of Time, &s;hall Reeurn with <HI>Miraculous Powers of the World to come.</HI> Becau&s;e it &s;hall then be drawn near, and it &s;hall never End; Now the mi&s;take is Great, that The&s;e <HI>miraculous Powers</HI> ceas'd, becau&s;e the <HI>Canon of Scripture</HI> was &s;ufficiently <HI>Seal'd;</HI> The <HI>My&s;tery of Iniquity</HI> growing up to the <HI>Apo&s;tacy</HI> caus'd the Ce&s;&s;ation; when That Ends, The&s;e &s;hall Return. Let us therefore in our Earne&s;te&s;t <HI>Going on to Perfection, wait upon Chri&s;t</HI> till be <HI>Ri&s;es</HI> upon this <HI>Glorious mount of Prey,</HI> in the <HI>Succe&s;&s;ion</HI> of his <HI>Kingdom,</HI> when the <HI>Light of one Day</HI> then, &s;hall be as the <HI>Light of &s;even now.</HI> Even the <HI>Sun &s;hall be a&s;ham'd, and the Moon Confounded,</HI> when He <HI>Comes</HI> to <HI>Reign</HI> before his <HI>An|cients Gloriou&s;ly. And now His going forth</HI> is Prepared as <HI>the Morning,</HI> we <HI>&s;hall know,</HI> if we <HI>Follow on to know the Lord.</HI> But if Any <HI>will</HI> be <HI>Ignorant,</HI> It mu&s;t be &s;o; If Any one Ag|grieved, <HI>Scripture</HI> is <HI>open,</HI> Let him <HI>Implead</HI> what's Written; I &s;tand on the Ju&s;tification by Divine Help.</P>
</DIV1>
</FRONT>
<BODY>
<DIV1 TYPE="catechism">
<PB N="1" REF="4">
<HEAD>THE CATECHISM OF THE KINGDOM OF OUR <HI>Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t.</HI></HEAD>
<P><LABEL>Que&s;tion.</LABEL> WHere is the Doctrine of the <HI>Kingdom</HI> of <HI>Je&s;us Christ</HI> to be found?</P>
<P><LABEL>An&s;.</LABEL> It is e&s;pecially to be found in the opening of <HI>Prophetical Scripture,</HI> being the <HI>My&s;tery &s;poken</HI> of by all the <HI>Prophets. Revel.</HI> 10. 7. <HI>Acts</HI> 3. 21.</P>
<P><LABEL>Que&s;t.</LABEL> What is the Rule of the True Explication of <HI>Pro|phecy.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>An&s;.</LABEL> That of the <HI>Apo&s;tle;</HI> He that <HI>Prophe&s;ies,</HI> let Him <HI>Pro|phecy according to the Analogy</HI> or proportion of <HI>Faith. Rom.</HI> 12. 6.</P>
<P><LABEL>Que&s;t.</LABEL> What is the <HI>Analogy,</HI> or proportion of <HI>Faith.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>An&s;.</LABEL> It is the <HI>Form of &s;ound words</HI> according to the whole <HI>Scripture,</HI> which is a Table &s;o exactly &s;quare, nothing can without plain Injury be Added to it, or Taken from it.</P>
<P><LABEL>Que&s;t.</LABEL> Is the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> to be thus explain'd?</P>
<P><LABEL>An&s;.</LABEL> I Tru&s;t, we &s;hall Find it &s;o by <HI>Searching</HI> All <HI>Scripture</HI> with <HI>Noble Minds,</HI> whether tho&s;e Things are &s;o or not; and thereby giving heed to that mo&s;t <HI>Sure word of Prophecy,</HI> that we &s;hall <HI>do well to take heed</HI> to, as to a Light that &s;hineth to us in a dark place; So we &s;hall Find it no <HI>Cunningly devi&s;ed Fable, Acts</HI> 17. 11. 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1. 16. 19.</P>
<P><LABEL>Que&s;t.</LABEL> What then is to be under&s;tood by the <HI>Kingdom of Je&s;us Christ?</HI></P>
<PB N="2" REF="5">
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> The <HI>Kingdom of Je&s;us Christ</HI> is the Glorious, and Vi&s;i|ble <HI>Appearance</HI> of Chri&s;t Him&s;elf with all <HI>Saints,</HI> who have <HI>died in Him,</HI> and whom He <HI>will bring with Him;</HI> who &s;hall dwell with Him in the <HI>New Heaven,</HI> he hath promis'd in the Region of the <HI>Air</HI> above; And for the Full Glory of this Kingdom, There &s;hall be a <HI>Generation</HI> of <HI>Saints</HI> in the <HI>New Earth</HI> below; who are the <HI>Living,</HI> the <HI>Remaining;</HI> Both &s;orts Re&s;cued from the common <HI>Fire</HI> for the <HI>Perdition of ungodly Men.</HI> 1 <HI>The&s;&s;.</HI> 4. 13. to the end, 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 2. 9. <HI>c.</HI> 3. 7. 13.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Is it not enough, that there be a <HI>Day of Judgment,</HI> and a State of Glory, and Happine&s;s to <HI>Christ,</HI> and his <HI>Saints</HI> in the <HI>Highe&s;t Heaven,</HI> and of puni&s;hment to the wicked in the <HI>Lowe&s;t Hell?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> God hath in his word declar'd to us, That is not enough; but There &s;hall be upon Greate&s;t Rea&s;ons given us therein, a <HI>New Heaven,</HI> and a <HI>New Earth,</HI> and a State of <HI>Saints</HI> in both, and of the <HI>Enemies</HI> of Chri&s;t being made his <HI>Foot&s;tool;</HI> that there may be a mo&s;t vi&s;ible Appearance of the Glory of the one, and of the <HI>Contemptible,</HI> di&s;honourable and condemned State of the other. 2 <HI>The&s;&s;.</HI> 1. 5. to <HI>v.</HI> 11. with <HI>Dan.</HI> 12. 1. 2 <HI>Rev.</HI> 19. 14. 15. to the end. <HI>c.</HI> 20. 4. 6.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What &s;hall be the Highe&s;t Spirit, and Con&s;titution of this State?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> It is an <HI>Oeconomy,</HI> or di&s;pen&s;ation, wherein there is a mo&s;t exalted State of Holine&s;s and Purity, in the enjoyment of God, and of Je&s;us in his <HI>Redemption, Rev.</HI> 5. 9. and <HI>c.</HI> 4. 5. of the <HI>Communion of his Spirit;</HI> Free from Sen&s;uality, and Im|purity, and in perfect Happine&s;s, and Security from all <HI>Toil, Grief, Pain, Death,</HI> and <HI>Cur&s;e;</HI> &s;o that all the <HI>Saints</HI> are <HI>Prie&s;ts</HI> of <HI>God,</HI> and of <HI>Christ,</HI> and <HI>Reign</HI> with Him, <HI>Rev.</HI> 20. 6. c. 21. c. 22. <HI>v.</HI> 1. to <HI>v.</HI> 7.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What do you mean by an <HI>Oeconomy,</HI> or <HI>Di&s;pen&s;ation?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> It is the free di&s;po&s;e of Things, after the <HI>Coun&s;el of Gods own Will,</HI> for the Manife&s;tation of his <HI>Wi&s;dom</HI> to <HI>Angels,</HI> and <HI>Men</HI> in this, or that way, as the Ma&s;ter of the Great <HI>Family</HI> of All Things. <HI>Ephe&s;.</HI> 3. 9. 10.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But hath not this doctrine been generally charg'd with Carnality, and &s;en&s;ual Inclination?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> This hath been the Art of <HI>Sathan,</HI> and of <HI>Antichrist,</HI> to Bring out of Repute &s;o Great a Doctrine of Chri&s;t, that It is peculiarly call'd the <HI>Everla&s;ting Go&s;pel;</HI> that the <HI>Antichri&s;tian
<PB N="3" REF="5"> Kingdom</HI> of this World, as a <HI>Dead Child</HI> might be put in its place.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What then is the State of the <HI>Saints dead in Chri&s;t,</HI> whom He <HI>Brings with Him,</HI> and who &s;hall be in the <HI>New Heaven?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> They, who are <HI>Accounted worthy</HI> to <HI>obtain that World,</HI> and the <HI>Re&s;urrection from the Dead,</HI> neither <HI>Marry,</HI> nor are <HI>Gi|ven</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Luke 20. 35. 36. Rom. 8. 23. 1 Cor. 5. 3.</NOTE> <HI>in Marriage;</HI> Neither <HI>can</HI> They <HI>Dye any more,</HI> being the <HI>Children of God,</HI> and of the <HI>Re&s;urrection;</HI> and The <HI>Adoption.</HI> But They <HI>Sit on Thrones,</HI> and <HI>Judge Angels,</HI> and the <HI>World</HI> with Chri&s;t; and <HI>Reign with Him a Thou&s;and Years,</HI> not upon, but <HI>over the Earth;</HI> They <HI>&s;ee the Face of God,</HI> and <HI>of the Lamb,</HI> and<NOTE PLACE="marg">Rev. c. 20. c. 21. c. 22.</NOTE> his <HI>Throne</HI> is in the <HI>mid&s;t of Them,</HI> as <HI>His Servants They &s;erve Him,</HI> and his <HI>Name is in their Foreheads;</HI> He is their <HI>Light,</HI> and their <HI>Temple;</HI> They <HI>Eat of the Tree of Life,</HI> and <HI>Drink of the Wa|ter of Life;</HI> and <HI>over Them the &s;econd death can have no power.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But it &s;eems, They only, who have been <HI>Martyrs;</HI> and e&s;pecially; They who would not <HI>Receive the mark,</HI> and <HI>Name</HI> of that <HI>Antichri&s;tian, Idolatrous</HI> Power, which the <HI>Revelation</HI> calls the <HI>Beast,</HI> are They, who thus Ri&s;e, and enjoy that State a <HI>Thou&s;and Years. Rev.</HI> 20. 4.</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> They are indeed the principal there nam'd, to An&s;wer the Table, or Repre&s;entation of Things in that <HI>Prophecy</HI> of the <HI>Revelation;</HI> But it is &s;ubjoyn'd immediately, <HI>v.</HI> 6. <HI>Ble&s;|&s;ed</HI> and <HI>Holy is He,</HI> that <HI>hath part in the first Re&s;urrection,</HI> though they are not the principals <HI>Beheaded for Chri&s;t;</HI> And the <HI>Apo|&s;tle Paul</HI> a&s;&s;ures us, <HI>All who have died in Christ,</HI> will <HI>God bring with Him;</HI> That none &s;hould <HI>Mourn without hope for Dead Friends,</HI> as if They &s;hould loo&s;e that Glory; For none of the <HI>Saints</HI> can be perfected the one without the other; The <HI>Living Saints</HI> cannot <HI>prevent the Dead,</HI> and the <HI>Wee</HI> of the <HI>Living Saints</HI> are Joyn'd in that Glory with the <HI>Dead Rais'd. 1 The&s;&s;.</HI> 4. 15. and <HI>Heb.</HI> 11. la&s;t. Call'd, we All as making up the whole.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What then &s;hall be the State of the <HI>Saints Living,</HI> and <HI>Remaining</HI> at the <HI>Coming of the Lord?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> They al&s;o are, as was &s;aid, <HI>Partakers of the First Re&s;urre|ction,</HI> &s;o that the <HI>Second Death &s;hall have no Power over Them;</HI> For the <HI>Ble&s;&s;ed,</HI> and the <HI>Holy</HI> is only <HI>He,</HI> who is &s;o <HI>Partaker.</HI> And it is expre&s;ly &s;aid; The&s;e &s;hall not <HI>dye,</HI> but be <HI>Changed,</HI> and caught up to <HI>meet the Lord in the Clouds,</HI> and be <HI>for ever with the Lord;</HI> So they cannot fall into the <HI>Lake of the Second Death;</HI> The <HI>Leaves of the Tree of Life are therefore for the Healing
<PB N="4" REF="6"> the&s;e &s;aved of the Nations;</HI> And the <HI>River of Life</HI> from the <HI>Throne</HI> runs down to them; and the <HI>Trees of Life are for their Food,</HI> and <HI>Medicine,</HI> and the <HI>Healing Waters</HI> from the <HI>Sanctuary;</HI> &s;o that <HI>whatever doth Live &s;hall Live. Rev. 22. 2. Ezek.</HI> 47. 11. They &s;hall be as <HI>Adam,</HI> had he continued in <HI>Paradi&s;e,</HI> &s;erved with the whole Variety of the <HI>Creation</HI> for U&s;e, and Delight; with|out Lu&s;t, or Sen&s;uality; without Labour, Sorrow, Cur&s;e or Death, till They are &s;o <HI>changed;</HI> and they &s;hall propagate a <HI>Holy Seed, P&s;al.</HI> 110. 3. in &s;uch abundance, as to recompence with a much more to the Glory of the <HI>Second Adam (Rom. 5. 12. to the end)</HI> for the few that are <HI>&s;aved</HI> within the World of the <HI>Fir&s;t Adam.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What Entercour&s;e &s;hall there be betwixt the Saints of the <HI>New Heaven</HI> above, and the Saints of the <HI>New Earth</HI> be|neath?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> Such as betwixt the Lights of Heaven, and the Firma|ment, and our Selves now on Earth; For the <HI>Nations of the Saved &s;hall walk in the Light of the New Jeru&s;alem</HI> above, <HI>&s;hining</HI> as the <HI>Sun</HI> and <HI>Stars</HI> down to them; And as All Glory on Earth is refer'd to the <HI>Light of the Sun</HI> and the Heaven over us; So the <HI>Saints,</HI> the <HI>Kings on Earth</HI> &s;hall <HI>bring their Glory to the New Jeru&s;alem</HI> above; e&s;pecially, They &s;hall <HI>give their Glory,</HI> and <HI>walk in the Light</HI> and Enjoyment of <HI>God and of Chri&s;t.</HI> And <HI>Angels</HI> and <HI>Saints</HI> above, <HI>Angels Equalls</HI> &s;hall <HI>A&s;cend</HI> and <HI>De&s;cend</HI> on that <HI>Jacobs Ladder,</HI> who&s;e Foot being on <HI>Earth,</HI> its <HI>Top reach|ed to Heaven,</HI> and <HI>God</HI> and the <HI>Lamb</HI> are on the <HI>Top of it;</HI> and by <HI>Ezekiel's &s;teps enlarging,</HI> and <HI>winding &s;till upward,</HI> &s;hall All be|low <HI>A&s;cend</HI> upward, <HI>Gen.</HI> 28. 12, 13. <HI>Ezeck.</HI> 41. 7.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Give yet a fuller Account of the State of the wicked in this <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> The Scripture is not &s;o full, nor &s;o clear in &s;etting out the State of the Wicked under this <HI>Kingdom;</HI> yet &s;o that It is mo&s;t certain, that They who have lived before it, are rais'd to Illu&s;trate the Glory of it; and to bear the <HI>Shame,</HI> and <HI>Di&s;ho|nour</HI> of their wickedne&s;s under the Ju&s;t and Righteous Con|demnation of Chri&s;t; call'd a being <HI>&s;lain</HI> with the <HI>Sword of his Mouth; Shame</HI> and <HI>Contempt</HI> &s;hall be pour'd upon Them, as a Ju&s;t Recompence of all the Scorn, They have ca&s;t upon Chri&s;t, his ways, and Servants; and They &s;hall be &s;een in a State of Puni&s;hment, De&s;truction, and Death; under a &s;harp &s;en&s;e of it in Them&s;elves, and &s;o that They &s;hall be <HI>&s;een,</HI> as <HI>Carca&s;&s;es,</HI>
<PB N="5" REF="6"> who&s;e <HI>Worm dyes not,</HI> and their <HI>Fire</HI> is not <HI>quenched,</HI> &s;o that They are an <HI>Abhoring of all Fle&s;h.</HI> And this is a Ju&s;t, and Righ|teous Recompence of all the Cruelties, They have exerci&s;ed upon the Servants of God, and their Di&s;obedience to God, and to Chri&s;t, and their &s;o ob&s;tinate prefering the pre&s;ent World, before, and above the World to Come. La&s;tly, in what ever State Any of them can be &s;uppos'd to be, They are certainly &s;o under Chri&s;t and his Saints, That They are <HI>made his Foot-&s;tool. Dan.</HI> 12. 2. <HI>John</HI> 5. 29. <HI>E&s;ay</HI> 66. <HI>ult.</HI> 2 <HI>The&s;.</HI> 1. 9. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 110. 1.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> When does the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t begin?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> It begins at the <HI>Coming,</HI> and <HI>Appearance</HI> of Chri&s;t, and at the <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> of his Saints at that his <HI>Coming,</HI> and <HI>Appear|ance;</HI> a <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> to <HI>Life, Honour,</HI> and <HI>Immortality,</HI> and to a vi&s;ible Glorious <HI>Appearance</HI> with Chri&s;t, and <HI>Reigning with Him.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Is there not a <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> of the <HI>Wicked</HI> at the &s;ame Tme? And if &s;o, How then does their <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> &s;tand in Relation to the Happy <HI>Re&s;urrection?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> There is their <HI>Re&s;urrection,</HI> as was la&s;t declared; but be|cau&s;e It is a <HI>Re&s;urrection to Puni&s;hment,</HI> and <HI>Di&s;honour;</HI> It is called <HI>Death;</HI> and They are called the <HI>dead,</HI> though i<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter"> a <HI>vi&s;ible Appearance;</HI> The Scripture therefore but &s;eldom names the <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> of the <HI>wicked,</HI> as a <HI>Re&s;urrection;</HI> and when it &s;peaks of the <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> at any Time ab&s;olutely, It means the Happy, and ble&s;&s;ed <HI>Re&s;urrection,</HI> as <HI>Luc. 20. 35, 36. 1 Cor.</HI> 15. throughout. <HI>Rev.</HI> 20. 4. 6. And therefore there can be no other Re&s;pect had to them in the <HI>Kingdom</HI> of Chri&s;t, and the <HI>Re&s;ur|rection</HI> proper to it, but as They add to the Triumph of the <HI>Kingdom,</HI> and are in a State of Deprivation of its Glory.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What proof can you give of the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> at his <HI>Coming</HI> and <HI>Appearance?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> The whole Stream of the <HI>New Te&s;tament</HI> Joyns his <HI>Co|ming,</HI> and his <HI>Appearance,</HI> and his <HI>Kingdom</HI> One with Another. The <HI>Son of Man coming in his Kingdom,</HI> Mat. 16. la&s;t. <HI>When the Son of Man &s;hall come in his Glory,</HI> and <HI>All the Holy An|gels with him; Then &s;hall He &s;it on the Throne of his Glory,</HI> Mat. 25. 31. <HI>Remember me when Thou Come&s;t in,</HI> (not into) <HI>thy King|dom,</HI> Luk. 23. 42. <HI>Becau&s;e They thought the Kingdom of God &s;hould immediately Appear,</HI> He <HI>&s;pake a Parable unto Them</HI> of a <HI>No|bleman, going into a Far Country to Receive a Kingdom,</HI> and <HI>to Re|turn;</HI> and Having <HI>Receiv'd a Kingdom,</HI> He <HI>Return'd</HI> in it, <HI>Luke</HI>
<PB N="6" REF="7"> 19. 13, 15. <HI>When we made known unto You the Power and Coming of Chri&s;t,</HI> and were <HI>Eye Witne&s;&s;es of his Maje&s;ty;</HI> (to wit) in the <HI>Transfiguration,</HI> that Great Fore-Appearance of his <HI>Kingdom. Behold, He</HI> who is the <HI>Prince</HI> of the <HI>Kings of the Earth</HI> cometh in the <HI>Clouds,</HI> and <HI>Every Eye &s;hall &s;ee Him,</HI> Revel. 1.5.7. And his <HI>Appearance,</HI> and his <HI>Kingdom</HI> are Joyn'd, 2 <HI>Tim. 4. 1. He &s;hall Judge the Quick,</HI> and the <HI>Dead</HI> at his <HI>Kingdom,</HI> and at his <HI>Ap|pearance.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Give a proof of the <HI>Kingdom</HI> at his <HI>Re&s;urrection?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> The Apo&s;tle plainly declares it; For he &s;ays, Every one &s;hall <HI>Ri&s;e in his own Order;</HI> Chri&s;t the <HI>Fir&s;t Fruits,</HI> and <HI>They, which are Chri&s;ts at his Coming:</HI> And without Any other Menti|on of his <HI>Kingdom,</HI> He &s;ays, He mu&s;t <HI>Reign,</HI> till he hath <HI>put All his Enemies under his Feet:</HI> Now when did this <HI>Reigning Be|gin,</HI> but at his <HI>Coming?</HI> Or where did the Apo&s;tle Give any Intimation of his <HI>Reigning,</HI> but at his <HI>Coming</HI> according to all the Fore-mentioned <HI>Scriptures?</HI> And when He <HI>Comes</HI> and <HI>De&s;cends,</HI> and no Longer <HI>Sits</HI> at the <HI>Right Hand of God,</HI> Then God fir&s;t makes his Enemies his <HI>Foot&s;tool,</HI> not when he <HI>Sits,</HI> but when He <HI>Comes,</HI> and then He Begins to <HI>Reign;</HI> and He <HI>Reigns</HI> Till all his <HI>Enemies</HI> are his <HI>Foot&s;tool.</HI> And when He <HI>De&s;cends,</HI> and <HI>Comes,</HI> and <HI>Reigns,</HI> The <HI>Dead in Chri&s;t Ri&s;e.</HI> and then He <HI>Brings</HI> Them <HI>with Him;</HI> His <HI>Kingdom,</HI> and the <HI>Re|&s;urrection</HI> of his <HI>Saints</HI> Begin together.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What Place then hath the <HI>Day of Judgment?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> The <HI>Day of Judgment</HI> is the &s;ame with the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t,</HI> and with the <HI>Re&s;urrection,</HI> All Begin, Continue, and End Together with this Difference: The <HI>Judiciary Sentence</HI> is at the Beginning, <HI>Rev.</HI> 19 la&s;t. and at the End, <HI>c.</HI> 20. 13. 14. 15. and between, a Righteous and Holy <HI>Government;</HI> which <HI>Government</HI> the <HI>Scripture</HI> often calls <HI>Judgment,</HI> P&s;al. 72. 4. And All Men, whether They Ri&s;e to <HI>Life</HI> or to <HI>Condem|nation,</HI> are before, and as it were about the <HI>Tribunal,</HI> or <HI>Judg|ment Seat,</HI> which is al&s;o the <HI>Throne of Chri&s;t,</HI> and Receiving ac|cording to what <HI>They have done in the Body,</HI> whether it be Good or Evil, during the whole &s;pace of the <HI>Re&s;urrection, Kingdom,</HI> and <HI>Judgment</HI> of Chri&s;t, 2 <HI>Cor.</HI> 5. 10.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> How long then does the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t,</HI> the <HI>Appea|rance</HI> in the <HI>Re&s;urrection,</HI> and the <HI>Day of Judgment</HI> la&s;t?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> The Grand, and the mo&s;t Definitive Time, in which Chri&s;t &s;hall <HI>Reign with his Saints,</HI> is, while <HI>Sathan is Bound,</HI> and
<PB N="7" REF="7" MS="y"> That is a <HI>Thou&s;and Years;</HI> And the <HI>Apo&s;tle Peter</HI> having named the <HI>Day of Judgment,</HI> Immediately, as it were Adjures Chri&s;ti|ans, not to be <HI>Ignorant,</HI> that <HI>One day</HI> (as if He &s;hould &s;ay, That <HI>One Day of Judgment</HI>) is with the <HI>Lord</HI> as a <HI>Thou&s;and Years;</HI> and the &s;everal, <HI>viz. Six Thou&s;and Years</HI> before it, but as each, one day; &s;o making that <HI>Day of Judgment</HI> a <HI>Sabbatical Day,</HI> or <HI>Sab|bati&s;m. Rev. 20. v.</HI> 2. to 8. 2 <HI>Pet.</HI> 3. 8.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But &s;eeing, as hath been &s;aid; The <HI>Living Remaining Saints</HI> have a State in this <HI>Kingdam of Chri&s;t</HI> in the <HI>New Earth,</HI> even as the <HI>Saints dead in Christ,</HI> have in the <HI>New Heavens;</HI> How can &s;o long a &s;pace, as of the <HI>Thou&s;and Years</HI> con&s;i&s;t with the <HI>Apo&s;tles</HI> Doctrine, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 15. 52. that &s;peaks, as of a clo&s;e Connexion betwixt the <HI>Dead being Rais'd,</HI> and the <HI>Wee</HI> of the <HI>Saints</HI> being <HI>Chang'd.</HI> For &s;aith He, <HI>Behold, I &s;hew you a My|&s;tery, We &s;hall not All dye,</HI> but <HI>we &s;hall All be chang'd in a moment,</HI> in <HI>the Twinckling of an Eye at the la&s;t Trumpet, (For the Trumpet &s;hall &s;ound)</HI> and the <HI>Dead &s;hall be Rais'd Incorruptible,</HI> and <HI>we &s;hall be chang'd.</HI> All as it were in one moment?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> The <HI>Apo&s;tle</HI> &s;hews the &s;uddenne&s;s, and Immediate effect of the Power of <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> in both <HI>Rai&s;ing the Dead,</HI> and <HI>Changing the Living;</HI> but the &s;o clo&s;e Connexion betwixt the <HI>Rai&s;ing</HI> and the <HI>Changing</HI> does not thence Follow: For within the Time of <HI>John's Seventh,</HI> and la&s;t <HI>Trumpet,</HI> when the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> Begins its Succe&s;&s;ion, and which contains all from that <HI>King|dom of Christ</HI> &s;o beginning, and its being <HI>Deliver'd up;</HI> The <HI>Dead &s;hall be Rais'd,</HI> and the <HI>Living chang'd,</HI> but at &s;everal di|&s;tances of Time; Forthe <HI>Apo&s;tle</HI> &s;ays, the <HI>Dead</HI> in the Third per&s;on &s;hall be <GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">a<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="2 letters">'d. To &s;hew, the <HI>Wee of Saints</HI> of the fir&s;t per&s;on are of a different State, and order of Time in being <HI>Chang'd</HI> from the <HI>Dead in Chri&s;t,</HI> that &s;hall be <HI>Rais'd.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But it does not &s;eem, that this change of per&s;ons can bear the weight of &s;o Great a point of doctrine?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> I allow it, if there were not that Great Con&s;enting <HI>Scripture, 1 The&s;&s;.</HI> 4. 17. where the <HI>Apo&s;tle</HI> puts the &s;ame <GAP DESC="foreign">, or afterwards, betwixt the <HI>Saints dead in Christ,</HI> at the <HI>Coming of Chri&s;t Ri&s;ing first;</HI> and the <HI>Living Chang'd,</HI> or which is the &s;ame, <HI>Caught up;</HI> that He had put betwixt the <HI>Re&s;urrection of Christ,</HI> and his <HI>Saints Ri&s;ing</HI> at his <HI>Coming;</HI> which hath made as great a di&s;tance, as 1700 <HI>Years</HI> already; For &s;aith the <HI>Apo&s;tle,</HI> the <HI>Lord Him&s;elf &s;hall de&s;cend with a &s;hout,</HI> with the <HI>Voice of the Arch Angel,</HI> with the <HI>Trumpet of God,</HI> and the <HI>Dead in
<PB N="8" REF="8"> Chri&s;t &s;hall Ri&s;e Fir&s;t; Then we which are Alive,</HI> and <HI>Remain, &s;hall be caught up, viz.</HI> without <HI>Dying;</HI> Now the word which is here Tran&s;lated, [Then] was, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 15. 27. Tran&s;lated [Afterward] and may therefore very well allow the di&s;tance of above a 1000 <HI>Years</HI> in one, as in the other; which di&s;tance the <HI>Tran&s;lators</HI> knowing betwixt Chri&s;t's <HI>Re&s;urrection,</HI> and of his <HI>Saints</HI> at his <HI>Coming,</HI> Tran&s;lated [Afterwards] a word of di&s;tance in our <HI>Engli&s;h;</HI> But not under&s;tanding &s;o well that di&s;tance betwixt the <HI>Rai&s;ing,</HI> and <HI>Changing the Saints,</HI> they ren|der the &s;ame word <GAP DESC="foreign">, 1 <HI>The&s;&s;.</HI> 4. 17. [Then] which &s;ignifies often with us the &s;ame moment; but this <HI>varies not the Truth of Things, and of Scripture.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> How is the State of the <HI>Kingdom of Christ</HI> bounded at the Period or End of it?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> By the <HI>Saints Living,</HI> and <HI>Remaining</HI> being <HI>Caught up to Christ</HI> in the <HI>Air,</HI> by the <HI>Subduing the la&s;t Enemy Death,</HI> and by the <HI>Delivering up the Kingdom to God All in All;</HI> So that the <HI>Co|ming of Christ</HI> and his Appearance in and at his <HI>Kingdom,</HI> the <HI>Dead in Chri&s;t Ri&s;ing,</HI> His <HI>Saints,</HI> the <HI>Wee left Living,</HI> and the <HI>Ju|diciary &s;entence</HI> on his <HI>Enemies to be his Foot&s;tool</HI> at the beginning; and the&s;e Great Pillars at the end bound at each Point this Greate&s;t <HI>Oeconomy</HI> of the <HI>Fulne&s;s of Times;</HI> and not only di&s;tin|gui&s;h, but exalt it far above all other Time; And herewith Admirably Agrees the whole State of Things in the <HI>la&s;t Trum|pet</HI> of the <HI>Prophecy</HI> of the <HI>Revelation,</HI> wherein we have &s;everal Expre&s;&s;ions of the <HI>Kingdom of Christ,</HI> or his <HI>Taking to Him his Great Power,</HI> and <HI>Reigning:</HI> The <HI>Heavens open to Him</HI> with his <HI>many Crowns,</HI> and the <HI>Title</HI> or <HI>Name on his Ve&s;ture,</HI> and on his <HI>Thigh, King of Kings, Lord of Lords;</HI> His <HI>Reigning,</HI> and his <HI>Throne</HI> in the <HI>New Jeru&s;alem;</HI> The <HI>Time of the Dead being Judg'd,</HI> and <HI>Rewards</HI> Given to <HI>All that Fear'd his Name, Great,</HI> and <HI>Small,</HI> and the <HI>de&s;troying them that de&s;troy'd the Earth;</HI> A voice <HI>Commands to write</HI> the <HI>Ble&s;&s;edne&s;s</HI> of All the <HI>Dead</HI> in the <HI>Lord,</HI> and their <HI>Sabbati&s;m; Yea, from henceforth or Immediately; Christ with a Crown,</HI> and on a <HI>White Cloud,</HI> Giving down it, Dew, as the <HI>Dew of Herbs,</HI> that the <HI>Earth may di&s;clo&s;e its dead, &amp;c.</HI> and <HI>Reaps his Wheat</HI> with his own Hand, and gathers by his <HI>Angels</HI> the <HI>clu&s;ters of the Wicked, to ca&s;t Them into the Wine-pre&s;s of the Wrath of God;</HI> which He <HI>coming in his Kingdom Treads;</HI> and <HI>Slays,</HI> or <HI>Condemns with the word of his Mouth</HI> All the wicked, <HI>Small</HI> and <HI>Great; Chains,</HI> and <HI>Seals</HI> up <HI>Sathan</HI> into the
<PB N="9" REF="8"> <HI>Bottomle&s;s-pit,</HI> the <HI>making</HI> all his <HI>Enemies</HI> his <HI>Foot&s;tool;</HI> while at the &s;ame Time there are the <HI>Nations of Them that are &s;aved, viz.</HI> of the <HI>Living Remaining;</HI> And this <HI>Kingdom</HI> la&s;ts, till the <HI>Living Remaining</HI> are <HI>caught up to &s;it with Christ</HI> on his <HI>Throne;</HI> as he <HI>&s;ate Down</HI> on His <HI>Fathers Throne;</HI> and the <HI>Devil,</HI> the <HI>Dead, Death,</HI> and <HI>Hell</HI> are <HI>Ca&s;t into the Lake</HI> of the <HI>Second Death;</HI> which is the <HI>Subduing</HI> the <HI>La&s;t Enemy, Death;</HI> at which <HI>Hea|ven</HI> and <HI>Earth flie away</HI> from that <HI>white Throne</HI> of Pure and Liquid Eternity, and the <HI>Kingdom Delivered up to God All in All,</HI> E&s;ay 26. 19. Mat. 13. 30. Rev. 11. 15. <HI>&amp;c. c.</HI> 14. 13. to the End, <HI>c. 19. c.</HI> 20. all along. All which are Admirable Corre&s;pondencies with all the Former <HI>Scriptures,</HI> and their High Importance already given. And Thus the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> is from the <HI>Fir&s;t Re&s;urrection,</HI> the <HI>Fir&s;t,</HI> becau&s;e at the Beginning of the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t;</HI> and the <HI>Second Death</HI> the <HI>Second,</HI> becau&s;e at the End of the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t:</HI> For the <HI>Fir&s;t Re&s;urrection</HI> hath properly no Second, but is All One <HI>Re|&s;urrection,</HI> from the Fir&s;t <HI>Ri&s;ing</HI> of <HI>the Dead in Chri&s;t</HI> to the <HI>Living Remaining Saints caught</HI> into the <HI>Partaker&s;hip</HI> of it; And the <HI>Second Death</HI> hath no <HI>Fir&s;t,</HI> but is All one <HI>Death,</HI> from the <HI>Having no Part in the Fir&s;t Re&s;urrection,</HI> in the <HI>Holy City,</HI> and no <HI>Right</HI> to the <HI>Tree of Life,</HI> to the <HI>Ca&s;ting into the Lake</HI> of the <HI>Se|cond Death:</HI> So the <HI>Fir&s;t Re&s;urrection,</HI> and <HI>Second Death</HI> are on|ly Oppos'd, As <HI>Fir&s;t,</HI> and <HI>Second.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Is there Any other <HI>Scripture</HI> Repre&s;entation of this State of the <HI>Kingdom</HI> of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> that may Evidence it to be &s;uch a peculiar Di&s;pen&s;ation, that hath never yet been, and that &s;hall be yet, before the <HI>Giving up the Kingdom to God All in All?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> There is that Great One; The Time of the <HI>Re&s;titu|tion</HI> of All Things, <HI>viz.</HI> Of the whole <HI>Creation Deliver'd from the Bondage of Corruption into the Glorious Liberty of the Chil|dren</HI> of God, Rom. 8. 21. which is at the &s;ame Time with the <HI>Re-Livening</HI> (which we Tran&s;late Acts 3. 19. <HI>Times of Refre&s;hing) the Dead in Chri&s;t;</HI> or as the Apo&s;tle <HI>John, Rev.</HI> 20. 4. calls it, the <HI>Souls Living,</HI> And This mu&s;t be what never hath yet been; For it mu&s;t be, when Je&s;us before Preached, and whom the <HI>Heavens</HI> mu&s;t <HI>Receive,</HI> till He be <HI>Sent; Come;</HI> which we All Acknowledge hath not been yet; and yet mu&s;t be before the <HI>Kingdom Deliver'd</HI> up: For then the <HI>Re&s;titution</HI> &s;hall be <HI>Deliver'd</HI> up al&s;o. There is al&s;o the <HI>New Jeru&s;alem,</HI> which ac|cording to the Compare of <HI>Ezekiel</HI> in the <HI>I&s;raeliti&s;h</HI> De&s;cripti|on
<PB N="10" REF="9"> of Things proper to the <HI>Old Te&s;tament,</HI> and <HI>Johns,</HI> proper to the <HI>New Te&s;tament,</HI> A&s;&s;ure, There mu&s;t be &s;uch a State of Things, as never hath yet been; And in Regard of a Higher State, where the <HI>Throne of God</HI> and the <HI>Lamb</HI> are; and Tho&s;e who Immediately, as being in their pre&s;ence, <HI>Eat of</HI> the <HI>Tree</HI> of <HI>Life,</HI> and drink of the <HI>Water of Life;</HI> and in Regard of the <HI>Nations Saved,</HI> and <HI>Healed;</HI> mu&s;t be a State above, and below; and &s;o before the <HI>Kingdom Deliver'd up to God</HI> and the <HI>Father,</HI> when he is <HI>All</HI> in <HI>All.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> This being a very Great Point, and &s;o Differently Ex|pounding tho&s;e Fundamental Points of the <HI>Re&s;urrection,</HI> and of the <HI>Day of Judgment,</HI> as in the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t;</HI> There need be&s;ides the given Proofs of Scripture; which are gene|rally Explained &s;o, as to Reach no further then the Com|mon Expo&s;ition of the&s;e Doctrines; Great Accounts of Scrip|ture Rea&s;on drawn from the mo&s;t Intimate Sence of it, to E&s;tabli&s;h &s;uch an Expo&s;ition?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> There are Exceeding High Accounts from Scripture-Rea&s;on of the <HI>Manifold Wi&s;dom, Holine&s;s,</HI> and <HI>Ju&s;tice</HI> of God in this Grand <HI>Oeconomy,</HI> or <HI>Di&s;pen&s;ation.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Give Account of the Fir&s;t, and Fundamental, and mo&s;t Immediate Rea&s;on of &s;uch a Di&s;pen&s;ation?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> That there might be a State of <HI>Vi&s;ible Appearance</HI> of the <HI>Glory of Chri&s;t,</HI> and of his <HI>Saints;</HI> and of the Contempt, <HI>Di&s;|honour,</HI> and Retributions of Ju&s;tice on Wicked Men; For that The&s;e Things &s;hould <HI>Appear,</HI> be &s;et in open View, in a Full and Clear Light is every where made Known in <HI>Strip|ture.</HI> Fir&s;t as a Recompence to the Deep Humiliation of Je|&s;us Chri&s;t Him&s;elf, and to his <HI>Saints</HI> who have been all along, but e&s;pecially &s;ince the Delay of his <HI>Kingdom</HI> at his Re&s;urrecti|on in a Low, Scorn'd, and Per&s;ecuted State; <HI>Tortur'd</HI> by Cruelties, and Forc'd out of the World by Violent Deaths; who have therefore from the Truth of God been Arm'd, and Encourag'd in their Obedience, and again&s;t the&s;e Sufferings, by the A&s;&s;urance of a <HI>Vi&s;ible Appearance</HI> in <HI>Glory,</HI> and <HI>Reign</HI> with Chri&s;t; and of the Vi&s;ible <HI>Shame,</HI> and <HI>Confu&s;ion</HI> of their <HI>Ene|mies,</HI> and of all Wicked and Unholy Men, who have &s;o ob&s;tainately preferr'd the Pre&s;ent before a Future State, <HI>E&s;ay,</HI> 65. 13, 14, and to the End. <HI>Mic.</HI> 7. 17. and <HI>Dan.</HI> 12. 1, 2. <HI>Phil.</HI> 2. 9, 10, 11. <HI>Heb.</HI> 11. 35. with many more Scriptures.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But can there be no <HI>Appearance</HI> of this Glory, and of
<PB N="11" REF="9"> that <HI>Contempt,</HI> but in &s;uch a &s;tate of the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> No: Not in this World; becau&s;e however &s;ome Ap|pearances may <HI>be of the&s;e</HI> Things on each &s;ide in &s;ome In|&s;tances: Yet in General All is &s;o in Confu&s;ion and Di&s;order here, and this is the very <HI>Cro&s;s-Handed</HI> State of <HI>Evil</HI> to the <HI>Servants of God,</HI> and of the <HI>Pro&s;perity</HI> of <HI>Wicked Men,</HI> that no Man <HI>Knows Love or Hatred by All that is before him;</HI> Not in the State of <HI>Spirits in Heaven</HI> above, or in <HI>Pri&s;on below:</HI> For All Scripture Rea&s;on makes it mo&s;t Evident, There can be no <HI>Appearance</HI> without a <HI>Re&s;urrection;</HI> Not in the State of <HI>Eternity:</HI> For then <HI>God All in All,</HI> as the <HI>Highe&s;t Glory</HI> Swallows up the Le&s;s; when <HI>God is All in All,</HI> The <HI>Son is &s;ubject;</HI> There mu&s;t be therefore a Di&s;tance of the <HI>Rain-bow</HI> (the <HI>Emblem</HI> of Chri&s;ts <HI>Kingdom</HI>) from the Sun, that its Beauties may be &s;een; &s;o the Glory of Chri&s;t in his <HI>Humane Nature,</HI> and of his <HI>Saints</HI> in vi&s;i|ble <HI>Glory,</HI> mu&s;t be &s;een at a Di&s;tance from <HI>God All in All:</HI> Not in the <HI>Day of Judgment,</HI> or the <HI>Re&s;urrection,</HI> as a &s;hort Tran&s;i|tory Space: For that could be no <HI>Kingdom,</HI> nor any Appea|rance worthy &s;o Great a Cau&s;e, that had only a moment; But it mu&s;t be a &s;ettled <HI>Oeconomy,</HI> or State of Duration; the <HI>Full|ne&s;s</HI> of <HI>Times,</HI> as it own proper <HI>Times,</HI> and not &s;hort <HI>Time</HI> on|only; When the Great Potentate gives a Show, it &s;hall be of a thou&s;and years Duration: <HI>Eccle&s;.</HI> 9. 1. 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 15. 28. <HI>Ephe&s;.</HI> 1. 10. 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 6. 15. <HI>Rev.</HI> 20. 6.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> How may This be al&s;o Set in Agreement with the State of the Wicked?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> Very exactly; For here They very generally appear in Pro&s;perity; And the State of the <HI>Second Death</HI> is a State Given, as Removed from all Appearance: <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 73. all along, <HI>Rev.</HI> 20. la&s;t. So that there mu&s;t be &s;uch a peculiar State of Appea|rance under <HI>Wrath,</HI> according to all <HI>Scripture.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Is not This a Curio&s;ity only of Speculation, or of what Practical Force is it?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> Surely of very Great; &s;eeing nothing is &s;o &s;uited to moving to Repentance, and to <HI>per&s;wade</HI> us to Holine&s;s as this <HI>Terror</HI> of the <HI>Lord,</HI> that is &s;o &s;uited to men Knowing, and un|der&s;tanding Them&s;elves, as here in <HI>Bodies:</HI> And which is &s;o written in Nature, that Any In&s;tances of it in this World, either of Gods Crowning Holy Per&s;ons and their Actions with Honour; or his Judgments on wicked Men made Examples here, do above All other Things exceedingly Affect us, 2 <HI>Cor.</HI>
<PB N="12" REF="10"> 5. 10. 11. <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 64. 7. 8. 9. And the Contrary is by <HI>Solomon</HI> Accounted the Great Cau&s;e of Impenitency. <HI>Eccle&s;.</HI> 8. 11.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> How comes it then to pa&s;s, the <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> hath been no more thus Explain'd and pre&s;s'd?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> Becau&s;e the darkne&s;s of the <HI>Apo&s;ta&s;ie,</HI> and <HI>Love of this pre|&s;ent World,</HI> as if the Glory of it were Given to <HI>Antichri&s;t,</HI> as the <HI>Vicar</HI> of Chri&s;t, is that <HI>Word,</HI> which the <HI>Apo&s;tle</HI> &s;ays, hath <HI>Eaten</HI> as it were a <HI>Gangrene;</HI> as if the <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> were now <HI>already;</HI> or as if there were no <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> in &s;uch a State of <HI>Glory,</HI> and of <HI>Vi&s;ible Appearance</HI> in <HI>contempt,</HI> but a &s;udden Tran&s;lation into <HI>Eternity</HI> with God, or in the <HI>Lake,</HI> 1 Cor. 15. 12. 2 Tim. 2. 17. 18.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Give Account of a Second Scripture Ground of this <HI>Vi&s;ible Glory,</HI> and <HI>Kingdom</HI> of Chri&s;t, and of the Subjection of his <HI>Enemies?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> Without &s;uch a State of the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> in the <HI>Creation re&s;tor'd,</HI> or in a <HI>Re&s;titution</HI> of All Things, the Re|demption of Chri&s;t were not Perfect and Compleat; For what|ever the <HI>Fir&s;t Adam</HI> de&s;olated, the <HI>Second Adam</HI> was to <HI>Re&s;tore,</HI> and to Bring again into order; There mu&s;t be therefore a De|liverance of the Creature from the <HI>Bondage of Corruption,</HI> and from all their mutual Enmities; So that the <HI>Wolf</HI> and the <HI>Lamb</HI> may <HI>dwell together, &amp;c.</HI> And on this very Account There mu&s;t be a <HI>Generation of Saints</HI> below, as <HI>Adam</HI> and his <HI>Seed</HI> &s;hould have been in <HI>Paradi&s;e;</HI> and the <HI>Saints dead in Chri&s;t,</HI> in a Re&s;tored State in the <HI>Heaven</HI> above, (which Evil Spirits now Inhabit,) and from thence They behold the Glory, and Happine&s;s of the Humane nature in the <HI>Remaining Saints</HI> here below; and the whole Creation of God, as Renewed and Re|&s;tored by the Mediator, and by Him &s;et out in Glory; accor|ding to <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 8. which is by <HI>Heb. 2. 5. &amp;c.</HI> Applyed to the <HI>World to come,</HI> whereof <HI>we &s;peak,</HI> and to Je&s;us Chri&s;t <HI>Adoninu</HI> or <HI>Lord</HI> in our Nature, or the <HI>Second Adam.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But is there any proof, that this State of <HI>Re&s;titution</HI> per|tains not only to the Glory, but to the e&s;&s;ential perfection of the <HI>Redemption?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> I Account the <HI>Apo&s;tle</HI> hath given us the proof of this in the <HI>Re&s;urrection,</HI> the greate&s;t In&s;tance of the <HI>Re&s;titution;</HI> So that by a Parallel with that, the whole <HI>Re&s;titution</HI> will be prov'd al&s;o to pertain to the e&s;&s;ential Perfection of this <HI>Re|demption.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What is that proof?</P>
<PB N="13" REF="10">
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> It is 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 15. 12. and &s;o forward.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> How do you draw out the proof of what you are upon, according to that <HI>Scripture?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> In the&s;e Four Things.</P>
<P N="1">1. That whatever <HI>Adam</HI> lo&s;t, and whatever was a Part of the <HI>Death,</HI> Threatned upon <HI>Adam's Fall,</HI> mu&s;t be Re&s;tor'd by the <HI>Second Adam,</HI> the <HI>Mediator.</HI> For &s;o &s;aith the <HI>Apo&s;tle, v.</HI> 21. 22. and he Brings it in by way of Argument; <HI>For &s;ince by Man came Death,</HI> by <HI>Man came al&s;o the Re&s;urrection of the Dead;</HI> And as in <HI>Adam All Dye, &s;o in Christ &s;hall All be made Alive:</HI> By Agreement of Rea&s;on, &s;ince by Man came the <HI>Cur&s;e</HI> on the <HI>Creation of God,</HI> by Man came al&s;o the <HI>Re&s;titution,</HI> and if there be Argument in one, It mu&s;t be al&s;o in the other.</P>
<P N="2">2. A Future State of Happy <HI>Spirits,</HI> might be &s;uppo&s;ed. without a <HI>Re&s;urrection,</HI> as well as a State of <HI>Spirits</HI> in mi&s;ery without a <HI>Re&s;urrection;</HI> Now the <HI>Apo&s;tle</HI> &s;uppo&s;es a State of <HI>Spi|rits</HI> in <HI>Mi&s;ery,</HI> though there be no <HI>Re&s;urrection of the Dead.</HI> For Tho&s;e words; <HI>v. 17. You are yet in your Sins,</HI> &s;uppo&s;e a State of Future <HI>Mi&s;ery</HI> of <HI>Spirits</HI> without a <HI>Re&s;urrection;</HI> Therefore There might be a State of Chri&s;t in the Glory of <HI>Spirits,</HI> and &s;o of his <HI>Saints,</HI> though no <HI>Re&s;urrection;</HI> But this according to the <HI>Apo&s;tle's</HI> Argument will not &s;uffice the very e&s;&s;ential per|fection of the <HI>Redemption</HI> without a <HI>Re&s;urrection;</HI> Proportiona|bly the <HI>Cur&s;e</HI> upon the <HI>Creation,</HI> being a part of <HI>Adam's Death,</HI> as appears, <HI>Gen.</HI> 3. 18. 19. That mu&s;t be taken off, as nece&s;|&s;ary to the e&s;&s;ential Perfection of the <HI>Redemption;</HI> And a Happy State of <HI>Eternity</HI> in a di&s;&s;olved <HI>Creation,</HI> can no more &s;uffice, then a Happy State of <HI>Spirits</HI> without a <HI>Re&s;urrection.</HI></P>
<P N="3">3. The <HI>&V;njust</HI> Ari&s;e, and are yet in <HI>Their Sins,</HI> for They Ri&s;e to <HI>Condemnation;</HI> So that a <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> without a State of this <HI>Re&s;titution,</HI> wherein that <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> &s;hall be Happy, is a <HI>Death,</HI> and not a <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> in general <HI>Scripture</HI> Account; Therefore <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> is to Glory all along this Chapter.</P>
<P N="4">4. To the Compleating of this parallel betwixt the <HI>Fir&s;t Adam's death,</HI> and the <HI>Second Adams Life;</HI> There mu&s;t be a <HI>Wee of Saints,</HI> who &s;hall not <HI>dye,</HI> but be <HI>Changed,</HI> making up the <HI>All,</HI> the Full number of <HI>Saints, viz.</HI> Tho&s;e who are <HI>Dead</HI> in <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> and Tho&s;e who are <HI>Changed;</HI> For in the State of <HI>Re&s;ti|tution;</HI> There can be no <HI>Death</HI> to the <HI>Seed</HI> of the <HI>Second Adam:</HI> And if It be in this World, It mu&s;t be a World in a State of <HI>Re&s;titution.</HI> And becau&s;e &s;uch a State on Earth had been, if <HI>Adam</HI> had not &s;inn'd, It mu&s;t be now by the <HI>Second Adam.</HI></P>
<PB N="14" REF="11">
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Is there yet any Further Account of the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> from <HI>Scripture</HI> Rea&s;on?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> There is yet the Highe&s;t <HI>Scripture</HI> Rea&s;on for the <HI>King|dom of Je&s;us Chri&s;t;</HI> that is, that His <HI>Saints</HI> may be Fitted to be <HI>deliver'd up,</HI> with the <HI>Kingdom</HI> to <HI>God,</HI> and to the <HI>Father,</HI> that <HI>He may be All in All;</HI> which is the ultimate End, and La&s;t Re|&s;ult of All Things; The <HI>Apo&s;tle</HI> therefore di&s;cour&s;es of the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t,</HI> as in an Immediate Conjunction with, and Subordination to that <HI>Eternal Kingdom</HI> of the <HI>Father, God All in All.</HI> 1 Cor. 15. 28.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Why do you call this the Highe&s;t <HI>Scripture</HI> Account of the <HI>Kingdom of Je&s;us Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> Becau&s;e, That which is the Highe&s;t, and la&s;t means to the Highe&s;t and La&s;t End (which Highe&s;t and La&s;t end, gives value and Rea&s;on to All means) Receives the Highe&s;t Rea&s;on, and the mo&s;t Ab&s;olute nece&s;&s;ity for it &s;elf from that La&s;t End; now It is mo&s;t evident, and certain from the <HI>Apo|&s;tles</HI> di&s;cour&s;e, The <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> is the Highe&s;t, and La&s;t means to the La&s;t, and Highe&s;t End; It is the Highe&s;t, becau&s;e It Alone is thought worthy to Touch, and Attain that End, And It is the La&s;t; becau&s;e no other comes between it, and that End; For when in this <HI>Kingdom Chri&s;t</HI> hath Fully <HI>de|clar'd God's Name</HI> to the <HI>Saints,</HI> and put down all <HI>Rule Authority,</HI> and <HI>Power</HI> in order to <HI>God's</HI> being <HI>All in All;</HI> Then in the High|e&s;t, and la&s;t Act of <HI>Subduing,</HI> or <HI>Ca&s;ting Death and Hell into the Lake,</HI> and al&s;o in the Highe&s;t Act of <HI>declaring the Name of God,</HI> It <HI>delivers up it &s;elf,</HI> and is <HI>&s;ubject,</HI> that <HI>God may be All in All.</HI> John 17. 26. 1 Cor. 15. 28. 54. <HI>&amp;c. Revel.</HI> 20. la&s;t.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> If the <HI>Kingdom deliver'd up to God</HI> and the <HI>Father,</HI> be the La&s;t End, It mu&s;t be an End before all <HI>Oeconomy,</HI> or <HI>Di&s;pen&s;a|tion</HI> of means, For the End mu&s;t be before all means; How do you &s;tate this?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> It mu&s;t needs be &s;o, even before <HI>Creation</HI> it &s;elf, and therefore we Read &s;o often of the <HI>Purpo&s;e of God</HI> before, or from the <HI>Foundation of the World, Ephe&s;. 1. c.</HI> 3. And It Contain the&s;e Two Things, as not of Free <HI>Di&s;pen&s;ation,</HI> but of Ab&s;olute nece&s;|&s;ity.</P>
<P N="1">1. That the Eternal Re&s;t of All Created Beings, can be only in <HI>&V;nion</HI> to the <HI>Father,</HI> the <HI>Word,</HI> the <HI>Spirit,</HI> who are <HI>One,</HI> and who <HI>Inhabit Eternity;</HI> Creatures therefore below be|ing capable of this <HI>&V;nion,</HI> as All, which have not Under&s;tand|ing, are Annihilated; And Creatures of Under&s;tanding, <HI>An|gels</HI>
<PB N="15" REF="11"> and <HI>Men</HI> can be no other, then mi&s;erable in the lo&s;s of this <HI>&V;nion; Hell</HI> therefore the lowe&s;t <HI>Lake,</HI> lies in departing from God. <HI>Mat.</HI> 25. 45. 46.</P>
<P N="2">2. The <HI>Eternal &V;nion,</HI> if there be &s;uch an <HI>&V;nion,</HI> (which is of <HI>Free Grace</HI> only) can be only by <HI>God</HI> to <HI>God,</HI> and &s;o mu&s;t be by the <HI>Eternal word,</HI> through the <HI>Eternal Spirit</HI> to the <HI>Father:</HI> Now among All the Varieties of Di&s;pen&s;ations, wherein The&s;e Grand Ends, which upon the &s;uppo&s;ition of Crea|tures <HI>Eternally</HI> Happy are Ab&s;olutely nece&s;&s;ary, are brought to pa&s;s by Infinite Wi&s;edom, and Power, The <HI>Kingdom of Christ</HI> is Supreme in the order of means, or Di&s;pen&s;ations, as is evi|dent in that, It is the La&s;t, and &s;o Supreme.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> If the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> be the Supreme <HI>Di&s;pen&s;ation,</HI> and means, It mu&s;t then be in the Eye of God, before any other Means or <HI>Di&s;pen&s;ation;</HI> And if Creation be but <HI>Di&s;pen&s;ation</HI> in order to the Supreme End of God, being <HI>All in All;</HI> the <HI>King|dom of Chri&s;t</HI> mu&s;t be in the Eye of God before <HI>Creation</HI> it &s;elf, either of <HI>Angels</HI> or <HI>Men?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> And &s;o the <HI>Scripture</HI> always Repre&s;ents it; The <HI>Lamb</HI> had the <HI>Book of Life</HI> for his <HI>Kingdom</HI> before the <HI>Foundation of the World,</HI> and His <HI>Purpo&s;e</HI> in Chri&s;t is an <HI>Eternal Purpo&s;e;</HI> And <HI>Angels</HI> and <HI>Men,</HI> even All Things were <HI>Created by Him and for Him,</HI> and by Him They <HI>Con&s;i&s;t.</HI> Ephe&s;. 3. 11. Col. 1. 15. to 21.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But are not The&s;e Things to be under&s;tood of Chri&s;t, as He is the <HI>Eternal Word,</HI> and not as in our <HI>Nature?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> They are All proper to the <HI>Eternal Word,</HI> not by way of Free <HI>Di&s;pen&s;ation,</HI> but Ab&s;olutely, and Eternally; and to the <HI>Eternal word</HI> in our <HI>Nature,</HI> by way of Free <HI>Divine Di&s;pen|&s;ation</HI> in order to the union of all Created Beings of Under&s;tand|ing to <HI>God All in All.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Wherein then &s;tands this <HI>Di&s;pen&s;ation?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> In that, the <HI>Eternal word</HI> far above <HI>Angels, Principalities, Powers</HI> Became lower then the <HI>Angels,</HI> by Becoming Man; and &s;o Comprehended the whole <HI>Created Intellectual Nature,</HI> that he might be the <HI>Head</HI> of the whole in their <HI>&V;nion to God;</HI> And that <HI>in Him,</HI> They might <HI>All</HI> be <HI>Reconciled to God</HI> with the whole Inferior <HI>Creation;</HI> (which Having &s;erv'd the Glory of the <HI>Creator by Je&s;us Chri&s;t,</HI> They <HI>Fly</HI> back into their Former State of Nothing in them&s;elves, but indeed are Re|turn'd into the Divine Immen&s;ity,) and <HI>Angels</HI> and Men be <HI>&V;nited</HI> to God for ever, <HI>Ephe&s;.</HI> 1. 10. <HI>Col.</HI> 1. 20.</P>
<PB N="16" REF="12">
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What need could the <HI>Angels,</HI> who never &s;inned, have of a <HI>Mediator,</HI> by whom They &s;hould be <HI>&V;nited</HI> to God, or what Sign is there in Scripture of any &s;uch thing?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> In that even Pure&s;t <HI>Created</HI> Nature is <HI>not Clean</HI> in his &s;ight; that is, Compar'd with the Infinite Holine&s;s of God, and that there is <HI>Folly</HI> in it; The <HI>Angels,</HI> that <HI>Stand, Stand</HI> by their <HI>E|lection,</HI> and <HI>Cover their Faces before God,</HI> and <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> in an Hum|ble, Thankful, and Reverential Acknowledgment hereof; <HI>Learn by the Church</HI> the Great <HI>My&s;teries of</HI> the <HI>Go&s;pel,</HI> Adore and <HI>Wor&s;hip</HI> the <HI>Fir&s;t Begotten, Coming</HI> into his Great <HI>World to Come,</HI> and Conver&s;e in <HI>Innumerable Companies</HI> with his <HI>Saints</HI> above, and below in his <HI>Kingdom,</HI> even as they Serve, as <HI>Mini&s;tring Spirits</HI> now for the <HI>Heirs</HI> of that <HI>Kingdom, Job.</HI> 4. 18. c. 15. 15. 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 5. 21. <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 6 2. <HI>Ephe&s;.</HI> 3. 10. 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 1. 12.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> How did Chri&s;t Appear in this <HI>Di&s;pen&s;ation</HI> for <HI>Man</HI> be|fore his <HI>Fall?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> If God Charges even the <HI>Holy Angels</HI> with <HI>Folly,</HI> &s;o that the <HI>Heavens</HI> were not <HI>Clean in his Sight; How much le&s;s Men, who&s;e Hou&s;es are of Clay,</HI> and who&s;e <HI>Foundation</HI> is <HI>in the Du&s;t?</HI> There mu&s;t be therefore a pro&s;pect in the Divine Eye of their State in a <HI>Mediator,</HI> and as in <HI>Glorious Bodies, Job</HI> 4. 19. <HI>Phil.</HI> 3. 21.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What <HI>Types,</HI> or <HI>Fore-Appearances</HI> were there hereof?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> <HI>Adam</HI> Him&s;elf, as Comprehending <HI>Humane Nature</HI> in his State of Holine&s;s, and Ble&s;&s;edne&s;s, even before his Fall was, but a <HI>Type</HI> of Him, that <HI>was to Come,</HI> and who did indeed &s;o Comprehend all his <HI>Seed.</HI> The Fir&s;t Sabbath was but a Type of the Great <HI>Sabbati&s;m</HI> of the <HI>Second Adam,</HI> that Remains to the <HI>Peo|ple of God</HI> in the <HI>World to Come;</HI> For This <HI>Sabbati&s;m</HI> then <HI>Remain'd;</HI> Although the <HI>Works</HI> were <HI>Fini&s;h'd</HI> from the <HI>Foundation of the World;</HI> and That <HI>Paradi&s;e</HI> was but a <HI>Type</HI> of the <HI>Paradice</HI> of <HI>God, Rom.</HI> 5. 14. <HI>Heb.</HI> 4. 3, 4. <HI>Rev.</HI> 2. 7.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But how does the State of the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> Agree with the <HI>Redemption</HI> of <HI>Fallen Man by Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> Admirably it Agrees, and in a much Fuller and Clearer View; For His <HI>Saints,</HI> as in Highe&s;t Repre&s;entation of his <HI>Re|demption</HI> are every &s;ingle Per&s;on, in <HI>Robes wa&s;h'd white in his Blood;</HI> They are <HI>Prie&s;ts of God,</HI> and <HI>of Chri&s;t,</HI> as to their <HI>Ju|&s;tified</HI> State; And as to their <HI>Sanctification,</HI> the <HI>Throne of God,</HI> and of the <HI>Lamb,</HI> are in the <HI>mid&s;t</HI> of <HI>Them,</HI> They <HI>&s;ee his Face,</HI> as <HI>his Servants they &s;erve Him, His Name</HI> is in their <HI>Fore-heads:</HI>
<PB N="17" REF="12"> They are, as the <HI>Pillars of his Temple,</HI> and <HI>Go out no more</HI> from Him; And there can in <HI>no wi&s;e Enter into that State Any Thing that defileth,</HI> &s;o that every one mu&s;t be Holy. As to their <HI>Hap|pine&s;s,</HI> and <HI>Glory,</HI> They <HI>Reign with Chri&s;t for ever;</HI> Thus in the particulars; Con&s;ider them together as in the <HI>General A&s;&s;embly,</HI> and <HI>Church</HI> of the <HI>Fir&s;t born written</HI> in <HI>Heaven;</HI> And &s;o They are the <HI>New Jeru&s;alem,</HI> the <HI>Bride</HI> or <HI>Lambs wife,</HI> to whom <HI>It is Given</HI> in Regard of <HI>Ju&s;tification</HI> to be <HI>Cloathed with Linnen, White,</HI> and <HI>Clean, which is the Righteou&s;ne&s;s of the Saints;</HI> As to <HI>Holine&s;s,</HI> It is <HI>Clear,</HI> as a mo&s;t <HI>Precious Ja&s;per,</HI> and <HI>Wall'd High,</HI> and Guarded by <HI>Watch</HI> of <HI>Angels</HI> from all <HI>Defilement;</HI> As to <HI>Hap|pine&s;s</HI> and <HI>Eternal</HI> &s;ecurity; The <HI>Lord God,</HI> and the <HI>Lamb</HI> are the <HI>Light</HI> thereof, and the <HI>Glory of God Enlightens</HI> it, that it can &s;ee in no other Light; <HI>God and the Lamb</HI> are the <HI>Temple</HI> of it, that cannot be defiled; The City hath the <HI>Tree of Life, Bearing Twelve &s;everal kinds of Fruit, viz.</HI> an univer&s;ality and perfection of <HI>Life;</HI> and a <HI>River of Life, Clear as Chry&s;tal, Pro|ceeding</HI> from the <HI>Throne. Heb.</HI> 12. 25. <HI>Rev.</HI> c. 20. c. 21. c. 22.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But how does &s;o Great a State, and the &s;o High Expre&s;|&s;ions of it, work as to the <HI>Delivery up of the Kingdom</HI> to God <HI>All in All,</HI> and to Chri&s;t as the Bond of union?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> The&s;e Two ways, Fir&s;t, That the State of <HI>Delivery up of the Kingdom to God All in All,</HI> cannot be better expounded to us, then in tho&s;e &s;o divine words of our Lord in his <HI>Mediato|ry Prayer. John 17. 21. That They All may be one, as Thou Father art in me, And I in Thee, That They al&s;o may be one in us, that the World may Believe, that Thou ha&s;t &s;ent me; And the Glory which Thou gave&s;t me, Have I given Them, that They may be one as we are one; I in Them, and Thou in me, That they may be made perfect in one, and that the World may Believe, that Thou ha&s;t &s;ent me, and ha&s;t loved Them, as Thou hast loved me; Father, I will that Tho&s;e which Thou hast given me, may be with me, where I am, and may Behold my Glory, which Thou hast given me; For Thou loved'&s;t me be|fore the Foundation of the World; Oh! Righteous Father, The World hath not known Thee, But I have known Thee; And The&s;e have known that Thou hast &s;ent me; And I have declared to them Thy Name and will declare it, that the Love wherewith Thou ha&s;t loved me, may be in Them,</HI> and <HI>I in Them.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q</LABEL> What Ari&s;es from the&s;e words to our pre&s;ent purpo&s;e?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> Fir&s;t, That &s;o High Expre&s;&s;ions can fit no State, but of <HI>God All in All,</HI> even as He was before the Foundation of the
<PB N="18" REF="13"> World <HI>All in All;</HI> and to which State, Our Lord's words &s;o much Refer; when <HI>All the Saints</HI> are thus one with <HI>God in Chri&s;t,</HI> then is He thus <HI>All in All,</HI> as before the <HI>World</HI> began. Second|ly, That as this State Requires the Highe&s;t Purification; of which the <HI>Purification</HI> of the <HI>Virgins,</HI> for the <HI>Royal Bed</HI> of <HI>Aha|&s;uerus</HI> is but a dark <HI>Emblem;</HI> &s;o no Expre&s;&s;ions of &s;uch a pre|paratory Purification, but as before Repre&s;ented in the <HI>New Jeru&s;alem,</HI> and <HI>Kingdom of Christ,</HI> can be parallel to &s;uch a Puri|fication; But They Reach it, and Admirably Reach it; The pre&s;ent State of <HI>Sanctification</HI> is much too Low for it; The Purity of the <HI>Bride,</HI> the <HI>Lambs Wife,</HI> and of the <HI>Saints</HI> in this <HI>Kingdom</HI> Ri&s;es to it. Thirdly, All this Preparation, and this <HI>Eternal &V;nion</HI> is in the <HI>Eternal word,</HI> who was <HI>with the Father,</HI> and <HI>One with him,</HI> and whom the <HI>Father loved</HI> before the <HI>Foundation of the World;</HI> And He thus prepares his <HI>Saints</HI> not only in this State, (though here al&s;o) but in his <HI>Kingdom</HI> mo&s;t Highly, Compleatly, Perfectly, and therefore e&s;pecially. <HI>John</HI> 17. 24. 26.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Give me the &s;econd way, how &s;o Great a State, and &s;o High Expre&s;&s;ions of it work, to the <HI>Delivery up of the Kingdom</HI> to <HI>God All in All?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> In that, although this <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> be &s;o Holy, &s;o Heavenly, &s;o Pure, &s;o much of God in it, and &s;o Happy, and Ble&s;&s;ed in <HI>Christ,</HI> and in his <HI>Saints;</HI> yet becau&s;e It is the <HI>Kingdom of the Man Chri&s;t Je&s;us,</HI> and of his <HI>Saints</HI> in a vi&s;ible Created Glory, and not the Highe&s;t <HI>&V;nion</HI> to <HI>God All in All,</HI> Chri&s;t Gives this La&s;t Declaration of the <HI>Name,</HI> that is of the Nature, and Glory of God; He freely <HI>Delivers</HI> up this his <HI>Kingdom,</HI> and the <HI>Son,</HI> as in humane Nature, &s;uffers mo&s;t wil|lingly that Glory of Him&s;elf, and of his <HI>Saints,</HI> to be <HI>Swallow'd</HI> up by <HI>God All in All,</HI> and <HI>unites</HI> them with Him&s;elf to the <HI>Fa|ther,</HI> as He is the <HI>Eternal word;</HI> and &s;o <HI>They are with Him for ever, Beholding the Glory He had</HI> with the <HI>Father,</HI> before <HI>the World was;</HI> which is the Highe&s;t In&s;tance of &s;elf-denial of all <HI>Created Glory,</HI> and Giving up All to <HI>God All in All,</HI> that could be given. <HI>John</HI> 17. 5.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What Signs are there of &s;uch a Preparation in the <HI>King|dom of Chri&s;t</HI> for <HI>God All in All?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> In Token of this, this State is call'd a <HI>Sabbati&s;m,</HI> a <HI>Para|di&s;e;</HI> There is a <HI>Tree of Life,</HI> and a <HI>River of Life;</HI> All which Point to the Higher Perfection of <HI>&V;nion with God All in All,</HI>
<PB N="19" REF="13"> then was even in that <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t;</HI> Even as <HI>Prie&s;thood,</HI> and a <HI>Temple-State</HI> do; For though <HI>God,</HI> and the <HI>Lamb</HI> be the <HI>Tem|ple;</HI> Yet God being our <HI>Temple,</HI> is not &s;o High, as our <HI>&V;nion to God All in All.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> How does the State of the wicked Agree with this &s;o High State of the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> in preparation to their be|ing ca&s;t into the <HI>Lake,</HI> when God is <HI>All in All?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> Their being in a <HI>Vi&s;ible State,</HI> and beholding the <HI>Glory of Christ,</HI> and of his <HI>Saints</HI> in a <HI>Vi&s;ible State,</HI> gives them that Con|viction; that the <HI>Father &s;ent Chri&s;t,</HI> that He <HI>Loved the Saints,</HI> as He <HI>Loved Chri&s;t,</HI> that They are Forc'd to <HI>Know</HI> and to <HI>Be|lieve</HI> it; For this They could not &s;ee here, but would be High|ly per&s;waded of the Contrary; And when the <HI>Saints</HI> are <HI>Deli|vered up to God All in All,</HI> and They in the <HI>Lake;</HI> It is not then to be &s;een by Them; In this <HI>Kingdom,</HI> then It mu&s;t be &s;een; And yet in this very State, they being Irreconcileable to the <HI>Divine Kingdom;</HI> They are even with the <HI>Comfort of the Saints,</HI> Beholding their <HI>Abhorr'd State,</HI> and way, <HI>Ca&s;t into the Lake,</HI> that They might be no more Annoyance to the <HI>Divine King|dom,</HI> but at an utter Separation from it, Remembred no more, cut off for ever from the Hand of God in a <HI>Land</HI> of <HI>Silence, Forgetfulne&s;s,</HI> and <HI>&V;tter Darkne&s;s,</HI> Ezek. 14. 22. Rev. 20. la&s;t.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But how are the <HI>Saints</HI> below Fitted then for this State of being <HI>Deliver'd up to God All in All?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> They having their part in all the Priviledges of the <HI>Saints</HI> above, and being <HI>Caught up to Chri&s;t</HI> before the <HI>Delivery</HI> up of the <HI>Kingdom,</HI> are thereby fitted to be <HI>Deliver'd up with All Saints,</HI> and to be united to <HI>God All in All.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But &s;eeing the <HI>Saints of Chri&s;t</HI> have been al&s;o All <HI>Sinners,</HI> and many of Them very <HI>Great Sinners,</HI> and &s;ome not brought home to Chri&s;t till <HI>Death;</HI> Whereas many of the <HI>Lo&s;t</HI> have been of <HI>Fair</HI> and <HI>Innocent Lives;</HI> how can &s;uch a difference in this <HI>Vi&s;ible State</HI> of the <HI>Re&s;urrection,</HI> con&s;i&s;t with the <HI>Glory of Ju|&s;tice,</HI> then to be manife&s;ted?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> The <HI>Infinite Richne&s;s of Grace</HI> having made in All the <HI>Saints,</HI> the Great difference of <HI>&V;nion to Chri&s;t,</HI> in the Glory of who&s;e <HI>Righteou&s;ne&s;s</HI> They <HI>Appear,</HI> and thereby in the <HI>Participa|tion</HI> of the <HI>Divine Nature,</HI> Their <HI>Sins</HI> are &s;o <HI>Blotted</HI> out through the <HI>Blood of the Lamb,</HI> in this State of <HI>Re-enlivening,</HI> as though, <HI>They are &s;ought for, They cannot be found;</HI> And even the <HI>Works</HI> of the Few Moments of <HI>Holy Action,</HI> as of Converts, how near
<PB N="20" REF="14"> Death &s;oever <HI>Follow Them,</HI> and are &s;o enlarg'd by the <HI>Obedience of Chri&s;t,</HI> the <HI>Linnen white</HI> and <HI>clean,</HI> which is the <HI>Righteou&s;ne&s;s of the Saints,</HI> that It Inve&s;ts Them; All which makes the dif|ference betwixt the <HI>Saints,</HI> and the <HI>Reprobate</HI> Inconceivable; For the <HI>Talents,</HI> that the <HI>Reprobate</HI> might have here by Gener|al Grace to Adorn Them, are <HI>Taken from them,</HI> and All their <HI>Sins find them out,</HI> and are as the <HI>Garment that covers them,</HI> and the <HI>Girdle,</HI> wherewith They are <HI>Girded continually;</HI> Allowing yet the differences of <HI>Puni&s;hment</HI> betwixt the more, and le&s;s <HI>Malicious Sinners. Jerem.</HI> 50. 20. <HI>Luke</HI> 23. 40. &amp;c. <HI>Mat.</HI> 25. 28.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> &s;eems a State of <HI>Purgation</HI> for that la&s;t State of <HI>Delivering</HI> up the <HI>Kingdom to God All in All;</HI> Why may not therefore &s;ome, that have not <HI>Repented</HI> here, <HI>Find place</HI> in that State for <HI>Repentance,</HI> e&s;pecially when &s;ome are <HI>Converts</HI> &s;o near <HI>Death;</HI> and &s;o many dye <HI>Infants,</HI> and are <HI>Sav'd,</HI> who had no <HI>&s;pace</HI> of &s;erving God in this World?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> In the deep, and wi&s;e di&s;po&s;e of God (be&s;ides that Stan|dard of <HI>Glorifying God here on Earth,</HI>) the <HI>Spirits</HI> unreconciled to God in Chri&s;t, and un&s;anctified in the very moment, wherein They leave the Body, become <HI>Devili&s;h, James</HI> 3. 15. and &s;o can be no more chang'd after, then <HI>Devils;</HI> and the Bodies being laid down without any Seeds of the <HI>Divine Life,</HI> not the <HI>Temples</HI> of the <HI>Holy Spirit,</HI> are Taken up in the very &s;ame State, and can never be chang'd, becau&s;e the <HI>Spirit</HI> to Inhabit them, cannot: And &s;o thus as the <HI>Spirits of Holy Men,</HI> are Pled|ges of Happine&s;s to the whole Man, &s;o the <HI>Spirits</HI> of <HI>&V;nholy Men</HI> in <HI>Pri&s;on</HI> are Ho&s;tages for the whole man to Ju&s;tice under Wrath; and hereby there is in each order of <HI>Spirits,</HI> having in them&s;elves a &s;en&s;e of their Future Condition, a Pre|paration for the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> in <HI>Glory,</HI> or in <HI>Di&s;honour;</HI> For thus there is no di&s;continuance in the Sen&s;e, and Know|ledge, Each have in the Rea&s;ons of the Future State, as there would be if the <HI>Spirits of Men, &s;t<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="MURP" EXTENT="1 letter">pt in the du&s;t,</HI> as their <HI>Bodies</HI> do, till the <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> and that <HI>Vi&s;ible</HI> Appearance in the <HI>Judgment</HI> and <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t;</HI> But They are <HI>Spirits in Pri&s;on,</HI> or with Chri&s;t. 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 3. 19. <HI>Philip.</HI> 1. 23.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But there &s;eems to be &s;ome Greater Refinement of <HI>Saints,</HI> in the <HI>Kingdom of Christ</HI> for <HI>&V;nion to God All in All?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> The <HI>Spirits of Saints</HI> having been with Chri&s;t from their Leaving the Body, and in the very beginning of the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t,</HI> the whole<NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg">Ju&s;t Men, not Spirits, made per|fect.</NOTE> Man being made perfect, <HI>Heb.</HI> 12. 23. They
<PB N="21" REF="14"> are for 1000 years <HI>Confirm'd</HI> in that mo&s;t perfect State, and with <HI>Angels</HI> They Behold in this Great <HI>Oeconomy,</HI> the utmo&s;t God is pleas'd to have &s;een in a Created State, in order to <HI>&V;nion with God All in All,</HI> and &s;o are <HI>Deliver'd</HI> up with <HI>the King|dom;</HI> the Ju&s;t Contrary to which is in every particular to Wicked Men for their being <HI>Ca&s;t into the Lake.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Hath not the <HI>Eternal Word</HI> in <HI>Humane Nature</HI> a <HI>Kingdom</HI> throughout <HI>Eternity?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> The <HI>Eternal Word</HI> in <HI>Humane Nature</HI> hath a <HI>Kingdom</HI> throughout <HI>Eternity;</HI> but not as the <HI>Son of Man,</HI> but as the <HI>E|ternal Word;</HI> The <HI>Glory</HI> in which then Chri&s;t is &s;een by his <HI>Saints,</HI> being the <HI>Glory</HI> he had with the <HI>Father</HI> before the <HI>World Began,</HI> of the &s;ame Nature wherein He is now at the <HI>Right Hand of God,</HI> till <HI>He appears;</HI> and the <HI>&V;nion</HI> in that <HI>Eternal</HI> State is by <HI>God</HI> to <HI>God,</HI> by the <HI>Word</HI> to the <HI>Father;</HI> &s;o the <HI>Son</HI> as <HI>Man</HI> is <HI>Subject</HI> and <HI>God All in All,</HI> John 17. 5, 24.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Is God excluded in the <HI>Kingdom of the Son?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> No; He is <HI>Excepted,</HI> &s;aith the Apo&s;tle, who <HI>put All Things under Chri&s;t;</HI> The <HI>Throne of God,</HI> even as of the <HI>Lamb</HI> is in the <HI>New Jeru&s;alem,</HI> It is <HI>Gods Kingdom;</HI> He <HI>Appoints &s;itting at the Right and Left Hand of Chri&s;t;</HI> But the <HI>Divinity</HI> plea&s;es &s;o to <HI>Oeconomize</HI> its own <HI>Glory,</HI> that the <HI>Son may be &s;een to Reign in Glory,</HI> 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 15. 27. <HI>Revel.</HI> 22. 3. <HI>Mat.</HI> 20, 23. <HI>Phil.</HI> 2. 11.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But it &s;eems by the High Expre&s;&s;ion of God, who is pure&s;t <HI>Spirit,</HI> being <HI>All in All;</HI> and by the <HI>Lake of the Second Death,</HI> and even the <HI>New Heaven,</HI> and <HI>New Earth</HI> after the 1000 Years <HI>Flying away, Revel.</HI> 20. 11. there is no Bodily or Material Na|ture Continued, no not of the Son's <HI>Glorious Body,</HI> who is then <HI>Subject,</HI> nor of his <HI>Saints?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> <HI>Scripture</HI> having Declar'd no &s;uch Thing, No &s;uch Thing can be &s;uppos&punc;d, but that <HI>Chri&s;t and his Saints</HI> &s;hall be <HI>in Bodies;</HI> But it is certain; There &s;hall be Highe&s;t <HI>Spirituality</HI> in Confor|mity to the <HI>Divine Nature,</HI> that He may be <HI>All</HI> in <HI>All,</HI> and in <HI>&V;nion</HI> to Chri&s;t, mo&s;t <HI>Spiritual Bodies;</HI> Even as in the Lake, All the <HI>Damned</HI> become <HI>Spiritual Wickedne&s;&s;es</HI> to the Highe&s;t Degree; All which Confirms the Nature, and State of the <HI>Re&s;urrection</HI> to &s;tand in <HI>Vi&s;ibility,</HI> and <HI>Appearance</HI> for the thou|&s;and Years. <HI>Phil.</HI> 3. 21. <HI>Ephe&s;.</HI> 6. 12.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What kind of State mu&s;t that be of the <HI>Bea&s;t,</HI> and of the <HI>Fal&s;e Prophet,</HI> who are <HI>Ca&s;t Living</HI> into the <HI>Lake,</HI> even before, the <HI>Devil,</HI> the <HI>Dead, Death,</HI> and <HI>Hell</HI> are Ca&s;t into it? <HI>Rev.</HI> 19. 20. c. 20. 10. &amp;c.</P>
<PB N="22" REF="15">
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> The finding out the meaning of that State is the more nece&s;&s;ary, becau&s;e it will much clear that La&s;t I&s;&s;ue, or Ca&s;t|ing of the <HI>Devil, Death,</HI> and <HI>Hell,</HI> into the <HI>Lake:</HI> 1. The <HI>Ca&s;ting</HI> into the <HI>Lake</HI> therefore &s;ignifies Finall, and mo&s;t utter Ce&s;&s;ation of Action; &s;o that the <HI>Ca&s;ting</HI> the <HI>Bea&s;t,</HI> and the <HI>Fal&s;e Prophet into</HI> the <HI>Lake</HI> Imports to us, that the <HI>Antichri&s;tian State,</HI> of which the Bea&s;t, and the <HI>Fal&s;e Prophet</HI> were the Supream Con&s;titu|ents, or Parts, being the Counterfeit, and Undermine of the True <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t,</HI> &s;hall, as the Apo&s;tle &s;peaks, 2 <HI>The&s;.</HI> 2.8. be utterly <HI>Con&s;um'd,</HI> and <HI>Aboli&s;h'd</HI> by it. 2. In that it is a <HI>Lake Burning with Fire and Brim&s;tone;</HI> It &s;peaks &s;evere&s;t Puni&s;hment, and Torment by the <HI>True Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> &s;hining upon the <HI>Bea&s;t,</HI> and <HI>Fal&s;e Prophet,</HI> and as it were in their very Faces. 3. In that the <HI>Bea&s;t,</HI> and the <HI>Fal&s;e Prophet</HI> are <HI>Ca&s;t Alive</HI> into <HI>the Lake;</HI> It Declares; that the Full <HI>Abolition</HI> of the <HI>Antichri|&s;tian Kingdom</HI> &s;hall be in the very Beginning of the <HI>Kingdom</HI> of Chri&s;t; and that the Puni&s;hment of the <HI>Antichri&s;tian King|dom</HI> as the Counterfeit, and Undermine of the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> &s;hall be the mo&s;t Con&s;picuous, and Illu&s;trious of all the Puni&s;hing Part of <HI>Chri&s;ts Kingdom;</HI> So that All other <HI>Ene|mies</HI> of Chri&s;ts <HI>Kingdom</HI> &s;hall be only as <HI>Dead Men, Slain with the Sword of Chri&s;ts Mouth,</HI> in Compari&s;on; But the Se|verity upon the <HI>Anti-chri&s;tian Kingdom</HI> &s;hall be like <HI>Burning A|live,</HI> as it were in Ju&s;t Recompence of their <HI>Vivi-Comburia,</HI> or <HI>Burning</HI> Tho&s;e Servants of Chri&s;t They call'd <HI>Hereticks, Alive;</HI> upon the Bea&s;t his Fal&s;e Prophet, and all their Wor&s;hippers, and their <HI>Babilon;</HI> And the Smoke of their <HI>Torment A&s;cendeth for ever and ever;</HI> and Wicked Men <HI>have their part</HI> fir&s;t, but are not ca&s;t till the very End into the <HI>Lake. Rev.</HI> 19. 3. 21. <HI>c.</HI> 21. 8.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> How is This to be Applied to the <HI>Ca&s;ting the Devil, Hell,</HI> and <HI>Death,</HI> with all their <HI>Dead</HI> into the <HI>Lake, ju&s;t before Chri&s;t Delivers up the Kingdom?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> Hence it Appears, That the Action of the <HI>Devil</HI> in <HI>Deceiving</HI> is only <HI>Chain'd</HI> up, but not utterly <HI>Aboli&s;h'd</HI> in the <HI>thou&s;and Years Kingdom</HI> of Chri&s;t: For He is <HI>Loo&s;ed</HI> out of <HI>Pri|&s;on</HI> for a <HI>Little Space</HI> after the <HI>Thou&s;and Years,</HI> and He <HI>Deceives the Nations</HI> again; But <HI>Fire comes down</HI> &s;uddenly from <HI>Heaven</HI> on tho&s;e <HI>Nations</HI> in the very Attempt; and then an utter end is put to Sathans whole Action; For He is <HI>Ca&s;t into the Lake,</HI> and &s;o notwith&s;tanding the Victory over <HI>Death</HI> in the <HI>Fir&s;t Re|&s;urrection</HI> of <HI>Dead Saints,</HI> and the <HI>Living Remaining Saints not Dy|ing,</HI>
<PB N="23" REF="15"> but being <HI>Chang'd;</HI> Yet till They are all Actually <HI>Chang'd,</HI> &s;o that <HI>Mortality</HI> or Po&s;&s;ibility of Dying <HI>Puts</HI> on <HI>Immortality,</HI> and <HI>Corruption</HI> puts <HI>Incorruption,</HI> and &s;o Mortality is <HI>&s;wallowed up of Life</HI> in the <HI>Living Remaining Saints Caught up,</HI> even as in the <HI>Dead in Chri&s;t Ri&s;ing fir&s;t,</HI> who cannot <HI>Dye any more,</HI> being in <HI>perfect Immortality,</HI> Luc. 20. 36. <HI>Death</HI> and <HI>Hell,</HI> with all their own Subjects, the <HI>Dead</HI> are not <HI>Ca&s;t</HI> into <HI>the Lake,</HI> &s;o as to be utterly <HI>Aboli&s;h'd from any</HI> po&s;&s;ible place in the <HI>Kingdom of God.</HI> Then They are; and when this <HI>La&s;t Enemy Death</HI> is thus <HI>&s;ub|dued,</HI> Chri&s;t <GAP DESC="foreign"> <HI>Then,</HI> &s;o Long after his Fir&s;t Beginning to <HI>Reign, Delivers up the Kingdom,</HI> having Done all to be Done, as the <HI>Second Adam,</HI> and God is <HI>All in All:</HI> But &s;till and for ever, even <HI>Eternally,</HI> That <HI>Lake Burns with Fire and Brim&s;tone;</HI> For the <HI>Kingdom of Life</HI> &s;hines in the Face of it with <HI>Everla&s;t|ing Torment</HI> while it is not yet able to Return one of its <HI>Sulphur</HI> Steams in Revenge, 1 <HI>Cor.</HI> 15. 24, 55, 56. <HI>Revel.</HI> 20. 10. to the end. 2 <HI>The&s;&s;.</HI> 1. 9.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Have we any Accounts of Time kept in <HI>Scripture</HI> from the Fir&s;t <HI>Creation</HI> to the Times of <HI>Re&s;titution,</HI> or of the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> There hath been for the &s;ake of it kept a Con&s;tant Ac|count of Time, from one Point to the other.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What Rea&s;on have you to think &s;o?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> Becau&s;e as the Fir&s;t <HI>Coming of Chri&s;t</HI> in the Fle&s;h is &s;aid to be in the <HI>Fulne&s;s of Time, viz.</HI> of that Time; Becau&s;e it was in be in the <HI>Fulne&s;s of Time, viz.</HI> of that Time; Becau&s;e it was in the Ju&s;t Time according to <HI>Daniels</HI> &s;eventy Weeks and according to the Agreement of all Chri&s;tians; So this Time of the <HI>Heading</HI> of <HI>All Things</HI> under Chri&s;t in his <HI>Kingdom,</HI> is call'd the <HI>Fulne&s;s,</HI> not of <HI>Time,</HI> as of one Time, but of <HI>Times</HI> as of all <HI>Times,</HI> I&s;&s;uing according to Ju&s;t Account into it: And further it is call'd the <HI>Oeconomy,</HI> or the wi&s;e Order of All <HI>Times</HI> in Re|lation to it by the Supream, and wi&s;e <HI>Pater-Familias,</HI> or Go|vernour of the World; who as the Great <HI>Potentate, King of Kings,</HI> and <HI>Lord of Lords</HI> Giving the whole <HI>Family</HI> of <HI>Angels,</HI> and <HI>Men</HI> a Show of and for his Glory, would have it at this <HI>Fulne&s;s</HI> of <HI>Times,</HI> for a <HI>Thou&s;and Years;</HI> and The&s;e are call'd <HI>Gods,</HI> or <HI>Chri&s;ts Proper Times,</HI> and the <HI>Times of Refre&s;h|ment,</HI> and the <HI>Times</HI> of <HI>Re&s;titution,</HI> as in the Ju&s;t Place of that Time: All which &s;peaks, that there was a Strict Calculation of Time for it, and to it; <HI>Gal.</HI> 4. 4. <HI>Ephe&s;.</HI> 1. 10. <HI>Acts</HI> 3. 21. 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 6. 15.</P>
<PB N="24" REF="16">
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Where is This Account of Time to be Found?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> It is to be found all along <HI>Holy Scripture</HI> in this manner; In the Fir&s;t Roll of <HI>Patriarchs</HI> from the <HI>Creation</HI> to <HI>Shem,</HI> the Head of the <HI>New World</HI> after the <HI>Flood,</HI> 1658 years. <HI>Gene&s;is</HI> 5. <HI>c.</HI> 11. 10.</P>
<P>From <HI>Shem</HI> to <HI>Abraham, Receiving the Promi&s;es</HI> by the Second Roll of <HI>Patriarchs,</HI> 425 <HI>Y. Gen.</HI> 11. to <HI>c.</HI> 12.</P>
<P>From thence to the <HI>Going</HI> out of <HI>Egypt,</HI> immediately before the <HI>Tabernacle of Te&s;timony</HI> &s;et up, 430 <HI>Y. Exod.</HI> 12. 40. <HI>c.</HI> 40.</P>
<P>From thence to <HI>Solomon's Temple,</HI> Begun in his <HI>Fourth Year,</HI> and &s;o to his <HI>Death,</HI> 516 <HI>Y.</HI> 1 <HI>Kings c.</HI> 6. 1. <HI>c.</HI> 11. 42.</P>
<P>From thence to <HI>Ezekiel's Divine Temple</HI> and <HI>City,</HI> drawn by his <HI>Bearing</HI> the <HI>Sin of I&s;rael,</HI> divided from <HI>Judah</HI> &s;o many <HI>Days</HI> for <HI>Years,</HI> according to the <HI>Reign</HI> of <HI>I&s;rael's Kings,</HI> to their <HI>Cap|tivity,</HI> and then by the <HI>Kings</HI> of <HI>Judah,</HI> to 14 years after the <HI>City Jeru&s;alem &s;mitten,</HI> and the <HI>Temple Burnt,</HI> 390 <HI>Y. Ezek.</HI> c. 4. 4. 5. <HI>c.</HI> 40. 1. <HI>&amp;c.</HI></P>
<P>From thence to the End of <HI>Judah's Captivity,</HI> drawn by the <HI>Forty days</HI> for <HI>Years</HI> of <HI>Ezekiel, Bearing the Sin of Judah,</HI> as from that vi&s;ion of the <HI>City</HI> and <HI>Temple,</HI> to <HI>Cyrus his Fir&s;t year, 40 Y. Ezek. c. 4. 4. 5. c 40. 1. Ezra</HI> 1. 1.</P>
<P>From thence by the <HI>Sanctuary,</HI> that then lay Trodden un|der <HI>Foot</HI> to the <HI>Sanctuary</HI> of the <HI>&V;niver&s;al Church Cleans'd;</HI> drawn in the 2300 <HI>Evens. Morns.</HI> according to the <HI>Prophetical Cypher</HI> before nam'd, and e&s;tabli&s;h'd for after Times of a <HI>Day for a Year,</HI> 2300 <HI>Y.</HI> Dan. 8. 13. 14.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Can we know whereabout we are in nearne&s;s to the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t,</HI> by &s;o long a Line of Time?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> If we would be diligent in Searching, and Comparing <HI>Scripture,</HI> we might find this Line divided into 75 <HI>Years</HI> before <HI>Daniel's 70 Weeks</HI> began, for the <HI>Word going forth</HI> to <HI>Re&s;tore,</HI> and <HI>Build Jeru&s;alem;</HI> Into 490 by tho&s;e 70 <HI>Weeks,</HI> for the <HI>Death</HI> and <HI>Re&s;urrection of Me&s;&s;iah,</HI> and the fir&s;t <HI>Apo&s;tolical</HI> Preaching to the <HI>Jews;</HI> Into 1260 of the <HI>Roman Papal Apo&s;ta&s;ie;</HI> Into 30 and 45. after that <HI>Apo&s;ta&s;ie,</HI> making fir&s;t the 1260 1290, then the 1290 1335. The fir&s;t 75 in preparation to the <HI>Litteral Je|ru&s;alem,</HI> and <HI>Temple Re&s;tor'd</HI> after <HI>Litteral Babylon falling,</HI> and the la&s;t 75 preparing to the <HI>New Jeru&s;alem,</HI> after <HI>My&s;tical Baby|lon falling,</HI> exactly An&s;wer One after Another; and by all the&s;e Summs laid together, we certainly know There mu&s;t be 400 between the <HI>Weeks</HI> ended, and that <HI>Apo&s;ta&s;ie</HI> began: From
<PB N="25" REF="16"> whence It Follows, we mu&s;t be in the 2218 <HI>Even. Morn.</HI> ju&s;t 7 <HI>Years</HI> before the <HI>Fall</HI> of <HI>My&s;tical Babylon,</HI> Dan. 9. 24. <HI>c.</HI> 12. 11. 12.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Is there any other way of knowing the Time?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> There is, even plainly Running into ordinary Ob&s;er|vation; For there are <HI>Time, Times, Half a Time,</HI> plainly gi|ven to the <HI>Bea&s;t,</HI> the la&s;t Part of the <HI>Roman Fourth Monarchy</HI> in <HI>Daniel, c.</HI> 7. 25. and <HI>Sworn</HI> to Him for Scattering the Holy People, <HI>c.</HI> 12. 7. and the <HI>Church</HI> is Accordingly &s;aid to be in the Wilderne&s;s for tho&s;e <HI>Times,</HI> in the <HI>Revelation; Rev.</HI> 12. 14. Now at the <HI>Reformation,</HI> There was &s;uch a Retrenchment of the Papal Power, as could not be till the <HI>Morning of the Half Time,,</HI> with the Truth of <HI>Prophecy;</HI> Then there might, even as Chri&s;t might <HI>Ri&s;e</HI> at the <HI>Morning</HI> of the <HI>Third day,</HI> though according to <HI>Prophecy,</HI> He was to be <HI>Three days</HI> and <HI>Three nights</HI> in the <HI>Heart of the Earth:</HI> The <HI>Reformation</HI> therefore Beginning at 1517, by <HI>Luther,</HI> as all Agree, and the <HI>Half Time</HI> being an 180 <HI>Years,</HI> as being the Half of 360 a <HI>Time;</HI> It mu&s;t needs be There can be but 7 <HI>Years</HI> to the End of the 1260, and &s;o to the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t,</HI> preparing to <HI>Clean&s;e his Sanctuary,</HI> for his <HI>Kingdom</HI> 1772; So we mu&s;t be in the 2218 <HI>Even. Morn.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Why then did not the <HI>Papacy</HI> wholly Fall at the <HI>Refor|mation?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> That there might be as punctual a performance of the Full Time of the Three <HI>Times,</HI> and a Half to the <HI>Papacy,</HI> as could con&s;i&s;t with the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t,</HI> to which &s;ome Ap|pearance was at that Time due.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Can the <HI>Reformation</HI> then be perfect?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> No, For the <HI>Thunders</HI> that open'd to it, were Seal'd; and There are <HI>They of the Synagogue of Sathan,</HI> that &s;tay the Glo|ry of it, till the <HI>Philadelphian</HI> State come; And then even They &s;hall wor&s;hip at <HI>Philadelphia's Feet, Rev.</HI> 3. 9. <HI>c.</HI> 10. 4.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> When &s;hall that be?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> At the very &s;ame Time, when the <HI>Popacy</HI> falls; For <HI>They of the Synagogue</HI> &s;tand by that Title, and then <HI>Bow;</HI> For Chri&s;t <HI>makes them</HI> by Grace &s;o to <HI>Wor&s;hip,</HI> that is, to <HI>Bow.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> How can &s;uch a Computation con&s;i&s;t with <HI>No One Know|ing</HI> of that <HI>Day</HI> and <HI>Hour,</HI> not the <HI>Angels,</HI> nor the <HI>Son,</HI> but the <HI>Father only Mark</HI> 13. 32.</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> <HI>God</HI> is &s;aid therefore, as on purpo&s;e to <HI>Give the Revelation to Je&s;us Christ,</HI> to <HI>&s;hew to his Servants,</HI> what before was only in
<PB N="26" REF="17"> the <HI>Father's</HI> Cognizance; And then Ble&s;&s;ed is He that <HI>Reads,</HI> or Expounds, and They who <HI>Hear</HI> or under&s;tand what is &s;o <HI>Re|veal'd</HI> by <HI>God to Christ. Revel.</HI> 1. 1. 3.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But Chri&s;t further &s;ays, <HI>Watch,</HI> for you <HI>Know not the Day</HI> nor the <HI>Hour</HI> when your <HI>Lord cometh? Mark</HI> 13. 35.</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> That <HI>Watch</HI> is a Spiritual <HI>Watch,</HI> without which, tho' a Man <HI>Knew the day,</HI> or <HI>Hour</HI> never &s;o preci&s;ely, Yet He would not <HI>Know the day,</HI> and <HI>Hour</HI> of his <HI>Lords coming,</HI> but It would be to Him, as of a <HI>Theif in the Night;</HI> and as a man dics in that <HI>Watch,</HI> or the neglect of it; So Chri&s;t comes upon Him, tho' ma|ny Hundred Years after <HI>Death;</HI> if It were not &s;uch a <HI>Watch,</HI> the Apo&s;tle had di&s;charg'd the <HI>The&s;&s;alonians</HI> of it, by Adjuring them not to expect the day of Chri&s;t, till after the <HI>Apo&s;ta&s;ie;</HI> and in Them all Chri&s;tians after, till that <HI>Apo&s;ta&s;ie</HI> expire. 2 <HI>The&s;&s;.</HI> 2. 1.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Are the <HI>Thou&s;and Years</HI> of <HI>Chri&s;t's Kingdom, Litterally,</HI> or <HI>My&s;tically</HI> to be under&s;tood?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> They are both ways to be under&s;tood, <HI>Litterally,</HI> Adding &s;o many Years to the Time Allotted to the <HI>Vi&s;ible Creation,</HI> till All be <HI>Deliver'd up to God Him&s;elf; My&s;tically,</HI> as a <HI>Thou&s;and Years</HI> are a <HI>Cube</HI> of Time, &s;ignifying the perfection of Time, which none of the <HI>Patriarchs</HI> after <HI>Adams Fall</HI> could Attain, how near &s;oever They came to it. <HI>Gen.</HI> 5.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Is it no Impeachment to the <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t</HI> never end|ing, that <HI>Sathan</HI> is loos'd at the end of the 1000 <HI>Years,</HI> and <HI>De|ceives</HI> the <HI>Nations</HI> to a new Attempt?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> No, For It only gives Ju&s;t occa&s;ion to Chri&s;t, to mag|nifie his Power, Judiciary Authority, Ju&s;tice, and the Final <HI>Putting down All Rule and Power,</HI> and <HI>Subduing the La&s;t Enemies,</HI> the <HI>Devil,</HI> the <HI>Dead,</HI> and <HI>Death,</HI> and <HI>Hell;</HI> And having Quickly drawn up all the <HI>Living Saints</HI> to his <HI>Own. Throne</HI> fir&s;t, according to 1 <HI>Cor. 15. 24. 51. 1 The&s;&s;. 4. 17. Rev. c. 3. 21. Rev. 20.</HI> and &s;o <HI>Giving up the Kingdom,</HI> every way perfectly prepar'd to God <HI>All in All,</HI> the Glory of having Faithfully managed, and hap|pily Atcheiv'd All Things is for ever due to Him. <HI>John</HI> 17. 24.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> Are the Wor&s;hip, and Ordinances of the <HI>New Te&s;ta|ment</HI> any way <HI>Prefigurative</HI> of this <HI>Kingdom of Chri&s;t?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> Very Fully, For the <HI>Go&s;pel</HI> is the <HI>Go&s;pel,</HI> and <HI>word of this Kingdom;</HI> The <HI>Prayer,</HI> we &s;tile <HI>The Lords Prayer,</HI> is the <HI>Prayer of this Kingdom</HI> Taught to all his <HI>Di&s;ciples;</HI> The <HI>Lords Day</HI> is the <HI>Type,</HI> and Pledge of that <HI>Sabbati&s;m; Bapti&s;m</HI> is the <HI>Figure</HI> of being Sav'd, 1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 3. 21. from that <HI>Deluge of Fire;</HI> The
<PB N="27" REF="17"> <HI>Lords Supper,</HI> is the <HI>&s;hewing forth his Death</HI> till <HI>He Come, 1 Cor.</HI> 11. 26. Then that <HI>Pa&s;&s;over is fullfill'd,</HI> and that <HI>Fruit of the Vine drunk New,</HI> Luc. 22. 16. 18. Nor can any of the <HI>Old Te|&s;tament Types, Prophecies,</HI> and <HI>Promi&s;es</HI> be Fully Drawn out, but in that <HI>Kingdom,</HI> and <HI>Appearance;</HI> So that in Summ it is the <HI>Everla&s;ting Go&s;pel, God</HI> hath always been <HI>Go&s;pelizing</HI> throughout the <HI>Old,</HI> and <HI>New Te&s;tament,</HI> Rev. 10. 7.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> But if The&s;e Truths are of this Great Weight, Can the <HI>Churches of the Saints</HI> be &s;o unacquainted with Them?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> Even, as the <HI>Jewi&s;h Saints,</HI> and the very Apo&s;tles were Ignorant of the <HI>Sacrifice, Re&s;urrection, A&s;cention,</HI> and <HI>Interce&s;&s;i|on</HI> of Chri&s;t, &s;o <HI>Fundamental</HI> Points; till the <HI>Powring down the Spirit</HI> for <HI>Preaching</HI> the <HI>Go&s;pel</HI> then; Even &s;o, and much more may the <HI>Saints of Go&s;pel</HI> Times, even now, till the Second <HI>Powring down the Spirit</HI> for the <HI>Preaching the Everla|&s;ting Go&s;pel</HI> be, and have been Ignorant of the Full Dimen&s;i|ons of the <HI>Redemption of Chri&s;t Fulfill'd</HI> in his <HI>Kingdom;</HI> of the <HI>Glory</HI> of that <HI>Oeconomy</HI> to the <HI>Highe&s;t Glory of God</HI> the <HI>Father in his Creation</HI> and <HI>Love of Man;</HI> of the <HI>Re&s;urrection,</HI> as &s;uch a <HI>vi&s;i|ble Appearance</HI> of the <HI>Ju&s;t</HI> and <HI>&V;nju&s;t</HI> for a <HI>Thou&s;and Years,</HI> the <HI>Dead in Chri&s;t Ri&s;ing fir&s;t;</HI> Of the <HI>My&s;tery</HI> of the <HI>Saints Re|maining,</HI> and <HI>Living</HI> on <HI>Earth,</HI> making up the Full Number of all <HI>Saints,</HI> and not <HI>Dying</HI> but being <HI>Chang'd;</HI> of the nece&s;&s;ity, ac|cording to this <HI>Oeconomy</HI> of the Infinitely Holy and Wi&s;e <HI>Be|ing,</HI> of &s;uch a Preparation for the <HI>Saints,</HI> as <HI>Prie&s;ts of God and Chri&s;t a Thou&s;and Years,</HI> to be <HI>&V;nited to God All in All:</HI> And notwith&s;tanding this Ignorance, They may be True <HI>Churches of Saints;</HI> but the nearer the Time Approaches, the <HI>Slowne&s;s</HI> of <HI>Heart to Know,</HI> and <HI>Believe</HI> the&s;e Things, will Argue a grea|ter <HI>Lukewarmne&s;s</HI> for the <HI>Kingdom, Glory,</HI> and <HI>Coming</HI> of <HI>Chri&s;t,</HI> and It hath been all along a dark Shade of the <HI>Apo&s;ta&s;ie</HI> upon the Churches.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What <HI>Spirit</HI> are we then to be of, with Relation to the <HI>coming</HI> of Chri&s;t in this his <HI>Kingdom?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> Of the Vehement, and even Pa&s;&s;ionate <HI>Spirit</HI> of the <HI>Bride,</HI> which &s;ays, <HI>Come; Make ha&s;t my beloved</HI> to the <HI>Mountain of Spi|ces, Anointed</HI> for thy <HI>Kingdom</HI> with that <HI>Precious Oyntment</HI> (that <HI>Antichri&s;t</HI> now Counterfeits to his Death) as the Great <HI>Prince Me&s;&s;iah,</HI> the <HI>Prie&s;t for ever after the order of Melchi&s;edec,</HI> and thy <HI>Saints,</HI> as <HI>Kings,</HI> and <HI>Prie&s;ts</HI> with Thee in that Great Day of thy <HI>Nuptials</HI> in thy <HI>Kingdom:</HI> Rev. 22. 17. Cantic. 8. 14. Exod. 30. 33. P&s;al. 110. 4. Rev. 20. 2.</P>
<PB N="28" REF="18">
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> You &s;eem to have forgotten this <HI>Marriage,</HI> &s;o great an <HI>Emblem</HI> of the <HI>Thou&s;and Years Kingdom</HI> of Chri&s;t in <HI>Scripture?</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> I Re&s;erv'd it as the <HI>Be&s;t Wine</HI> for the <HI>La&s;t;</HI> For it is in|deed mo&s;t often &s;o made u&s;e of in <HI>Holy Writing;</HI> by <HI>Solomon</HI> in that mo&s;t <HI>Prophetick, Nuptial Song of his, of the Kingdom:</HI> by <HI>E&s;ay. c.</HI> 62. 5. by <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> often; and He makes his <HI>Coming</HI> to be on purpo&s;e (<GAP DESC="foreign">) [<HI>for</HI>] the &s;ake of the <HI>Wedding,</HI> and not as we Tran&s;late, [<HI>from</HI>] it, <HI>Luc.</HI> 12. 36. By the <HI>Apo|&s;tle Paul</HI> Calling it (as the Kingdom is Call'd) <HI>My&s;tery, Ephe&s;.</HI> 5. 25. 32. By the Apo&s;tle <HI>John</HI> in the <HI>Prophecy</HI> of the <HI>Kingdom</HI> ju&s;t Appearing, <HI>Rev.</HI> 19. 7. <HI>c.</HI> 21. 2. <HI>c.</HI> 22. 17. And it Carries Great Argument and In&s;truciton.</P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What is the Argument?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> That the <HI>Kingdom,</HI> which is this <HI>Wedding</HI> every where in <HI>Scripture,</HI> is not yet; For the <HI>Bridegroom</HI> is now <HI>Taken from us,</HI> as Chri&s;t Foretold, He would be, <HI>Luc</HI> 5. 35. Nor can it be <HI>at the Kingdom Deliver'd up;</HI> For the <HI>Second Adam</HI> (of which the Fir&s;t <HI>Adam's,</HI> and <HI>Eves Marriage</HI> was the Type) who is the <HI>Bride|groom,</HI> is then the <HI>Bridegroom</HI> no longer; But He Unites Him|&s;elf with the Bride to the <HI>Father All in All:</HI> John 17. 21. <HI>&amp;c.</HI></P>
<P><LABEL>Q.</LABEL> What is the In&s;truction?</P>
<P><LABEL>A.</LABEL> In Three Things. 1. That even the <HI>Wi&s;e Virgins</HI> not <HI>Bearing this New Wine in their Old Bottles, &s;lumber,</HI> even as the <HI>Fooli&s;h,</HI> though with <HI>Oyl in their Ve&s;&s;els,</HI> Grace in their Hearts which the <HI>Fooli&s;h</HI> not Having, were <HI>&s;hut out,</HI> Mat. 25. 1. <HI>&amp;c.</HI> And 2. That we ought to be in <HI>Fa&s;ting</HI> and <HI>Sackcloth,</HI> as the <HI>Children</HI> of the <HI>Bride-Chamber,</HI> all the&s;e <HI>Days</HI> of the <HI>Bridegrooms</HI> being <HI>Taken from</HI> us, <HI>Luc</HI> 5. 35. 3. That we &s;hould Hearing with an Ear to Hear and Thir&s;ting mo&s;t Affectionately to the <HI>Bridegrooms Saying; Behold I come Quickly;</HI> Re&s;ound, <HI>Even &s;o come Lord Je|&s;us;</HI> That He may &s;ay to us in Grace; <HI>Come Then Al&s;o,</HI> and with me <HI>Drink the Water of Life Freely;</HI> And that we may do Thus; <HI>The Grace of the Lord Je&s;us be with us All.</HI> Amen. <HI>Rev.</HI> 22. 17. to the End.</P>
<TRAILER>FINIS.</TRAILER>
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